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haleg 's review for:
The Ordeals
by Rachel Greenlaw
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I always try to find praise and critiques in all books I read, whether I absolutely loved them, or maybe didn't enjoy as much, and I wish I had more positive things to say, but it just didn't meet my expectations.
The good:
The writing syntax is clean and consistent.
I liked the magic system. It's not often I find books with illusionists, botanists, AND masquiers (alchemy is more common but still appreciated). I also appreciated how in each quadrant of magic there were different levels and specialties.
I enjoyed the poisons and herbology portions, made some of the trials super interesting and I also like how the poisons specifically incorporated into the magic system.
Now for the bad:
I would've enjoyed this book more, but unfortunately I went in with different expectations than I recieved due to the marketing.
• First, it's promoted as a dark academia romantasy, and when I see that without a YA attachment, I want ALL the darkness. I was hoping for Nocticadia vibes, but instead it was like a light shade of grey. Was there murder and deathly trials? Yes, but it was all surface-level. There wasn't enough depth to truly make it dark academia (and I LOVE dark academy). It read extremely YA (if you remove the few smut scenes, which felt forced due to odd timing) in both tone of writing and character traits and development. I happen to like YA, but advertising matters and unfortunately, it ended up falling extremely short of my expectations.
• Second, its advertised as rivals-to-lovers, but the MCs make out in chapter 1, and there's never any real tension. They SAY they are rivals quite often, yet it never truly feels like they were ever rivals. Very insta-love vibes, as the attraction was immediate in chapter 1. Again it's just very surface level. A lot of telling, not a lot of showing. Very YA. I probably would've devoured this book in middle or early high school, or enjoyed it more with the correct marketing.
Speaking of our MCs, our FMC was trained by the collector her whole childhood. She's supposed to be strong, fight well, have fast reflexes and quick thinking, as we are told very early on and reminded of quite often. Yet, when she's about to be attacked, she hides in fear of her life? She automatically attacked Alden when she opened the door, but she won't go after the real killer, who wants to kill her, when she has the chance???? It doesn't make sense with the character. And this type of thing happened quite a few times.
Then just a bunch of little things, that when added up, create lots of little plot holes.
• There was emphasis put on "don't lose the invitation", and then she's just.....let in the school with no repercussions ......without the invitation.
• I'd automatically assume in order to pass the ordeals outside help is not allowed. Yet in the first ordeal, the FMC meets one of the property owners (who was unaware this trial was even taking place), and he helps them find the lodge. I thought the point of the ordeal was for the antidote hopeful to find the poisoned hopeful. Not "hey this is my property and Alden knows it well. He's probably at the lodge already c'mon I'll show you" Might be my fault for making assumptions, but usually high stakes trials lead to high stakes repercussions when one cheats.
• There's also emphasis put on "murder isn't allowed at all between trials" yet no one working at the school seems even mildly bothered that students are turning up dead everywhere. Again, no repercussions.
Overall I think there needs to be some additional editing, and a review on the current marketing with potentially a move to YA, as I think it will do better there. It has the potential to be a very good book as the magical system entwined with supernaturals is a fun and cool concept, I just don't think it's quite there yet.
***Thank you Rachel Greenlaw and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***
The good:
The writing syntax is clean and consistent.
I liked the magic system. It's not often I find books with illusionists, botanists, AND masquiers (alchemy is more common but still appreciated). I also appreciated how in each quadrant of magic there were different levels and specialties.
I enjoyed the poisons and herbology portions, made some of the trials super interesting and I also like how the poisons specifically incorporated into the magic system.
Now for the bad:
I would've enjoyed this book more, but unfortunately I went in with different expectations than I recieved due to the marketing.
• First, it's promoted as a dark academia romantasy, and when I see that without a YA attachment, I want ALL the darkness. I was hoping for Nocticadia vibes, but instead it was like a light shade of grey. Was there murder and deathly trials? Yes, but it was all surface-level. There wasn't enough depth to truly make it dark academia (and I LOVE dark academy). It read extremely YA (if you remove the few smut scenes, which felt forced due to odd timing) in both tone of writing and character traits and development. I happen to like YA, but advertising matters and unfortunately, it ended up falling extremely short of my expectations.
• Second, its advertised as rivals-to-lovers, but the MCs make out in chapter 1, and there's never any real tension. They SAY they are rivals quite often, yet it never truly feels like they were ever rivals. Very insta-love vibes, as the attraction was immediate in chapter 1. Again it's just very surface level. A lot of telling, not a lot of showing. Very YA. I probably would've devoured this book in middle or early high school, or enjoyed it more with the correct marketing.
Speaking of our MCs, our FMC was trained by the collector her whole childhood. She's supposed to be strong, fight well, have fast reflexes and quick thinking, as we are told very early on and reminded of quite often. Yet, when she's about to be attacked, she hides in fear of her life? She automatically attacked Alden when she opened the door, but she won't go after the real killer, who wants to kill her, when she has the chance???? It doesn't make sense with the character. And this type of thing happened quite a few times.
Then just a bunch of little things, that when added up, create lots of little plot holes.
• There was emphasis put on "don't lose the invitation", and then she's just.....let in the school with no repercussions ......without the invitation.
• I'd automatically assume in order to pass the ordeals outside help is not allowed. Yet in the first ordeal, the FMC meets one of the property owners (who was unaware this trial was even taking place), and he helps them find the lodge. I thought the point of the ordeal was for the antidote hopeful to find the poisoned hopeful. Not "hey this is my property and Alden knows it well. He's probably at the lodge already c'mon I'll show you" Might be my fault for making assumptions, but usually high stakes trials lead to high stakes repercussions when one cheats.
• There's also emphasis put on "murder isn't allowed at all between trials" yet no one working at the school seems even mildly bothered that students are turning up dead everywhere. Again, no repercussions.
Overall I think there needs to be some additional editing, and a review on the current marketing with potentially a move to YA, as I think it will do better there. It has the potential to be a very good book as the magical system entwined with supernaturals is a fun and cool concept, I just don't think it's quite there yet.
***Thank you Rachel Greenlaw and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***