Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)

by Carissa Broadbent

“But as a Valtain, you’re sensitive to what other people’s minds release into the world. All of those… ripples.” A realization clicked into place as I watched his hands move over the surface of the pond. “Like water.” “Right.” He gave me a faint smile. “The nature or degree to which individual Valtain feel and interpret them is very different, as I’m sure you’re well aware, but we know how you feel them.” “Emotions,” I said. “Generally mild, as far as Valtain mental abilities go. And when it’s just a few, there’s nothing to be concerned about.” As if to demonstrate, he dipped his fingertips into the water, releasing delicate circles across its surface. “But when you’re looking at a big disruption…” I lifted my hands and brought them down in a violent splash, spattering myself and Max in water. He winced. “Exactly.” He gestured to the surface, now shuddering with hundreds of indistinguishable ripples. Right. It was simply too much, all of those waves of feeling clashing together until my mind was as disrupted as this water was. And that was almost exactly what it felt like: like everything that had once been clear and smooth, defined waves and circles, had become a tangled mass of movement.

the way Max can comprehend what she feels and sympathize after being violated by that same power just has me in love with him.