Seals of the Duelists Series by Jasmine Giacomo

Bayan's struggles to hide his emerging elemental magic from his family fail spectacularly in front of a visiting imperial eunuch named Philo, and he realizes that there is a worse fate than becoming a mountain-dwelling Skycaller: the empire will claim him as a Duelist.Before Philo can deliver Bayan to the Duelist Academy for training, bandits ambush their retinue and leave behind a mysterious trinket... moreBayan's struggles to hide his emerging elemental magic from his family fail spectacularly in front of a visiting imperial eunuch named Philo, and he realizes that there is a worse fate than becoming a mountain-dwelling Skycaller: the empire will claim him as a Duelist.Before Philo can deliver Bayan to the Duelist Academy for training, bandits ambush their retinue and leave behind a mysterious trinket. While Philo tracks down its true importance through ancient archives and noble manors, Bayan struggles to fit in at the Academy, where his anger at his situation gets him into as much trouble as his outlander appearance. Worse, his rage poisons his magic, making him a threat to his hexmates.Bayan's dreams of escape begin to fade as he forms bonds of friendship. But when an assassin strikes close to home, a chain of events is set in motion, leading Bayan and Philo to uncover a deadly plot that could change the world as they know it. Bayan's fate stands at a crossroads: one path leads to the destruction of all he has come to know, and the other to his own. less

While Bayan struggles to train his campus hexmates in the forbidden arts of Savantism, Kiwani leaves on the advice of a sint, seeking closure for a painful family secret. But Kah, her hexbird companion, returns to campus without her, and an arbitrary decision sends Head Chanter Doc Theo back to the Temple of Ten Thousand Harmonies in shame.Though Bayan and his hexmates rescue Kiwani, a second prisoner they free is no friend, and his very existence raises troublesome questions... moreWhile Bayan struggles to train his campus hexmates in the forbidden arts of Savantism, Kiwani leaves on the advice of a sint, seeking closure for a painful family secret. But Kah, her hexbird companion, returns to campus without her, and an arbitrary decision sends Head Chanter Doc Theo back to the Temple of Ten Thousand Harmonies in shame.Though Bayan and his hexmates rescue Kiwani, a second prisoner they free is no friend, and his very existence raises troublesome questions. He promises Bayan secret knowledge that could aid in understanding the deep political currents that threaten to deluge the campus, but when members of a rival hex suffer mysterious attacks, Bayan must decide whether he’s harboring a victim or a killer.Between the stranger’s secrets and an urgent message from a mysterious, gifted singer at the Temple of Ten Thousand Harmonies, Bayan pieces together a threat against the empire more insidious than even the Aklaa rebellion, but exposing its mastermind will cost Bayan everything he has. less

Bayan has found a new life in the two years since his exile—new friends, new love, new purpose. Until the subtle politics of the Corona draw him back to his duelist roots, that is. His old hexmates have struggles of their own, though, scattered across the Waarden Empire, their newfound magical skills suppressed, forbidden. When Bayan is hurled halfway around the world to prevent a war no one saw coming, he and his companions must pull together once more. But far more is at stake this time... moreBayan has found a new life in the two years since his exile—new friends, new love, new purpose. Until the subtle politics of the Corona draw him back to his duelist roots, that is. His old hexmates have struggles of their own, though, scattered across the Waarden Empire, their newfound magical skills suppressed, forbidden. When Bayan is hurled halfway around the world to prevent a war no one saw coming, he and his companions must pull together once more. But far more is at stake this time. Bayan, Kiwani, Calder, and their friends and allies must take on old enemies, a rival empire, and the very gods themselves. When their survival means endangering their own fates in a way no one believed possible, nothing is safe, nothing is sacred, and nothing will ever be the same again. ~~ Content advisory for fantasy love scenes. less