3 out of 4 stars
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Fiery, First Light is the third in a series of books about some very special young people. The author, Teresa B. Heaton, introduces a cast of characters that are each born with a particular gift. Their mission is to use their talents in order to help others in times of crisis. They are called COLLEEs (Children-of-Light-Light-Emitting-Entities) and they each offer some creative and interesting supernatural powers. COLLEEs can also communicate with each other through telepathy making for some intriguing conversation.
The story follows a group, or Cluster, of young adults that have been learning and working together for many years. This Cluster includes Sam, Gus, Dani, Arie, and Zee. As friends, they tease their way through romantic entanglements and social engagements in a fun, lighthearted manner that is very engaging.
The plot takes an interesting twist when the Cluster is tasked with mentoring a group of troubled youngsters that are unaware of their own identities as COLLEEs. These children have suffered significantly in their young lives. Yet as the children feel love and acceptance they begin to grow confident and happy. It was my favorite part of the book to see how these characters were developed.
The good versus evil theme is reinforced with the introduction of an obsessed professor intent on stalking and capturing the female characters. The subplot unfolds with suspense and near misses as his attempts are thwarted time and again. Another young woman, named Calli, is also on the run from the professor though there is not much background offered. She appears to be a tough, gritty character that adds some depth and as a reader I would have liked to know more about her. Chantry is introduced and makes occasional appearances throughout the book. He is referred to as a Dark COLLEE without explanation, at least in this volume, as to the difference or if he has gifts as well.
As mentioned above, Fiery, First Light is the third in a series. Without having read the initial two works, it was somewhat confusing to grasp the background and relationships of the extensive cast of characters. I did like that the book was appropriate for young adult readers. I found it refreshing that the author did not feel compelled to include sexual encounters, violence, or profanity. I also found the storyline of young people using their talents to help others appealing. Unfortunately, there were numerous editing errors and so I rated this book at 3 out of 4 stars. It was a delightful book that I am sure many would enjoy reading.
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Fiery, First Light
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