Infinity Son: The much-loved hit from the author of No.1 bestselling blockbuster THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END! (Infinity Cycle)

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Fantasy magic potions are treated somewhat like drugs in the real world: Non-magic users buy them to get illusions of having powers. Brighton considers buying some. Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. Foreign and/or translated editions of Infinity Son are or will be available in the following countries and languages:

INFINITY SON — ADAM SILVERA

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Confused and angry, Emil feels that he doesn’t belong in the family and that he’s endangering their lives. Brighton feels betrayed. He can’t believe that Ma kept such a huge secret from him, and he doesn’t understand why he wasn’t enough for Ma. Emil’s heritage threatens to destroy his close relationship with Brighton forever. There’s also the issue with pacing throughout the novel. It felt like the majority of high impact plot points were rushed through, while quiet times between characters were stretched out. This could be the author’s attempt to highlight the destructive qualities of power, and the importance of mental health and wellbeing, but at times it felt like this pacing conflicted with certain elements of the novel. Bonds of love, family, and loyalty may be tested, but brothers are forever. Some bonds are stronger than blood. Love and compassion trump hatred and fear. Heroes can inspire the rest of us to strive for peace. Knowing yourself, finding yourself, and being yourself is an important and lifelong journey. The polarising characteristics of Brighton and Emil further this discussion, and create authentic conflict between the two, while also opening up a conversation on power and how it affects those striving for it, along their loved ones surrounding them.

Infinity Reaper: Infinity Cycle, Book 2 - Common Sense Media Infinity Reaper: Infinity Cycle, Book 2 - Common Sense Media

Relatable main characters. Emil, a pacifist at heart, is sensitive and thoughtful; he desires to do the right thing. Brighton, an ambitious social media whiz and influencer, uses his platform for good, but he has a darker side, influenced by his bitterness about being non-magical. Most major characters are people of color, and several characters are queer, including Emil, whose being gay is an important part of his identity, but it's not central to the story. Women and nonbinary characters are as powerful and respected as male characters. I never intended to fully mirror any marginalized community’s experiences, but for anyone who has ever been oppressed for just being, or been blamed for what someone else who shares their identity may or may not have done, I imagine they may relate to what the magical people within this novel are going through. Talk about the representations of gender, sexuality, body size, and skin color in this book. Which identities caught your attention and why? How does the inclusion of a diverse cast affect you as a reader? There are certain instances where Brighton comments on the amount of hits and views he could be getting from certain fight scenes between celestials, which prompts the reader to question his character. This opens up the conversation of someone’s own safety versus their online success, and whether getting the views for a video or post is more important than having a healthy mind set and being present in the moment.

I grew up on Harry Potter and Charmed and Supernatural and X-Men and those stories really shaped my fantasy sensibilities.

Infinity Son - Adam Silvera - Google Books

Several bloody battle scenes between magical beings, but blood is not always lifelike (e.g. silver or blue blood). Weapons include daggers, swords, flight, wind, fire darts, wands, super speed and strength, phasing through solids, gem grenades, and hand-to-hand fighting. A villain dies by being consumed by his own fire; scene may be disturbing to sensitive readers. A blood caster, Ness, who proves an ally to Emil in the end, uses an "infinity-ender" blade to cut/scar Emil so as to impair his phoenix powers; it's basically torture, though Ness almost immediately shows regret. Ness and Emil's evolving friendship is quite fraught/complicated because of this act. Characters face grave danger several times; a key character dies in a tragic way. Trauma of war has clear negative consequences for most characters. Families can talk about what the Spell Walkers and the Specters are fighting for in Infinity Son. How do Emil and Ness fit into their respective "sides"? How do they rebel against the roles they're expected to play? As you said, both characters have their own idea of what it means to be a hero. What do you think it means? Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, the New York Times bestselling Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making. Specters sell "Brew" a potion that can make non-magic people feel magic for a little while. Some specters are captured and charged by the government for selling this hallucinatory potion, but selling and using is not described in this book.I plot pretty extensively to begin with, but that’s especially true for this series because I want to make sure I’m setting myself up for success with the sequels. As for inspiration, the book is a combination of my belief in reincarnation and my love for phoenixes and what life looks like when you discover that your past lives have been villainous and heroic. Although they don’t have any magical powers, brothers Emil and Brighton are both obsessed with Spell Walkers and the work they do. Brighton wishes he had a magical ability because he is sure that he could stop the specters for good. He recently set up a blog to stalk the celestials and the Spell Walkers so he can keep tabs on their every move. Despite Emil reminding him that he has no power, Brighton feels that he has a role to play in the conflict that’s worsening every day. Unfortunately, working out how Emil’s abilities will affect their relationship is the least of their problems. His phoenix fire is a type of power that should be possible only for “specters,” individuals who emulate the abilities of celestials through stealing the essence of magical creatures. But Emil finds specters’ cruelty abhorrent and has no idea how he could have ended up with this ability. On top of everything else, both the Spell Walkers (an Avengers-like group of celestials) and a powerful gang of specters with more nefarious intentions are hunting for him. With any hope of a normal life vanishing before his eyes, Emil must decide where his loyalties lie. The first book in the Infinity Cycle series, Adam Silvera’s young adult LGBT fantasy novel Infinity Son (2020) follows two brothers who find themselves at the heart of a magical war and the strain that this conflict puts on their relationship. Critics praise the book for its engaging plot, its complex characters, and its treatment of sibling relationships. Silvera, a New York Times bestselling author, writes for children and teenagers. Speaking openly about his struggles with depression and anxiety, he explores mental health in his books. He is best known for his contemporary novel, They Both Die at the End. Emil and his brother Brighton have always dreamed of discovering that they are celestials, people born with supernatural abilities. With their 18th birthday on the horizon, time is running out for any such powers to emerge, and while Emil has made peace with being “normal,” Brighton is determined that he will never be any such thing – with or without powers. So when Emil suddenly manifests a phoenix fire ability, both brothers are thrown for a loop.