Eris' Apprentices Series by Vanessa Cardui

"Let me be perfectly clear on this subject. I shall teach you, and you will learn; you will learn a good deal more than you would have with any other instructor. However, I am not teaching because I enjoy it, or for any other altruistic purpose. My primary interest is the suffering I shall inflict in the course of your instruction."Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael isn’t one of the pure white-magic practitioners... more"Let me be perfectly clear on this subject. I shall teach you, and you will learn; you will learn a good deal more than you would have with any other instructor. However, I am not teaching because I enjoy it, or for any other altruistic purpose. My primary interest is the suffering I shall inflict in the course of your instruction."Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael isn’t one of the pure white-magic practitioners. But she is one of the world’s greatest living wizards--certainly the best who will take Academy students for their seventh and final year of instruction--and Lynn Kennedy has never settled for anything less than the best.Lynn thinks she’s prepared to accept the dangers of studying with Eris. But nothing in the academy has prepared her for the reality of it. Between Eris’ sadistic mindgames, the brutal attentions of her assistant Master Rostem, and the cut-throat competition of her fellow students, Lynn will be lucky just to survive the year. less

Things are going pretty well for Lynn Kennedy . . . considering the circumstances. She’s managed to survive her first two weeks of studying magic under Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael without any permanent loss of life or limb... moreThings are going pretty well for Lynn Kennedy . . . considering the circumstances. She’s managed to survive her first two weeks of studying magic under Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael without any permanent loss of life or limb. And her skill at playing Eris’ sadistic mind games has won her not only the grudging respect of her fellow-students, but also the magically-compelled obedience of one of them: beautiful and fascinating Kasey Bouet, who kept Lynn naked and collared for most of their orientation period, before Lynn turned the tables on her.Now Lynn spends her nights with Kasey tied up beside her, and Parry Stephenson, another of Eris’ apprentices who was ready to bargain away his independence in return for Lynn’s protection, in a cage by the bed. Both of them are eager to serve her every whim, although Kasey, at least, is equally eager for any opportunity to take control of Lynn once again.But Lynn’s days are less pleasant, with more lethal contests of skill, cruel punishments for the slightest failure, and horrifying sessions with Eris and her assistant, the brutal Master Andrei Rostem. And when Eileen Sullivan, one of Lynn’s fellow-students, tries to run away, the rest of the class is forced to use the magic they’ve learned to change her into something that will be satisfied with the circumstances in which she finds herself--a creature with the outward appearance of a flawlessly beautiful woman, but whose only thought is pleasure, and who finds pleasure in the inflicting and suffering of pain.The results of this transformation, both for Eileen and the others, are a terrifying object lesson in unintended consequences, and the power of magic to twist and corrupt one’s very sense of self. And Lynn is learning that when you start off in a high position, it means you have that much further to fall. less

Lynn Kennedy has survived three months as an apprentice of Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael. She’s suffered brutal punishments and sadistic mind games. She’s also gained magical skill and knowledge beyond what she knew was possible, as well as a beautiful and brilliant girlfriend magically compelled to obey her every order. (A power imbalance that Lynn only takes advantage of in emergencies, or when it’s fun.)Now Lynn is going to need every advantage she has... moreLynn Kennedy has survived three months as an apprentice of Grandmaster Eris Andromeda Carmichael. She’s suffered brutal punishments and sadistic mind games. She’s also gained magical skill and knowledge beyond what she knew was possible, as well as a beautiful and brilliant girlfriend magically compelled to obey her every order. (A power imbalance that Lynn only takes advantage of in emergencies, or when it’s fun.)Now Lynn is going to need every advantage she has. Her class is assigned to create a double of the traumatized and unstable Felicity Lopez, which lets them play out a few wild fantasies—and sets the stage for cold-blooded murder. And still to come is their winter fieldwork, when they’ll be cast out into the monster-infested wilderness to survive with nothing but their wits and their skills. And where something that hates Eris’ students is lurking, and will stop at nothing to humiliate and destroy them. less