Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

“A Cure For Magic” is a romantasy tale about Marika—a princess of the commoner empire—who learns the price of her family’s legacy when a traumatic experience triggers the very magic her ancestors outlawed. When rebels attack the royal compound, she takes shelter at Nella University, desperate to learn how to master her powers— but Nella University is not the safe haven she hoped for…

Greer’s book is an unexpectedly gripping story that had me in a chokehold by the end! The author artfully addresses the complexities of politics and classism through a fantasy lens. She also articulately communicates Marika’s emotions—including not just the character’s trauma and feelings of hopelessness, but also her determination to overcome challenges. Admittedly, I did have trouble believing some aspects of the story. But I still couldn’t help but feel enraptured by the love triangle (conflicted about who Marika should choose!!) and the fantasy world that Greer has created!

Brilliantly written and wonderful story. Highly recommended.
I am super grateful for the opportunity to have been able to read it and review it.
Wonderful world building and character development.

"To those who feel things deeply. Whose anger is like breathing fire. Who do not have thick skin, and own it." -Talia Greer, <i> A Cure for Magic </i> dedication.

Let me premise this review by saying the book doesn't have a lot of problematic issues (like dubious themes being encouraged or editing mishaps). I gave it 3 stars simply because I felt detached from the story. Princess Marika is a strong character who goes through trauma and acquires magic, making her an Ardor. Ardors are magic-users that are looked down upon in society, though why is kind of unclear. What she has gone through in the story is understandably enough to create the biggest trauma of her life, but she wasn't given enough time in the story for people to get attached to her and care for what she was going through.

Instead, near the beginning, she was thrust into a school to find shelter and create a bond with 2 students there while also avoiding the danger that lurks in the school halls.

The romance bit was just an add-on to Marika's story. The two students that are to be her love interests feel like background characters that give nothing but 'romance' to her. They don't push her to see Ardor in a new light, she does it herself (though she regresses sometimes). In a way, they're just there to kiss her and be her trophy lovers.

There's also a peeve that I hate going on, which is the unclear use of technology in the setting. Apparently, electric-powered showers exist but the maids wash clothes by hand, still. It would have made sense to link those showers with the use of magic instead.

Other than that, the plot is juicy if you overlook some things. It's an entertaining 1-hour read in my opinion, but not something that will stick with me in the long run.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC!

A Cure for Magic was filled with magic, romance, found family, and royals. I was drawn to this book quickly. The characters were well-written and easy to connect with. As the book went on the characters developed beautifully and came into their person. Marika, the main character, she learns a lot about herself and who she can trust. The plot kept you engaged and wanting to continue to read to find out what was going to happen. Throughout the book there was a lot of twists and turns. I am excited to read the next book to see how the story is continued. Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the chance to read this free book and give my honest opinion.

What I Liked
1. Forbidden magic is my jam. When you include it in a story I am already ready to fall in love with it.
2. Amazing cover art that fits well with the tone of the story.
3. Fast Pacing that dropped me right into the story allowing me to figure out the details of the world on the fly.
What didn't work as well for me
1. The story was slightly shorter than expected not leaving much room to breathe between progression moments and thus not allowing for slower character moments.
2. I have to wait on the sequel now lol. In all seriousness, I am super ready to see where this series goes.
Who I would recommend this title for
Fans of series like The Posin Study will likely find themselves at home with the vibes of A Cure for Magic by Talia Greer.

I found this book very hard to get into, I'm undecided if this was due to lack of character building or world building but some characters lacked depth. Despite the book being well written I found it too slow for me and became a struggle to finish.

When rebels ignite the royal compound, Marika's world shatters as she loses both her parents and discovers her dormant, forbidden magic. Fleeing her murderous uncle, she seeks refuge at Nella University, a sanctuary for mastering magical abilities, concealing her true identity. But her past catches up when her roommate, Argent, recognizes her from their shared history in the royal compound, unleashing a bitter dynamic of manipulation and secrecy.

As Marika navigates the treacherous waters of her new life, she finds herself entangled in the machinations of a student society linked to her parents' demise. Struggling between vengeance and moral qualms, she faces a harrowing choice that could shape her destiny.

"Book One in the Ardor Magic Cycle" promises an exhilarating saga, leaving readers eagerly anticipating its sequel. With a blend of magic, conflict, and intricate world-building, this fantasy novel delivers an immersive experience. From the dynamics of power to the complexities of relationships, it's a captivating journey of self-discovery and resilience. For fans of fantasy fiction craving a spellbinding read, this book is a must-have addition to your shelf.

This world was full of delicious magic, found family, and royalty. The world outlawed magic and yet the princess finds herself with it. I liked the three friends dynamic that develops as she goes through this journey. This was a book that I just sunk into and I really appreciated that! I am excited for the next one!

First thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. I felt very conflicted with this book. At first I could not get into it. The main character was clearly conflicted by the treatment of others but overall sort of annoying. Even when she was scared and alone she was still entitled but her coming to terms wasn’t very deep or interesting. While I don’t normally have any issue with swearing I was surprisingly put off by it when it was so common for the royals but not a lot of the “commoners”. I also found myself wishing she had someone to confide it versus everyone hating her.

Overall there were points where I was interested and but others where I felt disengaged and wanted to get it over with. Ultimately the romantic end piece is what really made me not want to recommend this to others. It felt too much like it was trying to be different? Interesting? I don’t know. Overall 2.5/5 stars for me.

I was really into the concept of this, but the writing just didn't support the weight of the story, unfortunately.

I enjoyed this book although some parts felt a bit slow. I enjoyed the concept and way it was written. I think it was one of the first books I have read which described colours and the features of characters and places so clearly that I could picture it perfectly. The writing is well written and didn't feel like the author was trying so hard to incorporate high level language or big hard to pronounce words. Some parts did make me want to DNF such as our FMC's spoiledness but she did try grow and I look forward to seeing where the series goes.

This was so great. I mean this in the best way, but there is not a single character in this book that I did not hate at one point or another. Each of them had either awful/cruel ideas, lived with an "ends justified the means" mentality, was too weak to stand up for their ideas, or had some other mindset or action that was so realistic it made them unlikable for a time. And it made the book REALLY good. The oppression ardors faced in this world was appalling, and seeing Marika go from "Ardors don't have it that bad" to "my family has been leading the charge of mistreating this people for generations" was just a really good read.

When rebels set fire to the royal compound, Marika not only loses both of her parents, but the same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed gets awakened in her. When her uncle discovers this, he tries to kill her, and Marika is forced to go on the run. She takes shelter at Nella University, a place where they teach you how to control and use your magic, enrolling under a secret identity. Unfortunately, her new roommate, Argent, recognizes her immediately because she worked as a servant in the royal compound as a child. Argent despises her, and makes her do her bidding in exchange for keeping her silence. When Marika is invited to join a student society which turns out to be the same same alliance that started the fire that killed her parents, Marika is torn between her need for revenge against her uncle and her dislike of the extreme methods that the society uses.

This is Book One in the Ardor Magic Cycle, and I am anxiously awaiting book two. This book was amazing. Talk about the perfect fantasy fiction novel! You had magic in all sorts of forms, you had the good versus evil aspect, you had the school of magic, there was a little romance in there, great world building and character development. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

3.5/5
A Cure for magic follows a young adult princess of a kingdom that systematically oppresses magic-users called Ardors for their own gain, at the behest of her family. She is suddenly thrust into the magical society after her home is burned to the ground with her family inside, the trauma leaving her with magic abilities of her own. She sets off on a new journey to learn to control her newfound abilities, and to enact revenge.

A Cure for Magic really had the perfect setup for a book I would like. Queer, dark academia, political intrigue, interesting magic system, important parallels to real-life... I knew this was a book I had to pick up ASAP! The discussions surrounding mental health in this book were important and made for a really interesting foundation of a magic system. As well, the representation of a queer and poly relationship pulled the whole story together.

In terms of criticism, I think that this book would have benefitted from a round of editing to tone down the intensity of the overlying message. I think the author was somewhat heavy-handed with what they were trying to get across and it made some of the scenes feel a bit artificial. I was also a little confused about the worldbuilding (they have electric showers? but wash all their clothes fully by hand and exclusively use horse-drawn carriages?) as there were inconsistencies in technology with no explanation for a magical reason why they had them.

Overall, an enjoyable experience and I will be waiting for book two!!

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Love this whole world and so glad to dive back in. Really fast paced action and I love the mix of colloquial chatter with interesting descriptions. A number of times I actually shaped at how beautiful the turn of phrase was. Love the impact of everything the author is saying. Many times the characters say and do the opposite of what is 'the norm' or come at problems with a different viewpoint or way of interpreting the situation/feeling. Great!

"A Cure For Magic" by Talia Greer is an exciting and imaginative fantasy novel that invites readers into a world of magic, royalty, rebellion, and a school for magic wielders.

When an attack occurs on the royal family at their home, Marika finds herself fleeing with the few family members and soldiers who managed to survive. On the run, she discovers the magic her family sought to contain and control now runs through her veins.

Afraid of her power and hoping to control it, Marika seeks refuge at Nella University under a secret identity. Except, it's not the place she hoped it would be. Not only does she struggle to make friends and control her magic, but there's a rebel group forming under the guise of a secret society. And those leading this group are part of the rebel group that attacked and killed her family.

Staying at the school means risking her life and betraying her family. But leaving means she may never learn to control her power and she'll either be hunted and killed, or someone will fall victim to her magic.

There were a lot of interesting things about this book. I liked how the people who had the most power (magic), were the ones who were the most helpless. One would think the opposite, but in this case, Greer imagined something quite different for the characters and world she created. And it's believable in the sense that, when you read this book, you can see how these people are oppressed and it's not easy to rise against enemy forces. This theme/concept developed really well throughout the book and provided another layer of complexity to the characters.

I thought Marika herself was a relatable character. Many strong female leads are always unruffled in the face of danger, compartmentalizing until they can face the trauma they've been through. Marika is strong in her own way. She pushes through hardships and obstacles to reach her goals. And when she is put in bad situations, she responds the way I feel is true to reality. At that moment, I wished she were stronger and could push through, but it also helped me understand her, and I found I liked her more. I also liked that she had an internal battle between the life she was used to as a royal and the life she found herself living. It made her seem more realistic because it showed her struggle to adjust to a life that was foreign to her.

While I really enjoyed this book, I did have a hard time with the pacing. It felt like an adult fantasy that got cut down to a YA or NA novel. It felt like details were missing such as the history of the Ardor and why the rules about magic got put in place. The beginning also happened fast and there wasn't time to appreciate Marika's relationship and history with the other characters to truly empathize with her shock and grief. Slowing the pace would allow for a deeper connection with Marika and the other characters. Yet, I appreciate the author's intent may have been to avoid overwhelming the reader with a lot of context and background information, choosing to let the reader discover answers to their questions along the way. While some of my own have remained unanswered, I look forward to reading the next book and hope to find my answers there!

This was a fantastic read and I look forward to the second book! Readers who enjoy a good fantasy and lots of action must be on the lookout for this book when it's published on the expected date of May 28, 2024. Add it to your TBR's and be sure to give it a read when it's available for purchase!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

A Cure for Magic was a page turner from start to finish. I really enjoyed the magic system and following Marika as she learns to wield her power. I need the next book in this series immediately

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this arc. I could not put this book down, it keep me hooked through it all. I liked that there is a small amount of romantic, but it's about the story and Marika's journey of finding where she needs to be. I can't wait for the next books in the series to see how Marika and her friends grow into their new roles, and how and if Marika will fix the views people have of those with magic.

I will also post my review on Good Reads.

This was a strong start to the Ardor Magic Cycle series, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed from the world. Talia Greer has a great writing style and I enjoyed the overall feel of this story and can't wait for more.