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Magic Academy #1
The Fire Test
Can the students discover the impostor before it's too late?
Lace Labrencias is the princess of a small country the ruthless King James is about to invade, and she'll stop at nothing to keep her people safe. She’s a powerful but inexperienced mage, with the ability to see and control auras, but she knows her magical gift could be much more.
So when a legendary mage invites her to attend his Magic Academy, she eagerly accepts. But once she arrives at the location, she is transported into a dangerous labyrinth. What’s worse—her magical abilities are gone. What’s even worse—she’s trapped in the maze with seven others claiming to be students—and deadly traps will keep coming unless they find out who the impostor is. Is it the child who is more than she appears, the mute gladiator, the nature-controlling witch, the prejudice Queen, the too-cheerful healer, the arrogant pirate, or the handsome, dangerous monk who has a mysterious tie to Lace?
This exciting fantasy romance is the first book in the Magic Academy series.
Lace Labrencias is the princess of a small country the ruthless King James is about to invade, and she'll stop at nothing to keep her people safe. She’s a powerful but inexperienced mage, with the ability to see and control auras, but she knows her magical gift could be much more.
So when a legendary mage invites her to attend his Magic Academy, she eagerly accepts. But once she arrives at the location, she is transported into a dangerous labyrinth. What’s worse—her magical abilities are gone. What’s even worse—she’s trapped in the maze with seven others claiming to be students—and deadly traps will keep coming unless they find out who the impostor is. Is it the child who is more than she appears, the mute gladiator, the nature-controlling witch, the prejudice Queen, the too-cheerful healer, the arrogant pirate, or the handsome, dangerous monk who has a mysterious tie to Lace?
This exciting fantasy romance is the first book in the Magic Academy series.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2015
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 22, 2019
My first "couldn't finish" book for 2019. I used to feel obligated to finish every novel I read, but have come to realize that life is to short to waste time with books that suck. Not saying The Fire Test sucks, but it's a great idea badly executed.
The good:
1. The cover. A beautiful dark-skinned girl on the cover of a fantasy novel will ALWAYS get my attention (and my dollars).
2. The idea of a magic school with diverse students who work together to defeat the wicked magical foe. Harry Potter was enjoyable (#teamHermione) but let's be honest, diversity was never its strong suit (despite Rowling later claiming that Hermione was a biracial heroine). Sure there were students of color at Hogwarts but they were not main characters and weren't given autonomous backstories.
3. Lace is my kind of kickass heroine, and it was cool to allow her some romance.
4. Plenty of adventure and narrow escapes.
The bad (from my Kindle notes):
1. Too much modern language in the fantasy. This is a pet peeve of mine. High fantasy (which this is) is supposed to take place in a world unlike ours. It would have a certain cadence, lending an otherworldly air. The characters are indeed teenagers, and they sound like they're straight from Instagram. It's jarring.
2. No description of the main heroine Lace, who's black. This oblique attempt at inclusion is a cheap way for authors to claim diversity by doing the least amount of work possible. Especially when all of the other characters are given at least a paragraph - the default White characters are described using words like "beautiful pure skin" and "sweet-faced, skin as clear and soft as a child's".
3. Lace is automatically thought of as a slave by one of the other characters because why not? Even in fantasy somehow the Black heroine just HAS to be. Ugh!
I'm certain the author isn't #ownvoices and it shows. Sad thing is, there are non #ownvoices authors who get it right, but for each one who commits the above racefail, it just makes me more cautious about those who think they can tell our stories, then do it badly. There is definitely a need for more diversity in fiction, no doubt, but that inclusion can't just be window-dressing. There are tons of resources for authors who want to write diversely (and who care about doing so with respect) and having a diverse critique group would help as well. Mostly, more #ownvoices authors given an equal chance to shine, along with diverse editors, publishers, reviewers, cover artists, etc.
Maybe I'll read to the end some other time, but for now, I just can't.
The good:
1. The cover. A beautiful dark-skinned girl on the cover of a fantasy novel will ALWAYS get my attention (and my dollars).
2. The idea of a magic school with diverse students who work together to defeat the wicked magical foe. Harry Potter was enjoyable (#teamHermione) but let's be honest, diversity was never its strong suit (despite Rowling later claiming that Hermione was a biracial heroine). Sure there were students of color at Hogwarts but they were not main characters and weren't given autonomous backstories.
3. Lace is my kind of kickass heroine, and it was cool to allow her some romance.
4. Plenty of adventure and narrow escapes.
The bad (from my Kindle notes):
1. Too much modern language in the fantasy. This is a pet peeve of mine. High fantasy (which this is) is supposed to take place in a world unlike ours. It would have a certain cadence, lending an otherworldly air. The characters are indeed teenagers, and they sound like they're straight from Instagram. It's jarring.
2. No description of the main heroine Lace, who's black. This oblique attempt at inclusion is a cheap way for authors to claim diversity by doing the least amount of work possible. Especially when all of the other characters are given at least a paragraph - the default White characters are described using words like "beautiful pure skin" and "sweet-faced, skin as clear and soft as a child's".
3. Lace is automatically thought of as a slave by one of the other characters because why not? Even in fantasy somehow the Black heroine just HAS to be. Ugh!
I'm certain the author isn't #ownvoices and it shows. Sad thing is, there are non #ownvoices authors who get it right, but for each one who commits the above racefail, it just makes me more cautious about those who think they can tell our stories, then do it badly. There is definitely a need for more diversity in fiction, no doubt, but that inclusion can't just be window-dressing. There are tons of resources for authors who want to write diversely (and who care about doing so with respect) and having a diverse critique group would help as well. Mostly, more #ownvoices authors given an equal chance to shine, along with diverse editors, publishers, reviewers, cover artists, etc.
Maybe I'll read to the end some other time, but for now, I just can't.
October 22, 2015
The Magic Academy: The Fire Test is a Fantasy “Sword & Sorcery” novel about a group of misfits and their struggle to battle a labyrinth of dark magic.
Everything starts with the invitation Lace, a princess from a poor region, receives to attend a Magic Academy by a powerful sorcerer.
In time she crosses paths with a former monk, an innocent child, a runaway queen, a pirate, and two slave refugees who all have one thing in common. To see a corrupt King’s defeat.
All are forced to work as one, when they’re transported to a deadly maze of death and mystery.
One can't turn the page without having goosebumps from the last one. The twists, the turns, the choices...Magic Academy is a whirlwind of magic, diverse characters and a test of strength.
The Fire Test can make any reader feel they can do anything.
Everything starts with the invitation Lace, a princess from a poor region, receives to attend a Magic Academy by a powerful sorcerer.
In time she crosses paths with a former monk, an innocent child, a runaway queen, a pirate, and two slave refugees who all have one thing in common. To see a corrupt King’s defeat.
All are forced to work as one, when they’re transported to a deadly maze of death and mystery.
One can't turn the page without having goosebumps from the last one. The twists, the turns, the choices...Magic Academy is a whirlwind of magic, diverse characters and a test of strength.
The Fire Test can make any reader feel they can do anything.
September 26, 2020
Fresh Prince 90s Pop Culture Readathon Prompt
HBIC Character, YA book with staring a Black Girl
HBIC Character, YA book with staring a Black Girl
December 7, 2016
Sent to me by a friend, who met the author.
I'm not much of a gamer, but this book really brings the appeal to life. I can see that this would be appealing to teens both entering the fantasy/role-playing games, as well as fantasy literature. Magic, but not the obvious sorts, and a school for magicians that is decidedly un-Hogwarts. Characters are engaging, and I like that the female lead is dark-skinned, because my friend's daughter, who is decidedly non-Caucasian, used to say that fantasy depresses her because "all the chicks are white skinned and big boobed, or white skinned and athletic. I can't be a character because I'm dark and strong, but not big or athletic." She's now an amazing young woman, fighting for climate change and for LGBTQ rights at university in North Carolina. I'll tell her about this book so she can rejoice.
It's the first in a series. It would be interesting to see where the author takes it from here.
I'm not much of a gamer, but this book really brings the appeal to life. I can see that this would be appealing to teens both entering the fantasy/role-playing games, as well as fantasy literature. Magic, but not the obvious sorts, and a school for magicians that is decidedly un-Hogwarts. Characters are engaging, and I like that the female lead is dark-skinned, because my friend's daughter, who is decidedly non-Caucasian, used to say that fantasy depresses her because "all the chicks are white skinned and big boobed, or white skinned and athletic. I can't be a character because I'm dark and strong, but not big or athletic." She's now an amazing young woman, fighting for climate change and for LGBTQ rights at university in North Carolina. I'll tell her about this book so she can rejoice.
It's the first in a series. It would be interesting to see where the author takes it from here.
February 25, 2017
Arif immediately jumped into it and Violet followed. Soon they were all in safety. Just as One Eye stepped out of the tiny space, there was a creaking noise and the wall slammed shut. Rocks smashed together. Lace met One Eye’s glance with a raised eyebrow. “Hope that wasn’t your lucky sword.” One Eye gripped the second saber at his belt. “Oh, that’s your lucky sword? Thank goodness.” He snorted, but a pleasant light danced in his eyes. Lace walked down the large hallway. A gust of wind tore through, whipping her skirt around her legs. She held her arms to her chest. Misty droplets sprayed over them. She turned and looked Arif up and down, a little smug. “Look who’s back.”
If you had the chance to go to a Magic Academy, where you could learn how to strengthen your power…in exchange for your help in executing the world’s darkest reign—would you do it? The world is becoming insufferable, difficult to live in because of the imminent danger threatening freedom, property, and survival. King James is the name that everyone fears in the dark. What decision would you make if you were offered a chance to protect those you loved against an evil so powerful that it may very well be unstoppable?
Lace, a princess of Zoto, has been provided an opportunity to train with one of the very best mages of her time. Her task is to fly to this Magic Academy where others around the regions will become students much like herself. When she arrives, she is mistakenly shot down by an arrow—but she is astonished to learn that she knows the man responsible. Finding no school anywhere in sight, both students become trapped in a portal of some sort, where they meet others who have traveled far to find the same school. Together, the students have to form an alliance in order to get out of the dangerous portal that keeps hurdling near impossible traps around every corner. Lace is unable to use her power, the ability to see auras of everyone who she has come in contact with. With no way of knowing who to trust, she must learn to use her instincts and decipher the best course of action. Everyone’s magical power has been taken from them when entering the portal—by someone very powerful who they have yet to identify. One of their powers can briefly be used, but it comes in dire times only. Fear is a powerful motivator, but will it be enough to trust the others when it comes to getting out alive?
Ross has an entertaining and impressive first installment. The character development and diversity are superb and the originality is credible. All of these characters seem to have their own stories, their own reasons for wanting to be a part of this Magic Academy. Most of the characters also give plenty of room for the reader to form an emotional bond to them in different ways. This story flows beautifully and is written extremely well, allowing the reader to find it easier to engage themselves in the world that has been created by this author. If you are a reader of Young Adult Fantasy, this may be perfect for you.
A copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author, but this in no way affects our honest opinion of the book or the review that has been written. We provide a five-star rating for The Fire Test by E.R. Ross.
If you had the chance to go to a Magic Academy, where you could learn how to strengthen your power…in exchange for your help in executing the world’s darkest reign—would you do it? The world is becoming insufferable, difficult to live in because of the imminent danger threatening freedom, property, and survival. King James is the name that everyone fears in the dark. What decision would you make if you were offered a chance to protect those you loved against an evil so powerful that it may very well be unstoppable?
Lace, a princess of Zoto, has been provided an opportunity to train with one of the very best mages of her time. Her task is to fly to this Magic Academy where others around the regions will become students much like herself. When she arrives, she is mistakenly shot down by an arrow—but she is astonished to learn that she knows the man responsible. Finding no school anywhere in sight, both students become trapped in a portal of some sort, where they meet others who have traveled far to find the same school. Together, the students have to form an alliance in order to get out of the dangerous portal that keeps hurdling near impossible traps around every corner. Lace is unable to use her power, the ability to see auras of everyone who she has come in contact with. With no way of knowing who to trust, she must learn to use her instincts and decipher the best course of action. Everyone’s magical power has been taken from them when entering the portal—by someone very powerful who they have yet to identify. One of their powers can briefly be used, but it comes in dire times only. Fear is a powerful motivator, but will it be enough to trust the others when it comes to getting out alive?
Ross has an entertaining and impressive first installment. The character development and diversity are superb and the originality is credible. All of these characters seem to have their own stories, their own reasons for wanting to be a part of this Magic Academy. Most of the characters also give plenty of room for the reader to form an emotional bond to them in different ways. This story flows beautifully and is written extremely well, allowing the reader to find it easier to engage themselves in the world that has been created by this author. If you are a reader of Young Adult Fantasy, this may be perfect for you.
A copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author, but this in no way affects our honest opinion of the book or the review that has been written. We provide a five-star rating for The Fire Test by E.R. Ross.
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August 1, 2022It’s me!!!:)
August 15, 2016
I came across this author while wandering the aisles of KC Comicon, and I just can't pass a pile without books without stopping. The two authors and I discussed Bookcrossing, Rainbow Rowell, and a variety of other subjects while I looked over their books. I decided to buy the first book in each of their series.
I started reading this thinking I would draw it out and read it slowly. That didn't happen. I read this book in one day. (And yes, it isn't a long book, but I picked it up in the morning and didn't set it back down until that afternoon.) This may be geared to a young adult audience, but I still found it enjoyable. Sure, it is a bit predictable at times but it is a fun read....especially for someone who used to play D&D. (It reminded me quite a bit of running through a role playing game.) The language is simple but the author makes the characters engaging.
I started reading this thinking I would draw it out and read it slowly. That didn't happen. I read this book in one day. (And yes, it isn't a long book, but I picked it up in the morning and didn't set it back down until that afternoon.) This may be geared to a young adult audience, but I still found it enjoyable. Sure, it is a bit predictable at times but it is a fun read....especially for someone who used to play D&D. (It reminded me quite a bit of running through a role playing game.) The language is simple but the author makes the characters engaging.
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October 24, 2016This was a good book. Not the best I've ever read but still good. It was full of action. In fact I think it was predominately action and there didn't seem to be much story behind it. There was a story, but the book focused more on the action and less on the story in my opinion. Still I enjoyed it. It was an easy read for me and probably could be considered something I might have read in the 5th grade had it been around back then. I might or might not read the rest of the series, haven't decided on that yet. But this author shows promise in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews