Wicked Magic

A Touch of Darkness #1

by Candace Osmond, Rebecca Hamilton

Every Wicked Born must accept whatever fate the Sorting Ceremony grants them...

Being the Daughter of a Light High Priestess means Lydia Laveau has one fate: the life of a light witch. But when her ceremony choses her for the Dark Faction—something deemed impossible—her world crashes down around her.

Soon, Lydia finds herself wrapped up in a clandestine whirlwind of blackmail, illegal magic, and betrayal. She has one goal: keep her head down, get through her five year pledge at the school for dark witches, and return to the human world she calls home.

But when she meets Anson Abernathy, a drop dead gorgeous third year Wicked Born accused of murder, she finds herself drawn to him...and all the danger that comes with their attraction.

Can Lydia survive her five-year pledge without unraveling centuries of tradition? Or will her own secrets unlock answers that threaten her very existence?

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Magic, Paranormal

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2019

About the author

Bestselling Author and freelance writer/editor, Candace Osmond was born in North York, ON.

She published her first book by the age of 25, the first installment in a Paranormal Romance trilogy to which two others were published with it; The Iron World Series.

Candace is also one of the creative and AVN Award nominated writers for www.sssh.com, an acclaimed Erotic Romance website for women which has been featured on NBC Nightline and a number of other large platforms.

Aside from fiction, Candace is also an award winning Interior Designer and writer for Adorable Home Magazine.

Now residing in a small town in Newfoundland with her husband and two kids, Candace writes full time developing articles for just about every niche, more novels, and a hoard of short stories.

All of Candace's titles are available wherever books and eBooks are sold!

Amazon
Kobo
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Chapters/Indigo/Coles
Overdrive and Library Direct (for libraries)

You can request a signed and personalized copy of any of Candace's books by contacting her through her website authorcandaceosmond.com

Reviews

[Aimee Bower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lydia has been living in the human world for her entire life, she knew this day was coming. She was going to have to go the Academy and not tell her best friend Jade. Lydia goes home to have her ceremony and then go to the academy. Lydia just has a feeling that everything will not go as her mother planned.
The ceremony reveals that she is a dark witch, it is her fear come true. She is taken to the dark witch academy by two guys. They walk her around but Lydia is not to sure of Nash and his friend.
Lydia will also have to get a supplement for her dark witch powers, the magic matches her up with Willa. They feel an instant connection of friendship before the ceremony. Lydia is also very drawn to the man that is leading the ceremony.
Lydia is told her she will have to work with Anson and work her on her magic for the courting trials. They are drawn to each other more than ever.
Lydia will not have it easy at the academy, she will be blackmailed, have to fight for her live and others. There is a lot going on in this book.

I can't wait to read the next book in series to see where Lydia and others are in the book, what will happen next for her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ola Adamska · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pairing Ms. Osmond and Ms. Hamilton is such a great mix that I'm so excited for the next story in this series.
Lydia is a Light Witch, or at least she should be as she comes from one of the most powerful families of Light Witches. But something goes differently And she's chosen for the darkness! What is going on? What will happen to Lydia? Is there any chance of a mistake?
Join Lydia in her own way to discover what lies before her when becoming a Dark Witch!
This read will be full of surprises, magic, pull between characters and growing relationships.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a read. A fantastic collaboration this well written gripping story is an action packed ride that you will not want to get off of! Filled with drama, betrayal, adventure, slow burn romance, magic, dark and light and secrets this is a great paranormal academy read and I can’t wait to read more!

[H.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay

This story was okay. Not the greatest and not the worst. The main character seems a little childish. One thing that really bugged me in the beginning is when she was given a potion from a stranger, she drank it with no questions asked. That was just...stupid. When she met Anson, she fell for him immediately. It was waaaaaay too fast. It seemed like they met and a day later they were making out and another day later they were having sex. I appreciated how there weren’t really descriptive sex scenes. Another thing that bothered me is that it was very similar to Divergent. Special girl has more abilities than she should, goes to school to learn, meets a dark and brooding guy. Turns out that this dark and brooding guy has the same thing she does. They fall in love, yada yada...

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the cool magical elements, and the world building was awesome; there’s some really fun sounding classes at the school for the Wicked born. This felt very much like the show, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which I happen to really like that show, so I was excited for that. Unfortunately, Lydia had too many brat moments; it became annoying how much she would blow up. It came across as selfish and whiny, and she’s too gullible. She’s a very young 18 year old for most of the book. The intimate scenes were surprisingly adult; not in depth, but they still didn’t fit in with how immature Lydia felt. I also can’t stand when someone gives into blackmail; it just pisses me off. I needed more intelligence in Lydia; think before you just jump into things. There definitely seems like something is up with the weird potion in the beginning of the story, but Lydia barely bats an eye. The love interest, Anson, is lovely. He’s the mysterious loner type; which is a nice change from the type of guy that has girls hanging all over him type. Also, so far, there’s barely a love triangle! That’s a big seller for me. I loved the connection between Anson and Lydia; very sweet with some passion, but I do wish there weren’t so many secrets going on. They all make for some bad decisions. Still a heart touching romance. There’s some mystery to the story and some fun adventures that kept me entertained. The whole premise was wonderful and there’s some unique elements that were terrific. Lydia thought she’d be chosen as a light witch, but at the ceremony, she’s chosen as a dark witch. The dark faction members are treated as lesser than the white faction members; they are split apart and very seldom co-mingle. Light or Dark faction members need to go to a school and learn more about their magic; they must pledge 5 years of their lives to train at this school with limited outside access. Lydia doesn’t exactly fit in; plus there’s more to Lydia’s power than expected. Lydia is in for a lot of surprises, a lot of deception, and a lot of adventure. I’m looking forward to the next book! I really hope Lydia matures quickly because that’s the only thing keeping me from giving 5 stars. Lots of interesting and fun adventures to be had!

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Although the secret life of being Wicked Born came at a price— one I still wasn’t sure if I was willing to pay— I loved being a witch. The taste of magic on my tongue when the current ran through my body was unlike anything I’d ever experienced . After that first taste, all I wanted was more. Always more." - Lydia Laveau

Lydia just wanted to be her own woman; to live her life the way SHE envisioned. To attend college, get a degree in journalism, and win awards for her writing skills, while rooming with her bestie Jade. Alas, that life is denied her, at LEAST for the next five years. As a Wicked Born, she MUST undergo the Sorting Ceremony, then off to study witchcraft for five interminable years... Five YEARS with little to no communication with the rest of the world. Five YEARS being immersed in the Light witchcraft world... Eat, sleep, dream Light witchcraft.... For five years...

Lydia attends her Sorting Ceremony... And her life both ends and begins... In the East side at Arcane Academy. Lydia, the first "Light born" witch to be chosen by the Dark. Lydia, who knows forbidden magic, thrust into an alien world and life.

"Not only did I have to leave behind a world I loved, it was also the only world I knew. Now I’d been thrown to the wolves. I was completely and utterly unprepared for what lay ahead." - Lydia

A gripping tale that will leave you breathless! Secret, hidden agendas, trials and tribulations, betrayals and redemption, new friends and ancient mysteries... Another enthralling novel that allows your imagination to soar; experiencing the highs and lows as if YOU are living the story.

[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready for a new series that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat? The suspense is killing me~ These two wonderful ladies has definitely delivered on introducing a new series that is making me jones for the next book already! Lydia has to leave the mundane world to return to the witch one. Since she is now eighteen, she has to attend a school devoted to magic for five years. At her ceremony, it will reveal if she is a light or dark witch. She hales from a family of light witches, so it is in the bag…right? Wrong! She is a dark witch and is taken to the Academy to begin her training. She meets several new people who become her friends. One is a supplement for life! One boy there captures and holds her attention, Anson. Many dark rumors lie around in wait about him…what should she trust?! Another boy, Nash also has a secret crush on her and will do anything for her. She discovers she has the affinity for both light and dark magics, which is unheard! New secrets keep popping up for her and Willow. Now, their very lives are in danger and a blackmailer knows her secrets. Who is it and what is he or she truly wants? As more time passes, they discover the answers and it is huge and dangerous! Now, she has to win a battle so she can help stop the wicked plans others have in place…how will it end? We will find out in the next book~! I received this book via Booksprout and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Magic was a delightful story to read. It is wrought with mystery, magical battles, a couple of mundane fights, suspense, action, drama, thrills, and romance. There are exciting twists that elicit verbal reactions.

Rebecca Hamilton and Candance Osmond are an excellent creative match. In Wicked Magic, Hamilton and Osmond create a very plausible world for witches. Despite being witches, the characters they developed are relatable. The antagonist is easy to disapprove of, just as easy as rooting for the protagonists, Lydia, Anson, and Lydia. They are a three-strand cord that I hope will never be broken. Future books will tell.

Arcane Academy is the place where all witches must-attend for five years. Giving some deference to The Wizard Of Oz, the Light Witches reside on the West campus while the Dark Witches reside on the East. One faction regards themselves as above the other. Of course, the other faction resents the notion that they are less than any witch. Both acquiesce to the fact that you cannot have light without dark. However, both camps are short-sighted in their regard for another member of their world, Supplements. As the story progresses, we see that even in the paranormal, a little humanity is in order to keep chaos at bay.

This book ended perfectly, making the next book in the series a must-read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

Lydia is a wicked born of white Magic. On her eighteenth birthday she must undergo the choosing that will determine which academy of magic she will attend. This is something she doesn't want to do. She wants to go to college as her best friend is doing. What happens is to everyone's surprise. Lydia ends up in the Arcane Academy for black magic.
Lydia is escorted to the Academy by Nash and Ferris One of the first things that happens is the supplement pairings where a witch and half witch are paired the make the witch's magic stronger. Lydia sits in the back of the room and a girl sits next to her. Lydia's name is called and she goes to the front to have her blood mixed with that of the supplements in the room to see if there will be a match. Her hand starts to burn as soon as her blood mixes with that in the cup and there is a reaction from someone else in the group. It is the girl who had been next to her, Willa.There is a short ritual and the two are bound together for life.They are roommates.
With much to learn about dark magic and trying to control her own magic Lydia is very happy to have Willa's supportive and calming magic around her. Many things happen before the winter solstice not all of which are pleasant.
A very good story evolves. The next book should be good.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light and dark magic are supposed to be kept separate. Or are they? Lydia never wanted to go the Arcane Academy. She always wanted to go to college with her best friend (a non-witch) and become a journalist. But because her mom is the leader of the Light witches she is being forced to go to the academy for five years. But the sorting ceremony chooses her as a dark witch not a light witch and she is sent to the academy for dark witches. But Lydia realizes she has both magics and she has to keep it a secret or she will be taken and tested and never have a life. But someone suspects and seems to be her friend, and she has to tell her supplicant for they have to be together for the rest of their lives and have to depend on each other. And then there is Anson whose supplicant died when they were doing illegal magic. And he as been assigned to her to get her ready for a contest she is being forced to take part in. She only has a few friends at the academy because no one likes that she is a former light witch at a dark witch academy, but can she really trust her few new friends? And he doesn’t trust the Dean Blackwood either. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good until about 70% through then it just took a turn for the worse. Lots of things didn’t make sense and it was very rushed to get to an ending.
Lydia is supposed to be the most powerful witch but she doesn’t really do anything to show her powers. In fact, she can’t even protect herself or friends from evil hexes. She almost dies. She lets herself get manipulated by other students in situations where if she was as powerful as she says she could do something about. She just kept making wrong choice after wrong choice and it got annoying to read in later parts. She stole the grimoire after being manipulated why didn’t she do a tracking spell to find out who was making her do these things. She broke up with her boyfriend instead of telling him the truth. She didn’t tell the dean anything that Nash did. She tried getting rid of her light magic which again makes zero sense. Also it was frustrating how it was very conflicting. One minute Lydia has all this power from light and dark that she can’t even contain within herself. She’s about to explode with power, Then the next when she has to use any of it to save herself or others she gets drained very quickly then seems so weak she can’t do anything!!! Again zero sense!!!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE MIND-BENDING ADVENTURE!!!
Blazing buzzards! This talented and gifted dynamic duo tosses out one unique spin with all the heat and magic, raising the stakes and lowering the boom, throwing this baby into a tizzy, propelling this little fella to astonishing impacts. One chaotic ride with a bounty of swirling emotions bursting forward front and center. Action packed, hard hitting, pulse racing, heart pounding, block busting thrill ride, blazing a path and seizing the reigns, running the show, throwing this little fella into a tailspin with a startling culmination. Combating the drama, intrigue, blackmail, betrayal, tension, danger and soaring suspense, keeps you riveted on a razors edge. Add turmoil and distress along with perplexing situations and a boatload of trouble, blasts this baby to life astoundingly. The characters are authentic and realistic with qualities and traits that blend into outstanding personalities. The scenes are so vividly detailed it gives the illusion you were right there in the middle of ground zero with them. Fantastic job guys, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.

[Jennifer Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ... I REALLY liked this book!

I picked up the trail that lead to a big part of the conflict pretty quickly but that did not help me see the twist that came from the foreshadowing.

Lydia is a dynamic character with ALL the teenage angst you would expect of an 18 year old made to do something outside of what they want.

Willa is a sweet smart, Hermoine Granger type character. She studies, driven and hardcore focused on the future and being the best she can be.
She also compliments Lydia's more impulsive even angry side, she is a salve that soothes and strengthens her.

Then she finds exactly what she is not looking for ... a hot Warlock to complicate the next 5 years of her life. Anson, standoffish but brilliant, hot & so not interested. They have to work together to help Lydia get where she needs to be per the Dean's orders. As often happens, best laid plans are crumpled when the impossible to ignore chemistry takes over.

Friends become family, strangers something MUCH more and friends become enemies ... what more can you ask for!

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wicked Born are Witches, born to either the light of dark factions. Lydia Laveau was born to a powerful light witch, and it is assumed that at her Sorting Ceremony, she will be chosen by the light and then go on to study magic at the Arcane Academy for the next five years. Unfortunately, Lydia's life will be turned up side down when she is chosen by the dark.

Fascinating, compelling, and unique characters. Lydia is forced to acknowledge her dark magic, she will fall in love, and face the betrayal of someone she thought of as a friend. Curses, hexes, and magic spells, oh my! Exciting read with romance, betrayal, and surprising, as well as unexpected twists in the plot. I thought this was a fantastic, must read book. I loved it!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lace Laveau, high priestess of the light coven, and Lydia is her daughter and she gets all the pressures associated with being Lace's daughter, it's assumed that Lydia will also have light magic. Luckily Lydia has her best friend Jade, who helps her keep her sanity. Although she will have to leave Jade behind for 5 years, to do her training, and she will miss Jade (who is a normal human without magic, and can't be told why Lydia can't see her for 5 years). To make it more complicated Lydia's Sorting Ceremony doesn't go according to everyone's plans. I loved this angst filled, emotion tearing magical tale, I was shouting and almost standing at time to tell or try to get those people in it (that I wanted to strangle).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine thinks she knows what is in store for her, but she couldn't be more wrong. Now part of her wishes for the future she didn't think she wanted.

This is the start of a new paranormal romance story but with several interesting twists on the road. The story is well written and easy to read, with a fast paced plot that starts at a run and never lets up. I found the characters to be well developed and provided with unique personalities that makes the story come alive. I also really loved the setting and all the interesting details that went into it, making it a place I want to explore in more detail. Overall, I was hooked on the story right away and eagerly await the next installment so I can learn more about our characters and the setting.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story and if you’re a fan of the Discovery of Witches books and movie which I am then your going to love this story too. It’s about Lydia who is a daughter of a light high priestess she believes that she will be a light witch but in her sorting ceremony things don’t turn out the way Lydia expects and she is chosen as a dark witch and now she is off to the academy to start her training. Luckily for Lydia she has Willa who is such a bad ass and Anson who is dream worthy they will help Lydia through all of the hard times. Wow brilliant story and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, it’s a 5 plus ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[Veronica Prowant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I love Lydia. Shes a strong willed witch who didnt let her lifes status make her a total snob. Shes fierce, loyal, and cares. Life gets turned upside down at her sporting ceremony and suddenly shes in a world she doesnt know. But Willa is there to balance her and keep her from going crazy. And there the mysterious Anson who I would love to know for real! Disasters, broken trust, falsity, deceit, and blackmail are everywhere shes turned, and if it wasnt for Willa and Anson she might just lose herself. But Lydia stands up and steps up. I dont know what next but I cant wait to find out.

Great world building. The plot is phenomenal. The characters are awesome. Totally loved it!

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia was destined for the Light just like her mother but then everything changed and she's at the dark Academy learning Dark Magic one problem she can still use her light magic. Now she has to trust her new friends to keep her secret too but one of them can't be trusted. She's in love with another student but will have to break there heart if she wants to keep her secret. Someone will try to kill her and her friends and before it's all over she will have to compete in a contest that could get her killed what will Lydia do when she can't even trust the people that run the school and a dark coven wants to take and use her power.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read the one author but the other one was new to me but by the time I finished this one I do know I would read her again. The combined of the two has given us a fabulous escape into a adventure into a fantasy we will find it hard to come out of. It is also just the beginning. So interesting -Wicked Born. When it flips in this world you get a delightful tale. The path that was is no longer but into a world not thought of we will be sealed there also. We are given Lydia and also Anson whom gives us more to this foundation of a tale. The danger and drama that starts fuels us into staying. Will we survive the series?

[M Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Magic is so wicked good! Lydia Laveau, daughter of the high priestess, has her Sorting Ceremony and the surprise of her life. Instead of being chosen for the light faction as expected, Lydia is chosen for the dark faction. Once at the Academy, she becomes friends with Nash, Ferris, and Willa and meets Anson. We see her as she tries to adjust to being at the school she didn't want to attend in the first place and then try to come to terms being a dark witch with a big secret. The story kept me engaged and now I'm anxiously awaiting the next book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toyin ◡̈ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
The premise and world building within this book is so good (light and dark) but the main character makes such dumb decisions that it actually triggers me. Like?!?! And the worst part of it is that she’ll recognise that she’s about to do something stupid or that she shouldn’t and still ignore and go ahead. In the beginning she comes off as entitled and bratty but I do see some semblance of character growth in her by the end. The romance was giving insta love, but if you’re into than it won’t be so bad. All in all, an okay read but I don’t think I care enough about the characters to read the next book. Maybe if I’m bored.

[Michelle F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t love this book enough. Spoilers ahead
Lydia is a light witch with a pedigree and as she’s chosen to go to the dark side, she Is rightly confused. How can this be? Her supplement Willa is kick ass. You just know Nash is an arrogant ass from the beginning. And Anson is swoon worthy.
While this is YA, it’s more mature than high school. The storyline was gripping and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Hurry with the next book please, I need more magic!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Magic is Book 1 in A Touch of Darkness series by Rebecca Hamilton and Candace Osmond. These two talented authors have created a superbly developed masterpiece with amazing characters. The world building is exceptional, the storyline draws you in and allows you to experience the story along with the characters. This is an action packed, fast paced thrill ride that will keep you turning pages until the end and leave you wanting more. Thank you ladies for this phenomenal story. Received a free copy from Booksprout and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good, except that I hated the main love interest. Rafael was a selfish prick. I guess the author did that on purpose because that's the flaw he apparently overcomes at the end, but it was all very rushed and he wasn't enjoyable to read about. Not to mention that the MC, supposedly a dominant wolf, basically just rolls over whenever he demands something. Sure, she protests, but it never lasts long. Character development seemed forced.

Writing was fine, nothing special. Plot was meh. But I despised the main characters.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - quit at 10%
The book just didn’t pull me in. I didn’t like the FMC, she just came across as wishy washy & TSTL. Come on, she drinks a vile of some magic potion from a total stranger she’s never met, because he told her it would “cast away any doubts”. Yea, I wouldn’t stupidly drink anything from a stranger, I want the FMC’s I read about to be smart enough to not get taken that easily!

At my age (60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia's dream is to become an journalist but because she is a witch she's getting ready for her sorting ceremony and 5 years at Arcane Academy for light magic, plus her mom is the High Priestess.
Things go wrong at the ceremony and she doesn't have answers because her mom disappears.
Left at a different Academy with strangers, secrets, drama and blackmail.
She is also intrigued by the mysterious Anson and the dark rumors about him.

[Leah Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! This is an excellent start to a new series. The world building is fantastic. The characters are intriguing. The plot is interesting and an original take on the genre. I found myself sucked into this world and couldn't seem to put the book down. I'm really looking forward to the next one and seeing where the authors take us.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing story will keep you reading till all hours! Lydia is prepared to go to school at Arcane Academy. Coming from a family of light witches, her world is turned up side down when at her sorting ceremony she is chosen to be a dark witch. Secrets, blackmail, betrayal, who can she trust? Great world building, wonderful characters make this a must read! I loved it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of the classic ideas of a witch/magic/academy type story, and I liked them, but I ended up skimming because I just wasn't in the mood for all of those things like I thought I was when I started it. The romance is nice (love scenes fade to black, if that matters to you), the characters are "college age" but it read a little younger to me. I'm somewhat interested in the next book but not hugely so, though this could be mood related too.