When The Prison Healer and The Hunger Games meet… “No matter what, you do not surrender.” Carmen Asbaje only needed two things in her life: her closest friend and her Flamenco shoes. Shelter was optional, and love was a lie used to inflict pain on others. Born with Blood Magic that she wasn’t supposed to have, Carmen lived with fatal secrets. When the fiercely competitive Blood Tournaments drew near, Carmen was forced to meet with the former Tournament Champion, Antonio Castillas, to save her friend’s life. After that meeting, a spark of passion ignited inside of her. Forbidden infatuation. When her accidental Blood Magic audition was leaked, Carmen received national attention and was entered into the upcoming Blood Tournament. Impersonating an Elite was a crime punishable by death, yet there was no escape. She never should have been elevated to Elite status, but if she refused to compete or her past was uncovered, she would be endangering the life of everyone connected to her. Leading up to the Tournament, Carmen discovered the Elite culture was savage, venomous and relentless. If she didn’t win, the streets would run gold with her blood. Readers will be captivated by Carmen's story as it intertwines with classic themes of social status and family loyalty, The Prison Healer's fight for freedom behind iron bars, as well as The Hunger Games' courage under fire in order to survive against all odds. NOTE: This series is upper YA/NA and will increase in maturity as the series progresses. There are some instances of violence, language, and sexuality.

Where magic, romance, and The Hunger Games meet. "Thirst for power makes people monsters far quicker than the insanity associated with love." Running came easy to Carmen. When her hometown was destroyed, she fled. And now she was attempting to vanish under the gaze of the Chancellor of Arrebol. She thought that the most important thing in her life was survival at any costs, but she soon found out being on her own was deadly. After being captured by a Night Merchant and sold to a faraway land, Carmen managed to escape and return home. But her reprieve is short-lived when it became clear that she would still face the brutality of the Blood Tournament. To make matters worse, a marriage announcement threatened to shatter any hope of a normal life. As she struggled to keep her head above water in a world full of intrigue and betrayal, she discovered that even her closest peers were not who they seemed. In a world where trust was a rare commodity, survival was never guaranteed, and danger lurked around every corner, Carmen's only way out was forward. Be captivated by Carmen's story as it intertwines with classic themes of social status and courage to survive against all odds. This is perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn couple. This series is upper YA/NA and will have moderate steam as the series progresses. There are some instances of violence, language, and mature situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up. “Daniela A. Mera has created a unique dystopian world where blood magic reigns, Elites are forced into arranged marriages, and no one can be trusted. Fantasy and dystopia meld together seamlessly in this first installment of The Blood Tournaments. It's a must-read!” - Elayna R. Gallea, author of Book 1 of the Binding Chronicles

When The Prison Healer and The Hunger Games meet… "The worst part is that I had expected this to end like some ludicrous fairytale. Fairytales were wishful nightmares incarnate." With half of the Blood Tournament competitors dead, the stakes for marriage were higher than ever, and Carmen was barely holding on. What she had seen in the volcano carved deep scars inside of her. In a world where blood was everything, the Chancellor forced Carmen to marry in order to preserve her legendary magic. Fractured trust soured the match, alongside the instruction to produce an heir to her new estate within a year. When the next year's tournament arrived, and Carmen was still childless, she was ready for hell to pay. However, the punishment was worse than she could have anticipated. A new round of bombings and raids swept across Arrebol. With the threat of civil war looming, Carmen woke up. She was no longer the emaciated, shell-shocked young woman who had faded into society. She was a warrior, willing to fight to the death for a better world.