In the Three Kingdoms — Valstadt, Xentia, and Westphal — magic is wielded by the few for the benefit of the many. Now. A few decades ago, a powerful, immoral mage under the direction of the Xentian king nearly destroyed Valstadt. But as the mage was about to deal the fatal blow to the young Val monarch, the spell backfired and it was the mage himself whose flesh turned to bronze. After the loss of his champion, the Xentian king’s schemes folded. His less-avaricious son succeeded him. Valstadt slowly rebuilt. Alliances between the kingdoms were strengthened. The statue stayed for a while where it could remind everyone of the cost of over-reaching ambition. Later it was moved into a small garden within the castle, where a young princess avoided the crowds and played make-believe with the image of a legendary villain.
Stronger Than Spells is the story of a young woman willing to defy everyone who has power over her, whether magical or political, to make a future for herself that’s worth fighting for. Follow Tabitha through each of the Three Kingdoms as she faces down mages, prejudices, and her own insecurity. She’s never certain if she’s winning, losing, or caught in a stalemate, but she’s too stubborn to back down. Especially not when there’s a chance, however slim, that holding onto her convictions and trusting her heart might eventually lead her to a happier ending than she’d ever imagined back when she’d confided her dreams to a bronze statue.
