Mark of the Least Series by Kendra Merritt

Rolling around in the worst fashion accessory ever. .. Seventeen-year-old Merry has mucked up another chance to get into the University of Magecraft, so she doesn't have time to deal with shape-changing creatures bent on stealing memories from the people of Woodshire. That's her father's job. But when an outlaw mage mistakes her for a damsel in distress on a drenched train platform, she's dragged into a fight with the monsters and a sheriff mad enough to use them... moreRolling around in the worst fashion accessory ever. .. Seventeen-year-old Merry has mucked up another chance to get into the University of Magecraft, so she doesn't have time to deal with shape-changing creatures bent on stealing memories from the people of Woodshire. That's her father's job. But when an outlaw mage mistakes her for a damsel in distress on a drenched train platform, she's dragged into a fight with the monsters and a sheriff mad enough to use them. She'd never admit it out loud but the mage is actually kind of fun to work with - when she doesn't want to run him over with her chair. And he's exactly the ally she needs when the monsters go after her father's memories. But with bad guys who can look like friends and friends who look like outlaws, Merry has to decide who to trust and whether returning the stolen memories of those she cares about most is worth giving up her chance to finally earn respect as a mage. less

Rogue magic and runaway mice were not what Brynn had in mind for a quiet life running a shop…. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what Brynn should be doing with her life. Her father wants her to go on grand adventures while her best friend believes that a wealthy fiancé will solve all her problems. But all Brynn wants is a quiet life, a well-run shop, and maybe someone to share it all with. Too bad the boy she has a crush on is even more shy than she is... moreRogue magic and runaway mice were not what Brynn had in mind for a quiet life running a shop…. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what Brynn should be doing with her life. Her father wants her to go on grand adventures while her best friend believes that a wealthy fiancé will solve all her problems. But all Brynn wants is a quiet life, a well-run shop, and maybe someone to share it all with. Too bad the boy she has a crush on is even more shy than she is. However, when Brynn’s placid routine is disrupted by knick-knacks come to life and some unexplained magic, she enlists the help of the boy next door and finally gets the chance to see what’s under his bashfulness. Now if only they can get the knick-knacks to stop trying to escape. less

Even the weakest flame can become the fiercest blaze. Crippled from a childhood illness, Cindy lives in the kitchen fireplace, ignored by her noble father and his new, perfect family, helping the people no one else notices. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Cindy’s step-mother coerces her into an elaborate plot to avoid being charged with murder... moreEven the weakest flame can become the fiercest blaze. Crippled from a childhood illness, Cindy lives in the kitchen fireplace, ignored by her noble father and his new, perfect family, helping the people no one else notices. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Cindy’s step-mother coerces her into an elaborate plot to avoid being charged with murder. Meekness is nothing new to Cindy, but now she has to lay low in the royal court of Valeria where a prince is rumored to be bride shopping. She'd be fine, if that prince would just stop following her around. But Prince Nikolas has seen more than Cindy's limp. He's seen that she's clever and observant. And she's just the right person to help him find a blood mage that threatens the very foundation of Valeria. If only she believed that she was worth fighting for, too…. less

The only one who can free him is the girl he’s hurt the most. Cursed for a youthful accident which maimed a young woman, Léon Beauregard roams his mountain as a bear, clinging to the scraps of his humanity. Too bad it’s not working. Every day he loses a little more of himself to the bear and his stupid fuzzy tail... moreThe only one who can free him is the girl he’s hurt the most. Cursed for a youthful accident which maimed a young woman, Léon Beauregard roams his mountain as a bear, clinging to the scraps of his humanity. Too bad it’s not working. Every day he loses a little more of himself to the bear and his stupid fuzzy tail. But when Léon comes across Anwen, an enchanter scarred from an accident she doesn’t remember, she promises to free him, because she believes no one deserves this sort of punishment, no matter their crime. As the graceful enchanter tries to free him, Léon begins to realize Anwen is much more than just a passing enchanter. She’s the one he’s falling in love with. And she is the one whose life he ruined. He knows he must hide his part in Anwen’s past if he wants to keep her, but when bodies show up mauled by a large animal, even she begins to doubt his ability to be redeemed. With his heart, soul, and humanity in the balance, Léon has more to hide and everything to lose if Anwen ever learns the truth about the monster inside him. The Mark of the Least is a series of related stories designed to be read in any order. less

Her truth could start a war…or set her heart free. The world has always been a bit baffling to Lysandra with its unspoken rules and unnecessary metaphors. Even magic doesn’t work the same way for her as it does for the council of mages. Luckily, Lys has always had Issy, the princess of their island nation, who has shielded Lys from the world that doesn’t quite understand her... moreHer truth could start a war…or set her heart free. The world has always been a bit baffling to Lysandra with its unspoken rules and unnecessary metaphors. Even magic doesn’t work the same way for her as it does for the council of mages. Luckily, Lys has always had Issy, the princess of their island nation, who has shielded Lys from the world that doesn’t quite understand her. But as a princess, Issy has new duties while Lys wants nothing more than to live quietly, protecting the islands from the storms that ravage them. But to do that, Lys will have to go to the mages and explain the impossible way she does magic. Lys can’t imagine anything worse. She’d even rather live Issy’s life for a few days. So begins the scheme that will give them both what they want. The girls trade places, and Issy goes to plead with the mages while Lys pretends to be royalty. But as soon as Issy leaves, Lys learns there’s a visiting prince and a king vying for the princess’s hand. Now she’s stuck hiding who she is with a king who is determined to start a war and a prince who is determined to see Lys as her true self. Keeping her secret might be the most important thing she’s ever done when the truth could break the fragile peace of the islands. Not to mention her heart. less