Science fiction and fantasy hold up a mirror to human nature and ask "what if...?" What if we had interstellar flight? What if we met aliens? What if dragons were real? How would humans react? What choices would we make?If you like fantasy with super-heros with special powers and like to see lots of things blowing up, this may not be your cup of tea, but for those who enjoy a deep look into human nature through the lens of fiction, you won't be disappointed.The Healing Crystal Series (Heir to Power is Book 1 of 3), is a thoughtful look at what would happen if all that we know was stripped away and we had to start all over from square one. Who would we become if we found ourselves in a state of complete cultural amnesia with only mysteries to guide us? What instincts would we keep? How would we survive and evolve? And if all those mysteries were revealed, what then?In our complicated times, it's interesting to read something that helps to further the discussion of what it means to be human, how we build our societies, and what leadership really entails.Personally, I find it hard to believe that Michele is a first time author. The storytelling is quite focused and free of the wanderings off into uncharted territory that so often characterize even some of the best known writers' first efforts.Heir to Power has a number of unanswered mysteries, cloaked from sight for now, but lying just at the edge of recognition. The characters are real, drawn with psychological precision and expert dialogue, so clear that I feel I'd recognize them if I saw them on the street. I find myself wondering how they will react when the events set in motion in Volume I draw them in. Hurry up with Volume II Michele!!