Beta Reading and Editing discussion

Hello,

I would love insight on where I can cut scenes or parts, as my word count is on the higher end (146k). I have one wonderful beta reader working their way through it now, but I would love another pair of eyes. I am also interested in thoughts on pacing, plot (plot holes), characters, and overall impressions. I appreciate your time. :)!

There is some romance, no smut.

Content warning: death; combat/blood; PTSD; narcissistic/manipulative parents and characters.

Blurb:
On Runyan, where a cursed forest fights back and magic can hurt more than it helps, Rihalyn Embers has always felt like an outsider. As a pia, someone believed to be powerless, she lived a quiet, safe life with her older sister, Mahdilyn.
But when Mahdilyn is murdered, everything changes.
Rihalyn is taken to Wychlith, a cliffside academy filled with mages, shifters, sky-riders, and dragons. Her ash-colored hair and pale eyes make her stand out in a school full of bright, gifted students.
Before she died, Mahdilyn warned her to trust Isaiah.
But instead, Rihalyn finds herself drawn to Kieran the mysterious heir to the High Council and the son of a man rumored to wield forbidden Dark Death. When he steps in to protect her and becomes her mentor, she can’t tell if he is helping her or hiding something.
Danger grows all around her: monsters stalk the Dark Forest, and deadly student trials turn survival into a game. A strange magic awakens inside her, tied to the old Light Priestesses, and using it drains the Light from her, pulling her closer to Darkness.
To survive, Rihalyn must uncover the secrets her sister died to protect.
And she must choose whether to accept Kieran’s uncertain protection… or face the rising power inside her alone.

Thank you :)!