The Healers series (formerly the Balance Academy series) takes place in a fantasy world where magic has always existed, to the point where it is considered no more fantastical than engineering or ballet: a difficult skill that many learn, based on a number of competing philosophies or traditions. The Academy of the Divine Balance is one such institution of magic, training magical healers as well as priests and temple guards to staff its pantheist shrines.
The three books so far follow the story of Agna Despana, a recent healing-magic graduate of the Academy, the scion of an influential art-dealing family, and a general know-it-all who is wildly out of her depth when the story begins. Her deuteragonist / worst enemy / best frienemy / ride-or-die friend is Keifon the Medic, who has just crawled out of a nasty breakup yet again when the story begins, and tries to protect his bruised heart with rigid self-righteousness. Which, as you might guess, does not work very well.
The series maintains a personal scope, focusing closely on character development and on relationships of various kinds. It happens to dovetail in some ways with the cozy fantasy movement (though not in others; more on that below), taking time to unpack the characters’ journeys and lives.
Is it cozy?
I have a new catch-all So Is This Book Cozy or Not? page to explain everything.
Each book has content warnings linked on their landing pages as well as at the beginning of the books themselves. Read them. Thank you.
Extras
Notes, lore, trivia, etc.
Cover Art Credit
Current covers: MiblArt
Past cover versions: Road / Home / Purpose
Road Map
- The Strangers’ Sanctuary, another novel in this world, is now out! This centers on two other graduates from the Academy as they embark on their assignment. A follow-up to Strangers is in the works for 2026. After that, I am still considering a Healers 4, though it’s not a certainty.