by L.J. Evias
She’s young, gifted,
and desperate to prove she belongs. But some lessons come with a cost.
Torvia has one goal: to earn her place as a royal guard and repay the prince
who saved her life. But despite her powerful magic, the prince refuses to send
her into danger, and the princess wants her in court.
Everyone has a plan for Torvia’s future. None of them match her own.
So when a charming older boy offers secret lessons and a chance to escape her
overprotective guardian, Torvia is tempted. He’s clever. He listens. And the
magic he shows her is unlike anything she’s seen before.
But every step she takes draws her further from the path she planned – and one
wrong move could cost her the mission, her future, and the prince who’s
counting on her.
The Cost of Magic is a dark coming-of-age prequel to The
Intrigue of Magic, a young adult epic fantasy series, perfect for readers
who crave fierce heroines, tangled loyalties, and the high price of choosing
your own path.
Start The Cost of Magic today
and discover how one girl’s ambition can change the fate of a kingdom.
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The Royal Guard Tests
Mavron grinned as he drew his blade. “Not so confident now, eh?”
Grinding her teeth, Torvia moved into position. Despite the morning’s exercises, Mavron still seemed fresh, and had a massive height and reach advantage over her.
“No magic,” Charla reminded them. “To be a royal guard, you must be able to fight on worlds without magic.”
Torvia clenched her jaw. This was going to hurt. But she wasn’t going to let Mavron or Charla or anyone else stand in her way. She deserved to be a royal guard. Prince Ademir needed her, and she wasn’t going to be left behind every time he went away. Not anymore. She had to pass this challenge.
With a scream, Mavron charged, his weapon raised.
Swiftly pulling out her own slender sword, Torvia ducked out of the way and jabbed forward. Mavron easily intercepted and shoved her back, before hammering his sword down. Without the slightest amount of restraint, he slammed his sword against hers again and again. He wasn’t even trying to get past her guard.
No matter how many times she dodged, he found a way to counteract her next move, forcing her to meet his blade. With every blow, he pushed her back, until he knocked her right over.
Torvia cursed as the others cheered, even the girl amongst them. Throwing herself out of the way, she narrowly avoided a slash to the stomach, but for a moment, Mavron was off balance.
She struck, but Mavron had anticipated her move, and swatted her away like a hapless locust. With one foot, he shoved her back into the ground.
Struggling for breath, Torvia rolled away, and leapt to her feet. This fight wasn’t going well. Despite its slender size, her sword already weighed her down, and her limbs ached with the effort.
Victory in his eyes, Mavron lunged, swiping down.
Torvia leapt forward, bracing for the pain as she blocked his sword. Her arm shuddered with the impact and her shoulder throbbed in protest, but her other hand was already sliding inside her tunic to the blade hidden within.
Malice twisted Mavron’s lips and he leaned into his sword, attempting to force her to the ground again. Until she slipped the dagger to his throat. “Do you yield?” she growled.
Mavron stiffened, his eyes going wide. “No,” he muttered. “You didn’t. You can’t.”
“Yield. My dagger is at your throat.”
Full of hate, Mavron’s eyes moved to hers. After a moment, he relaxed his posture, bringing his sword down. “You cheat,” he spat.
“A dagger is not magic.”
Mavron switched his gaze to Charla. “She forfeits the challenge,” he said assertively.
Unamused, Charla shook her head. “A guard thinks with her head as much as she uses her weapons.”
His temper getting the better of him, Mavron threw down his sword and glared at Torvia. “You’re only here because Prince Ademir favours you.”
Charla strode forward, her voice rising. “Torvia has just defeated you in spell and blade. She fully deserves to be here.”
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The Discovery of Magic
The Intrigue of Magic Book 1
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A world ruled by
magic. A palace full of secrets. A girl who refuses to back down.
Seventeen-year-old Alice Harper had her future mapped out—win an archery
scholarship, protect her friends, and stay in control. But when a portal hurls
her into a kingdom where magic rules and obedience means survival, she lands in
a palace gripped by fear—and under the eye of the most powerful man in the realm.
The Royal Mage doesn’t just control the court—he controls people. With power,
with fear, with enchantments no one dares resist. And for reasons Alice can’t
explain, he’s taken a disturbing interest in her.
The only person who seems to want to help is the prince. He’s charming,
clever—and very possibly lying. Caught between dangerous truths and beautiful
deceits, Alice must decide who to trust before her friends are lost forever.
She’s not afraid of a fight. But in a world where magic is control, and trust
is the most dangerous choice of all, surviving will take more than arrows—it
will take everything she’s got.
The Discovery of Magic is the thrilling first book in The
Intrigue of Magic, a YA epic fantasy series perfect for fans of court
intrigue, character-driven fantasy, and bold heroines who don’t just
survive—they fight for each other.
Buy The Discovery of Magic today
to enter a world where freedom is fragile—and every alliance comes at a cost.
What readers are saying:
‘A creative first novel in the Intrigue of Magic series, the
contemporary characters are endearing and believable figures with magical
threats, delicate alliances, and savvy manipulators at every turn. The
world-building is strong, with thematic undercurrents pointing back to
contemporary life in a way that inspires a continuing sense of empathy for the
characters. Evias’ care with character interaction and modern-day social
parallels make it a distinctly compelling start to a new series.’ – Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★
‘The world-building is great with
detailed political structure and magical elements…Evias dishes up the angst
that accompanies young love, and…is authentic in depicting the frustrations
of youth…Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-executed entry to a new
series and I look forward to seeing where we go next’ – Asher Syed, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘…offers a balance of
lightheartedness and tension, making it accessible to both younger and older
audiences. This first book in the series holds great promise and delivers a
charming and enjoyable story.’ – Carol
Thompson, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★
‘L. J. Evias’ thrilling fantasy adventure will keep readers glued to the
pages…The Discovery of Magic is a well-written, clean fantasy to
be enjoyed by fantasy lovers young and old’ – Delene Vrey, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘The Discovery of Magic is a compelling start to what promises to be an
exceptional fantasy series for readers who appreciate carefully crafted magical
worlds and meaningful character growth. I cannot wait to see what comes next.’
– K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘A suspense-filled, magical adventure with a strong, reckless protagonist to
root for. Highly recommended!’ – The
Wishing Shelf, ★★★★
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* Goodreads
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Conversations around the campfire
Tedric, a younger and more talkative guard, smirked at him from across the fire. “So, they don’t have magic where you’re from?”
Shaking his head, Jordan glanced suspiciously at Kasan. Summoning fire was one thing, but disappearing and reappearing at will? That was highly disconcerting. Nevertheless, he had to admit it was useful for Kasan to teleport ahead and scout the route or check for water. But he could find another place to reintegrate …
Tedric adjusted his meal over the fire. “You’ll have to get used to it. Where we’re going, magic is practically revered and the whole mage caste teleports around. Many can sense their destination so precisely they can materialise within a crowd. Kasan’s still working on that,” he said with a wink.
A scowl darkened Kasan’s already stern face. “The mages of North Parsa devote their entire lives to magical study. No one compares to them.” He dropped down beside Jordan, helped himself to some slightly overcooked lizard, and met Tedric’s smirk. “I don’t see you working on your teleportation skills.”
Jordan’s head snapped back to Tedric. “You can perform magic too?”
“A little, but Kasan is right about the north. They have entire libraries bursting with information.” He gave a mischievous grin. “Perhaps we can pick up a few books whilst we’re there.”
Jordan tensed. Northern mages didn’t sound like the type of people to be trifled with. If Kasan envied them, they must be capable of unimaginable feats.
“Are you regretting your decision?” Princess Safia asked.
“No,” he replied with confidence. Unlike any princess he’d ever imagined, Safia often showed how much she cared about her people. Since he had first seen her healing her wounded guard, he had observed her tending to the camels, helping with the food preparation and talking with the other guards as if she were one of them. If she could handle the desert, so could he. “This is the best way to find all my friends. If they turn up in the south, Jaime can be there for them. If they’re in the north, I’ll find them and bring them back to the south and we can find a way home together.”
“You must be very close to travel all this way on the off-chance they are the ones looking for you.”
He flushed, realising the scale of the undertaking he had embarked on for a girl he had a crush on, her friend and her friend’s brother. Tendrils of doubt crept into his mind, reminding him of other lost friends. Friends who had quickly forgotten Jordan when his world had collapsed.
But he’d been the one lost then, not them. He wouldn’t be that fickle. “I can’t just wait to see what happens. I have to do something,” he finally said, his chest tight. These were the types of doubts Jaime usually voiced and he’d never had any problem ignoring them before. Unprepared for these emotions, he changed the subject to more pressing matters. “Why can’t magic conjure water?”
Safia smiled at him. “It can, if you’re skilled enough. I can summon water in an emergency, but it drains my strength considerably, especially in such a dry environment. Many of the mages in North Parsa can do it with less difficulty, so they have an advantage over us already. Ironically, it is much easier to summon fire than water, though I suppose it is always easier to destroy than create, and flame, once sparked, easily spreads.”
L. J. Evias writes
exclusively in the fantasy genre, infusing stories with a dash of adventure and
mystery. In Evias’s worlds, moral absolutes do not exist, giving life to a
diverse cast of intriguing characters.
The Intrigue of
Magic is Evias’s debut series, featuring accessible world-building, intricate
plots, and unforgettable heroes and villains. Released in 2024, The Discovery
of Magic is the first book in this series.
When not immersed
in the pages of a novel, Evias enjoys real-world adventures both in the UK and
abroad. The enchanting settings of The Intrigue of Magic series draw
inspiration from personal travels, notably the unique architecture and
evocative landscapes of Morocco.
Bonus material and
a sample short story are available from the author’s website.
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The Cost of Magic
