Lauren Louise Hazel launches YA fantasy series with The Book of Wands

Author Lauren Louise Hazel has released The Book of Wands, the first novel in The Tarot Series, in the United States and United Kingdom. The YA fantasy debut has already drawn a five-star review from Self-Publishing Review and introduces a tarot-driven mystery set at Chester College.

Why it matters: - The Book of Wands opens The Tarot Series, giving Lauren Louise Hazel a debut foothold in the young-adult fantasy market. - The novel combines boarding-school rivalry, coming-of-age stakes and supernatural suspense, a mix aimed at readers who want character-driven fantasy with a mystery engine. - Early praise from Self-Publishing Review gives the launch immediate third-party validation.

What happened: - Lauren Louise Hazel released The Book of Wands, the first book in The Tarot Series. - The novel is available now in the United States and United Kingdom. - Self-Publishing Review gave the book five stars and called it “a dramatic and deftly penned piece of YA fiction.” - The publication also described the novel as “thoughtful and unpredictable.”

The details: - The story follows Olivia Pembroke, a fiercely ambitious final-year student at Chester College. - Olivia is preparing for the Final Evaluation, a test of Intelligence, Strength, Creativity and Courage that determines who becomes Chester College’s next great graduate. - Rasmus, an enigmatic figure wrapped in secrets, designed the Evaluation. - Olivia believes she will win and secure pride for her family. - Olivia’s grandmother dies and leaves her a tarot deck. - The grandmother said the deck could see the past, the present and the future. - The cards begin revealing secrets that Olivia does not want to know. - The mystery threatens everything Olivia has been working toward. - The book is listed as eBook and paperback. - Hazel identifies as a Cyber Security Manager by day and a young-adult fantasy author by night. - Hazel is based in Bristol, United Kingdom.

Between the lines: - Hazel’s day job in cyber security fits the novel’s emphasis on systems, secrets and hidden information. - The release frames The Tarot Series as the start of a larger publishing effort rather than a one-off novel. - The early review blurb suggests the book is being positioned on character and suspense rather than spectacle alone.

What's next: - Additional installments in The Tarot Series are planned to follow. - Hazel is promoting the book through her website, more information, and social accounts on Instagram and TikTok. - Media contact for the release is Lauren Louise Hazel at lauren@llhazel.com. - Promotional links also include Instagram and TikTok.