Brightmoon Series by Pauline M. Ross

What happens when you stop fighting an endless war and start asking why?It’s not easy being the junior wife. Mia’s only dream is to catch the eye of the dashing lead husband, and her sister’s unexpected death gives her the chance at last. But was it just a tragic accident? Mia’s not sure, but if she asks enough questions, maybe she’ll find out. Or maybe she’ll uncover too many secrets, and suffer a terrible punishment. It’s not easy being the junior husband... moreWhat happens when you stop fighting an endless war and start asking why?It’s not easy being the junior wife. Mia’s only dream is to catch the eye of the dashing lead husband, and her sister’s unexpected death gives her the chance at last. But was it just a tragic accident? Mia’s not sure, but if she asks enough questions, maybe she’ll find out. Or maybe she’ll uncover too many secrets, and suffer a terrible punishment. It’s not easy being the junior husband. For years, Hurst has longed to test his sword against the barbarians in the wilderness outside his orderly world, longed to take the lead, longed for Mia. He’s bided his time, seething with resentment, so when his chance comes, he’ll fight to the death for her, even if it tears the marriage apart. But there’s far more at stake than one marriage. When Mia’s taken from him, Hurst will risk everything to save her, even if it means taking up his sword against the barbarians, his own people, and the gods themselves. And that’s when they discover what their world is really like, and who they’re really fighting.Yet there’s one secret they don’t expect to uncover: because everyone knows there’s no such thing as magic, right? less

Kyra has always been drawn to the magic of spellpages. She is determined to leave her small village far behind and become a scribe, wielding the power of magic through her pen. Halfway through her training, she has a mage as patron and her ambitions are within her grasp. But a simple favour for her sister goes disastrously awry, destroying Kyra's dreams in an instant. Devastated, she accepts an offer from a stranger to help her find out what went wrong... moreKyra has always been drawn to the magic of spellpages. She is determined to leave her small village far behind and become a scribe, wielding the power of magic through her pen. Halfway through her training, she has a mage as patron and her ambitions are within her grasp. But a simple favour for her sister goes disastrously awry, destroying Kyra's dreams in an instant. Devastated, she accepts an offer from a stranger to help her find out what went wrong. The young man sees growing power within Kyra, potentially stronger than spellpages or any living mage. The answers to unlocking that power may lie within the glowing walls of the Imperial City, but its magic is strong and the unwary vanish without trace on its streets. Thirsty for knowledge and desperate to avoid another accident, she feels compelled to risk it. While she focuses on controlling her abilities, a storm of greed and ambition boils up around her. Kyra is a pawn in the struggle for dominance between unscrupulous factions vying for rule of her country. Trusting the wrong side could get her killed--or worse, the potent magic she barely understands could be put to unthinkable evil. less

Three books in one 1200 page epic package! The Fire Mages ~ The Fire Mages' Daughter ~ The Second God In the Fire Mages: A determined girl. A cranky mage. An unwanted heir. A mysterious magical city. Kyra’s always been drawn to the magic of spellpages. She’s determined to leave her small village far behind and become a scribe, wielding the power of magic through her pen. But a simple favour for her sister goes disastrously awry, destroying Kyra's dreams in an instant... moreThree books in one 1200 page epic package! The Fire Mages ~ The Fire Mages' Daughter ~ The Second God In the Fire Mages: A determined girl. A cranky mage. An unwanted heir. A mysterious magical city. Kyra’s always been drawn to the magic of spellpages. She’s determined to leave her small village far behind and become a scribe, wielding the power of magic through her pen. But a simple favour for her sister goes disastrously awry, destroying Kyra's dreams in an instant. In The Fire Mages' Daughter: A girl fighting her destiny. A living god. A war with the Blood Clans. Seventeen-year-old Drina just wants to hide away with her books, but as the daughter of two powerful mages and heir to the ruler of Bennamore, her wishes are rarely considered. Summoned to the capital, she is plunged into a maelstrom of politics and power struggles. The only compensation is Arran, the handsome bodyguard she grows to love. In The Second God: Rival gods at war. Mind-bonded giant beasts. A fanatical golden army. Dangerous blood magic. On the southern Plains of Kallanash, a new force is arising — a vast golden army, raised in ferocious discipline, and fanatical followers of another kind of god, who is determined to spread his power into an empire, and will let nothing stand in his way. To combat the threat, Drina, Arran and Ly-haam must set aside their personal differences and combine their talents in a uniquely dangerous way which will test their heroism to its limits. How much will they have to sacrifice to save their country?***New cover edition*** less

A fragile peace. A clash of magic. A woman with secrets.Fen’s used to hiding away in her coastal town, keeping her past and her magic far from prying eyes. But the aftermath of the brief war with Bennamore pits her against a different kind of magic, and throws her quiet life into turmoil, threatening to expose all her secrets.Mal’s job as guard to the mages of Bennamore has always been, frankly, a bit dull, but that was before they were sent to bring magic to the resentful coastal folk... moreA fragile peace. A clash of magic. A woman with secrets.Fen’s used to hiding away in her coastal town, keeping her past and her magic far from prying eyes. But the aftermath of the brief war with Bennamore pits her against a different kind of magic, and throws her quiet life into turmoil, threatening to expose all her secrets.Mal’s job as guard to the mages of Bennamore has always been, frankly, a bit dull, but that was before they were sent to bring magic to the resentful coastal folk. Before he knows it, he finds himself in the middle of riots, disappearances and thievery. And then there’s the infuriatingly snooty Fen, a woman he’d love to tame.The two will have to overcome their mutual dislike and join forces to untangle the dragon’s nest of deceit around them, or else their countries will be plunged back into disastrous war. less

A fallen empire. A woman with dark secrets. A strange magical weapon. The glorious Akk’asharan Empire was torn apart by treachery two hundred years ago, its water supply cut off. Now its people are enslaved and humiliated, but they have never forgotten the past, and dream of one day restoring their former greatness. Allandra's dreams are more immediate: how to control the powerful magical abilities that are ruining her life... moreA fallen empire. A woman with dark secrets. A strange magical weapon. The glorious Akk’asharan Empire was torn apart by treachery two hundred years ago, its water supply cut off. Now its people are enslaved and humiliated, but they have never forgotten the past, and dream of one day restoring their former greatness. Allandra's dreams are more immediate: how to control the powerful magical abilities that are ruining her life. After a disastrous outbreak of power, she’s desperate to escape from justice and find a place to grieve and recover. Perhaps the hidden mines of Asharim can provide a safe haven. The mines can provide much more than that: not only a way to control her dangerous magic, but a magical weapon that might even restore the fallen empire to its rightful place. But with enemies on her trail, and powerful factions who will do anything to stop her, she will only get one chance. If she fails, the empire's last hope will be lost forever. From the magic mines of Asharim, no one emerges unchanged. less

A girl fighting her destiny. A living god. A war with the Blood Clans.Seventeen-year-old Drina just wants to hide away with her books, but as the daughter of two powerful mages and heir to the ruler of Bennamore, her wishes are rarely considered. Summoned to the capital, she is plunged into a maelstrom of politics and power struggles. The only compensation is Arran, the handsome bodyguard she grows to love... moreA girl fighting her destiny. A living god. A war with the Blood Clans.Seventeen-year-old Drina just wants to hide away with her books, but as the daughter of two powerful mages and heir to the ruler of Bennamore, her wishes are rarely considered. Summoned to the capital, she is plunged into a maelstrom of politics and power struggles. The only compensation is Arran, the handsome bodyguard she grows to love.In her new role as a diplomat, she visits Bennamore's mysterious neighbours, the Blood Clans. There she discovers there are other, darker forms of magic in the world than the familiar spells of the mages. Driven onward by a living god, the Blood Clans' magic drags both their countries to the brink of war. Surrounded by enemies, Drina must find a way to tame the power of a god before everything she loves is destroyed. less

A dragon's egg falls from the sky. What hatches from it is not a dragon, it's a child called Dru. She looks different, doesn't say a lot, and likes to talk to the chickens, though they don't listen much. And when flames emerge from her fingertips, her family realizes it's time to find out who and what she really is.Garrett's been many things in his time... street hustler, warrior, professional gambler, spy. He'll do whatever's asked of him, legal or not... moreA dragon's egg falls from the sky. What hatches from it is not a dragon, it's a child called Dru. She looks different, doesn't say a lot, and likes to talk to the chickens, though they don't listen much. And when flames emerge from her fingertips, her family realizes it's time to find out who and what she really is.Garrett's been many things in his time... street hustler, warrior, professional gambler, spy. He'll do whatever's asked of him, legal or not. Now he's paid to search for those with a touch of magic in them. But magic is unpredictable and hard to find, and he doesn't have much luck until he meets Dru. There might be real power behind her strangeness, if she could only learn how to reach it.When his employer asks Garrett to escort Dru on a journey, accompanied by a scholar, a princess, a guard and a priest, it seems like a simple enough mission, until they fall into the hands of raiders. Garrett's lived on his wits all his life, but he'll need all his talents, and a little magic too, to get them out of this mess and reach safety.If he can manage that, maybe he'll find out the secret of the dragon's egg, and the girl who hatched from it. less

In The Fire Mages, Kyra discovered her unusual ability, but it led to confrontation with the rulers of Bennamore. In The Fire Mages’ Daughter, Drina learnt about her own unique power over magic, and devised a novel way to subdue the neighbouring Blood Clans’ living god. The story continues in The Second God… It’s been five years since war with the fearsome Blood Clans, whose giant bonded beasts almost destroyed Bennamore. Now the tenuous peace is being put to the test... moreIn The Fire Mages, Kyra discovered her unusual ability, but it led to confrontation with the rulers of Bennamore. In The Fire Mages’ Daughter, Drina learnt about her own unique power over magic, and devised a novel way to subdue the neighbouring Blood Clans’ living god. The story continues in The Second God… It’s been five years since war with the fearsome Blood Clans, whose giant bonded beasts almost destroyed Bennamore. Now the tenuous peace is being put to the test. Drina’s prisoner-husband and Blood Clan god, Ly-haam, attends a magical challenge to assert his authority over his people, who think him weak. But then the unthinkable happens - a second living god emerges. Is it a sign that the gods are displeased with Ly-haam, and have sent another leader to supplant him? Left behind in Bennamore, Drina’s lover, Arran, is vulnerable to flattery from the ambitious fringes of the ruler’s court, but his weakness could endanger many lives. Meanwhile, on the southern Plains of Kallanash, a new force is arising from the chaos of the Karningplain — a vast golden army, raised in ferocious discipline, and fanatical followers of another kind of god, who is determined to spread his power into an empire, and will let nothing stand in his way. To combat the threat to Bennamore and its allies, Drina, Arran and Ly-haam must set aside their personal differences and combine their talents in a uniquely dangerous way, which will test their heroism to its limits. How much will they have to sacrifice to save their country? less

A stand-alone epic fantasy set in the Brightmoon world…After thirty years as a slave, Findo Gask is struggling to adjust to his new freedom. Unfortunately, following orders is an old habit, which is how he ends up with an apprentice he doesn’t want ... and how he ends up working under the demanding Crown Princess of Caxangur, just like a slave again.Hopper is an unusual apprentice, and Findo is keeping secrets too--his exceptional skill as a woodworker isn't just elbow grease and experience... moreA stand-alone epic fantasy set in the Brightmoon world…After thirty years as a slave, Findo Gask is struggling to adjust to his new freedom. Unfortunately, following orders is an old habit, which is how he ends up with an apprentice he doesn’t want ... and how he ends up working under the demanding Crown Princess of Caxangur, just like a slave again.Hopper is an unusual apprentice, and Findo is keeping secrets too--his exceptional skill as a woodworker isn't just elbow grease and experience. When a cryptic world-shattering prophecy seems to point right at them, their magic becomes the target of warring political factions. And just when Findo thinks life can't get any more complicated, he accidentally hatches a dragon, which hasn't happened in millennia.As the chains and bars start closing in on him all over again, Findo needs to free himself once and for all. If he can't stop thinking like a slave and learn to carve his own path, he and Hopper will never make it out of Caxangur alive.And even if they manage that, there’s still a dragon to be dealt with... less