I would like to thank Netgalley and Another Word Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’m going to be honest it took me a very long time to get into this book. I kept stopping and coming back to it hoping each time it would pick up. I decided to not finish then felt guilty so I made myself push threw. I really wanted to like this book but I was bored it just fell flat for me. It has great Reviews maybe it’s just me. I do feel it was well written and had likeable characters. I would say to give it a try just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.

In Ruthless magic we read from two points of view: one from a mage come from old family magic - a boy with little talent, and one from a young girl with “new magic” and an extraordinary talent for it.
They are put together with a handful of others to prove their magical prowess in order to keep their magic- or risk it being burned out of them. What follows is an exciting story of just how far you will go to keep the magic within you.

I really liked the characters and the plot of this book. It has a very sinister approach that reminded me a lot of the hunger games and even intrigued me by how a reaping was done in unsuitable mages. The diversity of culture in the characters was pleasant to read and allowed them to seem more personable or rather relatable. It was a very interesting read and I was really glad the blurb made good on what it sold otherwise I would have been really disappointed. I also love the fact one of the main characters was of Spanish descent. I hardly ever get to read books with that lineage included.

3.55 stars. Great character building, but needs some work on the world building. Most of the description of the action and surroundings were hard to envision. Characters were great. Strong, moral, resourceful...I cared about them. Overall, an entertaining introduction to a new series.

Another twist on the Hunger Games, this time with a magical theme. Ruthless Magic is a fantasy world that definitely would appeal to those who enjoyed Hunger Games. It has similar themes of family, class and teenage struggles. Epic internal and external challenges face these characters throughout the book. Ruthless Magic does not present a fairy tale to us – it is gritty and raw at times, happy and light at others. It is through Finn and Roćio that we learn all about magic, and its place in this new world. Add in a few more assorted characters to round out this brilliant story, and you’ll be hooked into the series.

Finn Lockwood is the first character we meet in the book. Finn is handsome, well-spoken and a youth from an old-magic family. Finn struggles with his magic, but has always attended the finest magic academy. He is irresistible as our so-called hero. A boy that the girls can’t help but love.

Finn’s best friend Prisha comes from an old-money family that is new to magic. We encounter them as they are waiting for their letters to arrive for inclusion in a magic university. Finn is nearly guaranteed to be Chosen, because of his ties to old magic, while Prisha, a much more talented mage, will likely not be Chosen. Such is the world that we are introduced to in this book.

In this future society, magic is unmasked. Magic lives alongside non-magic (otherwise known as Dulls.) However, it appears that they don’t live happily side by side. The non-magic are still fearful of the magic. Non-magic realizes that the magic side of things can help with things like defense, so non-magic reluctantly goes along with having magic exist. This is why the Confederacy of Magic must be so careful with the new magic families – to ensure that magic is not used for the wrong purposes.

Roćio comes from a new-magic family. She has not had the luck of going to the finest schools to be trained in magical ways. Her parents are no longer allowed to carry full magic. She is a talented mage, but being new-magic, she may never be allowed to reach her full potential. Roćio is smart and sweet and convicted about her beliefs. She is a strong female hero.

Too many YA books are written down to the reader, rather than written at a level that both adults and young adults can enjoy. Megan Crewe excels at making her books enjoyable for readers of all ages, though I would caution that there are some dark themes in this book that might not be appropriate for younger readers. Crewe puts together a world that would be frightening and exciting all at once. Once I got through the first few chapters of this story, I found I couldn’t put it down. The peril of reading the first book in a new series? Knowing the wait will be long for book two.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

The world of Ruthless Magic is an alternate reality where magic exists, and those who can tap into it, called mages, came out to the world so that they could protect humans from other human attacks, like the 9/11 attack or foreign wars. Now, along with the human governments still in place (or I'm assuming so), the department overseeing magic, the North American Confederation of Mages, chooses a select few of the sixteen-year-old mages in the country to become the year's Chosen and to go to colleges for magic. The mages who aren't chosen, however, have to go through a process called Dampering in which their magic is all but erased. All that remains is a tiny piece of specialized magic the mage can make a living off of.

That is, unless the mage declares for the Mages' Exam, a brutal, mysterious test mages can take as a second chance to keep their full magic. The catch - if you don't pass the Exam, you are burnt-out, meaning you are stripped of your connection with your magic entirely. And there's the pretty good chance you'll be killed during the test.

This amazing novel follows our two protagonists, Finn and Rocio, as they battle their way through these Exams. Finn is from a wealthy family of mages and is practically guaranteed a spot as a Chosen because of it. However, he has a very small connection to his magic and doesn't feel as though he deserves to be Chosen because of solely his status, so he declares for the Exam. Rocio, on the other hand, has power beyond belief, yet she is not Chosen because of her family's low status. She declares, as well. It seems there is more to the Confed than meets the eye.

First, I'm going to address the characters. They're all so strong, and there's more to them under the surface. Plus, I can't wait to see where the second book takes us and how the characters will cope after the Exam and kick the Confed's butt.

I love all the characters, but I frickin love Finn. No joke. Like, I have never felt about a book boy as strongly as I do about Finn. Don't get me wrong, I still love Maxon 🤣, but I want my own Finn one day. You can't understand unless you read the book 🤣.

I think maybe my favorite part of this book - besides the romance (and Finn...obviously 🤣) - was the plot and how intense and action-packed it is. I felt like I was in an action movie... yet it isn't nearly as predictable as action movies can be sometimes. I was soooo hooked!!!

As I mentioned earlier, the romance is absolutely to die for!! Like, as I was reading, I felt like I was going back in time to the classic romances of YA but with new and original twists. And it isn't tropey (is that a word?) at all! I was crying and laughing with them, and I cannot wait to see what they survive next.

Lastly, I absolutely love this world! The whole idea that magic does exist in the world and that they set up their own government is frickin awesome. I don't know, the way Crewe creates this weird feel around the world is just so well-done.

While we're on the subject of Megan Crewe, let me just say, this woman is a GENIUS! Her writing style is absolutely amazing, and this entire book has such a classic vibe mixed with a little magic and some romance. It's PERFECT!

I just wish Crewe integrated more of the world we know with the magical one she created. Because I was just confused about how much of our government still exists along with the magical government in her world, but I'm hoping we'll get more of that based on the ending of the book. And this little teeny-tiny thing doesn't even matter 🤣, like the book is probably better without it, to keep its mysterious feel.

OH, AND GUESS WHAT?! Megan Crewe has like ten million other YA novels! I can't wait to read them ALL!

Haha bye, booknerds! (And please go read this book!)

For more bookish content, visit my blog at https://ashtonread.blogspot.com or follow me on instagram at @ashton_reads ! Thanks so much!

Actual rating 3.5-stars

This book was without a doubt entertaining and it was enjoyable to read but in really did have a sever lack of originality. Think Harry Potter and the goblet of fire only with taken to hunger game extremes. Based on a World Trade Center plot device that was totally unneeded I would guess that this book starts in the very near future, like 2024ish. A time that is so far in the future teenagers will no longer understand Star Trek references, apparently. I digress. Anyway so the world is made up of Dulls (aka Muggles), Mages (magical folk who mostly have entitlement issues), dampened magical folk (people who had magic but then were deemed too inferior to hang with the mages, were denied entry in magical university, and then had most of their magic forcibly stripped away from them.), then there's burn outs (people who previously had magic and tried to fight against 'The Man' which is actually 9 people and the Confederacy which they totally control who are basically deatheaters but still mostly on the DL we'll get back to that in a minute.) Now to further break things down Muggles (sorry, Dulls) and the various magical folk know of each other and live in the same universe. The Mages had an "unveiling" at some point in recent history and basically announced they were ready to become magical superheroes for the world. Inexplicably magic is spreading and magical kids are being born to muggles and the old school mages don't like it but the Muggles don't like the magical people so they're screwed all over the place. Magical kids are allowed into magical academies if they can afford tuition and their community has enough of a magical population to need one otherwise you just get a magical tutor which apparently is not helpful. So like normal kids the time comes when you find out whether you get into university only there's only one University and acceptance is like super corrupted. Basically kids who belong to magical aristocracy have an easy in and new magic from lower classes are undesirable. On the other hand if you aren't accepted you can compete in competitive trials and try to win your way in… supposedly. Also people have a tendency to die or simply not return from these trials and others appear to be brainwashed by the confederacy and others if they manage to survive long enough to bail out of the trials just get all of their magic burnt out of them. Shortly after the games begin everyone learns they're basically competing in the hunger games but the crazy gov't running everything is nice in the fact that they allow more than one person to live. Oh yeah these trials take place of bloody Riker's Island which in and of itself says something. Muggles and their prisoners no longer inhabit the island but still not a place that channels good vibes to all. This book is clearly the first in what I assume will at least be a trilogy.

What this story lacked in originality was made up for by the fact that it was still a fun and engaging story I was able to connect with the main characters who acted as narrators if not so much with side characters. There were parts of the world building that I felt were left gapingly wide when they needed more explanation. Like why would magical folks simply go along with this "dampening" ritual. There are groups of magical terrorists (although we'll probably find out they're actually insurgents) but I was kind of left wondering why people would just go along with what was so very obviously a rigged system. There were also characters who were very predictable but *shrug* they didn't kill the story by any means they simply ended up being what I expected them to be. Anyway if a stories of social injustice, magic, and super scary obstacle courses are your thing then you should try this book out. I would definitely be willing to read follow up to this book I just hope the story gets more unique as it goes.

3.5

I would like to thank Netgalley and Another Word Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great action packed adventure that alternates between the two main characters, Finn and Rocio. Finn is from a family of old magic and is accepted into school just because of who his family is. Rocio is a magic novice and is not accepted into the school on that reason alone. She has to fight her way in.

This is like the book The Hunger Games but with magic. I would sometimes get confused or lost between the characters with the points of view changing. That being said the story did move at a steady pace so it kept it interesting.

Ruthless magic was a good read , 3.5 stars. It was action packed, a sort of Harry Potter meets Hunger Games. I found it a bit slow to start, but then got caught up in the story of Finn and Rocio.

"Better to do a lot of little things very well...than to try something big and bungle it and watch them sneer as if they knew all along that I'd never measure up."

I'm going to agree with those who've already said that it's a nice book, with an interesting plot and well-developed characters, but it's just not as memorable as you'd hoped.

I didn't really like the main narrator Finn as well, maybe that influenced my initial lack of interest where his adventures lay.

I haven't read The Hunger Games (only seen the movie) so it didn't so much remind me of that as some of Miyazaki movies.

I think it's a great choice for those who like anything magic.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for a ARC to read and get be my honest opinion.


This book is like Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Mortal instruments all rolled up in one...but the author puts a good enough spin on it to make it her own. My first by this author and even though Im not a huge fan of dystopian-like books this book made me curious how the Hunger Games would have played out if there had been magic. The book bounces between two main characters, Rocio, and Finn, but there are several key players.

Rocio is a have not in my book, she grew up poor, has to attend a basic school with teachers that have very little Magic experience. She, however, is full of the affinity for magic. She is refused a spot in the North American confederation of Mages college, not because she doesn't deserve a spot but because of where she comes from. She has to take the mages test to either become a champion or have her magic burned out.

Finn is a have.... he has all the best schools, money, family ties...you name it. He has been offered a spot in college but he refuses it. Refuses to take a spot because there are more deserving people who are better at magic than him. He doesn't want to be handed a spot, he wants to earn it. He decided to enter the games with his friend Prisha who was denied a spot, going against his powerful family's wishes.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the challenges they face during the exam. There are only so many spots for champion so the battle is cutthroat until the end. Without it facing any spoilers I would definitely continue the series, and recommend it to anyone who likes Hunger Games. I give it Four stars of entertainment! Thanks for a great read.

It wasn't a perfect read but still a very good one!
4,5 stars

The characters are rather classic and functional, except for Finn, who's particularly interesting and touching. It's quite unusual in YA /romance to find a character -especially a male one - who is weak, power wise. I loved his humour and his philosophy of life, and the alternative point of view (his and the main feminine character's one)  was a shame in my opinion. I know that it's a favourite technique for readers and writers, especially in romance stories, but it's also a narrative facility which frequently weakens the story.

However, the story was great. I really appreciated that the drastic situation was credible. In many recent YA books, even much acclaimed ones, I'm disturbed by the incoherence of the dystopic or pseudo dystopic situation, which is clearly artificial, established to make the story possible (in all its excruciating details, even). I know that it's fiction but still it must be plausible for me or I get frustrated or even sickened. In Ruthless Magic the plot, that we discover point by point, was clever and surprising, hard sometimes but never unbearable, and I loved it! In fact a good part of the story is pretty awful, but nothing is gratuitous and the author never unhealthily insist upon the most horrible situations.

The treatment of magic is also quite good. I find difficult in general to visualise something that doesn't exist, but Megan Cress manages it well. The Exam atmosphere is also very efficace and reminded me Brussolo's Peggy Sue books. The revelations were clever and astonishing, I was impressed :)

I hope that the book will be translated in French as I'm sure that it'd be a success!

So in the end a very good book, I'm looking forward reading the sequel, which is quite rare nowadays. I have only one regret: the cover, which is not bad, but rather obsolete, very déjà vu. I also believe that most young readers don't favour anymore faces in their book's covers. Well, in France I'm rather sure about it.

Based around a magic competition that decides your place in society, Ruthless Magic follows two different characters from very different backgrounds. Both working towards the same goal of winning the competition.

While Ruthless Magic was a good read, I couldn't find anything particularly that grabbed me. The book didn't jump out at me with it's plot lines or characters. However I can appreciate the amount of diversity present in this book. It was unfortunately not memorable for me. That does not discount that it wasn't well-written with good characters, it's just for me, it wasn't something that I would read again.

Finn comes from a family of mages that have always been gifted with having strong magical abilities. Finn know that his magic is weak. He is to go to the school of mages only because of his heritage. Those who do not have a history of mages in their background are usually “burned” out of their magic. However , they can challenge it by requesting to take the Exam. If they pass the exam, their schooling is free and they will have a mentor through their schooling. Finn decides that even though he is accepted at the school that he decides instead to take the Exam. . Rocío Lopez has done everything that one can do to be accepted at the school but is declined so she decides to take the Exam. The Exam is several days long and very difficult. Many of those who take it do not pass. Why? What happens to those who don’t pass?

The writer has written a novel about magic but it is not a typical magic story. The world the author has created is amazing and I was totally engrossed with it. There are surprises you don’t expect which at times made me “uncomfortable” for the characters in the novel. I am however completely “hooked” on this series and want to read the next book now! Don’t miss out, read it!

Ruthless Magic is a new and exciting take on magic mixed with the Hunger Games. In modern America, magic is seen as a way to keep society safe, and teenagers are competing to attend the Confederations Academy to gain respected positions in society. This book is well written and imaginative, with young characters that are relatable and easy to follow. The story is engaging and easily read, and is told from a few POVs which worked very well together. There was action, magic, adventure and romance. And not to mention the cover is pretty stunning! If you’re a fan of Hunger Games like competitions and magic/witches, this book is for you!

Thanks to Megan Crewe, Another World Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and do not represent the author or publisher.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started off slow but really started to pick up once the exam began. The author has a great way with characters. Finn and Rocio come from very different places and have vastly different talents but both are compelling in their own ways. They are very likable characters that you want to win. Especially given the corruption and unfairness of the world they live in. Unfortunately it’s a bit simplistic and truly a YA novel. Most YA novels in fantasy seem too dark and twisted to be appropriate for young people but this one reads like a book truly meant for teens. It does have a lot of violence but it seems far more generalized than specific which makes it easier to stomach. There are no haunting deaths like in Hunger Games, which this novel seems to rely on far too much. Unless you have a teen to share the novel with it’s probably best skipped for most adults who would expect more from a novel. For younger audiences this book has very book appropriate romance that stops at a loving kiss or two with only a sweet romance behind it. There are violent deaths but again done in more generalized ways than focused on. There is a lot of bullying which might lead to good discussions. I really enjoyed the two characters but overall the plot was pretty thin and derivative for me.

Ruthless Magic by Megan Crewe is the 1st in the Conspiracy of Magic series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Spells & Stars Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Series Background:
Magic, although restricted, is now allowed in the world. It is governed by the North American Confederation of Mages (Confed), with a “Circle” of elders who create the rules that all mages must abide by. Children who have magical parents attend the Academy, where their skills are honed. Outsiders with magic skills but who have non-magical or dampened parents (Dulls) are tutored separately. Yearly, the 16-year old Mages from both groups who have not already been chosen to enter the magic college, must compete to win their place, or have their magic “dampened”. Becoming a Champion by winning a place at the college is not easy, for the exam is gruelling, and has resulted in past deaths. Those that survive but do not pass, will have all magic burned out of them.

My Synopsis:
Finn Lockwood is one of the privileged, with automatic enrolment into the college due to his family name, even though his magic is not up to par. Finn, however, thinks this is unfair to others more worthy than himself, and thus declares himself for the exam. His best friend Presha should have been chosen, but was not. She also declares herself for the exam.

Rocío Lopez is gifted. Unfortunately, she is one of the disadvantaged. She has not been attending the Mages Academy, and despite her skills, she was not one of the “chosen”. There is only one way she can get in. Rocío declares herself for the exam.

With almost 60 students attempting to become Champions, and only a limited amount of spots open, everyone will be trying their best. Unfortunately, they have no idea what they are up against, and they start to wonder what they are really being tested for, and if there are some ulterior motives that aren’t being shared. These tests are horrifyingly vicious, and some of the participants embrace the brutality all too easily. Others simply cannot or refuse to participate. Before they are through, these young novices will learn more about magic, and that sometimes it takes ingenuity and courage to solve a problem, and that magic is not enough. They will learn more about their own strengths and weaknesses. They will learn that you can’t always trust your friends, and you can’t always trust the Confed. They will not all survive.

My Opinions:
Although technically a Young Adult series, readers of all ages can enjoy this. It is touted as a cross between Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. I hate when they do that, as it is usually grossly unfair to an author who doesn’t have near the following nor experience for that comparison. Be that as it may….this is worth reading.

The story is told from the perspectives of both Finn and Rocío, providing the reader with better insights into their very different origins. The story also shows the prejudices and discrimination between “old” and “new” magic families. Megan Crewe is a very talented writer, and created a storyline that flows smoothly. It is action-packed, has a wonderful cast of characters, some which endear themselves to the reader very quickly. It is a very fast read, and kept me entertained from beginning to end.

I am looking forward to the next in the series!

What a rush. This book is a magical mash-up of The Hunger Games and The Mazerunner and is packed full of action, excitement, anticipation, and more. It centres on a group of magical teens who must face a ruthless examination over a period of days in order to survive as champions or face having their magic burned out of them.

This is the first book I've read by Megan Crewe and I know it won't be the last. The writing was flawless, the characters well developed, and action and description superb. It has a little bit of everything in it including a little bit of romance.

The main characters are the group of five that band together to face the exams and help each other survive. We get alternating chapters told from Finn and Rocio's point of view as the group strives to survive the series of exams they are set. The characters don't have any idea what the tests are going to involve and they are all tested to their limits as things heat up.

Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that this book is a real pageturner that will keep you gripped just to find out what the Confed is hiding, what they want from the mages, and what their real intentions are. It was a gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat fighting alongside Finn and Rocio. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens next.

A definite 5 star from me and thanks to NetGalley and Another World Press for the chance to read and review this book.

Although the book description is highly intriguing, overall, Ruthless Magic was just an okay read for me.  Not that there's anything wrong with this book - it's well-written, has interesting world-building, and likable characters, but nothing really stood out.  Note that I'm in the minority on this opinion - the majority of reviews for this novel have been stellar.  Maybe I was expecting more since it uses heavyweight comp titles like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and mentions Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, both authors with outstanding fantasy series under their belts.

I like the idea of the magical community feeling an obligation to reveal themselves to the 'dulls' (non-magic folk) and assist with government safety, but something that surprised me is that even though this magic has been around for quite some time, even those in charge don't seem to understand it.  The rules regarding the magic are somewhat unclear.

Again, this isn't a bad book by any means - I'd just hoped for a bit more originality.  If The Hunger Games doused with magic whets your appetite, this is probably a book you'd enjoy. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The premise of this book intrigued me as did the “Hunger Games meets Harry Potter” description.

Boy, did this book not disappoint. From the beginning, I was hooked! This world of magic is so unlike anything I have ever read and I loved it. The characters were so well written that I actually felt for them as they went through the trials.

I can’t wait for book two! I need more Finn and Rocio in my life!