Ruthless Magic

I really enjoyed this book! Some elements had a Hunger Games vibe, with teens competing to survive in games orchestrated by a corrupt government, and an end prize with some hidden strings attached.

Rocio and Finn are surprisingly balanced for our heroes, and are by far my favorite thing about this book! Rocio has all the magical talent and none of the privilege that comes from being born to the right family. Finn was born to the right family and has a heart of gold to boot, but doesn’t have the talent that Rocio does. With hints of societal racism and cronyism, Rocio, a poor Hispanic girl, is denied admittance to the über elite magic school that will allow her to keep her magical abilities while Finn, a rich white boy, is admitted despite his lack of qualifications. The society limits the magical abilities of those they feel like they can’t control, while giving those families who’ve proven their loyalty the privilege of keeping their full range of magic. They’re essentially comparable to Hermione and Draco, new-magic vs old-magic, if the government had a non-murderous Voldemort running the show. Showcasing heroic qualities from the get-go, Rocio and Finn both decide to compete for their admission by entering into a deadly series of tests that promise to let them keep their magical abilities if they pass. While Finn could take the easy route, and accept the perks life has given him, he’d rather prove that he deserves his magical abilities and throws himself into the competition knowing that he could lose it all instead. This book doesn’t have the typical frustrations that other authors would use in this scenario. Rocio doesn’t hold Finn’s birth against him, fully seeing his good nature, and Finn is humble, generous, and completely aware of his faults despite the silver spoon origins. There’s no instant love and no frustrating teen angst, and the romance between them is realistic, sweet, and perfectly paced.

Romance aside, there’s plenty of action and the stakes feel real. Think Harry Potter during the Goblet of Fire. But instead of fighting for honor, they’re fighting to keep magical abilities that the government will otherwise strip from them. Great for fans of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and especially great for those who want a sweet and believable love story without heaps of teen angst and insta-love.