The Spoken Mage

In Elena's world words have power over life and death - but none more so than hers. As the daughter of shopkeepers, Elena has always known that the mysteries of reading and writing are closed to her. Only the mageborn can risk harnessing the power unleashed from putting pen to paper. Until Elena discovers an impossible new ability and joins the elite ranks of the mages. But with the kingdom at war, the authorities can't agree if Elena is an asset, or a threat they need to eliminate.

As the daughter of shopkeepers, Elena has always known that the mysteries of reading and writing are closed to her. Only the mageborn can risk harnessing the power unleashed from putting pen to paper. Until Elena discovers an impossible new ability and joins the elite ranks of the mages. But with the kingdom at war, the authorities can't agree if Elena is an asset, or a threat they need to eliminate. Thrust into the unknown world of the Royal Academy without friends or experience, Elena will need all of her wits, strength, and new power to carve a place for herself. 

Finally accepted as a mage, Elena struggles with her commonborn roots. And when disaster strikes the kingdom, she can't shrug off the death toll as the mageborn have always done. Yet the limitations of her spoken magic hold her back - both in saving lives among the people and in competitions in the Academy's arena. In desperation she turns to an unlikely source of assistance - Prince Lucas. But just as she begins to master her powers, she finds herself the pawn of stronger forces.

Even the Spoken Mage has limits to the power of her voice. Elena may be the only Spoken Mage in history, but she struggles with limitations. Unable to stockpile written workings as her mageborn year mates do, she runs the constant risk of burning out. But when the armed forces draw the third years to the front lines of their war, Elena's strength and flexibility may be necessary to keep them all alive. As Elena wrestles with how much she will sacrifice for the war, Lucas must decide how much he's willing to sacrifice for her.

In her fourth year at the Academy, Elena should be focusing on final exams and graduation. Instead, she has no choice but to stop a decades-long war - at least, if she wants any future with Lucas. But it's hard to stop a war when you're nowhere near the front lines. And an unexpected invitation - one she can't refuse - only complicates the matter further.

When a Sekali princess unexpectedly bursts into Elena and Lucas’s betrothal celebrations, Ardann is forced to send a team to investigate her claims of a new enemy. The last thing Saffron expects, or wants, is to be called on to assist. But she can’t risk disgracing her family by refusing to join the expedition.