New Release | Struggles of Power, book 2 of The I Am Chronicles by Ivette N Diaz #newrelease #dystopianromance #scifiromance #dystopian #bipoc #bookboost
- N. N. Light
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
Title: Struggles of Power, book 2 of The I Am Chronicles
Author: Ivette N Diaz
Genre: Sci-Fi Dystopian Romance
Book Blurb:
Thrust into the presidency of the Base after being devastated by betrayal, Symone’s spiral downward of grief and mistrust is eating away at her control of her powers. Unable to hide her inner turmoil, when a new threat presents itself, she struggles to convince the High Council to trust her intuition and act.
As Symone fights to protect her home, she uncovers information suggesting the Elders are hiding corruption within their ranks. With the intel coming from an unlikely source, Symone must decide whether to investigate and risk being imprisoned for treason, or comply in blind obedience and risk the lives of thousands.
A natural force, corruption in leadership, and her past all collide to bring their society to the breaking point, and rock her world. In the battle between good and evil, Symone’s resolve whether to follow her heart, or succumb to her past, will determine if she will save her home and win Trémon back, or be overcome by an evil that devours everything in its wake.
Excerpt:
Alarms blared across the Base, their jarring monotone rousing Symone from her sleep. She jerked awake, confused by her surroundings. Faded landscape paintings glowed under low lamplight. The royal blue plush carpet caught her attention. She stared down at the scuffed, dark oak desk where her head rested upon. Realization dawned on her as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. She fell asleep in her office again.
A portal slice appeared at the entrance to her office. She left the door open too. Great. The portal split open and Trevor, the Head of Security, walked through, his dark brown features grim. His tall, built frame took up the space in front of her desk.
“Had a feeling I’d find you here. This is the third night in a row.” His deep voice rumbled in her sleepy mind.
Symone sighed and stood. “What happened now?”
“Trémon is outside the fence.”
“Again? Has he attacked yet?”
“No, he’s holding off, but he has someone else with him.” Symone eyed Trevor as she attempted to gather herself from her slumber. “Damien is with him.”
That woke her up.
“By the I Am, why didn’t you say so before?” Symone jumped into action, grabbing her military belt and thermal insulated jacket. Her presidential tunic and slacks stared at her in the corner. She couldn’t remember the last time she put them on. Her t-shirt and slacks felt more appropriate.
Glancing at herself in the reflection of one of the paintings, she smoothed her frizzies into bouncing raven curls. Her ebony nails dug in her scalp as she hurriedly pulled her long hair into a clip.
Trevor waited for her to finish before placing his long fingers side by side then pulled them apart to create another portal slice. He stuck his hands in the seams and opened the space for Symone to walk through first before he followed.
A bitter wind howled through the portal opening, grazing its icy fingers along her exposed cheeks. Symone braced for its final smack as she stepped through the opening. The sky greeted her with moody clouds. They faced the White Desert, the landscape behind their home. Its parched, white earth blinded her after her cozy, dim office.
As promised, Trémon and Damien stood on the other side of the towering electric fence surrounding and safeguarding the Base. Symone walked forward, lightning swirling in her hands, ready to protect against whatever attack they planned.
Upon seeing her, Trémon flashed her with one of his dazzling white smiles. His gray eyes danced like they used to before all this nonsense started, but she knew better. There was no merriment there. Only anger toward the people of the Base. Her heart fluttered at the sight. By the I Am, could He take these feelings away from her?
“You finally came,” he called to her. “Did you miss me?”
“What do you want? And why are you here, Damien? Did you want your mother back?” Symone stopped five feet from the fence, feeling her energy flow through its wires, grateful it held up since Bernard, the Head of Biotechnology, installed it.
Damien snorted. His white-blonde hair had grown out a bit and a ghost of a beard framed his mouth. His slate-blue eyes peered down at her as he crossed his arms. “You can keep her forever for all I care.”
“No love lost between family?” Symone asked. Neither man responded. “Again, what do you want?”
Trémon stepped forward, his large fists clenched. “The same thing I have asked for every time I visit you. Give me the Elders.”
“You know I can’t.” Symone adjusted her stance preparing for the inevitable fight. Trevor stood strong and tall at her side, towering over all of them.
“I figured, so I’ve come to make a deal. Give me the Elders and I will leave the Base alone. I’d be doing you a favor. They are corrupt. You can change the leadership, protocols, and laws. Make the Base the home it should be. Without secrets and lies. Do this, and we won’t destroy the Base,” Trémon said. Damien threw him a side-eye.
“And if I don’t?”
“If you deny my request, I will continue to attack until I get them myself. I will take down the High Council and anyone else who gets in my way.” Trémon’s jaw ticked.
Trevor tensed, taut muscle lines popping out along his arms. Symone softened her stance. She stared into the eyes of her former best friend. The former president. Now he was a person she hardly recognized.
“Trémon, there’s still time to change your mind. I showed you the entries from General Reese. You and I both know Maeve is lying, and as for Damien…” she glared at Damien who shrugged his shoulders. “I would trust him as much as I trust Maeve. Please believe me. We can fix this.” Trémon’s eyes flickered, a shadow of his former self passing over his face.
“Ramblings from a deserter and traitor who went behind your back to meet with a Wallower and provide on how to bring down your Base. What an asset he was.” Damien interjected. His drawl made Symone’s skin crawl.
The peace now broken, Trémon flexed his muscles in response. “I agree with you, brother.”
“He’s not your brother!” Symone shouted.
Trémon ignored her, “You hated General Reese and told me countless times you didn’t trust him. You even broke into his office to find ‘dirt’ on him to present to the High Council to bring him down. Now you want to believe his journal entries? I thought you were smarter.”
Symone ground her teeth. “You’ll get to the Elders over my dead body.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Kobo (including Kobo plus): https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/struggles-of-power
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1783730
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/struggles-of-power-the-i-am-chronicles-book-2-by-ivette-n-diaz
Author Biography:
Ivette N Diaz is an author of dystopian sci-fi/fantasy novels, an entrepreneur, and a daydreamer who, through the gift of storytelling, hopes to show that there is more to life than just “getting by” and that each person has a unique purpose for their life and a significance worthy of living for.
While not writing, she enjoys reading by an open window while on her circular swivel couch, lounging in the pool to get away from the Florida heat, and dancing to the congas of her Latin culture while in the middle of her living room. She secretly loves Kung-Fu movies and takes daily online kickboxing classes in hopes of one day becoming a true ninja. Her obsession with working out helps to balance her enthusiasm for food, especially gourmet meals prepared by her husband, who is a talented self-taught cook.
You can also find Ivette on her many adventures with her husband and kids, mostly park hopping in Central Florida, while laughing at their antics.
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivettendiazauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ivettendiaz
