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Laurisa was inspired to write the "Birthright of Scars" duology during a hangover from watching Tron: Uprising. After a five year writing hiatus and plenty of free time during the Covid year, she was ready to pour out thoughts accumulated over the years and recent trips, such as to Romania and Israel. She finds inspiration through her many interests, which include: mixed martial arts, freestyle motocross, horseback archery, and antediluvian archaeology.
She lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband and their adopted Timneh African Grey parrot, Hercules. You can visit her online at laurisabrandt.com.
Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite
Birthright of Scars by Laurisa Brandt is a dystopian adventure into a society where a person's social class guarantees a one-way ticket to respect or infamy. For decades, the Kobalt Throne has sought absolute control. The only thing that stands in their way is the Pyron people. With everyone else dependent on taxable energy, they can be controlled and made to work harder. But Pyrons are difficult to control. They have been self-sufficient for generations, holding their traditional ways close to their hearts and living off the land. The spirit of freedom sings in their hearts and courses through their veins. But these days, the state is writing new restrictions against Pyrons into law. Pyrons are prohibited from walking on sidewalks after hours, limiting their ability to find better-paying jobs and make various purchases. This has made Pyrons poor and created some desperate strays. But on the heels of the evils of oppression and fear, hope stirs. Disrel is a young man to whom the state has dealt a great loss. He has vowed to set his people free or die trying. With a growing colony that operates in secret, they are slowly planning their freedom. However, they may be too late. A new order has been issued where the Pyrons will be contained behind a wall to exterminate them.
Birthright of Scars by Laurisa Brandt has a sense of reality thanks to the well-designed maps that categorize the scenes based on which plot threads they relate to. My favorite aspect of the narrative was the formatting and integration of flashbacks. This is an excellent way to introduce us to the characters and it provides context for the modern parts of the story. The incorporation of a character's physical traits and background information is intriguing when they are in the spotlight. You can relate to them on a deeper level because of this. The level of technological advancements is intriguing. I found the skyns the characters wore fascinating. They were made of nonflammable and cut-resistant fabric, which I thought was cool. Birthright of Scars by Laurisa Brandt is a fun, occasionally tragic, and entertaining book. Highly recommended to fantasy and adventure fans searching for a relatively fast-paced storyline. Also, romance lovers are in for a treat with the slow-burning romance that thrives even in the most unlikely circumstances.
