Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (some good books to read .TXT) 📕

But the way Congresswoman Sunstar praises Lore for their high school election with the air of it being as significant as her run for president is so genuine.

Lore leads Sunstar into a deeper conversation about what it means to be the first ever Black celestial on the ticket before she reminds us all what she’s fighting for: better job opportunities for gleamcrafters so they don’t have to make money by powering wands, gem-grenades, and shackles with their gifts, only for enforcers to use those weapons against them; protecting pregnant celestials who are being killed, and in other cases, being detained by authorities and locked away underground, far away from the stars that give them power, to suppress their children’s abilities from reaching their true potential; removing the corrupt enforcers from the force so gleamcrafters can live their lives in peace—and not in havens; condemning the alchemists like Luna Marnette, leader of the Blood Casters, who are clearly doing more harm than good, no matter how much money they make for the enforcers.

I’ve given up catching any of this on camera—everyone’s footage and livestreams will have me beat—so I lean forward with everyone else on the field as Sunstar commands our attention.

“Time and time again my opponents—Senator Iron, especially—have put down those with powers as they pursue their own,” Sunstar says with the gentleness of a mother telling a bedtime story. “There is no question that the senator has faced tragedy with the loss of his wife and son. But the faults of some do not represent the lives of all. I truly wish I could lead an ordinary life as a mother who is stressed about parent-teacher conferences instead of global affairs. As a wife keeping my love strong instead of a country intact. But as a celestial who wants to see my community safe and nurtured, I can’t sit still and expect others to do the work I’m unwilling to do myself.”

Sunstar walks to the edge of the stage. “I have felt hopeless—felt that there is no light to be found in the shadows. But even if I can’t see the light, I trust it’s there because of all of you. Look around at your neighbors. You’re not alone in your hope. You’re here because you believe.” She raises her fist. “We won’t let the darkness overtake us. We must keep the stars in the sky!”

Golden light sails from Sunstar’s hand and erupts into fireworks under the Crowned Dreamer.

Everyone applauds as Sunstar is joined by her husband, Ash Hyperion, and their daughter, Proxima. It’s going to take a miracle to get them into the White House. Tons of people crowd the stage, hoping to get a moment, but when Lore poses with Sunstar’s family for a picture, that’s when my jealousy peaks and I have to go.

I’m on a mission tonight to become as great and worthy as Lore. If I’m not going to become a celestial, then everyone will remember me as the greatest mortal.

Emil and Prudencia tag along as I chat up people, picking their brains about Sunstar and the world at large. A group of girls are infectious with their chants of “Keep the stars in the sky!” and I get it all on camera. I get an interview with this blue-haired celestial who tells me about how even with her ability to generate a shield around her entire body, she still doesn’t feel safe around enforcers. We attract more attention from other celestials, like an older woman who feels confident in saying that enforcer violence these days hasn’t felt this regularly heartbreaking since she was a little girl, right when specters first came into existence sixty-something years ago. The most unnerving is from a man with glowing fists that crack with lightning when he knocks them together, and he promises that if an enforcer aims a wand at him, he won’t think twice about striking them down first.

“Burn that footage,” Emil says as the man storms away with lightning jumping between his palms.

“No kidding.”

My videos won’t ever be used to build any cases against celestials, I swear my life on it.

Four young men by the lake catch my attention. Two are circling each other with their fists like they’re about to fight. Another is filming on his phone while the last is laughing and holding a cooler.

“Check it out.”

“I know they’re not about to watch these two guys go in on each other,” Prudencia says. She charges over. “Hey, enough!”

“I’m going to turn you into ashes,” the freckled teen says.

Gleamcrafter . . .

I drag Prudencia back before she gets hurt. The Crowned Dreamer season is truly stirring some trouble if we’re about to witness our second power brawl in one week.

“Not if I blow you away first,” says the boy whose muscles are flexing out his gym wear.

Freckles opens his mouth and squints his eyes, but no fire appears. I wonder if Gym-Rat is maybe burning from the inside out, but he holds his fist up to the sky and spins it around as if expecting a tornado to swing through. The guy with the cooler holds his stomach, laughing, and I think the only thing funny here is his awful man bun. The young men continuing to battle with no powers isn’t hilarious, it’s confusing.

Emil cautiously approaches. “What’s happening?”

I shrug. “Maybe they’re filming some movie and adding effects later?” My favorite indie movies lately have celestial actors using their real powers, but Hollywood largely prefers special effects since it’s safer for sets.

“They don’t seem to care that we’re in their line of vision,” Prudencia says.

Freckles and Gym-Rat sweat as they gesture at each other some more. It’s one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Reminds me of when Emil and I used to wrestle each other with imaginary powers, but we were kids. These two are too old to be playing pretend. They sway back and forth and rapidly blink before steadying themselves.

“You’re okay!” Freckles fist-bumps Gym-Rat. “That felt so real!”

“I hurled you over the