The Rhythm of Rivalry Series by B.T. Narro

By using the energy of the land, some humans have found they can develop extraordinary abilities. At the age of seventeen, these warriors, magicians, chemists, and psychics are allowed the opportunity to train at the Academy, increasing their opportunity for a well-paying career. But there’s a catch. They must fight beside the Army if requested by their king. Most aren’t concerned by this, as the current treaty has prevented battle for nearly seventy years…but that’s about to change... moreBy using the energy of the land, some humans have found they can develop extraordinary abilities. At the age of seventeen, these warriors, magicians, chemists, and psychics are allowed the opportunity to train at the Academy, increasing their opportunity for a well-paying career. But there’s a catch. They must fight beside the Army if requested by their king. Most aren’t concerned by this, as the current treaty has prevented battle for nearly seventy years…but that’s about to change.Of four roommates with interwoven stories, Cleve Polken takes focus as a hostile warrior who feels more comfortable in a duel than a conversation. Never getting past his parents’ death, Cleve has developed a crippling fear of psychics, for some may have the power to resurface the torment he buried within himself upon his parents’ passing. Cleve’s forced to face this fear head-on when he discovers that not only is one of his roommates a psychic, but that he has an overwhelming attraction to her, which he quickly attributes to a psychic spell, nothing more.By the time an army of savage, reptilian men called Krepps become involved in the war, all hope of resolution without battle is shattered. In this powerful army, one born with the inability to smell doesn’t have the same feeding urges as his fellow Krepps and is outcast because of it. He finds himself with an unlikely ally in the middle of a crossroad, trying to find a way to reunite with his sister. Little does he know how much his choices will twist the fate of the war and alter the lives of the four human roommates forever. less

At just seventeen years old, Jek Trayden's power with Sartious Energy could be the greatest in the world, but that power comes at a price--a darkness within him that attacks while he sleeps, producing nightmares so real they leave him bruised and bloody.With the attacks worsening, Jek can't refuse an opportunity to end his nightmares for good when the King promises him a cure in exchange for a task... moreAt just seventeen years old, Jek Trayden's power with Sartious Energy could be the greatest in the world, but that power comes at a price--a darkness within him that attacks while he sleeps, producing nightmares so real they leave him bruised and bloody.With the attacks worsening, Jek can't refuse an opportunity to end his nightmares for good when the King promises him a cure in exchange for a task.But after the King's true intentions are revealed, Jek finds himself in a fit of rage, stealing the King's fearless and livid daughter from the palace--on her wedding day--and fleeing the city with the wrath of her father on his tail.Jek's about to find out there are some things in this world worse than his darkness.A note on this novel in relation to the series:The Sartious Mage can be read as the first or second novel in the Rhythm of Rivalry series, but it should be read before the third.This novel takes place in the same world and at the same time as Bastial Energy, but on another continent with different characters that play a major role in later novels. less

Dragged to an unfamiliar continent transformed by war and monstrous creatures, Cleve's path home has never been less clear. With a place in a king's plot, a princess who wants to marry him, and the companionship of a brash Sartious mage, Cleve learns that--while some battles are won with a sword--others are played out through a more delicate dance.But Cleve has never been one for delicacy.Soon he's making tidal waves in every puddle he crosses on his path to return home.

As Effie and her roommates learn firsthand the true savagery of their enemies, anger and grief threaten to overtake them. While dealing with internal turmoil, each student also must come to terms with his or her role in battle...and soon. The Krepps have twice the numbers of Kyrro, and the frightfully strong creatures are eager to kill... moreAs Effie and her roommates learn firsthand the true savagery of their enemies, anger and grief threaten to overtake them. While dealing with internal turmoil, each student also must come to terms with his or her role in battle...and soon. The Krepps have twice the numbers of Kyrro, and the frightfully strong creatures are eager to kill.After managing to anger the entire Academy during his introduction, Zoke learns that behaving like a Krepp makes him more of an outcast with his new allies in Kyrro than he was with his own race. With his sister, Zeti, on the opposing side as the gruesome events of war unfold, soon the only thing the siblings have in common is a waning hope that they won't see each other on the battlefield. But before a clash of unprecedented proportions can occur, something unheard of is discovered lingering deep below Tenred that may change everything. less

As the momentum of war builds, desperation to win dominates the whole continent. How far will each army go when honor becomes nothing more than a weakness? The final battle approaches, but not before a brutal betrayal is revealed that leaves even the Krepps in shock.

In this epic culmination of the series, Cleve returns to Greenedge in hopes of keeping the war from reaching his homeland. But he never expected what’s happened in his absence. The four kings have been killed by an emerging army, displacing Jek and the Takarys—Cleve’s only trusted allies. Desperate to find them, he turns to the very man responsible for their absence... moreIn this epic culmination of the series, Cleve returns to Greenedge in hopes of keeping the war from reaching his homeland. But he never expected what’s happened in his absence. The four kings have been killed by an emerging army, displacing Jek and the Takarys—Cleve’s only trusted allies. Desperate to find them, he turns to the very man responsible for their absence.Meanwhile, Jek faces the toughest challenge of his life when his king is murdered and he’s forced to flee the land he’s sworn to protect. Now with five armies at war, Jek struggles to understand who he should be fighting against, especially when his old friend Cleve is seen marching with known enemies. Whatever Jek decides, it had better be soon. The green fog of desmarls covers more of the continent each day. The man-eating monsters grow hungry, and their muscle far exceeds any of the five armies at war. less