Several bloody battle scenes between magical beings, but blood is not always lifelike (e.g. silver or blue blood). Weapons include daggers, swords, flight, wind, fire darts, wands, super speed and strength, phasing through solids, gem grenades, and hand-to-hand fighting. A villain dies by being consumed by his own fire; scene may be disturbing to sensitive readers. A blood caster, Ness, who proves an ally to Emil in the end, uses an "infinity-ender" blade to cut/scar Emil so as to impair his phoenix powers; it's basically torture, though Ness almost immediately shows regret. Ness and Emil's evolving friendship is quite fraught/complicated because of this act. Characters face grave danger several times; a key character dies in a tragic way. Trauma of war has clear negative consequences for most characters. Unfortunately, this book was not without its faults, the main issues being with the world building and pacing. Adam Silvera is the No.1 international bestselling author of They Both Die at the End and many more novels. He was born and raised in New York City and now writes full-time in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, working out how Emil’s abilities will affect their relationship is the least of their problems. His phoenix fire is a type of power that should be possible only for “specters,” individuals who emulate the abilities of celestials through stealing the essence of magical creatures. But Emil finds specters’ cruelty abhorrent and has no idea how he could have ended up with this ability. On top of everything else, both the Spell Walkers (an Avengers-like group of celestials) and a powerful gang of specters with more nefarious intentions are hunting for him. With any hope of a normal life vanishing before his eyes, Emil must decide where his loyalties lie.

INFINITY SON — ADAM SILVERA

As you said, both characters have their own idea of what it means to be a hero. What do you think it means? Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day. I grew up on Harry Potter and Charmed and Supernatural and X-Men and those stories really shaped my fantasy sensibilities. Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own--one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be. Infinity Son is the first fantasy offering from YA author Adam Silvera, whose several popular books include More Happy Than Not and They Both Die at the End. While those novels involve fantastical elements, those elements take second stage to his exploration of the relationships they make possible. (In They Both Die at the End, for example, a service called Death-Cast alerts two teens that they each have only one day left to live. The focus of the story, however, isn’t on trying to thwart fate or uncover how Death-Cast is made possible but on the bond that develops between them during the course of the day.) In Infinity Son, Silvera offers a full-fledged epic fantasy universe, complete with intricate politics, dark secrets, and of course, magic.Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide. Get started Close

Infinity Son: Interview with author Adam Silvera Infinity Son: Interview with author Adam Silvera

That being said, many of the things Silvera’s readers love about his books are also at work here. Relationships between characters are the heart of this story, not only between Emil and Brighton but also burgeoning romantic interests and good old-fashioned team bonding. It is those relationships that I am looking forward to seeing carried through into the sequel. I’m hoping that now that I am finally oriented in the world and its players, the sequel will feel like a much less cluttered read. There are certain instances where Brighton comments on the amount of hits and views he could be getting from certain fight scenes between celestials, which prompts the reader to question his character. This opens up the conversation of someone’s own safety versus their online success, and whether getting the views for a video or post is more important than having a healthy mind set and being present in the moment.Overall, Silvera utilises Infinity Son to open up important discussions on diversity, the impact of online presence on one’s self, the abuse of power, mental health and wellbeing, and more. These key themes encourage the reader to take a closer look at the world around them. Relatable main characters. Emil, a pacifist at heart, is sensitive and thoughtful; he desires to do the right thing. Brighton, an ambitious social media whiz and influencer, uses his platform for good, but he has a darker side, influenced by his bitterness about being non-magical. Most major characters are people of color, and several characters are queer, including Emil, whose being gay is an important part of his identity, but it's not central to the story. Women and nonbinary characters are as powerful and respected as male characters. Intermingling with normal human beings on the streets of New York City, Celestials are people born with superpowers, and Spectres are mortals who have managed to steal their power from the blood of magical creatures. Families can talk about what the Spell Walkers and the Specters are fighting for in Infinity Son. How do Emil and Ness fit into their respective "sides"? How do they rebel against the roles they're expected to play?

Adam Silvera on Infinity Son and What It Means to Be a Hero Adam Silvera on Infinity Son and What It Means to Be a Hero

Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. Talk about the representations of gender, sexuality, body size, and skin color in this book. Which identities caught your attention and why? How does the inclusion of a diverse cast affect you as a reader?Bonds of love, family, and loyalty may be tested, but brothers are forever. Some bonds are stronger than blood. Love and compassion trump hatred and fear. Heroes can inspire the rest of us to strive for peace. Knowing yourself, finding yourself, and being yourself is an important and lifelong journey. The book is split into multiple points of view. Which was the most fun to write, and which was the most challenging? One of your inspirations for this story is X-Men , and similar to X-Men, the treatment of celestials and specters often serves as a metaphor. Can you talk about the process of weaving real injustices into your fantasy world?

Infinity Son’ review: An exciting fantasy novel in a magical ‘Infinity Son’ review: An exciting fantasy novel in a magical

For me being a hero means putting yourself out there for the betterment of another. Being there for a friend in need, private charity contributions, defending a stranger. Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, bestselling author Adam Silvera’s Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making. Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers--a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. It’s an uneasy situation with an added threat coming from the Spell Walkers – a Celestial vigilante group dedicated to clearing “unclean” Spectres from the city’s streets.With a new threat from the Spectres about to engulf the city, Brighton and Emil are caught up in a scenario where the wrong brother has the power to prevent disaster. Their brotherhood, love and loyalty are put to the test as the twins must confront a potentially destructive situation.