I received a copy of “As Born to Rule the Storm” as part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Competition (SFINCS).
This is a first-POV military fantasy placed in a world about to be destroyed by a war between two powerful nations. Lottie is one of the young recruits who possess a superhuman ability: she can travel through time but refuses to do so until she learns of the bleak future ahead.
This plot is only the background for a haunting tale that will bring the reader to a path of hopelessness as Lottie jumps back and forth trying to prevent complete annihilation of her world, until realisation finally dawns on her.
Flawlessly written, Baumer weaves this tale with mastery, creating a powerful contrast between the high stakes of the plot and the simple human conflicts of the characters.
Rather than a happy ending, this tale will gift you a small spark of hope.
A fantastic novella! A must read!