Inferno: Act 1: The Journey Begins

by Victoria Reineke

Act 1 of Inferno, the first chapter of the Children of the Phoenix series.Zack and his brother Xarin have lived in the island city of Tranquis for their entire lives. Along with their friends Aura and Angel, they have been trying to find their way off and into the world outside. That dream came crashing down when the night before they are going to leave the city is attacked by an army of red-eyed beasts and mysterious men. Barely having survived the invasion, Zack finds himself alone and in an unfamiliar place. He must find his way back to the family he’s lost and discover the truth behind the monstrous creatures still hunting him.

In Act 1 of Inferno, the stakes keep rising as Zack travels through a world full of danger, mysteries and secrets from his own past.

614 pages, Paperback

Published March 30, 2025

About the author

I write fantasy stories about survival, found family, and the cost of hope in broken worlds.

My work explores what happens after everything burns — the quiet moments of grief, the bonds forged under pressure, and the choice to keep going when giving up would be easier. I’m especially drawn to characters who protect fiercely, love deeply, and refuse to walk away from the people they call family.

Inferno, Rainfall, Embers and soon to be released Phoenix are part of an ongoing series about endurance, sacrifice, and rebirth — not just of worlds, but of the people who live in them.