My entire life I’ve always been different from everyone else, and in Lytonia, being different is treated as a crime. In my case, I was granted a pass. I was given a second chance to prove that I could fall in line, but in my condition, that would be impossible.
In only a few months, I’m supposed to present my powers to the council and prove to them that I am worthy of walking the halls of Monroe Academy, but Artemis, my tormentor and superior officer, will stop at nothing to keep me from excelling. Being powerless and not proving myself means that I could be made a slave, and Artemis would become my master.
The issue with all of this, is that I’m not as powerless as I thought I was. For weeks I have been able to do things that only the elite lighters can do, and even though this means that I’m strong, it makes me more different than I could have ever imagined. I went from being weak to possibly as strong as a Gods Son, and I couldn’t even prove it. The standard colors of a Lytonians powers are white, royal blue, and turquoise blue.
Destiny Hawkins is a multi-genre author with a dark imagination and a love for magic.
She enjoys working on her graphic designing business : Vibrant Designs LLC, writing, listening to music, reading, and of course watching some anime! Her favorite genres to read and work in are Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Sci-fi, and young adult.
Destiny loves creating stories and building worlds that both teach and entertain! When writing she sticks to her slogan: Where beauty can be found in darkness.
Get ready for The Unbroken, Book Three of The Descendants Series!
This book carries on from the end of the first book in this series, so you do need to have read it in order to follow this one. It's a fascinating, intriguing and different if somewhat complex and emotional at times storyline. The characters are interesting and likable and you get drawn into Rayah's story. I enjoyed the book and am invested in the characters. I need Rayah to get her happy ending.
Well I loved the first book but this second just blew me out of the water! I really feel for Rayah and all that she is having to suffer through and cannot believe how vile and mean Artemis is to her as we do get a little more info as to why but not as to why he is allowed to get away with so much!! I absolutely love Soren and his village of people and the fact that Rayah can travel there is simply incredible. Now if only they could unlock her fears so she can get a handle on her powers. It’s gripping, intriguing , terrifying and I am so eager to read book three!!!
I fell in love with the series even deeper. It captured me from first page and I was staying up till late to finish it. Devoured it in one sitting. It has all the feels, the angst, the suspense, action. I really connected with Rayah and by the way the words are put on the pages was able to feel the same. I enjoyed the story line and how the plot unravelled, I'm anxious to wait for the next part but I'm sure it will be worth it. The writing is fantastic and the characters developed perfectly, even or I should say especially the villain ones. In many books I read those are lacking something but not here. I would gladly read a separate story about them. And the ending, oh wow! Didn't expect that, nor the change of the narrative neither the last scene. I loved every single sentence in this book!
This is the second book in this series and it's every bit as thrilling as book 1 - it continues the story of Rayah and her quest to find answers as to why her powers only come out when she jumps to the Wild Lands, and also why her light is not any of the standard colours of the lighters. This book is a must read to anyone who enjoys something completely different. I'm so pleased I found this author and look forward to her third installment.
The Calling is the second book in The Descendents series and it is a well-written sequel with a cliffhanger. The character of Rayah continues to develop and grow as she learns more about her powers and learns to use them with the help of her friends. Rayah still needs to know who she is and what her true powers are or risk being a slave to Artemis. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a free copy of this book.
This is the 2nd book in the series. The first one was great, but this one was amazing. I loved how we find out more about Rayah and her powers. It keeps you in suspense of what is going to happen next and it is even a little of tearjerker in there. This poor girl just can't catch a break. I can't wait to start book 3.
There is a cliffhanger at the end of this book 2 and it’s one that leaves you desperately needing to read the next book. The story is well written and intriguing, the characters are interesting and continue to be developed in this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She was given a second chance to prove that she could fall in line, but with her lack of power, that would be impossible. Rayah's entire life, she'd always been different from everyone else, and in Lytonia, being different was treated as a crime, but in her case, she was granted a pass. In only a few months, she had to present her abilities to the council and prove to them that she was worthy of walking the halls of Monroe Academy, but Artemis, her tormentor and superior officer, would stop at nothing to keep her from excelling. Being powerless and not proving herself meant that she would be transitioned into a slave, and Artemis would become her master. What Rayah realized was that she wasn't as powerless as she thought. For weeks she had been able to do things that only the elite lighters could do, and even though this meant that she was strong, it made her more different than she could have ever imagined. Rayah went from being weak to possibly being as strong as a Gods Daughter, and she couldn’t tell anyone. The standard colors of a Lytonians powers are white, royal blue, and turquoise blue. Hers were black…
This is an amazing follow up to the previous book. I am in love with this series and characters. The plot and story line are so amazingly written. I love the world building it is so descriptive. The characters are wonderfully written and fleshed out well and I love the way the author has given them their voice. Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm in a conundrum, I DID enjoy this book, the 2nd in the series but there were times I was really frustrated, I wanted to climb into the book and really give Rayah a good shake! I mean, now that Rayah has finally admitted to herself that she HAS Light, she's almost curling up in a ball trying to get away from it! I found it a bit strange that she has all this power yet "allows" herself to be subjected to the most horrifying torture at the hands of an obvious psychopath! Rayah has her relief and escapism when she Light jumps into the Wild Lands, where her relationship with Soren develops, who's such a nice guy, as is his sister Sora. Their grandmother Emerald is a bit of an enigma but a fun character. Rayah feels safe in the very place she was brainwashed to fear, although, I think the Depleters are reason enough to fear the Wild Lands, especially Psycho! There are so many people keeping so many secrets, I want to nudge them to spill the beans! I was caught off guard by Carmen, Rayah's only friend at the academy. I did enjoy the plot, I did enjoy the characters, I did enjoy the pacing and steady world building so based on my enjoyment part and not on my frustration part, I've resolved my conundrum and given this book a 4 star rating.
Good intentions don’t always breed ethical results Regardless of what founders intend, the following generations can twist and distort even the best value systems. The author portrays a really, really messed up world which uses systematic fear, pain, slavery, torture, and the threat of excommunication into the wilds as tools to ensure compliance within its draconian framework. ‘In Lytonia, being different was not a good thing’.
I was totally able to relate to the ‘energy flowing’ concept as it seems similar to grounding (internally feeling one’s body and the status of various parts). It’s a great tool for heighten self-awareness and to create empathy for others (both lacking in those who are unaware of their ADHD – and even after knowing it takes a lot of work).
Another underlying theme was that of emotions – shoving them down prevents us from using our gifts. Sometimes, we need to leave the only home we’ve known in order to become who we truly are.
The ending was pretty awesome - sets up ‘The Unbroken’ really well (starting soon).
This series, keeps getting better and I am loving it. Rayah is a null, unable to access her light power but discovered during her sleep she can jump to other places where she previously met Soren. Rayah's time is now running out and if she doesn't level up she will be collared for the rest of her life. Soren and his family are helping her as much as they can and her light begins to show but it is not what she expected. She begins to learn that she is not who she thought she was and the same for her light power, and she doesn't know if she is light or dark. But to keep herself safe she must now hide her dark power to avoid putting herself in more danger. I have loved this series from the beginning and always get excited to read the next book. How the characters have developed has been so good, especially Rayah and you cant help but love Soren. This book ended on such a cliff hanger that I cant wait for the next book.
This is a continuation from The Decendants and the second book in the series. This one stays true to the first, with its dark undertones and magical intrigue. As with the first one, it needed to be edited a little tighter. There were lots of spelling errors and dipped out of the tense often. I can generally look past it, but they were pretty frequent so it pulled me out of the story. As far as the story goes, it's wonderful. Unique and refreshing, especially for a YA book. It's got a little romance in there, but definitely not the main focus. I might have given this a 5 star, but I was not too fond of the sudden POV shift or the time jump at the end that glossed over any kind of happy moment for Rayah. After a while, it starts to get borning watching someone suffer and a little happy moment would have shined bright. I have a pretty strong feeling where the rest of the story will go, so I look forward to the next addition.
The Calling (The Descendants Series Book 2) By Destiny Hawkins
Exciting! Thrilling! Fantastic! I couldn’t put it down!
Rayah's entire life, she'd always been different from everyone else and because of it she was tortured and bullied for it. By receiving all this punishment she was not able to use her Lighter powers. But even with help from her friends in only a few months she will have to prove herself to the council of Lytonia. If she fails she will become a slave.
If you have not read one of this Destiny Hawkins books, you are so missing out, especially this series.
If you thought the first book was great wait to be blown away by the second one in the Descendants Series: The Calling. But hold on it gets even better. There is a Third one to this series coming out soon.
I'm anxious! Just wow. This series ended on a cliffhanger and I don't see the next book listed! My emotions are jumbled mess after reading this installment. This adventure just keeps me on my toes and fully invested in these characters! Soren makes me want to swoon while I also want to kick Artemis off the academy roof. I'm on the fence with Carmen, as well as suprised but curious as to Psycho connection. I definitely recommend reading the 2 novellas (The Descendant of the Damned and Children of the Gods) for the background and why I think Psycho has redeeming qualities. Rayah character is developing to become very powerful on all fronts and I know she will continue to grow if given the chance. Fingers crossed her and Soren can continue to explore their connection. Please tell me book 3 is coming soon!
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Now that Rayah has an escape route from Monroe academy, she finds life a bit more bearable. With the guidance of Soren and his sister Sora she tries to connect to her lighter abilities. But not all goes well, when she gets closer to the truth of what she is, she desperately wishes it not to be true. All points for her to be a God's daughter, but is she? Life is getting harder, and Artemis is set on making her his slave. In the Wild Lands, the depleters are set to capture Rayah because of her abilities. Will she eventually be captured and depleted?
Again a wild roller coaster story with lots of action, torture and self exploration. There are many unforeseen twists in the story. I cannot wait to follow Rayah's journey and see herself break free from Lytonian rule. But all is not well in Lytonian either.
I actually read this as a duet: The Descendants & The Calling as combined books 1 & 2. On the edge of your seat drama that keeps the reader captivated. There is a lot of sadism and violence. This first book is more of an introduction into a ‘powerless’ Rayah Bardeau’s world. Where, this world is interesting in all the definitions and terms, we follow along Rayah’s point of view. The second book involves discovering Rayah’s skills and the author provides a subtle explanation to prevent any confusion. Meeting dynamic characters and having a love interest makes this story a good read even with the minor errors in my copy. Plus the story ends on a “Whoa!” I like that we get best friend Carmen Rowski’s perspective at the end of book 2. I received an advanced unedited copy from the author to leave an honest review.
Oh my. What a ride. In book 2 of this series, Destiny Hawkins has gripped my heart and my emotions so quickly. Watching the growth of Rayah and her relationships with Soren and his family has been incredible. Her relationship with Carmen was almost heartbreaking to watch through this book. And Artemis? Someone needs to take him out, and I have a feeling I it will be Rayah. My only problem with this book is when it jumped forward in time several months and changed to Carmen's point of view instead of Rayah's. I don't mind books from different POV's, but it was very unexpected. I seriously need the next book to know what happens next in this gripping story!
This page-turner is an action packed, exciting story in an excellent series. I love the twists and turns this unpredictable story takes. The writing and the characters are so engaging, and as usual the author's world building is very vivid. Lytonia is a place that should have been a utopia, but somehow the founders got it wrong and made it an awful place, especially for anybody who does not fit the mold. Rayah is one such person; like the other women in the story, she is a strong character who is learning to come into her own. This is a good story for you if you like fantasy, strong female characters, and intriguing plot lines. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow!! I'm not sure where to start after that ending. I reread it twice just to be sure I read it correctly. So we see Rayah identify with her 'light' or is it 'dark'? And since there seems to be a multitude of colors, she can't pinpoint which class she belongs to. Everything seems to be a typical day in the life of Rayah, jumping to the wild lands, getting tortured by Artemis, getting bullied. That is, until the end. There's a time gap and it switches POV. Trust me, it's not confusing, it's brilliant thinking of an author who just so happens to be awesomely evil. I love it. And I want more, so much more!!
The 2nd book in the series The Descendants that continues where the 1st book ended. Rayah still can't find the light in her and she only has a few months left to prove herself. In her dreams she met Soren who helped her find her strength with the help of his sister and grandmother. Only what if her powers turn out to be black? What if it turns out that she is a God's daughter? Then she is no longer sure of her life in Lytonia.
A great continuation with a very exciting open end. When you have read the books, you really want to read the next part.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have no use what to say except I am hooked and invested in this series. I NEED Rayah to destroy the city. I NEED her to lay waste to Artemis!!!
So far I have loved watching Rayah grow!! It was definitely frustrating for me at the end of book 2 going into someone else's POV because I could care less about her POV but it does seem needed to bring us into book 3. I hope we continue to stay in Rayahs POV though!!
I can't wait for book 3!!! I hope it will be out soon because mannnnnnnn, the cliffhanger for this book left me screaming. I nearly threw my phone because I knew book 3 isn't out yet!! 😭😭😭
I really enjoyed this series as a whole. Books 1 & 2 were my favorite. I think this has taken the place of the Divergent series. But just like the Divergent Series, Book 3 let me down. At least it wrapped up some of the questions but the best part of book three was the beginning when it gave the future then when it jumped back for you to catch up it loses it luster some. I still give the series a 4 star rating and think you should read the whole series as anyone who is a fan of dark dystopian futuristic worlds will love this. It is different from the others, Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Divergent. This one has a different feel to it and gives a new feel to this genre.
The second installment in the Descendant series really keeps your attention as Rayah finds herself spending more time with Soren, in The Wilds. She is starting to discover who she is and has many questions. Can she trust anyone at the Academy to talk to, or will she land in the dark room for punishment? You will be drawn into her quest to find more about what is happening, while trying to survive her training as a Lighter, a sometimes difficult thing to do Be prepared for many interesting twists and turns, and unexpected events that will leave you hungry for more
Rayah continues to suffer as her torture, at the hands of Artemis, escalates. She has found an escape through her lighter form, visiting the Wild Lands where she finds Soren and his family. Will her powers finally be released? How much more can she take from Artemis and the bullies? Will she have the strength to overcome her feelings of failure? Something happens to her and she projects 'The Calling' used by Gods children to let others know that she needs help. Will Soren reach her in time? An excellent follow on with continuous action throughout. I can't wait to read book 3.
So, I read the first book so quickly Like it was a race to get here before it was gone. The lovely thing about books is they will wait for us. After a truly crappy year, I started reading the second book. The Calling. No need to go read the first again. I remembered that book. So tonight I opened The Calling. I read and pages flew. Such good story and the pacing is awesome. I actually fell in love with the characters and how they still watched each others back as well as they could. Ms Hawkins, I believe in this world you've built. Thank you!
This is getting good. It had enough editing errors that needs to be fixed. Kinda disappointed that the POV switches to Carmen the last two chapters and jumps 5 months in the future. Overall the book was a good read.
Our heroine has been tortured all of her life. She can make not rely on two people when Tristan was taken away. Soren is the knight is glowing green armor. She been having drams of the gods but what do they mean?
Amazing book. Destiny does it again. The storyline continues with Rayah and her struggle to find her powers, while still facing her physical and mental games with Artemis. She experiments with ways on how to bring them out with Soren on her trip to the Wild Lands but soon learns why her powers won't come through. With all of this going on, it's still a relief for her to know that her friend Carmen is there for her. Looking forward to the next book to see what lies ahead for Rayah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Great book, picks up after book 1 ends. Rayah is struggling to find her lighter powers and advance. Being bullied and tortured by Artemis, finding peace with Soren and so much in between. Rayah is amazing and super strong. The ending makes me want book 3 right now!! Can't wait to see what happens next, but also kind of wished there hadn't been the 5 month time jump. I wanted to see how her powers emerged and progressed. Totally need book 3 soon. I have many questions and want answers now!
Artemis is still the villain in this story. I didn't like him in the first book and dislike him more in this book. Rayah is still struggling to find her inner lighter powers and Rayah's friends are finding new ways to help her. I can't get enough of this sega and am looking forward to book 3. (Yes, there is a cliffhanger but I am looking forward to the next book. This book was definitely worth the wait. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.