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Flickerstate
A Study In Drowning meets Neverworld Wake in this debut YA fantasy filled with lush world-building, heart stopping romance, and high-stakes competition that could be the key to everything.
Norah Sullivan has just discovered she's a a person who can manipulate probability. The same day Norah's navigation manifests, she and her father are swarmed by possibility beasts. When a possibility beast bites you, your risk of death skyrockets. And pretty soon, her father gets sick.
Desperate to find a cure, Norah applies to the Academy of Navigation, where there are rumors of restricted information on beast bites hidden in research archives. Once on campus, Norah learns that only senior research assistants are allowed in the archives—and you can only become one by winning a team trial designed to push your navigation abilities to the brink.
She'll need to rely on her roommates, as well as her peer mentor, the handsome Vik Souza, to win the competition. But trouble arises at every turn. There are tensions in the group, romantic complications, and unexplained student disappearances. As Norah gets deeper into the competition, she realizes not everything is as it seems, and the stakes are much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Norah Sullivan has just discovered she's a a person who can manipulate probability. The same day Norah's navigation manifests, she and her father are swarmed by possibility beasts. When a possibility beast bites you, your risk of death skyrockets. And pretty soon, her father gets sick.
Desperate to find a cure, Norah applies to the Academy of Navigation, where there are rumors of restricted information on beast bites hidden in research archives. Once on campus, Norah learns that only senior research assistants are allowed in the archives—and you can only become one by winning a team trial designed to push your navigation abilities to the brink.
She'll need to rely on her roommates, as well as her peer mentor, the handsome Vik Souza, to win the competition. But trouble arises at every turn. There are tensions in the group, romantic complications, and unexplained student disappearances. As Norah gets deeper into the competition, she realizes not everything is as it seems, and the stakes are much higher than she ever could have imagined.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✎ᝰ.┊My thoughts: This story really surprised me. I found myself unexpectedly invested in these characters, and by the end, I was completely rooting for them! The plot was well paced, and I stayed intrigued the whole way through. I needed to know what was going to happen to the people I’d grown so attached to.
Norah, our lead, is incredibly stubborn and intense, but she’s also afraid. Afraid of letting her family down, afraid of being vulnerable, and afraid of dying. She makes plenty of bad decisions, like not trusting her friends when she clearly needs them, that made me want to shake sense into her. This girl drove me absolutely insane, but I also related to her so much.
˖᯽ ݁˖┊What worked for me:
⇢ I honestly didn’t expect to love Vik this much, but here we are! He’s that quiet, reserved type who feels things so deeply, which makes him so likable to me personally. Ahhh, he’s the best.
⇢ The side characters felt fleshed out and real, not just background noise. I loved the found family aspect.
⇢ The story is well balanced between action and emotional stakes.
˖᯽ ݁˖┊What didn’t:
⇢ I know it’s YA and the romance is a subplot, but I’m still so salty that we only get crumbs of them together. I admit I might be a little too obsessed with Vik.
⇢ I struggled with Norah’s secrecy. I understood her being closed off with Bree, but keeping Candace in the dark for so long felt a bit forced and didn’t make sense to me.
⇢ Since it’s an Academy setting, I wanted more actual classroom moments.
✔ ┊Read this if you like:
⇢ Rivals to friends to lovers
⇢ Contemporary fantasy (modern tech meets magic)
⇢ High-stakes competition
I wish this was a duology so I could have more time with these characters.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊pre-read: Heart stopping romance, and a high stakes competition? I’m so ready to dive in.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
Norah, our lead, is incredibly stubborn and intense, but she’s also afraid. Afraid of letting her family down, afraid of being vulnerable, and afraid of dying. She makes plenty of bad decisions, like not trusting her friends when she clearly needs them, that made me want to shake sense into her. This girl drove me absolutely insane, but I also related to her so much.
˖᯽ ݁˖┊What worked for me:
⇢ I honestly didn’t expect to love Vik this much, but here we are! He’s that quiet, reserved type who feels things so deeply, which makes him so likable to me personally. Ahhh, he’s the best.
⇢ The side characters felt fleshed out and real, not just background noise. I loved the found family aspect.
⇢ The story is well balanced between action and emotional stakes.
˖᯽ ݁˖┊What didn’t:
⇢ I know it’s YA and the romance is a subplot, but I’m still so salty that we only get crumbs of them together. I admit I might be a little too obsessed with Vik.
⇢ I struggled with Norah’s secrecy. I understood her being closed off with Bree, but keeping Candace in the dark for so long felt a bit forced and didn’t make sense to me.
⇢ Since it’s an Academy setting, I wanted more actual classroom moments.
✔ ┊Read this if you like:
⇢ Rivals to friends to lovers
⇢ Contemporary fantasy (modern tech meets magic)
⇢ High-stakes competition
I wish this was a duology so I could have more time with these characters.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊pre-read: Heart stopping romance, and a high stakes competition? I’m so ready to dive in.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
July 9, 2026
4.5 ⭐️’s. I LOVE discovering an amazing book before it’s even released 😭⭐️ if you’re a fan of the one dark window magic system, this is that but 10x better!!
this is a YA fantasy that follows norah, who can manipulate probability. her and her dad are attacked by beasts and develop horrible bites. these bites don’t heal on their own, they actually cause you to die faster. since norah is younger, the bites won’t kill her as fast but her dad has 9 bites and a way higher chance. norah gets into a magical academy (think babel) to search for a cure for her and her dad but ends up uncovering a corrupt system within the school with people who know way more than they claim.
this was so well thought out. the world building and magic system is probably one of the most unique I’ve read in a really long time and I’m gonna need other fantasies to take notes! all of the characters were so fun and I also loved the mystery and romance aspect. this really had it all
this is a YA fantasy that follows norah, who can manipulate probability. her and her dad are attacked by beasts and develop horrible bites. these bites don’t heal on their own, they actually cause you to die faster. since norah is younger, the bites won’t kill her as fast but her dad has 9 bites and a way higher chance. norah gets into a magical academy (think babel) to search for a cure for her and her dad but ends up uncovering a corrupt system within the school with people who know way more than they claim.
this was so well thought out. the world building and magic system is probably one of the most unique I’ve read in a really long time and I’m gonna need other fantasies to take notes! all of the characters were so fun and I also loved the mystery and romance aspect. this really had it all
July 19, 2026
Flickerstate had a really intriguing premise, and the magic system was easily my favorite part of the book. The idea of Flickerstate—seeing probabilities of possible futures—felt fresh and gave the story a unique foundation that kept me interested.
That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that this story wanted to be something different than what ended up on the page. Throughout the book, it felt like it would have been stronger as a new adult fantasy set in a college or academy with characters who had just graduated from high school rather than as a young adult novel.
The world also hinted at some darker, more compelling elements that I wish had been explored further. The beasts attacking people had the potential to be genuinely terrifying, but they never quite reached the level of danger or intensity I was hoping for. Likewise, I wanted more depth from the character relationships. With slightly older characters, I think those friendships, rivalries, and emotional connections could have been developed in a much more meaningful way.
Since this is a debut novel, I think the author shows a lot of promise. My biggest takeaway is that it almost feels like an adult fantasy that was reshaped into YA somewhere along the publishing process. Whether that's actually what happened, I don't know, but that's how it read to me. The core ideas are strong, and I'd be interested to see what F.A. Davidson writes next because the creativity is definitely there.
Overall, this was a solid debut with an imaginative magic system, even if I found myself wishing it had leaned into a darker, more mature version of the story it seemed to be setting up.
That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that this story wanted to be something different than what ended up on the page. Throughout the book, it felt like it would have been stronger as a new adult fantasy set in a college or academy with characters who had just graduated from high school rather than as a young adult novel.
The world also hinted at some darker, more compelling elements that I wish had been explored further. The beasts attacking people had the potential to be genuinely terrifying, but they never quite reached the level of danger or intensity I was hoping for. Likewise, I wanted more depth from the character relationships. With slightly older characters, I think those friendships, rivalries, and emotional connections could have been developed in a much more meaningful way.
Since this is a debut novel, I think the author shows a lot of promise. My biggest takeaway is that it almost feels like an adult fantasy that was reshaped into YA somewhere along the publishing process. Whether that's actually what happened, I don't know, but that's how it read to me. The core ideas are strong, and I'd be interested to see what F.A. Davidson writes next because the creativity is definitely there.
Overall, this was a solid debut with an imaginative magic system, even if I found myself wishing it had leaned into a darker, more mature version of the story it seemed to be setting up.
April 28, 2026
book 5 of my 24hr arc readathon!
the magic system was kinda confusing at first ngl so it took some time for me to understand it but other than that i loved it!! it was so fun!!, full rtc!
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
saw this on read now and the cover looks fun??
the magic system was kinda confusing at first ngl so it took some time for me to understand it but other than that i loved it!! it was so fun!!, full rtc!
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
saw this on read now and the cover looks fun??
April 12, 2026
This story has a very complex magical system that I still don’t fully understand but it is very fascinating. Flickerstate is a YA Dark Academia fantasy book that will definitely surprise you. The story gets really tense and Norah uncovers sinister secrets that change everything. The dialogue is quirky and fun. Strong character development. I enjoyed seeing Norah’s character grow and how she finally let people in. Also, the growth within the circle friends, especially when one of them is very unexpected. We also have a love interest. Book left on sort of a cliffhanger. I highly recommend this book to teenagers being that the book is adolescent.
Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2026
3.25 stars! This is a YA dark academia modern-day fantasy with a very unique magic system rooted in mathematical probability.
Overall, it was decently entertaining and had an interesting premise. But I think it ended up being a bit too YA for me personally (to no fault of the book). The characters’ actions/thoughts felt quite young and the author did a bit of over explaining when it came to the plot and larger themes. That being said, I do think this book has wonderful messaging for the young adult audience.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC!
Overall, it was decently entertaining and had an interesting premise. But I think it ended up being a bit too YA for me personally (to no fault of the book). The characters’ actions/thoughts felt quite young and the author did a bit of over explaining when it came to the plot and larger themes. That being said, I do think this book has wonderful messaging for the young adult audience.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you sourcebook audio for the alc 🫶
💭: This book had such an interesting magic system based on manipulating probabilities. It took me a second to wrap my head around it but once I figured it out I thought it was a very cool concept. I enjoyed the academy setting and the competitions that took place. I really liked the FMC Norah. She’s pretty intense and driven but at the same time she cares a lot about her family. The romance, although a minor part of the story, was sweet. I enjoyed the found family aspect and the side characters were well developed. There were some things I didn’t see coming and overall I was satisfied with the ending!
🎧: This audiobook is narrated by Carlette Odemwingie and I liked it! The narration was clear and well paced. I thought the range of voices was well done too!
💭: This book had such an interesting magic system based on manipulating probabilities. It took me a second to wrap my head around it but once I figured it out I thought it was a very cool concept. I enjoyed the academy setting and the competitions that took place. I really liked the FMC Norah. She’s pretty intense and driven but at the same time she cares a lot about her family. The romance, although a minor part of the story, was sweet. I enjoyed the found family aspect and the side characters were well developed. There were some things I didn’t see coming and overall I was satisfied with the ending!
🎧: This audiobook is narrated by Carlette Odemwingie and I liked it! The narration was clear and well paced. I thought the range of voices was well done too!
August 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I loved this book. The main character was very compelling. She was the epitome of any scared, insecure person. It bugged me that she didn’t tell Candace about her bites, Candace being the one person who would understand. But that goes back to the scared and insecureness. I enjoyed the friendships that developed between everyone. And was sad that Griffen was bad as he was an interesting character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2026
This book isn’t even out yet and I’m already eager for a sequel! Norah is a powerful protagonist with a worthy mission when she gets to The Academy to study “navigation”. The magic in this book is well done and I love how the author incorporates it into the modern world in a way that feels contemporary. Vik, Cadance, Griffin, Bree and Mirabel are all fantastic side characters that add depth to the plot in different ways. There are lots of themes explored in this book, but the most prominent ones were class and access. A must read!
July 5, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Source Books for the eARC!
This may very well be my favorite YA fantasy of the year. Not only did we get an incredibly UNIQUE magic system based on future prediction and manipulation, but we had a fabulously hardcore female main character to make this story possible.
Norah is the FMC of my dreams. She’s intelligent and snarky, blunt and focused. She’s the girl that you want leading you in a fight… and also the girl you don’t want to piss off. 😂 I loved how easily she accepted her flaws (stubborn, willful, doesn’t like to ask for help) and ultimately embraced them. She is a female character that kids can look up to. I am so incredibly impressed and proud of her and of Davidson for creating her.
Now Vik is an exceptional MMC as well. He’s the “afterthought”, the one who was always just there beside his more impressive friends. Even though he’s an amazing navigator, he feels “less” because of the way others see him. Watching him blossom under Norah’s focused and confident gaze… it’s so breathtakingly beautiful. I love their dynamic and their chemistry. You can tell that they boost each other’s strength and cover each other’s faults. The two make a great team.
The plot itself was SO brilliant. I loved every second of reading it and couldn’t wait to get all the answers. Again, the magic system was flawlessly designed. I loved the ingenuity!
And the side characters were great too: each one concisely designed and beautifully crafted to make them unique and memorable. I truly felt like I was there with these girls, as a block mate.
I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes YA fantasy academia books and anyone looking for a unique magic system with a fierce FMC.
This may very well be my favorite YA fantasy of the year. Not only did we get an incredibly UNIQUE magic system based on future prediction and manipulation, but we had a fabulously hardcore female main character to make this story possible.
Norah is the FMC of my dreams. She’s intelligent and snarky, blunt and focused. She’s the girl that you want leading you in a fight… and also the girl you don’t want to piss off. 😂 I loved how easily she accepted her flaws (stubborn, willful, doesn’t like to ask for help) and ultimately embraced them. She is a female character that kids can look up to. I am so incredibly impressed and proud of her and of Davidson for creating her.
Now Vik is an exceptional MMC as well. He’s the “afterthought”, the one who was always just there beside his more impressive friends. Even though he’s an amazing navigator, he feels “less” because of the way others see him. Watching him blossom under Norah’s focused and confident gaze… it’s so breathtakingly beautiful. I love their dynamic and their chemistry. You can tell that they boost each other’s strength and cover each other’s faults. The two make a great team.
The plot itself was SO brilliant. I loved every second of reading it and couldn’t wait to get all the answers. Again, the magic system was flawlessly designed. I loved the ingenuity!
And the side characters were great too: each one concisely designed and beautifully crafted to make them unique and memorable. I truly felt like I was there with these girls, as a block mate.
I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes YA fantasy academia books and anyone looking for a unique magic system with a fierce FMC.
August 11, 2026
Flickerstate was such a fun listen! I loved the unique magic system and the academia setting along with the tests and trials.
It does take a moment to understand the magic and the world but once I got the hang of things I had a great time listening to this book. The characters felt a little plain intially, but I got more invested in them as the book progressed and by the end I really loved them. About halfway through the book a romantic subplot builds too which makes everything more interesting of course.
I really love the way the romance specifically is developed in the story. It felt like the natural course of things and I think it all played out perfectly. Vik was my favorite character; he's got that moody, misunderstood quiet boy thing going for him.
In addition to the magic and academia there is some sleuthing and a heist element. Alone, those are some of my favorite elements, but combined with the magic and academia it is the perfect combination of things! What a fun and wild ride.
It had been a bit since I had read something with a unique magic system like this so this book was a real treat and definitely a good one to check out if you're into interesting magic and academic settings.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC.
It does take a moment to understand the magic and the world but once I got the hang of things I had a great time listening to this book. The characters felt a little plain intially, but I got more invested in them as the book progressed and by the end I really loved them. About halfway through the book a romantic subplot builds too which makes everything more interesting of course.
I really love the way the romance specifically is developed in the story. It felt like the natural course of things and I think it all played out perfectly. Vik was my favorite character; he's got that moody, misunderstood quiet boy thing going for him.
In addition to the magic and academia there is some sleuthing and a heist element. Alone, those are some of my favorite elements, but combined with the magic and academia it is the perfect combination of things! What a fun and wild ride.
It had been a bit since I had read something with a unique magic system like this so this book was a real treat and definitely a good one to check out if you're into interesting magic and academic settings.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC.
August 4, 2026
This was a really nice surprise.
A novel with an interesting plot from the start, it gave me The Magicians vibes in the beginning but then it went in a completely different way. I was invested all the way from the start till the very end where I was rooting for the characters.
The setting is great although I was expecting a little more of actual academic content, but overall it was really well done. This is a well paced novel with a great narration by Carlette Odemwingie.
To be honest, for a debut novel it was a great one. I could really connect to the characters, even if some of them made me a bit mad some times. The ending was also great and not at all predictable.
I'm really looking forward to more books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Audio for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
A novel with an interesting plot from the start, it gave me The Magicians vibes in the beginning but then it went in a completely different way. I was invested all the way from the start till the very end where I was rooting for the characters.
The setting is great although I was expecting a little more of actual academic content, but overall it was really well done. This is a well paced novel with a great narration by Carlette Odemwingie.
To be honest, for a debut novel it was a great one. I could really connect to the characters, even if some of them made me a bit mad some times. The ending was also great and not at all predictable.
I'm really looking forward to more books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Audio for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
August 5, 2026
An addictive contemporary academia fantasy with a unique, complex magic system that was surprisingly easy to grasp thanks to the author's writing style.
Norah was a fantastic FMC to follow as she navigated brutal trials while keeping her dangerous secret hidden from her peers and teachers. With her family's future hanging in the balance, the life-or-death stakes made every difficult decision she made feel completely understandable. I also loved watching her character grow as she slowly learned to trust people outside of her family. The dynamic between Norah and Vik perfectly captured the enemies-to-lovers trope I adore, and their constant push and pull kept me invested in whether they would ever get together.
There were a few moments where the pacing slowed, but that felt fitting for the academic setting. I'd recommend this to readers who love academia stories, high-stakes character growth, and a unique magic systems.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Norah was a fantastic FMC to follow as she navigated brutal trials while keeping her dangerous secret hidden from her peers and teachers. With her family's future hanging in the balance, the life-or-death stakes made every difficult decision she made feel completely understandable. I also loved watching her character grow as she slowly learned to trust people outside of her family. The dynamic between Norah and Vik perfectly captured the enemies-to-lovers trope I adore, and their constant push and pull kept me invested in whether they would ever get together.
There were a few moments where the pacing slowed, but that felt fitting for the academic setting. I'd recommend this to readers who love academia stories, high-stakes character growth, and a unique magic systems.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 24, 2026
This was an interesting young adult fantasy with a dark academia setting. I was easily immersed into the world the author created.
I was super intrigued by the magic system right off the bat. However, it was quite complex and I had a hard time visualizing certain aspects surrounding the magical elements of the story. Maybe this was just a me problem though.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. There was a lot of character development and growth, especially with Norah, which I loved to see. I was definitely rooting for the characters throughout.
Read this if you like:
🃏Deadly trials
♠️Academy setting
🃏Rivals to lovers
♠️Probability magic
Thank you @sourcebooksfire for the gifted copy of the book.
I was super intrigued by the magic system right off the bat. However, it was quite complex and I had a hard time visualizing certain aspects surrounding the magical elements of the story. Maybe this was just a me problem though.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. There was a lot of character development and growth, especially with Norah, which I loved to see. I was definitely rooting for the characters throughout.
Read this if you like:
🃏Deadly trials
♠️Academy setting
🃏Rivals to lovers
♠️Probability magic
Thank you @sourcebooksfire for the gifted copy of the book.
July 12, 2026
**ARC Won from Goodreads giveaway**
4.5/5⭐️ If you're looking for a YA fantasy with a magic system that actually feels new, this is it. Learning the mechanics of 'flickerstate' was a highlight for me. I also appreciated the emotional maturity between the leads; mentor/mentee relationships are hard to pull off, but these two communicate openly and honestly. Coupled with a romance that breaks the usual mold, this was an incredibly fun read. I'll be first in line for book two!
4.5/5⭐️ If you're looking for a YA fantasy with a magic system that actually feels new, this is it. Learning the mechanics of 'flickerstate' was a highlight for me. I also appreciated the emotional maturity between the leads; mentor/mentee relationships are hard to pull off, but these two communicate openly and honestly. Coupled with a romance that breaks the usual mold, this was an incredibly fun read. I'll be first in line for book two!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2026
The absolute highlight of this book is its inventive magic system. The concept of the "flickerstate"(the space between nothingness and reality where the future is born) is incredibly creative and masterfully unfolded.
Davidson populates this world with terrifying flickerbeasts that literally feed on human futures, raising the stakes to an absolute fever pitch. Norah is a brilliantly crafted protagonist; her fierce independence, stubbornness, and relatable fear of vulnerability make her beautifully fallible and deeply human. Supported by a fantastic cast of morally gray characters and loyal roommates, the emotional core of the book shines just as brightly as the action.
A smoother pacing of the world-building exposition would have made the initial transition into the academy a bit easier to digest. However, once the rules of the world click, the plot moves at a breakneck speed.
Davidson populates this world with terrifying flickerbeasts that literally feed on human futures, raising the stakes to an absolute fever pitch. Norah is a brilliantly crafted protagonist; her fierce independence, stubbornness, and relatable fear of vulnerability make her beautifully fallible and deeply human. Supported by a fantastic cast of morally gray characters and loyal roommates, the emotional core of the book shines just as brightly as the action.
A smoother pacing of the world-building exposition would have made the initial transition into the academy a bit easier to digest. However, once the rules of the world click, the plot moves at a breakneck speed.
Read
August 10, 2026If you liked A Deadly Education and An Arcane Inheritance, you'll like this.
August 17, 2026
Written for high schoolers but also relevant to middle school. I received an ARC from the publisher at a conference. A fascinating concept and a world I would love to learn more about.
August 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Flickerstate is a cinematic, sweeping YA fantasy.
I had a blast with this one. The characters were compelling and vivid, and Norah was an excellent main character. The settings were immersive and enchanting, and the dark academia atmosphere was excellent. The magic system was spectacular, creative, and fun, and the romance was addictive. The plot was entertaining, although I longed for a bit deeper development. The pacing fit the story nicely. F.A. Davidson’s prose was vibrant, emotional, and energetic with an eerie undertone. I absolutely recommend this one!
Carlette Odemwingie was a wonderful narrator. Her voice fit the characters, atmosphere, and emotion beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC and ALC!
Flickerstate is a cinematic, sweeping YA fantasy.
I had a blast with this one. The characters were compelling and vivid, and Norah was an excellent main character. The settings were immersive and enchanting, and the dark academia atmosphere was excellent. The magic system was spectacular, creative, and fun, and the romance was addictive. The plot was entertaining, although I longed for a bit deeper development. The pacing fit the story nicely. F.A. Davidson’s prose was vibrant, emotional, and energetic with an eerie undertone. I absolutely recommend this one!
Carlette Odemwingie was a wonderful narrator. Her voice fit the characters, atmosphere, and emotion beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC and ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
(+) :
- Probability magic is really cool and I do think that this author does a solid job of describing how this would visually affect the magic wielders. I especially like the aspect of how the magic itself manifests differently as a visual depiction (eg., fire vs wings) from person to person. That was my favorite.
- The motivation of Norah to get into the archives was also felt - both with the stakes with her father as well as her own life. I also just like the idea of an archive that needs special permissions and access that holds the answers.
- The friendship of the three roommates was nice. I think it too a really long time for the other two characters besides Norah to feel fully developed and like their own characters took a really long time, but by the end I cared for them.
- Fundamentally, I like this cover. My favorite part is the text work of the title itself. I think, however, that it works better from far away.
- Good title. This book is all about Flickerstate and with it being unique to this book, it’s just solid.
(-) :
- I think the cards on the cover are a bit of a oversell. I really wanted this to be about card magic and it really is not. In fact, the cards are really only about proving a point in flickerstate.
- I think the flicker beasts needed a bit more world building to them to really feel the gravitas of them. Yes, they’re dangerous, yes they instill fear in the world itself. But I just think that as a reader, they always just kind of appeared and I felt like I was expected to just kind of go “oooOOo scary”
- The romance is weak and pretty unnecessary imo. I never really felt the draw of the two together besides their shared goal. I also just didn’t really understand why he would actually agree to help Norah and I feel that many of the characters’ skepticism about his help was pretty valid. I’m all about rivals-to-lovers with a common goal, but this just felt a bit like “you’re hot and powerful, I’m hot and powerful, eh?”
- There are just so many characters that it took a long time to get my head wrapped around them all.
- This cover bugs me. Firstly, the cards, like I mentioned. Secondly, the fire looks really cartoonish and out of place. And lastly, I just feel like it all feel incongruous with itself; the fire with the more realistic face, with the art deco background. It’s just not favorite.
(?) :
- I’m not really going to comment on the mystery aspect of this story because I found it fine, if not a bit too predictable. But I don’t think the actual reveal was the intent of the writer, I do think the journey was more important.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Maybe. I’m interested to see what further magic systems this writer can come up with.
*Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones' by Lex Croucher
- 'The Firekeeper's Daughter' by Angeline Boulley
- 'All We Hunger for' by Anna Mercier
(+) :
- Probability magic is really cool and I do think that this author does a solid job of describing how this would visually affect the magic wielders. I especially like the aspect of how the magic itself manifests differently as a visual depiction (eg., fire vs wings) from person to person. That was my favorite.
- The motivation of Norah to get into the archives was also felt - both with the stakes with her father as well as her own life. I also just like the idea of an archive that needs special permissions and access that holds the answers.
- The friendship of the three roommates was nice. I think it too a really long time for the other two characters besides Norah to feel fully developed and like their own characters took a really long time, but by the end I cared for them.
- Fundamentally, I like this cover. My favorite part is the text work of the title itself. I think, however, that it works better from far away.
- Good title. This book is all about Flickerstate and with it being unique to this book, it’s just solid.
(-) :
- I think the cards on the cover are a bit of a oversell. I really wanted this to be about card magic and it really is not. In fact, the cards are really only about proving a point in flickerstate.
- I think the flicker beasts needed a bit more world building to them to really feel the gravitas of them. Yes, they’re dangerous, yes they instill fear in the world itself. But I just think that as a reader, they always just kind of appeared and I felt like I was expected to just kind of go “oooOOo scary”
- The romance is weak and pretty unnecessary imo. I never really felt the draw of the two together besides their shared goal. I also just didn’t really understand why he would actually agree to help Norah and I feel that many of the characters’ skepticism about his help was pretty valid. I’m all about rivals-to-lovers with a common goal, but this just felt a bit like “you’re hot and powerful, I’m hot and powerful, eh?”
- There are just so many characters that it took a long time to get my head wrapped around them all.
- This cover bugs me. Firstly, the cards, like I mentioned. Secondly, the fire looks really cartoonish and out of place. And lastly, I just feel like it all feel incongruous with itself; the fire with the more realistic face, with the art deco background. It’s just not favorite.
(?) :
- I’m not really going to comment on the mystery aspect of this story because I found it fine, if not a bit too predictable. But I don’t think the actual reveal was the intent of the writer, I do think the journey was more important.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Maybe. I’m interested to see what further magic systems this writer can come up with.
*Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones' by Lex Croucher
- 'The Firekeeper's Daughter' by Angeline Boulley
- 'All We Hunger for' by Anna Mercier
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i liked this book so so much! i picked it up on such a whim and i’m so happy i did! this book was fun and SUPER unique and i can’t wait for more people to read it so i can see their reviews too! also can i just shoutout the cover real fast? stunning. definitely thinking i need a shelf copy
i liked our characters quite a lot! i thought norah was so strong and relatable. i will admit tho at times she annoyed me but like.. i also understood the girls hesitations and fears around the situation she was in. i just wish she had been a little faster to trust/ been less whiny at times LOL. i liked vik a lot too. he seemed very mysterious, but strong and loyal. and powerful omg. kinda wish we had seen more of him in flickerstate!!! i liked candace and bree too! bree was just your typical bubbly roomie girly girl and candace seemed so nonchalant but like still caring? i liked their dynamic. especially as a team. marabel and griffen i have love hate relationships with lol
the plot was SO fun. i liked how unique it was, while still feeling familiar in a way where i wasn’t lost! i said in an earlier update to the book that the vibes were kinda reminding me of sky high and i stand by that. we follow norah and her friends as they go through this magic school to learn more about their powers! but like the powers themselves? iconic and super unlike anything else i’ve read before.
i liked the first 2/3rds a little more than the ending.. but the ending 1/3rd was still good! i just liked the ~competition~ vibes more than the ending. plus the ending did feel a wee rushed? are we getting another book? i genuinely couldn’t tell lol
my only complaint really was at times like i said the characters were a little whiny, but also sometimes the phrasing in the book felt a little too modern or goofy for my personal taste. but overall i was enjoying the plot enough and it was so infrequent that i was able to look past it. plus the pacing did feel a little off sometimes, but not bad. just sometimes felt like we spent a little too long in like “transitional scenes” (like them getting meals, walking to class, ect does that make sense?) instead of actually exploring the scenes themselves? idk hard to explain kinda… but iykyk i guess haha
overall i would definitely recommend this book, and had such a great time reading it! i am so so so happy that i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire! thank you so much for the opportunity!
i liked our characters quite a lot! i thought norah was so strong and relatable. i will admit tho at times she annoyed me but like.. i also understood the girls hesitations and fears around the situation she was in. i just wish she had been a little faster to trust/ been less whiny at times LOL. i liked vik a lot too. he seemed very mysterious, but strong and loyal. and powerful omg. kinda wish we had seen more of him in flickerstate!!! i liked candace and bree too! bree was just your typical bubbly roomie girly girl and candace seemed so nonchalant but like still caring? i liked their dynamic. especially as a team. marabel and griffen i have love hate relationships with lol
the plot was SO fun. i liked how unique it was, while still feeling familiar in a way where i wasn’t lost! i said in an earlier update to the book that the vibes were kinda reminding me of sky high and i stand by that. we follow norah and her friends as they go through this magic school to learn more about their powers! but like the powers themselves? iconic and super unlike anything else i’ve read before.
i liked the first 2/3rds a little more than the ending.. but the ending 1/3rd was still good! i just liked the ~competition~ vibes more than the ending. plus the ending did feel a wee rushed? are we getting another book? i genuinely couldn’t tell lol
my only complaint really was at times like i said the characters were a little whiny, but also sometimes the phrasing in the book felt a little too modern or goofy for my personal taste. but overall i was enjoying the plot enough and it was so infrequent that i was able to look past it. plus the pacing did feel a little off sometimes, but not bad. just sometimes felt like we spent a little too long in like “transitional scenes” (like them getting meals, walking to class, ect does that make sense?) instead of actually exploring the scenes themselves? idk hard to explain kinda… but iykyk i guess haha
overall i would definitely recommend this book, and had such a great time reading it! i am so so so happy that i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire! thank you so much for the opportunity!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Flickerstate • F.A. Davidson
One phrase: dark academia with probability magic ✨📚
Flickerstate is a YA dark academia fantasy with one of the most fascinating magic systems I have read in a while.
Do I fully understand it?
Honestly, not completely.
Was I still completely intrigued?
Absolutely.
Norah Sullivan discovers she can manipulate probability on the same day her life starts unraveling. After she and her father are attacked by possibility beasts, and her father becomes sick from a bite, Norah is desperate to find a cure. That desperation leads her to the Academy of Navigation, where restricted information may be hidden in the research archives.
The problem? She can only access them if she becomes a senior research assistant.
And to do that, she has to win a team trial designed to push her abilities to the edge.
Immediately yes.
I loved the dark academia setting and the way the story keeps getting more tense as Norah uncovers secrets that make everything feel bigger and more sinister than she expected. The Academy has all the competition, mystery, strange magic, and unexplained disappearances you want from a YA fantasy campus setting.
Norah’s growth was one of my favorite parts. She starts off trying to handle everything herself, but watching her slowly learn to let people in made the story feel really satisfying. I also loved the development within her friend group, especially the unexpected connections that formed along the way.
The dialogue was quirky and fun, the stakes kept building, and the romance added just enough tension without taking over the story.
And that ending?
Definitely left me needing more.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
📚 dark academia
✨ probability magic
🧭 magical academy
🐉 possibility beasts
🏆 high stakes team trial
🔍 hidden research archives
👀 student disappearances
💞 slow romance thread
🫶 found friend group
🧠 complex magic system
🌙 sinister secrets
😱 cliffhanger ending
📚 Read this if you like:
YA fantasy, dark academia settings, magical competitions, complex magic systems, mysterious campus secrets, found friendships, and heroines who have to learn they do not have to carry everything alone.
This was unique, tense, surprising, and such an intriguing start to a fantasy world I want to understand even more.
#Flickerstate #FADavidson #YAFantasy #DarkAcademia #BookReview @sourcebooksfire
One phrase: dark academia with probability magic ✨📚
Flickerstate is a YA dark academia fantasy with one of the most fascinating magic systems I have read in a while.
Do I fully understand it?
Honestly, not completely.
Was I still completely intrigued?
Absolutely.
Norah Sullivan discovers she can manipulate probability on the same day her life starts unraveling. After she and her father are attacked by possibility beasts, and her father becomes sick from a bite, Norah is desperate to find a cure. That desperation leads her to the Academy of Navigation, where restricted information may be hidden in the research archives.
The problem? She can only access them if she becomes a senior research assistant.
And to do that, she has to win a team trial designed to push her abilities to the edge.
Immediately yes.
I loved the dark academia setting and the way the story keeps getting more tense as Norah uncovers secrets that make everything feel bigger and more sinister than she expected. The Academy has all the competition, mystery, strange magic, and unexplained disappearances you want from a YA fantasy campus setting.
Norah’s growth was one of my favorite parts. She starts off trying to handle everything herself, but watching her slowly learn to let people in made the story feel really satisfying. I also loved the development within her friend group, especially the unexpected connections that formed along the way.
The dialogue was quirky and fun, the stakes kept building, and the romance added just enough tension without taking over the story.
And that ending?
Definitely left me needing more.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
📚 dark academia
✨ probability magic
🧭 magical academy
🐉 possibility beasts
🏆 high stakes team trial
🔍 hidden research archives
👀 student disappearances
💞 slow romance thread
🫶 found friend group
🧠 complex magic system
🌙 sinister secrets
😱 cliffhanger ending
📚 Read this if you like:
YA fantasy, dark academia settings, magical competitions, complex magic systems, mysterious campus secrets, found friendships, and heroines who have to learn they do not have to carry everything alone.
This was unique, tense, surprising, and such an intriguing start to a fantasy world I want to understand even more.
#Flickerstate #FADavidson #YAFantasy #DarkAcademia #BookReview @sourcebooksfire
August 5, 2026
3 1/2 stars. How far would you go to save your father...and yourself. The day Norah's navigation powers awaken possibility beasts swarm her and her father. They are both bitten. If you are bitten, you will die. It is only a matter of when. But there might be a cure hidden in the archives of the Navigation Academy. If Norah can get in.
But even when she gets in she discovers there is a tough competition to become one senior research assisstants. She will need all the help she can get as she builds a team with her roommates and tries to get help from her mentor who is also a rival. She faces complications everywhere she turns. No one knows she has the bite. Those that do have the bite face are ostracized. And as she diggers she realizes that there is much more at stake than just her father and her lives. And the dangers are even greater.
Norah is very understandable, if at times a little hard to like. She is very driven and has good reason not to trust anyone. Trust the wrong people and she could end up in jail and any chance of saving her father and herself is gone. She also makes some bad choices, but who doesn't particularly as a teenager and facing life and death consequences. In her pursuit she sometimes isn't the nicest person but in the end she does good.
There is plenty of action but also development of characters and relationships. Some of the secondary characters are developed better than others. Bree who does play an important part of the plotline could have been fleshed out more. I liked Vik but I thought the romantic relationship felt a little flat. Maybe if more time was spent on it. I liked that time was spent on other people's relationship, not just on Norah's. It makes you more invested in the other characters and gives the books balance that you don't always find.
The story also deals with ideas of freedom of will, allowing for other people's ideas even when they run counter to yours, and even public policy of support to communities in terms of emergency responders and health care. So it is a lot deeper than an action adventure story.
I enjoyed it. Depth, adventure and character development with an interesting magic system spells a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
But even when she gets in she discovers there is a tough competition to become one senior research assisstants. She will need all the help she can get as she builds a team with her roommates and tries to get help from her mentor who is also a rival. She faces complications everywhere she turns. No one knows she has the bite. Those that do have the bite face are ostracized. And as she diggers she realizes that there is much more at stake than just her father and her lives. And the dangers are even greater.
Norah is very understandable, if at times a little hard to like. She is very driven and has good reason not to trust anyone. Trust the wrong people and she could end up in jail and any chance of saving her father and herself is gone. She also makes some bad choices, but who doesn't particularly as a teenager and facing life and death consequences. In her pursuit she sometimes isn't the nicest person but in the end she does good.
There is plenty of action but also development of characters and relationships. Some of the secondary characters are developed better than others. Bree who does play an important part of the plotline could have been fleshed out more. I liked Vik but I thought the romantic relationship felt a little flat. Maybe if more time was spent on it. I liked that time was spent on other people's relationship, not just on Norah's. It makes you more invested in the other characters and gives the books balance that you don't always find.
The story also deals with ideas of freedom of will, allowing for other people's ideas even when they run counter to yours, and even public policy of support to communities in terms of emergency responders and health care. So it is a lot deeper than an action adventure story.
I enjoyed it. Depth, adventure and character development with an interesting magic system spells a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There was something quite sharp about this book. The magic system was interesting, the FMC had a wicked sense of humor, and I quite enjoyed both as an adult reader. I also found the melodrama that often plagues YA to be fairly mellow here. Yes, the characters are impulsive at times, but they acted reasonably enough given their circumstances. It was well-balanced that way.
While I loved the humor, the number of very modern pop culture references did give me pause. As a soon-to-be thirty-five-year-old woman, should I really understand every pop culture reference in a younger book? Probably not, and it made me feel a little uncomfortable, as though I could pinpoint the author’s age through the inside jokes I recognized. It also felt odd that in an alternate reality where magic has changed the course of U.S. political events, so many pop culture moments remain exactly the same as in our world. Overall, I think these references were a bit too heavily peppered in and occasionally distracted from the story. The author has plenty of wit without leaning on them quite so much, though I do understand why a teen POV might think this way. It is a tricky thing to balance.
The romance felt less like a slow burn and more like a glacial burn that suddenly became, “Oh, they had feelings for each other?” Still, I really enjoyed Vik as a love interest. He was quiet, steady, and a great example for young readers. YA often gives us miniature versions of the romantasy Shadow Daddy, and while those characters can absolutely be mysterious and fun, I adore when we get upstanding citizens like Vik, or James from When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift. Vik was a treat, and so was Griffin.
Overall, the magic system was both internal and external, and loaded with possibility. The romance was cute, and the mystery gave me just enough to keep turning pages. I did not feel as immersed as I would have liked, but I suspect I may have connected with it more deeply at a younger age. I am interested to see what Davidson writes next, especially if they ever write for an adult audience.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and F.A. Davidson for providing the opportunity to access this debut early! 3.5 ⭐
While I loved the humor, the number of very modern pop culture references did give me pause. As a soon-to-be thirty-five-year-old woman, should I really understand every pop culture reference in a younger book? Probably not, and it made me feel a little uncomfortable, as though I could pinpoint the author’s age through the inside jokes I recognized. It also felt odd that in an alternate reality where magic has changed the course of U.S. political events, so many pop culture moments remain exactly the same as in our world. Overall, I think these references were a bit too heavily peppered in and occasionally distracted from the story. The author has plenty of wit without leaning on them quite so much, though I do understand why a teen POV might think this way. It is a tricky thing to balance.
The romance felt less like a slow burn and more like a glacial burn that suddenly became, “Oh, they had feelings for each other?” Still, I really enjoyed Vik as a love interest. He was quiet, steady, and a great example for young readers. YA often gives us miniature versions of the romantasy Shadow Daddy, and while those characters can absolutely be mysterious and fun, I adore when we get upstanding citizens like Vik, or James from When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift. Vik was a treat, and so was Griffin.
Overall, the magic system was both internal and external, and loaded with possibility. The romance was cute, and the mystery gave me just enough to keep turning pages. I did not feel as immersed as I would have liked, but I suspect I may have connected with it more deeply at a younger age. I am interested to see what Davidson writes next, especially if they ever write for an adult audience.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and F.A. Davidson for providing the opportunity to access this debut early! 3.5 ⭐
July 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
Rating: 3 Stars 😅
I tried to like this book. Sadly it didn’t work for me.
Flickerstate is a debut YA novel by F.A. Davidson which combines probability and the ability. to see futures, together in a dark academia and urban fantasy vibe. Heavy on the creation of probability and the ability to Navigate, this book takes sometime to get into due to the unique world-building and magic-system. The world-building confusing for about half of the book. The alternate version of the US could’ve also been done better in a less-modern take.
Unlike fantasy novels, this novel focuses on the ability to see futures and merge into a time-space construct. We follow Norah, a senior at seventeen how transfers from a regular school to this one to find a cure for a bite-wound from these possibility beasts which manifest due to Navigation - causing death with some exceptions with the existence of a supposed cure.
Written in first person and set in modern day United States, I was a little thrown off by modern jargon which required some googling. I felt that the novel would've been better off leaving some modern terms and focused more on the unique yet complex system of Navigation. The majority of the book takes place in a Navigation Academy which takes in transfer students like Norah, who’d only manifested this power/gift a few months prior.
Conceptually, the probability plot was unique with their flickerstate selves appearing as trees and other elements related to their innermost personalities. Norah is a protagonist with trust issues and a serious personality. Her thoughts were often filled with worry about herself, family and ultimate survival to finding a cure. There were some humorous parts thrown into the mix but failed to captivate me. The mysterious parts of the novel was draggy even until the end. Prose-wise, the writing style was accurate in its relation to a modern-teen which was rather entertaining.
As for the love interest Vik, he didn't really impress me and I found the romance to be cute and really expected a stronger plot twist and more villains in the book.
Thank you Sourcebooks for sending me an eARC of Flickerstate in exchange for a review. Flickerstate is out everywhere on Aug 4, 2026!
Rating: 3 Stars 😅
I tried to like this book. Sadly it didn’t work for me.
Flickerstate is a debut YA novel by F.A. Davidson which combines probability and the ability. to see futures, together in a dark academia and urban fantasy vibe. Heavy on the creation of probability and the ability to Navigate, this book takes sometime to get into due to the unique world-building and magic-system. The world-building confusing for about half of the book. The alternate version of the US could’ve also been done better in a less-modern take.
Unlike fantasy novels, this novel focuses on the ability to see futures and merge into a time-space construct. We follow Norah, a senior at seventeen how transfers from a regular school to this one to find a cure for a bite-wound from these possibility beasts which manifest due to Navigation - causing death with some exceptions with the existence of a supposed cure.
Written in first person and set in modern day United States, I was a little thrown off by modern jargon which required some googling. I felt that the novel would've been better off leaving some modern terms and focused more on the unique yet complex system of Navigation. The majority of the book takes place in a Navigation Academy which takes in transfer students like Norah, who’d only manifested this power/gift a few months prior.
Conceptually, the probability plot was unique with their flickerstate selves appearing as trees and other elements related to their innermost personalities. Norah is a protagonist with trust issues and a serious personality. Her thoughts were often filled with worry about herself, family and ultimate survival to finding a cure. There were some humorous parts thrown into the mix but failed to captivate me. The mysterious parts of the novel was draggy even until the end. Prose-wise, the writing style was accurate in its relation to a modern-teen which was rather entertaining.
As for the love interest Vik, he didn't really impress me and I found the romance to be cute and really expected a stronger plot twist and more villains in the book.
Thank you Sourcebooks for sending me an eARC of Flickerstate in exchange for a review. Flickerstate is out everywhere on Aug 4, 2026!
August 20, 2026
Flickerstate was a really enjoyable YA read with a concept that immediately caught my attention. The idea of entering “Flickerstate,” seeing different possible short-term futures, and then choosing which future to follow felt fresh and unique. At first, I wanted to call it an interesting magic system, but it actually isn’t magic at all. Entering flickerstate is the result of a mutation that some people are born with, typically manifesting between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, which made the world even more intriguing.
Norah discovers that she has the ability to enter Flickerstate, but her first experience quickly turns dangerous when terrifying flickerbeasts emerge and attack both her and her father. A bite from one of these creatures increases a person’s chances of dying early, and while Norah is bitten once, her father is bitten nine times. With no known cure, finding a way to save him becomes one of Norah’s biggest motivations.
For her senior year, Norah is accepted into an elite school where she hopes to strengthen her flickering abilities—and possibly uncover a cure. She soon enters a competition to become an Archivist, which would give her access to the school’s archives and the history of the first person to ever enter Flickerstate. Norah believes the answers she needs may be hidden somewhere in those records.
I also really enjoyed the relationships that developed throughout the story. Norah becomes close with her roommates, who are also her teammates in the Archivist competition, giving the book a fun found-family element. Then there’s Vic, one of her rivals who begins helping her improve her abilities. Their rivalry slowly develops into something more, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow alongside Norah’s increasing control over Flickerstate.
Overall, Flickerstate was a fun and engaging YA novel with an unusual premise, strong friendships, a little romance, and plenty of mystery surrounding Flickerstate itself. The twist near the climax was especially good and had me eager to find out what would happen next. I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend it to YA readers who like speculative stories with competitions, mysterious abilities, high-stakes secrets, and a touch of romance.
Norah discovers that she has the ability to enter Flickerstate, but her first experience quickly turns dangerous when terrifying flickerbeasts emerge and attack both her and her father. A bite from one of these creatures increases a person’s chances of dying early, and while Norah is bitten once, her father is bitten nine times. With no known cure, finding a way to save him becomes one of Norah’s biggest motivations.
For her senior year, Norah is accepted into an elite school where she hopes to strengthen her flickering abilities—and possibly uncover a cure. She soon enters a competition to become an Archivist, which would give her access to the school’s archives and the history of the first person to ever enter Flickerstate. Norah believes the answers she needs may be hidden somewhere in those records.
I also really enjoyed the relationships that developed throughout the story. Norah becomes close with her roommates, who are also her teammates in the Archivist competition, giving the book a fun found-family element. Then there’s Vic, one of her rivals who begins helping her improve her abilities. Their rivalry slowly develops into something more, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow alongside Norah’s increasing control over Flickerstate.
Overall, Flickerstate was a fun and engaging YA novel with an unusual premise, strong friendships, a little romance, and plenty of mystery surrounding Flickerstate itself. The twist near the climax was especially good and had me eager to find out what would happen next. I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend it to YA readers who like speculative stories with competitions, mysterious abilities, high-stakes secrets, and a touch of romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars
I have no idea how this book was not on my most anticipated list because it hit every single thing I love in a fantasy 👀
Magic academy competition with student disappearances and probability manipulation… are you already adding this? 📚
🧠 Micro Synopsis
Norah Sullivan discovers she can manipulate probability and on the exact same day she and her father are attacked by possibility beasts. When her father gets sick from the bite she applies to the Academy of Navigation chasing rumors of restricted research that could save him. The only way to access those archives is to win a brutal team competition that will push her abilities and her secrets to the absolute limit.
🔥 Reasons to Read This If You Love…
Magic Academies 🏛️ · Competition Arcs ⚔️ · Unique Magic Systems ✨
I genuinely cannot explain how this book was not already on my radar because it checked every single box for me.
The magic system is really creative and easy to grasp without the book ever getting bogged down in explaining the mechanics of it all.
Norah is a character who can come across as withholding at first but once you understand what she is protecting and why it makes complete sense.
The academy and competition structure kept the pacing tight and gave the story that momentum I always want from a fantasy like this.
The team dynamics added a really interesting layer because the tension within the group is just as compelling as the competition itself.
The student disappearances woven throughout kept me genuinely uneasy in the best way and added real stakes beyond just the trial.
My one wish is that the romance with Vik had gotten more page time because there is something really interesting there that the book only partially develops.
They get close and then the separation happens, which is a very classic move, but I wanted more of a resolution on that front.
I am really hoping that means a sequel is coming because I would absolutely read more about these characters and this world.
If you love a magic academy with a competition arc and a mystery underneath it all this one is such a good time.
I have no idea how this book was not on my most anticipated list because it hit every single thing I love in a fantasy 👀
Magic academy competition with student disappearances and probability manipulation… are you already adding this? 📚
🧠 Micro Synopsis
Norah Sullivan discovers she can manipulate probability and on the exact same day she and her father are attacked by possibility beasts. When her father gets sick from the bite she applies to the Academy of Navigation chasing rumors of restricted research that could save him. The only way to access those archives is to win a brutal team competition that will push her abilities and her secrets to the absolute limit.
🔥 Reasons to Read This If You Love…
Magic Academies 🏛️ · Competition Arcs ⚔️ · Unique Magic Systems ✨
I genuinely cannot explain how this book was not already on my radar because it checked every single box for me.
The magic system is really creative and easy to grasp without the book ever getting bogged down in explaining the mechanics of it all.
Norah is a character who can come across as withholding at first but once you understand what she is protecting and why it makes complete sense.
The academy and competition structure kept the pacing tight and gave the story that momentum I always want from a fantasy like this.
The team dynamics added a really interesting layer because the tension within the group is just as compelling as the competition itself.
The student disappearances woven throughout kept me genuinely uneasy in the best way and added real stakes beyond just the trial.
My one wish is that the romance with Vik had gotten more page time because there is something really interesting there that the book only partially develops.
They get close and then the separation happens, which is a very classic move, but I wanted more of a resolution on that front.
I am really hoping that means a sequel is coming because I would absolutely read more about these characters and this world.
If you love a magic academy with a competition arc and a mystery underneath it all this one is such a good time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a phenomenal YA fantasy with a deeply unique magic system! I mean I doubt that I would be able to explain all the details of the probability-based magic that can be manipulated by navigators now, but it was such a cool concept, and once I wrapped my head around it, I wanted to know more.
We follow Norah as she tries to win the competition in order to gain access to the archives that contain the secrets that could help curing her dad. She did manage to make a few friends despite keeping plenty of secrets, and what I genuinely enjoyed was how smartly these friendships were written. Not what some would expect from a YA novel.
About the trials... I know some of you are already tired of them in books, but there was a refreshing take on them in Flickerstate since they were to be held as team trials. And for someone as Norah, who wanted to win at all costs, that concept was more challenging than the trials themselves.
But who doesn't love to see character growth? Overcoming this weakness of not being able to rely on others or to share secrets is not something that's easily achievable, but very satisfying to witness.
We also have to talk about Vik! He started out as a rival to Norah, but ended up helping her along the way, and he definitely had his own issues. I really wish there were more scenes between these two characters, as those were easily my favourite parts of the book.
Things certainly took a darker turn than expected towards the end, and I would have really liked to read even more about what happened to the characters after the finale, but I can't really find any faults with how the story wrapped up.
AUDIO NOTES:
I thought the narrator did a great job with bringing the characters to life, especially their emotions, however, I really had to pay attention when she pronounced certain words. I didn't see this mentioned by other reviewers, so it might just be a me problem, and I only had this issue when she voiced the main character, but not the others. Otherwise, great production!
Thank you to publisher and the author for providing an ALC via the Sourcebooks Audio Influencer Hub. All opinions are my own.
We follow Norah as she tries to win the competition in order to gain access to the archives that contain the secrets that could help curing her dad. She did manage to make a few friends despite keeping plenty of secrets, and what I genuinely enjoyed was how smartly these friendships were written. Not what some would expect from a YA novel.
About the trials... I know some of you are already tired of them in books, but there was a refreshing take on them in Flickerstate since they were to be held as team trials. And for someone as Norah, who wanted to win at all costs, that concept was more challenging than the trials themselves.
But who doesn't love to see character growth? Overcoming this weakness of not being able to rely on others or to share secrets is not something that's easily achievable, but very satisfying to witness.
We also have to talk about Vik! He started out as a rival to Norah, but ended up helping her along the way, and he definitely had his own issues. I really wish there were more scenes between these two characters, as those were easily my favourite parts of the book.
Things certainly took a darker turn than expected towards the end, and I would have really liked to read even more about what happened to the characters after the finale, but I can't really find any faults with how the story wrapped up.
AUDIO NOTES:
I thought the narrator did a great job with bringing the characters to life, especially their emotions, however, I really had to pay attention when she pronounced certain words. I didn't see this mentioned by other reviewers, so it might just be a me problem, and I only had this issue when she voiced the main character, but not the others. Otherwise, great production!
Thank you to publisher and the author for providing an ALC via the Sourcebooks Audio Influencer Hub. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2026
Flickerstate is the YA fantasy for you if you enjoy rivals to lovers, high stakes competition, life and death, secrets, and an academic/high school setting.
What I enjoyed: Flickerstate focuses on an unique magic system, one that uses chance and possibility, someone who is able to see multiple futures of what may come. Flickerstate is the "state" in which a person is able to see these possibilities. However, flickerstate attracts beasts/monsters who are able to come into and out of the reality of the characters. From where these beasts come from is really not spoken about. But they come from somewhere and they are attracted to large amounts of power. There also seemed to be almost a secret academic society that could have been, and that would have been a fun part to expand upon.
I did not mind the FMC and the MMC. I actually really liked the MMC, Vik. Wish there was more to his character and back story. He is written by someone who gave him quite a bit of emotional intelligence and feelings, beyond the typical high school boy. But I guess that's needed for a FMC who is guarded and closed off from those who try to get close to them.
What I did not enjoy as much: the secrecy of the FMC. She was like "cannot let anyone close to me because I am afraid of the truth and how they see me." Her stubbornness made her out to be "intense," "no nonsense," which then made the relationship/trust building really difficult. I honestly wish that there did not have to be these roadblocks all the time, and could allow the MC's to have more time in the plot of development of their powers and ability. The one friendship between the FMC and the one roommate seemed to be fake and not very genuine in comparison to the other one. Perhaps I missed where they bonded. Reminiscing of basketball seemed unnecessary and seemed like a filler. Also, wish there was a little more academia, and not so much use of it as the setting.
I would say this was a fun read for a YA fantasy! Would read another book with the same characters, or in the same realm!
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
What I enjoyed: Flickerstate focuses on an unique magic system, one that uses chance and possibility, someone who is able to see multiple futures of what may come. Flickerstate is the "state" in which a person is able to see these possibilities. However, flickerstate attracts beasts/monsters who are able to come into and out of the reality of the characters. From where these beasts come from is really not spoken about. But they come from somewhere and they are attracted to large amounts of power. There also seemed to be almost a secret academic society that could have been, and that would have been a fun part to expand upon.
I did not mind the FMC and the MMC. I actually really liked the MMC, Vik. Wish there was more to his character and back story. He is written by someone who gave him quite a bit of emotional intelligence and feelings, beyond the typical high school boy. But I guess that's needed for a FMC who is guarded and closed off from those who try to get close to them.
What I did not enjoy as much: the secrecy of the FMC. She was like "cannot let anyone close to me because I am afraid of the truth and how they see me." Her stubbornness made her out to be "intense," "no nonsense," which then made the relationship/trust building really difficult. I honestly wish that there did not have to be these roadblocks all the time, and could allow the MC's to have more time in the plot of development of their powers and ability. The one friendship between the FMC and the one roommate seemed to be fake and not very genuine in comparison to the other one. Perhaps I missed where they bonded. Reminiscing of basketball seemed unnecessary and seemed like a filler. Also, wish there was a little more academia, and not so much use of it as the setting.
I would say this was a fun read for a YA fantasy! Would read another book with the same characters, or in the same realm!
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
FLICKERSTATE is a YA Fantasy with a complex, intriguing magic system based on foretelling, high-stakes competitions, an academic setting, and a rivals-to-lovers romance. When Norah Sullivan discovers she is a navigator, a person capable of manipulating probability, possibility beasts swarm her and her father. When a possibility beast bites a person, the chances of death increase. She enters the Academy of Navigation in search of a cure, but the only way into the archives is by defeating other students in a high-stakes team trial.
It was very easy to become absorbed in the story. A magic system based on possibility is unique, though its complexity lent to confusion at times. A deck of cards is used as a motif to demonstrate how far a navigator looks into their future, but beyond that, I didn’t quite understand cards as a symbol for foretelling. I wanted more elaboration in certain situations beyond the character entering flickerstate and summoning cards in a suit. The latter half of the book grew lax with the magic, summarizing key moments the reader waited to see. However, I still found the author’s creation gripping enough to follow the characters.
Norah is an admirable main character. Any character who’ll risk anything to ensure the safety of their loved ones creates empathy for the reader. Although she will resort to less than sportsmanlike tactics, she still carries guilt over the choices she will have to make. Her moral compass makes her a compelling character. Regarding the romance, I wish Vik was a little more developed, as sometimes he gave very little reaction to certain situations. The story is told mostly through Norah, but she observes Vik so closely from the very beginning, I expected her to notice more of his emotional cues and question those. Her overconfidence is a bit frustrating, but overall, I thought how the characters handled the conflicts was very much in line with its YA tone.
FLICKERSTATE is a YA Fantasy with a complex, intriguing magic system based on foretelling, high-stakes competitions, an academic setting, and a rivals-to-lovers romance. When Norah Sullivan discovers she is a navigator, a person capable of manipulating probability, possibility beasts swarm her and her father. When a possibility beast bites a person, the chances of death increase. She enters the Academy of Navigation in search of a cure, but the only way into the archives is by defeating other students in a high-stakes team trial.
It was very easy to become absorbed in the story. A magic system based on possibility is unique, though its complexity lent to confusion at times. A deck of cards is used as a motif to demonstrate how far a navigator looks into their future, but beyond that, I didn’t quite understand cards as a symbol for foretelling. I wanted more elaboration in certain situations beyond the character entering flickerstate and summoning cards in a suit. The latter half of the book grew lax with the magic, summarizing key moments the reader waited to see. However, I still found the author’s creation gripping enough to follow the characters.
Norah is an admirable main character. Any character who’ll risk anything to ensure the safety of their loved ones creates empathy for the reader. Although she will resort to less than sportsmanlike tactics, she still carries guilt over the choices she will have to make. Her moral compass makes her a compelling character. Regarding the romance, I wish Vik was a little more developed, as sometimes he gave very little reaction to certain situations. The story is told mostly through Norah, but she observes Vik so closely from the very beginning, I expected her to notice more of his emotional cues and question those. Her overconfidence is a bit frustrating, but overall, I thought how the characters handled the conflicts was very much in line with its YA tone.
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