THE ROYAL INSIGHTS SERIES · BOOK ONE
The Crowned
Mystic
by Lauren Kutney
A forgotten queen. A failing kingdom.
A reckoning no one saw coming.
A young woman discovers she’s royal—with hidden powers that make her a target—and is thrown into a dangerous new world, all while trying to resist the one person sworn to protect her.
THE STORY
A Queen She Never
Knew She Was
Elena believed herself to be just another unwanted orphan. Then one night changes everything.
After a night out with her best friend Hannah almost costs the girls their lives, Elena’s true identity is revealed: she is the heir to a kingdom on the edge of ruin.
As Elena fights to uncover who wants her dead, she must also confront her unexpected and forbidden attraction to Alexei Novak, her Head of Security.
The Crowned Mystic is a fantasy romance about resilience, destiny, loyalty, identity, and the power of love to transform even the darkest of fates.
READER GUIDE
What You’ll Find Inside
Royal secrets, hidden powers, dangerous attraction, and a bodyguard who never planned on falling for the woman he was sworn to protect.
01
Found Family
When blood ties fail, the people Elena chooses become the family worth fighting for.
02
Magical Realism
Hidden abilities begin to surface as Elena discovers there is far more to her identity than she imagined.
03
Royalty Romance
An ordinary life collides with royal duty when Elena discovers she is heir to a kingdom in danger.
04
Forbidden Lovers
The future queen and the man sworn to protect her are drawn toward a relationship neither can afford.
05
Forced Proximity
Danger keeps Elena and Alexei close—even when resisting each other would be much safer.
06
Bodyguard Romance
He is trained to anticipate every threat. He just never anticipated falling for her.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Elena & Alexei
Two people who have spent their lives believing they have to carry everything alone—and who may be exactly what the other never knew they needed.
ALEXEI NOVAK
The Protector
Dangerous. Stoic. Protective. And absolutely not supposed to fall for her.
A highly skilled royal protection agent, Alexei is trained to see everything, anticipate every threat, and keep the people entrusted to him alive.
Calm when everyone else is panicking and almost impossible to read, he has built his life around one belief: he is useful because he is a weapon.
Then Elena changes the equation. She challenges him, frustrates him, and somehow sees the man underneath the weapon.
He knows how to anticipate almost every possible threat. He just never saw her coming.
Biggest flaw — He carries everything alone.
Biggest fear — Failing to protect the person who matters most.
Weakness — Her. Obviously.
Would he admit it? — Absolutely not.
ELENA
The Heir
Fierce. Stubborn. Loyal. And absolutely determined to never need anyone.
Elena learned young that people leave. Growing up in foster care taught her to rely on herself, protect her heart, and become very good at convincing everyone—including herself—that she doesn’t need anyone.
Beneath those walls is a woman who loves with everything she has. Once someone is hers, there is almost nothing she wouldn’t sacrifice to protect them.
Then Alexei appears: dangerous, guarded, intimidating, and far too observant. He sees the cracks in her armor and the fears behind her anger.
He doesn’t force down her walls. He simply refuses to walk away.
Biggest strength — Fierce loyalty.
Biggest wound — Believing she isn’t worth choosing.
Biggest flaw — She sacrifices herself before asking for help.
Weakness — The bodyguard she absolutely should not want.
PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE
If these stories have a permanent place in your heart, Zurdonia may be your next destination.
The Princess Diaries ×
The Bodyguard
With echoes of First Daughter, Once Upon a Time, The Princess Bride, and Cinderella.
READ AN EXCERPT
A Moment Between Elena & Alexei
“Just be you, Elena.”
“When you’ve grown up in foster care, you learn to work so hard just to fit into whatever mold a family wants. You listen, you behave, you don’t ask for anything. You do everything right—and it’s still not enough. They still don’t want you.”
My step stumbles, my hand sliding from his shoulder, but Alexei’s grip on my right hand never loosens. He leans in instead, close enough that his breathing tickles my ear.
“Because you’re too busy trying to be what you think everyone wants you to be,” he murmurs. “Just be you, Elena.”
My breath catches, and my heart beats rapidly at the tender sincerity in his tone.
Our gazes lock for a moment, and I can feel another chip at the wall I created start to crumble. I’m standing way too close to him now that we seem to have stopped dancing. My skin hums slightly in the wake of his touch, and my stomach flutters as he drifts near me.
I notice the way my mouth suddenly goes dry when I’m unable to discern the look in his eyes.
“I should probably be getting back.” I look away before he can see my turmoil.
PRAISE FOR THE CROWNED MYSTIC
What Readers Are Saying
“
Chemistry between Elena and Alexei is tangible; the story written beautifully, pulling you into the world.
“Unputdownable.”
“This is what young readers need—fantasy, slow-burn romance, and a mysteriously unraveling plot.”
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