A Blight of Mages

A privileged mage forges a troubling romance with an aspiring student of the mystic arts in this epic prequel to the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker fantasy series.

Hundreds of years before the great Mage War, a land lies, unknowing, on the edge of catastrophe…

Barl is young and impulsive, but she has a power within that calls to her. In her city, however, only those of noble blood and with the right connections learn the ways of the arcane. Barl is desperate to learn—but her eagerness to use her power leads her astray and she is banned from ever learning the mystic arts.

Morgan holds the key to her education. A member of the Council of Mages, he lives to maintain the status quo, preserve the mage bloodlines, and pursue his scholarly experiments. But Barl’s power intrigues him—in spite of her low status.

Together, he realizes they can create extraordinary new incantations. Morgan’s ambition and Barl’s power make a potent combination. What she does not see is the darkness in him that won’t be denied.

Praise for the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series

“A solid epic that posits political intrigue, ethereal prophecies and a rags-to-riches hero against a vivid if familiar fantasy backdrop. . . . Miller’s prose is earnest and engaging.” —Publishers Weekly on The Innocent Mage

“Intriguing characters and a finely tuned sense of drama.” —Library Journal on The Innocent Mage

“The sort of conclusion you remember for years and keep revisiting in your imagination.” —Glenda Larke on The Awakened Mage