Keita’s Wings is a fantasy series by author Christie Valentine Powell, first published in 2015. It’s the first series in The Spectra Universe.
Princess Keita Sage is hiding in exile after enemies took the six Spectra thrones. The young heirs of each kingdom managed to escape the attack, and band together to fight back and restore their homes. Each book takes place in a different kingdom, where the people, called Spectra, have a different elemental ability.
Works in the Keita’s Wings series :
- The Spectra Unearthed
- The Spectra United
- The Spectra Uprooted
- The Spectra Unfurled
- The Spectra Upended
- The Spectra Undaunted
The Keita’s Wings series contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Keita Sage, but most of her friends get some action scenes.
- Altar Diplomacy and Arranged Marriage: Most of the young royals are betrothed at age 15, including Keita and Brian, Carli and Griffin, and Zuri and Glen.
- Ascended Extra: Tons of these.
- The Love Interest of the Keita's Wings series Brian Pensier is only mentioned briefly in Unearthed.
- Keita’s sister Savanna is mentioned in Unearthed and becomes a main character in United.
- Big Bad: Donovan aka Kieran Sclera
- Coming of Age Story: The plot follows Keita from young exile to queen as she tries to find a place to call home.
- Conveniently an Orphan: Most of the characters lost their parents before the novel began. The royals had a policy that they would send their inheriting children away in case of danger, which is why most of the present generation survived.
- The Dragon: One per book, before you get to the Big Bad in book 6.
- First Girl Wins: Usually, once a relationship is set up, it’s going to stay that way.
- Four-Girl Ensemble: Keita as Team Mom, Carli as tomboy, Zuri as princess, and Sienna as child.
- Friend to All Living Things: Played With. Keita has a truce with wild animals, but rarely gets along with domesticated ones.
- Friend Versus Lover: Book 5 has Keita torn between her friend Carli and betrothed Brian, who distrust each other and keep secrets from one another—and thus from Keita, who trusts both.
- Healing Hands: Some Sprites specialize in healing abilities. Keita has rudimentary healing skills, but often causes intense pain while doing so.
- Heart Is an Awesome Power: Brian, who has communication abilities, can manipulate others’ emotions. He seems less impressive in a fight... until he defeats several enemies at once by crippling their will.
- The Masquerade: People without powers also inhabit the continent, but the powered Spectra hide their abilities from them and have their own ruling bodies. Keita meets several "humans" who know, though. The sequel series takes place as the masquerade falls.
- Massive Numbered Siblings: Brian is the middle child of five boys. Zuri is second oldest of six, but most were murdered before the story began except two. Wyatt Tesla is one of seven, and the plot of book 2 revolves around finding them all.
- Missing Mom: Most of the royal heirs lost their parents, but a special mention goes to Keita’s Mom, who went missing instead of being directly killed. She shows up in book 6.
- Modest Royalty: Keita isn’t keen on her princess title. Later we find out that her kingdom sees its royalty more as ambassadors.
- Nature Hero: Keita (and all Sprites) have nature-based abilities.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Princess Azura Neried goes by Zuri, Princess Scarlett Kelvin by Carli, and Princess Savanna Sage by Avie.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Exists in the backstory with Keita’s parents and Brian’s older brother. Played straight with Keita and Brian , Zuri and Glen, and later Teague and Sienna. Defied with Carli and Griffin.
- Rightful King Returns: In each book, the characters oust The Dragon and return one of their own to the throne.
- Spare to the Throne: Keita to her twin brother Glen. Teague and Reid to Brian. They form a “spares club”. Reid wears the title with honor, but Teague hides that it bothers him. Carli to her older siblings Ash and Blaise.
- Supernatural Sensitivity: Keita can sense the living things around her, part of her Sprite powers. Some Coles in book 5 can sense temperatures around them, including body heat.
- Voluntary Shapeshifter: Most Sprites can learn one or two forms. Keita has five (kestrel, pony, black bear, raccoon, and later mouse).
