Initiation

Earthcore #0.5

by Grace Bridges

In this fast-paced introduction to the Earthcore series, you'll get to meet a unique gang of New Zealand superheroes as they come face to face with the most powerful creature they've ever encountered... and it has a gift for them.

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2017

About the author

Grace Bridges is a geyser hunter, cat herder, editor and translator, and Kiwi. A former longtime president of writers' organisation SpecFicNZ and Chair of GeyserCon, New Zealand's 40th national science fiction and fantasy convention held in Rotorua in 2019, she is often found poking around geothermal sites or under a pile of rescued kittens. She is a two-time winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand, a founding member of Realm Makers, an editor and mentor for Young NZ Writers, and has edited dozens of published books including many anthology projects. Her own published books include Irish cyberpunk, a shared-world space opera project, and the Earthcore urban fantasy series based in New Zealand. More information and free stories at www.gracebridges.kiwi.

Reviews

[deborah o'carroll (offline during 2026) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing short story... and makes me curious to check out the rest of the series to find out more about these Kiwis with superpowers. :)

[Jenny Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The taniwha or “called dragon by the ignorant,” have bestowed gifts on some chosen mortals.

In Initiation we are introduced to Anira, Tiger, Manaia, Graeme, Bethany, Ngaire, Rangi, Hana, and Harley. These are the chosen mortals. In this short piece it is hinted that Tiger has special vision, Graeme can summon birds, and Bethany has some kind of mind’s eye.

Something is causing great rumblings in Kuirau Park, and these chosen the taniwha are calling them. So they all gather at the park, including many onlookers, to find out why.

I have read other short stories and Prologues by Grace Bridges with a unique storyteller voice and Earthcore: Initiation does not disappoint. I will be adding Earthcore to me “to read” list.

This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Teaser for the Series

While I enjoyed this short story after Reading Rotovegas, so I knew the characters, it is an excellent introduction to the Earthcore series. In full disclosure, I do have a bit of an obsession with hot springs and the idea of water having supernatural powers.