Cerisa's Quest — Leona Bushman

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Cerisa, trained as both mage and warrior, lives in exile with her family and best friend â€" a dragon named Lucian. Her peaceful life is ripped apart when her father is murdered by Lord Kyle, the man who has claimed the throne of Riverhand in the name of the missing queen through bloodshed and terror.

Cerisa's quest for revenge is stalled when her mother reveals two secrets that change the foundation of her life. One, her mother is the missing queen, and two, Lord Kyle is her blood father. Stunned and shaken, Cerisa vows revenge, even though her strong emotions wreak havoc on her already chaotic magic. She sets out with Lucian to kill Lord Kyle, despite â€" or because of â€" the revelations of her mother. After an attack that leaves her magically vulnerable, she meets Aron, her Drachecroi â€" a mate whose bonds strengthens the magical powers of their partners. When a simple broken wrist turns out to be infused with a dark curse, they realize that a powerful mage is helping Lord Kyle, defending him with a berserker to ensure the death of any who dare defy him. A berserker that has its sights set on Cerisa.

Lucian and Aron help her see that in order to save herself and the rest of Riverhand, she has to turn her back on her own need for revenge as well as convince her mother to do her duty and claim the throne. Preferably before being killed by a berserker. The journey to Dublinum is full of deadly creatures and bandits. Can Cerisa get her mother there in time to save Riverhand from endless civil war?