About Dakota
Dakota Banks is an accomplished author recognized for her bold blend of urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, and mythology-driven adventure.
With a lifelong fascination for archaeology and ancient cultures, she creates immersive worlds where myth, history, and high-stakes storytelling intersect.
Before launching her fantasy career, Dakota published six suspense thrillers under other names,
drawing on her background in forensic science trends, computer simulation, and virtual reality.
Although those early works earned a strong readership and over 600,000 published words, Dakota
discovered her true creative direction when she began developing the Mortal Path series, a world
where mythological elements, archaeology, and action-driven storytelling come together with powerful emotional depth.
The Mortal Path series follows Maliha Crayne, a complex and formidable heroine navigating a
long journey of courage, justice, and redemption. The series concludes with Quest, released in November 2025,
delivering a global, high-intensity finale grounded in ancient legends, danger, teamwork, and the pursuit of balance.
Dakota is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and lives in the area with her husband. Their two sons,
adopted from Peru and Ethiopia, are well on their way to independent lives. She is also assisted by her two cats,
Snickers and Squeaks, who frequently “contribute” to her drafts by walking across the keyboard.
Dakota is a member of International Thriller Writers, the Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America,
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Mensa International.
