Laulea Lio: Academy for the Elite Equestrians
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Located on the Hawaiian island, Maui, Laulea Lio is hosting their quarterly event. Competitors from around the world are picked to represent their country for a career-changing experience: a chance to attend Laulea Lio for the rest of their school years, meet with the best trainers, and compete in a worldwide Grand Prix circuit, and, if they're good enough, qualify for the upcoming Olympics.
Leigh Hartford is Chinese-American, fourteen, spontaneous, shy, curious, troublemaking, and has traveled around the world, but she never thought a moment like this could ever happen. A dedicated equestrian for almost twelve years, and saw the opportunity for Laulea Lio on her local grocery store's window, Leigh took this as a sign for her future career in the equine industry. When she unexpectedly is pushed forward into the final rounds for her country's rep, she heads off to Maui, saying goodbye to everything she loves, but taking her prized horse, Wings of Gold, or Icarus, with her.
With Laulea Lio's weekly "contests", competition, drama, and relationships start stand in Leigh's way, but she manages to fight through them, sort of. Tears, as well as mostly sweat and some blood, are *not* going to stand in Leigh's way, but when will she realize that enough is enough?
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
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