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The Faerie Race #1

The Sorcery Trial

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Welcome to The Faerie Race—an epic adventure through a realm as compelling as it is deadly…Fame. Fortune. Your most extravagant wish granted. These are the prizes promised to the team that wins The Faerie Race, the first and only reality television show to venture into the dangerous realm of the fae. But that’s not why Jacqueline Cunningham wants in. She’s after any sign of her sister—who vanished without a trace into the faerie world two years ago. Jacq thought getting into the race would be the hard part. But she didn’t count on the other competitors—who will stop at nothing to finish first.Or her distractingly-handsome jerk of a partner, who seems to be hiding secrets of his own. Plunged into a world where everything wants to kill her, what starts as a hunt for the truth turns into a desperate contest for survival. Now that Jacq’s in the race, it will take all her wits to make it to the finish line alive.The Sorcery Trial is Book One in The Faerie Race, a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride through a realm unlike anything you’ve ever seen.Scroll up and one-click to start the adventure!

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2019

632 people are currently reading
1341 people want to read

About the author

Claire Luana

33 books637 followers
Claire Luana grew up reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could. Eventually, adulthood won out, and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, going to work as a commercial litigation attorney at a mid-sized law firm. While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing.

She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.

Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
Profile Image for Angie.
1,395 reviews232 followers
June 23, 2019
"This isn't Hollywood anymore. You should assume everything in faerie wants to eat you or kill you."
"Are you included in that?" I countered.
"Depends on if you slow me down. Keep up, and we'll be fine."
--Orin & Jacq

This novel isn't something I would normally read (as I would consider it YA fantasy adventure), but the blurb sounded interesting enough to grab my attention. It was an eclectic mix containing 2 cups of Hunger Games conspiracy theories and horrors being broadcast for the world to see, 1.5 cups of Amazing Race adventures and challenges to complete in order to advance, 3 tablespoons of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire beasties hiding in the dark and waiting to ambush our MCs, and 1/2 cup of Twilight love triangles and broody heroes who are secretly sweet.

And even though the writing and the voice of the heroine Jacq was juvenile at times, this all somehow worked for me. The story flowed nicely for the most part and kept me interested throughout as there were many layers to the story working at once--we have the surface action of Orin and Jacq and the other competitors training and trying to survive, while at the same time having to deal with sabotage from other teams and possibly a secret group called the Brotherhood. And above all else, Jacq remains solely focused on finding her sister who she thinks has been kidnapped into the faerie world.

Overall, I did enjoy this story and would recommend it to younger readers who are looking for a Hunger Games and Harry Potter type adventure story with plenty of magic and hidden agendas. I am looking forward to the next book to see where Jacq, Orin, and Cass end up.

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Shannon.
1,080 reviews17 followers
June 19, 2019
This is a really fun book, I can't wait to see what the rest of the series brings us. There is action, magic, creativity, and the characters are interesting. So far there is no romance, but there is the potential for something to happen in the future and I like that romance is not a driving factor in the plotline.

Jacq Cunninngham has landed herself a role as a gopher on an L.A. movie set in the hopes of one day becoming a stuntwoman. She is learning the ropes and hopefully will move her way up the ladder in Hollywood. When her boss finally lands his big show, Jacq finds herself running errands for all types of Fae and humans as they compete to be contestants on a new type of show, think American Ninja Warrior meets The Amazing Race, meets The Hunger Games but with all manner of Fae creature and with magic. Sounds good right? Jacq isn't interested in the Fae or magic as her sister disappeared after getting involved in a coven several years ago. Jacq is hoping to enter the Fae world in order to find her sister and bring her back, she is hopeful that The Fairy Race is her ticket in to that world and might provide some clue as to where her sister went. Unfortunately, Jacq isn't allowed to participate.

Jacq has a bit of a hero complex, she has to save everyone around her. She wants to save her sister, and when she is presented with an opportunity to save an injured contestant on the show, she finds herself a fan favorite and a contestant. Jacq no intention of using magic, and she doesn't care about winning fan favorite after her initial actions, she just wants to find her sister. She does well in all of the physical challenges, but when she is finally paired with Orin a surly fae who doesn't like anyone and only wants to win things start out rough as the race begins. Orin has his own motivations to win the race. He and Jacq eventually work out their issues and begin to work together.

Overall, this was fast paced and really enjoyable. I thought the characters could have used a bit more development and the world building could have been a bit more descriptive. Jacq is a bit all over the place and I hope we get more development from her in the next books. For a girl who wants to be a stuntwoman and win a game to save her sister, she is extremely irrational and impulsive when it comes to making decisions and she doesn't actually try to win said races. She is constantly stopping to help the other contestants to help them which I like about her, but I can't yet see how that helps her find her sister yet. I'm sure that will become clear as the series unfolds.

Overall I really enjoyed this and I'm very much looking forward to the remaining books in the series. I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchanged for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christa.
901 reviews82 followers
July 22, 2019
Imagine the Amazing Race into a fae land with a little bit of the Hunger Games thrown in.

Jacqueline is working in Hollywood as a stunt double when she is hired on as crew of the Faerie Race. She wants to be a participant but she can’t since she’s crew. The participants will work in groups of two and go through three trials (books 1,2,&3). Whoever wins will get a lot of money and a boon from the Faerie King.

Jacq wants to know what happened to her sister Cas, who disappeared with a fae not long after the fae became public.

She stumbles her way into the race and allowed to enter due to how viral her stunt went. She isn’t popular with the other contestants who worked really hard to be there.

The land of Faerie is a dangerous and beautiful place. She has to work with her partner not only to win, but to make it out alive.

It was a clever concept to put the competition of theAmazing Race and the Hunger Games (minus the fight to the death) and put it with supernatural creatures. It was fast paced. There’s the mystery of what happened to Jacq’s sister, and the reality TV entertainment of who will betray who.

I’d recommend it. Free on kindle unlimited.
Profile Image for Golden Angel.
Author 160 books2,023 followers
November 13, 2020
I have no idea when I downloaded this book to my Kindle (as so often happens with me, unfortunately) but I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it!

The first of a trilogy, I got sucked in fast and hard to the paranormal world built here. A cross between the Hunger Games and the Amazing Race, the reality TV show featured in this book has true dangers and a lot of action. I'm also always a fan of strong heroines and grumpy men ;) I devoured this book like a hungry dragon and I can't wait to read more and see where it leads.
Profile Image for Becky Moynihan.
Author 16 books375 followers
June 8, 2020
Gah, I devoured this! I’m a huge fan of Hunger Games style trials/competitions. Add in some Fae and magic and wow! What a ride. I wasn’t bored once the entire time. The pace was engaging and full of action, yay! I can’t wait to binge read the final two books and figure out the mystery behind the scenes. And way to tease with the romance. I’m dying for more!
Profile Image for Lene Blackthorn .
1,826 reviews7 followers
June 30, 2019
Contest in the Faerwild with a boon from the faerie king as the prize? Bet on that many will apply for various reasons.
Same holds for Jacq, though her intentions are very different and selfless. Find Cass and bring her home.
And survive.
That, though, might prove to be a problem. Especially with half the contestants being dangerous and cunning, no one to be trusted, and something shadowy going on in the production as well..
Breath-taking adventure full of action and mortal danger that guides us into a fantastic realm of magic and creatures. Enjoyable plot set up into a race full of obstacles, working on the personalities of the contestants to reveal their true colors and develop under the pressure. Even though Orin takes off as the grumpy outcast, by the end of the book the reader has to love him.. and wish for more. So now I can't wait for book 2.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,598 reviews489 followers
February 25, 2020
*Source* Kindle
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

The Sorcery Trial is the first installment in co-authors Claire Luana and J.A. Armitage's The Faerie Race trilogy. What you need to know; the protagonist of this story is Jacqueline (Jacq) Cunningham. 10 years ago, the existence of the fae and the faerie realm was revealed. The ICCF (International Coalition for Cooperation with Faeries) was created. 2 years ago, her older sister Cassandra disappeared without a trace. Jacq to this day believes that she went over the hedge into Faerwild, the home of the fairy. Jacq believes Cass was last seen with a Fae, but has no proof since everything seems to have been covered over.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Renita Andries ♡.
61 reviews
June 7, 2019
Faes are always a fav of mine to read and I was not disappointed. Betrayal, magic and conspiracy are just a few of the elements in this book. So if you're looking for a great book on faeries I definitely recommend this one. Can't wait to read the rest in this series.

I'm just glad I made the decision to read an advance copy of this book.

Profile Image for Nicole.
645 reviews30 followers
September 8, 2020
I read this novel forever and ever ago and realized that while I made notes on reading this book, I never logged them for others to know how seriously gifted Claire is as a writer. She is writing this series with a co-author and friend, and their writing together is seamless. I hope they both had so much fun working on this series together !

Wow, that novel was amazing. I am so excited for book two already. What a fun and excitingly dangerous world you both have created here 😊.

I felt like the relationship between Jaq and Cass was strong even though we don't meet Cass in this novel. I felt like there was a harmonious balance between her love for her sister and the unabashed hatred for the Fae because her sister has been missing for so long and the circumstances that we currently know of her being gone.

Jaq and Tristam is a wonderful dynamic as well. Because as a reader they meet very early on and seem to have chemistry. He really is the first one that makes her believe that Fae might not be so bad, and magic can be used for good. However, that is not where they end. I really liked their arc so far for this series. When she punched him in the face at the end I was all but clapping while reading because what he did was cruel and mean spirited. Although all of these contestants are cut throat for sure.

With Orin, I like that he is more of a mystery. He is dark and seems sullen and hard. But the more that is revealed about him, the reader is able to see the tender side of this badassness. His caring for Jaq is honestly refreshing because you can tell by the end of the novel that he really does care for her and wants her to safe, but it doesn't start out as this connection immediately. I like that their friendship grows over the course of being put into these dangerous situations and having to rely on each other. I cannot wait to see where their friendship heads in the next novel.

Jaq and the other contestants was a nice mixed bag, as you aren't always going to get along with people you work with or meet in life. I feel like Jaq had strong and weak relationships with the different contestants. I definitely felt that her rekindling of the friendship with Genevieve could have been explored more because she was killed off, but that might just be my want to know more about Cass and their friendship and her knowledge that Cass is okay.

I think this novel is a very excellent start to this series. I am very intrigued as there is a lot of mystery surrounding this show, the brotherhood, Cass, Orin's parents, Tristam being a rude dude and so much more. I think this novel is very strong currently, and novel two will just continue to enlighten everyone into hopefully some answers and probably a lot more questions.

This novel took so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I felt the action was paced nicely, the check points were scary, dangerous and difficult. I felt the characters all had purposes even if they were small, they assisted the other characters to accomplish what they needed to do.

I am so exited for the next novel already! And to hold this finished badboy in my hands !
Profile Image for Janine.
517 reviews75 followers
June 16, 2019
The second I heard this was “The Amazing Race” (one of my favorite reality shows) with fae, magic, and everything trying to kill you, I was sold on the Faerie Race saga. And the Sorcery Trial does not disappoint, with intrigue, surprises, danger, great characters and motivations, all at a nice brisk pace. As a disclaimer, I read a beta version of the entire saga in early 2019 before reading this final version.

Jacq Cunningham is an aspiring stuntwoman in Hollywood, weary of magic ever since her sister Cass disappeared two years ago. And after going so long with no leads, she sees the race as her way to get her back home, safe and sound. But there’s a lot she wasn’t expecting. I like Jacq; she’s determined, to the point of being reckless (you have to in order to be a stuntwoman), yet snarky at the same time. She’s wiling to help others and has a sense of right and wrong as the story continues. I love the interactions she has with the other characters, all varied and got me a sense of who each of them were. I really like the interactions she has with Ben and Orin the most. Without giving away too much, some of the characters and interactions really surprised me, and at the same time, were exactly as I expected, and each has some depth, but it’s clear that we haven’t seen the full depths of these characters quite yet, but it’s good for the first installment.

The plot is very fast paced, going from concept of the show, to auditions and then the race itself, covering the first of three ‘Trials’. The setting of both Earth and Faerwild is vivid, and the magic has some defined rules set to it, which I like. You get the feeling that you’re witnessing a deadly TV competition (much like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, etc) in a magical land, and there’s plenty of twists that keep you on your toes. And the race isn’t the only thing going on in terms of the plot. There’s one that really got me good the first time I read it, and still was a gut punch . As a bit of a warning, there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending to this one .

Another great read from Luana and Armitage and I highly recommend it for those into deadly reality TV in a fantasy setting!
Profile Image for Kathy Martin.
4,153 reviews115 followers
July 11, 2023
This is the start of an urban fantasy trilogy. Faerie has announced itself but getting into the fae lands isn't easy. That is why Jacqueline Cunningham decides that her best chance to find out what happened when her sister disappeared into faerie lands is to join the Faerie Trial - a reality TV show that pairs a human with one of the fae and sends them into the faerie land to perform feats. The winners will get fame, fortune, and their greatest wish granted.

Jacq has been working as a gofer in Hollywood but she really wants to be a stuntwoman. At first she's denied the opportunity to try out for the Faerie Trial but a daring rescue gives her a chance. She can do the physical stuff easily enough. But performing magic? Not so much.

She does manage to get into the trial by squeaking in. She's in last place. That means she is left with the one fae partner she didn't want. He's dark, brooding, and doesn't want her as a partner either. However, she and her partner will have to work together if they want to survive. Because the other teams would like to see them dead.

There are lots of quests, lots of handsome boys who may or may not be working in Jacq's best interests, and there is a hidden agenda that is just barely revealed in this episode.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding. I liked the characters especially Jacq and her partner. My only complaint is that there were lots of loose ends left at the end of this episode which makes reading the rest required to find out what happens.
Profile Image for debturk1970_bookvibes.
1,848 reviews18 followers
June 12, 2019
Omg, I Loved This Book!!😍🌟👑.

If you're looking for a book full of magic, intrigue, backstabbing, potential romance & conspiracies then you've found it in this excellent series opener!!🌟

It became public knowledge about 10 years prior, that Fae were real & lived in a realm connected to Earth 🌎 Jacqueline, Jacq, Cunningham has made her way to L.A. as she wants eventually become a Stuntwoman!👍 She made the move after her sister disappeared, with a Fae!!😳 After over a year of investigations no leads were ever found. Jacq had to get away or she'd have driven herself with her heart break!!😢

She's working as a Gopher for a TV Studio Exec when he gets the go ahead to start full negotiations for a Reality Show based in the Fae Realm. Their King has agreed to finally allow camera's in!👑😱 Its going to be a brutal race. There will be 6 teams of 2, one Human & one Fae on each team. Java asks if she enter but isn't allowed. She desperately wants to get into their Realm to look for sister, Cass!🙏💕 Due to some heroics that saved the life of Studio's Daughter, She's now been given a chance & is being sent to Wales, UK to train with the contestants for a month!!🎉

Once the race starts they're all in for a rude awakening about just how dangerous & deadly this TV Show actually is!!😭💀💥 This has wonderful characters, world building & plotting - I was totally immersed in Jacq's world 🌟

Debbie, 1970, UK
Profile Image for Nancy (The Avid Reader).
3,063 reviews128 followers
June 11, 2019
Jacqueline Cunningham is looking for her sister that disappeared into the faerie realm two years ago. She has been looking for a way to enter the faerie world ever since and now she may just have found her way in by entering The Faerie Race a reality TV show. If she can get in the race and win then her winning prize would be whatever she wishes.

Becoming a contestant in The Faerie Race was not as hard as Jacq was anticipating but the trials in the race are way more dangerous than she ever assumed they would be. Every contestant is out to win at any cost even if it means someone’s life. Can Jacq make it through the trials? Can she make it through the race alive?

The Sorcery Trial will keep you on your toes with twists in each trial leaving you wanting more and more. Each trial requires more than being strong and fast physically but mentally as well. The Sorcery Trial keeps the adrenaline pumping with Jacq racing through each trial trying to stay alive and helping other contestants along the way.

I highly recommend The Sorcery Trial to all fans of fantasy.
Profile Image for Ilona Nurmela.
673 reviews16 followers
June 17, 2024
Loved this fae version of Hunger Games - with Red Caps and a dragon, yum!

After the fairy folk made themselves known to the humans, Jacq’s sister was taken by fae. 18yo Jacq, training to become a stuntwoman and working as a gopher to a Hollywood producer en route to her dream accidentally ends up in a fae-human reality show. Paired with someone she despises, things get interesting and dangerous veeery quickly.

I loved Jacq’s hero complex no-regard-for-self behaviour, her urge to find out what happened to her sister fuelling her wish to stay in the deadly games and her warming to Orion…awww…enemies-to-lovers, puh-lease! In the next book, I hope. Definitely wishlisting as great pace, original take and for once, the girl is not mooning over the fae…too much.

Recommended for lovers of Hunger Games crossed with the Triwizard Tournament from HP with a dash of YA clean romance with way more focus on action-adventure.
Profile Image for Penny.
3,122 reviews85 followers
June 14, 2019
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. However, I found myself quite enjoying every minute of it. Right away, I was drawn in the book and was swept away with Jacq and the contestants as they went on their quest to win the trial. I loved the set-up, and I loved the trial from beginning to end. The writing was superb although I would like a tad more description of what’s going on around Jacq, the characters were intriguing, and I loved how things changed throughout the book (no spoilers!). I am eagerly waiting for the next book as I can’t wait to see what they will face next! I highly recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
1,616 reviews35 followers
July 17, 2019
When Jacqueline hears that the prize for winning The Faerie Race is a boon from the King, she really wants to be involved, and after saving one of the contestants, she has her chance. Her sister went missing years ago and Jacq is convinced that faeries took her. If she can get in then maybe she can find a way to rescue her sister. However, when the race starts she is busy enough just trying to stay alive.
I love the crazy situations Jacq manages to get herself into and the way she somehow always gets away with it through a mixture of luck and skill.
Profile Image for Emily McCosh.
Author 44 books222 followers
February 7, 2021
4/5 because I had a lot of fun reading it!

Picked this one up for free on Amazon. Read it all in one sitting; it was a fun and action-y YA adventure with some nice flirty romance thrown in. The MC has a few dumb moments, but all in all I liked her spirit and decisions, and I thought it was fun that
Profile Image for A.
144 reviews
January 14, 2022
This was an eventful quick and easier read for me. I was engaged throughout it and am interested in where it will go. I thought the plot or writing may be a bit more young adult focused based on the cover but it felt like it was written for slightly older.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews131 followers
Want to read
January 30, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/30/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for 💕📚Cassie📚💕.
225 reviews22 followers
May 5, 2024
It’s amazing it feels like it’s Survivor and the Hunger Games all in one series that meets Hollywood reality stars but with supernaturals. It takes awhile to pick up but once it does it’s so good
Profile Image for R. Jetleb.
Author 14 books7 followers
March 9, 2021
Wasn't sure I would enjoy a book featuring faeries, but the premise intrigued me. It was a Hunger Games type reality TV show, but with teams of humans and faeries. I enjoyed the clues and checkpoints part of it as well as the deep personal motivations of the two main character's reason for being in the race. Looking forward to The Elemental Trial!
Profile Image for Debbie Eyre.
5,893 reviews116 followers
June 15, 2019
OMG this is just awesome! From the very start I was hooked and on the Edge of my seat, I’m amazed I have any nails left at all after reading this fast paced read filled with trials, traps and tests! Well written this is action packed with twists you will not see coming and I loved Jacq the female mc and cannot wait to read more in this series! A fantabulous start!
Profile Image for Vicky Quenault.
282 reviews5 followers
June 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this book.
The characters were interesting and complex.
The pacing was quick.
The plethora of fae creatures featured was great, seeing both the good and bad portrayed is always a win.
I cant wait to read the next book in the series!
1 review
June 27, 2019
I’m quite excited to be reviewing this new book early and I want to thank the authors for allowing me this opportunity and now into the review. Warning there may be spoilers in this review. I very much enjoyed reading this book and finished it in one day. There were however some things that I found either confusing and irritating while I was reading. First the trials that the two main characters went through, I don't consider trials really. They relied on others more than themselves for all of them making it seem like its normal. I understand taking advantage of some situations during the trials but not all of them. So the main female character was a little confusing and quite agitating sometimes. She claims at the beginning of the book that she hates the Faerie but from what I understood she doesn't. She “hates” them but at the same time is drawn to them. Throughout the book I saw pretty much no signs of her hating them, annoyed maybe but not hate so I didn't really understand why the authors put it in novel if they weren't going to act on it.
Another thing that confused me was all the drama going on with Jacqueline sister. When I was reading from what I got the authors mentioned at first that it was a year since Jacqueline's sister disappeared and that she had to get away from the memories. Than later on it was mentioned that it has been three years instead of one year since her sister disappeared, that's not the end of it. It later says that it was two years since she disappeared and that really annoyed me. The authors kept changing when her sister disappeared and it looks like they never made a final decision on when she did. Jacqueline also later admits that she fears magic because of her sister's disappearance. This is something I didn't fully get since it wasn't really magic that took away her sister it was a Faerie who possessed magic, so I didn't understand why be afraid of the magic it would have been more interesting if she had it from the beginning. This brings me to my next point about why Jacqueline wasn't part of her sister coven. I would assume if one sister was in the coven than the second one would also be in it like her sister. She knew about the coven and usually went to their meeting but never practiced herself which confused me. Also it doesn't really say how her sister even came to practice magic so that was a little hole that was annoying.
Before she even made it into the race she decide to practice at the obstacle course because she assumed that no one was there but she later says that she felt as if some one was watching her as she went through the obstacle course but we never find out who which is another annoying thing. During the training before the trials actually started I wish I saw more interactions between Jacqueline and the other competitors, especially between her and her future partner Orin. another thing that happened during training was that we never find out what happened to the book that was given to her by one of the trainers that disappeared and why that trainer suddenly disappeared.
Jacqueline lets save everyone attitude was also a little bit annoying. This book is centered around a competition but the main character is helping every competitor that is having trouble and putting herself and Orin in harm's way. She instead should be focusing more on herself and her partners safety instead of others. Orin in the novel is honestly you typical bad boy who has a good heart even though he tries to hide it. A bad quality about his is that he seems to be a sissy. He is usually has fear in his eyes when he and Jacq encounter something scary, like the passing of the mirror. Not to mention we don't really see much of his power used making his seem like he’s weaker when he should be portrayed as someone who is strong. Also we learn very little about his background which was a little disappointing.
But in general I really did enjoy the book even if it may have annoyed or confused me at some parts. I liked how the character development of the characters went and that we see that they honestly began to care for each other. Not to mention the one or two times that either of them get jealous of the other is so cute. I’m hoping that the next book will answer some of the things that I have mentioned and am looking forward to where the second of three quests leads them next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kenya Starflight.
1,652 reviews21 followers
June 29, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3

I'll admit that the premise to this one had me hooked pretty quickly -- "The Amazing Race" but set in an urban fantasy world where Faerieland exists alongside our own. If nothing else, it would be entertaining, right? And I'll give it this, it was entertaining... but it also felt rather lacking. And while I did have fun, I didn't find the world or the story terribly compelling.

It's been several years since the world learned Faeries existed, and for the most part life has gone on... except for Jacqueline, a Hollywood go-fer who dreams of becoming a stunt double. When her studio signs up to film a reality show in the faerie realm, Jacq ends up as a contestant -- which she plans to use to her full advantage to find her sister who was abducted by the Fae. As she grapples with the dangers of this magical realm, her brooding and unhelpful partner, the treachery of other contestants, and her own inability to master magic, she learns that the reality show might be covering up something far more sinister...

I'll give this book props for being entertaining. It has plenty of action, the pacing is decent, and I liked how well the world of magic meshes with the modern world. There was a good amount of humor to balance out the action and more serious bits, and unusually for a book like this the romance was kept to mere hints here and there. (Though I suspect Jacq is going to fall for her partner before this series ends... *sigh*) And the concept has a lot going for it too.

Character development is sadly lacking. Jacq gets a decent amount of development, but she is an extraordinarily obnoxious character. Authors seem to forget that it's possible to make a character who's strong and sassy without having them insult everyone who crosses their path... and for God's sake have them ease off the snark a little here and there or they'll become insufferable. The other characters aren't a lot better, and most get barely any development. Orin's tragic backstory feels tacked on to make him more sympathetic, but that doesn't really make up for him being a jerk.

The book does throw in some hints of a greater threat behind the scenes, but all this amounts to is vague mentions of a Brotherhood. Give us a LITTLE more to go on than this, please -- what is the Brotherhood, and why is it such a threat? Also, this book ends without much of a resolution. Yes, one of the three trials has come to an end, but the show isn't over and nothing at all has been resolved. Please don't trick me into buying the next book in your series like this, give us SOMETHING of a resolution even if you have an overarching story arc...

This book had a great premise, but it didn't wow me enough to make me want to continue the series. Even with that non-ending...
391 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2024
Fairies came out to humans. That is, Fae kind let their races be known to humans ten years ago, and they were everywhere. They were allowed to visit this realm if they had a visa from the International Coalition for Cooperation with Faries, but humans were not allowed to visit their realm, until recently. Then, to beat all, they were going to make a contest of it, a race. The studio that was going to handle the broadcast planned on pairing up a Fae with a human, and to qualify, the potential contestants would have to audition. Jacqueline Cunningham of Irvine, California, worked at the studio as a gopher(go-for). She was in the office where it was decided to make the show and how it should be made. It was then that she also found out that she did not look like the contestant they were after. They were after the young wannabes, the romance reality contestant, or the wannabe influencer, not the aspiring stunt woman. But in a fluke of circumstances, she was filmed rescuing one of the contestants. Jacq then found out that the audience loved her, and she was in the race. Now she had a chance to look for her long-lost sister, who she believed had been kidnapped by a Fae and was now being held as a prisoner or a slave.

A different take on the Fae known to the general human population with different rules, and magic has become accepted. This is definitely an alternate reality. The physical world-building is descriptive and can give your imagination the boost it needs to put you in the scene. The ethereal world-building is mostly a personal thing. The MFC character history, what there is of it, is part of the story. The character interaction could be as expected since the characters are strangers.

This read has action and adventure, along with a clean, budding romance, and let’s not forget that a player has been identified. I give this alternate reality tale five stars out of five stars.

Profile Image for B. Truly.
Author 17 books379 followers
October 30, 2019
I found this on my Amazon similar. It has positive reviews and it sounded like something I would like. I’d recently read a YA novel about a Faire Hunger-like games so I was curious about this book. So far, I actually like this series better. Along with magic, it delves more into the games. More conflict, action, and drama.
The cover is nice, but I think it’s better suited for a poster than a cover.

Jacq is is likable character and Orin grew on me. I like that they couldn’t stand each other going into the trials but they had no choice but to work together in order to survive.
Being main characters and knowing that there are 3 books, I knew that Jacq and Orin would survive. The Trials were still suspenseful, not knowing what danger lurked around the corner.

The way the book is written, it emerges you directly into the plot of the Fae and human interaction. It’s something that seems to have been going on for a while. On one hand, I liked being thrown into the plot to figure out things on my own. But on the other hand, since this is the start of the series, I would have liked to learn more back ground of how the Fae realm opened. And how the Fae had integrated with the human seamlessly. I would think that humans would be more paranoid to work with the Fae. Also, a brief explanation of how all humans were able to perform magic would have been more believable. This is a fantasy genre, so anything goes. But even in fantasy all humans aren’t able to perform magic unless they’re a witch descent, hybrid, or something along those lines. When it came up that humans could do magic I got confused and wasn’t sure what was going on. I caught on later that it was normal for them to do so.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to find out what happens next
Profile Image for Stephanie Runyon.
414 reviews11 followers
Read
December 5, 2024
Trust no faerie

Jacqueline "Jacq" Cunningham has never given up hope in searching for her sister. Over a year had passed since Cass had disappeared with a mysterious male Faerie. When her boss, John, was starting a reality telervision show that would feature humans and faeries competing in a race, Jacq was stunned to be denied an audition. She contimued to train for her dream job as a stuntswoman. The day of the final trial, Jacq strayed from the spectators. She overheard a scream. She found a woman trapped in a metal bear trap and a crocidile stalking toward her. Jacq managed to free the woman. Carrying the injured contestant, Jacq ran the rest of the race, placing 6th place and fired.
The following day, John came to her apartment and Jacq was now a contestant in the race. Her hopes are quickly smashed when she is paired with Orin, a dark brooding faerie she named Mr. Crabbypants. Neither of them wanted to be partners. To survive the dangers in the race, they will need to work as a team. Jacq had one goal in mind, to find Cass.

The suspense is excellent in this thrilling story. The contestants are fierce but the setting is even more fierce. Jacq and Orin were constantly bickering on where they should go. Jacq's altruism versus Orin's self-preservation are tested as they encounter the perils that could cause them death. Tristam and his father aren't going to help Jacq and Orin's hatred of them brings to mind, What does he know and are the royals and network willing to kill contestants just for ratings? Why did Cass leave with a stranger and was she alive? An unpredictable plot with amazing detail will take readers into a magical world that is breathtaking...and deadly.
Profile Image for DianaRaven.
1,310 reviews8 followers
July 14, 2019
The Sorcery Trial by J.A. Armitage is well written with a good flow to the storyline. I enjoyed the character development and seeing the characters grow into their strengths and acknowledge their weaknesses. This genre is not my usual read, but it only took a few pages to get me totally hooked.

Take the reality show Amazing Race, mix in some Hunger Games and add members of a world where everything, including water, trees and more have magic and may kill you. Now, you'll be getting close to the scenario of this story. A televised race with one fae and one human on a team in Faerwild. This is a race filled with duplicity mystery, intrigue, maybe even murder.

Jacqueline Cunningham lost her sister two years ago when she disappeared with a Faerie, most likely into the faerie world. She's never given up looking for a way to find her sister and this Race may just be the way for Jacq to enter Faerwild and look for her sister.

Jacq's strength of character and honor will have you cheering for her. Her team faerie partner Orin, is her direct opposite. He's there to win and Jacq had better not hold him up. He's so dark and brooding, Jacq is uncomfortable in his presence, he obviously has demons haunting him.

I can't help but give five stars for this first in a series fantasy story with great plot developments and many twists and turns that keep the pages turning. Will Jacq and Orin manage to get over their differences enough to win the Race? Will some romance develop in the future? Must read on!

I received a copy of this story from the author and the above is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
June 17, 2019
Welcome to The Faerie Race—an epic adventure through a realm as compelling as it is deadly…Fame. Fortune. Your most extravagant wish granted. These are the prizes promised to the team that wins The Faerie Race, the first and only reality television show to venture into the dangerous realm of the fae. But that’s not why Jacqueline Cunningham wants in. She’s after any sign of her sister—who vanished without a trace into the faerie world two years ago.Jacq thought getting into the race would be the hard part. But she didn’t count on the other competitors—who will stop at nothing to finish first. Or her distractingly-handsome jerk of a partner, who seems to be hiding secrets of his own.Plunged into a world where everything wants to kill her, what starts as a hunt for the truth turns into a desperate contest for survival. Now that Jacq’s in the race, it will take all her wits to make it to the finish line alive.

The Sorcery Trial is Book One in The Faerie Race.
The Sorcery Trial is about a reality TV show in which six humans and six fae compete in a race in the Fae world to win money and a boon from the fae king.
The main character Jacq is a "gofer" for the production company, who is determined to get to the Fae world to find her sister who went missing two years ago.
I love the whole premise of the story line and plot.
Interesting and well written characters who I can't wait to read more about.
I'm excited to read more in this fantastic new series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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