Influent

by Ariel Avelar

How do you escape a lie that you want to believe? Nysha has inherited a strange ability from her her voice can influence people to do and believe whatever she tells them. Because of it, she and her brother and sister are on the run from a government agency, with soldiers closing in and their only escape to turn one of their enemies into an ally with the power she barely knows how to control. Jace just wants to keep his sisters safe—and avoid returning to the government facility. Nysha has the power of influence, not him, but after convincing the scientists that he’s the one they’re after, he’s committed to protecting his sister and keeping her powers a secret. But when he’s forced to rely on her unpredictable ability to defend them from the soldiers, he and his sisters find themselves trapped with a guardian who may be their only hope of survival—or their deadliest enemy.

145 pages, Paperback

Published February 12, 2021

Reviews

[Adare Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fast-paced action coupled with relentless internal and external tension make Influent a compelling read. While the siblings are trying to escape those who would exploit them, they’re also struggling with how to keep their family together after their parents’ death and whether they can open their hearts to trust again. As a result, this story has great heart in addition to a page-turning plot. The characters are incredibly relatable in the moral dilemmas that pit their needs against their respect for others. Add in interplanetary travel and crash-landing on an unfamiliar planet, and you have a novella with a nice sci-fi flavor, an addictive plot, and an abundance of beautiful heartwarming moments.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

How refreshing! An intriguing contrast of innocent characters set against a brutal world, with fast-paced action and loads of heart.
Jace, Nysha, and Trissi are three orphan siblings being detained by scientists who are seeking the source of Nysha's strange ability to influence the will of people she touches. When their attempt to escape captivity backfires, the siblings end up stranded on a wild, unknown planet, and must trust their worst enemy if they want to survive.
What I enjoyed most was how realistic the characters were. The children behaved, thought, and acted the way I would expect children of their age to respond if they were thrust into life-threatening situations. Their innocence caused my heart to race; I legitimately feared for their survival while hoping desperately that they would find a miraculous way to survive cutthroat soldiers, crash landings, and wild animals. Spoiler: they do! And it isn't the way you would expect.
Overall, this was a fun, meaningful, bite-sized adventure and I look forward to reading Ariel Avelar's next novel!

[Alan Loewen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Delightful SF Tale

With fully fleshed out characters, Influent is a tale of two sisters and a brother trying to survive against impossible odds. The oldest sister has the psychic ability to manipulate people and she struggles with its ethical use even when she uses her talent to escape brutal confinement and dangerous people.

I look forward to future tales from this talented wordsmith.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

 It was delightful, with unexpected twists and hard things handled mindfully and thoughtfully. I was sucked in immediately, and the world lingered long after the last page.

[TJ Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully fun book! I loved the world and journey of the characters!