It is believed that Ryland has exceptional powers, even compared to the others at the school. Holders are almost always male, though Becca does befriend one other girl about her age, who has limited Holder powers. This ‘blessing’ was actually a special power or ability. They were like regular humans in every way except that they each had what they called a beannú an bandia, a ‘blessing of the Goddess’. However, Becca has met a handsome, kind young man, Alex, and the two of them often look for the chance to spend some time alone together.īecca learns that everyone at the school are “Holders”:Ī race of people living in Ireland called Cumhacht Coinnigh or Power Holders. The school is much more than Becca imagined and Ryland immediately finds that he fits in – he’s not an outcast, and is ready for Becca to leave, which hurts her feelings a bit.

It takes the very calm, honest demeanor of one of the men, explaining that Ryland has special abilities that he doesn’t even know about, along with their promise to let Becca come along until Ryland gets settled When representatives from a distant school show up to take Ryland away, Becca has a fit. And despite looking out for Ryland, Becca manages to graduate high school two years early. Their father abandoned them when Ryland was very young and their mother has done her best, but she has never understood Ryland the way that Becca does. This is more than a simple sister’s oversight – Ryland has ‘issues,’ not the least of which are the voices he constantly hears in his head. Becca is a 17-year-old who has spent most of her life taking care of her little brother, Ryland.

The Holders by Julianna Scott