The Four Arts Series by M.J. Scott

Desire or duty…which will woo a witch?Imogene Carvelle has always wanted a glittering career as an Imperial Mage. She wants to travel the empire and has no thought of marriage. But after returning home from a long mission away, she is in the mood for some fun. But sometimes the best plans go awry, and when Imogene meets the oh-so-delicious but oh-so-wrong Jean-Paul at a ball, her plan for just one night gets complicated…Jean-Paul du Laq knows he has to marry... moreDesire or duty…which will woo a witch?Imogene Carvelle has always wanted a glittering career as an Imperial Mage. She wants to travel the empire and has no thought of marriage. But after returning home from a long mission away, she is in the mood for some fun. But sometimes the best plans go awry, and when Imogene meets the oh-so-delicious but oh-so-wrong Jean-Paul at a ball, her plan for just one night gets complicated…Jean-Paul du Laq knows he has to marry. As the heir to a duq, he has to carry on the family line with the right kind of wife. And a career minded commoner like Imogene is absolutely not the woman he should be considering for anything more than a dalliance. But to him, Imogene shines brighter than the sun and he’s determined to win her heart…Courting The Witch, a prequel novella (previously published in the Warlords, Witches and Wolves Anthology but now with bonus second epilogue). less

First in a new fantasy series from the author of the Novels of the Half-Light City.Entangled in a court ruled by tradition and intrigue, a young witch must come to terms with newfound power and desire—and a choice between loyalty and survival.… The royal witches of Anglion have bowed to tradition for centuries. If a woman of royal blood manifests powers, she is immediately bound by rites of marriage... moreFirst in a new fantasy series from the author of the Novels of the Half-Light City.Entangled in a court ruled by tradition and intrigue, a young witch must come to terms with newfound power and desire—and a choice between loyalty and survival.… The royal witches of Anglion have bowed to tradition for centuries. If a woman of royal blood manifests powers, she is immediately bound by rites of marriage. She will serve her lord by practicing the tamer magics of the earth—ensuring good harvests and predicting the weather. Any magic more dangerous is forbidden. Lady Sophia Kendall, thirty-second in line to the throne, is only days away from finding out if she will be blessed—or perhaps cursed—with magic. When a vicious attack by Anglion’s ancient enemies leaves the kingdom in chaos, Sophia is forced to flee the court. Her protector by happenstance is Lieutenant Cameron Mackenzie, a member of the royal guard, raised all his life to be fiercely loyal to the Crown. Then Sophia’s powers manifest stronger than she ever imagined they would, and Cameron and she are inextricably linked in the process. As a witch unbound by marriage rites, Sophia is not only a threat to the established order of her country, but is also a weapon for those who seek to destroy it. Faced with old secrets and new truths, she must decide if she will fight for her country or succumb to the delicious temptation of power.… less

She fled to save her life, but surviving what comes next might destroy everything she believes in… The royal witches of Anglion have always been bound to serve their country. But Lady Sophia Mackenzie, whose unbound magic and near claim to the crown made her a target, was forced to flee Anglion, leaving behind a dead assassin and shattered loyalties... moreShe fled to save her life, but surviving what comes next might destroy everything she believes in… The royal witches of Anglion have always been bound to serve their country. But Lady Sophia Mackenzie, whose unbound magic and near claim to the crown made her a target, was forced to flee Anglion, leaving behind a dead assassin and shattered loyalties. Now she finds herself in Illvya, where the magic is everything she’s been taught to fear and the only person she can trust is her new husband, Cameron.Sophia and Cameron must navigate a strange world of illicit temptations, dangerous threats and political intrigue, where as a royal witch Sophia is both prized and reviled.As she begins to master her powers, the factions seeking to control Sophia close in, and her magical and emotional bonds with Cameron are pushed to the limit. To survive long enough to claim the future she seeks, she may have to choose between love and loyalty, and hope the price of her choice is one she can bear. less

PRAISE FOR M.J. SCOTT'S FOUR ARTS SERIES The Shattered Court - nominated for Best Paranormal Romance in the 2016 RITA® Awards. “Scott (the Half-Light City series) opens her Four Arts fantasy series with the portrait of a young woman who’s thrust into the center of dangerous political machinations… Romance fans will enjoy the growing relationship between Cameron and Sophie, but the story’s real strength lies in the web of intrigue Scott creates around her characters... morePRAISE FOR M.J. SCOTT'S FOUR ARTS SERIES The Shattered Court - nominated for Best Paranormal Romance in the 2016 RITA® Awards. “Scott (the Half-Light City series) opens her Four Arts fantasy series with the portrait of a young woman who’s thrust into the center of dangerous political machinations… Romance fans will enjoy the growing relationship between Cameron and Sophie, but the story’s real strength lies in the web of intrigue Scott creates around her characters.” 
—Publishers Weekly 
“Fans of high fantasy and court politics will enjoy The Shattered Court. Sophie is such a great heroine...”
—RT Book Reviews The Forbidden Heir "This story was packed with action, political intrigue, scheming, and high stakes." Alyssa - Goodreads reviewer "This is a marvelous book. The world building is unique and complex. The characters are well developed and likable and there is intrigue for days. If you've read the first book in the series it only gets better in this one." Lissa - Goodreads reviewer "'Forbidden Heir' is a great rarity: a sequel that I liked better than the original book." Margaret - Amazon reviewer DESCRIPTION: THE UNBOUND QUEEN She’s been offered a crown but taking it could cost her everything… Lady Sophie Mackenzie might be fifth in line to the Anglion throne but she never wanted to rule. But she's bound to a demon, gifted with forbidden magic, and under threat from those who would use her unusual power for themselves. And now her hopes of finding peace in exile have been shattered by visions of a terrible darkness gnawing at the heart of her homeland. Then the emperor of Illvya makes her an offer she can't refuse—return home and overthrow the queen of Anglion, or lose everything she holds dear. To face down the darkness and save her husband and everyone she loves, she may have to betray the country—and the queen—she once served and play the games of power she never wanted any part of. But can she play them to win… less