The Cost of Magic
- Katharine E Wibell
- Sep 24
- 8 min read
1) Hello! I’m excited to feature your books today. But first, why don’t you introduce yourself. You can use a penname if you have one.
L.J. Evias
2) How would you pitch your latest book in a sentence or two?
What would you risk to prove you belong –
Your life? Your freedom? Or the fate of a kingdom?
3) What genre(s) is your book?
YA Epic Fantasy, Swords & Sorcery
4) Can you tell me more about your book(s)?
The Cost of Magic
Prequel to The Intrigue of Magic Series
She’s young, gifted, and desperate to prove she belongs. But some lessons come with a cost.
Torvia has one goal: to earn her place as a royal guard and repay the prince who saved her life. But despite her powerful magic, the prince refuses to send her into danger, and the princess wants her in court.Everyone has a plan for Torvia’s future. None of them match her own.
So when a charming older boy offers secret lessons and a chance to escape her overprotective guardian, Torvia is tempted. He’s clever. He listens. And the magic he shows her is unlike anything she’s seen before.But every step she takes draws her further from the path she planned – and one wrong move could cost her the mission, her future, and the prince who’s counting on her.
The Cost of Magic is a dark coming-of-age prequel to The Intrigue of Magic, a young adult epic fantasy series, perfect for readers who crave fierce heroines, tangled loyalties, and the high price of choosing your own path.
Start The Cost of Magic today and discover how one girl’s ambition can change the fate of a kingdom.
The Discovery of Magic
The Intrigue of Magic Book 1
A world ruled by magic. A palace full of secrets. A girl who refuses to back down.
Seventeen-year-old Alice Harper had her future mapped out—win an archery scholarship, protect her friends, and stay in control. But when a portal hurls her into a kingdom where magic rules and obedience means survival, she lands in a palace gripped by fear—and under the eye of the most powerful man in the realm.
The Royal Mage doesn’t just control the court—he controls people. With power, with fear, with enchantments no one dares resist. And for reasons Alice can’t explain, he’s taken a disturbing interest in her.The only person who seems to want to help is the prince. He’s charming, clever—and very possibly lying. Caught between dangerous truths and beautiful deceits, Alice must decide who to trust before her friends are lost forever.She’s not afraid of a fight. But in a world where magic is control, and trust is the most dangerous choice of all, surviving will take more than arrows—it will take everything she’s got.
The Discovery of Magic is the thrilling first book in The Intrigue of Magic, a YA epic fantasy series perfect for fans of court intrigue, character-driven fantasy, and bold heroines who don’t just survive—they fight for each other. Buy The Discovery of Magic today to enter a world where freedom is fragile—and every alliance comes at a cost.
5) I know you had a few excerpts to share. You can do that now.
The Royal Guard Tests
Mavron grinned as he drew his blade. “Not so confident now, eh?”
Grinding her teeth, Torvia moved into position. Despite the morning’s exercises, Mavron still seemed fresh, and had a massive height and reach advantage over her.
“No magic,” Charla reminded them. “To be a royal guard, you must be able to fight on worlds without magic.”
Torvia clenched her jaw. This was going to hurt. But she wasn’t going to let Mavron or Charla or anyone else stand in her way. She deserved to be a royal guard. Prince Ademir needed her, and she wasn’t going to be left behind every time he went away. Not anymore. She had to pass this challenge.
With a scream, Mavron charged, his weapon raised.
Swiftly pulling out her own slender sword, Torvia ducked out of the way and jabbed forward. Mavron easily intercepted and shoved her back, before hammering his sword down. Without the slightest amount of restraint, he slammed his sword against hers again and again. He wasn’t even trying to get past her guard.
No matter how many times she dodged, he found a way to counteract her next move, forcing her to meet his blade. With every blow, he pushed her back, until he knocked her right over.
Torvia cursed as the others cheered, even the girl amongst them. Throwing herself out of the way, she narrowly avoided a slash to the stomach, but for a moment, Mavron was off balance.
She struck, but Mavron had anticipated her move, and swatted her away like a hapless locust. With one foot, he shoved her back into the ground.
Struggling for breath, Torvia rolled away, and leapt to her feet. This fight wasn’t going well. Despite its slender size, her sword already weighed her down, and her limbs ached with the effort.
Victory in his eyes, Mavron lunged, swiping down.
Torvia leapt forward, bracing for the pain as she blocked his sword. Her arm shuddered with the impact and her shoulder throbbed in protest, but her other hand was already sliding inside her tunic to the blade hidden within.
Malice twisted Mavron’s lips and he leaned into his sword, attempting to force her to the ground again. Until she slipped the dagger to his throat. “Do you yield?” she growled.
Mavron stiffened, his eyes going wide. “No,” he muttered. “You didn’t. You can’t.”
“Yield. My dagger is at your throat.”
Full of hate, Mavron’s eyes moved to hers. After a moment, he relaxed his posture, bringing his sword down. “You cheat,” he spat.
“A dagger is not magic.”
Mavron switched his gaze to Charla. “She forfeits the challenge,” he said assertively.
Unamused, Charla shook her head. “A guard thinks with her head as much as she uses her weapons.”
His temper getting the better of him, Mavron threw down his sword and glared at Torvia. “You’re only here because Prince Ademir favours you.”
Charla strode forward, her voice rising. “Torvia has just defeated you in spell and blade. She fully deserves to be here.”
First duel with a northerner
“Good morning, my lady. Are you ready to practise some magic?” Clearly enjoying the attention, Ramin dipped into an elegant bow.
Pushing away her half-eaten breakfast, Torvia jumped up from the table. Levan had departed with Ademir, but Charla was in the next room, and could still argue with Ramin’s plan. “Do we have somewhere to practise?”
Ramin bobbed his head. “We have a room several floors down.”
As predicted, Ramin’s voice brought Charla out. A frown formed on her face as she focused on him. Torvia’s heart stopped. Would she remember?
“Yes? What do you want?”
Ramin bowed deeply. “The king offers the use of an empty room for Zeela to practise her magic.”
Charla drew a finger along her lip. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
Without hesitation, Ramin assumed the perfect imitation of confusion. “Prince Ademir requested it himself.”
Losing her patience with Charla, Torvia put her hands on her hips. “I’m here to study, aren’t I? I can’t practice in here.”
“I’ll come with you then.”
“You don’t need to. I’ll be in the palace.”
Charla strapped a sword to her side – a pointless object in a place like this. “I must. Ademir has entrusted me with your safety.”
Rolling her eyes, Torvia turned to Ramin. “Lead the way.”
As big as their entire guard chambers, their practice room was devoid of furniture, aside from a faceless wooden mannequin. The navy walls and gold border suggested this room had seen far more peaceful functions. Torvia glanced doubtfully at the finely embroidered silk curtains. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be using fire.
Unconcerned, Ramin swept into the centre of the room as Charla leaned against the wall, watching him with suspicious eyes. “Shall we see what you’re capable of first?” With an exaggerated flourish, Ramin adopted a combative stance. “Well?”
“You want me to attack you?”
Ramin’s shoulders dropped. “Do they not duel in the south?”
“Not like this.” It had taken years of special training before she was allowed to cast spells at people, and only at those with similar training. Ramin knew nothing of her abilities, nor she his. What if she hurt him and got kicked out of the palace?
“I see. Can you cast fire?”
Torvia snorted. “Every mage can cast fire.”
“Then cast fire at me.” A smirk lifted the corner of his lip. “Don’t worry, you won’t be able to hurt me.”
Mildly irked, Torvia flicked her wrist and sped a fireball at him. The whirling conflagration crashed into his shield with a bright flash, fizzled out, and shot sparks across the room. With a little concentration, she summoned the fire back into life and wrapped flame around Ramin’s sapphire shield, engulfing him completely.
“Good, but you’ll have to try something else to penetrate my shield.”
His calm tone getting the better of her, Torvia struck with crimson lightning, pummelling his shield over and over, but still it held.
His magic was strong. Annoyingly strong.
As she took a breath, Ramin looked at her curiously. “Rumour has it the Royal Mage used crimson lightning before learning to refine it.” He ducked another of her strikes, but couldn’t shake the fire.
“To defeat a shield, you need a different spell.” As the blaze fizzed away, Ramin sent a dark cloud towards her, drifting slowly through the air. Smokey wisps reached out and clung to her shield. The sapphire wall dimmed and flickered, straining her magic. In places, the darkness seeped through.
Her blood running cold, she focused on strengthening the gaps, but tiny slithers had already slipped through and latched onto her skin like cool kisses, draining away her magic. Numbness spread wherever the wisps touched. She gasped, until tendrils wound around her neck.
The sensation was not pleasant, but not as horrifying as the thought that she might be defeated. Her first duel with a northerner and she was losing.
Heat coursed through her and she let it free, dropping her shield so the blaze could burn away the cloud. The inferno carried on, slamming into Ramin and hurling him against the far wall with a loud thump.
Charla laughed and slid down into a sitting position, finally accepting that Torvia was not in need of rescuing.
Staggering upright, Ramin straightened his tunic. “Prince Ademir was correct. You do possess impressive magic. With the right training and improved spells, you could be a formidable mage.”
Charla snorted. “She already is.”
“It will take more than a lucky spell to defeat a fully trained mage. And that spell must have cost you much of your energy.”
Torvia pursed her lips. She felt fine. And perfectly ready to do it again.
6) That was wonderful! Now can you let me know a little bit more about you?
L. J. Evias writes exclusively in the fantasy genre, infusing stories with a dash of adventure and mystery. In Evias’s worlds, moral absolutes do not exist, giving life to a diverse cast of intriguing characters.
The Intrigue of Magic is Evias’s debut series, featuring accessible world-building, intricate plots, and unforgettable heroes and villains. Released in 2024, The Discovery of Magic is the first book in this series.
When not immersed in the pages of a novel, Evias enjoys real-world adventures both in the UK and abroad. The enchanting settings of The Intrigue of Magic series draw inspiration from personal travels, notably the unique architecture and evocative landscapes of Morocco.
Bonus material and a sample short story are available from the author's website.
7) You mentioned that you have a website. What is it?
8) Where else can we find and follow you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljevias/
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