BOOK ONE
A smuggler hides powers in a land where magic is forbidden. But even her noble birth can’t stop the prophesy her magic portends.
Canto was a land where magic thrived, but the devastating Feud War outlawed its use for centuries. Since the loss of magic, factions formed–those who want to suppress it, those who will stop at nothing to see it restored, and those who profit from it.
Inez Garza is a disinherited noble-turned smuggler who uncovers a secret that will make her a target for the many factions in Canto. The only way to stay ahead of them all is to walk…A Smuggler’s Path.
A Smuggler’s Path
BOOK TWO
Divided loyalties test Inez Garza…
The infamous incident at the Academy of Natural Studies has forced Inez to work for the King’s Men while continuing to serve the hidden market.
Supporting Birthright furthers the cause of Magical Return, but the cost may be the fall of the royal house and losing Zavier.
And the strongest pull of all is her growing and erratic magic, which demands everything and offers only destruction in return.
Inez must decide where her loyalties lie–saving Canto or saving herself.
A Noble’s Path
BOOK THREE
An unruly mage from the past has returned to test the limits of Inez’s magic and terrorize Canto.
Magic has become a liability for mage-in-training Inez Garza. Now that she’s accepted Zavier’s proposal of marriage, the scrutiny she once avoided as a smuggler has become nearly unavoidable as his future queen. Any missteps with her magic risks exposing her at the highest levels of Canto and especially to her intended, who still doesn’t know she harbors inherent magic.
Control over her Powers is essential, and her only hope is accepting help from one tutor who doubts her abilities, another who covets them and her mother, who doesn’t trust either of the two.
Differences will have to be set aside when it appears a figure from the past only whispered about in stories returns and threatens all of Canto with his dark magic. Challenging a seasoned magic-wielder with her erratic Powers is just the kind of thing that could attract royal attention, or get Inez killed. She will have to uncover closely held secrets and take help from unlikely quarters in order to keep everyone safe. But even magic has its limits…
…when you walk a rebel’s path.
A Rebel’s Path
BOOK FOUR
Inez Garza is far from home with growing magic and no one to trust—including herself…
After breaking ties with all she’s known, Inez crosses the border between Canto, her beloved home, and the wider world of the Enchanted Isles to better understand her magic. Armed only with the knowledge that she is the Ternion—a being endowed with Powers Abstract, Custodial and Martial meant to return magic to all in the Isles—she must seek answers from new friends, shadowy foes and even old rivals.
But what if Mythos is right and not everyone should have magic?
Inez encounters Islanders in hidden settlements, penal colonies, mysterious Faery and even distant Mythos and learns she isn’t the only one who wonders if her destiny is a potential disaster.
The only way for Inez to truly understand what she’s meant to do is embrace walking…a mage’s path.
A Mage’s Path
The Enchanted Isles
DISCOVER THE
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The Enchanted Isles
PRAISE FOR
“Cruz packs a lot of plot into her novel. For example, along with Inez’s noble lineage, she has a history with and lingering romantic interest in Zavier Cole, Canto’s prince whose brother and sister-in-law became king and queen. Multiple backstories, including Inez’s late duchess grandmother and The Enchanted Isles’ origin, provide a rich foundation for the present-day narrative. The author likewise employs myriad characters to further complicate the plot and give Inez reason to distrust nearly everyone. Cruz’s no-frills prose doesn’t stint on wit: Inez’s haunt is Froth, a tavernlike establishment that serves milk and optional syrups.
An epic, rewarding tale sure to garner fans ready for sequels.”
— Kirkus Reviews on A Smuggler’s Path
“A delightfully creative adventure, A Smuggler’s Path stands alone in a very crowded fantasy genre, boasting a youthful, energetic spirit and a wonderful new world to explore for readers of fantasy. Cruz has a gift for quickly creating memorable characters, as well as threading fantastical elements and creative magic through seemingly 'normal' moments of narration, making this a comprehensive and immersive reading experience. A Smuggler’s Path is an entertaining read with a uniquely creative cast of characters, and a colorful world that readers will want to visit again.”
— Self Publishing Review on A Smuggler’s Path, ★★★★
“A charismatic heroine propels this kinetic and imaginative fantasy sequel.”
— Kirkus Reviews on A Noble’s Path
“…A Noble’s Path is a magical melee packed with honorable heroes that touches on a number of relatable and timely themes.”
— Self-Publishing Reviews on A Noble’s Path, ★★★★
“...the plot is delightfully complex, yet easy to follow. A fast-moving plot and a cast of nebulous characters who exist in the grey space between good and evil make for a thought-provoking read that hums with tension...Cruz has crafted something that truly stands out within the genre.”
— Self-Publishing Reviews on A Mage’s Path, ★★★★
“An enthralling quest tale with a valiant and enchanting protagonist.”