Fortune's Scion — Ann Gimpel

Raised by wizards who never missed an opportunity to remind him of his deficiencies, Ned grows up believing his mage skills are seriously lacking. When he's conscripted at an early age, he fears it's a back-handed way to ensure he sustains an honorable death in battle.

Struggling against prejudice, insidious lies, and lack of knowledge about his mage powers -- which are really quite different from wizard magic -- Ned finds ways to keep going. To his immense relief, his first mission away from the wizards demonstrates that he's stronger and more resourceful than he thought. Against stiff odds, he learns different isn't necessarily bad and true love has a way of shining through.