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LJ Rivers
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Essence of Magic: An Urban Fantasy Adventure (Ruby Morgan Book 1) Kindle Edition

by LJ Rivers (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

The magic in her blood makes her a target …

Fae and aspiring journalist Ruby Morgan is determined to expose the magical blood industry that claimed her father's life. When she moves to university, her peers are desperate for a magical high…and if she isn’t careful, she could become their next fix.

After a girl goes missing on campus, Ruby and her friends find themselves entangled with the sinister blood market. Seeking the truth not only puts a bullseye on Ruby’s chest but also risks the lives of her found family too.

Justice comes at a steep cost—and Ruby’s blood might be that price.

Readers who love the twists of Michelle Madow and the mystery of Heather G. Harris will be addicted to L.J. River’s Ruby Morgan series.

Scroll up and one-click to devour this thrilling urban fantasy adventure.

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  1. Book 1 of 10
    Ruby Morgan
  2. Print length
    302 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    January 3, 2020
  6. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  7. File size
    1.8 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 10 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07XFF24ZL
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 3, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 10 ‏ : ‎ Ruby Morgan
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

About the author

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LJ Rivers

LJ Rivers

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LJ Rivers is the pseudonym for a writing-duo of one older chap and one younger dame. Linn and Jørn are both from Norway, living on opposite corners of the country, so they rarely get to meet face to face. That doesn’t stop them from laughing together, crying together and creating as a team.

They started out as a team by creating the wonderful world of Ruby Morgan, an Urban Arthurian YA Fantasy series. Now, they are expanding into more Fantasy worlds, ready to entertain you with lots of spellbinding magic, twisted intrigue, exciting action, and maybe even a little bit of slow-burn romance.

They also write independently and Linn has published several books under her own and other pen names.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
81 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Evelyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love the characters, and I very disliked the bad guys. I couldn’t believe how they were killing people off. It was really a good story. I couldn’t believe that, according to this book the blood of magical people was the latest drug.
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  • Ladyhawk
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lots to like about Ruby Morgan
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2019
    The story jumps straight in and I was thrown into Ruby's world of fae, other paranormals and MagX. I found MagX to be an interesting concept and central to the plot of the story. I do enjoy the coming-of-age style of writing with Ruby wanting to leave home grow up and her Mum being fearful of the big wide world and it's dangers to a fae. These concepts were easy to relate to and made for good reading.

    Ruby did leap quickly into friendships with strangers and a possible relationship which surprised me, but that is also a sign of her age and maturity. The question is, will she live to regret these hasty decisions and wish she'd listened to her mother's wisdom?
    Like Ruby, I bonded with the little kitten and wish it had been featured more in the book.
    I didn't really feel the connection with her love interest yet and hope that is fleshed out in subsequent books. I'd like to see them together more and not just for dating.

    There is some backstory with Arthurian / Avalon references which has great potential over the series. After visiting some of the Arthurian legendary sites in the U.K. myself, I would love to read more about the author's interpretation of this. I didn't get a lot of feeling of being in England with the speech and locations but it is something that interests me.

    Overall a very good story and I'd be keen to read more of Ruby's adventures.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very much not...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    ...a story for me.

    I tried...I really, really tried to get into the story, but it was a DNF @ 78%.

    The FMC seemed TSTL and very immature.

    I normally do not have problems with YA "rated" books, but this one just couldn't make the cut. There were not really glaring grammatical issues and it seems to be rather fleshed out in concept, so 3 stars for that.

    May others either love it or hate it, but I would not say "oh don't read that!"
    One person found this helpful
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  • Helen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great new series!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2019
    I loved this book! The main character, Ruby, is easy to relate to, with all the worries that every teenager has, but also has the added problem of being a Fae.

    Forced to keep her powers hidden to avoid persecution by humans, she's determined to find out what really happened to her father when he died. Add to that the problem of MagX, a powerful drug made from Magicals' blood that all the teenagers are taking, and she has her work cut out!

    This first book is a great introduction to the series. We get to know Ruby, and meet her new-found friends when she goes to university. The story keeps you gripped as more secrets are revealed, and not everything is as it seems. And who, or what, is the mysterious shadow following Ruby?

    It ends on a slight cliff hanger, but as it's the first book in a series, that's to be expected. The main story in the book is resolved by the end, which is important!

    I can't wait to read the next one! Highly recommend.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • angel
    4.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful new series!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
    Most books about magical people typically follow the same plot or share the same details - this one doesn't. This is the most unique book based around magic that I've read; I had a hard time putting it down at night. The characters were likable and relatable. L.J. Rivers did a great job at world-building; I could picture everything she described clearly. Although it was a bit of a fast-paced story, I didn't have any problems with keeping up with things. The last half of the book had me on edge the whole time with all of the twists and surprise details. I will definitely be looking into this series later!
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  • Timothy Bateson
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a great introduction to what promises to be an interesting series of stories.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2019
    I love that it's set in London, even though the city itself doesn't feature heavily in the story. But, there are just enough touches that are recognizable to someone who grew up there (like me).
    Ruby is an interesting character and seems to be attracted to others with interesting stories of their own. I don't want to say too much about any of the people who become her friends, because I think other readers deserve to discover their secrets for themselves.
    As for the story, I really liked that it was grounded in the lives of the characters, regardless of their backgrounds. It made it easily relatable and really brought home the scale of the problems caused by MagX, it's production, and the other issues it raised. There are also some questions left unanswered by the end of the book, which left me wanting to know what happens next.
    I'll be looking for book 2 when it hits the shelves.
    One person found this helpful
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  • lroseriver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, fast-paced urban fantasy adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2019
    I’m so happy to have randomly googled my way into this series. I’ve spent almost all of 2019 reading as many YA urban fantasy books as I can get my hands on—and I came upon this one as the 2019 clock was ticking down. The Ruby Morgan series is more New Adult (although that age group hasn’t really become a thing), because Ruby is college-aged. But seriously, this was a super engaging, well-written, and well-rounded story. I read it in about two days whenever I had a spare minute. It plays on familiar UF tropes while still managing to feel fresh. A complete story (i.e., no cliffhanger, yay!) with lots of room for the world building to expand as the series progresses. Friends, foes, and fantastic magic. Can’t wait to read more!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Egil R. R. Moe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Magical and Mystical
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2019
    I just finished reading LJ Rivers’ first book in the Ruby Morgan series—Essence of Magic, and what a thrilling read it is. From the first page and to the very end, LJ Rivers writing grabs and takes you on an exciting adventure mixing modern days with the magic of the sagas.
    This series promises excitement, wonders, and thrilling experiences for both the reader and the characters in it.
    E. R. R. Moe
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Top reviews from other countries

  • L. Carter
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing Urban Fantasy with a strong female protagonist
    Reviewed in Australia on February 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Ruby Morgan is half Fae but with more fire power than she ever realised. The Magical community is out of the closet and it’s made things so much harder for them. Harvesters want her blood for MagX (an illegal drug used by non-Magical people) and I was invested from the first page. Charlie and Jen are her room mates at Uni and I loved how their friendship develops. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy worlds.
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