This book completely surpassed all my expectations. I would enthusiastically recommend this for YA lovers. This book deals with issues of race, class, sexuality, government corruption, terrorism and so much more. This is such a good book. Please check it out and spread the word. This book deserves to be as high profile and as beloved as the Hunger Games. Read this book.

Ruthless Magic is Hunger Games meets Mortal Instruments meets Shadowshaper (by Daniel Jose Older. Read it if you haven’t already!) This action-packed urban fantasy will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, all while exploring ideas of race and privilege. I really hope this one gets turned into a movie!

Ruthless Magic is told in dual first-person perspective. The main characters are Finn, a boy from an old and prominent magical family, but with little power of his own, and Rocio, a Latina Brooklyn native who is extremely powerful, but comes from a “new-magic” family that is looked down upon. This is a world where the privileged “old-magic” families rule the magical community.

When they become older teens, potential mages can apply to the magical university where they will go on to develop their powers and ultimately get a job working as a full-mage. Those who are denied entry are “dampened”, their powers diminished to only a small ability. Often POC who are dampened, are left with abilities that make them fit only for domestic labor. Despite claims of objectivity and merit-based standards, new-magic candidates are heavily discriminated against despite their talent. Candidates who have been rejected have only one chance to redeem themselves and keep their magic - declaring for the Mages Test, a secretive days-long test where a few are Champions while the rest die in the process or have every bit of their magic removed.

Finn is accepted into the university despite his poor qualifications, while his talented new-magic (and Indian) friend is rejected. Knowing that this is only due to his family connections, Finn declares for the Mages Test in protest, determined to earn his way into being a mage. Rocio is perhaps the most talented and powerful magic user her age, but because of her heritage, she is denied entry to the University. Thrust together in the brutal Test, Finn and Rocio must work together to survive and perhaps uncover a larger conspiracy.

The story is tense, brutal, and fast-paced. But it is ultimately about choosing humanity, choosing love, and recognizing the value in everyone. This is one that really blew me away with how much it hooked me into the story and how important the underlying message was. Definitely recommend it! I received an e-arc of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.