Devious Arcana Books
Book Two ( Reluctant Deception) , and Book Three ( Perilous Defiance) , are Now Available! In the realm of fantasy, where imagination knows no bounds, there lies a time travel romance series that promises to captivate readers and transport them to a world brimming with magic , adventure , and intrigue . Built upon the meticulous world-building established in the million-selling The Wardstone Trilogy and featuring new, well-developed characters, the Devious Arcana series invites readers on an epic journey where heroism is tested, destinies unfold, and the boundaries between good and evil are constantly blurred. The narrative delivers an immersive, thought-provoking experience that appeals to young adults and adult fantasy romance fans alike. The allure of fantasy is undeniable, and this series delivers on all fronts. It’s a must-read for lovers of fantasy romance books for adults and teens , as well as for newcomers seeking an enthralling escape. Prepare to be swept away by a story that will leave you breathless, yearning for more long after the final page is turned. Braiden Thane, an orphaned Seaward City cobble rat, helps Big Bolly Boreck collect debts and keep tabs on those who owe their many employers. When a collection goes fatally wrong and Braiden ends up on a ship tied to a millstone alongside the corpse of their murdered mark, he must find a way to survive. His only option? Leap into the unknown with just a few coins, and a mysterious pocket watch pilfered from the dead man, which turns out to be a portal through time. Thus begins a thrilling young adult adventure series full of epic peril and emotional depth, as Braiden and his unforgettable companions face off against sea marauders, feral giants, and cunning wizards. All while unraveling the secrets of a magical timepiece that may lead him back to the girl who has stolen his heart. Along the way, Braiden is joined by a brave and beautiful young woman , and together they must reach the Summer’s Day Festival to uncover how to access a legendary treasure, while being pursued by a relentless pirate crew. With themes of high school enemies to lovers , fierce loyalty, and the thrill of magic-infused destiny, this sweeping tale will resonate with fans of young adult fantasy romance books , vampire romance books for young adults , and YA enemies to lovers books . Whether you're into thrilling battles, romantic tension, or powerful character growth, Devious Arcana has something for every reader of best young adult fantasy romance books . You don’t want to miss the Devious Arcana series by M. R. Mathias, an unforgettable blend of romance, danger, and time-warping adventure. Book One – Nefarious Allure – Now Available! Book Two – Reluctant Deception – Now Available! Book Three – Perilous Defiance – Now Available! Book Four – Sinister Ambition – Releases July 17, 2025 (Pre-order now!) Book Five – Relentless Destruction – Releases July 31, 2025 (Pre-order now!)
Book Three: Perilous Defiance is NOW AVAILABLE! For fans of time travel romance , fantasy romance books for adults and teens , and young adult adventure series , Perilous Defiance delivers an unforgettable, heart-pounding continuation of the Devious Arcana saga. When the malevolent pirate wizard Kizzon Ahlm uses dark sorcery, and the blood of Lady Cecelia’s mother, to trace her and Lord Braiden through time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The duo possesses the only enchanted key capable of unlocking Grimm the Marauder’s legendary treasure vault, and Kizzon will stop at nothing to retrieve it. As they plunge deeper into their perilous journey, Braiden and Cecelia are faced with thrilling dilemmas that test the limits of their love and resilience . Their bond is put to the ultimate test in this high-stakes YA enemies to lovers -style storyline, where survival depends on heart, cunning, and trust. With everything they hold dear in jeopardy, they race against time, sometimes on different paths, sometimes apart, but always with the goal of reuniting. Braiden finds himself trapped in the distant past , locked in a strange cell with no food, no water, and no access to the magical pocket-watch that brought him through time. But even those challenges pale in comparison to the one that truly haunts him, Lady Cecelia is gone. Determined to reunite with the woman he loves , Braiden must traverse fantastical kingdoms , evade magical threats and ruthless foes, and unravel the mystery of the pocket-watch’s true powers. His journey through time is filled with danger, mythical creatures , and emotional reckoning. Set in the immersive, richly detailed world first introduced in the million-selling Wardstone Trilogy , Devious Arcana is a best young adult fantasy romance book series that seamlessly blends high school enemies to lovers , young adult thriller books , and time-travel romance into one breathtaking saga. Whether you're craving vampire romance books for young adults , high-stakes fantasy , or a reluctant hero battling fate , this series delivers deep character arcs, vivid world-building, and nonstop adventure . Fans of The Dragoneer Saga and The Legend of Vanx Malic will find themselves hooked by the romance, tension, and timeless themes of courage and sacrifice. Book Three – Perilous Defiance is available now! Book Four – Sinister Ambition releases July 2025 . Four more installments are planned for release by Summer 2026, get ready for an epic ride through love, magic, and time .
When fate leads Braiden and Sissy to a spectacular hidden stronghold, they believe they’ve found a place to call home. But in this time travel romance , their newfound sanctuary is in jeopardy, and their only hope lies in an extinct herb that vanished from the world before even mighty Dahg Mahn was born. To save their future, they must journey back through time to the treacherous, skeek- and snapper-infested marshlands south of Westland. Only there, in an age long before Westland’s army purged the deadly creatures, can they locate the elusive silphium. But in true young adult adventure series fashion, control over their timepiece is limited, and Braiden and Sissy must rely on Kizzon Ahlm’s rare blood-tracking ability, a magic that ties space, time, and identity together in one dangerous thread. Amid a desperate race to Afdeon, the fabled castle city in the clouds , they must stay the judgment of the King of the Giants and save Kizzon from the headsman’s axe. Together, Braiden and Sissy must prove that love and determination , even in a realm full of arcane threats and epic fantasy romance , can overcome impossible odds. But when Braiden is stricken by a mysterious illness, Sissy is forced to face her fears alone. On a perilous quest, she is reluctantly partnered with the dark wizard who murdered her mother. It’s the ultimate enemies to lovers YA twist , where vengeance and compassion must battle within her heart. As the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance, Sissy must retrieve the herb, conquer her past, and return in time to save the boy she loves. Luckily, Cecelia and her trusty lady knuckles are ready. With a basket of sandwiches and a plan to recruit Pate and Kifferd, she’s ready to knock sense into anyone standing in their way. Perfect for fans of best young adult fantasy romance books , vampire romance books for young adults , YA enemies to lovers books , and fantasy romance books for adults and teens , this thrilling installment in the Devious Arcana series blends magic , romance , adventure , and time travel into a story you won’t be able to put down.
This book features Lord Braiden, Lady Cecelia, and Kifferd from Devious Arcana, but also Hyden Hawk Skyler, Jenka DeSwasso (the Emerald Rider,) Vanx Malix, and even Braxton Bray. Sinister Ambition is more than Book 4 of Devious Arcana, it is also:The Legend of Vanx Malic, Book 11, and/or The Dragoneer Saga, Book 7, as well as The Wardstone Trilogy, Book 4. Even Braxton Bray from Perpetual Fantastica has a scene. The heroes who survive will also be in Devious Arcana Books 5 and 6. ------ Sinister Ambition After being touched by Iron Spike's powerful magic, Sissy and Braiden find themselves hale and healthy. With enough treasure stashed across the realm to last a dozen lifetimes, and a protected sanctuary built around Queen Dicentra's Heart Tree, necessity dictated they leave the relative simplicity of Dahg Mahn's age behind. They also find destiny, fate, or possibly the emerald earth seed, is drawing them down a path there is no turning back from. When an old turtle filled with knowledge sent from Dahg Mahn's age arrives at Braiden and Sissy's peaceful parcel of land, so does the greatest wizard of Braiden's age. If Braiden and Sissy love the world that allowed a bond so strong and unlikely as theirs to thrive, they may have no choice, but to sacrifice a future of certain prosperity, for a past still yet unknown. Thus, they embark on a quest with Hyden Hawk Skyler, Jicks the Demon Slayer, and a pair of dragons that leads to the adventure of adventures through the ages to every corner of their vast world. The Diabolaclese have arrived, in more times than one, and by the results of the first clash, our heroes don't seem to have a chance. Confirmation of Lady Cecelia's pregnancy, and a history lesson from the Goddess comes after her favorite champions, Hyden Hawk, and Vanx Malic cross paths. It turns out someone finally figured out what the otherworldly spires are really for, and Vanx Malic destroyed one of them to banish the Paragon Dracus to one side of the globe, leaving their world at great risk. In true Hyden Hawk style, the plan he's come up with is as absurd as it is dangerous, and for reasons you will come to learn, it can’t be pulled off without Braiden. Even more surprising is who else they run into and where they all end up.
Lord Braiden and Lady Cecelia can't help but enjoy the peaceful prosperity, and seclusion their enchanted parcel offers. Children are born and growing, and though danger, excitement, and a fair shake of trouble seem to find them, life for the family, and the fairy world growing around the Heart Tree is joyous and wholesome. Meanwhile, High King Mikahl is busy rebuilding what the Diabolaclese destroyed. Hyden Hawk sets out to destroy the wizards who killed his beloved Talon. After learning how the old ones grew to understand the crystalic power the spires use, and how some have been cheating time, and endangering them all along, he enlists more heroes from future and past. A battle for the fate of the entire world is already underway, and if they do not find a way to win, even the undisturbed and amazing world young Pavreal is growing up in will be snuffed out before he has a chance to save it.