A review by bookishsamsch
The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

5.0

A million wows! 

This was like a Hunger Games./Harry Potter/Buffy The Vampire mash-up.

Deathly competitions - check
Magic in a studious environment- check
Vampire battles - check

Sophia is tied to her uncle, and she is planning to escape him at the start of the novel, She knows somewhere she can go to that the spell he cast when she was young will break. She will be protected. She will then have to compete in a series of challenges to earn her place at the college.

It's an amazing  world, full of brilliant magical ideas and bold, lovable characters. The love interest, Alden? ooof!

Greenlaw is a master storyteller. Every page, every word, all brilliantly crafted. So many different characters. the plots, the twists. I loved it all,  And the ending ? Floored me.

Need more of this world, these people, I was devastated when it had ended!