Flight of the Spark
by Evelyn Puerto
The Outlawed Myth Series, Book 1

***A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree***
***Winner of the 2021 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for YA Epic Fantasy***

Devastatingly beautiful from start to finish, Flight of the Spark left me completely enthralled…”
–Long and Short Reviews

A dystopian realm. Magic amulets. And a girl who didn’t realize her questions could destroy it all.

Fifteen-year-old Iskra never questions the Prime Konamei’s rules or her own bland life. But when a supposedly savage Risker rescues her from a bandit attack, the encounter shatters everything she believes about Riskers and their magic amulets.

Shocked by the revelation, she confides in her friend Tavda. When Tavda disappears after publicly questioning what they’ve been taught, Iskra blames herself.

Racked with guilt, Iskra sets out to discover the truth. She defies the law and secretly visits the Riskers. Quickly, she grows enchanted with their free and fearless lives—and the handsome and captivating Xico.

Kaberco, the village ruler, pressures her to cease all contact with the Riskers—or he’ll make her disappear. She persists, not knowing that her actions could fulfill an ancient prophecy that foretells the end of the realm—and possibly, her own life

An epic fantasy in a dystopian setting, Flight of the Spark explores overcoming fear and the question of when to choose freedom over safety.

Behind the Scenes

The inspiration for Flight of the Spark and the entire Outlawed Myth series came from a random news story. I don’t remember the exact details, but the jist of it is there was a brother and sister, aged about ten and six. They lived about half a mile from a park. Their parents allowed them to go to the park alone, with strict instructions to stay together and not to talk to strangers. All was good until one of the neighbors called the police saying these children were being endangered.

Now I know a lot has changed since I was a child. We used to get on our bikes and be gone for hours. As long as we showed up for meals, no one was too concerned.

This incident got me thinking about the role of government, and the overwhelming concern for safety so prevalent in our society. And I began to wonder “what if there was society that traded all its freedom for safety?”

As I pondered that question, the world of Tlefas was born.