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kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
This was in the batch of 30 books I tried for #SPFBO this year.
It was the one I liked the most - and luckily it ended up the finalist for fantasy faction!
At the start it felt a bit like Harry Potter to me, with a couple of magic schools in our normal world. The big difference being that the normal people know about magical capabilities!
And to appease those people only the ones with enough magic to make into one of the schools do get to keep their magic, and therefore be under control. The ones who don't get an invitation will get their magic burned out of them. And for those these is one last change to still make it in after all! One long test that only the best of the "didn't make it in the first place" will get a place after all... Quite an interesting concept, that did expand the world quite a bit
over the course of the story.
The second half felt a bit more like "hunger games" and definitely got quite a bit darker than the first half. I'd say it's well suited for ages 14 and up or adults who still enjoy a story about mostly teenage characters.
I really enjoyed the characters, who did follow some tropes, but still felt different and nuanced enough to feel real to me. The side characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the main characters clicked well with me and I was hooked to know what would happen to them! I especially enjoyed that they were from different layers of society. One who comes from a rich family and actually CHOSE to go there even though he would have got in due to his family's influence. One who has magic in abundance but didn't get in as she's from a low class family and one from the middle of society who has some magic, but just not enough to get in on the first wave. This means different points of view that made it quite a bit more engaging.
Definitely a book I enjoyed a lot!
It was the one I liked the most - and luckily it ended up the finalist for fantasy faction!
At the start it felt a bit like Harry Potter to me, with a couple of magic schools in our normal world. The big difference being that the normal people know about magical capabilities!
And to appease those people only the ones with enough magic to make into one of the schools do get to keep their magic, and therefore be under control. The ones who don't get an invitation will get their magic burned out of them. And for those these is one last change to still make it in after all! One long test that only the best of the "didn't make it in the first place" will get a place after all... Quite an interesting concept, that did expand the world quite a bit
over the course of the story.
The second half felt a bit more like "hunger games" and definitely got quite a bit darker than the first half. I'd say it's well suited for ages 14 and up or adults who still enjoy a story about mostly teenage characters.
I really enjoyed the characters, who did follow some tropes, but still felt different and nuanced enough to feel real to me. The side characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the main characters clicked well with me and I was hooked to know what would happen to them! I especially enjoyed that they were from different layers of society. One who comes from a rich family and actually CHOSE to go there even though he would have got in due to his family's influence. One who has magic in abundance but didn't get in as she's from a low class family and one from the middle of society who has some magic, but just not enough to get in on the first wave. This means different points of view that made it quite a bit more engaging.
Definitely a book I enjoyed a lot!
randomly_kait's review
4.0
So I was super excited to be able to read this book, because I saw where it was recommended for fans of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Cassandra Clare. (And I love all three of those things!)
It was a little slow at the beginning, but give it a bit and it really picks up pace, and becomes a book you won't want to put down until you've finished reading it. And it does jump Points of View, so you'll need to keep an eye on that so you don't get confused about whose turn it is to narrate, but it's so worth the read.
I loved our two main characters and their relationship with each other, and the romance that was built between them. I thought they balanced each other out quite nicely, and the secondary characters were wonderful as well.
This book was packed with action, adventure, and romance that kept me flipping through the pages at lightning speed just so I could see what would happen next.
It had amazing world and a diverse cast of characters that I loved getting to know more about. There were also real world problems that were addressed such as racism, LGBTQIA, among others.
There were so many twists and turns in this book, some of them I saw coming and others I did not, and I am extremely excited to see what happens next!
It was a little slow at the beginning, but give it a bit and it really picks up pace, and becomes a book you won't want to put down until you've finished reading it. And it does jump Points of View, so you'll need to keep an eye on that so you don't get confused about whose turn it is to narrate, but it's so worth the read.
I loved our two main characters and their relationship with each other, and the romance that was built between them. I thought they balanced each other out quite nicely, and the secondary characters were wonderful as well.
This book was packed with action, adventure, and romance that kept me flipping through the pages at lightning speed just so I could see what would happen next.
It had amazing world and a diverse cast of characters that I loved getting to know more about. There were also real world problems that were addressed such as racism, LGBTQIA, among others.
There were so many twists and turns in this book, some of them I saw coming and others I did not, and I am extremely excited to see what happens next!
snowmariaaa's review against another edition
3.0
I give this book two and a half stars mainly because I had a real hard time staying interested in it. I almost DNFed it a couple of times but I l managed to force my way through it. The magic system was a little confusing for me at times but I did appreciate how hard the author worked to come up with an original magical system and world. I don't think I would recommend this book since I feel like books about witches/mages are really hit or miss and this one didn't stand out enough for me. The story line was a little dull.
snowmariaaa's review against another edition
2.0
I give this book two and a half stars mainly because I had a real hard time staying interested in it. I almost DNFed it a couple of times but I l managed to force my way through it. The magic system was a little confusing for me at times but I did appreciate how hard the author worked to come up with an original magical system and world. I don't think I would recommend this book since I feel like books about witches/mages are really hit or miss and this one didn't stand out enough for me. The story line was a little dull.
mapey's review
5.0
If you read only one book this summer, this should be it.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-book ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
NetGalley advertised this as a cross between [b:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone|3|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474154022s/3.jpg|4640799] and [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775], so of course I had to request it. Lo and behold, that was pretty accurate.
This is about two characters: Finn and Rocio. They both come from two completely different worlds, but they meet each other through a competition to get into a magical college. If they don't win the competition, they get Dampered (lose their magical abilities).
This was such a breathtaking book - I really didn't expect to fall in love with Ruthless Magic so much. The writing style was beautiful. The plot was intense enough to keep interest without burning me out. The characters were absolutely amazing and developed and beautiful.
There is so much competition, much like Throne of Glass, Hunger Games, Battle Royale, etc. There is more of a group aspect in this book though, which makes it much more interesting. Do they fight for themselves or try to keep the group alive? Morals are questioned, which always makes a book more interesting in my opinion.
Please go read this book!
Release Date: May 30, 2018
Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-book ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
NetGalley advertised this as a cross between [b:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone|3|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474154022s/3.jpg|4640799] and [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775], so of course I had to request it. Lo and behold, that was pretty accurate.
This is about two characters: Finn and Rocio. They both come from two completely different worlds, but they meet each other through a competition to get into a magical college. If they don't win the competition, they get Dampered (lose their magical abilities).
This was such a breathtaking book - I really didn't expect to fall in love with Ruthless Magic so much. The writing style was beautiful. The plot was intense enough to keep interest without burning me out. The characters were absolutely amazing and developed and beautiful.
There is so much competition, much like Throne of Glass, Hunger Games, Battle Royale, etc. There is more of a group aspect in this book though, which makes it much more interesting. Do they fight for themselves or try to keep the group alive? Morals are questioned, which always makes a book more interesting in my opinion.
Please go read this book!
Release Date: May 30, 2018
shai3d's review
4.0
I love it when I stumble across a new young adult fantasy! And this one has it all. There are a variety of characters from different backgrounds all seeking to pass a test so that they can keep their magic. We really get to know some of these characters as the point of view does jump between a few of the main ones.
RUTHLESS MAGIC is really a coming of age story. Everyone is old enough that they had applied to one of the magical colleges and were refused. Now they have to dig deep into themselves and make some unlikely allies to be able to survive. Along the way, they uncover some information that will cause them to wonder if they really want to succeed.
I really think that any reader who enjoyed Harry Potter would enjoy stepping into this new world of Ms. Crewe. I devoured this book in one day and am now rather impatiently waiting for the next in the series.
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.
RUTHLESS MAGIC is really a coming of age story. Everyone is old enough that they had applied to one of the magical colleges and were refused. Now they have to dig deep into themselves and make some unlikely allies to be able to survive. Along the way, they uncover some information that will cause them to wonder if they really want to succeed.
I really think that any reader who enjoyed Harry Potter would enjoy stepping into this new world of Ms. Crewe. I devoured this book in one day and am now rather impatiently waiting for the next in the series.
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.
nukie19's review
5.0
This was a fun beginning to a new dystopian YA series. It was lots of similar elements to Hunger Games and The Testing series, but with the addition of a Harry Potter style magic world as well that give it a unique twist in a well-worn genre.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
ashton_reads_'s review
5.0
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!
The world of [b:Ruthless Magic|39718964|Ruthless Magic (Conspiracy of Magic, #1)|Megan Crewe|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524160818s/39718964.jpg|61390355] is an alternate reality where magic exists, and those who can tap into it, called mages, came out to the world so that they could protect humans from other human attacks, like the 9/11 attack or foreign wars. Now, along with the human governments still in place (or I'm assuming so), the department overseeing magic, the North American Confederation of Mages, chooses a select few of the sixteen-year-old mages in the country to become the year's Chosen and to go to colleges for magic. The mages who aren't chosen, however, have to go through a process called Dampering in which their magic is all but erased. All that remains is a tiny piece of specialized magic the mage can make a living off of.
That is, unless the mage declares for the Mages' Exam, a brutal, mysterious test mages can take as a second chance to keep their full magic. The catch - if you don't pass the Exam, you are burnt-out, meaning you are stripped of your connection with your magic entirely. And there's the pretty good chance you'll be killed during the test.
This amazing novel follows our two protagonists, Finn and Rocio, as they battle their way through these Exams. Finn is from a wealthy family of mages and is practically guaranteed a spot as a Chosen because of it. However, he has a very small connection to his magic and doesn't feel as though he deserves to be Chosen because of solely his status, so he declares for the Exam. Rocio, on the other hand, has power beyond belief, yet she is not Chosen because of her family's low status. She declares, as well. It seems there is more to the Confed than meets the eye.
First, I'm going to address the characters. They're all so strong, and there's more to them under the surface. Plus, I can't wait to see where the second book takes us and how the characters will cope after the Exam and kick the Confed's butt.
I love all the characters, but I frickin love Finn. No joke. Like, I have never felt about a book boy as strongly as I do about Finn. Don't get me wrong, I still love Maxon 🤣, but I want my own Finn one day. You can't understand unless you read the book 🤣.
I think maybe my favorite part of this book - besides the romance (and Finn...obviously 🤣) - was the plot and how intense and action-packed it is. I felt like I was in an action movie... yet it isn't nearly as predictable as action movies can be sometimes. I was soooo hooked!!!
As I mentioned earlier, the romance is absolutely to die for!! Like, as I was reading, I felt like I was going back in time to the classic romances of YA but with new and original twists. And it isn't tropey (is that a word?) at all! I was crying and laughing with them, and I cannot wait to see what they survive next.
Lastly, I absolutely love this world! The whole idea that magic does exist in the world and that they set up their own government is frickin awesome. I don't know, the way Crewe creates this weird feel around the world is just so well-done.
While we're on the subject of [a:Megan Crewe|2839407|Megan Crewe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1413660351p2/2839407.jpg], let me just say, this woman is a GENIUS! Her writing style is absolutely amazing, and this entire book has such a classic vibe mixed with a little magic and some romance. It's PERFECT!
I just wish Crewe integrated more of the world we know with the magical one she created. Because I was just confused about how much of our government still exists along with the magical government in her world, but I'm hoping we'll get more of that based on the ending of the book. And this little teeny-tiny thing doesn't even matter 🤣, like the book is probably better without it, to keep its mysterious feel.
OH, AND GUESS WHAT?! Megan Crewe has like ten million other YA novels! I can't wait to read them ALL!
Haha bye, booknerds! (And please go read this book!)
Thanks to NetGalley, Another World Press, and Megan Crewe for this ARC copy! All opinions in this review are my own.
For more bookish content, visit my blog at https://ashtonread.blogspot.com or follow me on instagram at @ashton_reads ! Thanks so much!
The world of [b:Ruthless Magic|39718964|Ruthless Magic (Conspiracy of Magic, #1)|Megan Crewe|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524160818s/39718964.jpg|61390355] is an alternate reality where magic exists, and those who can tap into it, called mages, came out to the world so that they could protect humans from other human attacks, like the 9/11 attack or foreign wars. Now, along with the human governments still in place (or I'm assuming so), the department overseeing magic, the North American Confederation of Mages, chooses a select few of the sixteen-year-old mages in the country to become the year's Chosen and to go to colleges for magic. The mages who aren't chosen, however, have to go through a process called Dampering in which their magic is all but erased. All that remains is a tiny piece of specialized magic the mage can make a living off of.
That is, unless the mage declares for the Mages' Exam, a brutal, mysterious test mages can take as a second chance to keep their full magic. The catch - if you don't pass the Exam, you are burnt-out, meaning you are stripped of your connection with your magic entirely. And there's the pretty good chance you'll be killed during the test.
This amazing novel follows our two protagonists, Finn and Rocio, as they battle their way through these Exams. Finn is from a wealthy family of mages and is practically guaranteed a spot as a Chosen because of it. However, he has a very small connection to his magic and doesn't feel as though he deserves to be Chosen because of solely his status, so he declares for the Exam. Rocio, on the other hand, has power beyond belief, yet she is not Chosen because of her family's low status. She declares, as well. It seems there is more to the Confed than meets the eye.
First, I'm going to address the characters. They're all so strong, and there's more to them under the surface. Plus, I can't wait to see where the second book takes us and how the characters will cope after the Exam and kick the Confed's butt.
I love all the characters, but I frickin love Finn. No joke. Like, I have never felt about a book boy as strongly as I do about Finn. Don't get me wrong, I still love Maxon 🤣, but I want my own Finn one day. You can't understand unless you read the book 🤣.
I think maybe my favorite part of this book - besides the romance (and Finn...obviously 🤣) - was the plot and how intense and action-packed it is. I felt like I was in an action movie... yet it isn't nearly as predictable as action movies can be sometimes. I was soooo hooked!!!
As I mentioned earlier, the romance is absolutely to die for!! Like, as I was reading, I felt like I was going back in time to the classic romances of YA but with new and original twists. And it isn't tropey (is that a word?) at all! I was crying and laughing with them, and I cannot wait to see what they survive next.
Lastly, I absolutely love this world! The whole idea that magic does exist in the world and that they set up their own government is frickin awesome. I don't know, the way Crewe creates this weird feel around the world is just so well-done.
While we're on the subject of [a:Megan Crewe|2839407|Megan Crewe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1413660351p2/2839407.jpg], let me just say, this woman is a GENIUS! Her writing style is absolutely amazing, and this entire book has such a classic vibe mixed with a little magic and some romance. It's PERFECT!
I just wish Crewe integrated more of the world we know with the magical one she created. Because I was just confused about how much of our government still exists along with the magical government in her world, but I'm hoping we'll get more of that based on the ending of the book. And this little teeny-tiny thing doesn't even matter 🤣, like the book is probably better without it, to keep its mysterious feel.
OH, AND GUESS WHAT?! Megan Crewe has like ten million other YA novels! I can't wait to read them ALL!
Haha bye, booknerds! (And please go read this book!)
Thanks to NetGalley, Another World Press, and Megan Crewe for this ARC copy! All opinions in this review are my own.
For more bookish content, visit my blog at https://ashtonread.blogspot.com or follow me on instagram at @ashton_reads ! Thanks so much!
aly36's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminded me of the Hunger Games a little but with magic. I read the prequel to this series and I thought there would be characters I knew in this book but this book opened up the world more for me to explore. This book was an exciting read for me and I enjoyed meeting more characters. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
auburnedge's review against another edition
4.0
The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this glorious book about what someone would do to save themselves and others. Multiple POV make it a unique story delving deeper into each person's personal story as well as together.
I thoroughly enjoyed the magic and they way it had to be sung. The fact that society knows about magic and those who are legacies have a shoe in to keep their magic was realistic. I just want to see this world come alive on a big screen!
I thoroughly enjoyed the magic and they way it had to be sung. The fact that society knows about magic and those who are legacies have a shoe in to keep their magic was realistic. I just want to see this world come alive on a big screen!