Rogue Elements

Lia de Croissets #2.5

by Karen Chance

Someone is kidnapping werewolves, and not just any wolves at that: every one is the daughter of an important clan leader. Desperate to find his daughter, Sebastian Arnou does the unthinkable: he goes to the Silver Circle of light magic users for aid. Their version of a police force is known as the War Mage Corps, and although they agree to help, few have much experience with Weres. The exception is disgraced, on-the-edge-of-being-canned war mage Lia de Croissets, whose mother happened to be a high-ranking member of the important Were clan Lobizon.

Someone with a werewolf mother isn’t much trusted by the Corps, and a mage with a human father is equally suspect as far as the clans are concerned. But her knowledge of Were customs and her background in human magic make Lia unmistakably the best person for the job. Whether they will be enough to keep her alive is another matter.

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2026

About the author

Karen Chance is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, plus a number of novellas and short stories, all set in the Cassandra Palmer universe. A full-time writer since 2008, she was previously a university history teacher, which comes in handy when writing the time-travel aspect of Cassie’s crazy adventures. She loves Las Vegas, the main setting for her novels, but currently lives in Florida near her family home. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook here.

Reviews

[L & J Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet War Mage/Werewolf Fantasy

This was both sweet and exciting; Lia, the daughter of a War Mage and a werewolf from a high ranking clan, was born with Neuri Syndrome. Because of that, she can’t shift and normally children born with Neuri are killed by their clan. Lia has joined the War Mages which offers her some protection from her clan. But when the daughters from high ranking werewolf clans start to go missing, her boss forces her to find out who is taking them, which may put her in the crosshairs of her mother’s clan who now want her dead.

[Heidi S. Trauger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a novella trying to be a novel on fast forward. It fits in all the tropes and a full story without any backstory or personality. It read like a cliff’s notes version of a book. I would not recommend this book since it has no voice or purpose.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice back story

I hadn’t run across this novella before,so it’s really good to get Lia’ and Cyrus’ back story. I’ve really enjoyed all of their stories and this was no exception. It’s another nice offshoot of the Cassandra Palmer world.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelette introducing Lia de Crossets, half werewolf half war mage, set in the same world as Dorina Basarah and Cassie Palmer. A little short for my tastes but a good story and a great character.

[Tim McCanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced

and a whole hell of a fun! Chance is such a lively writer and I’ve loved everything she’s created for the page!

[Jeanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute bonus,If you follow the series. (I doubt many would find the 43 pages interesting otherwise.)

[Jean Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable!

This was a fun little short story, filled with action, danger and romance. I truly enjoyed reading it, as a prequel to the series.