A review by bickie
The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

4.0

Established around 200 years ago in 740, Dragomir Academy educates "troubled" girls in the kingdom of Illyria, emphasizing "character above all."

Spoiler

In reality, this academy systematically gaslights girls with magical abilities, steals their magic, and leaves them subservient shells thrilled to earn work on the realm's sorcerer estates.

Illyria's sorcerers, all male, protect the kingdom from the Dread, a terrible curse that attacks whole villages. Ignored as a chore girl by her parents, who are obsessed with their golden child Luka and the likelihood of his being a sorcerer, Marya Lupu learns reading and history from her neighbor, Madame Bandu, after her baby brother Pieter dies. Marya seems to have a special way with animals (and perhaps children), as is particularly evidenced by her relationship with a headstrong goat named Anton. When Anton causes trouble at Luka's sorcerer test, things get out of hand, and Marya is blamed for the chaos, especially when a few days later, a letter comes for her requiring her attendance at Dragomir Academy. Will Marya be tamed into a productive member of society?