Shard of Despair - Heart of Magic, #1

Seventeen-year-old Charlie believed that losing her family was the most excruciating pain she would ever endure. The grief left her shattered, a girl adrift in a world that no longer felt like home. But when she stumbles upon an unusual black crystal, her life takes an even darker turn. The crystal, fractured into five jagged pieces, possesses an eerie power that allows Charlie to make others feel the torment she carries inside.
Yet this newfound power is both a blessing and a curse, for it attracts the attention of dark forces willing to do anything to claim it. As Charlie grapples with the terrifying realization that her life is in greater danger than ever before, she is thrust into a perilous journey. The crystal's power is a beacon, drawing enemies out of the shadows and putting everyone she cares about at risk. With each passing day, the stakes grow higher, and the line between friend and foe blurs.
Amid this turmoil, Charlie finds an unexpected solace in a new love-a connection that helps her navigate the treacherous path ahead. But falling in love brings its own challenges, as she must weigh her heart's desires against the relentless dangers that pursue her. She finds herself relying on old friends whose loyalty is tested by the destiny that begins to unravel, friends that carry secrets of their own. As Charlie delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the crystal, she uncovers shocking truths about her origins, lies buried deep within her past that could hold the key to understanding the crystal's true power.
But these revelations come at a price, forcing her to confront a destiny she never imagined. With the dark forces closing in, Charlie faces an impossible choice: surrender the crystal and face certain death, or harness its power and risk losing herself to the darkness. As she struggles to protect those she loves, she must decide whether the crystal is a gift or a curse - and whether she can survive the horrors that lie ahead.