Book picks similar to
Caster's Spell by E.D. Watley


fantasy
q-series-dropped
mage
u-magic-school

The Reluctant Mage (Zandar #1)


R.E. Donnellan - 2016
    Little does he know that his life is about to change. The Empire is at war. The forces of Emperor Rau are struggling against the forces of the King Kastav. Just when it appears that the Empire is getting the upper hand, a new threat emerges from the Kingdom. The Imperial Mage, once thought of as the perfect soldier, is up against a new threat: Royal Priests. These priests are infiltrating and decimating the Imperial forces, seemingly at will. Marko is thrown into the war. He finds himself caught up in the intrigue, politics and violence of this desperate battle. How can a mere child survive in this world? Marko discovers a latent talent that few possess. He has magic! But is there enough time for him to learn it in order to survive and protect his friends?

The Young Magician


Michael Foster - 2008
    Entire continents have been decimated time and time again at the hands of the demon hordes, forcing civilisation to start over in every instance, all culture and art and history destroyed. Now, in the last days before the gates of hell fall open again, it seems as if all efforts to avert disaster have failed, but for one small sliver of hope. A boy is found whose potential is unequalled, a boy who could hold the secret to the demons' realm, a boy who could be the very salvation of man. But not even the Order's greatest champions could guess the true secrets hidden away deep inside of this boy, secrets that could ultimately destroy them all. Commended in the Austalian Literary Awards, The Young Magician begins a remarkable tale.

The Shadow of the Blade


R.R. King - 2017
     From #1 bestselling author R.R. King I have no name, but my enemies call me Shadow. I have killed the mightiest of warriors. Read books that have not been written yet. Drowned my enemies in their own blood and looked madness in the eyes. I've danced with Death herself and coerced her into letting me live. I've lied and uttered truths. Sinned and never forgave myself. Raised by a blind woman in the seclusion of a deep well, and then thrust out to an unforgiving world of the Seven Seasons, I seek an understanding of things not understood, salvation of from puzzles never solved, and most of all, a quest to find out who I am and what I was made for. I'm warrior of words, slayer of souls, tamer of tides, and I answer to no one but my blade.This is my story. It's up to you to decide, if I am a liar or a legend, man or myth. That's if you can handle the truth... that the quest for light is a journey into darkness.

Burden's Edge


Sever Bronny - 2017
    . . or watch his kingdom fall. Sixteen-year-old Augum Stone is a warlock prodigy suffocating under the weight of expectations. Students idolize him. Nobles plot to exploit him. Commoners think he’s a miracle-maker. And with invasion looming, his already war-weakened kingdom expects him to be its champion. But Augum doesn’t want to be a pawn in someone else’s game. He'll forge his own path: that of the Arcaner—not a warlock or a knight, but a lethal combination of both. Legend says Arcaners once had the power to summon dragons. If true, it could change everything. Resurrecting the Arcaner path comes with consequences, however. Scandal. Malice. Treachery. And a harrowing test of character. He must survive. He must prove he’s worthy of an ancient path. And he must save the kingdom . . . before it’s too late. * * * Sever Bronny is the Amazon bestselling author of the epic coming of age Arinthian Line series. Burden's Edge paperback page count: 410 Genres: Young adult fantasy, sword and sorcery, coming of age, fantasy, action and adventure, epic, mystery. Explicit language: Mild Violence: Mild to medium To receive advance notice of Sever Bronny's releases go to severbronny.com/contact and subscribe to the newsletter..

Alchemist Academy Book 1


Matt Ryan - 2015
    But when Allie meets her new next door neighbor, Mark Duval, he opens her eyes to the hidden world of alchemy.When a recruiter for the Alchemist's Academy comes calling, Allie is more than thrilled to answer. With Mark in tow, she braves this strange new world, hidden by magic and secrets.It doesn't take long to figure out nothing is as it is supposed to be. The art of Alchemy is not taught, but thrown at the students with force and cruelty. Students are pitted against one another in a battle of houses. They fight for dominance, while fear and hatred for each other are used to facilitate their alchemist creations. If you can't cut it, the President of the Academy, Verity, will announce your retirement.Allie and Mark must find a way through the mysteries of alchemy and the academy before they too are retired.

Wager's Price


G.P. Ching - 2016
     Book 1 of 3 in the Soulkeepers Reborn Trilogy Finn Wager's luck has run out. Arrested for the one crime he didn't actually commit, he's forced to finish his education at an alternative school. The Revelations Institute is an upscale, private reform school with a 100% success rate. Delinquents go in and model citizens come out. But students who don't perform to expectations disappear. And although their bodies return model citizens, their minds are hardly their own. Something evil lurks inside Revelations, and if Finn and his new friend Hope can't find a way to stop it, they'll risk more than their lives. The repercussions could cost them their souls. Soulkeepers Reborn Trilogy: Wager's Price Hope's Promise Lucifer's Pride Get the newest installment in the Soulkeepers world today!

The Otherist: Arrival


William Dickey - 2017
    A day where boundaries between worlds were bent and nature’s most divine laws violated. To the humans remaining on Earth, it was the day where a million people vanished in an instant, carried away by columns of light descending from the heavens.To Isaac Stein, an ordinary 17-year-old boy, it was a fresh start. Isaac finds himself on an alternate version of Earth named Tautellus, an extraordinary world filled with magical beings thought to exist only in legend. Isaac struggles to establish new ties and harness his newfound mystical powers, but just as he begins to thrive in his new home, it is savagely ripped away by the invasion of a hostile nation.Driven to prevent others from meeting the same cruel fate, Isaac must brave the harsh wilderness, overcome betrayals, and wage war for his survival. In the meantime, he stumbles upon secrets of a long lost magitechnologically advanced civilization and their ancient enemy. An enemy that now seeds war and chaos throughout the land as they attempt to seize both Tautellus and Earth.

Rebirth of the Undead King: Book 1


Ink Bamboo - 2019
     Rebirth of The Undead King chronicles the journey of a young village boy who seeks vindication against the monarchy of his kingdom. With no other way to achieve his goals, he is fortunate to find the remains of a fallen god who is willing to lend a hand as long as he can return the favor. With the former lord of death as his teacher, Zaros will be forced to learn of the ways of the world. Once presented with the cruelty of society and the dark nature of humanity, will he choose to uphold his ideals or will he embrace the legacy of his benefactor? Follow this story in a world filled with gods, demons, and magic. Witness the birth of the new Overlord of Death. This debut novel from InkBamboo is a new addition to the ranks of a grimdark fantasy tradition forged by light novels like Dungeon Defense, Goblin Slayer, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Don't miss your chance to read it now.

EverMage


Trip Ellington - 2014
    Clumsy, awkward, naive, and frequently a nuisance to his mentor wizard, it was hard for Mithris to believe he’d ever become a great and powerful wielder of magic... But everything changed for the young apprentice one day when vicious and foul creatures attacked his master’s tower, killing his mentor, and driving Mithris into exile in the wild world outside. Alone and left to care for himself for the first time in his life, Mithris must find the strength and courage to become the very thing he never expected he could be...A powerful wizard... And he must do it in time to stop the monsters, avenge his master’s death, and save the world from the clutches of a power-hungry wizard. Length: 80,000 Words This Bundle Contains: - EverMage #1: Of Swords and Magic - EverMage #2: Of Wizards and Men - EverMage #3: Of Earth and Stone - EverMage #4: Of Flame and Ash - EverMage #5: Of Absence and Void - EverMage #6: The Final Foundation

The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin


L. Jagi Lamplighter - 2013
    As a freshman at Roanoke Academy for the Sorcerous Arts, she has been granted to opportunity to study both mundane and magical subjects.But even her perfect recollection of every book she has ever read does not help her when she finds a strange statue in the forest—a statue of a woman with wings. Nowhere—neither in the arcane tomes of the Wise, nor in the dictionary and encyclopedia of the non-magic-using Unwary—can she find mention of such a creature.What could it be? And why are the statue’s wings missing when she returns?When someone tries to kill a fellow student, Rachel soon realizes that, in the same way her World of the Wise hides from mundane folk, there is another, more secret world hiding from everyone—which her perfect recall allows her to remember. Her need to know everything drives her to investigate.Rushing forward where others fear to tread, Rachel finds herself beset by wraiths, magical pranks, homework, a Raven said to bring the doom of worlds, love’s first blush, and at least one fire-breathing teacher.Curiosity might kill a cat, but nothing stops Rachel Griffin!“The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin, a plucky band of children join forces to fight evil, despite the best efforts of incompetent adults, at a school for wizards. YA fiction really doesn’t get better than that.”—Jonathan Moeller, author of The Ghosts series“Rachel Griffin is curious, eager and smart, and ready to begin her new life at Roanoke Academy for the Sorcerous Arts, but she didn’t expect to be faced with a mystery as soon as she got there. Fortunately she’s up to the task. Take all the best of the classic girl detective, throw in a good dose of magic and surround it all with entertaining, likeable friends and an intriguing conundrum, and you’ll have The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin, a thrilling adventure tailor-made for the folks who’ve been missing Harry Potter. Exciting, fantastical events draw readers into Rachel’s world and solid storytelling keeps them there.”—Misty Massey, author of Mad Kestrel

A Warden's Purpose


Jeffrey L. Kohanek - 2018
    An academy military excellence. Deadly secrets await...secrets leading to murder. Everson is brilliant and yet, he feels broken. Cursed with a disability, he dreams of nothing more than being useful. Quinn is bold, defiant, and will do anything to protect her brother. When Everson is sent to an academy of magic and engineering, Quinn joins a military school to remain near him. Hidden danger lurks within the fabled institutions. Quinn becomes embroiled in a struggle she doesn't understand, one with dire consequences as her training shifts from difficult to deadly. Her relentless determination might help her survive. If she only knew whom she could trust. Within the other school, Everson studies a dangerous magic known as Chaos. Unable to wield this magic, he melds it with science, dreaming up inventions to reshape the future. His greatest discovery will change the world...or it could destroy everything.

Banished


Michael Wisehart - 2017
    . . Magic.However, when a fatal accident forces him to flee, Ayrion barters passage aboard the only ship willing to take one of his kind. But there's more to this captain and crew than he realizes.Thrust into circumstances beyond his control, and with the promise of death waiting around every bend in the river, Ayrion's training will be tested in ways he never thought possible.How far will he be willing to go to keep those he cares about safe?

Runic Apprentice


D.L. Harrison - 2020
    He has everything he could want. A good master, a wonderful young lady he planned to court as soon as he had the coin to do so, and who cared for him as well.Everything changes in one moment, as he forges his first sword, places his maker’s mark for the first time, and discovers the truth that will turn all his life’s plans, hopes, and expectations into ashes.Olin is a rune mage, and it looked like his life was going to be turned upside down again, as he once more took up apprenticeship duties. He has very little choice in the matter, all mages served the royal family, compulsorily.That won’t be his last surprise either. Join Olin on his path of discovery, as he does his best to forge his own destiny under the yolk of expectations, customs, and traditions of mage society.Note: This is the first book of a trilogy. No major cliffhangers but expect a few unresolved plot threads. This story is told in the third person limited, from Olin’s point of view.

The Academy


Zachary Rawlins - 2011
    Still, a horrifying attack by werewolves in a city park is a new and violent low, until Mitsuru, a woman with odd red eyes and tremendous powers intervenes, turning Alex’s world upside down.Waking to find himself in a hospital bed in a very different place – the Academy, a school in a hidden, fog-shrouded city named Central, where teenagers with remarkable abilities train to become Operators like Mitsuru, soldiers who use their amazing and frightening powers to fight Witches, Weir, and each other. And Alex is the Academy’s newest student. In a class of students who can read minds, turn to stone, and sort through possible futures – and staff who can control emotions, set fires with thought, and level mountain sides on a whim - Alex is quickly in over his head. Worse, he has caught the interest of both the cartels vying for control of Central – the fragmented and aristocratic Hegemony, and the ruthless and dictatorial Black Sun. Alex is forced to make his way through a school populated by telepaths, vampires, and most puzzling of all, a number of girls who seem interested in him: Emily, lovely and almost powerless, with orders to make Alex fall in love with her; Anastasia, a Machiavellian heiress trapped in the body of a adolescent; and Eerie, only half human and not entirely sane, but strangely captivating.All the while, an elite cadre of Operators drawn from the staff of the Academy, the Auditors, fight brutal battles against the Witches and rebellious cartels, as Alex attempts to navigate the Byzantine politics of Central in the hopes of survival, passing grades, and possibly even a girlfriend.

His Dark Empire


M.R. Forbes - 2013
    They said that he made slaves of innocents, that he hunted the magically gifted, and that he named them Cursed for the tears of blood they shed. They said he claimed the ones who lingered, and killed the ones who ran. Eryn didn’t know why she ran, except that she had promised she would survive. She didn’t know the dangers of his roads, or of the monsters that lurked beyond her imagination. She would never have guessed how much she would lose… or how much she could gain. Silas didn’t know who he was, except that he was a murderer. Destitute, alone, and imprisoned, he couldn’t grasp the depths of the memories he had forgotten, or understand exactly how much he had lost... or how much he could gain.It could not have been foretold how his actions would change their lives, or how their lives would change the fate of his. For nothing was as it would seem in his dark Empire.