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Glitter and Kindling
Love is a game Ren never wanted to play.
Growing up in the desert biodomes of Province 5-9, there is little room for individuality and choice. Every part of life is dictated by the Council.
At seventeen, Ren knows her path in life has been determined for the betterment of humanity.
Her permanent job placement, her relationship status, and even the number of children she will have are out of her control. Like it or not, she is expected to marry a complete stranger who was assigned to her based solely on their combined genetic diversity.
When the pressure of spending the rest of her life shackled to someone else overwhelms her, she makes a choice that will change the course of her entire life.
Signing up for the yearly lottery could buy her the time and freedom she craves…or she could be condemned to her worst waking nightmare.
The odds she’ll win the right to choose her own spouse are so low she decides it’s worth risking everything. The last thing Ren expects is to be chosen.
Ren is thrust into a house with seven pre-selected men. She must play the game while the whole country watches.
As Ren’s journey progresses, she learns the heart can be a fickle thing, and the road ahead might lead to a destination she never expected.
Can she find a way to break the rules without leaving a path of shattered hearts behind her? Or is all fair in love and survival?
Growing up in the desert biodomes of Province 5-9, there is little room for individuality and choice. Every part of life is dictated by the Council.
At seventeen, Ren knows her path in life has been determined for the betterment of humanity.
Her permanent job placement, her relationship status, and even the number of children she will have are out of her control. Like it or not, she is expected to marry a complete stranger who was assigned to her based solely on their combined genetic diversity.
When the pressure of spending the rest of her life shackled to someone else overwhelms her, she makes a choice that will change the course of her entire life.
Signing up for the yearly lottery could buy her the time and freedom she craves…or she could be condemned to her worst waking nightmare.
The odds she’ll win the right to choose her own spouse are so low she decides it’s worth risking everything. The last thing Ren expects is to be chosen.
Ren is thrust into a house with seven pre-selected men. She must play the game while the whole country watches.
As Ren’s journey progresses, she learns the heart can be a fickle thing, and the road ahead might lead to a destination she never expected.
Can she find a way to break the rules without leaving a path of shattered hearts behind her? Or is all fair in love and survival?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2023
36 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Hester
6 books7 followersFor as long as Tennessee native Brittany Hester can remember, she has always been enchanted by nature, magic, and powerful stories. Hester’s love of storytelling and active imagination would often lead her to explore the galaxy as the other Earth Sailor Scout, join the rebel forces in her own Gundam, lend her sword and bow to the fight for Middle-earth, use her wild magic for the betterment of Tortall, or simply exploring the beautiful fantasy landscapes that enchanted her. Her only wish was that there were more characters that looked like her in the books she loved reading.
Determined to blaze a path for diverse, strong, and authentic characters of color to enter the forefront of popular fantasy and science fiction in every medium, Hester put her imagination to work and began writing.
Now, she hopes to inspire the next generation of readers, writers, and creative thinkers by creating a window for experiencers to try and answer life’s questions for themselves. In every story, Hester aims to remind people that there is light and goodness in the world, we are never as truly alone as we feel, and that through the power of narrative, we can find hope, connection, and acceptance.
When not writing, you can find Hester adventuring with her toddler tornados, enjoying her favorite foods, or being very nerdy with her husband.
Determined to blaze a path for diverse, strong, and authentic characters of color to enter the forefront of popular fantasy and science fiction in every medium, Hester put her imagination to work and began writing.
Now, she hopes to inspire the next generation of readers, writers, and creative thinkers by creating a window for experiencers to try and answer life’s questions for themselves. In every story, Hester aims to remind people that there is light and goodness in the world, we are never as truly alone as we feel, and that through the power of narrative, we can find hope, connection, and acceptance.
When not writing, you can find Hester adventuring with her toddler tornados, enjoying her favorite foods, or being very nerdy with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 14, 2023
The Hunger Games meets The Selection - having never seen the Bachelorette, I cannot make that comparison.
This is hugely inspired by the Hunger Games - the post-apocalyptic world where everyone is in areas, outside the main area is a dangerous place, people have to obey the council.
Then comes the Selection - it’s about fashion and glamor and romance and forced pairings and making choices without a free choice.
Yet it’s also entirely it’s own book. Bringing in elements of dystopia, genetic rights, family situations, mind-manipulations, electronic government control. But also very strong female empowerment in a place with limited power for anyone, excellent descriptions of vitiligo and how that affects the character’s attire and attitudes as well as everyone around her, a mix of real romance with all the uncertain feelings of puberty, crushes with and without reciprocal feelings, mentorship with the worry of meeting your heroes to find them just normal.
This is a great dystopian YA book which should be in the fantasy romance adventure section - if that doesn’t exist then bookshops have it wrong.
The main character is everything a teenager is in reality - confident, overconfident, scared witless, sure and certain and absolutely terrified.
The cliffhanger ending - seriously!! I was counting the pages and was like - no she’s not going to leave us hanging - yep we have to wait for book 2!
Thanks Brittany for celebrating your book launch in the TP fan group and throwing me into your amazing world! Keep writing!
This is hugely inspired by the Hunger Games - the post-apocalyptic world where everyone is in areas, outside the main area is a dangerous place, people have to obey the council.
Then comes the Selection - it’s about fashion and glamor and romance and forced pairings and making choices without a free choice.
Yet it’s also entirely it’s own book. Bringing in elements of dystopia, genetic rights, family situations, mind-manipulations, electronic government control. But also very strong female empowerment in a place with limited power for anyone, excellent descriptions of vitiligo and how that affects the character’s attire and attitudes as well as everyone around her, a mix of real romance with all the uncertain feelings of puberty, crushes with and without reciprocal feelings, mentorship with the worry of meeting your heroes to find them just normal.
This is a great dystopian YA book which should be in the fantasy romance adventure section - if that doesn’t exist then bookshops have it wrong.
The main character is everything a teenager is in reality - confident, overconfident, scared witless, sure and certain and absolutely terrified.
The cliffhanger ending - seriously!! I was counting the pages and was like - no she’s not going to leave us hanging - yep we have to wait for book 2!
Thanks Brittany for celebrating your book launch in the TP fan group and throwing me into your amazing world! Keep writing!
December 5, 2023
GLITTER AND KINDLING is the first book of The Chosen Legacy series, and I absolutely loved it. It is listed as a young adult dystopian science fiction/fantasy novel but it’s suitable for any age.
The world Brittany Hester created is in a biodome which is dictated by the Council. From the first page to the last I was hooked. I loved the characters and the wild ride the author took me (the reader) on. The story revolves around the main character, Ren, who wishes for a life as a single, instead of as a wife who is forced to marry whoever the Council matches her with. Ren enters the lottery so she can remain single for a while and winds up winning it. At this point, it’s like the tv series the bachelorette.
Ren is placed in a house with single men who the Council have chosen as a “good fit” for her. The men try to win Ren’s heart in hopes of becoming her husband and Ren has to pick and choose who gets to stay and who has to go.
The Council is freaking nuts, and they basically strip away the people’s freedom of choosing how they want to live their own lives.
This was a really good read. I enjoyed it very much and I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.
The world Brittany Hester created is in a biodome which is dictated by the Council. From the first page to the last I was hooked. I loved the characters and the wild ride the author took me (the reader) on. The story revolves around the main character, Ren, who wishes for a life as a single, instead of as a wife who is forced to marry whoever the Council matches her with. Ren enters the lottery so she can remain single for a while and winds up winning it. At this point, it’s like the tv series the bachelorette.
Ren is placed in a house with single men who the Council have chosen as a “good fit” for her. The men try to win Ren’s heart in hopes of becoming her husband and Ren has to pick and choose who gets to stay and who has to go.
The Council is freaking nuts, and they basically strip away the people’s freedom of choosing how they want to live their own lives.
This was a really good read. I enjoyed it very much and I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.
February 5, 2023
I don’t typically write reviews, so bear with me. Glitter and Kindling captivated me from start to finish. The world Hester creates is very reminiscent of 1984. However, the twists in this book, the forced romance, and the outer world fascinated me a level beyond other books with a similar essence.
This was the kind of book where I felt immersed in the story. Never wanting the book to end, while simultaneously wanting to know how every detail fit together. I was on the edge of my seat, watching (or reading lol) Ren as she navigated finding freedom, safety, and love, all while resisting the ease it would bring to conform to The Council’s wants.
I’m anxiously waiting for the second book.
This was the kind of book where I felt immersed in the story. Never wanting the book to end, while simultaneously wanting to know how every detail fit together. I was on the edge of my seat, watching (or reading lol) Ren as she navigated finding freedom, safety, and love, all while resisting the ease it would bring to conform to The Council’s wants.
I’m anxiously waiting for the second book.
April 28, 2024
I really loved the premise of the book! It is a dystopian fantasy where everyone is governed by strict government control of everything in their lives from their careers, clothes, who they marry, and how many children they are allowed to have.
No one is allowed to be above the laws, until Ren decides she will not play by their rules to be placed in an arranged marriage.
The first book is really heavy on the matching ceremony and Ren's reluctance to conform.
No one is allowed to be above the laws, until Ren decides she will not play by their rules to be placed in an arranged marriage.
The first book is really heavy on the matching ceremony and Ren's reluctance to conform.
April 3, 2023
Ren lives in a world where everyone is destined to marry someone chosen by the council or remain single. Those who want to delay enter a lottery, where the ultimate prize is to take part in 'The Choosing', a reality show with 1 woman and 7 men. Ren is, against all odds, chosen and now must decide who she can fall in love with.
April 8, 2023
This book had me from page 1!!
I loved this book from the first page! Brittany’s vivid details made me feel like I was right there!! It was a great book for this older lady to read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves adventure!
I loved this book from the first page! Brittany’s vivid details made me feel like I was right there!! It was a great book for this older lady to read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves adventure!
August 24, 2023
Loved it!
This book was part of a summer reading challenge, and I am so extactic it was on the list!
The world Ren lives in is so unfair and cruel. The expectations and laws of this world are mind blowing. An intense free flowing read that left me needing to pick up book two.
This book was part of a summer reading challenge, and I am so extactic it was on the list!
The world Ren lives in is so unfair and cruel. The expectations and laws of this world are mind blowing. An intense free flowing read that left me needing to pick up book two.
April 3, 2024
Perfection!
I screamed when I saw the cover! A main character who is black like me? Has beautiful curly hair like me? I was sold just from that!
The blurb sealed the deal and the book itself was phenomenal!!!
I screamed when I saw the cover! A main character who is black like me? Has beautiful curly hair like me? I was sold just from that!
The blurb sealed the deal and the book itself was phenomenal!!!
February 20, 2023
In this dystopian world, young adults are matched with a partner based on their combined genetic diversity once they come of age. To delay being shackled to a complete stranger, Ren enters the yearly lottery for the The Choosing, the state-mandated reality television show meant to distract the masses. When she is chosen, she is thrust into a house with seven pre-selected men and is expected to choose a spouse while the country watches in this dystopian fantasy that’s The Bachelorette meets the Hunger Games.
It starts slow as the first half of the novel is largely focused on setting up the futuristic and dystopian setting of the world. The competition doesn’t begin until almost at the midway point, but once it does, this novel sweeps you off your feet. The stakes are high, the characters are distinct, and the competition is full of plot twists on plot twists. Which contestant will become your favorite? Which contestant has ulterior motives, which ones are playing the games, and which ones are actually looking to fall in love???
I really enjoyed the vitiligo representation and Ren’s character development throughout the novel. She’s stuck in a difficult situation but she’s always fighting for a measure of control. The novel does end with a cliffhanger, but the second book is already available for preorder. Also, the cover for the second book is 🔥🔥🔥.
This novel is perfect for fans of the Bachelorette who have always wondered what would happen if the stakes were higher, if the contestants had something to lose other than their hearts, and the lives of your friends and family were dependent on your performance. Let’s hope your favs don’t get eaten by a mutated monster.
It starts slow as the first half of the novel is largely focused on setting up the futuristic and dystopian setting of the world. The competition doesn’t begin until almost at the midway point, but once it does, this novel sweeps you off your feet. The stakes are high, the characters are distinct, and the competition is full of plot twists on plot twists. Which contestant will become your favorite? Which contestant has ulterior motives, which ones are playing the games, and which ones are actually looking to fall in love???
I really enjoyed the vitiligo representation and Ren’s character development throughout the novel. She’s stuck in a difficult situation but she’s always fighting for a measure of control. The novel does end with a cliffhanger, but the second book is already available for preorder. Also, the cover for the second book is 🔥🔥🔥.
This novel is perfect for fans of the Bachelorette who have always wondered what would happen if the stakes were higher, if the contestants had something to lose other than their hearts, and the lives of your friends and family were dependent on your performance. Let’s hope your favs don’t get eaten by a mutated monster.
March 26, 2023
I liked it a lot! I love fantasy and sci-fi with romance, and this has everything. Believable and well written. Looking forward to book 2!
April 2, 2023
I literally love all of the men help.
September 24, 2024
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5-3.7, maybe 4? I'm not entirely sure yet.
January 14, 2025
Ren is so relatable, and the Hunger Games/ Bachelorette vibe just keeps me wanting more! I cannot wait to get into the next book!
February 21, 2023
I found myself struggling through this one. There were some editing issues, I had trouble with the pacing of the story and the MC lacked a strong narrative voice. There were some cool ideas in there but overall I thought the story felt flat.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews