Alexandria has been writing short stories and poems her entire life in journals and recently had a great idea for a novel. Defiance was the first book she finished, and there are more to come! Alexandria has B.A.s in criminology, sociology, and criminal justice with a minor in forensic science. Alexandria works as a 911 dispatcher and lives in the Minnesota metro area with her dog Rocket and kitty Runa. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, travel and of course, writing. Alexandria is passionate about herbalism and is really bad at surfing, but she considers herself a masochist.
Alexandria Swanson
Otherworldly Author
New Release
DEFIANCE
A magical world of werewolves, witches and vampires exists in parallel to the human world.
An uneasy peace prevails, with few true friendships across the species. Chloe Rowan is a witch with the ability to harness the power of all five elements to do magic, making her unusual and powerful.
One night after a coven celebration, she happens upon Viktor Rasputin, a lecherous and bloodthirsty werewolf. A fight to the death changes Chloe’s life instantaneously; she is now the pack’s alpha, their leader.
Grappling with her new responsibilities, Chloe didn’t expect to meet the love of her life… or that he might want her dead. As the pack begins to find its rhythm, a seemingly random border attack threatens all that they have worked to rebuild. Chloe must uncover the web of lies and deceit Viktor created before her coven and pack are killed, and the rest of the supernatural world along with them. A story of courage, kindness, and love, Defiance shows that it’s not where you come from, but what you stand up for that truly matters.
Testimonial
Shana Rogstad
2024-10-18
Good job Alex!
Not my normal genre, but wanted to support Alex. Great start to your writing career. Keep it up. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
Not my normal genre, but wanted to support Alex. Great start to your writing career. Keep it up. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
Ella
2024-10-05
Action-packed fantasy with a lot of heart!
"Defiance" is a fast-paced, action packed urban fantasy with a warm, cozy core. Despite its dark elements, Alexandria has created a found family of wolves and witches that envelops the reader like a hug and that they inevitably find themselves wishing they could join. I fell in love with Chloe and Will and can't wait for their love story to unfold further in book two.But beyond the romance and the high-stakes action, "Defiance" is a story about personal battles with trauma and PTSD. Alexandria deftly blends her knowledge and expertise into the pages, creating characters and a story that can resonate with readers on a much, much deeper level (check out her website for mental health resources!).10/10, A++, would absolutely recommend!
"Defiance" is a fast-paced, action packed urban fantasy with a warm, cozy core. Despite its dark elements, Alexandria has created a found family of wolves and witches that envelops the reader like a hug and that they inevitably find themselves wishing they could join. I fell in love with Chloe and Will and can't wait for their love story to unfold further in book two.But beyond the romance and the high-stakes action, "Defiance" is a story about personal battles with trauma and PTSD. Alexandria deftly blends her knowledge and expertise into the pages, creating characters and a story that can resonate with readers on a much, much deeper level (check out her website for mental health resources!).10/10, A++, would absolutely recommend!
Heather M.
2024-08-12
Such an intriguing new story!
This was a great book 1 in the Defiance Collection. Growing up as an orphan after her parents died, Chloe didn’t realize that she was a witch until she was 16. Now part of a coven, she has a family again. When out in the woods with her coven, they run across a young girl about to be violated by 3 men who were wolf shifters. When she challenged the alpha and killed him, she took ownership of his pack, and the moon goddess gave her a wolf AND left her with her witch powers – which was VERY uncommon so she is scared to let anyone know that she is a hybrid. When she returns with the girl to the pack lands, she realizes that the previous alpha, Viktor, was horrible to his people and they were scared of him and his inner circle, so Chloe has to clean house. She is told that multiple people are being held in the dungeons for crimes that weren’t bad enough for that, so she has to try to find these hidden cells. Viktor had killed off the previous alpha, which is how he became alpha, and imprisoned his oldest son for the last 70 years and tortured him. When she finally is able to locate these hidden cells, she and her wolf realize that the blood heir, Will, is her fated mate but he is fighting it because the wolf she has was the previous alpha’s wolf.Lots of other things happen in the book and you realize that what you THOUGHT happened, didn’t really happen – so it makes me wonder how the transfer even happened. But I don’t want to ruin the story for you! Read this! Definitely worth it!
This was a great book 1 in the Defiance Collection. Growing up as an orphan after her parents died, Chloe didn’t realize that she was a witch until she was 16. Now part of a coven, she has a family again. When out in the woods with her coven, they run across a young girl about to be violated by 3 men who were wolf shifters. When she challenged the alpha and killed him, she took ownership of his pack, and the moon goddess gave her a wolf AND left her with her witch powers – which was VERY uncommon so she is scared to let anyone know that she is a hybrid. When she returns with the girl to the pack lands, she realizes that the previous alpha, Viktor, was horrible to his people and they were scared of him and his inner circle, so Chloe has to clean house. She is told that multiple people are being held in the dungeons for crimes that weren’t bad enough for that, so she has to try to find these hidden cells. Viktor had killed off the previous alpha, which is how he became alpha, and imprisoned his oldest son for the last 70 years and tortured him. When she finally is able to locate these hidden cells, she and her wolf realize that the blood heir, Will, is her fated mate but he is fighting it because the wolf she has was the previous alpha’s wolf.Lots of other things happen in the book and you realize that what you THOUGHT happened, didn’t really happen – so it makes me wonder how the transfer even happened. But I don’t want to ruin the story for you! Read this! Definitely worth it!
Mari Vidalperez
2024-08-09
pack love
Chloe is a witch, and she didnt know until her teens and her covenant train her to control her powers. while walking they encounter three wolves trying to Asd a child and Chloe intervene fight and save the girl, Now she is the Alpha because she fought the Alpha who was one of the atțàçķèřrs. The pack was a little hesitate because she is a witch and a wolf which she keeps a secret. She find out the pack and the member have been disapperíñġ or send in jail for no reason. she try to find them and thwy find the rightful heir to the pack. which is Chloe mate.I love the book but its was confusing at time and the storyline was all over the place.
Chloe is a witch, and she didnt know until her teens and her covenant train her to control her powers. while walking they encounter three wolves trying to Asd a child and Chloe intervene fight and save the girl, Now she is the Alpha because she fought the Alpha who was one of the atțàçķèřrs. The pack was a little hesitate because she is a witch and a wolf which she keeps a secret. She find out the pack and the member have been disapperíñġ or send in jail for no reason. she try to find them and thwy find the rightful heir to the pack. which is Chloe mate.I love the book but its was confusing at time and the storyline was all over the place.
Sassy Southern Book Blog
2024-08-08
Loved it!!!!!
Who doesn't love a paranormal romance with true mates. Throw in so many hard obstacles that the Luna and Alpha must face. Some together and some apart. I read this book in one day. I literally could not put it down. This author just went to the top of my favorite list. It was very slow burn and had a full story outside of the bedroom!!! - By Tasha
Who doesn't love a paranormal romance with true mates. Throw in so many hard obstacles that the Luna and Alpha must face. Some together and some apart. I read this book in one day. I literally could not put it down. This author just went to the top of my favorite list. It was very slow burn and had a full story outside of the bedroom!!! - By Tasha
Kelly
2024-08-07
Intriguing Werewolf Romance
I have been devouring werewolf / shifter romances lately so this fit into my Werewolf era and I enjoyed it!Without giving too much away, the female main character (FMC) is a bad@ss character who can hold her own. She ends up challenging an alpha which puts her into the Werewolf world and politics. I really enjoyed seeing what it takes to make a pack and how a pack works internally. You get an amazing look into a pack and it’s politics which made this read so interesting and captivating.This is an adult romance but the spicy scenes are fairly quick and not too drawn out. It’s also a slow burn which I LOVE!If you like werewolf romances and enjoy how a pack runs, this book is for you!
I have been devouring werewolf / shifter romances lately so this fit into my Werewolf era and I enjoyed it!Without giving too much away, the female main character (FMC) is a bad@ss character who can hold her own. She ends up challenging an alpha which puts her into the Werewolf world and politics. I really enjoyed seeing what it takes to make a pack and how a pack works internally. You get an amazing look into a pack and it’s politics which made this read so interesting and captivating.This is an adult romance but the spicy scenes are fairly quick and not too drawn out. It’s also a slow burn which I LOVE!If you like werewolf romances and enjoy how a pack runs, this book is for you!
Catherine Kubeczka
2024-08-04
Super unique world building!
Chloe is such a beautiful character - and I adore her kindness and morality. She has a very just way of looking at the world and I love that she sticks to her sense of values throughout. I appreciated that the story touches on the lasting effects of trauma - which is so important. The world-building is really interesting and uniquely thought out too! It picks up a lot in the end and definitely has a more abrupt ending/cliff hanger. The dialogue at times feels a little too formal for my taste, but all in all in a quick and fun read!
Chloe is such a beautiful character - and I adore her kindness and morality. She has a very just way of looking at the world and I love that she sticks to her sense of values throughout. I appreciated that the story touches on the lasting effects of trauma - which is so important. The world-building is really interesting and uniquely thought out too! It picks up a lot in the end and definitely has a more abrupt ending/cliff hanger. The dialogue at times feels a little too formal for my taste, but all in all in a quick and fun read!
Jessi
2024-07-06
Action Packed but Cozy
Chloe Rowan, a powerful witch with the rare ability to harness all five elements, unexpectedly becomes the alpha of a werewolf pack. As she navigates her newfound responsibilities, she grapples with love, loyalty, and a web of lies. The book seamlessly blends action, kindness, and courage, inviting readers into a cozy and magical world where standing up for what matters is paramount.From the opening chapter, Alexandria plunges readers into high stakes action. For a minute there I was wondering if I was ready for it, but I enjoyed how that feeling mirrored what Chloe had to have also been thinking having immediately had the burden of pack Alpha placed on her shoulders. The action is continuous, but there is a cozy undercurrent throughout that feels so warm and inviting. I enjoyed the kindness among all of these characters, and reading this book really did feel healing to me, which is something that I appreciated.Before this book, my werewolf experience was limited, and Alexandria does an excellent job building a clear cut world without any knowledge gaps. I felt fully informed the whole way through, and any questions I had were being investigated along the way. As relationships build during Chloe’s transition into the pack, she helps to heal old wounds, and the more people she meets, the more she heals herself as well. The romance comes last, and it’s sweet with a hint of spice and just the right amount of that signature coziness that’s laced throughout the rest of Alexandria’s writing.I really enjoyed this book, especially the emphasis on courage and kindness, and I can’t wait to read more from this universe!
Chloe Rowan, a powerful witch with the rare ability to harness all five elements, unexpectedly becomes the alpha of a werewolf pack. As she navigates her newfound responsibilities, she grapples with love, loyalty, and a web of lies. The book seamlessly blends action, kindness, and courage, inviting readers into a cozy and magical world where standing up for what matters is paramount.From the opening chapter, Alexandria plunges readers into high stakes action. For a minute there I was wondering if I was ready for it, but I enjoyed how that feeling mirrored what Chloe had to have also been thinking having immediately had the burden of pack Alpha placed on her shoulders. The action is continuous, but there is a cozy undercurrent throughout that feels so warm and inviting. I enjoyed the kindness among all of these characters, and reading this book really did feel healing to me, which is something that I appreciated.Before this book, my werewolf experience was limited, and Alexandria does an excellent job building a clear cut world without any knowledge gaps. I felt fully informed the whole way through, and any questions I had were being investigated along the way. As relationships build during Chloe’s transition into the pack, she helps to heal old wounds, and the more people she meets, the more she heals herself as well. The romance comes last, and it’s sweet with a hint of spice and just the right amount of that signature coziness that’s laced throughout the rest of Alexandria’s writing.I really enjoyed this book, especially the emphasis on courage and kindness, and I can’t wait to read more from this universe!
Emily Woods
2024-05-27
Amazing debut novel!!
This is definitely an author to watch, she's definitely going to keep producing wonderful, relatable characters
This is definitely an author to watch, she's definitely going to keep producing wonderful, relatable characters
Anna Min
2024-04-09
What's been missing in fiction...
Ms. Swanson’s debut novel Defiance is a delightful weekend binge!As an elder millennial whose guilty pleasure is feminist young adult fantasy, Defiance was a great read. Ms. Swanson has proven that diversity is an asset to fleshing out characters in a limitless new universe, rather than tokenism to appease DEI requirements.I also love that the main villain is not so much a character, but rather a condition, that of PTSD.If this book is a reflection of Ms Swanson’s character and personality, than she is someone who is thoughtful, brave, and compassionate beyond what we believe we deserve in our lowest moments.I eagerly look forward to delving further into this series. Put me on the preorder list!!---The above was my wife's review – we both binged the book! As someone who rarely reads fiction... (reasons below) it was a delightful break from my otherwise "how to" reading. It was refreshing how personally relevant the issues were!Instead of creating some horrible dystopian reality that keeps you up at night, Defiance is among the healthiest and enjoyable reads I've had.I'd read more fiction like this. 10/10 recommend.
Ms. Swanson’s debut novel Defiance is a delightful weekend binge!As an elder millennial whose guilty pleasure is feminist young adult fantasy, Defiance was a great read. Ms. Swanson has proven that diversity is an asset to fleshing out characters in a limitless new universe, rather than tokenism to appease DEI requirements.I also love that the main villain is not so much a character, but rather a condition, that of PTSD.If this book is a reflection of Ms Swanson’s character and personality, than she is someone who is thoughtful, brave, and compassionate beyond what we believe we deserve in our lowest moments.I eagerly look forward to delving further into this series. Put me on the preorder list!!---The above was my wife's review – we both binged the book! As someone who rarely reads fiction... (reasons below) it was a delightful break from my otherwise "how to" reading. It was refreshing how personally relevant the issues were!Instead of creating some horrible dystopian reality that keeps you up at night, Defiance is among the healthiest and enjoyable reads I've had.I'd read more fiction like this. 10/10 recommend.
