Collegia Magica Series by Carol Berg

Reduced to tending the library at Sabria's last collegia magica, Portier de Savin-Duplais, failed student of magic, fights off despair with scholarship. But when the King of Sabria charges him to investigate an attempted murder that has disturbing magical resonances, Portier believes his dreams of a greater destiny might at last be fulfilled.

By order of His Royal Majesty Philippe de Savin-Journia y Sabria, Anne de Vernase is hereby summoned to attend His Majesty's Court at Merona... Anne de Vernase rejoices that she has no talent for magic. Her father's pursuit of depraved sorcery has left her family in ruins, and he remains at large, convicted of treason and murder by Anne's own testimony. Now, the tutors at Collegia Seravain inform her that her gifted younger sister has died in a magical accident... moreBy order of His Royal Majesty Philippe de Savin-Journia y Sabria, Anne de Vernase is hereby summoned to attend His Majesty's Court at Merona... Anne de Vernase rejoices that she has no talent for magic. Her father's pursuit of depraved sorcery has left her family in ruins, and he remains at large, convicted of treason and murder by Anne's own testimony. Now, the tutors at Collegia Seravain inform her that her gifted younger sister has died in a magical accident. It seems but life's final mockery that cool, distant Portier de Savin-Duplais, the librarian turned royal prosecutor, arrives with the news that the king intends to barter her hand in marriage. Anne recognizes that the summoning carries implications far beyond a bleak personal future - and they are all about magic. Merona, the royal city, is beset by plagues of rats and birds, and mysterious sinkholes that swallow light and collapse buildings. Whispers of hauntings and illicit necromancy swirl about the queen's volatile sorcerer. And a murder in the queen's inner circle convinces Anne that her sister's death was no accident. With no one to trust but a friend she cannot see, Anne takes up her sister's magical puzzle, plunging into the midst of a centuries-old rivalry and coming face-to-face with the most dangerous sorcerer in Sabria. His name is Dante. less

A scientific young woman probes the mysterious death of her magically gifted sister in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy sequel to The Spirit Lens.Anne de Vernase is fighting to hold herself together as scandal and tragedy tear her family apart. Her father remains at large, convicted of treason and murder thanks to her own testimony—and his pursuit of depraved sorcery. Her mother has gone insane, and her brother is a prisoner... moreA scientific young woman probes the mysterious death of her magically gifted sister in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy sequel to The Spirit Lens.Anne de Vernase is fighting to hold herself together as scandal and tragedy tear her family apart. Her father remains at large, convicted of treason and murder thanks to her own testimony—and his pursuit of depraved sorcery. Her mother has gone insane, and her brother is a prisoner. Her sister, a talented sixth-year student at the Collegia Magica, has recently died under mysterious circumstances. And now the man she despises, Portier de Savin-Duplais, arrives with a foreboding summons from her godfather, the king.Once in Merona, Anne finds herself in a city besieged by dark sorcery and in a royal court full of treacherous machinations. Disturbing rumors surround the queen’s volatile sorcerer, while the queen’s mother is waging a manipulative game. And when a killer strikes, Anne questions what really happened to her sister. With no talent for magic and few allies to protect her, Anne begins a perilous search for the truth that will shake up a kingdom . . . “A compelling and altogether admirable work.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Lavish. . . . Berg’s characters return to vivid life. . . . Berg refreshes and reinvigorates the familiar trappings of epic fantasy, shaping a novel that rings true both linguistically and imaginatively. This is one to savor.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Berg brings life and grace to a story of magic and politics that should appeal to the author’s fans as well as lovers of Renaissance-style fantasy.” —Library Journal   “A novel that stakes an early claim to my Top 10 list of 2011. . . . Traditional fantasy does not get better than this!” — Fantasy Book Critic less

A blind mage teams up with an unlikely ally to save a friend and the world in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy adventure by the author of The Soul Mirror.   Indicted for crimes against the living and the dead, Dante the necromancer has become the most hated man in Sabria. Becoming blind by his enemy’s cruel vengeance only exacerbates his situation. These days, his only comfort is time spent with his student, Anne de Vernase, passing his knowledge on to her... moreA blind mage teams up with an unlikely ally to save a friend and the world in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy adventure by the author of The Soul Mirror.   Indicted for crimes against the living and the dead, Dante the necromancer has become the most hated man in Sabria. Becoming blind by his enemy’s cruel vengeance only exacerbates his situation. These days, his only comfort is time spent with his student, Anne de Vernase, passing his knowledge on to her. But when her family greatly needs her, she must leave Dante.   Then a retired soldier, haunted by powerful dreams, seeks out Dante’s help. Seeing a magical puzzle to solve and a chance to redeem himself, Dante offers his services—even though he senses the man’s plea hides something far more sinister. Soon the blind mage embarks on a mad journey with an unlikely ally beside him. Together they must rescue a former companion from a hellish demise that could raise a destructive cataclysm greater than any war their world has ever seen . . .  “An amazingly complex and rewarding story, The Daemon Prince is certain to reward the devoted students of the Collegia Magica trilogy.” —Booklist  “Enthralling and not to be missed.” —Kirkus Reviews  “This rousing and complex good-against-evil battle concludes Berg’s voluminous quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy trilogy. . . . [Berg’s] insight into the nature of human good and evil, the constantly ebbing and flowing relationships among lovers and friends . . . consistently raises this novel above sword-and-sorcery routine.” —Publishers Weekly  “Filled with action and feeling as if it occurs in a Berg version of the Age of Reason; fans will appreciate this stupendous story.” —Alternative Worlds less