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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really needed a palette cleanser after the last book I tried to read and ended up not finishing, and this was it. I really enjoyed this.
I love books that are dark academia and have trials. This is more focused on the trials, but there's an element of dark academia as well.
There are a couple of interesting plot twists in it that I really enjoyed. And I thought that there would be more and was actually pleasantly surprised that there wasn't.
The two main characters were pretty well-written and had a fairly sensible relationship. They both knew their own minds and eventually opened up about the secrets that they were keeping.
All in all, a really good read, and I'm looking forward to the next.
I love books that are dark academia and have trials. This is more focused on the trials, but there's an element of dark academia as well.
There are a couple of interesting plot twists in it that I really enjoyed. And I thought that there would be more and was actually pleasantly surprised that there wasn't.
The two main characters were pretty well-written and had a fairly sensible relationship. They both knew their own minds and eventually opened up about the secrets that they were keeping.
All in all, a really good read, and I'm looking forward to the next.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Ordeal by Rachel Greenlaw is an atmospheric dark academia fantasy following an illusionist that is determined to enter a prestigious magical academy, but first must pass a series of deadly trials to get in. It was a nonstop adventure that I absolutely couldn't put down!
The author did a phenomenal job of marrying layered, endearing characters with a deeply creative world that I wanted to spend so much more time in. The magic system was unique and faceted, the relationships were so intricate and lovely and flawed, and the plot itself never let up and kept you flipping the page for more. I truly was so blown away by this novel!
Needless to say, this was a five-star read. As my first novel that I've read by this author, I couldn't be more impressed and will absolutely be reaching for another title of hers. This will definitely be the perfect vibes for a fall/autumn read and I couldn't recommend it more!
The Ordeal by Rachel Greenlaw is an atmospheric dark academia fantasy following an illusionist that is determined to enter a prestigious magical academy, but first must pass a series of deadly trials to get in. It was a nonstop adventure that I absolutely couldn't put down!
The author did a phenomenal job of marrying layered, endearing characters with a deeply creative world that I wanted to spend so much more time in. The magic system was unique and faceted, the relationships were so intricate and lovely and flawed, and the plot itself never let up and kept you flipping the page for more. I truly was so blown away by this novel!
Needless to say, this was a five-star read. As my first novel that I've read by this author, I couldn't be more impressed and will absolutely be reaching for another title of hers. This will definitely be the perfect vibes for a fall/autumn read and I couldn't recommend it more!
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Ordeal’s by Rachel Greenlaw
3.5 stars
I started this book out and got about 50% in and was like yes this is a high 4.5, then I got about 75% and I’m like solid 4 star, and then the end and it went down to 3.5. But first let’s talk about what this book is about.
The ordeals is about a girl who has a contract with her uncle the collector doing his dirty work. The only way she can escape is to get into a magical college that rips away any magical bonds/agreements etc when entering its gates. She ends up getting an invite into the school with the help of a handsome man named Alden Locke. But we have good news and bad news: the good news, the contract is broken, the bad, she’s not in the college yet. She has to face four ordeals to become a scholar and stay out of the hands of the collector. The ordeals are harrowing and she doesn’t know who the enemy is. Can she trust the handsome Locke? Can she face the unknown enemies and survive?
Alright so let’s now talk about my rating. First off this should 100% be categorized as young adult romantasy. The writing felt YA and so did the characters and the spice wasn’t spicy. The characters were just 20, which is adult but everything as a whole felt YA/NA.
The world. The world build was just okay. There are 4? other kingdoms, one that is anti magic. You don’t get a very good detail of the different areas. I would say this is present day because there were cars, but no mention of phones. And of course we have magic welders too. The world is just kind of flat.
One of the big things in this book was that the ordeals would get the potentials into the school as scholars. But as the book moves on we see that the magic world is in need of strong magic users. So my question is this: Why make a deadly competition that KILLS all the people who fail? You want and need magic so why are we just saying “ope oh well” to the magic users who are strong but just don’t pass the test? It just doesn’t make sense.
The Collector: his job is not well defined. The author really doesn’t tell us much. It’s reads basically like “he’s a bad dude and he makes Sophia do his dirty work.” The only evidence of this is the fact that she’s trained to fight? But no real detail goes into this. I wish the author would have expanded on it more.
The romance. Okay so the romance is the one piece that really shined in this piece. I loved Alden. He was sarcastic, flawed, but a good person. He reminded me of Roman Kitt from DR. The chemistry was great. The need, angst, etc. well done. Do I think they could have crashed together a little sooner? Sure but I do love the slow burn.
This leads me to the characters. As I stated previously I loved Alden. Great personality and has personality flaws. Now Sophia. She’s a huge ball of contradictions. I think the author wanted to make her badass but weak too? Which you can do but wasn’t done well here. Sophia was trained by the collector, it’s inferred heavily and evidenced in the first few chapters that she’s very fit and has been trained in combat. But when a murderer comes for her instead of going after them she gets scared and hides behind a door. I don’t understand this thought process. This was the same person who was also actively trying to figure out who the murderer was. She’s also very flip floppy. One minute she’s like no Alden isn’t good he’s my rival and then ten seconds later she’s like but I want him. The side characters are good, but again with Sophia she’s all secretive not telling Alden anything but tells her new bestie everything, I just don’t get it.
The final reason for the low rating: The end. The reason for everything that is happening (the murders, etc,) just comes out of literal no where. It’s a good one and I like it, I just wish there had been more history so we could see why this reason came to be.
The author also does what I hate and gets the readers hopes up and kills off a person last minute for that last climax. I legit hate those, the death serves no purpose than to make the reader sad.
We also have an all powerful FMC warrior who is able to overcome all obstacles and perform magic she’s never done before even though she was at deaths door like 4 minutes ago.
Now the good. I really enjoyed the story. The different magics the botanists, the alchemists, the illusionists, and the masquiers. Each type dealt with a different magic. Most are self explanatory, but alchemists though are considered the most powerful with the ability to manipulate all non living material. Sophia is an illusionist who has the unique ability to break and figure out if an illusion is being cast. The ordeals are intriguing and innovative. I loved the little gargoyles. The different enemies. All of that I loved. I enjoyed the interactions between Alden and Sophia. The vampire add on was different but not terrible. I enjoyed the werewolf interplay as well.
All in all I had high hopes and it delivered but not as much as I hoped. Will I read the sequel? Yes, basically for my man Alden.
Thank you to Delacorte and NetGalley for the arc.
3.5 stars
I started this book out and got about 50% in and was like yes this is a high 4.5, then I got about 75% and I’m like solid 4 star, and then the end and it went down to 3.5. But first let’s talk about what this book is about.
The ordeals is about a girl who has a contract with her uncle the collector doing his dirty work. The only way she can escape is to get into a magical college that rips away any magical bonds/agreements etc when entering its gates. She ends up getting an invite into the school with the help of a handsome man named Alden Locke. But we have good news and bad news: the good news, the contract is broken, the bad, she’s not in the college yet. She has to face four ordeals to become a scholar and stay out of the hands of the collector. The ordeals are harrowing and she doesn’t know who the enemy is. Can she trust the handsome Locke? Can she face the unknown enemies and survive?
Alright so let’s now talk about my rating. First off this should 100% be categorized as young adult romantasy. The writing felt YA and so did the characters and the spice wasn’t spicy. The characters were just 20, which is adult but everything as a whole felt YA/NA.
The world. The world build was just okay. There are 4? other kingdoms, one that is anti magic. You don’t get a very good detail of the different areas. I would say this is present day because there were cars, but no mention of phones. And of course we have magic welders too. The world is just kind of flat.
One of the big things in this book was that the ordeals would get the potentials into the school as scholars. But as the book moves on we see that the magic world is in need of strong magic users. So my question is this: Why make a deadly competition that KILLS all the people who fail? You want and need magic so why are we just saying “ope oh well” to the magic users who are strong but just don’t pass the test? It just doesn’t make sense.
The Collector: his job is not well defined. The author really doesn’t tell us much. It’s reads basically like “he’s a bad dude and he makes Sophia do his dirty work.” The only evidence of this is the fact that she’s trained to fight? But no real detail goes into this. I wish the author would have expanded on it more.
The romance. Okay so the romance is the one piece that really shined in this piece. I loved Alden. He was sarcastic, flawed, but a good person. He reminded me of Roman Kitt from DR. The chemistry was great. The need, angst, etc. well done. Do I think they could have crashed together a little sooner? Sure but I do love the slow burn.
This leads me to the characters. As I stated previously I loved Alden. Great personality and has personality flaws. Now Sophia. She’s a huge ball of contradictions. I think the author wanted to make her badass but weak too? Which you can do but wasn’t done well here. Sophia was trained by the collector, it’s inferred heavily and evidenced in the first few chapters that she’s very fit and has been trained in combat. But when a murderer comes for her instead of going after them she gets scared and hides behind a door. I don’t understand this thought process. This was the same person who was also actively trying to figure out who the murderer was. She’s also very flip floppy. One minute she’s like no Alden isn’t good he’s my rival and then ten seconds later she’s like but I want him. The side characters are good, but again with Sophia she’s all secretive not telling Alden anything but tells her new bestie everything, I just don’t get it.
The final reason for the low rating: The end. The reason for everything that is happening (the murders, etc,) just comes out of literal no where. It’s a good one and I like it, I just wish there had been more history so we could see why this reason came to be.
The author also does what I hate and gets the readers hopes up and kills off a person last minute for that last climax. I legit hate those, the death serves no purpose than to make the reader sad.
We also have an all powerful FMC warrior who is able to overcome all obstacles and perform magic she’s never done before even though she was at deaths door like 4 minutes ago.
Now the good. I really enjoyed the story. The different magics the botanists, the alchemists, the illusionists, and the masquiers. Each type dealt with a different magic. Most are self explanatory, but alchemists though are considered the most powerful with the ability to manipulate all non living material. Sophia is an illusionist who has the unique ability to break and figure out if an illusion is being cast. The ordeals are intriguing and innovative. I loved the little gargoyles. The different enemies. All of that I loved. I enjoyed the interactions between Alden and Sophia. The vampire add on was different but not terrible. I enjoyed the werewolf interplay as well.
All in all I had high hopes and it delivered but not as much as I hoped. Will I read the sequel? Yes, basically for my man Alden.
Thank you to Delacorte and NetGalley for the arc.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book got me hooked straight away and I was eager to find out more about the FMC, The Collector and Killmarth. I did think some of the plot points/twists were obvious fairly early on, which slowed down my reading pace.
I also would have liked more development of the main friendships and the romance as they felt a bit rushed. It felt like the FMC suddenly had strong feelings or connections to characters rather than showing how this developed over time. This made some of the plot points less impactful as I didn’t care as much as I probably should have.
I did really like the premise and the world so I am interested to see how this series develops.
Side note: I am a massive Buffy fan but it is pretty weird to thank Joss Whedon in the book after all he has done.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When Sophia hears of Killmarth, an elite academy for magic wielders, she’ll do anything to prove worthy of a place to escape from the sinister Collector to whom she’s been blood-bound since childhood. But to secure her place at the academy, Sophia must first endure the Ordeals – a series of deadly challenges that separate the weak from the powerful. But as the hopeful wielders are picked off one by one, Sophia must swiftly embrace her abilities as an Illusionist and discover who her allies are if she has any chance of joining Killmarth and becoming a scholar. As her feelings grow for her partner Alden Locke, and with the line between enemy and ally so thin, Sophia must figure out who she can trust if she is not only going to succeed but escape the Ordeals with her life.
The Ordeals is an absolutely stunning, whirlwind of a read! There’s no slow-burn that keeps you waiting on the edge of your seat here; this book is a full-on sprint from the very first page until the last. It’s the first book I’ve read by Rachel Greenlaw, and I was captivated by her utterly immersive writing style. The plot is so cleverly woven that it keeps you guessing until the very end, and I genuinely couldn’t put it down!
I LOVED this book! I give it all the stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
It’s like Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games. Think magical trials, dark secrets, high-stakes challenges, and a slow-burn romance that had me completely hooked.
Sophia and Alden are the kind of characters you root for from the first page. Both are fierce, independent, and deeply driven in their own ways. I loved how they clashed and challenged each other, but also how their bond grew so organically.
I honestly didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy with grit, heart, and just the right dash of romance and spice.
It’s like Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games. Think magical trials, dark secrets, high-stakes challenges, and a slow-burn romance that had me completely hooked.
Sophia and Alden are the kind of characters you root for from the first page. Both are fierce, independent, and deeply driven in their own ways. I loved how they clashed and challenged each other, but also how their bond grew so organically.
I honestly didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy with grit, heart, and just the right dash of romance and spice.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A set of deadly trials, mysterious murders, intriguing self-discovery, and a fast paced romance subplot that still made me weak at the knees. What more could you want from a new novel?!
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I was unaware that this wasn't a standalone novel when I picked it up. That led to me questioning how everything was going to get wrapped up in the small amount of pages I had left. The answer is, they didn't! That will be in the next one (I'm unsure if this will be a duology or longer as well).
-Some of the world building could have stood to be clearer. I looooved the glimpses we had of the world outside of Killmarth, but some of the mentions towards the end of the book weren't as in depth as I may have liked. The magic system on the other hand was VERY fleshed out and I loved it immensely!
-Slight spoilers in this point: As with all books where society is training young people to get ready for a war or some sort of danger, WHY would you kill off more than half of the people who would be willing to assist? Surely these people can be trained to fight? I know the whole premise is to survive the ordeals, but wouldn't you as a society want as many abled bodied fighters as you possibly can? Not just the best of the best? (This is not unique to this book)
Overall, this was a very easy and fast read and I had a great time with it. There were definitely moments where it felt like "the author is highlighting this particularly obviously, I'm sure it will come back later" and lo and behold, it does! I don't mind that in books, so again I had a fun time reading this novel and look forward to the next one whenever it comes out.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC!
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I was unaware that this wasn't a standalone novel when I picked it up. That led to me questioning how everything was going to get wrapped up in the small amount of pages I had left. The answer is, they didn't! That will be in the next one (I'm unsure if this will be a duology or longer as well).
-Some of the world building could have stood to be clearer. I looooved the glimpses we had of the world outside of Killmarth, but some of the mentions towards the end of the book weren't as in depth as I may have liked. The magic system on the other hand was VERY fleshed out and I loved it immensely!
-Slight spoilers in this point: As with all books where society is training young people to get ready for a war or some sort of danger, WHY would you kill off more than half of the people who would be willing to assist? Surely these people can be trained to fight? I know the whole premise is to survive the ordeals, but wouldn't you as a society want as many abled bodied fighters as you possibly can? Not just the best of the best? (This is not unique to this book)
Overall, this was a very easy and fast read and I had a great time with it. There were definitely moments where it felt like "the author is highlighting this particularly obviously, I'm sure it will come back later" and lo and behold, it does! I don't mind that in books, so again I had a fun time reading this novel and look forward to the next one whenever it comes out.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC!
fast-paced
I really enjoyed the previous book I read from this author, The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells. After reading this, I know one thing for certain, this author excels at atmosphere and exquisite writing. It’s what I enjoy most about her. This book is fast paced and extremely bingeable. It took me back to the YA paranormal romance boom, in a good way. It made me nostalgic for the books I read as a teenager. The story is almost a mash up of all the stories/books I grew up devouring. The ordeals themselves reminded me of the tasks in The Goblet of Fire, which happens to be my favorite of the Harry Potter series. It kept my interest and eagerly reading those chapters. I think the romance in this book just wasn’t for me, which is a shame because it’s a big part of the book. I wanted more build up with relationship. It happened a little too quickly for my taste. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. We are constantly told that the FMC and her love interest are rivals but it never really felt like they were. I never doubted they wouldn’t be together. I think I might have enjoyed it more if the romance was a slower burn or there wasn’t as much focus on the relationship. I also wish the world building was more fleshed out. Overall, I think a lot of people will enjoy this and eat this up. It was entertaining and fast paced, but just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Ordeals was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases so you better believe I immediately started this book as soon as it hit my kindle.
The premise was so intriguing, I loved magic and the ordeals and how it all intertwined with the story. I didn’t see the twists coming.
The only reason this isn’t a five star is just because I didn’t fully connect with the characters.
Also, that ending?! I really hope this is the start of a series!
The premise was so intriguing, I loved magic and the ordeals and how it all intertwined with the story. I didn’t see the twists coming.
The only reason this isn’t a five star is just because I didn’t fully connect with the characters.
Also, that ending?! I really hope this is the start of a series!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I absolutely loved reading The Ordeals. It was A Darker Shade of Magic meets an adult version of Nevermoor; more blood, death and sizzling romance.
I was completely drawn to Sophia Dewinter and I felt the world building was intruiguing and inviting. The challenges were absolutely brutal and the tension built is captivating.
I was on and off rooting for the romance, I thought it was very much a thread within the story, rather than the focus, which I particularly enjoyed as it left plenty of space to layer the plot, including Sophia's search for answers about who her parents were.
I think this book is ideal for urban fantasy fans who enjoy a layered and compelling story, peppered with a hot slow burn romance. I honestly loved it.
Please tell me this is just the start and there's more come?