The Legend of the Gamesmen Series by Jo Sparkes

ASIN moved from this editionWhen a young apprentice makes a mysterious elixir from a recipe in an old book, she's suddenly the talisman for a daring Gamesman - and the weapon in the conspiracy against a prince.

ASIN moved from this editionAgben had stood for a thousand years. A mysterious school housing more than students, it was the seat of the powerful Women of Agben, and the center for harnessing the potency of herbs. Few knew all that transpired within the walls. And now Marra stood at its gate.With friends and support stripped from her, the fragile life she’d built for herself now lay in tatters. And the source of this evil hunted her like a deer culled from the herd... moreASIN moved from this editionAgben had stood for a thousand years. A mysterious school housing more than students, it was the seat of the powerful Women of Agben, and the center for harnessing the potency of herbs. Few knew all that transpired within the walls. And now Marra stood at its gate.With friends and support stripped from her, the fragile life she’d built for herself now lay in tatters. And the source of this evil hunted her like a deer culled from the herd. The gateway before her was her only hope.For as the city itself crumbled, all depended not on a prince trying to save his people, nor the valiant men who’d brought them this far. Everything depended on finding a magic powder in the vaults of Agben itself. Everything depended on her. less

The Agben School taught the art of using herbs to heal or enhance. Yet Marra saw one woman’s brews detect a passing prince and cloak a creature’s true appearance. A forbidden discipline - and being wielded against Tryst’s throne. The key ingredient grows only on the Dim Continent. Journeying with her mentor to this fabled place, she stumbles on another secret. The Women of Agben include Terrin females - the same hairy creatures that kidnapped a king... moreThe Agben School taught the art of using herbs to heal or enhance. Yet Marra saw one woman’s brews detect a passing prince and cloak a creature’s true appearance. A forbidden discipline - and being wielded against Tryst’s throne. The key ingredient grows only on the Dim Continent. Journeying with her mentor to this fabled place, she stumbles on another secret. The Women of Agben include Terrin females - the same hairy creatures that kidnapped a king. Now the trust that bound the two species together is rapidly corroding. Marra doesn’t know Prince Tryst has also pursued the traitors to this wild, dangerous land. Or that Drail travels with him, to provide gamesmen cover.In a land of strange beings and dangerous animals, Marra, Tryst, and Drail must again pool their skills, this time not just to save themselves – but to save all their people. The fate of Skullan and Trumen alike depends on defeating a powerful enemy who has plotted their destruction for centuries. The final battle looms in the evil heart of power – the Dim Continent. less