Take the competition of The Hunger Games, mix in the magic of Harry Potter, and then go ahead and add some Divergent while you are at it. That will give you a feel for the vibe of this book, and the series it begins. In this version of our world, magic users have always existed, but they have finally come out to the public. The Confederation (like a Ministry of Magic), has all those with magical potential tested and then they choose the best to receive further training, notifying them with a magical letter. The testing and choosing also assigns where the Chosen will serve and what training they will receive (a bit like being in a faction). Those who don't make the cutoff may have their powers Dampered, or they may elect to face the Exam - a lovechild of the Triwizard Tournament and the Hunger Games.
This year's exam begins with 57 candidates hoping to earn a place as a Champion with a mentor to help them improve their skills to better serve society. Failure will leave them with their magic burned out of them, completely cut off from access to the power they have grown up with, or even dead. Among those gathered at Riker's Island to vie for one of the coveted spots are a mix of Old and New Magic. Some of the Old Magic families are like the Pure Bloods at Hogwarts who hold the Mud Bloods in contempt, treating those from New Magic families as upstarts and even dangerous.
The characters are intriguing. Finn comes from a powerful Old Magic family, but his skills are erratic and not as strong as expected. His friend Prisha was always in the top half of their classes, but she was not Chosen. From the New Magic side comes Rocio, whose brother died during the Exam three years ago. She has a Hermione-like affinity for magic, when she enchants something the magic rushes to her and through her, yet she was not Chosen either. Her mother speculates that it was because of prejudice against New Magic.
The Exam begins as soon as the candidates arrive and takes all their skills into account - even things like paying attention to details in their surroundings and following the rules. They are tested on creativity, offensive and defensive abilities, and much more. Some are cut very quickly, while others hang in even when it is clear they are not very powerful and have no qualms about ruining the chances of better-qualified candidates. What exactly is the Confederation looking for and why do they go about it in such a brutal way? As the five days of testing whittle away at the number of hopefuls, we as readers begin to have some suspicions of our own. Are we correct?
Highly recommended for readers of the series I have mentioned, or fans of other urban fantasy stories with strong characterization, some possible romantic vibes, and a perplexing mystery at the center of it all. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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