She Who Rises is the first book in the A New Age of Magic series, published on Amazon on May 14th, 2019 by Rachael Arsenault.
Amber Martel just wants to get through her Master’s degree. Or at least make an attempt at it. She’s early into her first semester and is feeling the weight of self-doubt and heartbreak as she tries to organize her thesis and deal with living on her own for the first time. It’s more than enough stress in her 23-year-old life.
A research trip to a natural history museum throws her life into new chaos, however, when she touches a piece of quartz and unleashes an explosion that is destructive, powerful – and magical. Now Amber finds herself in the care of two women, Farida and Masika, who claim to have connections to the origins of magic. They tell Amber that she is special, that magic outside their family is unprecedented, and that she needs to help them.
Amber wants nothing more than to go home, but it soon becomes clear that might not be safe. Strangers attack them with magic they shouldn’t possess, local police are pointing to them as terrorism suspects, and an enemy from the early days of magic has returned – even though he should be long dead.
She Who Rises contains examples of:
- Ancient Egypt: Masika is from Ancient Egypt.
- Bad Powers, Good People: Arguably Amber, what with her deadly poisonous mist.
- Bald of Authority: Leader Lady, in this case. Masika is very much in charge in her and Farida's travels, mostly by default as Farida's elder. This shifts somewhat later in the book, as Amber and Farida challenge her decisions and outvote her on some issues.
- Breath Weapon: The Dragon in Amber's stone has this in the form of a poisonous black gas.
- Cast From Life Span: The cost of using magic in this world, which is only made worse if one tries to use more than one stone.
- Expositionof Immortality: Masika and her explanations of the origins of magic and who Arman is.
- Healing Hands: Part of the magic Farida can use thanks to Bennu, the flaming grey heron in her stone.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Amber, as someone who has unexpectedly stumbled into the secret world of magic. It is very not funny, unfortunately, due to the nature of her magic.
- Make Them Rot: Seems to be somewhat a part of Amber's magic, though it mainly seems to affect grass (and probably other plant life). The biggest example of this is the huge streak of black marking where she landed after accidentally summoning a dragon at the story's impetus.
- Playing with Fire: One of the main aspects of the magic Farida uses, and revealed to be part of Masika's magic.
- Power at a Price: As Masika explains, magic is dangerous, especially if used recklessly. It slowly wears away at a person. Wielding more than one stone in particular is dangerous, as it wears away at the person's life force even faster, and is thought to corrupt them. The true cost of magic is seen when Masika uses magic at the climax, effectively killing herself because of her tenuous immortality.
- Power Crystal: In this world, magic is held in precious stones - or, more specifically, magic creatures are held in precious stones. If someone with magic gets their hands on one of these stones, they can summon the creature and wield its unique magic.
- Power-Strain Blackout: Amber, as a consequence of not really knowing how to use her newfound magic.
- Summon Magic: A huge part of how the magic stones work. The creature inside can be called out to fight on the wielder's behalf.
