Deliverance 3

“Edge of your seat, breathtaking action in a must-read supernatural thriller.” (David Dun, author of The Black Silent )

“A passionate, fascinating story packed with action and history. Three hundred years ago, Maliha Crayne was burned at the stake. Now she’s in a race against time to save the world and her soul, and you’ll be with her step by step.” (David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Brotherhood of the Rose )

“THE MORTAL PATH is a novel to be savored for both its edge of suspense and the pure joy of its storytelling. Part immortal, all human, Maliha is a heroine who will leave readers breathless and craving more. Not to be missed!” (James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Map of Bones and Black Order )

“Sweeping across continents and centuries, THE MORTAL PATH by Dakota Banks is story-telling at its most vivid. The characters are fascinating, the plot nail-biting, and the period pieces memorable. Curl up in your favorite chair - entertainment is guaranteed.” (Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Spymaster )

“DELIVERANCE is a gut-kick of a read, with non-stop action and as inventive a world as I’ve ever seen. Maliha Crayne, not a character to be trifled with, could give other Urban Fantasy heroines a pointed lesson in real ass-kicking.” (Vicki Pettersson, author of the bestselling Signs of the Zodiac series on DELIVERANCE )

“Fans of supernatural and dark fantasy will be intrigued by Maliha Crayne’s quest to save her soul.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Chilling, thrilling, and a page turner!” (Heather Graham, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Killing Edge )

“A breakneck ride through worlds visible and invisible - who knew the ancient Sumerians were this thrilling?” (Joseph Finder, NYT bestselling author of BURIED SECRETS )

“DELIVERANCE by Dakota Banks delivers everything I love in suspense fiction: great characters who jump from the page; a smart, layered plot, and pacing that screams. This is the kind of book that makes you look forward to a rainy day.” (John Gilstrap, author of NATHAN'S RUN and DAMAGE CONTROL )

“Readers who like their paranormal romantic suspense novels to feature nonstop action, twisting plots, and deadly heroines will devour Banks’ clever and compelling Mortal Path series. Assassins, demons and danger, oh my!” (Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of LOVE YOU MORE )

“Twisted. Action packed. Tons of fun. Dakota Banks slams you through a wild tale of mayhem and murder. You’ll love every page.” (Mario Acevedo, author of Werewolf Smackdown )

The inspiration for the Mortal Path series came from the occupation of Baghdad by American troops in 2003. There was a brief period during which the Iraqi National Museum was left unguarded, resulting in vandalism and looting of items of worldwide renown. Iraq sits on the ancient land of Mesopotamia, home to the cradle of civilization that developed in Sumer. Sumerian artifacts are historic treasures of value not just to the nation of Iraq but to everyone in the world. Fortunately, many of the artifacts have been recovered in the years after the looting. But what was smashed is lost, after surviving 6,000 years to be crushed out of existence by an angry person.

It made me think about what else could have survived from Sumeria, something more malevolent than a dusty vase, that wasn't going to be easy to crush out of existence. I turned to Sumerian mythology, a fascinating set of stories with intrinsic interest for readers. To mention just one example, consider that the Sumerians believed their gods were extraterrestrials who came to Earth to mine for gold, among other reasons. The mythology was so wonderful on its own that all I needed was a jumping-off point for the series. In the mythology, all of the gods left Earth to return to their home planet, so I just had to make sure a few demons were left behind on Earth and survived into the present. I love the characters, the world, and the moral dilemmas that resulted, and writing the Mortal Path series has been intensely satisfying. - DB