Secrets come in every shade.

After the introduction of Yellow magic in a society accustomed to only Red and Blue magic, the world inside the barrier has become more complicated than anyone imagined. Ava, Elm, and the former students of Prism navigate life in hiding. They face discord, secrets, betrayal, and danger that looms ever closer as the Benefactors narrow in on their hideaway.

Ava is determined to keep everyone protected, even at the cost of her own safety. She explores dangerous aspects of her new Mentalist abilities—against Elm’s dire warnings.

Tensions escalate when a new visitor arrives claiming to know a way out of the barrier. While this may be the only way to escape the Benefactors, what awaits them on the outside? Will they gain allies or make an entirely new set of enemies?

Book 2 of the Color Theory series.

In the Vivid world of Ava Locke, magic comes from primary shades, but she’s found new colors that the ruling Benefactors feared. Now in sequel Radiant, Ava and other former students of Prism struggle to lead a rebellion and protect one another from the Benefactors. Radiant explores how a tightly knit community can grow despite tensions of betrayal from within. Ava and her friend Elm must trusts new recruits, gifted with Yellow mind-altering powers, even as they protect existing members of their movement. Ashley Bustamante’s Radiant expands the Color Theory series  palette with new characters and locales to paint a new adventure.

Best for: Lovers of light fantasy whose heroes fight a stronger foe.

Discern: Continued exploration of emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional abuse.