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The Lightbearer Chronicles
A Look Inside the World
“There's nothing wrong with some control or order. The trouble starts when you lose the balance—when keeping order means controlling too much, or when so little control remains that things begin to fall apart.”
—William, The Lightbearer Chronicles: Amber Lights
The Setting
A reimagined 1990s where elemental abilities have become increasingly restricted, and public opinion has shifted against those who possess them.
The Characters
Young people navigating friendship, family, loyalty, fear, and the difficult process of figuring out who they want to become in a world trying to answer that for them.
The Journey
What begins as a personal struggle gradually grows into something much larger, challenging the characters to decide what they are willing to risk for one another.
An Overview
Set in the 1990s, The Lightbearer Chronicles follow Adrian, a young man living in a society where elemental abilities are no longer viewed positively. He has spent most of his life trying to keep his head down, but unforeseen circumstances pull him into events beyond his control—and he begins to realize that quiet compliance is no longer an option.
As the series unfolds, Adrian and those around him are pulled deeper into a broader conflict. What begins as a struggle to navigate an increasingly hostile world becomes a journey of identity, belonging, difficult choices, and courage. Along the way, he must learn who to trust, what he is willing to stand for, and whether being caught in the middle means becoming something he never intended to be. The Lightbearer Chronicles are ultimately a story about courage, chosen family, and finding hope when the path forward is anything but certain.
What to Expect
The Lightbearer Chronicles are planned as a six-book series, with each installment building on the last and contributing to a larger story. It will include:
- Elemental abilities and speculative worldbuilding
- A reimagined 1990s setting
- Complicated friendships and family relationships
- Mystery and gradually unfolding secrets
- Characters facing difficult choices and consequences
- Themes of identity, belonging, courage, and hope
- A Christian worldview woven naturally into the characters and story
The Elements
There are six main elements. This is a brief reference to their roles within the story. The fifth and sixth elements are less understood, and their origins and significance are uncovered later on.
| Element | Symbolism | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | Change | Transformation |
| Earth | Stability | Endurance |
| Water | Adaptation | Resilience |
| Air | Freedom | Perspective |
| The Fifth | — | Unknown |
| The “Sixth” | — | Unknown |
About the Author
E. M. Hesse is a Minnesotan author with a love for speculative fiction and stories about complicated people. She isn’t afraid to explore difficult questions, complicated relationships, or the messy parts of being human. Inspired by her Christian faith, her work explores courage, hope, identity, and what it means to find your place in the world.