BURST-ing Through Boundaries in Politics

One of my friends at church recently recommended the novel "Burst" by H.C. Daria. She told me that the main character’s struggle to discover the mysteries surrounding her powers and her past reminded her of Emer from "The Heart of Everything" and she thought I’d enjoy the story.

Well, I can honestly say that there was some overlap between Emer’s experience and Pasin’s predicament (both are seeking information on their magic or lack thereof, but Emer’s revelation occurs in chapter three, whereas Pasin waits for nearly half the book to learn the truth), but the stories diverge wildly beyond that. Pasin lives in a world where everyone has elemental powers of some sort – except her. After a strange set of circumstances on her 16th birthday, she finds herself accused of disturbing the peace and then suddenly gets whisked into the ladies of the court, where she soon becomes a favorite of the king. Discovering the truth of her “absence” of powers not only reveals the dark side of their ruler and his plans for domination, but also proves that she is more powerful than she could have possibly imagined.

Similar or not to my own novel, what I found most interesting in this story was the wide variety of political drama. The first third or so of this book focuses on palace intrigue, particularly between Pasin and the king, as Pasin learns her place in the court. There’s a rapid transition once Pasin discovers the truth, and for the next chunk of the story Pasin is part of a rebellion, with lots of travel, recruiting, training, etc. And the last ten chapters bring Pasin back to the palace, now as a captive struggling to use what little skill she has left to eliminate the king, before he marries her or worse.

Following Pasin on her journey helped me understand something about my preferences when it comes to political drama. I’ve never much cared for a focus on large groups of people fighting the current authority or important cause, such as the middle half of this book where Pasin works with the rebels day in and day out, or like the last book in the "Lunar Chronicles" when the major characters are plotting a war against the evil queen. But I do very much enjoy the political drama that focuses on only a few people: between Pasin and the king in the beginning of the book as they seem to fall in love, and then again between the two of them as she fights to free herself, or even during the wedding scene between Prince Kai and the Lunar Queen in the "Lunar Chronicles". I prefer that “personal” perspective in a story, whether the plot is war-focused or not – which probably explains my tendency to read romance novels, with their natural turn towards intimate moments.

Now, I may not write much in terms of rebellion or political intrigue, but it helps to know what fascinates me, and that such drama can be written well in a way that I prefer. Having that distinction clear in my head gives me examples to work from in the future, should my stories require a certain “twist” in the path.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

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https://www.lynnwallaceauthor.com/

Burst