Home Articles posted by Octavia Atlas (Page 2)

Author: Octavia Atlas

Thanks for visiting my site! I write contemporary, fantasy and sci-fi romance. Stay a while and get to know me and my characters.

Cover Reveal: Evolving

,

This is my wonderful cover for Evolving! This novel is the third book in my sci-fi m/m romance series, The Architect’s Guardian. As with my other fantastic covers, I worked with the incredible team of Deranged Doctor Design.

Available Fall 2026!

Book cover for Evolving, by Octavia Atlas. Book 3 in The Architect's Guardian Series.

Awakening: Narratess April Indie Book Sale!

,
The book cover for Awakening, by Octavia Atlas, and the April 2025 Indie Book Sale graphic. Brief synopsis for Awakening: The Nitelvosa are complicated. Some see humans, like Armando Medina, as a means to an end. Can he survive with the help of Izdahl Amasi, a member of a prominent Nitelvosa family?

I’m so excited to offer Awakening for only $0.99 in the Narratess April Indie Book Sale!

From April 5 to April 7, get a great deal on Awakening, along with hundreds of other indie ebooks in the speculative fiction genre. During the sale, ebooks are free, $0.99, $1.99, or deeply discounted in various countries.

Awakening is book one in The Architect’s Guardian Series:

  • Genres: MM Romance, Science Fiction
  • Main Characters: Izdahl Amasi and Armando Medina
  • Tropes: Hurt/Comfort, Second Chance
  • Word Count: ~96,000
A selection of nine covers from books in the April 2025 Indie Book Sale, including the book cover for Awakening by Octavia Atlas.

Spring 2025 Story Updates

Spring Story Updates is written in white against a teal background. Above the words is an open book and a quill. Several multicolored flowers are on the lower right side.

It’s the Spring of 2025! Here are my writing plans for this season.

The Architect’s Guardian: I’ve published Awakening and Discovering. I’m focused on drafting Evolving, the third book in the series, where the stakes are even higher for Armando and Izdahl. My goal is to release that later this year.

Dragon Shifter Fantasy Series: I’m further along with writing my fantasy m/f romance. My main female character’s on a critical mission to get help from my very stubborn main male character. 😉

Happy New Year! It’s 2025!

,
Happy New Year is written in yellow, against a dark blue background and surrounded by multicolored fireworks.

It’s 2025! Here’s what I have planned:

    • Keep drafting my fantasy romance.
    • Plot out several stories that have been simmering.
    • Publish The Architect’s Guardian Book 3: Evolving in the fall.

    Winter 2024 Story Updates

    ,
    Winter Story Updates is written in white, against a blue background. Above the words is an open book and a quill. The words are surrounded by snowflakes.

    It’s the Winter of 2024! Here are my writing plans for this season.

    The Architect’s Guardian: I published Awakening last year. On 12/17/24, I followed up with Discovering. I’m already drafting the third book in the series, tentatively titled Evolving. I plan to release that in 2025.

    Dragon Shifter Fantasy Series: I’m having so much fun writing my fantasy m/f romance. My main characters have some complicated goals.

    Discovering Is Available Now!

    ,

    Discovering is the second book in The Architect’s Guardian Series! Purchase here and check out the series playlist.

    • Genres: MM Romance, Science Fiction
    • Main Characters: Izdahl Amasi and Armando Medina
    • Tropes: Hurt/Comfort and Power Couple
    • Word Count: ~96,000

    Cover by Deranged Doctor Design.

    Book cover for Discovering, by Octavia Atlas. Book 2 in The Architect's Guardian Series.

    Armando Medina is closer to finding out the truth behind his most tragic loss. With his rise in status, he’s determined to leverage his influence to discover all the answers he needs.

    Izdahl Amasi remains intent on helping Armando. Even so, Izdahl knows the strained relations between the seven ruling Nitelvosa Families present serious obstacles to his partner’s goal. To protect Armando, Izdahl must reawaken destructive abilities he’d hoped never to use again.

    Armando and Izdahl now have the full attention of the most powerful Nitelvosa, and with that comes increasing peril. They know there are those violently invested in hiding the truth. Their crafty opponents won’t think twice about manipulating the volatile situation to their advantage.

    Can Armando and Izdahl keep each other safe, while trying to find answers? Or will the dangers be too much for them?

    Content warning: deaths of minor characters, discussion of trauma, and severe injuries to main characters.

    Atlas Anime Review: A Sign of Affection

    When I first saw the trailer for A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren), I knew I had to keep this anime in mind. It’s now one of my favorite romance series.

    • Animation: The crisp and beautiful animation is a standout. There’s special care taken with the crafting of mouths and hands, since characters lip read and use sign language. The style used beautifully emphasizes those methods for communicating.
    • Cast: The main characters, Yuki Itose and Itsuomi Nagi, are both adorable and engaging. Yuki’s confident as she navigates the world as a Deaf woman. She meets Itsuomi and he encourages her to open up more. As their relationship grows, Yuki makes it clear how comfortable she is with Itsuomi and he’s respectful towards her. Supporting characters include Kyoya and Rin, who also become interested in each other.
    • Music: The soundtrack is sweet and endearing, especially as Yuki and Itsuomi become more serious about each other.
    • Story: This is a gorgeous anime, with great disability representation. While the series only has twelve episodes, they’re a perfect invitation to get to know the characters more.

    I enjoyed this series so much that I started reading the manga. I just needed to know how the relationship works out for Yuki and Itsuomi.

    Atlas Animation Review: Scavengers Reign

    Scavengers Reign is a fantastic sci-fi series with a wide range of dangerous and gorgeous flora and fauna. My favorite characters were Levi, Azi, and Barry. The show feels like what would have been featured on MTV’s Liquid Television in the 1990s. I hope there will be more seasons.

    • Animation: I had to get used to the character design of the humans, as it’s not as detailed as some of the other animation I’ve watched. However, once I became used to the style, I was able to immerse myself in the series. Of special note is the incredible range of creatures. There are so many beautiful ones.
    • Cast: The voice actors were spectacular. They truly carried the fears of being in the harrowing situation of getting stranded on an unfamiliar planet. Dash Williams as Barry, Alia Shawkat as Levi, and Wunmi Mosaku as Azi were the standout performers to me.
    • Music: The soundtrack is one I’ll listen to separately, while I’m writing my own stories.
    • Story: This series features a gripping tale. There are few circumstances more difficult than being lost in hazardous and unknown territory. The characters truly show the range of human reactions to such a volatile environment, where the largest challenges come from other humans.

    Autumn 2024 Story Updates

    Autumn Story Updates is written in white text against a dark orange background. Above the text is a white outline of an open book. Orange and red leaves are on the top right side of the image and at the bottom center of the image.

    It’s the Autumn of 2024! The air will be nice and crisp. Here are my writing plans for this season.

    The Architect’s Guardian: I’ll be publishing Discovering, the sequel to Awakening, on December 17, 2024.

    Dragon Shifter Fantasy Series: Drafting for my fantasy m/f romance is going well. I anticipate releasing this series after finishing The Architect’s Guardian Trilogy.

    Musings on Character Traits

    Writing Tidbits is written above images of a laptop, a cup of tea, a computer mouse, and an electronic tablet.

    It’s interesting to consider character traits in terms of introverted and extroverted. I might create a character who I see as quiet and reserved, whereas some readers might consider that character as having red flags.

    At times, more introverted characters may come across as suspicious. I think that’s because extroversion is more acceptable than introversion and the flaws of an extroverted individual are more easily forgiven. Anyway, just musing…