Spirits

Sparks Saga #2

by R.S. McCoy

"Loving her was easier when I thought we were going to die."

With a new home on an island that prizes human sacrifice, Lark finds that reading minds is not enough. As he battles the tragedies that haunt him, his queen insists on the continuation of the violent practice, and he is powerless against her unrivaled Spark and uncompromising authority.

In order to stop her, Lark needs to learn the secrets of the spirits of the world. Only there isn't much time. War looms just over the horizon.

Now including Chapter One of Schism.

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Length: Novel, 302 pages
Series: Book Two of Three in Sparks Saga

Genres: Fantasy

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2014

About the author

Rachel McCoy is a Texan living in Baltimore. Between binge-watching MTV reality shows and baking gluten-free treats, she writes paranormal fantasy and science fiction novels.

She is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Sparks Saga trilogy, The Alder Tales series, and The Extraction Files. Back when she lived in the real world, Rachel earned a degree in marine biology, which contributed to her die-hard love of manta rays.

To connect with RS McCoy (or swap recipes), visit her on her website (www.rsmccoyauthor.com) or check out her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AuthorRSMcCoy). You can also join her newsletter to receive release updates, free stories, and bonus extras (http://eepurl.com/YItp1).

Reviews

[Kimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holding my breath as this beautiful story unfolded

The details of every little thing catapults you into the story! The next book cannot get here fast enough.
I highly recommend it.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second part of a trilogy. I'm sorry to say as good as the first book was, spending the first quarter of the second installment rehashing issues from the ending of the first book is boring. Lark, who has the ability to read other people and feel what they feel, had tragic moments in the end of the first book. Close friends died and he could feel the horror of it all. His true love, made queen after killing the queen of the clan, is in conflict with Lark.

The first quarter of this book rehashes the dark feelings he has about the death of his friends and his lover for Khea and the issues he has with her ruling as queen. I have to stop reading here. I want the plot to move forward and yet the author keeps dragging and rehashing the problems. We get it, now move us further along.

I may be missing a good ending of the second installment and possibly a good third book, but I have no desire to read further into the series. The beginning of the 2nd book killed that.

[Michael Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spirits is the second book in the Sparks series. In this book, Khea is queen and Lark is by her side. They are expecting a baby, but Lark must venture out and try to learn to master all of the possible sparks in order to come back and repel and invasion from his former leaders.

The book starts out pretty negatively. Lark is extremely distressed about the death of all of his friends and he is constantly lashing out with profanities and violence. He keeps all this darkness bottled up and wears a ring so nobody can see inside his mind. He spends most of this time (and most of the book actually) keeping secrets, never fully communicating with those he loves, and generally being a bit of a negative bore.

Eventually though the novel finally picks up as he ventures off in search of mastering all the sparks. And as he learns these, explores the world, helps those around him, and ultimately reaches his full potential, the book really takes me back to those things I loved about the first novel. Plus, there is a ton of world-building, exploring, and mystery here. Some of the sparks and what they can do were just amazing.

So as to what I didn't like: Lark was a pretty unlikable character for the beginning of the book, and I really had to push myself to keep reading through the negativity and boring parts until I got to the good stuff. Also, the book has way too much profanity in my opinion for a fantasy. It just really took me out of the world.

So overall, I kindof hated the first part of the book, and loved the last half. I am looking forward to reading the third one though, when we should get to see Lark and Khea use their full powers to face off against their old masters.

NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affects my thoughts as expressed in this review*
After how big a fan I was of the first book in this series, it's no question that I was excited to read Spirits. RS McCoy knows how to tell a story, to create a world that you happily get lost in, I've said this before but I just have to restate it. Spirits was no different than Sparks in that aspect. I found myself reading page after page of this book absolutely devouring it. There were little surprises here and there that I did not see coming. My favorite part? The opening lines I have to say. Pulled me right back into Lark's mind and set the tone for the book.

It had been several, several months since I had read Sparks(okay, I snuck a reread of it, so about 3 months) and yet I was able to step right back into this world so seamlessly. I would like to say that the author's writing style or flow or whatever you want to call it was just as good in this book as it was in the first, but I can't. That's because it was better. I highly recommend you go out right now and get yourself a copy of both Sparks and Spirits. You won't be disappointed. These timeless books will grab hold of your thoughts long after you've read them. I cannot talk about them enough! These are honestly gems of the indie/self publishing industry.

[a_tiffyfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book continues where the first left off. And I really enjoyed this one as well! Khea and Lark are now the Queen and prince and living a vastly differently life from whence they came. Khea has many duties and obligations and needs to learn much about her people. Lark is struggling with what can only be termed as PTSD; he lost so many of his friends right in front of him and is suffering from nightmares over and over. To top that, he must learn to control his new gifts from his bond with Khea.

It was a great adventure following Lark as he discovers how to see gifts the way Khea views them and to speak with the spirits. I can't wait to see how this ends.

[iamnotabookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was supposed to finish the Sparks Saga series last January but wasn't. I realized I signed up for too many blog tours that I had to review two or three books a week. Last March, I joined only a few tours so I could catch on my too long TBR. True enough, I was able to read a few books that had been in my list for months.

Spirits is book two of the series. When I landed on the first page of the first chapter, it felt like no time has passed since the first book. It was the best feeling ever. It felt like the adventure was not interrupted with the ending of the first book. The adventure goes on as if there was no necessary pause. It felt like I was back in familiar territory. I was in my comfort zone.

This second installment talked about Lark and Kea's life on the island, their new home. Lark has to master his other gifts to be able to fight and defend their new home and its people. With this, he found that the best way to master his abilities in a short time would be to find the Spirits. So, Lark, went on a quest to find the spirits and convince them to give him the power to master the elements and objects of their domain.

Wow! Lark went on amazing adventures and met new friends. Undoubtedly, his quest was not anything easy. His adventures were the best part of this story. He has accomplished amazing and extraordinary feats while trying not to worry too much about Kea and the baby inside her womb.

I was so mesmerized and so involved in this story. I was hoping that Lark will survive each journey and find what he was seeking for. In the end, with his strength of character, his resourcefulness and his faith in himself made him successful in all his endeavors even with a lot of odds against him. He also found very unlikely allies that he thought have gone and left him. Yet, with his new abilities, he was able to summon help from very unexpected places. Thus, helping him also deal with all the issues he was battling with. Really, really amazing and unbelievable.

I realized I should have read this sooner. Good thing I read this book and the third one right after the other. It was the most wonderful journey ever. I give this book 5/5 hot balls of flames. Like Lark being consumed by his guilt and anger for what happened to his friends and his best friend. This book will do the same to you. You will be consumed and engulfed in this story and won't stop until you reach the last page. You won't leave Lark until he gets to terms with his grief and guilt and master his gifts.

Anger is the seed. It is the ember to create all the flames you need.
- RS McCoy, Spirits -


Thank you again, RS McCoy for the copy.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband recommended this series to me. It was a fun read. I loved the tribal elements of the story mixed with more of a medieval setting. All this is mixed with the sparks, which are basically powers some people have in this world. Good story.

[Patricia Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lark is adjusting to his new reality in Nabke, but he’s haunted by horrible nightmares and a darkness that are slowly consuming him. Protecting Khea means shutting himself off from her and their affinity. It can’t last, though, for doing so is tearing a void between them. He and Avis leave her to pursue a quest that they hope will cure Lark of the darkness and, at the same time, develop his latent Sparks. All in a race against time itself.

This book is an excellent continuation of the first. The main focus is on Lark’s quest to discover the origins of the Sparks, building the magic and mythology of the story in a rather fun way. Having no one to teach him (not even Khea, whom he has shut off for her own good), he and Avis are forced to rely on Nabken folklore and religious mythology to master the various sparks. I love how the story takes on a bit of mystery and a growing sense of urgency as events take shape that will threaten all that Lark holds dear.

I also love the add-on character, Sumatrae, though I think the relationship comes a bit conveniently. Still, it makes Lark all the more awesome. The Sage in Tlaloc is also pretty neat. She’s both powerful and powerless, an interesting mix. The tale of the copper is my favorite part. The darkest, scariest tale is the one about water, and the malevolent goddess that guards its secrets. I call these tales because they read like mini stories within the whole, but they flow together quite well. The others I won’t describe due to spoilers. They were equally intriguing though.

I noticed a few more typos in this one than in the last one, but they were in small, concentrated areas, and for the most part, the story is smooth and error free. Some of the names of people and places are a mouthful, but I just made up pronunciations I could handle and went with it. The naming reminds me of Mayan or Aztek, and since one of the enemy countries is Tekla Maya, I’d say it’s likely based on Mayan, though the world map is obviously a fictional world, not another dimension or alternate (somewhat magical) history.

Overall, I was impressed by the quality of the story itself, particularly the obvious evidence of a well-thought out plot and world building. I really liked this story and would strongly recommend it to folks who like fantasy, quests, and magic. I look forward to Book 3, Schism.

I received a free copy of this ebook from the author in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review. This review was written for the blog at PureTextuality.com.

[Katie (Katie's Corner Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the full review at Katie's Corner

he first book in the series is Spark and you can read the review here. But now back to today’s review. I enjoyed it a lot, but somehow it was slower paced that the first book. the book looked more into the feelings of Lark after the death of his friends. We do not see a lot of Khea, bit what we see makes us feel for her a lot. There are a lot of adventures, but the book takes its time to start and in the beginning you just want to shout at Lark. He’s wallowing in self-pity and not really paying attention to Khea.

We get to see a lot of new things in the world that RS McCoy conjured. There’s a lot of information to process and all stories about gods are really interesting, but at the same time I had this weird feeling that I’ve read them before somewhere. It was an interesting concept of how Lark thought of hos family to make the spirits obey him. The way he was trying to make himself better for Khea and his future kid. Lark’s new powers are amazing and you’ll have a heart attack at one of them. I mean, I nearly had it, but then again I was really expecting it, because it was the only way to make him stop self-pitying for his friend’s death.

To say the truth, I was quite content with only one book and I didn’t think that a sequel was needed. But when I finished Spirits I was so pumped to read the third book. I believe all the fun and action will start with the third book. This was something like a prequel to the final battle. There are still a lot of secrets that need to be unraveled. And I’m so looking forward to see their kid. What kid of abilities will he have? Are you up for a great novel with twists and intrigues that make your heart beat a lot faster? If yes, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and have fun reading!

[Twin Sisters Rockin' Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4 Rockin’ ★★★★

Spirits by RS McCoy is a mystical story about love, and finding oneself. The author continued developing the characters from the first book, Sparks. In that, the characters grow, especially Lark. In a search for answers to the ever looming darkness that has surrounded his soul, Lark and Avis set out on a journey to develop and understand the other sparks that are imbued upon Lark because of his Affinity with love, Khea.

Lark is on a quest. He is searching to learn how to control all of the gifts he has been endowed. However, he has to leave the woman he was meant to be with for eternity. Lark had to leave though, he was drowning in his own shadows and he had to learn to control it so he could be with her again…Khea, and the child they are expecting. Setting out on his journey with Avis, his mentor and dear friend, Lark seeks out the gods, and spirits.

Again, this story rocked me to the core. It is such a beautiful way to reveal magic and mystics while turning it into an amazing story. I really enjoyed following Lark and Avis on their journey to help Lark find his destiny. I look forward to finding out the rest of the story in the books to follow! Beautifully done, RS McCoy! ~TSRBR

Hero - Lark Davies 4.5 stars
Heroine - Khea Fisher 4.0 stars
Steam Level: 3.0 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No
Would I recommend this book: Yes!
Would I read other books by this author: Yes!

***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***

Spirits
R.S. McCoy

[Kayla West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this series, Sparks, when it came out, so it seemed only natural that I should decide to review this one the moment it came out. And while it started off a bit rocky for me, I was not at all disappointed.

After the events of the last book, Khea and Lark are pretty much in the lap of luxury. I mean, aside from queenly duties of Khea's, they have it really good. Okay, so maybe having to appease to a people whose culture is quite violent what with all the sacrificing and such isn't so fun, but you know what, it has to be done. Now while Khea is still an important character in this story, what with her decisions and the impending birth of her child and a possible attack in the hopefully not near future by the two people who pretty much sold her out for their own personal gain, Lark is the main focus throughout most of the book. Because it is through him salvation will come.

Lark's journey is actually quite beautiful at times, but also quite haunting. Even more so than the first book. Because in this installment, he is still haunted by the deaths of those he believes he could have saved. His dreams are mere reminders of his failure to protect those he cared about. But as he gains more and more insight on his own powers and what in fact he can do, the dreams begin to change. HE changes them. Even if he does not know it.

We are introduced to so many new characters in this book who are there to help Lark along the way, but some old characters also come back. Some beloved ones, at least to me.

I am in awe with this book. It is a perfect kind of transition for things to come. And I just know that the third book is going to bring so much to the table. I absolutely cannot wait.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read 'fantasy' books because I find them difficult to get into but this was not the case for 'Spirits'. R.S. McCoy has created a world that is relatively easy to slip into.
With the events of 'Sparks' still impacting on Lark as he struggles to come to terms with them in the form of nightmares, the decisions of his Queen and love, Khea, do not sit easy for him. With these preying heavily on his mind, Lark sets out on a journey of self-discovery to learn how to master water, earth, wind etc. Ultimately it will make him stronger and better able to protect his Queen, kingdom and future child, but with danger not too far away and the birth of his child imminent will he be able to master them in time?

There is a lot of beauty in this world as a lot of time is spent trying to master the elements of nature and you can almost feel, taste and smell the world around them. However, this is in direct contrast to the ugliness that the urban areas demonstrates, with the ugliness that people bring in not understanding the world around them which leads to destruction around them.
Lark has a lot anger that comes from the events of 'Sparks' but as he progresses on his journey he begins to let it go and begins to accept his new way of life and to understand the reasons behind Khea's decisions.

The stories behind the spirits made this into a highly enjoyable read and one that left me wanting more.

[Leslie Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story definitely kept me interested. This was a great story and it only gets better as the story continues in this version. Life has changed for Lark. He now has a life of privilege and prestige. Unfortunately the life he wanted is not enough to block out the murders that he was unable to avoid. He has lost his ability to read minds and he misses his friend, Micha. This leaves him guilt-ridden and he has trouble sleeping at night. Even his relationship with Khea has changed. His love for her is as strong as ever but he hates her decision to lift the ban on sacrifices. Despite his objections, Khea feels that sacrifices are part of their way of life and it should be seen as an honor to use sacrifice to defend their family name and settle disputes. Khea refuses to change her mind. Hoping to stop the needless killings, Lark and Avis set out to find a way to harness the power of the elements fire, wind and water and then having to perform a request from each god that controls these elements leads Lark and Avis into different discoveries. This is a great book of adventure and I look forward to see where it continues with the possible invasion of the Mayan armada.

[Alisha Frias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the goodreads cover looks. It's the sea goddess that Lark has to speak to which also give him the most trouble out of the other gods and goddesses. In this book Lark sets off on a journey at first to try and stop Khea bringing back the Nebken Sacrifices. While on his journey he wants to learn the different ways of the Sparks. And he has to call upon and speak to a few spirits. (Hence the title.)

More than halfway through the book Khea asks Lark to be there for one of his good friends fathers sacrifice. At first Lark is appalled. But he went and watched and learned. The Nebke sacrifices are not that bad. When that's the death they choose. In honor. Also on this great journey Lark learns how to be a Shaker, Striker, Drifter, and Puffer. He has yet to learn how to be a Turner. R S McCoy has a lot of new terms in these books. And if you're really not paying attention...they're kind of hard to recognize what they mean. I wish she would include a glossary in the back of each book that readers could go back and look at if unsure...but other than that this book was thought out real well and detailed. I really enjoyed it.

[BooksandBeyondFiftyShades · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if the one you loved was turning into someone else?

How far would you og to make your Spark the biggest, most powerful Spark of all, without losing who you truly are?

I enjoyed Lark's character and how much passion he had for his mission and for Khea. He was determined to overcome past obstacles and make up for previous mistakes. Lark knows what he has to do to succeed, but he is hesitant to do it.

Will Lark give in and succumb tot he darkness? Or Will he figure out a way to get what he needs on his own?

You will have to read the book to find out!!

Spirits pick up right where Spark leaves off. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the paranormal genre and those who are looking to branch out from their usual genres.

RS McCoy has an incredible imagination and I was immediately transported to a different time and place. It amazes me how an author could create such a vast world in their minds.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirits is the perfect follow-up to Sparks in R.S. McCoy's young adult fantasy series. I feel like this second book picked up in an excellent spot to allow the reader to continue following Lark's story. Though, the story in Spirits deviates from the one in Sparks.

A lot of changes come in this book. Some relationships in this book shift. Everything felt like a natural progression, though. I never once questioned if something was done just to push the plot. The sense of adventure from the characters and story still holds strong.

Just like Sparks, I really enjoyed Spirits. It had a distinct feeling that tied me to my childhood even though it's a young adult book. It's very reminiscent of the Harry Potter series and others in that respect. Fantasy fans, even those lurking on the fringe of the genre, will be drawn to this captivating series!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to Sparks. It fulfilled its role as second book (meaning, was mostly buildup) and made me excited for the third book. Its plot mirrored that of the first book a little bit, but that helped keep the overall feel of the story. I liked certain characters more than others, but they still have a chance to redeem themselves. Would I read more by this author? Yes. Would I recommend this book to others? Yes.

See the full review on my blog, Awesome Book Assessment.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the third to be released. I got this book as a review from the author, but I had already purchased and read this book.
The trials and challenges that Lark faces are not just to learn and control his powers. He faces the challenge of fighting his demons and learning who he is.
To do this he has to leave his pregnant wife to deal with trying to rule a kingdom without his help and support.

[Kristen Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Sparks saga and this series keeps getting better! This is an exciting fantasy series that I am really enjoying reading. I love the range of emotions the author takes us through and the storyline is interesting enough that I didn't want to put this book down. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend this to anyone and I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great continuation of the story from the first book in the series. I loved seeing what would happen with all the characters and it is not what you would think. The fantasy world is so amazing and heartbreaking with all the complex gods and other magical beliefs woven together with all the political conniving and treachery. Looking forward to the next book.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from RS McCoy!
I absolutely loved Sparks, the first book in this trilogy. Spirits did not let me down. The characters are written amazingly and the scenes are described perfectly. I could not put the book down, it was a real page turner!
The way this is written you can't help but love the characters, feel their pain, and their joy.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I just finished the book Spirits by RS McCoy and oh my. Let me tell you the whole story so far is just incredible! Between the love of Lark and Khea, the relationship with Avis and everything else you can't help but love the story. It's amazing and I can't wait for more!

[Penny P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was incredible! The Sparks and spirits were really interesting. I could imagine every setting really clearly. I'm so in love with Lark!