It's a Party: Oppression by Jessica Therrien

I am so excited for fellow campaigner JessicaTherrien. Today, February 28, her first novel, Oppression, officiallylaunches. *insert the sound of fireworks here*

To help her celebrate, several bloggersare joining her Virtual Launch party and talking about fate/destiny. Why?Because, in Oppression (Children of the Gods, Book #1), "Elyse discoversthat her destiny is deeply intertwined with the fate of the future."

My thoughts on destiny…
destinyn., pl., -nies.
1. The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined; one's lot.
2. A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control.

I don'tlike to think that our lives are predetermined, beyond our control. It might betrue, but I'd rather believe that I make mistakes, learn from them, and pave myown way. Is "my own way" preset, and I'm just supposed to figure out how to getthere? Maybe, but that still leaves things ultimately in my hands.
One thingI know for sure… as an author, I completely embrace the idea of destiny. When Iwrite, I am Fate for my characters. Everything is predestined, althoughoccasionally a character speaks up and suggests alternate ideas or endings. Astrong character has the power to thwart my best intentions or plans.
Could I have hit on something? Maybe there is a predetermined path, but onlyfor those who yield to it. People who don't speak up and fight for a differentway. For others, the ultimate destination is limited only by what they canachieve and what they are willing to fight for.

What are your thoughts onFate?

*****
Pleasecheck out Oppression!

Summary(from Jessica's blog): Elyse knows what it means to keep asecret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, thatshe ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she lookseighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has amysterious power to heal.

ForElyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After thedeath of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guardedas possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age andability.

Orso she thinks.

Elyseis not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over theworld, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one ofthem, and they have been waiting for her.

Amongso many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for theprophecy. Some believe she will put an end to centuries of traditions,safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Othersare determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game isjust beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
Buying options: 

$0.99 E-BookAmazon KindleEdition (US)
Barnes & Noble NOOK Edition (US)
Amazon Kindle Edition (UK, France, Germany)

$12.99 Paperback
Amazon (US)
Barnes & Noble (US) - on sale for $7.79
Amazon (Canada)
Amazon (UK, France, Germany, Japan)

Stay tuned for myreview and Jessica's interview here on Thursday, March 8 and check out the other stops on the OppressionBlog Tour here.