Book excerpt: An utterly enthralling saga of magic and subterfuge, highly recommended - Midwest Book Review The five Asters, brothers and sisters in magic, battle an unknown Dark King to ensure their new Queen ascends to the throne, in this debut YA fantasy prequel series. Together with Affinites, who have no magic but unique affinities for specific skills, the Asters have been protecting humans from the Dark Kings' reigns of terror for generations; even since their first and, until now, only Queen bestowed six Affinites each with one of her own magic powers 500 years ago. The one unique magic that the original Queen didn't pass on would only return if there was a dire need of it: to bring balance back into the world. Now, 500 years later, her reincarnation predicts a threat to the peaceful existence that generations of Asters had created and protected. Up until her eighteenth birthday the new Queen was brought up as human in a secret location, with no knowledge of the crown she will be expected to wear or the rare magic she possesses. She will join the Asters, and she will become the most powerful creature to ever live. But a Dark King knows of her upcoming accession, and will do whatever it takes to stop it. He starts abducting Affinites in the hopes that one of them might know the Queen's secret location. He wants to steal her magic before she learns how to use it against him. It is up to the five Asters to make sure that he doesn't. SKY can fly and shimmer to anywhere in the world. NATHAN can control the nature around him. SOPHIE can heal the worst of injuries. MATU can break through the most solid of walls. LIAN can shut out any feeling of pain until his dying breath. It is the greatest challenge of their lives. And up against a King they know nothing about, time is not on their side. TW: violence, death. There are graphic fight scenes that may not be suitable for some readers.