Spectrum Blade (Spectrum Legacy) by Beth Alvarez

On the day of the Spring Choosing, when the king’s army selects its new recruits, Zaide stood ready to answer the call to arms. Instead, he was pulled from the ranks to become a mage’s apprentice, despite bearing no magic in his blood. One year later, with Zaide past the age of selection, the scholar’s life he never wanted is shattered when his village is razed by the monsters magic should have held at bay. As the Elder’s apprentice, his task is clear. He must seek an artifact in the forest’s temple and restore the power that protects his home—a power he can never touch alone. But the temple is not what it seems, and his mission is complicated when he encounters a mysterious girl in the forest who bears a quest of her own: claim the same artifact, and destroy the dark forces that threaten her homeland once and for all. Spectrum Blade is the first book in an all-new epic fantasy series filled with quest-driven adventure, intense action, and ancient mysteries that leave you wanting more.

Serpent's Mark (Snakesblood Saga Book 1) by Beth Alvarez

A girl without a family. A monster who craves humanity. An alliance could bring the kingdom to its knees. The fate of Firal's missing parents has always been a mystery, but her mother's necklace—the royal crest given to all court mages—could provide the answer. After a lifetime of training, a single trip to the capital could give Firal everything she ever wanted. All she has to do is cross the treacherous ruins of an ancient maze to get there. But the ruins are forbidden for a reason. Exiled to the labyrinth for the scales and claws his wild magic gave him, Daemon could find freedom if he could only gain control of his power. His chance encounter with Firal changes everything. In exchange for safe passage, she can teach the control he so desperately needs. Sharing temple secrets could get her expelled. His reckless nature could get her killed. With her window of opportunity to meet with the court mages drawing closed, Firal is forced to make a choice—but with secrets lurking behind Daemon's exile and hatred fueling his motives, their alliance could cost her more than she ever believed possible. The Snakesblood Saga is an epic fantasy adventure filled with intrigue, love, lies, and betrayal, beginning with Serpent's Mark, book one of a six book series.