Get the scoop on the second book in the ASSASSIN FALL series straight from the author!

Aden Polydoros‘ Project Pandora introduced us to a world of spies, assassins, and conspiracies filled with pulse-pounding action and two teens try to unravel the mystery of what’s happening to them when their seemingly normal lives are disrupted. Tyler and Shannon are just trying to protect themselves and each other at first, but the sequel, Project Prometheus, will see the two actively working to take down The Academy, who used them to create death and chaos.

In honor of the sequel hitting shelves next week, we talked the Aden Polydoros about what’s next for our sly group of assassins, Hades’ surprise rise to fame, and the inspirations that helped him along his writing journey!

How did writing Project Prometheus compare to writing the first book in the series, Project Pandora?

It was actually a lot easier to write Project Prometheus than Project Pandora. One of the hardest things about beginning a novel is getting to understand what drives the main characters. When I began writing Project Prometheus, I already knew all about the characters, the backstory, and the setting. The beginning was clear in my mind, and I already had the majority of the plot planned out. I’m usually a pantser, so it was nice to already have the entire story in my head before I even started writing.

Can you tease some of the new challenges Shannon, Tyler, and Hades will face this time around?

The challenges Shannon, Tyler, and Hades face in Project Prometheus are a lot more personal this time around. The teens know who their enemies are and have histories with them. Aside from the overall struggle for survival, the characters will also have to decide how far they’ll go for revenge or justice, and what they’re willing to sacrifice. Tyler’s and Shannon’s morals will be tested, while Hades will learn the extent of his capacity for destruction.

What after your favorite sequences to write? Action, romance, bits of humor?

Definitely the action. When I’m writing, the action sequences are the ones that flow onto the page. Romance and humor require a bit more thought and consideration. I also love writing scenery descriptions and really trying to immerse the reader in the setting.

In between books one and two in the series, you wrote Hades Rising, a novella that dives into Hades’ backstory. Why do you think readers are so fascinated by this character and why was it important to explore his story more?

When reviews from the first book came filtering in, I discovered that a lot of readers liked Hades. I think it’s because his character provides an interesting perspective and raises a lot of questions about humanity, free will, and morals. Hades isn’t governed by the same moral codes as Shannon and Tyler, and unlike them, he has nothing to gain by running away—and nothing left to lose. When I was figuring out his character, I didn’t want him to come across as a one-dimensional, irredeemable killer. I wanted to take the ambiguity of Frankenstein’s monster and pair it with the charisma of Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost. I feel like these qualities give appealing depth to his character.

There were a few reasons I decided to focus on his backstory for the novella. Out of all the characters in the first book, he is most affected by his past. He can’t move beyond the past, and his personality was changed irrevocably by what was done to him. I also thought that it would be interesting to explore who he was before he gained his codename.

When we talked about Project Pandora just before its release, you mentioned some songs that inspired you as you wrote. Were there any standout songs you rocked out to while crafting Project Prometheus?

Most of the songs I listened to for Project Prometheus were also on my Project Pandora playlist. However, since I was working a YA fantasy manuscript while writing and revising Project Prometheus, there was some leak over between playlists. I ended up with a unique mix of genres. The playlist included songs like:

Lorde – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

Godsmack – “Bulletproof”

ReVamp – “Sweet Curse”

Eluveitie – “Inis Mona”

Mezarkabul – “Gündüz Gece”

Other than your own, who are some of your favorite badass characters to watch or read about?

There are too many to count, haha. Recently, I’ve been binging Netflix shows. Ryan Hardy in The Following and Eleven in Stranger Things are total badasses.

As for novels, Katniss in The Hunger Games and Yael in Wolf by Wolf are at the top of the list as well.

After Project Prometheus hits bookshelves, what’s next for you?

Right now, I’m focusing on my newest work in progress, a young adult thriller about the survivor of a doomsday cult. I have a few other projects I’m working on or have planned for the future. I hope that the Assassin Fall series is just the start of what will be a lifelong career in writing.

Project Prometheus (Assassin Fall #2) is out on August 28, 2018. You can preorder it now via…

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Indiebound | Kobo | Entangled Publishing

The Academy stole everything from Hades, their perfect assassin. Angry and leaving bodies in his wake, he finds two other ex-assassins doing the exact same thing.

Tyler and Shannon once killed for The Academy. Now they’re tracking and hunting down its scientists. So why is The Academy only after Hades?

Shannon will do whatever it takes to protect Tyler, even if it means teaming up with a former rival. While she seeks answers to her past, Tyler wants to learn the truth about the mysterious white room, which no one has ever seen except him.

As for Hades? He simply wants revenge.

They all need answers, even if it means returning to the organization where it all started.