I’m still making my way through some older reads, if you couldn’t tell from the (terrible) pictures, but it’s been fun looking back at the books I read years ago. Before starting this series, I’d forgotten just how many books I’d read on my Kindle. I have over 100 with Kindle Unlimited alone!

Voice of Power (The Spoken Mage #1) by Melanie Cellier 

This series was definitely one that I picked up because of its name. I was instantly intrigued by what was meant by ‘spoken mage’ as surely all magic users use words in some form. However, this was made very clear to me why it was named this after learning about how magic works in this world. With only the mage born being able to read and write, as this is where their power comes from, the world is split into lower and higher regions. 

With an interesting take on magic and little to no romance in the first book, Spoken Mage was an easy and exciting read. I really enjoyed the entire series and I actually wished I reviewed all of them when I read them years ago.

Synopsis: In Elena’s world words have power over life and death–but none more so than hers.

As the daughter of shopkeepers, Elena has always known that the mysteries of reading and writing were closed to her. Only the mageborn can risk harnessing the power unleashed from putting pen to paper. Until Elena discovers an impossible new ability and joins the elite ranks of the mages.

But with the kingdom at war, the authorities can’t agree if Elena is an asset, or a threat they need to eliminate. Thrust into the unknown world of the Royal Academy without friends or experience, Elena will need all of her wits, strength, and new power to carve a place for herself.

Except as the attacks become more personal, wits and strength won’t be enough. Elena will have to turn to new friends and an enigmatic prince to unlock the mysterious potential of her words and survive her first year as a trainee mage.

Hex on the Beach (Magic & Mixology Mystery #1) by Gina LaManna

This series is one that I actually have finished. At least I think I’ve finished it, the last one I read had a weird ending. I’m actually not sure whether this is YA or adult, it could be either, I don’t recall it having any smut, but it has been quite a while since I finished it.

I LOVE the idea of magical cocktails and found the parts of the story that talked about the ingredients and what they can be used for really interesting. It’s a little similar to The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, another series that I really like.

Synopsis: Lily Locke has never believed in witches and wizards, ghosts and magic, shifters and vampires—especially cute blonde vamps with blood-intolerance issues. A rising star at a hotshot marketing agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota, all Lily knows is that she’s a PowerPoint guru, an Excel ninja, and a coffee-maker extraordinaire. Not to mention she’s next in line for a huge promotion.

All that changes when Lily’s assistant delivers a strange quiz to her, one titled A Magical Assessment for Normal Folks. With it comes the promise of a land she’s never known existed. A land where Lily not only discovers her biological family for the first time, but a place where she can make a difference, change lives, and step into the role she’s destined to fulfill.

But first, Lily must admit she’s a witch. Then, she has to acknowledge that the tall, dark, and mysterious man who offers his help is strictly focused on business…at least, for now. When a body turns up dead and the next target is Lily, she must trust her powers and accept the help of her newfound friends. Otherwise, she’ll never survive the trials of the magical island tucked far, far away in the frigid waters of Lake Superior.

Welcome to The Isle.

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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Review: Something Wicked by Gretchen Rue