*Spoilers Ahead*

Blurb:

Mother can’t kill me. Not that she hasn’t tried.

I’m the heir to a modern-day magical dynasty, daughter of the most powerful mage in existence. From day one, Mother made it apparent that she never wanted me—never wanted an heir at all.

That’s why she’s forced me into the shadows, where I remain invisible. Nobody even knows what I truly look like. Locked away, I dream of ordinary things. You know. Friends. A boyfriend. A purpose for my existence…

But I’ve got secrets too. Things she can’t find out.

For years, I’ve watched her scheme to expand her grip on the mage world. Like a snake, she waits for the right moment to strike. If she succeeds, there will be deadly consequences.

As my powers grow, I think Mother and I have both come to the same conclusion.

I might be the only thing that stands in her way.

I read this back in November 2020 as an ARC reader, and it was one of the first indie series that had me hooked. I gave it 5/5 stars purely because I’m a sucker for urban fantasy, and even more so when the characters are much older, like in their twenties. Does not mean that I do not enjoy a good young adult novel/series, but in the past few years, new adult novels, fantasy or not, have grown on me, and they seem to take more space in my ever growing TBR list. (It’s never-ending at this point lol).

Here’s my Goodreads review on first book of Lissa Bolt’s series, Ruling Magic:

“If you’re interested in a magic ruling realm, a mother-daughter relationship on the rocks, and a heart-warming romance, then this is the book for you. The entire world Lissa creates is much like our own, but with the basis of magic overshadowing everything makes each page a delight. There are rules her characters play, and each character is relatable in some way or another.

You become invested, I’ll tell you that much, that when you get to that last page, you’re ready for the next book.

This is a new coming series you’ll have to add to your reading list, because trust me, it’ll be worth it!”

The Counterbalance was a great start to the series, and trust and believe, any book of Lissa’s will not disappoint you.

And if you’re looking to get into family issues with a power hungry mother, romance between kingdoms, enough action to make you constantly root for the main character, and a magical system affixed to our modern world, then you definitely need to get into Ruling Magic.

Happy Reading!