The Cost of Magic – Book Tour and Giveaway
What would you risk to prove you belong –
Your life? Your freedom? Or the fate of a kingdom?
The Cost of Magic
Prequel to The Intrigue of Magic Series
by L.J. Evias
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy, Swords & Sorcery
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.
** Only .99cents for a limited time! **
“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.
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.
What readers are saying:
‘A creative first novel in the Intrigue of Magic series, the contemporary characters are endearing and believable figures with magical threats, delicate alliances, and savvy manipulators at every turn. The world-building is strong, with thematic undercurrents pointing back to contemporary life in a way that inspires a continuing sense of empathy for the characters. Evias’ care with character interaction and modern-day social parallels make it a distinctly compelling start to a new series.’ – Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★
‘The world-building is great with detailed political structure and magical elements…Evias dishes up the angst that accompanies young love, and…is authentic in depicting the frustrations of youth…Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-executed entry to a new series and I look forward to seeing where we go next’ – Asher Syed, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘…offers a balance of lightheartedness and tension, making it accessible to both younger and older audiences. This first book in the series holds great promise and delivers a charming and enjoyable story.’ – Carol Thompson, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★
‘L. J. Evias’ thrilling fantasy adventure will keep readers glued to the pages…The Discovery of Magic is a well-written, clean fantasy to be enjoyed by fantasy lovers young and old’ – Delene Vrey, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘The Discovery of Magic is a compelling start to what promises to be an exceptional fantasy series for readers who appreciate carefully crafted magical worlds and meaningful character growth. I cannot wait to see what comes next.’ – K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
‘A suspense-filled, magical adventure with a strong, reckless protagonist to root for. Highly recommended!’ – The Wishing Shelf, ★★★★
Losing her patience, Alice glared at the man. Why wouldn’t he speak English? In his peculiar uniform, he must be part of some historical reenactment, but he didn’t have to be so unhelpful.
Shielding her eyes from the bright sun, she sought out someone else, only then noticing the wall surrounding them. And the ochre sand scattered across the hard ground.
What was going on?
In the corner of the enclosure, a wooden building appeared to be sheltering people from the heat, but a number of men dressed as soldiers stood guard along the walls. All wore double-breasted navy tunics with gold buttons, but none possessed the decorations of the man in front of her. He must be in charge. But of what?
The man, in his mid-twenties, and with chocolate brown hair, said something unfathomable yet again.
With a sigh, she pulled out her phone to text the others, but there was no signal.
Her skin crawled. This was very wrong.
Cold spread through her limbs as she turned to face the doorway, not a gap in the rock as she’d presumed, but an oval of shimmering light, standing proud of the wall. She gulped. That was not normal.
Swallowing her fear, she pushed against it, but a force prevented her passing.
There was no way back.
The man touched her elbow and gestured to a narrow gap at the end of the enclosure. He spoke more urgently now and looked at her phone with suspicion. Finally, in English, he said, “Come with me.”
Alice almost laughed with relief. “Where am I?”
The pressure on her elbow increased and he gestured forwards with his other hand.
Alice shook her head. “Tell me where I am first.”
The man barked an order in that unfathomable language, and soldiers rushed forward, eager to obey. In the narrow gap, a carriage appeared, with oversized wheels and a golden lion on the side.
The commander gestured forwards again. Could he not understand her?
“What is going on? Where are you taking me?”
He stared at her for a moment, contemplating her words, then said, “To the palace, to the king.”
Alice’s stomach knotted. There was no palace near her home.
Facing the rising dread, she skulked to the exit and stared upon the impossible scene. Desert dunes spread out each side of a stone path, and in the distance, a city poked into the sky, like nothing she’d ever seen. Everything looked to be made of stone, though two towers glinted peculiarly in the sun.
Beside the carriage, the officer held out an arm and looked at her expectantly.
With no way back and no answers here, a palace started to sound appealing. They might have people who could speak her language and explain what had happened.
With one last glance around, she stepped inside the carriage.
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.
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I was drawn into this giveaway Because I adore the cover art so much! Now I must check this one out and read it.... as it sounds awesome!
Interesting book details.
the cover is really nice
What an amazing cover! It is just beautiful.
Looks like a good read
This looks and sounds good.
I love the cover and the excerpt.
It looks like a good read.
Hello everyone,
Hope you enjoy the tour. Thanks for sharing and spreading the word.
Good luck in the giveaway.
L J Evias
Loving the cover
I love magic!! Both of these covers are amazing.
Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
Thanks for the question! I don’t write in a daily journal, but I keep a scrivener file synced across all my devices, so if any thoughts come to me I can jot them down wherever I am – even if it’s wandering through fields or along the Cádiz coastline.
I enjoyed the excerpts. Thank you for the giveaway!
I really love books about magic. I can't wait to read this!
Hope the book does great!
What a great read, I like everything about it!
Thank you for the excerpt.
Love the cover art!
The story and is cover really inspired.
Sounds spectacular
Sounds like an awesome book.
Did you write as a child?
I can only remember once trying to write a story, and I’m not sure how it turned out. I don’t think I was particularly encouraged to write creatively, or I was not very good at it. It was only in adulthood where I found the time to sit down and see if I could write anything – I was aiming for a few chapters and ended up with 3 books worth. I always loved reading as a child though, especially when I was supposed to be asleep.
The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
Cover is inviting.
Sounds like a great read
cool cover
The cover is intriguing.
This one shows that it is always a good idea to at least consider what the individual wants when planning a future!
I like the book cover and the details.
How do you develop your characters and plot?
I’m a discovery writer/ pantser, so I get to know my characters as the story develops. I have a vague idea of where the plot needs to go and the themes I want to explore, but it is the characters’ actions that move the story into the next scene. Each successive edit deepens the characters and the corresponding plot. In the Intrigue of Magic series I am exploring how power imbalances shape societies, so characters must have different roles that show how excess or lack of power affect their actions. I also take inspiration from the Enneagram to shape personalities (Claire Taylor has some great resources for authors).
Love this magical cover!
The story and cover are great.
The cover is perfect for the title.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
I think the biggest trap is trying to write something that is perfect straight away and never making it to the end of the story. The best advice is to keep going and edit when the story is complete – you can’t edit a blank page. As a discovery writer, my first drafts are very rough, but are needed to tell me the story. Then I can chisel it into something special. Other traps might be forgetting to include conflict in every scene and making sure every scene drives the story forward.
The cover art looks great. Sounds like a really good story.
I love the cover.
Awesome cover
This book sounds really interesting and I think I'll enjoy reading it.
I enjoyed the excerpt. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Beautiful book cover.
I am adding this to my must read list this fall season.
I like stories with a strong female lead.
This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
This sounds a wonderful read.
Thanks everyone for the comments on the cover and the excerpt.
Don't forget to enter the Goodreads Giveaway if you're in the US for a chance to win a copy: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418782-the-cost-of-magic-the-gathering-storm-before-the-intrigue-of-magic
3 days to go!
Sounds good.
I can not wait to read this book. I love this book cover.
This sounds like a great book
looks like a fun one.
I LOVE Fantasy and Magic
sounds good cant wait to readd it