Destined To Lead
Destined to Lead is a trilogy of juvenile fantasy novels written by Canadian author Laura Thornton. The books follow Kajiya, a girl who is banished from the tribe she is supposed to lead, who then sets out on a quest to regain her honour with her friends.
All three books were penned as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and have been published in annual increments on May 28th, starting in 2013.
Plot
Damage
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Set on the fantasy world of Mysterium, Kajiya, next in line to become the magik of Mirabillia, decides to go spelunking. As Mysterium has two suns, and Kajiya's race, the feas, subsequently have no night vision, this is seen as recklessness on her part. Especially when she comes face to face with a spiede, and manages to escape by pure luck. The event results in the Assembly, the high council of Mirabillia, whose decisions outweigh the current magik's, her father's, authority, to revoke her right to lead. Kajiya snaps and attacks the Assembly, resulting in her banishment. Finding solace and compassion in her friends and brother, Kajiya forms a group that sets out on a quest to regain her honour--only to discover that they are being chased by the Assembly's hired warriors, who have been given instructions to kill Kajiya. Having already decided to travel to the island of Ainee to see the Blakeslee, the group hastens towards their goal, knowing the hired warriors are unlikely to cross the channel.
Healing
Publication Date: May 28, 2014.
After making it to the island of Ainee, Kajiya and her friends meet Rotari, a four-hundred year old blakeslee who offers to train Kajiya and Ainee in magic. Kajiya quickly accepts the offer, only to discover she is no longer capable of using water magic. Finally, it is Rotari who snaps at Kajiya, nearly killing her. The group leaves the island at once, and travels instead to Animo, the closest tribe. Knowing that a banished magik will not be met with open arms, Kajiya dons a simple disguise and enters the city as "Ruina," where they discover that spiedes have been attacking the city. Enraged by a lack of bravery from the Animo feas, Kajiya volunteers to join the Animo warriors in an all-out attack. While her friends are unable to come, she is joined by Sarin, a fea who had previously been held captive by the spiedes, and heads into the heart of Mysterium. However, the attack quickly goes south, and Kajiya finds herself and Sarin captives of the spiede king along with a taic, who they name "Rosa." They formulate an escape plan, and manage to get back to the surface, but not before Kajiya uses water magic to cause a cave-in, sealing the spiedes off from Animo territory. Back in the city, Kajiya casts a spell with Ainee, having heard something unsettling back in the caves, and discovers things are far worse than she could have imagined. Turten, the Mirabillian Assembly head and the fea who was responsible for Kajiya's banishment, is planning to join with the spiedes and overrun the surface world.
Redemption
Release date May 28, 2015.
Themes
The Destined to Lead series features several themes such as coming of age, faith, courage, trust, understanding, and equal rights for the sexes. While there are several other themes addressed in the series, the most prevalent is definitely faith in oneself, one's friends, and higher powers.
Serious themes such as death are also addressed, most especially in the final book of the series, Redemption. (Yet to be published.)
Reception
To date the series has not had a widespread impact, but has received praise from those who have read the books. There has been fan artwork done in response to the series and its characters as well.
I.E. http://renziblu.deviantart.com/art/Nap-502411925?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=3
http://kelly-dreamer.deviantart.com/art/Mystery-Character-493488330?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=6
http://fyrepyromaniac.deviantart.com/art/Iceborn-infernaria-501044360?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=4
All three books were penned as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and have been published in annual increments on May 28th, starting in 2013.
Plot
Damage
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Set on the fantasy world of Mysterium, Kajiya, next in line to become the magik of Mirabillia, decides to go spelunking. As Mysterium has two suns, and Kajiya's race, the feas, subsequently have no night vision, this is seen as recklessness on her part. Especially when she comes face to face with a spiede, and manages to escape by pure luck. The event results in the Assembly, the high council of Mirabillia, whose decisions outweigh the current magik's, her father's, authority, to revoke her right to lead. Kajiya snaps and attacks the Assembly, resulting in her banishment. Finding solace and compassion in her friends and brother, Kajiya forms a group that sets out on a quest to regain her honour--only to discover that they are being chased by the Assembly's hired warriors, who have been given instructions to kill Kajiya. Having already decided to travel to the island of Ainee to see the Blakeslee, the group hastens towards their goal, knowing the hired warriors are unlikely to cross the channel.
Healing
Publication Date: May 28, 2014.
After making it to the island of Ainee, Kajiya and her friends meet Rotari, a four-hundred year old blakeslee who offers to train Kajiya and Ainee in magic. Kajiya quickly accepts the offer, only to discover she is no longer capable of using water magic. Finally, it is Rotari who snaps at Kajiya, nearly killing her. The group leaves the island at once, and travels instead to Animo, the closest tribe. Knowing that a banished magik will not be met with open arms, Kajiya dons a simple disguise and enters the city as "Ruina," where they discover that spiedes have been attacking the city. Enraged by a lack of bravery from the Animo feas, Kajiya volunteers to join the Animo warriors in an all-out attack. While her friends are unable to come, she is joined by Sarin, a fea who had previously been held captive by the spiedes, and heads into the heart of Mysterium. However, the attack quickly goes south, and Kajiya finds herself and Sarin captives of the spiede king along with a taic, who they name "Rosa." They formulate an escape plan, and manage to get back to the surface, but not before Kajiya uses water magic to cause a cave-in, sealing the spiedes off from Animo territory. Back in the city, Kajiya casts a spell with Ainee, having heard something unsettling back in the caves, and discovers things are far worse than she could have imagined. Turten, the Mirabillian Assembly head and the fea who was responsible for Kajiya's banishment, is planning to join with the spiedes and overrun the surface world.
Redemption
Release date May 28, 2015.
Themes
The Destined to Lead series features several themes such as coming of age, faith, courage, trust, understanding, and equal rights for the sexes. While there are several other themes addressed in the series, the most prevalent is definitely faith in oneself, one's friends, and higher powers.
Serious themes such as death are also addressed, most especially in the final book of the series, Redemption. (Yet to be published.)
Reception
To date the series has not had a widespread impact, but has received praise from those who have read the books. There has been fan artwork done in response to the series and its characters as well.
I.E. http://renziblu.deviantart.com/art/Nap-502411925?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=3
http://kelly-dreamer.deviantart.com/art/Mystery-Character-493488330?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=6
http://fyrepyromaniac.deviantart.com/art/Iceborn-infernaria-501044360?q=favby%3Afelinemon%2F49614653&qo=4
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