Braving the Storm

Faced with a choice between love and safety, what can she decide?

Hallie has been in love with her best friend, Freya forever. Hallie may be one of the most powerful witches of their generation, but she's also introverted and afraid to offend anyone. To Hallie, Freya is everything she is not, being beautiful, brave and outspoken, unafraid to stand up for herself or for others. The secrets she keeps only adds to her allure.

When a new King is elected who decides to persecute the magical community, Hallie's parents decide to leave the country. Hallie wants to go with them, but she can't leave Freya and Freya has made it very clear that she won't leave. With the situation in the country deteriorating day by day and hate crimes on the rise, Hallie finds herself torn between the woman she loves and her own safety.

But when Freya suddenly leaves and a new law is passed preventing witches from leaving the country, Hallie finds herself with her back to the wall. Can she escape the trap set by the King or will she have to become one of the witches serving the King against her own sisterhood?

Braving the Storm is a dystopian, futuristic fantasy novella. If you love stories with strong female leads, personal stakes and emotional overtones with a handy witch hunt and rebellion as the backdrop, you will love Niranjan's novella.