Free (nook/Kindle/iTunes) Call of Madness by Julie Dean Smith [Magic Restore Fantasy]

[ATDrake]

Call of Madness by Julie Dean Smith (ISFDB, SFE) is the 1st novel in her A Caithan Crusade quartet of epic fantasy set in a land where use of magic is supposed to cause madness in those born to it left untrained, and is in conflict with the local religion as well as being banned, this one starring a princess discovering her dangerous inherent talent which must she must learn to master, as well as the divided loyalties between her duty to the kingdom—where persons born with magic are traditionally executed upon discovery—and those who wish her to champion and lead them out of their long persecution and restore wizardry to the realm, free for a limited time courtesy of the Jabberwocky Literary Agency, an backlist author/agent consortium who incidentally have one of my favourite sfnal backlist catalogues from the works of their many enjoyable clients.

This was originally published in 1990 by Ballantine's Del Rey imprint.

Currently free @ B&N, Amazon & Google Play & iTunes (all available to Canadians, and pretty much every place was free worldwide when I spot-checked assorted iTunes regional stores which had it in their catalogue). Price-drop-check linkage for Kobo, which will probably get this like it did the previous Jabberwocky offering.

Description
Great power commands a great price...

Magic has been forbidden in Caithe for 200 years and those born with magic—the Lorngeld—are considered the devil’s children. The Lorngeld are ruthlessly executed by the Caithan Church before they can be corrupted by mind-plague—the volatile madness that afflicts untrained wizards. Only King Kelwyn, artificially gifted with borrowed magic, is exempt from punishment. His daughter may not be so lucky.

Impertinent and rebellious, Princess Athaya prefers to spend her time gambling and drinking rather than courting would-be suitors. Discovering that she is a natural-born wizard is an unwelcome surprise. But there are those who believe it is a gift, and that an adept of Athaya’s inherent ability may be an opportunity to finally lead the Lorngeld out of persecution.

Torn between loyalty to her kingdom, her duty to the Lorngeld, and her own impulsive heart, Athaya must harness her burgeoning magic before it drives her mad, and learn to wield its power before those who fear it—and those who envy it—can destroy her.