A Cure for Magic

The Ardor Magic Cycle #1

by Talia Greer

Marika Cyran is destined to rule, if she survives her own power first.

When rebels attack the royal compound, Marika learns the true price of her family’s legacy. The same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed now runs in her veins, and her royal blood paints a target on her back.

Desperate to learn her powers before they destroy her, she takes shelter at Nella University, hiding her true identity. But it’s not quite the sanctuary she’s hoping for. Argent, the roommate she’s paired with, is a prickly woman who seems to despise her. The same rebels who want her family dead flourish here under the guise of a student society, and their most popular member, Harland, seems a little too interested in her dangerous power…and Marika herself.

When a spark ignites between all three of them, it complicates Marika’s quest for control. To stay is to spit upon her family’s memory. To leave is to forfeit her once chance to corral the unruly magic. And to do nothing is to risk being consumed by the very forces she seeks to understand.

A Cure for Magic is the first book in a New Adult romantic fantasy trilogy featuring dark elemental magic, hidden royals, and a medium-heat romance that is secondary to the plot. Perfect for fans of dark academia and the Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow & Bone.

Genres: Fantasy

342 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2024

Reviews

[KMart Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ashley Farrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[theromantasybookcorner._ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳༻❀☕️🅱︎🅾︎🅾︎🅺•🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆☕️❀༺➳

✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

📚📝✨🥀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

✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[Brooke Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Halz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Proserpina Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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!

[Victoria Hopper · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!!

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

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😊

[Brenda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

***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!

[Melissa Urban · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sable Hayalet · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 — I have hope they'll be reconciled and find a way to support each other
- Marika, Argent, and Harland 😈

[Rachel Hanwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Jesse Lemire · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so great. I mean this in the best way, but there is not a single character in this book that I did not hate at one point or another. Each of them had either awful/cruel ideas, lived with an "ends justified the means" mentality, was too weak to stand up for their ideas, or had some other mindset or action that was so realistic it made them unlikable for a time. And it made the book REALLY good. The oppression ardors faced in this world was appalling, and seeing Marika go from "Ardors don't have it that bad" to "my family has been leading the charge of mistreating this people for generations" was just a really good read.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cure for Magic is an exciting and immersive YA fantasy that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world of magic. Marika, the strong and determined protagonist, is caught between two opposing forces, and the way her character grows throughout the story is captivating. The magic system is intriguing, with Marika discovering its secrets alongside the reader, which makes for an engaging experience. The romantic dynamics between the three leads add a fun layer to the story, blending adventure with emotional depth. With its fast-paced plot and compelling characters, A Cure for Magic is a total page-turner that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a span of a few days. The FMC, Marika can come off spoiled, bratty, annoying, but also resilient in her own way. She seems to be able to solve problems given the chance to do so. You'll see that as you read on.I do like that this book has found family, forced proximity, quest, magic, and much more! FMC Marika is a princess, and she gets caught up in a world where magic is outlawed and people who hold them are being punished or killed for it.

In the beginning, I didn't quite understand what was going on in the opening scene with the Ardor. I think when the Ardor was being held captive or punished, I had this idea that it was some kind of monster. I didn't realize until a little bit further down the line that it was a magic wielder. I have no idea why, but for some reason, I had this image of a Jabba the Huttesque kind of creature instead. It does get implied, and later on that they are pretty much wielders.

I want to say that after my little run-in with the confusion above (which, in all honesty, is probably just me), I did get sucked in right away. I wanted to know what happens next! I couldn't put this book down. I read this book in a span of a few days. I stayed up several extra hours each night to just get in the extra time to find out what happens next! Here is what I have to say about the entirety of what I read.. I enjoyed it. There were definitely a few holes in the story that I had so many questions about, but I think they were there for a reason! I think that could be setting us all up for book 2!

Spice level is tolerable for this book. It's fairly low. It's decent! Nothing extreme. I personally, enjoyed what I felt was the mini quest that Marika went on to get to Nella. I also enjoyed her learning how to channel control throughout her learning experience. It's like when Harry Potter got to Hogwarts to learn. I feel like she was channelling similar vibes!. Looking forward for the next book!

Thank you to Talia Greer for the ARC copy for this review.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book although some parts felt a bit slow. I enjoyed the concept and way it was written. I think it was one of the first books I have read which described colours and the features of characters and places so clearly that I could picture it perfectly. The writing is well written and didn't feel like the author was trying so hard to incorporate high level language or big hard to pronounce words. Some parts did make me want to DNF such as our FMC's spoiledness but she did try grow and I look forward to seeing where the series goes.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marika’s journey from crown princess to a person who possesses magic is a difficult one. Being raised a princess didn’t not prepare her for the harsh realities ardors must face. After her parents are killed and her magic reveals itself she must flee her uncle who wants her dead. The life she finds at a school for magic is very different than the one she has known. She must challenge all the prejudices she has been raised with. She learns to trust herself and her magic and along the way develops an interesting relationship with with Harland and Argent. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Stephanie Cressman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, netgalley, for letting me read this arc. I could not put this book down, it keep me hooked through it all. I liked that there is a small amount of romance, but it's about the story and Marika's journey of finding where she needs to be. I can't wait for the next books in the series to see how Marika and her friends grow into their new roles and how and if Marika will fix the views people have of those with magic.

[Mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my very first arc and I’m still new at being an arc reader.

I really enjoyed ‘a cure for magic’ and I believe the future of this series is promising. I’m a sucker for hidden power(s) main characters and the fact that the MMF’s entire life was that of a very sheltered royal makes her transitional journey one you’ll want to see every step of the way.

But I wish Marika came off as a much stronger MMF.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed going on a journey with Marika from her name changing to her character development. In the university she proceeds to learning to "control" her magic. However Argent, knows who she ,is will this change everything? There a lot of decision-making along the way for Marika can she handle them?

[D.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has excellent world building and SO. much. feminine. rage.

TWs: A dog dies, which is upsetting for most people, I think. Also, lots of instances of people dying horrible deaths. It's a dark book.

[Jenn Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read!

She got my heart jumping and breaking all at the same time the things this girl endured I definitely want to know more and can’t wait to read more

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid main character, fun concepts, the romances could have used a little bit more build up. I was provided a complimentary copy from Voracious Readers Only.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me with the blurb. But the story and the twists kept me hooked. I wanted to read it in one sitting, but life kept me from being able to.

Marika is so much more than meets the eye! Please don’t get me started on Doan or Camille. But Argent?! Uugghhh! I wanna be her!

[Alissa Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cure for Magic was filled with magic, romance, found family, and royals. I was drawn to this book quickly. The characters were well-written and easy to connect with. As the book went on the characters developed beautifully and came into their person. Marika, the main character, she learns a lot about herself and who she can trust. The plot kept you engaged and wanting to continue to read to find out what was going to happen. Throughout the book there was a lot of twists and turns. I am excited to read the next book to see how the story is continued. Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the chance to read this free book and give my honest opinion.