Realm of Hope

Book excerpt: E.L. Li's debut novel and first installment of the Realm of Hope Trilogy sets up the Celestial Legacies Universe. For the first time in several millennia, nations set aside their differences. Only an interplanetary level threat could simmer down any tensions between leaders. Peace has never been eternal. Throughout the Mortal Realm, powerful bloodlines, clans, and royal families stepped up to save their worlds from the brink of destruction. Past heroes had plenty of living descendants with exclusive powers. Annually, mortals aged five to six take an examination to determine if they'd possess inherent capabilities, such as heat immunity or the ability to travel at the speed of light, which would grant them the privilege of becoming trained Agents. Lumière Inc. placed those with potential into teams, training them for more than a decade. Agents were symbols of hope. Decades passed, however, and cynicism rose. Morale needed a boost. Dream Teams formed, one being: Skye, Shadow, and Zephyr's. With bloodshed and shattered dreams recorded throughout history, they can only hope their fates won't face inevitable doom. First step in saving the Realm: track down the root cause of the rising everlasting darkness. Content Warning: Graphic violence, death, suicide, depictions of PTSD & gore.