If you love fantasy filled with secrets, hidden identities, slow-burn tension, and just enough danger to keep your heart racing, The Faceless Mage absolutely delivers.
This first book in Kenley Davidson’s six-book series pulled me in right away with mystery after mystery layered into the story. From the very beginning, there’s a sense that something bigger is happening behind the scenes—and you can’t help but keep reading to piece it all together.
Leisa is such a compelling main character. She’s not just brave—she’s stubborn, loyal, and quietly strong. Forced to hide her magic for years while serving as the princess’s guard, she’s suddenly ordered to use that very magic to impersonate the princess and spy on a rival kingdom. Talk about pressure. Living undercover in enemy territory while pretending to be someone else would be terrifying enough… but then there’s the Raven.
And wow—the Raven.
The masked assassin is supposed to be the most feared man in the Five Thrones. Silent. Deadly. Unstoppable. Yet the more time Leisa spends around him, the more complicated everything becomes. Instead of a simple villain, we get layers, questions, and hints of a painful past. Their dynamic is one of my favorite parts of the story. There’s tension, curiosity, mistrust, and an unexpected connection that slowly grows in the middle of all the danger.
I especially loved how many questions the story leaves you with:
Who really is the Raven?
Why is he forced to be an assassin?
Why does Leisa’s mysterious necklace tie her to him?
And what secrets are their kingdoms hiding?
Every answer seems to uncover two more questions, which makes this such a strong start to a series. It never feels slow or predictable. There’s always another reveal, another risk, another moment that makes you say, “Wait… what is really going on?”
If you enjoy clean fantasy with political intrigue, undercover missions, reluctant alliances, and a slow-building relationship that keeps you guessing, this is definitely one to add to your list.
I’m already eager to dive into book two because I need answers. (And maybe a little more Raven. Just saying.)
I’ve linked the book here for you to check out.
Legends of Abreia:
- The Faceless Mage
- The Unseen Heir
- The Hidden Queen
- The Captive Throne
- The Uncrowned Prince
- The Sundered Blade
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Life On A Hill 
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