The Serving Magic Series by Toni Cabell

Her homeland under siege. A dark sorcerer hot on her trail. All the prophecies say Linden can stop him. Who are they kidding?Linden is the worst mage apprentice at her school. Her latest disaster: accidentally destroying her classroom when a small hooded figure pops up inside the fireball she’s just conjured.Linden is sent to the headmaster’s office to be formally expelled, when she is saved by the bell—quite literally... moreHer homeland under siege. A dark sorcerer hot on her trail. All the prophecies say Linden can stop him. Who are they kidding?Linden is the worst mage apprentice at her school. Her latest disaster: accidentally destroying her classroom when a small hooded figure pops up inside the fireball she’s just conjured.Linden is sent to the headmaster’s office to be formally expelled, when she is saved by the bell—quite literally. Someone is frantically ringing the bell inside the watchtower overlooking the western frontier. Soon, all the bells in town, from the government buildings to the chapels and private residences, are ringing out the same warning code. Raiders are coming, in broad daylight, wearing the uniforms of the enemy army.In the days following the raid, rumors begin to fly about the invading commander, with dark powers and an even darker mission. And for some reason Linden has yet to fathom, he’s taken a personal interest in her and her unruly magic. less

Mara’s magic has stopped working—at the worst possible time! With chasms opening in the streets of Bellaryss and rumors of chaos in the lower realms, should Mara seek help from the king of the elves?After rescuing thirty people, including Arnesto, from the dark fays, Mara’s physical injuries are healed—but her magic has never recovered—and her ensorcelled sword no longer responds to her touch.Even worse, Mara’s heart is bruised by Arnesto’s long absences and rambling explanations... moreMara’s magic has stopped working—at the worst possible time! With chasms opening in the streets of Bellaryss and rumors of chaos in the lower realms, should Mara seek help from the king of the elves?After rescuing thirty people, including Arnesto, from the dark fays, Mara’s physical injuries are healed—but her magic has never recovered—and her ensorcelled sword no longer responds to her touch.Even worse, Mara’s heart is bruised by Arnesto’s long absences and rambling explanations.Arnesto, however, has problems of his own. His brother’s spirit—along with many others in the lower realms—can’t cross over to the far shore—and Arnesto blames himself.Mara must find a way to work with Arnesto despite their differences and misunderstandings. But can she gain admittance to the elven king, find a cure for her magic, and save both worlds—the living and the dead—before time runs out?Praise for the award-winning Serving Magic series:"A captivating fantasy adventure with a relatable female protagonist. Highly recommended! ” (The Wishing Shelf, for LADY APPRENTICE)"Airy, fun and brimming with magic…a rollicking fantasy adventure of enchanting proportions.” (Indies Today, for LADY SPY)"This series has everything I love in a good young adult fantasy novel...a powerful protagonist, a strong plot, dry humor, and a romantic interest that our protagonist resists..." (Readers Favorite, for LADY LIEGE)**Don't miss the final installment in the series!** less