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The Ardor Magic Cycle #1
A Cure for Magic
Marika always thought magic was a curse. Now she must master it before it consumes her.
When a massacre leaves most of the royal family dead and awakens volatile power in Marika’s veins, she hides her identity and disappears into a secretive university for magic users, hoping to master her unruly magic before anyone discovers who she is. But anonymity proves impossible when two enigmatic students take an interest in her abilities—and in her.
Her cold, sharp-tongued roommate Argent sees through her false name almost immediately, and the other woman seems determined to make Marika miserable. Harland, a charismatic member of the school’s elite inner circle, is far more welcoming—but no less mysterious. And as Marika is pulled into the orbit of a secret society concealed behind the university’s polished facade, she realizes Argent and Harland may know more about her family’s deaths than they admit.
The society offers Marika the one thing she desperately needs: answers about her magic and a chance to finally control it. But the deeper she falls into their world of hidden loyalties, rebellion, and dangerous attraction, the harder it becomes to tell who she can trust—and whether Argent and Harland are worth the risk.
Shadow & Bonegets a darker, new adult twist with a touch of The Foxglove King in this FFM dark academia romantic fantasy series starter, featuring a casually queer cast, university intrigue, dangerous elemental magic, and a tangled romance where no one is forced to choose.
When a massacre leaves most of the royal family dead and awakens volatile power in Marika’s veins, she hides her identity and disappears into a secretive university for magic users, hoping to master her unruly magic before anyone discovers who she is. But anonymity proves impossible when two enigmatic students take an interest in her abilities—and in her.
Her cold, sharp-tongued roommate Argent sees through her false name almost immediately, and the other woman seems determined to make Marika miserable. Harland, a charismatic member of the school’s elite inner circle, is far more welcoming—but no less mysterious. And as Marika is pulled into the orbit of a secret society concealed behind the university’s polished facade, she realizes Argent and Harland may know more about her family’s deaths than they admit.
The society offers Marika the one thing she desperately needs: answers about her magic and a chance to finally control it. But the deeper she falls into their world of hidden loyalties, rebellion, and dangerous attraction, the harder it becomes to tell who she can trust—and whether Argent and Harland are worth the risk.
Shadow & Bonegets a darker, new adult twist with a touch of The Foxglove King in this FFM dark academia romantic fantasy series starter, featuring a casually queer cast, university intrigue, dangerous elemental magic, and a tangled romance where no one is forced to choose.
342 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 31, 2024
This is a dark academia fantasy that intertwines royal intrigue and forbidden magic. In this world, magic typically occurs with trauma and those who contain it are thought too dangerous to exist in polite society. After magical rebels attack her royal home, Marika (part of the family oppressing these magical people) is traumatized enough to get powerful magic. Seeking refuge and a cute for her abilities, she hides at Nella University under a false identity after her remaining family betrays her.
Greer’s writing style is engaging and fluid, making the book a delight to read. I enjoy its darker themes and diversity. This novel is rich with the grit and complexity of a magical world where power often stems from trauma, particularly among the lower classes who are deemed dangerous. The setting and atmosphere are reminiscent of a fantasy X-men.
The character dynamics are intriguing, especially between Marika, Argent, and Harland. Marika’s internal struggle with her legacy and power, juxtaposed with her developing relationships, sets the stage for an intriguing love triangle. The inclusion of a diverse cast, including a black bisexual protagonist is something I love to see in the genre.
While the book excels in its world-building and character development, some plot elements feel a bit contrived and a touch unbelievable. Certain reactions and decisions by characters seem unrealistic, which pulled me out of the otherwise immersive story towards the end.
Overall, this is an entertaining and diverse read. Greer skillfully blends dark elements with the charm of a magical school setting, making it a perfect choice for fans of dark academia. Despite some minor plot issues, the book’s strengths in writing style, character diversity, and thematic depth make it a compelling start to a promising trilogy.
Thanks to R&R Booktours and the author for the copy. This review is honest and voluntary.
Greer’s writing style is engaging and fluid, making the book a delight to read. I enjoy its darker themes and diversity. This novel is rich with the grit and complexity of a magical world where power often stems from trauma, particularly among the lower classes who are deemed dangerous. The setting and atmosphere are reminiscent of a fantasy X-men.
The character dynamics are intriguing, especially between Marika, Argent, and Harland. Marika’s internal struggle with her legacy and power, juxtaposed with her developing relationships, sets the stage for an intriguing love triangle. The inclusion of a diverse cast, including a black bisexual protagonist is something I love to see in the genre.
While the book excels in its world-building and character development, some plot elements feel a bit contrived and a touch unbelievable. Certain reactions and decisions by characters seem unrealistic, which pulled me out of the otherwise immersive story towards the end.
Overall, this is an entertaining and diverse read. Greer skillfully blends dark elements with the charm of a magical school setting, making it a perfect choice for fans of dark academia. Despite some minor plot issues, the book’s strengths in writing style, character diversity, and thematic depth make it a compelling start to a promising trilogy.
Thanks to R&R Booktours and the author for the copy. This review is honest and voluntary.
September 17, 2026
I liked the premise and fmc but near the last 40%, it felt like there were missing chapters between them. One chapter she accidentally kills a guy, next chapter she confesses to her roommate, next chapter she sleeps with her roommate’s ex. These incidents happen with no chapters between them. Fmc does not reference or remember the past incidents and entirely focuses on the chapter. She sleeps with the ex boyfriend without ever thinking of the roommate she confessed to. The female villain became so bland and easy to defeat and frankly stupid at the end. The beginning of the book was better. The rebellion voting for her to be the leader after she joined JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, had me rolling my eyes.
I felt like I was reading a first draft. An entertaining first draft but a first draft nonetheless.
I felt like I was reading a first draft. An entertaining first draft but a first draft nonetheless.
May 2, 2024
This review is written after receiving an ARC of the book from NetGalley.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise of this book. I won’t lie when I say there was several instances in the beginning where I almost DNF’d it, but I persevered in the sake of seeing where it went.
This book was very clunky in the beginning, the fire, Juri almost killing Marika, it all was very garbled to me and I had a hard time having any connection to Marika for her plight. I think this was partially to do with the fact that the fire was basically the start of the book, and I personally hadn’t read enough of Marika as a character to gain attachment to her and thus really grasp how she might feel about the whole “world imploding” situation.
Also, the toss up of her feeling bad for the Ardors at the beginning never really felt like it came to full understanding and resentment from her about what her kingdom/family condones. There’s not really a scene in the book where I can define that Marika has realized how truly screwed up her world view has been. It’s hinted in various scenes, but I guess I was expecting more of a hard hitting realization especially once things started coming to light. The closest I can say is when she is talking to Ilsa and says “I’m your sister, but not the same one you once knew”.
It also didn’t make any sense to me that if Marika really had that resentment for the treatment of the Ardors, why does she not assume other members of her family are to blame besides Juri? Marika as a character is definitively family-driven, which would skew her from blaming them, but why only Juri is framed as the major source of blame doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Another thing that bothered me about this book is when Marika first meets Argent and is trying to control her power. Argent says “pain can help, at least it does for me. Helps you get a grip and stop wrecking shit”. To me, this was sort of an insinuation that pain should be used by Marika to control her power, and that just leaned too hard for me into issues of self-harm.
Additionally, the weird moments where Marika turns “princess” and acts like a spoiled brat were almost a little much to me. One instance that stands out is when Argent has tasked her with doing her laundry and chores, and Marika thinks “I will have to do servant work to maintain my safety?”. Like, in the context of having been thrown as much as she has, she still is showing tendencies of regressing into a brat who doesn’t want to do anything, and that for me takes away from the potential for Marika to be a character to look up to and admire as a leader and powerful Ardor.
Lastly, the romance as a whole felt completely unneeded in this book. You could take out the whole plot line of her kissing Argent and her escapades with Harland and it wouldn’t be missed. At the least, the whole kissing with Argent is too short lived, and made no sense to me, and I wouldn’t miss it if it were to be cut from the book.
On the positive side, I think this author is really attuned to describing Marika’s feelings, and her constant inner monologue. Marika as a character really has the potential to be a bada**, yet is drawn just short of the opportunity in this book. I think there is a lot to offer with the idea of this book, it just needs some oomph to really get the reader immersed into the world and characters more.
Overall, this book is slow to start, and definitely has a lot of room for improvement. But towards the end of the book I really started to see the authors vision for the plot and character arc, and it was much more enjoyable.
P.S. I saw the fact that Camille knew who Marika was right away, made no sense that the rebellion leader wouldn’t know if a royal was in the mix, especially after it was written about in the paper. Plus, it was easy to see how greedy she was for Marika to lean into her power.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise of this book. I won’t lie when I say there was several instances in the beginning where I almost DNF’d it, but I persevered in the sake of seeing where it went.
This book was very clunky in the beginning, the fire, Juri almost killing Marika, it all was very garbled to me and I had a hard time having any connection to Marika for her plight. I think this was partially to do with the fact that the fire was basically the start of the book, and I personally hadn’t read enough of Marika as a character to gain attachment to her and thus really grasp how she might feel about the whole “world imploding” situation.
Also, the toss up of her feeling bad for the Ardors at the beginning never really felt like it came to full understanding and resentment from her about what her kingdom/family condones. There’s not really a scene in the book where I can define that Marika has realized how truly screwed up her world view has been. It’s hinted in various scenes, but I guess I was expecting more of a hard hitting realization especially once things started coming to light. The closest I can say is when she is talking to Ilsa and says “I’m your sister, but not the same one you once knew”.
It also didn’t make any sense to me that if Marika really had that resentment for the treatment of the Ardors, why does she not assume other members of her family are to blame besides Juri? Marika as a character is definitively family-driven, which would skew her from blaming them, but why only Juri is framed as the major source of blame doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Another thing that bothered me about this book is when Marika first meets Argent and is trying to control her power. Argent says “pain can help, at least it does for me. Helps you get a grip and stop wrecking shit”. To me, this was sort of an insinuation that pain should be used by Marika to control her power, and that just leaned too hard for me into issues of self-harm.
Additionally, the weird moments where Marika turns “princess” and acts like a spoiled brat were almost a little much to me. One instance that stands out is when Argent has tasked her with doing her laundry and chores, and Marika thinks “I will have to do servant work to maintain my safety?”. Like, in the context of having been thrown as much as she has, she still is showing tendencies of regressing into a brat who doesn’t want to do anything, and that for me takes away from the potential for Marika to be a character to look up to and admire as a leader and powerful Ardor.
Lastly, the romance as a whole felt completely unneeded in this book. You could take out the whole plot line of her kissing Argent and her escapades with Harland and it wouldn’t be missed. At the least, the whole kissing with Argent is too short lived, and made no sense to me, and I wouldn’t miss it if it were to be cut from the book.
On the positive side, I think this author is really attuned to describing Marika’s feelings, and her constant inner monologue. Marika as a character really has the potential to be a bada**, yet is drawn just short of the opportunity in this book. I think there is a lot to offer with the idea of this book, it just needs some oomph to really get the reader immersed into the world and characters more.
Overall, this book is slow to start, and definitely has a lot of room for improvement. But towards the end of the book I really started to see the authors vision for the plot and character arc, and it was much more enjoyable.
P.S. I saw the fact that Camille knew who Marika was right away, made no sense that the rebellion leader wouldn’t know if a royal was in the mix, especially after it was written about in the paper. Plus, it was easy to see how greedy she was for Marika to lean into her power.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
➳༻❀☕️🅱︎🅾︎🅾︎🅺•🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆☕️❀༺➳
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
📚📝✨🥀𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🥀✨📝📚
🌿𝙰 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲 𝙱𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙰 𝙶𝚁𝙴𝙴𝚁
🔮𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙾𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲 𝙲𝚈𝙲𝙻𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌿𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝙽𝙰 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
🔮𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟸𝟾𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🌿𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙰𝚃𝙼𝙾𝚂𝙿𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲
🔮𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 𝟹𝟹𝟿 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🌿𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🔮⚠️𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Talia Greer and R&R Book Tours for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
A Cure for Magic was a very intriguing read that was filled with magic, romance, royals, quests, and found family! I enjoyed my reading experience with this one and thought that the plot was very enthralling, and the characters were wonderfully flawed with incredible arcs that made them so easy to connect to.
In a world where her ancestors have outlawed magic, Marika, our FMC and the princess of the Royal family, finds that very same magic flowing in her veins. In order to understand her powers before they destroy her, she sneaks off to study at Nella University, and since she is a royal with a target on her back, she hides her true identity from those around her. There she meets her roommate, Argent, and Harland. From here, these three go on a journey full of adventure, romance, and magic.
I definitely found Marika’s character to be a little spoiled at times, but I did enjoy seeing her character growth as the story progressed! And I honestly think that’s a bit expected, as she is a princess and is being completely thrust into a completely different environment that is foreign to her. She becomes much more resilient and I loved seeing her learn to control her magic more! The romance as the subplot worked very well, and I thought the main plot definitely held its own without romance being the main focus. There was just enough of it to satisfy my romance craving!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! There were so many moments I couldn’t put it down and I really loved the whole premise of the story! I’m super excited to see where it goes from here!
📚📝✨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘✨📝📚
💜A Messy Bisexual Princess
👑Black Royals
📕Dark Academia
🔥Elemental Magic
💖OT3/Throuple
🔮Magic Training
🏕️Only One Tent
🙊Hidden Identity
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
📚📝✨🥀𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🥀✨📝📚
🌿𝙰 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲 𝙱𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙰 𝙶𝚁𝙴𝙴𝚁
🔮𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙾𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲 𝙲𝚈𝙲𝙻𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌿𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝙽𝙰 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
🔮𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟸𝟾𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🌿𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙰𝚃𝙼𝙾𝚂𝙿𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲
🔮𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 𝟹𝟹𝟿 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🌿𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🔮⚠️𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Talia Greer and R&R Book Tours for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
A Cure for Magic was a very intriguing read that was filled with magic, romance, royals, quests, and found family! I enjoyed my reading experience with this one and thought that the plot was very enthralling, and the characters were wonderfully flawed with incredible arcs that made them so easy to connect to.
In a world where her ancestors have outlawed magic, Marika, our FMC and the princess of the Royal family, finds that very same magic flowing in her veins. In order to understand her powers before they destroy her, she sneaks off to study at Nella University, and since she is a royal with a target on her back, she hides her true identity from those around her. There she meets her roommate, Argent, and Harland. From here, these three go on a journey full of adventure, romance, and magic.
I definitely found Marika’s character to be a little spoiled at times, but I did enjoy seeing her character growth as the story progressed! And I honestly think that’s a bit expected, as she is a princess and is being completely thrust into a completely different environment that is foreign to her. She becomes much more resilient and I loved seeing her learn to control her magic more! The romance as the subplot worked very well, and I thought the main plot definitely held its own without romance being the main focus. There was just enough of it to satisfy my romance craving!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! There were so many moments I couldn’t put it down and I really loved the whole premise of the story! I’m super excited to see where it goes from here!
📚📝✨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘✨📝📚
💜A Messy Bisexual Princess
👑Black Royals
📕Dark Academia
🔥Elemental Magic
💖OT3/Throuple
🔮Magic Training
🏕️Only One Tent
🙊Hidden Identity
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
May 12, 2024
Disclaimer: Thanks to Victory Editing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
This is a total page-turner! Marika is a really strong main character who is on a wild journey and finds herself stuck between two opposite forces. The romantic undertones between the three leads is fun, too! There's also some dark magical elements that add some edge to the story. I definitely would not miss out on reading this book!
This is a total page-turner! Marika is a really strong main character who is on a wild journey and finds herself stuck between two opposite forces. The romantic undertones between the three leads is fun, too! There's also some dark magical elements that add some edge to the story. I definitely would not miss out on reading this book!
May 28, 2024
"A Cure For Magic" by Talia Greer is an exciting and imaginative fantasy novel that invites readers into a world of magic, royalty, rebellion, and a school for magic wielders.
When an attack occurs on the royal family at their home, Marika finds herself fleeing with the few family members and soldiers who managed to survive. On the run, she discovers the magic her family sought to contain and control now runs through her veins.
Afraid of her power and hoping to control it, Marika seeks refuge at Nella University under a secret identity. Except, it's not the place she hoped it would be. Not only does she struggle to make friends and control her magic, but there's a rebel group forming under the guise of a secret society. And those leading this group are part of the rebel group that attacked and killed her family.
Staying at the school means risking her life and betraying her family. But leaving means she may never learn to control her power and she'll either be hunted and killed, or someone will fall victim to her magic.
There were a lot of interesting things about this book. I liked how the people who had the most power (magic), were the ones who were the most helpless. One would think the opposite, but in this case, Greer imagined something quite different for the characters and world she created. And it's believable in the sense that, when you read this book, you can see how these people are oppressed and it's not easy to rise against enemy forces. This theme/concept developed really well throughout the book and provided another layer of complexity to the characters.
I thought Marika herself was a relatable character. Many strong female leads are always unruffled in the face of danger, compartmentalizing until they can face the trauma they've been through. Marika is strong in her own way. She pushes through hardships and obstacles to reach her goals. And when she is put in bad situations, she responds the way I feel is true to reality. At that moment, I wished she were stronger and could push through, but it also helped me understand her, and I found I liked her more. I also liked that she had an internal battle between the life she was used to as a royal and the life she found herself living. It made her seem more realistic because it showed her struggle to adjust to a life that was foreign to her.
While I really enjoyed this book, I did have a hard time with the pacing. It felt like an adult fantasy that got cut down to a YA or NA novel. It felt like details were missing such as the history of the Ardor and why the rules about magic got put in place. The beginning also happened fast and there wasn't time to appreciate Marika's relationship and history with the other characters to truly empathize with her shock and grief. Slowing the pace would allow for a deeper connection with Marika and the other characters. Yet, I appreciate the author's intent may have been to avoid overwhelming the reader with a lot of context and background information, choosing to let the reader discover answers to their questions along the way. While some of my own have remained unanswered, I look forward to reading the next book and hope to find my answers there!
This was a fantastic read and I look forward to the second book! Readers who enjoy a good fantasy and lots of action must be on the lookout for this book when it's published on the expected date of May 28, 2024. Add it to your TBR's and be sure to give it a read when it's available for purchase!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
When an attack occurs on the royal family at their home, Marika finds herself fleeing with the few family members and soldiers who managed to survive. On the run, she discovers the magic her family sought to contain and control now runs through her veins.
Afraid of her power and hoping to control it, Marika seeks refuge at Nella University under a secret identity. Except, it's not the place she hoped it would be. Not only does she struggle to make friends and control her magic, but there's a rebel group forming under the guise of a secret society. And those leading this group are part of the rebel group that attacked and killed her family.
Staying at the school means risking her life and betraying her family. But leaving means she may never learn to control her power and she'll either be hunted and killed, or someone will fall victim to her magic.
There were a lot of interesting things about this book. I liked how the people who had the most power (magic), were the ones who were the most helpless. One would think the opposite, but in this case, Greer imagined something quite different for the characters and world she created. And it's believable in the sense that, when you read this book, you can see how these people are oppressed and it's not easy to rise against enemy forces. This theme/concept developed really well throughout the book and provided another layer of complexity to the characters.
I thought Marika herself was a relatable character. Many strong female leads are always unruffled in the face of danger, compartmentalizing until they can face the trauma they've been through. Marika is strong in her own way. She pushes through hardships and obstacles to reach her goals. And when she is put in bad situations, she responds the way I feel is true to reality. At that moment, I wished she were stronger and could push through, but it also helped me understand her, and I found I liked her more. I also liked that she had an internal battle between the life she was used to as a royal and the life she found herself living. It made her seem more realistic because it showed her struggle to adjust to a life that was foreign to her.
While I really enjoyed this book, I did have a hard time with the pacing. It felt like an adult fantasy that got cut down to a YA or NA novel. It felt like details were missing such as the history of the Ardor and why the rules about magic got put in place. The beginning also happened fast and there wasn't time to appreciate Marika's relationship and history with the other characters to truly empathize with her shock and grief. Slowing the pace would allow for a deeper connection with Marika and the other characters. Yet, I appreciate the author's intent may have been to avoid overwhelming the reader with a lot of context and background information, choosing to let the reader discover answers to their questions along the way. While some of my own have remained unanswered, I look forward to reading the next book and hope to find my answers there!
This was a fantastic read and I look forward to the second book! Readers who enjoy a good fantasy and lots of action must be on the lookout for this book when it's published on the expected date of May 28, 2024. Add it to your TBR's and be sure to give it a read when it's available for purchase!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
October 3, 2026
A Cure for Magic delivers a captivating dark fantasy experience blending intense royal drama, psychological depth, and high-stakes magical worldbuilding. The story establishes a stark and haunting atmosphere drawing the reader into Marika’s turbulent life. The narrative hook is exceptionally strong, opening with a chilling contrast between royal extravagance and the cruel reality of Ardor magic oppression. The dinner scene at the royal compound immediately establishes the brutality of the world: "It was not the first time an Ardor had been bleeding in the formal dining room."
This brutal setting anchors the story's themes early on as the Ardor prisoner is forced to exhaust his life force just to warm the room: "Trembling fingers reached toward the dying fire in the grate in a feeble attempt to keep the flame alive. If the strength of the fire was any indication, neither would last much longer."
When crisis strikes, the story's action sequences shine with genuine fear and visceral detail. The sudden attack and fire at the compound create a palpable sense of panic and disorientation as Marika is thrust out of her comfortable life: "Beyond the crisp night air... she heard screams. One or two at first, benign enough to be laughter or lovers' cries. Then came the others, high and keening in their panic, crashing one over the other like rolling waves."
Marika’s grief and helplessness as she flees into the woods feel deeply authentic and grounded: "Nighttime between the trees was near absolute, but if she pushed herself up on one trembling arm, there was enough space between leaves to glimpse what remained behind them: great gusts of smoke stretching long fingers towards the moon, and the ashes of her grand home scattering into the coming dawn."
The story truly excels once Marika arrives at Nella University, driven by dynamic and conflicting character relationships: Camille brings an invigorating perspective on Ardor magic, challenging the societal belief that it is merely a curse: "Commoners would have you believe the worst about this magic... But us? Our power is a gift from the world. It marks us as worthy. As special. As superior."
Marika’s roommate, Argent, grounds the real-world consequences of royal oppression, creating a tense, edge-of-your-seat dynamic in their shared suite: "Look at me... He beat my friend to death. I barely survived. And after that, I got my magic, and my whole [explicitive] family was fired."
Harland provides a welcome, lighthearted balance to the gloom of the university, establishing an easy and refreshing rapport: "He made a showy little gesture with his hands. 'Well, then. Welcome to Nella University.' ... 'I've been here like, two weeks.' ... 'Still. Welcome.'"
With its rich worldbuilding, complex moral questions, and electrifying magic system, A Cure for Magic presents a deeply compelling narrative of revenge, survival, and self-discovery that keeps readers thoroughly engaged throughout.
This story reads like a crossover event for fans of high-stakes fantasy and dark academia. It blends the cutthroat court intrigue of The Cruel Prince and the revolutionary spark of Red Queen with the dangerous, high-mortality school dynamics of Fourth Wing. At its emotional core, the protagonist's volatile, trauma-driven weather magic mirrors the destructive internal struggles of Shatter Me, set against a world of systemic magic suppression straight out of Shadow and Bone. Visually and tonally, it shares the gritty, class-divided soul of Arcane and the raw elemental power of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Set in a gothic, seaside academy that perfectly captures the eerie, tension-filled atmosphere of Netflix's Wednesday, this book delivers a brutal, Hunger Games-esque rebellion against a corrupt, Shadowhunters-style magical regime.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This brutal setting anchors the story's themes early on as the Ardor prisoner is forced to exhaust his life force just to warm the room: "Trembling fingers reached toward the dying fire in the grate in a feeble attempt to keep the flame alive. If the strength of the fire was any indication, neither would last much longer."
When crisis strikes, the story's action sequences shine with genuine fear and visceral detail. The sudden attack and fire at the compound create a palpable sense of panic and disorientation as Marika is thrust out of her comfortable life: "Beyond the crisp night air... she heard screams. One or two at first, benign enough to be laughter or lovers' cries. Then came the others, high and keening in their panic, crashing one over the other like rolling waves."
Marika’s grief and helplessness as she flees into the woods feel deeply authentic and grounded: "Nighttime between the trees was near absolute, but if she pushed herself up on one trembling arm, there was enough space between leaves to glimpse what remained behind them: great gusts of smoke stretching long fingers towards the moon, and the ashes of her grand home scattering into the coming dawn."
The story truly excels once Marika arrives at Nella University, driven by dynamic and conflicting character relationships: Camille brings an invigorating perspective on Ardor magic, challenging the societal belief that it is merely a curse: "Commoners would have you believe the worst about this magic... But us? Our power is a gift from the world. It marks us as worthy. As special. As superior."
Marika’s roommate, Argent, grounds the real-world consequences of royal oppression, creating a tense, edge-of-your-seat dynamic in their shared suite: "Look at me... He beat my friend to death. I barely survived. And after that, I got my magic, and my whole [explicitive] family was fired."
Harland provides a welcome, lighthearted balance to the gloom of the university, establishing an easy and refreshing rapport: "He made a showy little gesture with his hands. 'Well, then. Welcome to Nella University.' ... 'I've been here like, two weeks.' ... 'Still. Welcome.'"
With its rich worldbuilding, complex moral questions, and electrifying magic system, A Cure for Magic presents a deeply compelling narrative of revenge, survival, and self-discovery that keeps readers thoroughly engaged throughout.
This story reads like a crossover event for fans of high-stakes fantasy and dark academia. It blends the cutthroat court intrigue of The Cruel Prince and the revolutionary spark of Red Queen with the dangerous, high-mortality school dynamics of Fourth Wing. At its emotional core, the protagonist's volatile, trauma-driven weather magic mirrors the destructive internal struggles of Shatter Me, set against a world of systemic magic suppression straight out of Shadow and Bone. Visually and tonally, it shares the gritty, class-divided soul of Arcane and the raw elemental power of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Set in a gothic, seaside academy that perfectly captures the eerie, tension-filled atmosphere of Netflix's Wednesday, this book delivers a brutal, Hunger Games-esque rebellion against a corrupt, Shadowhunters-style magical regime.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 15, 2024
A Cure for Magic came out just last month and I knew I needed to read it asap. I adore Talia Greer's monster romances and was excited to see her range with this new adult romantic fantasy with trauma-based elemental magic, a Black princess in hiding, a magic university, and bisexuality and polyamory.
(It was hard to write this review without spoilers, but I have tried to keep things vague-ish. Don't read if you don't want any spoilers.)
Marika is a fascinating protagonist. In this first book of the series, she's only just beginning to grapple with her privileged upbringing, and that makes for a steep character arc. She sees people and learning as stepping stones to a lofty destination. She craves reassurance and praise. She has next to no real-world skills, knowledge, or understanding of the class issues in the society her family rules. (This is all entirely in character for a sheltered princess, so I appreciate Greer's sticking with it!) For all this, Marika is supremely determined and it is very satisfying to watch her grow and figure out how to make up her own mind. The way the dramatic finale thrusts her into a fresh arc has me feral for book 2.
My favourite aspect is the way the magic system intersects with the book's themes. In this world, people acquire magic through traumatic events and circumstances. Magic users are discriminated against, ostracised, systemically tortured and forced into servitude. Even a princess whose own family enforce this discrimination can be traumatised and can become a magic user. Marika seeks a cure for her magic, at first, unwilling to accept that she is forever altered by what happened to her.
A word I learned recently is polyvictimisation - exposure to multiple types of victimisation, and the idea that if you are victimised or traumatised once, you become vulnerable and suspectible to further victimisation in a snowballing fashion. You would think Marika's trauma event at the beginning might hold the highest tension, but it is really just the start. Greer masterfully escalates through a plot that will keep you by turns shocked and uneasy.
Another interesting facet is how, if you gather a group of vulnerable and traumatised people in the same place, they can be easy to manipulate. The apparent safety of the university is a facade that becomes increasingly shaky over the course of the book. There is a chilling paradox that Marika goes on to join the who and what that perpetrated her traumatic event, which set her magic and story into motion in the first place, and maybe even cause trauma to others. She is forced to do many things she never wanted to face. The more I think about it, the darker it feels. A Cure for Magic doesn't sensationalise trauma, but some of the events are quite graphic and distressing and I would recommend looking up the content warnings on Greer's website.
Overall a strong start to the trilogy. I'm intrigued to how things develop further.
(It was hard to write this review without spoilers, but I have tried to keep things vague-ish. Don't read if you don't want any spoilers.)
Marika is a fascinating protagonist. In this first book of the series, she's only just beginning to grapple with her privileged upbringing, and that makes for a steep character arc. She sees people and learning as stepping stones to a lofty destination. She craves reassurance and praise. She has next to no real-world skills, knowledge, or understanding of the class issues in the society her family rules. (This is all entirely in character for a sheltered princess, so I appreciate Greer's sticking with it!) For all this, Marika is supremely determined and it is very satisfying to watch her grow and figure out how to make up her own mind. The way the dramatic finale thrusts her into a fresh arc has me feral for book 2.
My favourite aspect is the way the magic system intersects with the book's themes. In this world, people acquire magic through traumatic events and circumstances. Magic users are discriminated against, ostracised, systemically tortured and forced into servitude. Even a princess whose own family enforce this discrimination can be traumatised and can become a magic user. Marika seeks a cure for her magic, at first, unwilling to accept that she is forever altered by what happened to her.
A word I learned recently is polyvictimisation - exposure to multiple types of victimisation, and the idea that if you are victimised or traumatised once, you become vulnerable and suspectible to further victimisation in a snowballing fashion. You would think Marika's trauma event at the beginning might hold the highest tension, but it is really just the start. Greer masterfully escalates through a plot that will keep you by turns shocked and uneasy.
Another interesting facet is how, if you gather a group of vulnerable and traumatised people in the same place, they can be easy to manipulate. The apparent safety of the university is a facade that becomes increasingly shaky over the course of the book. There is a chilling paradox that Marika goes on to join the who and what that perpetrated her traumatic event, which set her magic and story into motion in the first place, and maybe even cause trauma to others. She is forced to do many things she never wanted to face. The more I think about it, the darker it feels. A Cure for Magic doesn't sensationalise trauma, but some of the events are quite graphic and distressing and I would recommend looking up the content warnings on Greer's website.
Overall a strong start to the trilogy. I'm intrigued to how things develop further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
3.5 stars
All in all, there were many aspects that I liked about this book and other aspects that I felt fell flat for me, were unnecessary for the story, or simply weren't my thing. This brought me to my rating of 3.5 stars.
However, I did find this book to be a decent read, and I would highly consider reading the next in the series.
I found the concept of this book interesting. The idea of one getting magical powers following trauma or a traumatic event really intrigued me. I have never read a book like that before, so I thought that was very unique to the story. I also liked that the main character was a Royal princess in hiding amongst the Ardors (those with magic), who her family historically treated as less and made them seem like they were dangerous to society. I think this gave the book a huge sense of irony and helped build a picture and a questioning of what was good vs evil.
I liked how the book followed the main character on her journey of self-discovery and coming into her magic. While at the same time had her questioning everything she thought she knew and seeing things from a different perspective now that she was no longer a princess safe in her castle and was among those considered less and dangerous. She got to see how others lived and got a taste of what it was like to be in the shoes of those her family historically suppressed and in some cases took advantage of. I liked how her viewpoints changed with the more information she gained and experienced, but things still weren't always as they seemed, and maybe there is more than one evil.
One thing that fell really flat for me was the romance. She started to have romantic feelings towards her mentor's son, but it felt very surface level and I feel like I didn't see much interactions between them that helped me to feel or see their connection grow. I feel like a lot was left out or maybe just not shown in the book, and it led me to think them coming together was too fast. There also was an additional second love interest that just felt very out of pocket and didn't really make sense to me. They also didn't seem to have many positive interactions that would make sense for them to have romantic feelings for each other suddenly. I honestly feel as though I would have rather there not have been a romantic interest at all and focus more on the story.
I felt the story did, however, end with an intriguing twist that has made me interested in reading the next book in the series. I hope the romance, if there is any, is fleshed out more. I am curious to see where the story and the characters go and how everything plays out. There were many twists and turns and lies and secrets spun throughout the first book, which I think sets up the second book to be enticing. Fingers crossed, we will see!
All in all, there were many aspects that I liked about this book and other aspects that I felt fell flat for me, were unnecessary for the story, or simply weren't my thing. This brought me to my rating of 3.5 stars.
However, I did find this book to be a decent read, and I would highly consider reading the next in the series.
I found the concept of this book interesting. The idea of one getting magical powers following trauma or a traumatic event really intrigued me. I have never read a book like that before, so I thought that was very unique to the story. I also liked that the main character was a Royal princess in hiding amongst the Ardors (those with magic), who her family historically treated as less and made them seem like they were dangerous to society. I think this gave the book a huge sense of irony and helped build a picture and a questioning of what was good vs evil.
I liked how the book followed the main character on her journey of self-discovery and coming into her magic. While at the same time had her questioning everything she thought she knew and seeing things from a different perspective now that she was no longer a princess safe in her castle and was among those considered less and dangerous. She got to see how others lived and got a taste of what it was like to be in the shoes of those her family historically suppressed and in some cases took advantage of. I liked how her viewpoints changed with the more information she gained and experienced, but things still weren't always as they seemed, and maybe there is more than one evil.
One thing that fell really flat for me was the romance. She started to have romantic feelings towards her mentor's son, but it felt very surface level and I feel like I didn't see much interactions between them that helped me to feel or see their connection grow. I feel like a lot was left out or maybe just not shown in the book, and it led me to think them coming together was too fast. There also was an additional second love interest that just felt very out of pocket and didn't really make sense to me. They also didn't seem to have many positive interactions that would make sense for them to have romantic feelings for each other suddenly. I honestly feel as though I would have rather there not have been a romantic interest at all and focus more on the story.
I felt the story did, however, end with an intriguing twist that has made me interested in reading the next book in the series. I hope the romance, if there is any, is fleshed out more. I am curious to see where the story and the characters go and how everything plays out. There were many twists and turns and lies and secrets spun throughout the first book, which I think sets up the second book to be enticing. Fingers crossed, we will see!
September 6, 2026
A Cure for Magic does not necessarily reinvent the magical academy setting, but it introduces a particularly interesting magic system in which abilities are triggered by trauma, while those who possess magic are vilified rather than revered. This inversion of the traditional fantasy academy dynamic added an intriguing layer to the world-building and provided some of the book's most compelling elements.
Marika initially comes across as a spoilt and entitled princess with little experience of the world beyond the royal court. However, she also demonstrates a strong conscience and empathy towards the Ardors from the outset, which made her subsequent character development particularly satisfying. Watching her confront the realities of the world beyond her privileged upbringing, alongside the discovery that several of her peers at Ardor Academy knew considerably more about her identity and circumstances than she would have liked, created an engaging progression throughout the novel.
I also enjoyed how the story immediately establishes a sense of urgency. Rather than spending a significant portion of the book building towards the central conflict, readers are dropped into the aftermath of a catastrophic fire that destroys much of the royal complex. This provided an effective starting point and kept the plot moving from the beginning.
The queer and FFM representation was another highlight for me. The development of the triad relationship felt natural and thoughtfully handled, and it was one of the aspects of the book I found myself most invested in.
Overall, A Cure for Magic was an easy and largely enjoyable read, with a compelling magic system and some well-developed character arcs. However, beyond the concept of trauma-triggered magic and the reversal of the usual societal attitude towards magical abilities, I found relatively little that felt particularly distinctive within the broader magical academy genre. For me, this ultimately prevented it from being a higher-rated read, although I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy magical academies, character-driven fantasy and queer romance.
Marika initially comes across as a spoilt and entitled princess with little experience of the world beyond the royal court. However, she also demonstrates a strong conscience and empathy towards the Ardors from the outset, which made her subsequent character development particularly satisfying. Watching her confront the realities of the world beyond her privileged upbringing, alongside the discovery that several of her peers at Ardor Academy knew considerably more about her identity and circumstances than she would have liked, created an engaging progression throughout the novel.
I also enjoyed how the story immediately establishes a sense of urgency. Rather than spending a significant portion of the book building towards the central conflict, readers are dropped into the aftermath of a catastrophic fire that destroys much of the royal complex. This provided an effective starting point and kept the plot moving from the beginning.
The queer and FFM representation was another highlight for me. The development of the triad relationship felt natural and thoughtfully handled, and it was one of the aspects of the book I found myself most invested in.
Overall, A Cure for Magic was an easy and largely enjoyable read, with a compelling magic system and some well-developed character arcs. However, beyond the concept of trauma-triggered magic and the reversal of the usual societal attitude towards magical abilities, I found relatively little that felt particularly distinctive within the broader magical academy genre. For me, this ultimately prevented it from being a higher-rated read, although I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy magical academies, character-driven fantasy and queer romance.
July 24, 2026
This is difficult for me to rate. On the one hand I really liked the idea of the story. I liked the magic system. It wasn't unique but it's not one I've seen done very often, the idea of magic being born from trauma. I did like the inclusion of generational trauma though and how that can effect people and give them magic too. I thought that was interesting. I also liked Marika, Harland, and Argent. I thought they were all interesting and complicated and messy (I love a messy disaster bisexual). I liked the idea of their throuple but this is where things fall flat for me. I didn't feel it. Harland's attraction to Marika was clear but I felt nothing from her about him and then suddenly they're a thing? And then there was the confrontation with Marika and Argent where Marika was like "I've seen the way you look at me." At which I was like "with disdain? Disgust? Because it's definitely not been desire." And yet it was? Nah. So that was really disappointing. There were also parts that felt... contrived? Or like they were happening only because the plot was being forced into it and not because it made sense for the direction of things or what the characters would do. And I think the beginning could have been developed more. I actually thought Juri was supposed to be this stranger uncle that Marika was just meeting for the first time but then later it was clear he wasn't so there was a disconnect there. And then there was the apprehension about him but no we'll trust him implicitly, oh no he's betrayed us! And it just felt...like it didn't make sense. Why are you wary of him but then trust him? I get her naivety (and actually thought it was an interesting part of her character, the spoiled but not overly bratty, naive princess) but idk. If I just watched my uncle force a person to work to death, I wouldn't trust him no matter how naive I was. I let my thoughts sit a bit before reviewing because like I said, I did like parts of it and I liked the idea of it. I'll leave it at 4 stars for now and I'll definitely read book 2.
September 9, 2026
A Cure for Magic is about a royal Marika who had gone into hiding because she had awakened her magic as an Ardor. A tragedy has occurred, causing her to awaken the magic and flee. She goes to the one place known for Arodor to be free, which is Nella University, and while there, she meets someone from her past as a royal, and things don't go her way really. Marika still has this royalty mindset while she's at this Nella University, and that's what makes me mad about her, because, girl, you are not Marika the royal here; you are Raina Nowak, a student of Nella University with strong magic. You are no longer a royal, so this " I'm above people mindset had to go because I was getting irritated that she was steadily thinking about what she didn't have to do as a royal but has to do now as a commoner. She eventually gets over that mindset, but that's not until she is put in a position she doesn't want to be in. Throughout this, Marika is tested and trained, and she, like any other young adult, struggles, overthinks, feels scared, passive, and sad because she is now figuring out who she is becoming, and that is sometimes hard as a young adult. Your mindset is steadily changing because you start to see the truth hidden behind rules and laws. Marika is trying to learn a lot because she has an end goal in mind, but she has to pivot often as hidden secrets are revealed. She barely has time to process it all, but she pushes through, and she finds partners/lovers who help her even as their own convictions change over time. I enjoyed reading this book because it feels like a coming-of-age story where you see a royal who had everything done for her throughout her life, then sees injustice unfold and feels powerless to do anything. But now can do something about the injustices in her world, along with getting to know the other side with the commoners who have been brutalized because of the royals and their actions. You see a young lady finally find herself throughout this book. It took her a while, but that comes with growing up. (ARC Reviewer)
June 24, 2024
"To those who feel things deeply. Whose anger is like breathing fire. Who do not have thick skin, and own it." -Talia Greer, A Cure for Magic dedication.
Let me premise this review by saying the book doesn't have a lot of problematic issues (like dubious themes being encouraged or editing mishaps). I gave it 3 stars simply because I felt detached from the story. Princess Marika is a strong character who goes through trauma and acquires magic, making her an Ardor. Ardors are magic-users that are looked down upon in society, though why is kind of unclear. What she has gone through in the story is understandably enough to create the biggest trauma of her life, but she wasn't given enough time in the story for people to get attached to her and care for what she was going through.
Instead, near the beginning, she was thrust into a school to find shelter and create a bond with 2 students there while also avoiding the danger that lurks in the school halls.
The romance bit was just an add-on to Marika's story. The two students that are to be her love interests feel like background characters that give nothing but 'romance' to her. They don't push her to see Ardor in a new light, she does it herself (though she regresses sometimes). In a way, they're just there to kiss her and be her trophy lovers.
There's also a peeve that I hate going on, which is the unclear use of technology in the setting. Apparently, electric-powered showers exist but the maids wash clothes by hand, still. It would have made sense to link those showers with the use of magic instead.
Other than that, the plot is juicy if you overlook some things. It's an entertaining 1-hour read in my opinion, but not something that will stick with me in the long run.
Thank you Netgalley and Victory editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC!
Let me premise this review by saying the book doesn't have a lot of problematic issues (like dubious themes being encouraged or editing mishaps). I gave it 3 stars simply because I felt detached from the story. Princess Marika is a strong character who goes through trauma and acquires magic, making her an Ardor. Ardors are magic-users that are looked down upon in society, though why is kind of unclear. What she has gone through in the story is understandably enough to create the biggest trauma of her life, but she wasn't given enough time in the story for people to get attached to her and care for what she was going through.
Instead, near the beginning, she was thrust into a school to find shelter and create a bond with 2 students there while also avoiding the danger that lurks in the school halls.
The romance bit was just an add-on to Marika's story. The two students that are to be her love interests feel like background characters that give nothing but 'romance' to her. They don't push her to see Ardor in a new light, she does it herself (though she regresses sometimes). In a way, they're just there to kiss her and be her trophy lovers.
There's also a peeve that I hate going on, which is the unclear use of technology in the setting. Apparently, electric-powered showers exist but the maids wash clothes by hand, still. It would have made sense to link those showers with the use of magic instead.
Other than that, the plot is juicy if you overlook some things. It's an entertaining 1-hour read in my opinion, but not something that will stick with me in the long run.
Thank you Netgalley and Victory editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC!
August 26, 2026
This is a well written book. It doesn't pull any punches, and the POV of the main character is very hard hitting. I was impressed how the author managed to make certain characters and situations seem both sinister and sympathetic at the same time. It built the tension marvellously. They also signalled to the reader that certain perspectives would or wouldn't be condoned by the book despite the way the protagonist felt about them, so when Marika ultimately managed to evade the ideological traps that were set for her, it was very satisfying.
I like that the characters in this book were allowed to be angry for the wrongs that had been done to them, regardless of whether it was socially acceptable or sympathetic for them to be angry. I liked how parallels were drawn between the different factions, not condoning the bad behaviour of either, even though it would've been much simpler and easier for the author and protagonist to declare one wholeheartedly superior to the other. It also made it clear that bad behaviour can occur in any group no matter their level of power/privilege or their goals and intentions, which is a valuable reminder.
The only thing I didn't like was at the beginning of the third act. That felt very predictable and a bit cheap to me. Like, no duh that was going to happen. We could've gotten the lesson of that scene in a more unique way.
That aside, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book as long as you're in the headspace to read dark topics. The book doesn't pull any punches, and while that's one of its strengths, you should still be wary of reading it if you don't have a high tolerance for injustice and the horrible things that happen because of it.
I like that the characters in this book were allowed to be angry for the wrongs that had been done to them, regardless of whether it was socially acceptable or sympathetic for them to be angry. I liked how parallels were drawn between the different factions, not condoning the bad behaviour of either, even though it would've been much simpler and easier for the author and protagonist to declare one wholeheartedly superior to the other. It also made it clear that bad behaviour can occur in any group no matter their level of power/privilege or their goals and intentions, which is a valuable reminder.
The only thing I didn't like was at the beginning of the third act. That felt very predictable and a bit cheap to me. Like, no duh that was going to happen. We could've gotten the lesson of that scene in a more unique way.
That aside, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book as long as you're in the headspace to read dark topics. The book doesn't pull any punches, and while that's one of its strengths, you should still be wary of reading it if you don't have a high tolerance for injustice and the horrible things that happen because of it.
August 31, 2026
A Cure for Magic feels like stepping into a world that’s gorgeous on the surface but quietly interrogating the systems underneath — which is exactly the kind of fantasy millennials gravitate toward. Talia Greer builds a magical landscape that’s lush, immersive, and honestly a little haunting, in that way where you can tell the magic isn’t just pretty; it’s political, emotional, and deeply tied to power structures the characters are trying to survive.
The protagonist reads like someone who’s done the work — or is at least trying. She’s messy, self‑aware, and constantly navigating the tension between who she was taught to be and who she’s becoming. There’s a real millennial energy in watching her unpack generational trauma while still trying to function in a world that demands perfection. Her relationships feel grounded, too — full of boundary‑setting, emotional honesty, and the kind of communication we all had to learn the hard way.
If I’m being honest, the pacing in the middle gets a little sluggish. It’s giving “I’m processing but also spiraling,” which is relatable, but it does slow the plot. Still, the payoff at the end is worth it. The finale sticks the landing without pretending healing is tidy, and it sets up the next book in a way that feels intentional rather than gimmicky.
Overall, A Cure for Magic is a beautifully atmospheric fantasy that blends emotional labor, magical tension, and social awareness. It’s perfect for readers who love stories where the magic system is metaphor, the characters are trying to break cycles, and the world feels like it’s asking bigger questions about power, identity, and who gets to define what “normal” is.
The protagonist reads like someone who’s done the work — or is at least trying. She’s messy, self‑aware, and constantly navigating the tension between who she was taught to be and who she’s becoming. There’s a real millennial energy in watching her unpack generational trauma while still trying to function in a world that demands perfection. Her relationships feel grounded, too — full of boundary‑setting, emotional honesty, and the kind of communication we all had to learn the hard way.
If I’m being honest, the pacing in the middle gets a little sluggish. It’s giving “I’m processing but also spiraling,” which is relatable, but it does slow the plot. Still, the payoff at the end is worth it. The finale sticks the landing without pretending healing is tidy, and it sets up the next book in a way that feels intentional rather than gimmicky.
Overall, A Cure for Magic is a beautifully atmospheric fantasy that blends emotional labor, magical tension, and social awareness. It’s perfect for readers who love stories where the magic system is metaphor, the characters are trying to break cycles, and the world feels like it’s asking bigger questions about power, identity, and who gets to define what “normal” is.
May 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
3.5/5
A Cure for magic follows a young adult princess of a kingdom that systematically oppresses magic-users called Ardors for their own gain, at the behest of her family. She is suddenly thrust into the magical society after her home is burned to the ground with her family inside, the trauma leaving her with magic abilities of her own. She sets off on a new journey to learn to control her newfound abilities, and to enact revenge.
A Cure for Magic really had the perfect setup for a book I would like. Queer, dark academia, political intrigue, interesting magic system, important parallels to real-life... I knew this was a book I had to pick up ASAP! The discussions surrounding mental health in this book were important and made for a really interesting foundation of a magic system. As well, the representation of a queer and poly relationship pulled the whole story together.
In terms of criticism, I think that this book would have benefitted from a round of editing to tone down the intensity of the overlying message. I think the author was somewhat heavy-handed with what they were trying to get across and it made some of the scenes feel a bit artificial. I was also a little confused about the worldbuilding (they have electric showers? but wash all their clothes fully by hand and exclusively use horse-drawn carriages?) as there were inconsistencies in technology with no explanation for a magical reason why they had them.
Overall, an enjoyable experience and I will be waiting for book two!!
3.5/5
A Cure for magic follows a young adult princess of a kingdom that systematically oppresses magic-users called Ardors for their own gain, at the behest of her family. She is suddenly thrust into the magical society after her home is burned to the ground with her family inside, the trauma leaving her with magic abilities of her own. She sets off on a new journey to learn to control her newfound abilities, and to enact revenge.
A Cure for Magic really had the perfect setup for a book I would like. Queer, dark academia, political intrigue, interesting magic system, important parallels to real-life... I knew this was a book I had to pick up ASAP! The discussions surrounding mental health in this book were important and made for a really interesting foundation of a magic system. As well, the representation of a queer and poly relationship pulled the whole story together.
In terms of criticism, I think that this book would have benefitted from a round of editing to tone down the intensity of the overlying message. I think the author was somewhat heavy-handed with what they were trying to get across and it made some of the scenes feel a bit artificial. I was also a little confused about the worldbuilding (they have electric showers? but wash all their clothes fully by hand and exclusively use horse-drawn carriages?) as there were inconsistencies in technology with no explanation for a magical reason why they had them.
Overall, an enjoyable experience and I will be waiting for book two!!
September 8, 2026
I’m always up for a dark academia fantasy with magic, secrets, and a little romance, and this one had a lot of that.
Marika was definitely an interesting character. She starts off pretty sheltered and a little spoiled, but then everything gets turned upside down and she has to figure out how to deal with her magic and this whole new life. I liked seeing her grow throughout the story and start questioning things she had always believed about her family and the world around her.
I also really liked the magic and the whole idea of people with magic being feared and basically treated like they were dangerous. The university setting, the secret society, the rebellion, and all the secrets surrounding Marika kept me interested. There was always something else going on that made me want to keep reading.
The romance was fun too, especially with Argent and Harland. I liked the tension and the different relationships, but I do wish some of it had been developed a little more because some parts felt rushed.
My biggest issue was probably the pacing in the beginning. There were times when I felt like things moved a little too quickly and I wanted more time to really get to know the characters and understand the world. I also had a few moments where I was like, wait, how did we get here?
But once I got further into the book, I was much more invested. I really liked the darker atmosphere, the magic, and the whole royal family/rebellion storyline. Marika definitely has a lot of growing to do, but I’m interested to see where her story goes next.
Marika was definitely an interesting character. She starts off pretty sheltered and a little spoiled, but then everything gets turned upside down and she has to figure out how to deal with her magic and this whole new life. I liked seeing her grow throughout the story and start questioning things she had always believed about her family and the world around her.
I also really liked the magic and the whole idea of people with magic being feared and basically treated like they were dangerous. The university setting, the secret society, the rebellion, and all the secrets surrounding Marika kept me interested. There was always something else going on that made me want to keep reading.
The romance was fun too, especially with Argent and Harland. I liked the tension and the different relationships, but I do wish some of it had been developed a little more because some parts felt rushed.
My biggest issue was probably the pacing in the beginning. There were times when I felt like things moved a little too quickly and I wanted more time to really get to know the characters and understand the world. I also had a few moments where I was like, wait, how did we get here?
But once I got further into the book, I was much more invested. I really liked the darker atmosphere, the magic, and the whole royal family/rebellion storyline. Marika definitely has a lot of growing to do, but I’m interested to see where her story goes next.
June 3, 2024
I am a HUGE Talia Greer fan and this is a brand new adult fantasy series that is coming out tomorrow! What can I say I had to read this!
This story involves magic and our MC Mari, is a princess and royal who does not like what is happening with her family and the way that they treat The Ardors. The Ardors are the magic folks in the realm and they are treated very badly by the royal family and the upper class families. And then Mari after a tragic night, finds out that she may have a hidden secret. One that may be deadly to reveal! Mari finds her way to a university in the realm and lives there while learning.
I love the way that the author weaves her stories for the readers. She can really put her readers into the story that she is telling. In this book I felt I could resonate with Mari as a reader. I could definitely see where her head is at after finding out her secret. The settings and the characters are well described and I love that she incorporates two different points in this story. It reminds me of Frozen and also Harry Potter, that magic school feeling😉
That relationship with Harland….Whew! So much fire and chemistry between those two. I am interested to see where their story is headed in the next book.
I really loved the ending; it leaves the story open to so much more and I really want to see where the Alliance and Mari are headed. Also I want to know what will happen with Ilsa😊
This story involves magic and our MC Mari, is a princess and royal who does not like what is happening with her family and the way that they treat The Ardors. The Ardors are the magic folks in the realm and they are treated very badly by the royal family and the upper class families. And then Mari after a tragic night, finds out that she may have a hidden secret. One that may be deadly to reveal! Mari finds her way to a university in the realm and lives there while learning.
I love the way that the author weaves her stories for the readers. She can really put her readers into the story that she is telling. In this book I felt I could resonate with Mari as a reader. I could definitely see where her head is at after finding out her secret. The settings and the characters are well described and I love that she incorporates two different points in this story. It reminds me of Frozen and also Harry Potter, that magic school feeling😉
That relationship with Harland….Whew! So much fire and chemistry between those two. I am interested to see where their story is headed in the next book.
I really loved the ending; it leaves the story open to so much more and I really want to see where the Alliance and Mari are headed. Also I want to know what will happen with Ilsa😊
September 23, 2026
I received a complimentary or free Advance Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this one. The story centers around a princess who comes from a kingdom where magic and magical beings are outlawed, only for her life to change completely when she discovers that she has magic of her own.
From there, the book becomes a mix of survival, hidden identity, political tension, magical training, uneasy alliances, and a slow-burn romance. One of the things I liked most was the constant question of whether someone was going to figure out who she really was. That tension stays in the background through a lot of the story and kept me interested.
I also liked how the relationships developed. The romance involving the princess felt believable, and the progression of her relationships worked for me. There is some history hinted at between two of the other characters, but I don’t think enough of that backstory was shown yet for their chemistry to feel as developed. As a whole, though, the relationship dynamic was convincing enough that I’m curious to see how it develops in the next book.
I don’t give spoilers in my reviews, so I’m not going into the twists or how everything comes together. You’ll have to read that for yourself.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Did it make my favorites list? No.
Would I read it again? Probably not, but it was absolutely worth the read.
I really enjoyed this one. The story centers around a princess who comes from a kingdom where magic and magical beings are outlawed, only for her life to change completely when she discovers that she has magic of her own.
From there, the book becomes a mix of survival, hidden identity, political tension, magical training, uneasy alliances, and a slow-burn romance. One of the things I liked most was the constant question of whether someone was going to figure out who she really was. That tension stays in the background through a lot of the story and kept me interested.
I also liked how the relationships developed. The romance involving the princess felt believable, and the progression of her relationships worked for me. There is some history hinted at between two of the other characters, but I don’t think enough of that backstory was shown yet for their chemistry to feel as developed. As a whole, though, the relationship dynamic was convincing enough that I’m curious to see how it develops in the next book.
I don’t give spoilers in my reviews, so I’m not going into the twists or how everything comes together. You’ll have to read that for yourself.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Did it make my favorites list? No.
Would I read it again? Probably not, but it was absolutely worth the read.
May 27, 2024
Deadly magic flows through the royal blood of Marika Cyran. When rebels attack her compound, she seeks refuge at Nella University, but it’s not the safe haven she was expecting. The rebels have their own student society there that is determined to take down her family, and she’s number one on the target list.
But she finds herself in a difficult position when a romance begins blooming between her and Harland, the leader of this society. And when that romance also includes her somewhat grumpy roommate Argent, she’s torn between loyalty to her family and the two people who may or may not have her best interests at heart. She could very well lose her power all together before she even learns how to harness it.
This was a medium-heat romance with a delightfully dark magical element. Marika is a strong character with the potential to be fierce, but it doesn’t come across fully in this book. I do applaud the bisexual rep and would’ve loved even more of it. I also would’ve preferred a little more character development for the other two MCs. But I can see the author’s vision and while it began somewhat slowly, the ending definitely lends itself to more of the story. I do look forward to reading more of Greer’s work.
Thank you Talia Greer and RR Book Tours for the beautiful ARC and the opportunity to be on this tour.
But she finds herself in a difficult position when a romance begins blooming between her and Harland, the leader of this society. And when that romance also includes her somewhat grumpy roommate Argent, she’s torn between loyalty to her family and the two people who may or may not have her best interests at heart. She could very well lose her power all together before she even learns how to harness it.
This was a medium-heat romance with a delightfully dark magical element. Marika is a strong character with the potential to be fierce, but it doesn’t come across fully in this book. I do applaud the bisexual rep and would’ve loved even more of it. I also would’ve preferred a little more character development for the other two MCs. But I can see the author’s vision and while it began somewhat slowly, the ending definitely lends itself to more of the story. I do look forward to reading more of Greer’s work.
Thank you Talia Greer and RR Book Tours for the beautiful ARC and the opportunity to be on this tour.
May 28, 2024
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
When rebels set fire to the royal compound, Marika not only loses both of her parents, but the same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed gets awakened in her. When her uncle discovers this, he tries to kill her, and Marika is forced to go on the run. She takes shelter at Nella University, a place where they teach you how to control and use your magic, enrolling under a secret identity. Unfortunately, her new roommate, Argent, recognizes her immediately because she worked as a servant in the royal compound as a child. Argent despises her, and makes her do her bidding in exchange for keeping her silence. When Marika is invited to join a student society which turns out to be the same same alliance that started the fire that killed her parents, Marika is torn between her need for revenge against her uncle and her dislike of the extreme methods that the society uses.
This is Book One in the Ardor Magic Cycle, and I am anxiously awaiting book two. This book was amazing. Talk about the perfect fantasy fiction novel! You had magic in all sorts of forms, you had the good versus evil aspect, you had the school of magic, there was a little romance in there, great world building and character development. I highly recommend this one!
When rebels set fire to the royal compound, Marika not only loses both of her parents, but the same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed gets awakened in her. When her uncle discovers this, he tries to kill her, and Marika is forced to go on the run. She takes shelter at Nella University, a place where they teach you how to control and use your magic, enrolling under a secret identity. Unfortunately, her new roommate, Argent, recognizes her immediately because she worked as a servant in the royal compound as a child. Argent despises her, and makes her do her bidding in exchange for keeping her silence. When Marika is invited to join a student society which turns out to be the same same alliance that started the fire that killed her parents, Marika is torn between her need for revenge against her uncle and her dislike of the extreme methods that the society uses.
This is Book One in the Ardor Magic Cycle, and I am anxiously awaiting book two. This book was amazing. Talk about the perfect fantasy fiction novel! You had magic in all sorts of forms, you had the good versus evil aspect, you had the school of magic, there was a little romance in there, great world building and character development. I highly recommend this one!
September 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed A Cure for Magic! I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC, and this was such a fun dark academia read.
I really liked the world and the way the magic system was woven into the story. The magic itself felt familiar in some ways, but I enjoyed the way the author used it within this world. One of the things that really stood out to me was the class system, especially the fact that magic users are actually at the bottom of the social hierarchy. It made for an interesting dynamic and gave the story some bigger themes around power and inequality.
And of course, we have enemies to lovers, a rebellion, secrets, and plenty of tension to keep things moving. I definitely enjoyed watching all of these elements come together.
I also really appreciated the diversity and representation throughout the book. It was one of my favorite aspects and made the cast of characters feel refreshing.
Overall, this was an entertaining read with magic, dark academia vibes, rebellion, and romance. Definitely a solid 4 stars from me!
Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed A Cure for Magic! I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC, and this was such a fun dark academia read.
I really liked the world and the way the magic system was woven into the story. The magic itself felt familiar in some ways, but I enjoyed the way the author used it within this world. One of the things that really stood out to me was the class system, especially the fact that magic users are actually at the bottom of the social hierarchy. It made for an interesting dynamic and gave the story some bigger themes around power and inequality.
And of course, we have enemies to lovers, a rebellion, secrets, and plenty of tension to keep things moving. I definitely enjoyed watching all of these elements come together.
I also really appreciated the diversity and representation throughout the book. It was one of my favorite aspects and made the cast of characters feel refreshing.
Overall, this was an entertaining read with magic, dark academia vibes, rebellion, and romance. Definitely a solid 4 stars from me!
Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 4, 2024
First thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. I felt very conflicted with this book. At first I could not get into it. The main character was clearly conflicted by the treatment of others but overall sort of annoying. Even when she was scared and alone she was still entitled but her coming to terms wasn’t very deep or interesting. While I don’t normally have any issue with swearing I was surprisingly put off by it when it was so common for the royals but not a lot of the “commoners”. I also found myself wishing she had someone to confide it versus everyone hating her.
Overall there were points where I was interested and but others where I felt disengaged and wanted to get it over with. Ultimately the thrupple piece is what really made me not want to recommend this to others. It felt too much like it was trying to be different? Interesting? I don’t know. Overall 2.5/5 stars for me.
Overall there were points where I was interested and but others where I felt disengaged and wanted to get it over with. Ultimately the thrupple piece is what really made me not want to recommend this to others. It felt too much like it was trying to be different? Interesting? I don’t know. Overall 2.5/5 stars for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2026
A Cure for Magic was an enjoyable dark academia fantasy with a really interesting magic system. I especially liked the idea that magic is connected to trauma and the way that concept ties into the larger themes of power, class, and the treatment of magic users. Marika was an interesting character to follow as she begins questioning everything, she has been taught and trying to understand her own abilities while dealing with her complicated past. I also enjoyed the university setting, the secret society, political tension, and the relationships between Marika, Argent, and Harland. The romance adds another layer to the story without completely taking over the plot, which worked well for me. There were a few areas where I wanted more depth from some of the characters and a little more time for certain parts of the story to develop, but overall I enjoyed the world, the darker atmosphere, and the direction of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
Great read!
I enjoyed how the story was built up in the first chapters. To go from wanting to save the ardors to becoming one was an experience. I love how Marika adapted to the change, she went from wanting the powers to be removed to accepting them. This book also showed a representation of keep your friends close and your enemies closer because that Camille was playing everyone like a fiddle. The ones closest to you be the snakes. And I’m excited to see how this stories continues in “A Chorus of Ruin” especially Marika becoming commander ( hoping with this position she is able to make it better for the commoners and ardors) and for the meet up between her and Juri, i know that’s gonna be a thrill. Also looking forward to how the relationship between the three builds and grows.
I enjoyed how the story was built up in the first chapters. To go from wanting to save the ardors to becoming one was an experience. I love how Marika adapted to the change, she went from wanting the powers to be removed to accepting them. This book also showed a representation of keep your friends close and your enemies closer because that Camille was playing everyone like a fiddle. The ones closest to you be the snakes. And I’m excited to see how this stories continues in “A Chorus of Ruin” especially Marika becoming commander ( hoping with this position she is able to make it better for the commoners and ardors) and for the meet up between her and Juri, i know that’s gonna be a thrill. Also looking forward to how the relationship between the three builds and grows.
May 1, 2024
I was intrigued by the premise of this book. This starts off showing the royal family, of which Marika is princess, treating people who have magic as less than. Marika realizes there are injustices and questions it but does not stop the horrible treatment. As a princess she is used to being spoiled and sheltered. She has a rude awakening when she is involved in a traumatic event which causes her own magic to come forth.
I almost DNF this a couple of times. There was a lot of repetition and Marika could be annoying and didn't show character growth through the story. It had a hard time keeping my interest, some of the situations or reactions just seemed off.
The publisher gifted me this book for review consideration, all opinions are my own.
I almost DNF this a couple of times. There was a lot of repetition and Marika could be annoying and didn't show character growth through the story. It had a hard time keeping my interest, some of the situations or reactions just seemed off.
The publisher gifted me this book for review consideration, all opinions are my own.
May 5, 2024
Rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: Thanks to Victory Editing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Read my full review on my blog: Review of A Cure for Magic by Talia Greer
I love books about fantasy and magic, and this one's definitely full of magic!
What I liked:
- Magic system - magic born of tragedy
- Bisexual main character + poly!
What I didn't like:
- Lack of depth in some of the characters
In Book 2, I'm looking forward to seeing more of:
- Marika and her brother Sascha —
-
Disclaimer: Thanks to Victory Editing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Read my full review on my blog: Review of A Cure for Magic by Talia Greer
I love books about fantasy and magic, and this one's definitely full of magic!
What I liked:
- Magic system - magic born of tragedy
- Bisexual main character + poly!
What I didn't like:
- Lack of depth in some of the characters
In Book 2, I'm looking forward to seeing more of:
- Marika and her brother Sascha —
-
May 29, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It took me a little bit to really get into to start with, but it was worth it! Marina first comes across as a bit of a spoiled princess, but as she has no experience with the outside world, it's no surprise.
However, as events unfold, she has to learn to rely on herself and realise her potential as she is torn between the world as she knows it and what she discovers secrets and lies around every corner.
I'm really excited to see how this story develops and can't wait to get to know Marika, Argent, and Harland better!
Definitely pick this up if you like:
💜 A Messy Bisexual Princess
👑 Royals
📕 Dark Academia
🔥Elemental Magic
💖 OT3/Throuple
🔮 Magic Training
🏕️ Only One Tent
🙊 Hidden Identity
However, as events unfold, she has to learn to rely on herself and realise her potential as she is torn between the world as she knows it and what she discovers secrets and lies around every corner.
I'm really excited to see how this story develops and can't wait to get to know Marika, Argent, and Harland better!
Definitely pick this up if you like:
💜 A Messy Bisexual Princess
👑 Royals
📕 Dark Academia
🔥Elemental Magic
💖 OT3/Throuple
🔮 Magic Training
🏕️ Only One Tent
🙊 Hidden Identity
March 8, 2025
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶🌶
Magic induced by trauma? Very interesting story with a lot of character development.
Tropes
✅️Reluctant Hero
✅️Princess FMC
✅️Love Triangle (MFF)
✅️Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers
✅️Elemental Magic
✅️Hidden Royals
✅️Hidden Identity
✅️Medium Burn
✅️Political Intrigue
✅️Rebelion
✅️Magic Academy
✅️Ethnic Diversity
Triggers
☑️Death
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️War Violence
There is a lot of character diversity in this, which was really refreshing.
Loved the unique take on the magic system where magic is born through personal trauma.
Romance isn't the focal point of the story, but there is a small splash of spice between the FMC and two of her allies (Male/Female).
Overall, the story was well structured, and I'll continue to follow Marika's journey.
2🌶🌶
Magic induced by trauma? Very interesting story with a lot of character development.
Tropes
✅️Reluctant Hero
✅️Princess FMC
✅️Love Triangle (MFF)
✅️Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers
✅️Elemental Magic
✅️Hidden Royals
✅️Hidden Identity
✅️Medium Burn
✅️Political Intrigue
✅️Rebelion
✅️Magic Academy
✅️Ethnic Diversity
Triggers
☑️Death
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️War Violence
There is a lot of character diversity in this, which was really refreshing.
Loved the unique take on the magic system where magic is born through personal trauma.
Romance isn't the focal point of the story, but there is a small splash of spice between the FMC and two of her allies (Male/Female).
Overall, the story was well structured, and I'll continue to follow Marika's journey.
August 21, 2026
I whipped through the book so fast! The pacing is quick in a way I appreciate. The world building is minimal but the description of places and characters are great. This book felt like new adult in that the characters are quick to react, lots of emotion, and questionable decisions. There random things that i loved about this book like the choice to have the character be vegan so the food descriptions were different than any book I’ve read. I also appreciate that it is a FFM why choose. I love that all the characters were diverse with different skin tones. In a story about the oppressed and oppressors the author really explored the dynamic between the two. I’m excited to get into book 2 and I hope the world expands.
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