EXCERPT
The Discovery of Magic
L.J. Evias
Publication date: September 26th 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Transported to an ancient realm of magic and mystery, can a young woman survive scheming royals, shifting alliances, and impending war?
Alice Harper yearns to determine her own fate. Desperate to change her parents’ minds about moving away from everything she knows, the gifted archer sets out to win a coveted scholarship. But the seventeen-year-old feels completely out of control when she and her friends stumble through a strange portal to a mysterious world.
Separated from the others, the bold and reckless teen finds herself whisked away to an impossible palace where charming mages offer help. But as she becomes entwined in the politics of the court, Alice grows suspicious of her new allies, and she struggles to distinguish friend from foe…
As she’s pulled deeper into treacherous plots, can the daring young adult rescue her peers and get everyone home?
The Discovery of Magic is the captivating first book in The Intrigue of Magic YA epic fantasy series. If you like relatable characters, powerful enchantments, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love L. J. Evias’s battle for courage.
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EXCERPT:
Losing her patience, Alice glared at the man. Why wouldn’t he speak English? In his peculiar uniform, he must be part of some historical reenactment, but he didn’t have to be so unhelpful.
Shielding her eyes from the bright sun, she sought out someone else, only then noticing the wall surrounding them. And the ochre sand scattered across the hard ground.
What was going on?
In the corner of the enclosure, a wooden building appeared to be sheltering people from the heat, but a number of men dressed as soldiers stood guard along the walls. All wore double-breasted navy tunics with gold buttons, but none possessed the decorations of the man in front of her. He must be in charge. But of what?
The man, in his mid-twenties, and with chocolate brown hair, said something unfathomable yet again.
With a sigh, she pulled out her phone to text the others, but there was no signal.
Her skin crawled. This was very wrong.
Cold spread through her limbs as she turned to face the doorway, not a gap in the rock as she’d presumed, but an oval of shimmering light, standing proud of the wall. She gulped. That was not normal.
Swallowing her fear, she pushed against it, but a force prevented her passing.
There was no way back.
The man touched her elbow and gestured to a narrow gap at the end of the enclosure. He spoke more urgently now and looked at her phone with suspicion. Finally, in English, he said, “Come with me.”
Alice almost laughed with relief. “Where am I?”
The pressure on her elbow increased and he gestured forwards with his other hand.
Alice shook her head. “Tell me where I am first.”
The man barked an order in that unfathomable language, and soldiers rushed forward, eager to obey. In the narrow gap, a carriage appeared, with oversized wheels and a golden lion on the side.
The commander gestured forwards again. Could he not understand her?
“What is going on? Where are you taking me?”
He stared at her for a moment, contemplating her words, then said, “To the palace, to the king.”
Alice’s stomach knotted. There was no palace near her home.
Facing the rising dread, she skulked to the exit and stared upon the impossible scene. Desert dunes spread out each side of a stone path, and in the distance, a city poked into the sky, like nothing she’d ever seen. Everything looked to be made of stone, though two towers glinted peculiarly in the sun.
Beside the carriage, the officer held out an arm and looked at her expectantly.
With no way back and no answers here, a palace started to sound appealing. They might have people who could speak her language and explain what had happened.
With one last glance around, she stepped inside the carriage.
Author Bio:
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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