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Skindancer series

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Frost Moon (Skindancer -1) by Anthony Francis

Frost Moon (Skindancer #1) by Anthony Francis

Skindancer series, aka Dakota Frost series by Anthony Francis (Dr. Anthony G. Francis, Jr.). 

Genres and Sub-Genres[]

Dark Urban Fantasy 

Series Description or Overview[]

The Skindancer series is a trilogy of urban fantasy books about Dakota Frost, a "skindancer"—a magical tattoo artist who can create tattoos that come to life.

In Dakota's world, magic, long suppressed by its own practicioners, burst out into the open when it was picked up by the counterculture movement of the 1960's. Now, magic is alive in an alternative culture called the Edgeworld, and Edgeworlders like Dakota apply equal parts skepticism, magic and attitude to navigate the line where magic and reality meet.

Each book in the series highlights a new form of magic based on alternative culture practices like tattooing, graffiti or firespinning, and each highlights a new supernatural creature like werewolves, vampires and dragons. The Skindancer series starts with Frost Moon, a period piece set in late 2006 in an Atlanta not entirely unlike our own. ~ Goodreads | Skindancer series

Primary Supe[]

Mages

What Sets it Apart[]

Magic through the use of cultural practices like tattos, graffiti, firespinning, etc. It also features dragons. 

Narrative Type and Narrators[]

Books in Series[]

Skindancer

  1. Frost Moon (2010)
  2. Blood Rock (2011)
  3. Liquid Fire (2015)
  4. Spectral Iron (2015)

Shorts, Novellas, Anthologies and Guides[]

Companion Series, Spinoffs, Sequels or Prequels[]

A YA spin off: Spellounk series featuring Cinnamon. — Book 1: Hex Code (tentative title)

World Building[]

Setting[]

  • Alternate Atlanta, GA (circa 2006)
  • Edgeworld—the edgy, restless culture that blends the human and the supernatural worlds

Places:

  • Little Five Points area:
  • Buckhead area:
  • Rogue Unicorn: Dakota's tattoo shop

Supernatural Elements[]

Magical tattooist, skindancer, para-fed agent, mages, witches, vampires, vampire queen, graphomancer, werestag, werewolves, weretiger, para-detective, werekin, Illusionist, dragons, werekin, magician, Edgeworlders, Were-horse, supe mob, , , , ,

  • Magic: Different forms of magic (in each book): tattooing, graffiti, firespinning . . .

Glossary:

  • Graphomancer:
  • Gentry:
  • Lich: ancient vampire

Organizations:

  • DEI:

World[]

In an alternate Atlanta (circa 2006), magic is alive in the Edgeworld—the edgy, restless culture that blends the human and the supernatural worlds. In this World, mortals are aware of the existence of the supernatural world, but the supernaturals (e.g., vampires, shifters, mages) tend to stay away from the humans.

Protagonist[]

Dakota Frost-sketch

Dakota Frost—sketch by author

Dakota is a true Edgeworlder, and in some ways, she is a typical UF heroine with the usual cynicism and attitude to go along with her way-out appearance.

Dakota is a fresh character, not a cliché. She is six feet, two inches tall, and her entire body is covered with brightly colored, magical tattoos—and those tattoos can move. For example, a butterfly tattoo on Dakota's wrist can flutter its wings and rise into the air before settling back on her arm—or on someone else's body. The tattoos are also a source of magical power that Dakota can pull from to defend herself. Dakota is estranged from her father, a retired policeman, but she doesn't spend much time worrying about that. Dakota runs her own tattoo shop, the Rogue Unicorn, and she is one of only two certified magical tattoo artists in Atlanta.

Characters[]

Resource for Characters: Skindancer Series - Shelfari

Characters What About
Dakota Frost Skindancer: magical tattooist entire body is covered with magical tattoos, source of magical power; runs her own tattoo shop, the Rogue Unicorn; one of two magical tattoo artists in Atlanta;
Philip Davidson Special Agent, Fed Department of Extraordinary Investigations; possible love interest
Diego "Spleen" Spillane Friend of Dakota
Savannah "Lady Saffron" Winters Vampire Queen Little Five Points area
Wulf Werewolf
Lord Buckhead Werestag Lord of Buckhead area
Cinnamon were-tiger close with Dakota
Jinx, Skye Anderson Graphomancer, witch friend, blind;
Calaphase Vampire
Andre Rand Atlanta cop old family friend
Christopher Valentine magician aka “The Mysterious Mirabilus”
Alex Nicholson Magician
Lady Darkrose vampire Saffron's 2nd in command and her lover
Vickman Darkrose's guard
Lord Delancaster Vampire ruler of Georgia
Marquis werekin Graphomancer,
Transomnia Vampire
Darren Briggs Tiado instructor
Gettyson: Were-horse
McGough Detective magical crime squad
Takashi Namura Assistant Director of DEI
Demophage: Vampire Master vampireGeorgia and Saffron's maker
Lady Scara Enforcer for the Gentry
Doug Jinx's boyfriend
Sir Leonard: Lich (ancient vampire)
Tully young werewolf Cinnamon's sweetheart
Phillip Davidson DEI agent
father retired policeman

To expand the table, right-press on a row of the table or (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add row.

Anthony Francis

Anthony Francis

Anthony Francis light saber

Anthony Francis

Author[]

Anthony Francis

Bio: Dr. Anthony G. Francis, Jr. is a science fiction writer and computer scientist who started writing urban fantasy because he likes it. The Dakota Frost series combines Anthony's love of hard science, fantastic magic, alternative culture, and strong, feisty women. Even though the siren call of computing eventually pulled him out to the San Francisco Bay Area, he still chose to set the Dakota Frost series in Atlanta, Georgia, where he spent nearly half his life and which he has learned to love like no other place on Earth. When not making computers smarter or writing science fiction and fantasy, Anthony blogs about his life, his writing and his research at The Library of Dresan. He also writes an occasionally updated webcomic, f@nu fiku. He currently lives in San Jose with his wife and cats. ~ Goodreads

Cover Artist[]

Artist: not listed

Awards[]

Publishing Information[]

Book Cover Blurbs[]

✥ BOOK ONE BLURB—Frost Moon: In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion ... or as delicious prey? FROST MOON is Book One of the SKINDANCER fantasy series by debut author Anthony Francis. Filled with unforgettable characters, spine-tingling action, kinky rebellion and edgy love, FROST MOON is classic storytelling at its best, and Dakota Frost is an irresistible new star of fantasy fiction. ~ Fantastic Fiction

✥ BOOK TWO BLURB—Blood Rock: Dakota Frost is back, and the ink is about to hit the fan-again. Graffiti comes to life in the dark heart of Atlanta's oldest cemetery, slaying one of the city's best loved vampires before the eyes of his friend Dakota Frost. Deadly magick is at work on the city's walls, challenging even the amazing power of Dakota's tattoos to contain it. The hungry, graffiti magick loves to kill, and the Edgeworld is no longer safe from its own kind.

Dakota begins a harrowing journey to save those she loves and to discover the truth behind the spreading graffiti-even if that truth offends the vampires, alienates the werekin and creates police suspicion of her every action.

Saving Atlanta may cost her everything, including custody of her "adopted" weretiger daughter, Cinnamon. But failure is not an option. If the graffiti isn't stopped, Cinnamon could be the next victim. ~ Fant Fiction

First Sentences[]

  1. Frost Moon: I first started wearing a Mohawk to repel low-lifes— barflies, vampires, Republicans, and so on—but when I found my true profession my hairstyle turned into an ad.
  2. Blood Rock: "Dammit, dammit, dammit!" I cursed, slamming the school doors open and stomping out into the cold January Atlanta air.
  3. Liquid Fire:
  4. Spectral Iron:

Quotes[]

Frost Moon (Skindancer 1) by Anthony Francis ~ Shelfari

On the other end of that phone, a person is looking for you, but they can only find you if you pick up. The sound is just an alarm. It can’t hurt you. It doesn’t oblige you. But it can distract you. Realize that, then learn to ignore it.” ~ Blood Rock, book 2.

Read Alikes (suggestions)[]

Awards[]

Trivia[]

Notes[]

See Also[]

External References[]

Books:

Excerpts and Freebies:

Summaries, Articles:

The World, Characters, etc:

Reviews:

Interviews, Guest Posts, Author Commentary:

Author:

Community, Fan Sites:

Gallery of Book Covers[]

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