I’m delighted to bring you my review of Ruthless Magic by Megan Crewe today. Megan is a YA author who writes paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. Her new book releases today and I was lucky to get the chance to read an advanced copy courtesy of her publisher, Another World Press and NetGalley. Below you will find the book cover and description followed by my review.
Ruthless Magic by Megan Crewe
In the contest to keep their magic, the only options may be die… or kill.
Each year, the North American Confederation of Mages assesses every sixteen-year-old novice. Some will be chosen. The rest must undergo a procedure to destroy their magical ability unless they prove themselves in the mysterious and brutal Mages’ Exam.
Disadvantaged by her parents’ low standing, Rocío Lopez has dedicated herself to expanding her considerable talent to earn a place in the Confederation. Their rejection leaves her reeling—and determined to fight to keep her magic.
Long ashamed of his mediocre abilities, Finn Lockwood knows the Confederation accepted him only because of his prominent family. Declaring for the Exam instead means a chance to confirm his true worth.
Thrown into the testing with little preparation, Rocío and Finn find themselves becoming unlikely allies—and possibly more. But the Exam holds secrets more horrifying than either could have imagined. What are the examiners really testing them for? And as the trials become increasingly vicious, how much are they willing to sacrifice to win?
The first in a new series by USA Today bestselling author Megan Crewe, Ruthless Magic combines the magic of Harry Potter with the ferocity of The Hunger Games alongside a poignant romance. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, look no further for your next urban fantasy fix.
Ruthless Magic – My Review
What a rush. This book is a magical mash-up of The Hunger Games and The Mazerunner and is packed full of action, excitement, anticipation, and more. It centres on a group of magical teens who must face a ruthless examination over a period of days in order to survive as champions or face having their magic burned out of them.
This is the first book I’ve read by Megan Crewe and I know it won’t be the last. The writing was flawless, the characters well developed, and action and description superb. It has a little bit of everything in it including a little bit of romance.
The main characters are the group of five that band together to face the exams and help each other survive. We get alternating chapters told from Finn and Rocio’s point of view as the group strives to survive the series of exams they are set. The characters don’t have any idea what the tests are going to involve and they are all tested to their limits as things heat up.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that this book is a real pageturner that will keep you gripped just to find out what the Confed is hiding, what they want from the mages, and what their real intentions are. It was a gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat fighting alongside Finn and Rocio. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens next.
A definite 5 star from me and thanks to NetGalley and Another World Press for the chance to read and review this book.
Ruthless Magic is available now in ebook and paperback from Amazon and is also enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program.
Until next time,
Keep reading and writing,
Amanda
Amanda J Evans is an award-winning Irish author and writing coach. Amanda writes adult romance that often crosses into paranormal and fantasy. Growing up with heroes like Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones, her stories centre on good versus evil with a splice of love and magic thrown in too. Her books have all won awards and her novella, Hear Me Cry, won the Book of the Year Award at the Dublin Writers Conference 2018. Amanda is also the author of Surviving Suicide: A Memoir from Those Death Left Behind, published in 2012.
