Fail the tests and become a slave. Display defectiveness and be put to death. Monroe Academy was built to separate the weak from the strong. Pass the biyearly leveling and be released into society upon graduation. Fail to be promoted and be stripped of rank and forced into servitude. That was a rule that applied to all but Rayah Bardeau. A student of Monroe Academy, branded as a Null because of … branded as a Null because of her absence of Lighter energy. With her mother standing as a slave in her place, Rayah was given until the age of twenty to make level six, but at nineteen-years-old and with only eight months until her twentieth birthday, she was only a mere level one. The same level she’s been since she was ten.
With the stress of her upcoming test, the loss of a friend, and the constant wrongdoings towards her, Rayah could only dream of escaping from Lytonia, and escape she did. Only, when she awakened in her dorm, she couldn’t distinguish if she had only dreamt of meeting Soren, a wild and adventurous defect in the Wild Lands, or if she had somehow used her Lighter Form to get there.
But only the elite ― the most powerful of Lighters ― could tap into their Lighter Forms. Right?
And what was the dark energy she used when she and Soren were attacked by Depleters? Was Rayah really as powerless as she thought? Was she a defect? And if she used dark energy, could she call herself a Lighter at all?
Bestselling author Destiny Hawkins brings you the first installment of a gripping dark fantasy where a powerless girl must survive in a society that doesn’t accept the weak…or the defective.
“When I started reading this book I was not prepared for the sheer level of adventure I would experience. This book is along the same lines as the Divergent series, and just as action packed!” ★★★★★
“Given how many books I read, it’s not often I can say that I haven’t seen something before, but this storyline is unlike anything I’ve read.” ★★★★★
“This is completely different from what I’m used to reading….but I definitely fell in love with this world that Destiny Hawkins created.” ★★★★★
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With each dystopian/fantasy book I read I’ve realized I am loving this genre. This is my first book by this author and it is fantastic. The characters are interesting and well developed. The author has created an amazing world and I was captivated by the story with each page I read. Rayah is the main character and I felt so bad with everything she went through just trying to fit in. I don’t want to say too much so you should definitely check out this book and I hope you love it as much as I did.
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Omg this book was not what I was expecting at all. It gritty and dark. Destiny Hawkins created a world unlike anything I’ve ever read and I was completely captivated.
Rayah is a Null, a person who has no Light powers and is constantly tormented at the Academy for this defect. Rayah is beaten, bullied, and constantly tortured for what she is, or isn’t. But she puts on a strong face and never let’s anyone see her being vulnerable. She keeps her head held high and is one od the strongest characters I have ever seen. I have tons of respect for her and loved how strong her will is. Not only that there is more to Rayah than even she knows. This made her an interesting character. I also loved Soren. He’s like a breath od fresh air in her cold world. Whenever he’s around things don’t seem so bad. I loved his character and he is pretty awesome.
The breakdown of powers and life in Lytonia is very intricate and I loved learning about all the abilities which shape this society. There is also the Wild Lands where Soren lives, which turns out not to be what Rayah has been taught in school. I think I like life in the Wild Lands far more. There is magic, beauty, and danger, but there is also a freedom that Rayah longs for.
I really enjoyed this book and am so excited for the next book. I really like the main characters. They are strong and bright. The uniqueness of the story is addictive and masterfully done. I highly recommend this book.
Just like the Divergent Series but better
The Descendants by Destiny Hawkins is an awesome read that will leave you wanting more luckily there is more. It’s beautiful and remarkable characters you can’t help but root for them. A new kind of story with bits of surprises. I would highly recommend. Now on to The Calling book 2 in the Descendants Series.
https://robinsreviewcom.wordpress.com/2021/07/13/the-skeleton-lake-2/
Enjoy isn’t the right word to describe how I felt about this book. It’s not a “happy” book, but it was a very good read. It was very intense and I really fell in love with the main character. I very much look forward to continuing the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the characters and story were both well developed. I loved the character individual personalities and watching the character relationship dynamics alter and evolve through the book. The story had plenty of twists and turns. There was action, suspense, intrigue and emotion. I’d highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in this series!!
I received an arc for a voluntary review.
The three of them were best friends.and the only thing making the Monroe Academy bearable. Suddenly, Tristan was taken away to be a slave, he had failed to progress in his lighter ability. That left Carmen, who had already passed her requirements and Rayah, a person without lighter power, a Null. Shortly after Tristan is taken, Rayah is attacked and beaten quite badly. Surprisingly her torturer Artemis provides the evidence to prove the crime occurred. But in the nation of Lytonia, things were never free. Outside the walls life was free but here there were always consequence and fear. Rayah only has a few months to show her power or she becomes a slave to her tormenter, Artemis.
This is the first book in a fantasy series. It is a great starter, filled with amazingly developed characters. The narrative does an excellent job of describing the setting and letting the reader know more about the characters. The dialogue is well done. The author creates a whole new world with unique societal practices and creative characters with interesting powers. The history is relayed making this world seem real. This book does a fantastic job of grabbing the reader’s interest and I am looking forward to more of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has completed a whole new believable society. Rayah is at the bottom, a null, because she believes she has no ability to use the sun’s energy as a weapon. She dreams of freedom. Will she achieve it or will she die for lack being a Lighter ?Fast paced book but sometimes sneaky with where the author is going. Unfortunately, I wasn’t fond of the ending. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
WOW! This book was great! At first I was not sure if I would like this book, but once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. This a fantasy book about a girl who didn’t know who she was and was mistreated by so many. When she finds a world she was not sure was real, she finds herself.
Freaking fantastic!
Lately I was reading books from completely different genre and I forgot how fantastic and amazing feeling it is to deep dive to the perfectly created foreign world. I enjoyed every single word of this story. The plot is so perfectly thought through that just kept me captivated. I wanted to get my lighter form and experience all of the events myself even the most cruel and dangerous ones.
I fell in love with the characters, with the story, with the way author puts it all in words. How it transformed in my mind it was almost as I would watch it on the big screen. This book convinced me that there’s nothing better than great fantasy story to dive in and forget about anything else… but then there is this feeling of emptiness when you need to go back to your reality… I just need more of this, can’t wait to jump right into next part.
Rayah is different than the others at the Academy, and she is running out of time to find her powers. After losing one friend, she isn’t sure how much more she can take. Then somehow she finds herself meeting Soren and doesn’t know what to think.
I really enjoyed this, and can’t wait to see what happens next!
This book is a dystopian/fantasy type world where magical gifts showed what class or respect you will receive. There is abuse and bullying not only by other students but by the professors who are teaching the students.
Rayah is considered a null but because of her parents she keeps getting chances to have her gifts appear before she becomes a slave to one of the very abusive professors that she endures the most pain from. The way she fights through such pain shows strength but can she continue to refrain from committing suicide by using her “dreamworld” to get through or will the bullying and pain be too much to bare. Read to find out. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here.
What a fantastic book! I’ve never read a book like this. I loved it! In a place called Lytonia, you are either a powerful lighter or your a slave. A lighter is a person who can use their powers to produce a ball of energy (a light) that can be used to fight with. You have from the ages 10 to 20 to prove yourself. Rayah has less than a year to prove herself. To show some kind of power and get to level 6. Most her age have a little power. Either are a level 1, 2 or higher. But she’s currently a null. A null is someone who has no powers. And if they don’t reach a certain level as expected at a certain age they become slaves to those who do have powers. She lives in the city and those that live outside the city are considered rebellions. The city has rules and regulations and Rayah was given a second chance, which never happens, usually there are no second chances but she has got to try to reach a level at least, to have a chance to free her mother and herself. I can’t say enough good things about this book! I’m so excited to read more of this series.