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Hi.

Welcome to This Awful/Awesome Life! My name is Frances Joyce. I am the publisher and editor of this magazine. We'll be exploring different topics each month to inform, entertain and inspire you. Meet new authors, sharpen your brain and pick up a few tips on life, love, entertaining and business. Enjoy and please share!

Atlantis by Carol Roberts: A Review by Fran Joyce

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I’ve always been interested in different writing genres, so I was especially excited to read Atlantis by Carol Roberts. Atlantis is a well written fantasy about the legendary lost city.

It's Robert's first full length novel, and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say she’s off to a great start.

Carol Roberts is a freelance writer who is interested in cultural myths. Roberts was born in Vienna, but has spent most of her adult life in the Far North of New Zealand. She has traveled extensively during her career studying the oral traditions of ancient societies and creation myths.

The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has been covered by numerous authors, so Roberts was challenged to find an original way to recreate the people, civilization and the myth.  Instead of following the premise that Atlantis was an advanced civilization centuries ahead of the rest of the world, she chose to mirror ancient Sumerian civilization. This lends certain credibility to her Atlantis and keeps the plot focused on her characters.

Alanthea, the high priestess of Atlantis has visions of a mystery woman, Andromeda, who seems to foreshadow an important event. Guided by this woman’s coded poems, Alanthea must unravel the mystery to identify the threat against Atlantis.

Arakon, a laborer by choice, has seen a buildup of ships in the harbor and a mystery woman in the mountains.  His attempts to make sense of these occurrences bring him closer to Alanthea and the truth of his birth.

Roberts’ attention to detail is not lost on her secondary characters. From the details of their homes and daily lives to their relationships, we come to know these people and care about their fate.

Once the destructive forces of nature are set in motion, the fate of Atlantis begins to spiral out of control. No spoilers here! You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens.

Atlantis is available on amazon.com. Follow Carol Roberts on Twitter: @authorRobertsC

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Carol Roberts

at home in New Zealand.

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