Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Limited Truth by Kay Bennson!
by Kay Bennson
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Speculative Fiction
Release Date: February 2018
Solstice Publishing
Summary:
WAR GAME XRI
YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR HONOR. YOUR DUTY.
These words have more meaning than fourteen-year-old Cassie Routhier and her classmates can comprehend when a strange group called the Chi Rho Iota Corporation take over their high school. Suddenly, they are thrust into a state of the art war simulation that is supposed to prepare them for World War III.
It doesn’t take long for rules to be broken, for people to fight dirty, and for it to seem like something is amiss with the federally mandated simulation. Cassie and her squad are faced with discovering the intentions of the Chi Rho Iota Corporation as well as partaking in a war game that claims to be harmless when it’s anything but safe.
Nothing is as it seems in LIMITED TRUTH.
Excerpt
“Good morning!” Owen called over the crowd. “And good luck.”
He turned and faced the principals. “If the principals would shake hands.”
He turned and faced the principals. “If the principals would shake hands.”
“Wait!” I shouted, alarmed. “That’s it? They’re just going
to start it?”
to start it?”
For once Patrick had nothing snarky or sarcastic to say. He
looked terrified, his face as white as a ghost. This was really happening and
there was nothing we could do about it.
looked terrified, his face as white as a ghost. This was really happening and
there was nothing we could do about it.
“Students, face each other.”
I looked over my shoulder at Kara and Jared. Their hands
were interlaced, bodies ready to spring.
were interlaced, bodies ready to spring.
“Enter the simulation now.”
The tingling sensation was back as I pressed the button on
my I.D. bracelet with a trembling hand. Just like the day before, the outside
edges of the high school disappeared with a blue ripple and the vivid colors
returned, but I was too scared now to enjoy them.
my I.D. bracelet with a trembling hand. Just like the day before, the outside
edges of the high school disappeared with a blue ripple and the vivid colors
returned, but I was too scared now to enjoy them.
Owen’s voice continued to give instructions: “Turn on all
weapons.” The sound of tasers activating became a dull roar while the excess
electricity seemed to dissolve into air already thick with expectancy. I
clutched my weapon tightly as I watched Aaron several feet away twirl his taser
in his hand in anticipation. I knew the only way Squad Treble stood a chance
was to never let our weapons go.
weapons.” The sound of tasers activating became a dull roar while the excess
electricity seemed to dissolve into air already thick with expectancy. I
clutched my weapon tightly as I watched Aaron several feet away twirl his taser
in his hand in anticipation. I knew the only way Squad Treble stood a chance
was to never let our weapons go.
Owen, the woman, and the principals moved toward the Super
Children, out of the way of the battle about to take place. I looked to Patrick
who held onto his staff like his life depended on it. It would have been so
easy to watch him run to his own demise, but I couldn’t do it—I was too
terrified to be alone. Despite everything I felt, I knew I had to follow him to
that supply shed or be eliminated as I stood there in fear.
Children, out of the way of the battle about to take place. I looked to Patrick
who held onto his staff like his life depended on it. It would have been so
easy to watch him run to his own demise, but I couldn’t do it—I was too
terrified to be alone. Despite everything I felt, I knew I had to follow him to
that supply shed or be eliminated as I stood there in fear.
“Prepare to battle! Ready…”
Patrick gave me a curt nod as he got into position, ready to
run. I took one last glance around, trying to remember partnerships and
positions, even faces I recognized from other squads, just in case.
run. I took one last glance around, trying to remember partnerships and
positions, even faces I recognized from other squads, just in case.
“Set…”
I took a deep breath and attempted to focus; what happened
now would set the stage for everything else. A moment’s hesitation and it could
all be over. I had to believe I would make it longer than that. I had gone
toe-to-toe with a Chi Rho Iota lackey. Knock out in the first few minutes was
not an option.
now would set the stage for everything else. A moment’s hesitation and it could
all be over. I had to believe I would make it longer than that. I had gone
toe-to-toe with a Chi Rho Iota lackey. Knock out in the first few minutes was
not an option.
You know that feeling when someone is watching you and you
can feel it? I turned my head just in time to see Brayden’s soft brown eyes
looking at me. His face was grave, and it made my heart palpitate. I would have
been elated had my time not run out.
can feel it? I turned my head just in time to see Brayden’s soft brown eyes
looking at me. His face was grave, and it made my heart palpitate. I would have
been elated had my time not run out.
“Go!”
Kay Bennson is from Northwestern Connecticut where she lives with her husband and son. She doesn't remember a time where she wasn't writing stories (in fact, some of her best ideas were forged in high school classes and at part time jobs). When she isn't writing, she enjoys video games, Irish dance, gymnastics, and fanfiction.
Website - http://www.kaybennson.weebly.com/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16932653.Kay_Bennson
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/kaybennson
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16932653.Kay_Bennson
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/kaybennson
The Inspiration
Behind Limited Truth
I had the original idea for what became
LIMITED TRUTH: A Squad Treble Novel when I was fourteen/fifteen years old. I
used to feel weird admitting that the idea came from a dream, but nearly all of
my story ideas are born that way now, so it is what it is. In my dream, my high
school was playing an extreme game of capture the flag, except instead of
capturing a flag or what have you, you had to steal bracelets from the opposing
team (My best friend was wearing a neon orange watch around the time of the dream
so maybe my subconscious liked it or something.) and whichever side had the
last man standing was the winner. I was doing well enough, but my crush at the
time was not. In my dream he had been beaten up pretty bad and when my friends
called me over to him, we had a tender moment before he fainted. I vowed to
avenge him just before I woke up. This scene, though changed a bit, is still in
the book today!
I’m not sure if it was that day or a few days
later, but I was at my great aunt’s (totally boring and not kid friendly) and I
typed up a barebones five chapter version of what you know today. There were
sequels (Shrewdest Faction, the second book in this series was barely based on
one of them) and my friend with the cool watch drew the covers. I still have them
in a binder.
The story came back into my life on my
honeymoon of all places. My husband decided he wanted to become a certified
scuba diver and I was traumatized on our intro course so I stayed on the beach
when he went and wrote instead. I thought about what a cool idea it had been.
The rest they say is history…
Limited Truth was not my debut novel, but it
holds a special place in my heart. All the members of Squad Treble are based on
people I knew back when I had the original idea (some are people I still talk
too!) and Settontown and it’s various locations are VERY much based on the town
I grew up in and where I currently have my day job. Limited Truth has changed
quite a bit from its original conception, but I could not imagine it any other
way.
Enjoyed the excerpt!
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