What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic & Sorcery Chronicles #1
A Touch of Magic
In the lovely land of Astarious, the Challenge marks all royals who would seek to rule the kingdom. Before their twenty-first birthday they must submit to the will of the oracles to be sent on an adventure.
Most of the time, they return from their Challenge stronger, wiser, and far more experienced than when they left.
Sometimes they come back broken in body or mind.
Sometimes they don’t come back at all.
As the eldest of three royal sisters and the most powerful spell singer in generations, Princess Lizeth has her fortunate life all planned out: claim her place as heir to the throne, choose a perfect man of royal blood as is the law, and someday ascend as queen.
All she must do is pass her Challenge—a lonely, dangerous test of her magic, her ambition, and her very spirit.
But before she can prove herself, Lizeth and her two sisters find themselves caught up in intrigue, mayhem, and an alarming number of dead bodies. With the king and queen gone on a vital diplomatic mission, Lizeth is determined to protect her family and her palace.
Until the oracles of the Challenge whisk her away unexpectedly.
Except she isn’t alone. In contradiction of everything she’s been told, she finds herself in a strange land with her animal companion plus an annoyingly mysterious—and annoyingly handsome—woodsman. And the Challenge isn’t only hers: the fate of her someday kingdom and more may be at stake.
The trio must discover why they’ve been summoned so far from home if they ever want to find their way back, and Lizeth must risk everything she holds dear—including her magic—without falling for the man fighting at her side.
Her future has never been so uncertain. And it’s not just her future…
Most of the time, they return from their Challenge stronger, wiser, and far more experienced than when they left.
Sometimes they come back broken in body or mind.
Sometimes they don’t come back at all.
As the eldest of three royal sisters and the most powerful spell singer in generations, Princess Lizeth has her fortunate life all planned out: claim her place as heir to the throne, choose a perfect man of royal blood as is the law, and someday ascend as queen.
All she must do is pass her Challenge—a lonely, dangerous test of her magic, her ambition, and her very spirit.
But before she can prove herself, Lizeth and her two sisters find themselves caught up in intrigue, mayhem, and an alarming number of dead bodies. With the king and queen gone on a vital diplomatic mission, Lizeth is determined to protect her family and her palace.
Until the oracles of the Challenge whisk her away unexpectedly.
Except she isn’t alone. In contradiction of everything she’s been told, she finds herself in a strange land with her animal companion plus an annoyingly mysterious—and annoyingly handsome—woodsman. And the Challenge isn’t only hers: the fate of her someday kingdom and more may be at stake.
The trio must discover why they’ve been summoned so far from home if they ever want to find their way back, and Lizeth must risk everything she holds dear—including her magic—without falling for the man fighting at her side.
Her future has never been so uncertain. And it’s not just her future…
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2022
114 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
Marie Andreas
51 books251 followersMarie is a fantasy and science fiction reader with a serious writing addiction, and a few awards to go with it. If she wasn't writing about all the people in her head, she'd be lurking about coffee shops annoying total strangers with her stories. So really, writing is a way of saving the masses. Her fantasy series, The Lost Ancients, starts with The Glass Gargoyle. The entire six book, Lost Ancient series is complete for binge time!
There is also a completed space opera trilogy, with Warrior Wench, Victorious Dead, and Defiant Ruin. Vas and her crew of mercs launched a new series with Traitor's Folly which is also now complete.
A Curious Invasion-- a steampunk-is out and has two more books out as well. Vampires, mermaids, pharaohs, and TEA!
Essence of Chaos is the first book in a completed epic fantasy trilogy.
The Girl with the Iron Wing is a thriller/Urban Fantasy, and the first book in the Broken Veils series. The trilogy is now completed.
A trio of sisters is represented facing their biggest challenges in the Magic & Sorcery Chronicles--a clean romantasy trilogy.
A new paranormal cozy mystery fantasy series launches with Mischief in a Bottle.
More new books, series, and adventures coming in 2026!
When not saving the masses from coffee shop shenanigans, Marie likes to visit the UK and keeps hoping someone will give her a nice summer home in the Forest of Dean or northern Wales.
To find out more about the books, and future series, please visit her website at www.marieandreas.com--especially if you happen to have a small cottage to give her.
There is also a completed space opera trilogy, with Warrior Wench, Victorious Dead, and Defiant Ruin. Vas and her crew of mercs launched a new series with Traitor's Folly which is also now complete.
A Curious Invasion-- a steampunk-is out and has two more books out as well. Vampires, mermaids, pharaohs, and TEA!
Essence of Chaos is the first book in a completed epic fantasy trilogy.
The Girl with the Iron Wing is a thriller/Urban Fantasy, and the first book in the Broken Veils series. The trilogy is now completed.
A trio of sisters is represented facing their biggest challenges in the Magic & Sorcery Chronicles--a clean romantasy trilogy.
A new paranormal cozy mystery fantasy series launches with Mischief in a Bottle.
More new books, series, and adventures coming in 2026!
When not saving the masses from coffee shop shenanigans, Marie likes to visit the UK and keeps hoping someone will give her a nice summer home in the Forest of Dean or northern Wales.
To find out more about the books, and future series, please visit her website at www.marieandreas.com--especially if you happen to have a small cottage to give her.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 8, 2022
DNF
This is a book about children. Well, teenagers, but they act like children. There are three princess sisters who act like spoiled brats and they are extremely immature. The plot was way too muddled to follow, and the immaturity of the characters made it too annoying to want to continue.
This is a book about children. Well, teenagers, but they act like children. There are three princess sisters who act like spoiled brats and they are extremely immature. The plot was way too muddled to follow, and the immaturity of the characters made it too annoying to want to continue.
dnf
October 8, 2025main character is WAY too insufferable for me
July 11, 2022
Reads like a rough draft by an amateur
The story is compelling, but the writing is riddled with hundreds of comma errors, poor word choices (got), passive voice (was and were), vague or absent setting details, lots and lots of awkward sentence constructions, modern slang, info dumps that ruin the momentum of the scenes, and way too much telling instead of showing. The book reads more like a director’s summary of events rather than an immersive experience. If I hadn’t read the author’s bio, I would have figured this was an amateur’s first attempt at writing a novel.
This book needs a significant amount of editing and polishing.
I noted every error I encountered, and there was a need for editing in nearly every paragraph. Ugh.
The author needs to learn how to punctuate independent clauses correctly, how to recognize and avoid sentence fragments, dangling modifiers, and to write sentence phrases in chronological order. Otherwise, readers are forced to re-read and muddle through onerous paragraphs, and this kills the joy and climactic buildup of the plot. The author needs to use internal dialog as well as use dialog more effectively to reveal information instead of info dumping.
The key moments in the story are quick passes that are basically summarized, so the entire story is quite anticlimactic. Also, the time spent with the two protagonist together is squandered and poorly developed. There should be much more discussion about Finnian’s past before the relationship progresses. The reunion after the Challenge needs more emotional development regarding what the sisters were thinking. The action scenes also need more slow motion details.
I hope the author puts this story back in the oven until it’s fully baked.
The story is compelling, but the writing is riddled with hundreds of comma errors, poor word choices (got), passive voice (was and were), vague or absent setting details, lots and lots of awkward sentence constructions, modern slang, info dumps that ruin the momentum of the scenes, and way too much telling instead of showing. The book reads more like a director’s summary of events rather than an immersive experience. If I hadn’t read the author’s bio, I would have figured this was an amateur’s first attempt at writing a novel.
This book needs a significant amount of editing and polishing.
I noted every error I encountered, and there was a need for editing in nearly every paragraph. Ugh.
The author needs to learn how to punctuate independent clauses correctly, how to recognize and avoid sentence fragments, dangling modifiers, and to write sentence phrases in chronological order. Otherwise, readers are forced to re-read and muddle through onerous paragraphs, and this kills the joy and climactic buildup of the plot. The author needs to use internal dialog as well as use dialog more effectively to reveal information instead of info dumping.
The key moments in the story are quick passes that are basically summarized, so the entire story is quite anticlimactic. Also, the time spent with the two protagonist together is squandered and poorly developed. There should be much more discussion about Finnian’s past before the relationship progresses. The reunion after the Challenge needs more emotional development regarding what the sisters were thinking. The action scenes also need more slow motion details.
I hope the author puts this story back in the oven until it’s fully baked.
June 2, 2022
Delightful
This is an excellent start to a new series by Ms. Andreas. It has a fun plot, great characters and a happy ending. I look forward to the next books in this series!
This is an excellent start to a new series by Ms. Andreas. It has a fun plot, great characters and a happy ending. I look forward to the next books in this series!
July 21, 2023
This is the first story I’ve read by Marie Andreas, and it has all the right elements to make up a great book. The magic itself is unique and interesting, the storyline is easy to follow and engaging, and the inclusion of romance only enhances things. The romance is also clean, no love triangles. I also enjoyed some of the themes, like learning from our mistakes and not taking things for granted.
That being said, I thought some areas could use improvement. Some of the scenes felt a little quick or rushed like the climax. The romance felt a little flat, I wasn’t seeing their connection nor enough description of their romantic feelings. Though I enjoyed the magic, it felt almost boundaryless with the capabilities. A lot of plot points felt a little too convenient. And some modernity crept in at times that didn’t seem fitting.
Marie Andreas has all of the building blocks for a fantastic story, but it needs a bit of shoring up. As is, I think the story is a simple but enjoyable read. The novel blends magic, saving the world, and romance to create a light, fun read. Three and half, rounded up to four stars.
That being said, I thought some areas could use improvement. Some of the scenes felt a little quick or rushed like the climax. The romance felt a little flat, I wasn’t seeing their connection nor enough description of their romantic feelings. Though I enjoyed the magic, it felt almost boundaryless with the capabilities. A lot of plot points felt a little too convenient. And some modernity crept in at times that didn’t seem fitting.
Marie Andreas has all of the building blocks for a fantastic story, but it needs a bit of shoring up. As is, I think the story is a simple but enjoyable read. The novel blends magic, saving the world, and romance to create a light, fun read. Three and half, rounded up to four stars.
December 21, 2023
I agree with other reviewers that this book is certainly riddled with errors, buuut it’s not the most terrible that I have seen. I considered DNF but the story, the twists, the elements of magic that the author created, were all enough to keep me engaged. I think the author certainly has some great ideas, she just needs to get more polished at editing and formatting. I don’t think the characters are immature, I think they are teenagers, and although it was frustrating to continually read the FMC wasn’t paying attention during most of her lessons and was to reliant on her strongest ability, it tracks that a teenager who was raised sheltered and only learning one side of history would have these character flaws. The author took her on an appropriate coming of age journey. The pacing of the story could have used some work as well. I would say this young adult, but it almost borders middle grade fantasy, either way, the story was an intriguing one. I hope the author continues to hone her skill and publishes more in the future.
June 29, 2024
This sweet and satisfying fantasy will not disappoint. Lizeth, the eldest princess, is due to undergo her traditional challenge, by which she proves she is fit to become an heir to the throne. But when the challenge starts before she is ready, she is thrown into circumstances that will challenge her beliefs as well as her magic.
The characters reveal their secrets along the way, and Lizeth especially grows in maturity and practicality. The love interest is, of course, handsome, intelligent and a good swordsman, but he is also much more, under the surface. The animal sidekick is as snarky as he is useful, and the other characters are well-drawn and interesting.
I really enjoyed this book.
The characters reveal their secrets along the way, and Lizeth especially grows in maturity and practicality. The love interest is, of course, handsome, intelligent and a good swordsman, but he is also much more, under the surface. The animal sidekick is as snarky as he is useful, and the other characters are well-drawn and interesting.
I really enjoyed this book.
July 23, 2023
I am honestly flabbergasted that this book could see the light of day. Someone else wrote in their review that it read like a bunch of director notes, snippets of ideas. Poorly written, poor basic character development. Lacked continuous flow with the story, often jumping to a new idea or situation without linking. I only finished this because I have a personal challenge to read 100 books in 2023. I thought the author was a teenager so colour me surprised to find it a full fledged adult with a collection of books to their name. First and last book of theirs I will read. Save yourself the trouble, please. Absolutely horrid.
October 24, 2023
I was sceptical about reading this as the reviews aren’t that great but I really enjoyed it
November 15, 2023
Short and sweet
I read this in about two days! It was nice to sit back and get caught up in their adventure.
I read this in about two days! It was nice to sit back and get caught up in their adventure.
November 18, 2023
Exceptional!
A real fairytale. It's the much better story of Cinderella. There is no skimping in the action in the story either.
A real fairytale. It's the much better story of Cinderella. There is no skimping in the action in the story either.
May 12, 2024
One of the books I got during stuff you kindle day. Cute little story. It reminded me a lot of Alice in Wonderland.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews