When I Was Death

Us Dark Few follows Khalani Kanes, a young woman wrongfully imprisoned in Braderhelm Prison within the underground city of Apollo. Set in a dystopian future where humanity lives beneath the earth's surface, the novel explores Khalani's struggle to survive among ruthless criminals and guards, particularly the enigmatic Captain Takeshi Steele. The story weaves themes of injustice, survival, and the fight for freedom in a world where sunlight and hope are distant memories.

Alexis Patton is a debut author from DeLand, Florida, who launched her literary career with Us Dark Few in 2023. With a background in biology and public health, Patton brings a unique scientific perspective to her dystopian fiction. Her writing explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery while pushing conventional storytelling boundaries. Patton developed a passion for reading at a young age and has quickly gained recognition as an Amazon bestselling author.

Us Dark Few is perfect for young adult readers aged 15-18 who enjoy dystopian fiction with dark, complex themes. Fans of prison survival stories, forbidden romance, and morally gray characters will find this book compelling. Readers who appreciate authors like Suzanne Collins or Marie Lu, and those interested in underground civilizations and rebellion narratives, will be drawn to Alexis Patton's debut. The book appeals to anyone seeking intense, atmospheric storytelling with high stakes.

Us Dark Few has earned a 3.98 rating on Goodreads with over 9,600 ratings, indicating strong reader satisfaction. The novel offers a fresh take on dystopian fiction with its underground prison setting and complex character dynamics between Khalani and Takeshi. Alexis Patton's background in biology and public health adds unique depth to the world-building. For readers seeking dark, atmospheric Young Adult fiction with themes of survival and redemption, this debut novel delivers compelling storytelling.

Apollo is the underground city where Khalani Kanes has lived her entire life, never experiencing the earth's surface. In this subterranean civilization, faith and dreams are as absent as sunlight, creating a bleak atmosphere of survival rather than living. Apollo represents humanity's adaptation to living beneath ground while the domed city of Genesis remains the only place where people still inhabit the surface. This underground setting establishes the oppressive world that drives Khalani's desperate desire for freedom and escape.

Khalani Kanes is the protagonist, a wrongfully convicted prisoner sentenced to life in Braderhelm Prison for a theft she didn't commit. Takeshi Steele serves as the nefarious Captain who runs Khalani's cell block, described as reclusive and callous yet complex. Both characters are described as "slaves to the Underground," suggesting deeper connections beyond their prisoner-guard dynamic. Their relationship forms the central tension of the story as Khalani navigates survival while avoiding or confronting the dangerous Captain Steele.

Braderhelm Prison is the brutal facility where Khalani serves her life sentence, described as a place "where only the Wicked remain". In this nightmarish institution, murderers become neighbors, cold-blooded guards live to punish inmates, and every moment requires fighting to survive. The prison contains darker secrets and traps within its shadows beyond the visible dangers of criminals and guards. Braderhelm represents the ultimate test of Khalani's will, where escape to the surface is considered impossible—a feat no prisoner has successfully achieved.

Us Dark Few examines themes of injustice and wrongful imprisonment as Khalani faces life in prison for a crime she didn't commit. The novel explores survival instincts, moral ambiguity, and the psychological toll of confinement in brutal conditions. Alexis Patton weaves in themes of love, loss, and self-discovery against the backdrop of oppression. The story also addresses class systems, freedom versus captivity, and whether humanity can persist in darkness, making it a thought-provoking dystopian narrative.

Us Dark Few is the first book in Alexis Patton's Us Dark Few series, which currently consists of two novels. The sequel, Us Deadly Few, was released on December 5, 2024, continuing Khalani's story. Both books are available through major retailers and have collectively garnered over 131,000 ratings on Goodreads. The series allows Patton to expand the underground world of Apollo and explore deeper mysteries surrounding Genesis, the domed city, and the characters' fates beyond the first novel.

Us Dark Few is primarily Young Adult dystopian fiction with elements of dark romance and science fiction. The novel features the oppressive societal structures typical of dystopian literature combined with the survival tension of prison fiction. Alexis Patton's background in biology and public health influences the scientific worldbuilding elements. The book also incorporates romantic tension between Khalani and Takeshi, making it appeal to readers who enjoy forbidden romance within darker, speculative settings with high-stakes action and psychological depth.

The dynamic between prisoner Khalani Kanes and guard Captain Takeshi Steele subverts typical captor-captive narratives by positioning both as "slaves to the Underground". Takeshi is portrayed as nefarious yet reclusive and callous, suggesting complexity beyond a simple villain role. Their relationship exists within the dangerous environment of Braderhelm Prison where Takeshi could kill Khalani, yet darker forces and secrets complicate their interaction. This morally gray dynamic creates tension as readers question loyalties, motivations, and whether their connection might be key to Khalani's survival or destruction.

Genesis is the infamous domed city and the final place where humanity still lives aboveground in Us Dark Few. For Khalani, who has never seen the surface, Genesis represents the ultimate dream and symbol of freedom from underground oppression. The city serves as a distant beacon of hope in Apollo's sunless world, embodying everything Khalani has been denied. Genesis likely holds significance to the broader series mythology, representing humanity's last connection to their surface-dwelling past and possibly the key to understanding why civilization moved underground.