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Legacy of Light #1

A War for Magic

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Someone you love will die by your hand. Someone you love will sacrifice their life for yours. Someone you love will forsake your name.
It was a curse of kings. The day a seer burned those words into Prince Trystan's mind, he didn't believe them. A land without magic could have no seers, no true view of the future. So, why can't he forget what she said? Princess Rissa has always been underestimated. Facing a marriage to a man she despises, she can't fathom leaving home. Not when her kingdom is on the brink of war. Not when her people are starving. And what about him? Davion. Her oldest friend and the boy she's been in love with for as long as she can remember. How is she supposed to leave him? Davion has no last name, no home to claim. As an orphan ward of the king, he never forgets his place. He has no business calling the prince his brother and picturing the princess smiling in his sleep. Those thoughts are forbidden. Trystan, Rissa, and Davion have always done everything together. Now, they have one last adventure. Save their kingdom from the coming war. But it won't be easy. The only way to survive is to return magic to the land, but the legendary Tri-Gard, keepers of all power, have been missing since before the prince and princess were born.
Prepare to lose yourself in this wickedly exciting epic fantasy romance with masterful worldtelling, dark secrets, and deliciously forbidden romance. A War For Magic is book one in the Legacy of Light series.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published May 10, 2021

279 people are currently reading
960 people want to read

About the author

Michelle Bryan

33 books221 followers

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5 stars
114 (36%)
4 stars
107 (34%)
3 stars
63 (20%)
2 stars
19 (6%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Stephanie Augustine.
Author 1 book27 followers
May 24, 2020
Yes, this book was amazing. Yes, this book was so engaging. Yes, I could not put this book down.

Oh - you need more than that?

In all seriousness I loved this book so much. From the beginning up till the end. One of my least favorite tropes is the "I didn't know I loved my best friend until someone else shows interest." But somehow they made this work. I think it was the way it was written - which shows how good it is if one of my least favorite tropes work! The way the plot and the events were set up worked so well together to create a wonderful end product. It was fast paced but engaging the whole time. The ending was a little predictable but did not stop me from gasping when it happened.

I loved all these characters. Trystan, Rissa and Davion all grew up together and the chemistry between them was really well done. While the childhood wasn't a big detail for them, they was they interacted together showed how close they are. Then enter Lady Alixa, whom I love. She definitely forced herself into the group but I loved her character. While all blend very well, Lady Alixa stood out to me. Alixa was strong and did not stand for anything that she didn't agree with. Theirs is a story I cannot wait to continue.

Overall, this book was fantastic. If you are looking for a great adventure with some forbidden romance while looking for lost magic... then pick this book up now!
Profile Image for Brittney's Review.
57 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2020
Fantasy books tend to walk a fine line between building a world that is outlandish and fantastical and one that the reader can lose themselves in and be drawn into. This book does a great job accomplishing both. It is well written and has an engaging plot that leaves the reader flipping page after page till the end. Lucky for readers this is just the start of an amazing series. I can't wait to see where the characters end up next.
Profile Image for Stasia Roze.
174 reviews9 followers
December 11, 2024
Lovely story

A wonderful tale about a kingdom in turmoil. Magic was stolen 20 years ago and the lands have suffered since. Year on year more crops have failed and food is being rationed throughout. Can our MMC Trystan, his 2nd Davi, and his sister Rissa save the kingdom from the enemy and get magic back.

This is a nice easy read, the pacing and world building are great as are the character developments. The balance between the two authors, Lynn and Bryan is extremely well done. I actually forgot there were 2 authors for this book because everything blends so well.

I particularly like how Rissa has been written. Not only is she a strong minded woman who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it, but she's also tested by the male dominance we (women) experience in life. Her father and brother (the king and the prince) take away her choices on most things and side with each other, rarely siding with her. Not only is this true to the time of the story, but it still happens today and I liked that the authors included that and made a point about Rissas feelings and emotions when it happens.

I also thoroughly enjoy that it's Davi, not a female character, being used for his looks. It's a refreshing change to the usual and very funny! A particular favour is his line "why is it hard being the beautiful one?" After having to sit next to a strange woman to secure a wagon ride for the group.

The bromance between Trystan and Davi is so sweet, it's really lovely reading about strong powerful men who are also dependent on their emotional connection to their friends. The authors really are good at characterisation and they should be so proud of themselves.

Profile Image for gerald morson.
290 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2021
Very very good

End it no end a great cast of characters ,a great start to the legacy of light thank you Michelle and M
Profile Image for ✧.*Emma✧.*.
257 reviews7 followers
December 6, 2024
~3.75 stars
Although I didn't get some parts this was still very fun to read and the characters were all very likable!
Profile Image for R.
88 reviews
July 26, 2021
DNF at 40%. Picked this up because it was free on the Kobo app, and initially there was a lot I was willing to forgive because it was free, but I just couldn't do it. The characters all felt like caricatures of tropes and for a story that already didn't have much going for it, the characters ended up killing any enthusiasm I had for continuing.

Maybe I'll pick this up next time I'm on a plane.
Profile Image for Zahava (pallor17reads on YouTube).
206 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2025
A really good time. I had originally started this book on Kindle as a free promotional read and liked it so much by about the time I got to chapter four, I stopped reading and went and purchased the trilogy on Amazon directly. Good move. Though not a particularly compelling plotline, the book did just what I needed, as it was straightforward, uncomplicated, and the prose itself was accessible and flowed nicely. Aside from a couple of typos (missed words and syntax issues), this book was a welcome respite from the incredibly confusing prose of the last 3 books I've had to DNF before reading this one. I will very likely binge read the last two volumes. The series is definitely set up as a trilogy and leaves you with a cliffhanger ending, which, though somewhat predictable, was nonetheless incredibly satisfying, if only because I got to pat myself on the back for figuring some things out ahead of time. I prefer when books are like this and do not shun plotlines that prove to me how right I am, lol. Great effort if you want an easy, satisfying read. The characters are new adults more than young adults. There is some light, closed door spice, which is handled appropriately. I care about the characters and want to see them win. Woot!
Profile Image for Cym.
346 reviews39 followers
February 12, 2025
This romantasy seems promising, although the build-up is kind of slow. It gets boring most of the time. But it’s understandable as it’s first of a series and the authors hope for the readers to get to know the characters. What I didn’t like was that they talk like modern people, even though the setting was in realms of magic and there’s a royal family. Also, it’s as if the editors got tired and left a lot of erroneous texts in. There were some twists that were somehow predictable and it’s a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Krista.
61 reviews
December 16, 2024
I enjoyed this book. It was a pretty quick read and had similar qualities to Harry Potter, in that the main characters are two guys and a girl (except one boy and one girl are royal siblings). The characters a likeable and the story is a typical hero's journey. My only complaint is that the book ended quite abruptly, but that just meant I had to buy the second immediately, so well played, Michelle Bryan.
148 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2021
Amazing! Authentic! Can't put down!

I'm fascinated by the tales of old with magic & gods & fae. The different worlds authors can imagine & create are magnificent. To plot & plan, write to make all of that creation fit & work together, to keep all of it straight in their minds is truly inspiring!
Excellent read. I'd recommend it for ages 10 to 200+.
46 reviews
April 26, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Great epic fantasy story. Good world building and enjoyable characters. Magic and an adventure that is fun to follow. The story is somewhat predictable as enough is given away/hinted at that you get a good feel as to where the story is going. I really do love the adventure they are going on, and would recommend this story.
Profile Image for Simon Mcleish.
Author 2 books142 followers
November 22, 2024
Interesting background for this fantasy series beginner, with the decay of magic clearly meant to evoke thoughts of our real life environmental crisis, but the YA storyline is a jarring companion to it for me.
370 reviews3 followers
Read
December 3, 2024
A good series starter, I got this on Bookbub and read it in a day. It has some good plot twists and I can speculate on the outcome so will probably not look for the rest of the series unless they are reduced on offer.
1 review
December 27, 2024
The ending spoiled it for me…

Why did it feel like a rush towards the end? It’s almost as if someone told the author ‘time’s up!’ and they just slapped a few words together and said ‘to be continued…’
2,416 reviews13 followers
February 18, 2025
Interesting land where the magic was stolen 20 years ago.

There are currently 3 regions. They don't get along very well but aren't actively fighting. There are a couple of people showing signs of magic.

Can they unite the world or will this just start a new war?
68 reviews
December 12, 2021
Great read

The characters were well defined and the adventure intriguing. I think it well worth ones time to read the beginning of a great adventure.
Profile Image for Anna.
42 reviews
May 31, 2022
I'm sorry but this book was just so badly written. The story and characters needed to be flushed out, it was all so surfice level and it was hard to care for the characters.
Profile Image for Mekayla.
32 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2024
Not bad, was a bit slow at first, but I love the characters. The end really got better.
26 reviews
January 26, 2025
Classic complications of youth with the complications of people who need to be in charge at any cost. Davion was a twist that we did not see coming and definitely livened up the narrative.
838 reviews7 followers
March 9, 2025
Intriguing

This book was engaging and had a lot of plot twists and turns which made me want to read more. I can't wait to read what comes next.
Profile Image for Erin Zelnio.
33 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2025
DNF at 40%. it was just too cliché and sophomoric. Too much telling, too little showing.
129 reviews
July 29, 2025
A Little Light Magic

The savagery of ambition is up against the purity of youth in the story or love, righteousness, and devotion to friends and a cause.
Profile Image for Saundra Wright.
2,883 reviews13 followers
October 14, 2019
The beginning of a great epic fantasy adventure! This collaboration results in intricate, fast-moving plots and in-depth character creation. Grab A War for Magic and join the fight to restore magic to a dying land.

Since presented with a prophesy when prince Trystan was five, the king has believed his son would be the hero to save their crumbling kingdom. At that time, he brought home an orphan boy of the same age. The seer foresaw the boy, Davion becoming the prince’s most loyal friend and protector.

Along with the princess, Rissa, the children were raised as near equals. However, Rissa sees Davion as anything but a brother, while Trystan sadly acknowledges that the two will never be able to fulfill the love they have for one another.

It is the eve of change for this trio. Most of the younger generation of the land no longer believe in magic. It was stripped away twenty years ago. Now that Trystan has taken his place as the head of the kingdom’s armed forces, with Davion as his second in command, they will begin the dangerous adventure to restore the magic that used to sustain the kingdom! Can magic be restored? Or will their land perish? Will everyone survive this perilous quest?
Profile Image for D.
1,069 reviews
October 16, 2019
I'm not sure why I felt like I was on the edge of my seat while this story unfolded, but I did. Maybe I had a feeling something spectacular would happen and that this story was not going to be easy to figure out; and I was not disappointed. A War for Magic was brilliant and at times frustrating. Davi and Rissa worked every nerve I had. It was frustrating to know they were in love with each other but couldn't do anything about it. 

But this is more than a love story; so much more. There's adventure, intrigue, and betrayal. I knew I would be in for a treat when I saw M. Lynn's name on this book. She has a way of putting the reader in the midst of the story so they will understand what the characters are experiencing. I never heard of Michelle Bryan, but have experienced the magic of her writing in this book. I went out and purchased one of her books. 

I need book 2. I finally understand those readers who wait until all of the books in a series are out before they read them. It's painful to have to wait to find out what is going to happen to certain characters that you have fallen in love with. Especially when the story is brilliant and has provided everything you needed to escape real life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for ErinTurnsPages.
607 reviews6 followers
September 9, 2019
Wow! Just wow! A couple things I enjoyed... one, I don’t know if it was just me, but in the first 30 pages I found quite a few references to other things, LOTR, HP, and Gilmore Girls. If they were intentional, I don’t know but I loved it! The story line seems great so far and the characters are wide and intriguing.

*spoiler*
So if I’ve got this straight, Calis wanted Rissa & Trystan’s mom, Marissa Kane, who was the daughter of the third tri-gard (Ramsey Kane) who betrayed Dreach-Dhoun, by taking sides with Dreach-S and forcing the rest of the Tri-Gard to remove magic from Dreach-Dhoun. Marissa ran away and married King Marcus before she died in childbirth. That’s why Calis wants to destroy Marcus, he wants revenge on the man who took everything from jinx

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for LooseBoots .
879 reviews6 followers
November 15, 2020
Wow. What a brilliant enthralling story this was. I was Spell bound from the very first page.
The tale of 2 lands side by side . One drained the other of magic 2 decades ago and this story follows the quest of the Prince and princes of one land to try to restore the magic thus healing their dying land.
Lies , deceit corruption throughout this riveting part one.
This is the first time I have read Michele Bryon and M Lynn. It won't be the last.
Truly breathtaking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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