Disclaimer: Thanks to Victory Editing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Plot Summary (aka What This Book is About)
After an attack on the royal family, Princess Marika unexpectedly becomes what she's been taught to hate the most: an Ardor. A wielder of magic, a second-class citizen in the country her family rules.
Forced to flee after her magic is discovered, and deathly afraid of the danger she'll be to others, Marika makes her way to the only place she can think of: Nella University, the sole school for Ardor training in the kingdom.
At Nella, Marika slowly learns to control, and even embrace, the magic she fears. But the university is no safe space for a princess in hiding. When Marika learns of a rebellion in the school that champions rights for Ardors, but also wants her and her entire family dead, she must decide exactly what she is willing to fight for.
Sable's Notes
I love books about fantasy and magic, and A Cure for Magic by Talia Greer is definitely full of magic. It's the first book in new adult trilogy The Ardor Magic Cycle, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
What's unique about the world Greer has created in this book is that an Ardor's magical abilities are [usually 👀] born of tragedy, and not passed down genetically through families. I love how this shows that sometimes great things are born of pain; that one can take what happens to them, harness the loss and grief, and turn it into something with astounding power.
I'll be honest about the rest of the book, though. I had a little bit of difficulty feeling any kind of emotion while reading this. I also felt some of the characters, while unique, lacked depth. (The exceptions are the antagonists, all of whom I felt were done well.)
Part of what goes into my ratings are the emotions I experience while reading a book, and how likely I'll come back to reread it. So while this book was a solid read with good writing, and one I'd still recommend, I didn't find anything that particularly stood out to me or called to me besides the magic system. Hence: 3.5 stars.
Scroll for spoilers.
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Spoilers
In Book 2, I'm looking forward to seeing more of:
- Marika and her brother Sascha — I have hope they'll be reconciled and find a way to support each other
- Marika, Argent, and Harland 😈