Are you prepared to witness their magic?
The Book of Wands
The Tarot Series Book
1
by Lauren Louise Hazel
Genre: YA Academy, Urban Fantasy
The cards await,
ready to unveil their secrets. Are you prepared to witness their magic?
Olivia Pembroke is in her final year of The School of Wands, where she will
vie against her friends and rivals for qualification in The Final Judgment.
Designed to be the ultimate test of Intelligence, Strength, Creativity and
Courage, The Final Judgment is set by a mysterious figure called Rasmus, who is
wrapped in secrets.
Olivia has no doubt she is going to win and claim victory
and pride for her family. That is, until her grandmother dies, and leaves her
with her old Tarot Deck, which she claimed could see Past, Present and Future…
**Releases July 2026 – PreOrder Now!**
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PROLOGUE
Olivia’s head was bowed, and her neck straining in its
awkward position. She had plaited her hair neatly, in a half-crown at the top
of her head, at her mother’s insistence. Olivia was already regretting the
decision. The weather was drizzling, the mist cool on her flushed skin, but she
had no protection from its light drops.
Nor did she have any shield from the flurry of
mourners.
Her mother was standing at the front, clad in a black suit
and skirt and black boots. Her face, starting to line with age, was stone cold
and remote. Her father was standing at her side, and like Olivia, he was
looking at the floor. He looked hunched and strangely small.
The casket, black and shiny, was lowered slowly into the
ground.
The priest was speaking, but his words were wrong. He was
talking about Olivia’s grandmother like someone who had never met her before;
he called her a bright and radiant light, kind and gentle and generous. She had
not been any of those things, but Olivia had loved her anyway. She had been
strong and resilient and a force of nature. She had advocated for Olivia when
nobody else had – attending every school event when her parents could not. Her
grandmother had stayed at the Pembroke Estate with her while her parents were
travelling for work, assisting with schoolwork and answering Olivia’s many
questions. She was always supportive and never judging. She always made time
for her.
But now she was gone…
And Olivia had never felt so alone. The distance between her
and parents was like a chasm, so far and almost unbreachable. Olivia blamed
them for their part in her grandmother’s death – for all that they had done to
her – and it was a thought, a feeling, that she could not shake. If they had
not sent her away, maybe she’d alive... maybe she would still be with Olivia.
She did not know what to do now.
How could her grandmother leave her? She didn’t understand.
What had seen done wrong? Olivia wanted to cry, the conflicting emotions
bubbling beneath her skin. She felt trapped, like she was suffocating under a
black cloud that only she could see.
After all, her mother was always watching – as soon as the
thought crossed Olivia’s mind, her mother turned towards her, reaching, as
though she hadn’t done anything wrong. Olivia swallowed and backed away.
“Don’t let this distract you, Olivia,” said her mother, her
quiet voice loud in the oppressive silence. Olivia jerked slightly, unable to
suppress the flinch. She did not reply.
Her mother barrelled on. “This is the most important year
for you,” she continued, oblivious to Olivia’s thoughts and feelings, as
always. “You could achieve anything.”
In
that moment, Olivia did not care.
Her grandmother was not coming back.
Lauren Louise Hazel is a Cyber Security Manager by day and
writes YA fantasy by night. She has one annoying brother and younger sister. As
she was growing up, the only item her dad would buy her without demanding her
pocket money was books. He’s hoping the writing is successful so he can get a
Ferrari!
Some of Lauren’s favourite books and influences include the
classics – like Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games – and anything by Haruki
Murakami and GRR Martin.
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