Anchoress Series by D.L. Armillei

Vanessa Cross has never traveled anywhere by magical tree trunk. She's never used a wish-fulfilling bowl to create lunch, befriended gnomes, or confronted a troll. Her plans for summer break include lazing on the beach, shopping, and hitting the beauty salon--her usual way of coping with a hypercritical stepmother and an aloof father.Yet fifteen-year-old Van's hopes for summer fun drastically change when she is coerced through a portal to an alternate reality called the Living World... moreVanessa Cross has never traveled anywhere by magical tree trunk. She's never used a wish-fulfilling bowl to create lunch, befriended gnomes, or confronted a troll. Her plans for summer break include lazing on the beach, shopping, and hitting the beauty salon--her usual way of coping with a hypercritical stepmother and an aloof father.Yet fifteen-year-old Van's hopes for summer fun drastically change when she is coerced through a portal to an alternate reality called the Living World. Once there, she discovers the only way to get home is by retrieving a relic called the Coin of Creation.Along the way, Van not only meets new friends, experiences her first love, and learns about the magic in life, but finds that a great destiny awaits her . . . if she can survive the treacherous journey. less

Deep in enemy territory, a sudden change of mission could seal their fate.At seventeen, Van knows her life is somewhat charmed, rarely feeling the deep bite of injustice, but this is ridiculous.The Jaychund Games—a vital part of senior exams—should’ve been an effortless victory. Instead, the last-minute addition of an off-islander tripped her up. So, losing her temper? Completely justifiable... moreDeep in enemy territory, a sudden change of mission could seal their fate.At seventeen, Van knows her life is somewhat charmed, rarely feeling the deep bite of injustice, but this is ridiculous.The Jaychund Games—a vital part of senior exams—should’ve been an effortless victory. Instead, the last-minute addition of an off-islander tripped her up. So, losing her temper? Completely justifiable.Her ex-boyfriend and her best friend are flirting right under her nose, while she hasn’t heard from her crush, Ferox, the Balish crown prince, in ages.And now Van’s leading her team on a mission deep into Balish-occupied territory—enemy territory—to check the third seal with her powers on the fritz.Then she breaks one tiny Balish rule, and as punishment she’s tossed headlong into another round of games. See? Totally unfair.Old enemies, a deadly virus, royal intrigues, cloaked assassins—and the sudden realization that someone has sent her there for an entirely different reason—threaten to send her life plan up in flames. If she fails, only the Creator knows if Van and her team will get out of this mess alive. less