Twinned Trilogy Excerpt: Meet Alaric
Jan. 18th, 2026 07:59 am
Commit to the Kick is the first book of the Twinned trilogy by Tris Lawrence. We’re currently crowdfunding the entire trilogy on Kickstarter, and we’re already close to our goal! Commit to the Kick stars Alaric, an aromantic gay college freshman… who can also shapeshift into a bear, and a few other animal forms! His dream is to play football, but in a world that’s only recently learned of the existence of people with magical powers, it’s hard to find a league that will welcome someone who might transform into an animal mid-game. He’s come to Pine Hills University as it’s one of a few schools experimenting with mixed leagues but, well. The excerpt says it all.
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Don’t hesitate.
Don’t overthink it.
Commit to the kick.For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn’t central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it’s not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.
In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.
When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.