Amari and the Night Brothers: Chapters 1–9

by B.B. Alston
Amari Peters competes for a coveted spot at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs while trying to solve the mystery of her brother's disappearance.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–16, Chapters 17–24, Chapters 25–33
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. earful
    a severe scolding
    In the hallway, on the other side of the glass door, Principal Merritt is getting an earful from Emily Grant’s mom.
  2. revoke
    cancel officially
    “I want that girl’s scholarship revoked!”
  3. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    Mama bristles but bites her tongue.
  4. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
    “We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to physical altercations. School rules dictate she be expelled. Taking her scholarship is the smallest punishment I can offer.”
  5. discreet
    not easily noticeable
    Thanks for using Discreet Delivery service, where they get what’s coming to them, whether they know it or not!
  6. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    “You’re...the delivery guy?” I say warily.
  7. intact
    undamaged in any way
    Seems your name is on the Memory Intact List.
  8. hull
    the frame or body of a ship
    I follow, running my fingertips across the smooth hull of the ship.
  9. delusional
    suffering from or characterized by erroneous beliefs
    But how do you explain being visited by your missing brother in a dream where you took a flying boat to go look at some underwater trains without sounding delusional?
  10. deem
    judge or regard in a particular way
    Of course, if you have been deemed special, and thus do have the proper permissions, please feel free to move on to the next page.
  11. requisite
    necessary for relief or supply
    Please bring this nomination, in person, to:
    1440 N. Main St., Atlanta, GA 30305,
    for the requisite interview.
  12. waiver
    a formal written statement of relinquishment
    “Rules are rules. Whoever nominated you should’ve filled out the proper waiver if your school year runs long. There’s always next summer—”
  13. ensemble
    a coordinated outfit (set of clothing)
    Mr. Ware gestures toward his own outfit. “My ensemble is from the tropical collection, ‘Essence of a Sandy Parrot.’ Now, you might be wondering why it is I have on vacation attire..."
  14. patent
    obtain a document granting sole rights to an invention
    “My jacket,” I say. “How did it grow to fit you like that?”
    “Why, a patented enchantment, of course. How else?”
  15. obligated
    caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course
    But if you say yes, be warned that you will be obligated to attend this summer.
  16. sentient
    endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
    The Society of Sentient Insects had gone and invented ‘people repellent’ spray. You’d think a reasonable person would understand that turnabout is fair play, but you’d be surprised how quickly reason goes out the window when the bugs start spraying back.
  17. entity
    that which is perceived to have its own distinct existence
    Enforcement of the laws that govern supernatural entities living in the known world.
  18. raspy
    unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
    His voice is deep, with a raspy southern twang.
  19. plush
    characterized by extravagance and softness
    The hotel guests all look like really important people—men and women lounge on plush chairs, sipping drinks brought to them by waiters in clean white uniforms as music from the string quartet set up in front of the large fountain fills the lobby.
  20. personnel
    group of people willing to obey orders
    I keep my head down as Agent Magnus leads me through the bright lobby to a small hallway marked Authorized Personnel Only.
  21. plume
    anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
    Witches zip by overhead on brooms, cackling madly and firing plumes of black smoke at one another.
  22. eyesore
    something very ugly and offensive
    It’s so good to see that you’ve trimmed that hideous beard, Agent Magnus. It was truly becoming an eyesore.
  23. presume
    take to be the case or to be true
    “Agent Magnus,” asks Lucy, “I presume you’re taking Trainee Peters to the youth dormitories?”
  24. garbled
    lacking orderly continuity
    Lucy keeps calling out names, but we’re dropping so fast now that it becomes a garbled mess.
  25. fatigues
    military uniform worn by personnel when doing menial labor
    A tall, muscular woman in army fatigues steps into view.
  26. lanky
    tall and thin and having long slender limbs
    A lanky girl with light tan skin, curly black hair, and thick glasses leans into the doorway, yawning.
  27. essentially
    at bottom or by something's very nature
    “But once my twelfth birthday passed without a single shift, the Bureau declared me ‘essentially human’ and now I’m here.”
  28. vanquish
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
    Get it? They ‘vanquish’ the bad guys?
  29. devious
    characterized by insincerity or deceit
    These creatures, known for their extraordinary size, speed, and strength, as well as their disturbing ferocity, are perhaps the most devious product of magician-craft—a forced, unnatural fusion of man and beast.
  30. stout
    fairly large
    The auditorium is dimly lit, with most of the lighting focused on the stage, where a stout white lady stands behind a wide glass podium. At the back of the stage, a massive screen displays her round face and neatly trimmed brown hair.
  31. testament
    strong evidence for something
    Hard work can improve your badge over time. My position as Chief Director is a testament to that. I was only awarded a wooden badge when I first arrived at the Bureau.
  32. strive
    attempt by employing effort
    So strive for excellence.
  33. ado
    a great deal of fuss, concern, or commotion
    Now, without further ado, let us proceed to the badge presentations and talent enhancements.
  34. knack
    a special way of doing something
    A grinning kid named Billy Pogo’s knack for being in the right place, at the right time, becomes Unnatural Luck.
  35. dormant
    inactive but capable of becoming active
    Talent Enhanced to Supernatural Ability:
    Dormant Magic to Active Magician (Illegal)
Created on Tue Mar 16 10:23:30 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Mar 22 12:24:51 EDT 2021)

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