The Phoenix Code: A YA Urban Fantasy about Shadows, Laughter, and Rebirth

by Maria K.

In Neon City, shadows breathe and illusions rule. Iria carries a sarcastic Shadow inside her head, red lines of rebellion on the walls, and two friends who keep her from falling apart. But when the underground club RENDER drags them into a labyrinth of mirrors, their perfect reflections promise everything—confidence, beauty, control—at the price of their souls. To survive, Iria must unleash the only weapon the mirrors cannot her laughter. Raw, defiant, and brighter than fear, it cracks the glass and sparks the fire of rebirth. The Phoenix Code is a neon-lit YA tale of friendship, rebellion, and the courage to rise from your own ashes—perfect for a new generation that refuses to be silent.

19 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2025

About the author

Maria K. is the pen name of Maria Igorevna Kuroshchepova - a first-generation Russian-Ukrainian immigrant. An engineer by education, an analyst by trade, as well as a writer, photographer, artist and amateur model, Maria brings her talent for weaving an engaging narrative to stories of life, fashion and style advice, book and movie reviews, and common-sense and to-the-point essays on politics and economy.