Rune Heart Series by Celeste Baxendell

An ambitious mage. A warrior priest. A divine power… they would both rather her die than let her keep it. Nadiya has been told countless times her ambition to become the first no-name mage to hold a commander’s position amongst the Runai would get her killed. When the temple begins to collapse, her class is sent to evacuate everyone, but her determination to save lives and prove herself capable results in her and the High Priest’s apprentice, Lateo, being trapped inside... moreAn ambitious mage. A warrior priest. A divine power… they would both rather her die than let her keep it. Nadiya has been told countless times her ambition to become the first no-name mage to hold a commander’s position amongst the Runai would get her killed. When the temple begins to collapse, her class is sent to evacuate everyone, but her determination to save lives and prove herself capable results in her and the High Priest’s apprentice, Lateo, being trapped inside. Despite his evident disdain for her and all of the mages, he leads them to an underground vault to take shelter while they wait to be rescued. However, as the roof caves in, and Nadiya tries to catch a holy relic, the Heart of Asentai, power floods her veins. When she wakes up, she’s become the Beata, a prophesied mythic figure with more magic than she could dream of. She’s sent away to be protected, but more importantly to protect everyone else from her and the power she can’t control. She’s now separated from the mages and stuck with the priest who hates her as her guard. Nadiya is desperate to turn herself back into a no-name mage and return to the Runai, but is that even possible? And can she do it before someone kills her to steal a power she doesn’t even want? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Sacred Heart is a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson! less

Her destiny is to give her life to save the world. .. but what will she do when he will let it burn to save her? Since the appearance of a leech and the sudden growth of the Abyss, Nadiya has accepted her new role as Asentai’s Beata. Only now she’s desperate to earn the immense power she’s been blessed with. The sooner Nadiya can fulfill the prophecy and close the Abyss, the sooner Imperia is safe from the leeches and the expanse threatening to destroy them... moreHer destiny is to give her life to save the world. .. but what will she do when he will let it burn to save her? Since the appearance of a leech and the sudden growth of the Abyss, Nadiya has accepted her new role as Asentai’s Beata. Only now she’s desperate to earn the immense power she’s been blessed with. The sooner Nadiya can fulfill the prophecy and close the Abyss, the sooner Imperia is safe from the leeches and the expanse threatening to destroy them. As her powers and abilities grow, she is sent to Praesi where Commander Saeva, Prince Sulien’s aunt, takes over Nadiya’s training. The commander’s mysterious history and tumultuous relationship with the High Priest and Lateo is worsened as Saeva pushes Nadiya to her breaking point. Tensions rise between Prince Sulien and the city while every day leaves Nadiya incapacitated as she struggles to become strong enough to close the Abyss. As Nadiya and Lateo grow closer, she fears his feelings for her have grown dangerously out of control when there can be nothing more than friendship between them… especially when she will not leave the city alive. If sacrificing herself is the only way to deserve the power she’s been given and close the Abyss, will she be strong enough to succeed? Or will she fail and give her life for nothing? And if Lateo isn’t willing to let her go, what will he condemn them all to in order to save her life? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Void Heart is book 2 in the Rune Heart series, a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson! less

He took everything from her; she’ll return the favor… even if it kills her. Nadiya had once been the Beata, meant to change the world with her immense power. Now it had all been ripped out of her. Now she is nothing. She isn’t even a mage anymore. The abomination who took everything from her also silenced her in order to cover his crimes and retreated back to hide in his temple... moreHe took everything from her; she’ll return the favor… even if it kills her. Nadiya had once been the Beata, meant to change the world with her immense power. Now it had all been ripped out of her. Now she is nothing. She isn’t even a mage anymore. The abomination who took everything from her also silenced her in order to cover his crimes and retreated back to hide in his temple. As the graduation tournament fast approaches, Nadiya finally discovers the abomination’s to enter the tournament with her magic. With only a pair of stolen swords, Nadiya is determined to enter the tournament and foil his plans no matter the cost. Unable to tell the truth or warn anyone about his nature, there is only one way for Nadiya to stop him. Will she be able to keep her heart hard enough to finish him off, even as he swears with every breath that he did it all for her? He doesn’t love her. An abomination like him isn’t even capable of it… right? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Iron Heart is book 3 in the Rune Heart series, a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson! less

He tore the world in two. But the truth is… she’s the greatest threat to them all. Nadiya finally has everything she has ever wanted. She’s the first no-name commander and Prince Sulien’s fiancée, but there is no wedding in sight, only Sulien’s orders she’s not allowed outside the palace walls. Her hunger grows with each day, and the truth is becoming dangerously hard to hide. When Nadiya’s secret is discovered by the king, she has no choice in what she has to do in order to survive... moreHe tore the world in two. But the truth is… she’s the greatest threat to them all. Nadiya finally has everything she has ever wanted. She’s the first no-name commander and Prince Sulien’s fiancée, but there is no wedding in sight, only Sulien’s orders she’s not allowed outside the palace walls. Her hunger grows with each day, and the truth is becoming dangerously hard to hide. When Nadiya’s secret is discovered by the king, she has no choice in what she has to do in order to survive. As she runs from everything she’s ever known, will she chase down a past she never had, or will she turn to the enemy of her enemy, the man she once believed she loved? If he had known the truth, would he even have left her behind in the first place? Lateo has been preparing for this day his entire life. Now that a war is being waged in his name, he has to see it through to the end. Whether that’s the end of the war or the end of his life remained to be seen, but the odds are not in his favor. Each day he has to hide the truth from the people who have bet their lives on his reign, and he won’t let anything jeopardize that. Not even the girl he loved enough to give up all his ambitions for. So long as she’s safe in the palace, he can focus on winning the war. Unless word of her marriage to Sulien kills him first. When that fateful news finally arrives, will he be able to finally give up the hope of having the love of his life finally be his? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Raven Heart is book 4 in the Rune Heart series, a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson! less

A new age doesn’t come without a sacrifice. Nadiya came to Lateo’s gates, ready to save his life, with his engagement necklace in hand, but she has been locked away ever since. Each day brings Lateo closer to death and all of them closer to being swallowed by the Abyss. .. if King Sulien’s army doesn’t kill them all first. But when news of Sulien’s marriage reaches the city, Nadiya finally has her chance to win Lateo’s trust and save their people by helping him stop the Abyss... moreA new age doesn’t come without a sacrifice. Nadiya came to Lateo’s gates, ready to save his life, with his engagement necklace in hand, but she has been locked away ever since. Each day brings Lateo closer to death and all of them closer to being swallowed by the Abyss. .. if King Sulien’s army doesn’t kill them all first. But when news of Sulien’s marriage reaches the city, Nadiya finally has her chance to win Lateo’s trust and save their people by helping him stop the Abyss. She’s determined to repay her debt and save him, no matter what it costs her. It’s not like he could ever love her again after everything she’s done, but maybe if he marries her anyway, she can give him everything he’s ever wanted… if they live long enough to see it. Nadiya is Lateo’s greatest weakness, and even though he should keep her far away from him for both their sakes, he’s not strong enough to follow through. She is the only mage capable of finding a way to stop the Abyss from growing. He finally has everything he’s ever wanted, but with Sulien marching toward the peninsula, Lateo knows he can’t keep any of it. If the vitae burning through him doesn’t finish him first, it will be Sulien or the Abyss. All he can do now is ensure he cleans up as much of the mess he’s made of his war and save as many people as possible before he dies. But with Nadiya at his side, insisting she will stop at nothing to save him, how can he resist her? Just how much agony is he setting himself up for when he inevitably loses it all? His kingdom, the love of his life, and his very life. What other way could it possibly end? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Shield Heart is book 5 in the Rune Heart series, a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson! less