Fragments is the story of Taniel, a boy whose nightmares are becoming reality, and Rowan, whose comfortable life starts coming apart at the seams.
We meet Taniel on his last day of St. Andra's, a school for troubled boys. He is returning to the real world, a world he barely knows anymore, alone and without any resources. Before the Officials, the governing force in Fenesmere, put him away, he was a small-time gang member of the Underground. And the Underground wants him back.
Rowan lives with her family in a comfortable enough apartment, protected from the happenings in Fenesmere. With both parents sick, she takes care of her younger siblings with absolute devotion. That is until her father can no longer pay the ruthless Officials for her family's protection and she is forced out on her own.
Both Taniel and Rowan have unexplained gifts that are proving dangerous to themselves and those they hold dear. Their paths cross as more and more people of their small city go Missing, like the thousands that have vanished before them. And when someone close to them disappears it is up to the unlikely pair to uncover the truth, but only if they can embrace that which makes them different.
In pursuit of developing their gifts and finding answers, Taniel and Rowan seek out Hamza, a man from Taniel's past, and a former Official. With him, they learn there is much more happening than they realized, and worse, they are inextricably tied to it all.
Together Taniel and Rowan must learn to explore their powers and trust each other to survive a criminal organization, a vigilante force, and the mysterious army that put it all in motion.
"Usually innocents like you have time to grow into their magic before they have to break the rules. You don't have that time, Minta. Please believe me, you need to be ready. I'm risking everything to make you ready."
I stopped and searched his eyes for further explanation, and there was a near moment of clarity before Edgar looked away, releasing me gently. "Risk what, Edgar?"
A Touch of Magic... Minta has a choice; she can turn away from magic or embrace it. Desperate for a destiny, it's a no brainer. Guided by the cat who's been following her around, and her dead aunt's sidekick Gladys Jones, Minta begins by fixing problems with bullies, and finding Prince Charming for her b.f.f. Who'd of thought there were so many Cinderella's in need of makeovers? It's not long before Minta wants change her own romantic fortunes too (it's worked for everyone else). But life is never that simple and as Minta grapples with her future, there are others trying to stop her from having one. But who and why? Minta hasn't a clue. Though she does have her suspicions about the cat...
Eventually, sacrificing her own (and very human) desires to follow her path, Minta's destiny becomes clear; this is a story of self-belief and resolution, first crushes & love (and the journey towards grasping the difference). Mostly though, this is a book about magic.
Cover kindly made by @alessandra