Sparks
By: RS McCoy
Release Date: Dec. 4, 2014
"Everyone
in the world has a spark, a light inside
that guides them, keeps them alive.”
Myxini
School for Children specializes in training
young men and women who have
powerful sparks. Strikers are taught to manipulate fire. Trackers learn to find
animals in the most formidable terrains. Handlers are instructed in
communication with large predators. But forty years have passed since the last
time they had a Reader – a student with the ability to read minds.
When Lark
Davies enrolls at Myxini, he knows
there aren’t many like him, but he doesn’t
realize just how rare his abilities really are. He thinks nothing of being
asked to keep his spark a secret; after all, he can barely control it. Thoughts
and emotions flood unbidden into his mind until he can scarcely walk or hold a
conversation. But just when he needs it most, his ability fails him.
Lark meets
Khea, a small frightened girl who
mysteriously insights his protective nature.
He has no explanation for the curious strength of their relationship, and it
doesn’t help that she is one of the few people in the world whose thoughts
can’t be read. As he struggles to get to the root of their unique bond, Lark
begins to unravel more power than even his mentor expected, but in the process
makes himself a target to political leaders eager to take control.
RS McCoy didn’t ever plan on being a writer. With a career
teaching high school science, writing is the last thing she expected. But life
never goes the way you think it will. While battling cancer, she picked up her
laptop and let the words flow out. One year later, her first published fantasy
novel will be released on Amazon soon and her second novel is in the works. She
is a wife, mother of one with another on the way, a scientist, baker, gardener,
and life-long science fiction and fantasy addict.
Just when I thought I was about
to have to make a hard choice, a new student arrived at Combat Training and I
knew the hardest one was still ahead of me: Khea.
She wore light blue, and held
her blonde hair out of her face with a braid. She looked better than when I
last saw her: she'd put on a few pounds which got rid of her starved look, her
clothes fit properly, and she was clean. Girls at Myxini wore brown fitted
pants, and her narrow knees were the only hint of what she'd been like before.
I ran over to her as soon as I
saw her, but the blank expression she wore made it clear she wasn’t all that
pleased to see me. It had been months, and I'd almost thought she'd gone home,
or hadn't had a bright enough spark after all. I could have jumped and yelled from
excitement to see her.
“Khea?”
“Lark, have you met my mentor
Mathias?” She turned to look at a middle aged man who stood behind her. I
couldn’t get a read on either one, though it was hard to tell in the commotion
of the training area. He wore the gray coverings that all mentors wore, and
despite the age on his face, his golden hair matched the yellow pendant about
his neck; which itself was inlaid with a black stone spider.
“Where have you been all this
time?”
“Training, of course. Haven’t
you?”
“Well, yes, but–. Why haven’t I
seen you?”
“Mathias is responsible for all
my lessons.” She was cold and dismissive, almost as if I bothered her. I
couldn’t believe it. Why is she being so
weird? I only wanted to make sure she was safe, that she was taken care of.
What happened?
With a wave of dismissal she
walked past me to challenge Parvani and I was sure my mouth dropped to the
ground. Does she have any idea what she’s
doing?
“Is she crazy?” Micha asked. He
seemed more worried for her mental faculties than her general well-being,
though I couldn’t disagree.
They stood and faced each other
as Sinha commenced the fight. Khea was at least a full foot shorter than
Parvani and looked like she could be her toy. I didn’t imagine Parvani was
going to let her down easy.
In a moment of what must have
been suicidal desire, Khea lunged, blocked a punch, and landed her fist square
on Parvani’s cheek before the larger girl dropped onto her back on the ground. It
was the most impressive display I had ever seen. Once she knew what she was up
against, Parvani put in real effort to fight, and for a while, it seemed as if
they were evenly matched. The final blow came when Khea grabbed Parvani's
wrist, spun around her, and forced her to the ground. “Yield,” Parvani let out,
defeated.
Without a word to me or Micha,
Khea walked back to Mathias and he led her away. It was all I could think about
the rest of the day, and into the next morning. What happened to Khea? Where has she been all this time and why is she
so distant now? And since when was she some sort of combat master?
The next day Khea returned alone
and challenged Shaz, a move that made me feel that Micha might have been right.
Unlike Parvani, Shaz only lasted a measly few minutes before the pain in his
leg prompted a yield. That time I was able to catch her before she left.
“Hey, Khea. What’s going on? Why
won’t you talk to me?”
“I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to.”
“You’re not allowed to? Says
who? That Mathias guy?” It seemed outlandish that anyone should be prevented
from seeing me, particularly Khea.
She nodded before she replied,
“I’m not supposed to talk to you. Please leave me alone.” Right then a boulder
fell from the sky and crushed me. I just wanted to make sure she was alright. Why would someone prevent that? What
made it worse was that she went along with it. She hadn’t fought against it or
refused to follow his rules. My insides ached in a new kind of pain.
Here are some maps that the story is around.
This is a great story from a first time author. I loved
every minute of it. I would classify the story as a paranormal. I am hoping
this is what the author was going for because it had you mind readers, ability to
move elements, hearing animals, and many more.
Lark is a sweet, good, caring, loving guy. He from childhood
is a child every parent could be proud of. His ability of reading minds throughout
the book, making it better. I fell instantly in love with him. He was a great
character to get to know. He was an awesome hunter too.
Khea is just like the synopsis says. She is a small,
frightened girl. She comes into her own though. You will have to read to find
out how. I will say that Lark and Khea are a special pair even more so being
together.
This has a sweet love story to it. I am hoping for a sequel.
I am giving this book 4.5 hearts. It was a change of pace for me that I needed.
4.5 out of 5 Hearts
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