Title: Ruthless Magic

Author: Megan Crewe

Pub. Date: May 30, 2018

Rating: ♥♥♥♥ – 3.75

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?

I received an Advance Copy of Ruthless Magic from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This will be a spoiler free review.

If you like books such as Divergent, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games then most likely you’ll end up liking this first full-length novel in Megan Crewe’s Conspiracy of Magic Series. It had the magical element of Harry Potter, the trials the teens have to face felt like The Hunger Games mashed with the emotional trials of Divergent.

Ruthless Magic follows Finn Lockwood and Rocío Lopez, both sixteen year old mages waiting to hear from the North American Confederation of Mages on whether or not they will be able to continue their education or go through a dampening process that will severely limit their magical capability.

Finn is a young mage with less than adequate magical abilities. He’s ashamed of how his lackluster abilities reflect on his “old magic” prominent family, and declaring to take the Exam is his way of proving he’s good enough.

Rocío Lopez a “new magic” mage is looked down upon by the Confederation, because of her status as a new magic mage and her parents low standing. She enters the Exam to prove to the Confederation she is more than her status and is good enough in her magical capabilities to continue her education.

Except the Exam isn’t anything like they were expecting it to be. The Exam is meant to test their endurance, magical capabilities, ability to follow instructions, and what they would do to survive.

Ruthless Magic is an action packed book that will keep you interested and on the edge of your seat. I found this book to be a pretty quick read with an engaging world and equally compelling characters. They all had their reasons for wanting to take the Exam and prove themselves, and no two characters felt the same.

As much as I really enjoyed this book, and enjoyed the familiarity of the story, it was also what is keeping me from giving this book all of the stars. I don’t think the familiarity is a downfall of the book and I don’t think it weakens it at all. I actually think it’s a pretty good way to draw readers in to a new fantastical and modern world. I can’t wait for book 2 and to see where Finn and Rocío’s story goes next.