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For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn't central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it's not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.
In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.
When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.
In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.
When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.
- GenresFantasy
437 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2021
18 people want to read
About the author
Tris Lawrence
16 books16 followersTris Lawrence has been writing since she was a child, filling notebooks with the worlds, dreams, and voices from inside her head. She declared in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer, promptly started drafting her first novel in seventh grade, and never looked back.
Tris has always been fascinated by the way people work: how their relationships fit together, how they interact socially, how they learn and discover. She has read avidly her entire life, devouring mysteries, romances, science fiction, and fantasy novels, and as an adult still loves all of these genres, as well as reading YA constantly. Her favorite stories center on people who are learning or discovering new things, and coming-of-age stories top that list, which is how the school of Pine Hills University came to be. She wants to share stories of people who are learning how to relate to each other, how to adult, how to college, and how to just be. She hopes to share stories about diverse characters with representation of everything she wishes she could have read growing up, and she hopes that these stories will touch the lives and hearts of those who read them.
When not writing, Tris is a wife, a mother (to two children, a cat, and a dog), a knitter, a system administrator, a black belt in taekwondo, an avid reader, and a music aficionado. Sleep, she claims, is optional.
Tris is currently writing a web-based serial, Welcome to PHU, which is available on Tumblr and Pillowfort. The first book is available from Duck Prints Press.
Tumblr: https://welcometophu.tumblr.com/post/...
Pillowfort: https://www.pillowfort.social/communi...
Duck Prints Press: https://duckprintspress.com/
Tris has always been fascinated by the way people work: how their relationships fit together, how they interact socially, how they learn and discover. She has read avidly her entire life, devouring mysteries, romances, science fiction, and fantasy novels, and as an adult still loves all of these genres, as well as reading YA constantly. Her favorite stories center on people who are learning or discovering new things, and coming-of-age stories top that list, which is how the school of Pine Hills University came to be. She wants to share stories of people who are learning how to relate to each other, how to adult, how to college, and how to just be. She hopes to share stories about diverse characters with representation of everything she wishes she could have read growing up, and she hopes that these stories will touch the lives and hearts of those who read them.
When not writing, Tris is a wife, a mother (to two children, a cat, and a dog), a knitter, a system administrator, a black belt in taekwondo, an avid reader, and a music aficionado. Sleep, she claims, is optional.
Tris is currently writing a web-based serial, Welcome to PHU, which is available on Tumblr and Pillowfort. The first book is available from Duck Prints Press.
Tumblr: https://welcometophu.tumblr.com/post/...
Pillowfort: https://www.pillowfort.social/communi...
Duck Prints Press: https://duckprintspress.com/
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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November 22, 2021
November 16, 2022
There was obviously a lot of care and attention spent on crafting the world and characters, as it all feels real and the characters feel like people. It has great inclusion, and it's nice to see an aro lead, as that's not common at all.
This isn't a typical urban fantasy, and would likely appeal more towards folks who enjoy slice of life and character study stories. Even though this is a magical version of our world and we are repeatedly told the revelation of that is important, any related conflict feels secondary in importance to the main character's daily life as a college freshman as he goes to class, plays football, takes taekwondo, and tries to navigate what he wants in a relationship. So if you love young adult contemporary drama but want a sprinkling of supernatural elements for spice, this will be right up your alley. But it may not be for those who enjoy more meat to their supernatural conflicts. Which is fine, as it's good to have different options for different readers. ^_^ This isn't my usual kind of story (I'm the type who prefers more focus on the supernatural conflicts, less on the slice of life), but it was still interesting to take a stroll through Ric's world for a while. If this IS your kind of story, definitely give it a read, as you likely won't be disappointed. ;)
This isn't a typical urban fantasy, and would likely appeal more towards folks who enjoy slice of life and character study stories. Even though this is a magical version of our world and we are repeatedly told the revelation of that is important, any related conflict feels secondary in importance to the main character's daily life as a college freshman as he goes to class, plays football, takes taekwondo, and tries to navigate what he wants in a relationship. So if you love young adult contemporary drama but want a sprinkling of supernatural elements for spice, this will be right up your alley. But it may not be for those who enjoy more meat to their supernatural conflicts. Which is fine, as it's good to have different options for different readers. ^_^ This isn't my usual kind of story (I'm the type who prefers more focus on the supernatural conflicts, less on the slice of life), but it was still interesting to take a stroll through Ric's world for a while. If this IS your kind of story, definitely give it a read, as you likely won't be disappointed. ;)
July 9, 2023
Really strong start to a series. Works in a lot of world building that, while it makes the book long, never feels clunky or like it interferes.
July 7, 2024
Fantastic college age shapeshifters coping with the real world and becoming an adult at the same time. Great world building and fantastic growing characters - looking forward to the rest in the series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews