This book was just Ok for me, I actually had to try and read this twice because the first time I put it down. While it should have snagged my attention the first half of the book just dragged for me. The 2nd time around I was determined to give it a second try and ended up finishing the book. It wasn't a standing ovation of a book but it was certainly one to pass the time if you are willing to put the work into it.

I can understand how it is like the Hunger Games books, if you just add magic I am sure you would have it. But the problem I have, it is the same for the Hunger Games, was why adults even allowed this?

The cover is beautiful and there is a lot of action but the characters just didn't bring it for me.

#RuthlessMagic #NetGalley
Publisher synopsis: In the contest to keep their magic, the only options may be die... or kill.

Each year, the North American Confederation of Mages assesses every sixteen-year-old novice. Some will be chosen. The rest must undergo a procedure to destroy their magical ability unless they prove themselves in the mysterious and brutal Mages' Exam.

Disadvantaged by her parents' low standing, Rocío Lopez has dedicated herself to expanding her considerable talent to earn a place in the Confederation. Their rejection leaves her reeling—and determined to fight to keep her magic.

Long ashamed of his mediocre abilities, Finn Lockwood knows the Confederation accepted him only because of his prominent family. Declaring for the Exam instead means a chance to confirm his true worth.

Thrown into the testing with little preparation, Rocío and Finn find themselves becoming unlikely allies—and possibly more. But the Exam holds secrets more horrifying than either could have imagined. What are the examiners really testing them for? And as the trials become increasingly vicious, how much are they willing to sacrifice to win?

The first in a new series by USA Today bestselling author Megan Crewe, Ruthless Magic combines the magic of Harry Potter with the ferocity of The Hunger Games alongside a poignant romance. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, look no further for your next urban fantasy fix!

Riveting book!! Will keep you on the edge of your seat!!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

If the pitch for a book mentions two of the greatest YA phenomenons, Harry Potter & The Hunger Games, trust me, I will definitely read it. And true to its word, Ruthless Magic does mix elements from those two gigantic franchises that not only rocked our world once upon a time, but that we are still living the aftershock years (or decades) after. The slight problem I see in getting inspiration from a formula that worked so well in the past is that you are not delivering anything new. So, while Ruthless Magic succeeded in making me feel all nostalgic and thoroughly engrossed, it did sort of fail in surprising me - hence the 4 stars instead of 5.

Megan Crewe's magic and dystopic world breathes in some familiarity, being a society divided by dulls (people with no magical abilities) and mages, who were and are seen as a threat and had to keep magic a secret until recently before the events of the book. Flashforward to present day, where the Confed, or magical govenrment, select only a portion of the mage society to keep their powers at age 18, leaving the ones rejected to accept being ripped out of their magic or going through THE EXAM - cue to the Hunger Games song - from where only a few are chosen Champion and even fewer get out of there intact. Or alive for that matter.

Nostalgia aside, Ruthless Magic, even if it felt familiar, it never failed in entertaining. I was engrossed from start to end and top to bottom. The cast of characters is super diverse, the story is action packed and it even has romance, that even though it never was the sole focus of the story it was important enough for me to swoon a little bit. And hey, I absolutely loved both main characters, which doesn't happen often.

So I will definitely, definitely continue this series.

I really loved this book!! The story centers over a ruthless and mysterious Mages' Exam that is required of anyone who is not excepted by the North American Confederation of Mages for further magical study, but wants to keep their magic. The story is set in an alternate history of present day where the existence of mages and magic is known, and is filled with fantastic acts of magic that kept impressing me with how detailed everything was. Each of the main characters Rocío Lopez and Finn Lockwood have a unique point of view and voice, and the development of their relationship felt real. It reminded me a great deal of The Hunger Games at times, but it was much more nuanced politically, and if anything slightly more harsh. I can't wait to see where the series goes now that the Mages Exam is over and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Welcome to a modern magic world where magic user's sing their spells into existence. Two teens, Finn and Rocío are about to enter an exam neither of them ever hoped to take. Finn family's old magic, but his powers are weak and he feels like they bought him a spot in the Academy, so he elects to take the exam instead, a decision he might come to regret. Rocío's magic is perhaps the strongest of her generation, but she comes from nowhere so when the Academy denies her entrance, she too must take the exam or have her magic stripped away forever. These two will become friends in the most unlikely of places, but the exam is a lot more dangerous that either of them had anticipated. Who will they be when they get out? Or will they survive at all?

I really enjoyed this book. The magic system was interesting and the characters diverse. Finn's humour and Rocío's inner steel made for great characters. I also appreciate the alternating viewpoints each chapter. I eagerly look forward to the second book.

I really enjoyed this book. The story and characters were well written. It's just as good as other books by the author.

I hate to be the odd one of the bunch

BUT...

I have so many complaints about this. It left me feeling literally nothing but relief when I finished this. Compare it to the Hunger Games or The Magicians all you like, but this lacked EVERYTHING that made those series great. I'll keep this short, out of respect to the author and being in the clear majority here.

1. The beginning was too telling, but not in a way that made sense or was helpful.
2. In keeping with that, the magic system was explained so poorly and incompletely I was so confused throughout so much of the book. Not to mention it didn't work for me once I figured it out.
3. Characters do not stand out at all. I would get through two pages of a chapter, then have to go back to see whose POV I was in because Rocio and Finn did not leave any sort of impression. Finn is so useless, riding off Rocio, who is all disgustingly noble.
4. I kept waiting for something to happen, and it was all just disappointing.
5. The action scenes were very hard to follow.
6. A lot of things were actually. One second everything is fine, something happens, then two pages later someone talks about it and I go, "Oh, is that what happened?"
6. Felt very copy-cat like.

The summary pulled me in, and the first two chapters lost me. I fought to finish this and I still don't know why I even bothered.

So this novel starts with Finn, Jonathan’s son and descendant of a long line of mages. I did find the beginning of this novel pretty slow as well, and hard to get in to at first. But once again that was more to do with the depth of world building Megan was crafting, and the plot soon kicked in soon, making this a fantastic read. I have taken one star away because of the start though, because it could have done with a little more action.
As soon as we are taken to the mage exam though, the book picks up pace dramatically and becomes so much better. The characters were also spectacular, with deep backgrounds and voices that really leapt off the page. The e-book turned from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’ in the space of about 15%. I love how Megan gives all the supporting characters as much of a depth and voice as she gives the protagonists (unlike a certain book I read recently which you can read about HERE). I especially love that Megan included a disabled character, and Lacey who has a fantastic character arc throughout the book.
Finn and Rocio are great protagonists too. Their voices are so separate and different that we don’t even really need the chapter titles to know whose mind we are inhabiting. They are opposites really, and they give us a really in-depth look at the world from two polar positions. But although they are in the exam for different reasons, Rocio for being too attuned to the magic to give up fighting for it, and Finn fighting to prove that he can earn a place in the college without his family’s help. But at the same time they are both in the exam for the same reason, to prove the corruption in the mage society and to make a stand against it.
In the challenges the young mages have to fight, there are some really great plot twists that I never saw coming, and there are some really deep and morally questionable tasks that really leave you thinking about the mage society and trying to come up with your own theories about he conspiracy at hand.
The magic is a character in it’s own right too, which is one of the things I loved the most about this book (and the novella). Unlike other books that include wizards and mages, the mages in this book don’t just say a word and watch the magic pour out of them. They have to use rhythm and music, and really feel the magic around them like it’s a character that deserves a place in this book too.
The characters are faced with so many moral dilemmas and the obstacles in their path increase task by task and leave you itching to keep reading to see what happens next. I struggled to put this book down in the end, it definitely found it’s feet at about 40-50% in.
Although I am going to have to remove that one star for another reason too. Sometimes this story borrows a little from other YAs that have been popular lately. And part of me wishes the resolution at the end of the book for the last task be a little more original than it was. It was way too similar to another YA dystopia that I don’t want to name in case it gives away the resolution to the last task in this book.
However the actual ending, that happens after the resolution to the last task, is really good. It has all the right bittersweet notes that leave me wanting to read more. The ending is left relatively unresolved and open, but you are not really left feeling disappointed. The place it ends feels right, and there is a hint of romance that ties the whole end together and is Adorable with a capital ‘A’.
I am really excited to see where this goes next, and I can’t wait to read the sequel when it comes out.

Ruthless Magic by Megan Crewe is a masterfully told story of magic in a setting reminiscent of the Hunger Games. Main characters Rocio and Finn are easy to relate to as well as cheer for. They start just wanting to prove themselves by earning a spot at the magic college, and they end up fighting not just to keep their magic, but for their very lives. I simply could not put this fast-paced page turner down until the very end. I am eagerly awaiting a sequel, as I just have to know what happens next. Highly recommended!

A captivating adventure with magic that feels unique ad characters who refuse to be forgotten! This is the first book of Megan Crewe's that I've read, but I'm certain it won;t be the last.

kind of forgettable YA romance arena fight to the death story. trying to be social justice. sort of successfully? not very believable romance though. i liked the female main character slightly more than the male one just because she had a better back story. there were quite a few other characters around and the lead in to the sequel was done pretty well (as in, it set it up for more action and discoveries and additional romance and so on).

Although it took me a little bit to get into the story, once I did, I was fully captivated. The plot was fast-paced and full of action and suspense. The published's description of Harry Potter meets Hunger Games is very accurate. I hope to read more in the series!

This book may not be one of my favorite so far but it definitely is a worth read. The World-building and plot was good and interesting enough to let you finish until the very end. Although there are times I got so confused I have to re-read some phrases.

The flow of the story is also good. There might be some dull moments but it still is interesting. I was also waiting to learn what happened to their love ones who had taken the Exam, Am starting to get some clues as story progresses.

Its amazing how this book reminds me so much of Hunger Games. Its very interesting believe me, the only thing I don't like about it is sometimes the story starts to get dull and slow. It doesn't have a consistently provoking scenes that will take you at the edge of your seat.

Overall, I would recommend this to readers who love Sci-Fi. If you are a fun of Hunger Games this book is definitely a must for you.

<b>I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</b>

Ruthless Magic is a lot of fun and has some really great characters. A brief overview of the book is young magic users are either accepted by the Confederation or not. The ones who aren't can accept being dampened (losing their powers) or take the exam to become a Champion. As one would expect, the exam is not a straightforward test and pits students against various trials of magic, and very dangerous ones at that.

The story follows two main protagonists, Finn and Rocio, and alternates views each chapter. I was worried Finn would be the great White hope, a magic user who is struggling to accept that his family name alone with get him accepted considering his magic is very weak. Thankfully this is not the case, where the super powerful magic user is the young Latina, Rocio. I absolutely loved her, and I loved her outlook on everything. Considering she is considered new magic, and not trusted by the Confederation, it was nice to see how she handles the various situations without being the stereotypical "fiery" Latina role we see too often.

The book had a mix of predictability and some surprising twists. Considering all the young magic users are tossed together, you knew some of the character archetypes to expect. The bully, the person who finally has no one holding them back, the paranoid, etc. The twists were well done, and for the most part unexpected. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I'll just say those in charge of the exams are twisted bastards.

The ending of the book sets up the sequel, without being an in your face cliffhanger. I definitely can not wait for the second in the series, and this is easily a new favorite. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Megan Crewe, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

True to the advertising, Ruthless Magic is a great mix between Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. For fans of these two series, this book is an obvious next choice.

I fell in love with our two main characters, Rocio & Finn, from page one. The story is told in alternating chapters from each of their perspectives, presenting a unique and fresh view from different angles and insights. There is plenty of magical casting going on with an element of survival of the fittest mixed in pretty heavily.

The novel surpassed my expectations on many levels and I have already enthusiastically recommended it to multiple friends who enjoy YA reading. It deals with so many issues that affect people everyday such as race and class disparities, corruption, and bullying. It is fast paced and tense story that underlines the importance of making the correct choices of humanity, love, and peace.

I would highly recommend this novel to all and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Happy Reading and Enjoy!

This review is posted in GoodReads, Amazon, and linked to Twitter!

This book reminded me of the Hunger Games a little but with magic. I read the prequel to this series and I thought there would be characters I knew in this book but this book opened up the world more for me to explore. This book was an exciting read for me and I enjoyed meeting more characters. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*

3.5 With a Hunger Games vibe, this YA magical fantasy is about teens who weren't Chosen (for the college of mages) having to battle others for an opportunity to make it. But not all is what it seems. I loved the characters of Finn and especially Rocio, and the look at class and culture differences in this alternate reality where magic users have come out of hiding. The ending didn't quite live up to the rest of the book, and that made me hesitant about reading the next (I'm assuming it's a trilogy.)

Thank you to Another World Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ruthless Magic is kind of a mix between the Divergent series, Mockingjay series and Harry Potter all rolled into one. We have kids from old magic families and kids from new magic families all vying to be the best in order to be accepted into the College of Magic, to further their studies in the art of magic. Those not accepted have the choice to have their magic abilities softened or they can declare for the Mage's Exam. If they don't make it through the exam they will have their magic burned from them.

I enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for the next in this series.

If you are looking for an incredible magic tale then look no further. Ruthless Magic was intense, captivating, and most definitely enchanting! I couldn’t put this down. Not only did I find the cover to be utterly beautiful but the writing was brilliantly thought out! And I am so grateful that it came with a link to download the “prequel” as well! So much of this book world to enjoy and I know I enjoyed every page and moment!

‘RUTHLESS MAGIC’ BY MEGAN CREWE IS ‘HARRY POTTER’ AND ‘THE HUNGER GAMES’ LOVE CHILD

Don’t let the title of this review fool you. Ruthless Magic, the first in the Conspiracy of Magic series by Megan Crewe, is more than the books that came before it, inspired it, or drew your eye to it. It’s the college exams from hell with crazy trials, twists & turns, an OTP I can get behind and you should too, friendships that are just as important as the romantic relationships, and representation that feels honest and well researched.

I know this seems like a lot and you’re probably thinking that there’s no way that one book can do so much. It can. And it does.

First off, the story of Ruthless Magic, the thing that hooks you at first glance. We have two teens, Rocio and Finn, who come from two distinct families. Rocio’s is new magic in a world where the general public knows about magical practitioners. She lacks the schooling or money to train for greatness but still manages to outpace anyone in her way. Finn is on the opposite side of the spectrum. He’s old magic, destined to attend the prestigious college all magic users want to get into. Unlike Rocio or the rest of his family, his magic is lackluster and no amount of studying is going to fix that.

Like every other person their age they want to continue their education, they want to make something of themselves, and they don’t want to be burned out. Let me explain. If you don’t get into this prestigious college, you are cut off from your magic. It’s a precaution, a way to keep the magical community in check in a world where the Dulls are still cautious. If you believe that The Circle, the administration in all of this, is wrong, then you declare for the Mages exam and enter into a Hunger Games style trial to become Champion and enter college.

Rocio, being new magic, gets declined entrance and is scheduled to be burned out. And Finn, being old magic, gets accepted into the mages college. Not so surprisingly, they call bullshit and enter into the mages exam to prove to themselves and the rest of the world that through their efforts and hard work, they belong.

And that’s just the beginning.

These two, the obvious OTP of the story, lift each other up through their trials. They are aware of their abilities and their weaknesses. Sometimes they have trouble admitting it and plenty of times they have the other there to support them in whatever fashion they may need. Also, they’re both kickass in their own ways. Yes, Rocio is the stronger one and yes, Finn is ready to cheer her on with a sparkly sign that says, “Get it gurl! You got this.” But he doesn’t just sit back and not help. He provides the textbook knowledge and she the raw power to get things done. And it’s glorious to watch as they come to trust each other and develop romantic feelings.

As I mentioned earlier, the strength of Ruthless Magic doesn’t just come from the main OTP’s journey as individuals and as a couple. The friendships are a key reason why I am over the moon and in love with this book. Crewe put as much effort into the friendships as she did the romantic relationships. You can see it in the special bond Finn has with his best friend Prisha, the conflicts they go through, and the way that their bond is tested over and over again. You can also see it in the addition of Desmond, Judith, and the rest of the secondary characters. They have journeys and obstacles they must overcome just like Rocio and Finn.

When creating big worlds like this there is another obstacle that writers must face: representation. Books are a reflection of our world and as readers we want to see ourselves represented in the material we consume. Crewe definitely took that into consideration when putting together these characters. Rocio is a Latinx woman who weaves together her spells with songs in Spanish, something I’ve never seen before but that makes sense. (Not everything has to be in Ancient Latin, people.) She even slips into Spanglish sometimes and it feels natural.

I was even surprised that in a world of magic and trials such as this, Crewe also included a disabled character that fought just as hard as everyone else. No spoilers, but it’s unexpected how this disability is revealed because Crewe treats this character with the same respect as everyone else. They aren’t made a spectacle or forced to lay out how they became disabled. They just are, that’s it, let’s keep fighting and kicking ass.

And it’s all refreshing as hell!

This attention to detail when it comes to every character, no matter if they’re the OTP or best friend, in Ruthless Magic makes for a story where you become invested in every mage that crosses your way. You want to learn more about their stories, the world they live in, and what happens when the Champions are finally chosen.

I can’t wait for more.