The Crystal Curse

Book excerpt: Stranded on the far side of the mountain range that divides Blastborn from the rest of the world, they are in the country of Vensay. As the progeny and relatives of exiles who were killed for unspeakable war crimes, Arabeth and her friends are soon targeted for death. The only thing keeping them alive is that the country seems to be falling apart, with power struggles and forces of nature keeping everyone distracted. Arabeth and her friends have their own problems. She wants to find the ones who sent the mind-altering automaton that set the people of Blastborn against each other. Sam discovers the real reason they seem to pass unchallenged - there is no unified military or police force, instead relying on a regional Sherriff system and the politics that go with it, and he feels compelled to interfere. Melanie is altered at the chemical level by a field of crystals and can’t wake up. Graham doesn't care about any of that - he has time-sensitive projects back home requiring his return and is willing to share the only secret protecting them in order to buy transportation out. And their one true ally is a teenager claiming to be the Heir Apparent and needing their help to unite the country. It'll be easy - they just have to put aside their individual goals and learn how to wield a forbidden power in a land that already wants them dead. Still, they have to ask - why stay when, if they unite, they are still the progeny of a banished people with unknown enemies and the hangman's gallows swings only one snitch away? The world has abandoned them – shouldn’t they do the same? Arabeth would like to help, but she may be on her own for this one. --------------- This is book 2 in the Arabeth Barnes series.