Loftiest Intelligence (Legend of Order and Chaos, #1)

She was born to break the rules. Magic is forbidden—but Ellie Meredith will master it anyway.

Seventeen-year-old Ellie dreams of studying at the College of Mages. But when her father forbids it, she turns to secret experiments in defiance of the law. Betrayal leads to imprisonment, and her dream is nearly lost—until an ancient elf offers her a second chance.

Outside Castlegate, the world is unraveling. Darklings—once noble heroes, now twisted into half-living horrors—haunt the wilds. Kingdoms teeter on the brink of war. Immortals slip into madness.

To survive, Ellie must navigate rebels, warlocks, and traitors—and choose whether to fight for Order, embrace Chaos, or forge a destiny entirely her own.

Perfect for fans of fractured kingdoms, ancient prophecies, and morally complex heroines.