by
Pages: 339
Celebrate those who light a candle in the darkness in this compelling and eye-opening tale.
Teddie is into country music, her old pick-up truck and getting through high school with as little drama as possible. Yet somehow her best friend, Michelle, talks her into spending a semester in Darjeeling, India. The thrilling adventure turns treacherous when she uncovers a seedy underworld in which young women are bartered and sold—including her friends.
As she fights to understand a depravity she never dreamed existed, a stranger makes her an unexpected offer. He will train her to find her missing friends, but she will need to have trust in abilities she barely believes exist and more courage than she ever thought she could summon. And there will be no going back.
Given the choice between this and abandoning her friends to their horrifying fate, the decision is simple. She must rise to the challenge.
But how can she be a superhero when she doesn’t know what her power is?
(Layers of Light is part a collection of interrelated stand-alone novels. It contains some non-graphic mature content and references to human trafficking and the sex trade.)
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tropes: Astral Projection, Band of Misfits, Body Modifications, Evolving Powers, Fellowship, Person in Distress, Reluctant Hero, Secret Society, Superpowers, Training, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 80000
Setting: Bhutan, Darjeeling India
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Tropes: Astral Projection, Band of Misfits, Body Modifications, Evolving Powers, Fellowship, Person in Distress, Reluctant Hero, Secret Society, Superpowers, Training, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 80000
Setting: Bhutan, Darjeeling India
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
As Teddie headed back to the bus, it occurred to her that the school expected her to be gone for a while. She could go shopping, or to the park. She could even visit some of the little art galleries along Nehru Road, and a city bus would drop her off there. Playing hooky for an hour or two would absolutely improve her outlook.
She wandered around, enjoying the street art and small shops, until her feet hurt. On her way back to school, she stopped at the mall to treat herself to a soft drink, and she was sitting at a little table in the food court when she saw him.
READ MOREHe was at the other end, and he was staring at her intently. She looked away and pretended to busy herself with something in her purse. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him stand up to his full six-feet-plus height. Her heart start to pound. Now he was walking in her direction. Teddie felt dizzy with fear and looked around for a stranger who might be willing to help her. There was an older woman to her left. Teddie got up to talk to her, but as she stood up fast she felt light-headed, and then she start to fall as she began to faint.
Teddie stood over her own collapsed body, confused. Was this another variation of those dreams? She looked up. Everyone else in the food court was ignoring her and looking at her unconscious body lying on the floor. The woman to her left, the one she’d been going to for assistance, was gathering up her parcels to leave, not wanting to get involved. Not a good choice for help, apparently.
Only the large man in the robe was looking straight into her eyes. Into her awake and aware eyes, that was. He gave her a short, solemn bow of his head, then jumped into the air and turned a perfect double-forward somersault, landing on his feet just like the girl and the boy had done in the snow. Not a soul in the food court seemed to notice him.
As the strangeness of the situation began to sink in, Teddie felt herself getting light-headed again. Then, she was lying on the cold tile floor, watching a security guard hurry towards her. The man in the robe was nowhere to be seen.
Teddie knew she had to find a way to understand what was going on.
COLLAPSEHappy Booker wrote:"Complex and well-researched ... The author does an incredible job making it all come to life in both beautiful and horrifying ways. The detail here is astounding, and the setting truly becomes a character of its own. There are solid, loving friendships formed and [the] book tells a strong, important story. I'm glad I read it." -- Long and Short Reviews
Sharing Links and Wisdom wrote:"I found the story to be very interesting to read. The concept was great. The plot was intriguing, and the mystical aspects of the work were described well." -- Happy Booker
"I think it's safe to say I'm hooked on this series. ... The story appears disjointed at first ... but I've learned .. this is how the author sets everything up. Sure enough the characters [are] thrown on a dangerous path, full of adventure, girl power, intrigue, and gut-wrenching moments... this is another great addition to the series." - Sharing Links and Wisdom
46. Ascending is six interrelated novels about five family members who each discover they can do something extraordinary. The stories overlap in time and can be read in any order.
Layers of Light takes place in Darjeeling, where Alex’s youngest daughter Teddie discovers a frightening world in which young girls are bartered and sold. Her life takes an even stranger turn when an ancient group offers to train her to save others by using her innate skills for out of body experiences. Layers of Light will take you to the heights of the Himalayas in this story of courage, and of how even the most vulnerable can learn to be strong.
