This was a fun read. I was skeptical about another book set at a magical college and another book with trials but I am glad I took a chance because I was hooked. I will say this is not going to be for you if you pick it up because it’s listed as a Romance, and it most definitely is not a Romantasy. The romance is incredibly thin and definitely not well done. This book itself is more of a slow burn. The further into it I was the more invested I became and towards the end I had to stay up late to finish it. Sophia is a very intriguing protagonist with a lot of mystery to her. She has been honed to be ready for anything and to trust no one but she is a very caring and good person that may be too decent for what she is facing. The author has made a very unique world with a lot of mystery that very much held my attention.

first and foremost, huge thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. it was a great ride and so happy i got this novel as my first one.

Wow. so much reeling in my brain right now. This really has it all. Dark academia setting/vibe, deadly trials, high stakes, vampires, magic, werewolves, a determined FMC, and a mysterious MMC.

This novel follows Sophia, who is not satisfied with the current state of her life, which consists of basically being her uncle’s helper in “marking” people to k!ll. i don’t want to spoil anything but the uncle is called the “collector,” (very much giving arobynn hamel from TOG) and Sophia is bound to him by a contract. To get away from her uncle, Sophia, who has magical powers herself, decides to enter a competition known as The Ordeals for magic wielders to be accepted into an elite magical university… the only problem is that this competition is extremely dangerous and most of the competitors don’t make it out alive. And of course she meets a mysterious MMC along the way who ends up playing a huge role in the trials. Things get suspicious, students start getting murdered, and Sophia discovers not only a lot about her past, but that other dark things are at play. 👀

THE PLOT: okay some parts were a bit slow, but overall this was good. There were actually several twists in this, and some of them had me shocked!!! I was impressed, but felt the pacing was all over the place at times. the ending really was insane and the main reason for me rating 4/5 ⭐️.

THE ROMANCE: mmmmmm this one bothered me. these two met once, had like 1-2 semi deep conversations, and then it seemed very insta lust and by the end of a few weeks they’re in love? This is described as rivals to lovers, which i disagree with because these 2 are working together from the get go and were never really rivals ?

THE CHARACTERS: i really thought there was so much growth for the FMC, however i wish we had more description and just a bit more on the relationship building with her and the other characters. there wasn’t much info on everyone, so i got a lot of the professors and founders confused. it also seemed like everyone was just instantly best friends. these people are in school together and spending everyday together, so i wish there had been more interaction and character development.

THE WRITING: the premise of this was fantastic. all the magic and the vibes were top tier. i did notice a few grammatical errors and sentences that were difficult to read due to being choppy, it my main issue with this book is that i wish it had just been a little bit more in depth. I felt at times it was just very surface level, but it had so much potential. Lots of plot holes as well that i’m hoping are answered in book 2.

Also really needed a map to refer back to. i know that’s high maintenance but there were lots of cities and territories mentioned and i had no idea where or what these places were.

An interesting magic system at a magic academy, secrets and mysteries, and romance. I was excited to start this and I wanted to love it...

But I just couldn't connect with the characters enough to really get pulled into the story. At around 75% I found myself skimming through just to get to the end. I do think maybe I may just be aging out of academy setting books unfortunately.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC, I'm sure there are many who will fall in love with these characters and their story in a way that I didn't.

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭.

Gimme a magical academy✨ deadly trials ☠️ secret identities, a murder mystery 🔪 vampires 🩸 and a good love story 💘 and I am sat for this dark academia Romantasy.

What a great time this book was. Sophia and her story hooked me in from the start. Orphaned and bound to a mysterious uncle with no means of escape. Desperate. Sad. Looking for a way out. Add in a chance encounter with a beautiful, magic wielding botanist with strong arms and chocolate eyes. Yep. Yep. Let’s do this 🙂‍↕️ After a traumatic night Sophia finds herself in the Crucible with none other than handsome stranger Alden. They have to work together to survive so they can enter into Killmarth College and compete in the Ordeals or lose their place or maybe even their lives along the way. They don’t trust each other but both need the other.

𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦; 𝘐’𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘵, 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘢. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 … 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

I’m telling you this book was a ride. I loved the creepy, gothic setting. There’s danger at every turn. The magic was interesting. The romantic chemistry was delicious. And that ending left me reeling. All the makings of a terrific read.

What you get:
- desperate on the run FMC
- hunky, botanist MMC
- rivals to lovers
- he falls first
- murder mystery
- deadly trials
- magical academy
- vampires + werewolves

The Ordeals is a story about Sophia, an illusionist who plans to escape her bond to the Collector by entering a magic academy. To do so, she must pass a set of trials to test her magic and cunning. She ends up discovering more dangers than she initially imagined.

This book had a fun concept with the trials the hopeful scholars faced, but at times it felt so similar to a variety of other books with the similar trope that it lost my interest.

Something I enjoyed throughout the book was the magic system! It was a unique take of magic with the four types of illusion, alchemy, botany, and masquier with various subspecialties within those categories. The author found creative ways to demonstrate a variety of talents that was very engaging.

However, I wasn’t too connected to the characters in the book. The romance was fast paced we missed out on tension later on with them falling in love so quickly.

There are elements to this book that will be fun for many romantasy readers like the dark academia setting and the trials, it just didn’t stand out to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book!

When I finished this one, I was ready to FUCKING GOOOOO!!!!! And slay some REDACTED!!!

The Ordeals was so much more than I expected in every possible way. The plot was thicker, the characters were sharper, the magic was cooler, the creatures were wilder, the lore ran deeper, and the mysteries demanded that I unravel them.

I cannot wait to see what chaos and action book two has in store and learn more about the characters' backstories. Absolute 5 stars!

The Ordeals is a gripping dark-academia romantic fantasy that mostly delivers on its promise of danger, magic, and emotional stakes. The best parts are when the tension is high: the ordeals themselves are creative and brutal, every moment feels risky, and I was genuinely invested in Sophia’s fight for freedom. Her inner conflict, her cleverness even when her magic is weak, makes her feel real and sympathetic. Alden adds depth as a love interest who supports but doesn’t overshadow, and their relationship, while sometimes predictable, becomes sweeter and more meaningful as the story unfolds.

The magic system is intriguing. The different wielders, the world of illusionists, botanists, alchemists, and more is interestingly varied. The atmosphere is rich and often chilling; Greenlaw paints the settings with enough detail that I could picture Killmarth College, the trials, the secrets lurking behind every door. The mystery element adds momentum, especially in the second half, and the twists toward the ending kept me turning pages.

That said there are a few drawbacks. The pacing is uneven: early on it can feel slow or overloaded with inner monologue and explanation, which pulled me out of the story at times. The romance, though heartfelt, occasionally leans toward cliché or feels a bit forced in the dialogue. Also some of the worldbuilding details could have used more clarity — the stakes are high but sometimes the rules of the magic or how everything fits in with the outside world feel slightly fuzzy.

Overall this is a strong debut in this genre. If you love magical trials, atmospheric academies, flawed heroes, and a romance that matters this book will hit most of what you want. I’m excited to see where the next installment goes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC.

4⭐️ this is a dark academia fantasy romance with trials and I literally had so much fun reading it!!

I will truly never get tired of books with trials and this one specifically had such cool trials!! If you loved the trials in Phantasma or Enchantra by Kaylie Smith I think you would really like these.

We follow Sophia she is an illusionist and is trying to attend Killmarth, a college where magic wielders attend. In order to gain entry she has to complete multiple deadly trials called the Ordeals. During these trials she ends up teaming up with her rival Alden who is a botanist.

I thought the setting was amazing and definitely had those dark academia vibes. I loved the characters and the ending had me so stressed out!!

- Dark academia
- Fantasy romance
- Trials
- Rivals to lovers
- Vampires and werewolves
- First in a series
- 1st person single pov

Thank you Ballentine and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Ahhh thank you so much Bellantine for this ARC, you literally made my summer, I was in such a slump!! 😭😭😭

This book is everything to me. It's been weekens and I am not over it. Nothing compares I will fight anyone saying not amazing things about it. 😇 Also I need all the special editions thank you.

Absolutely stunning, perfect, I binge read it in a couple of days (and you know how chaotic my reading usually is). It's twisty, magical, dark, romantic and unputdownable! Chef's kiss, no notes.

The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw is everything I craved in a dark academia centered on deadly trials and competitions. Sophia, the FMC is so relatable and badass. Alden is the delicious strong and mysterious MMC you don't know if you can trust but you are falling for him anyway. Their dynamic during the trials and relationship development felt so natural and fiery, from banter and teasing to, partners, to falling and saving each other's lives.

✨️𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦. “𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨?” 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. “𝘓𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯, 𝘋𝘦𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?”🫠✨️

Everything about this story felt smart, gripping and intense. It's non stop action, games, corruption, character growth and powerplays. It's found family, betrayals and elemental magic.

It's Silver Elite meets Arcana Academy, if you need a vibe check.

P.S. I recommend visiting @hqstories and @rachelgreenlaw_' s pages, the art and teasers convinced me to autobuy autorequest autoread auto make edits immediately lol.

Also this is my official request for sequels or anything Rachel ever writes ILY thanksss🥰🥰🥰

This book had all the things I love: deadly trials, magic, dark academia, and a promised romance. It initially grabbed me, but the romance turned out to be lackluster. They kissed in chapter one, and as much as some other reviews say this is enemies-to-lovers, they were never truly enemies. It leaned more insta-lust than anything slow-burn or satisfying.

That said, the trials themselves were definitely deadly, tense, and fun to read. While the romance was disappointing, the atmosphere and competition kept me turning the pages.

This has the makings to be a pretty interesting series. I'm not sure yet how all the characters are gonna flush out but I am looking forward to figuring out the plot.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I thought the premise sounded really promising - magic school entrance trials? Sold! But in reality, it was not really at all what I thought it would be from the description, and I still can’t figure out if it’s in a good way or a bad way.

While I initially would’ve thought that the insta-lust/love between the main love interests would be my biggest issue, I actually didn’t mind it too terribly in this one. Yes, they kiss in the first chapter. But the FMC is flirting with him to get information she wants, and honestly it felt believable in that context. What felt less believable is that it didn’t truly become a source of tension when he figured it out, but regardless the relationship just didn’t irk me.

What DID throw me off was the way other magical beings were written into the text. It feels as if it was a surprise to many people within the world that other magical beings were out there, but then immediately it’s just taken at face value. It’s not common knowledge, but it’s also not doubted at all, and it makes these other creatures feel kind of one dimensional and random. The magic systems (alchemists, illusionists, botanists, masquiers) was pretty detailed and quite fun, but that energy wasn’t really carried through to other aspects of the world. There’s mention of a religion, but it doesn’t feel fully embedded into the world the way religion does in reality. There are other kingdoms in the world, but the politics and interactions between these feels glossed over until it’s needed to add conflict to the story - I wish the political intrigue had been building the entire time.

I am intrigued by certain aspects of the story, and it seems like it’s the first in a series based on the ending. Maybe there will be more depth to come as the series goes on (it’s unclear how many more books there will be) and some of my critiques will become moot points. But as it stands now, it honestly feels like a Netflix romcom or Hallmark Christmas movie, but make it fantasy - the characters feel quite young despite it being categorized as adult, and it just lacks that finesse and complexity to make it feel fully fleshed out. I will keep going with the series when the next one comes out, and I’d give it a 3.5/5 overall, rounded down to 3 stars. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

First, and foremost, a HUGE thank you to Rachel Greenlaw and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this ARC! The Ordeals was such a fun read, and I finished it in 2 days flat. Overall this book gave me a great time and left me hungry for more. What else could I have asked for? A romantasy disclaimer though: If you came for the plot, then this book is for you. If you came for the romance, then this book might be for you? Overall this was a well-written and intriguing story. It’s a solid 4/5 for me.
Like I said, if you came for the plot, then this book is for you. It’s very Goblet of Fire, but for adults. It had trials that were very well fleshed out, and they were such an interesting part of the story. Each and every one of them was unique and kept me engaged. There was also a whodunnit/murder mystery component too, which kept me on my toes. It seems like a lot of plot points and storylines to juggle, but Rachel Greenlaw seamlessly blended all of these components together.
If you know me, you know that I’m a sucker for found family. The Ordeals took this a step further, and I can’t say more without spoiling the story. The Collector’s storyline seems so simple and flat at first, but the depth that came from his story ended up being my favorite. While I would love to say the same about the side characters, it felt a bit like the student side characters were a bit copy/paste. We had a hot male love interest, a strong-willed female best friend, and a goofball male friend. They were all lovely characters, but I would have loved to see something a bit different.
Now, if you came for the romance … This really could be hit or miss. I enjoyed the romance, but I didn’t love it. Alden is, sadly, not making my top book boyfriends list. It felt like the romance couldn’t really decide what it wanted to be: insta-lust, enemies to lovers, slow burn, etc. It felt very YA/NA to me, and maybe that’s the intention. The spice was adequate. Nothing to write home about. It was the dialogue that really sent me over the edge. They were flirty together, and it was fun for a while, but toward the end it seemed a little bit forced. When you read this, you’ll have to let me know your thoughts.
Overall, this was a really fun story, and the plot more than made up for my minor gripes with the romance. The ending truly left me hungry for more, and I can’t wait to see what’s up next in The Ordeals!

I absolutely loved this book. The tension was so good between the main characters and so much suspense throughout the whole book. And the end!!! That was such a crazy ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for sending me this arc!

I’m kind of down by the fact I couldn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted. I enjoyed Sophia’s character and how she fought all the way through the book. Alden was a great addition to Sophia’s new story taking place. I liked how they met and how they always kept it playful, and of course I enjoyed how taken they were with each other since the start.

On the plot side of things, it was very hard for me to be fully immersed. I’m not sure why but my guess is the trial set up and the trial itself, I just have seen it time and time again. I didn’t find anything unique about it that made it stand up from other books that have trials. I do have to praise Sophia and Tessa’s friendship. I’m glad they stuck together and there was never a betrayal coming or I was going to be mad. The vampire twist was also not convincing or surprising to me. The actions scenes were definitely there but the plot needs more excitement and more mystery. Most of the twists I could see coming from a mile away. Even the ending. Maybe the big mystery for me was the parents but we never figure out that part of it so I was not excited at all.

The Ordeals has undeniably beautiful writing—Rachel Greenlaw knows how to craft atmosphere and tension. But parts of the story didn’t quite make sense to me. The leaders repeatedly insisted they wouldn’t allow certain things to happen, and then seemed not to care at all when those exact things did occur. It pulled me out of the story, and combined with the sheer amount of death, it ended up being a heavier read than I prefer.

Thank you to the author, Ballantine, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Ordeals. I enjoy reading books in academic settings and trials, so this book was right up my alley. Our FMC, Sophia, is determined to stop working for her uncle and enlist in Killmarth College to make something for herself. While there she discovers nothing is as it seems in this new world, and fights to stake her claim. Sophia, an illusionist, and Alden, a botanist are quickly made a team determined to win. The magic system was descriptive and imaginative and the trials were original. The tone of the book leaned more YA than NA with the chemistry between the FMC and MMC seeming shallow for the majority of the book. There are enjoyable supporting characters who I wish were fleshed out more to determine their motivation instead of being used as a plot device for the FMC.

If you're looking for a book to completely consume you, possess your every waking thought, and leave you begging for more, look no further. Rachel Greenlaw’s The Ordeals isn't just a book; it's a heart-pounding, five-star experience that will live rent-free in your head long after you turn the last page. This is the kind of story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, checking for a sequel before you've even finished (and yes, there's one coming next year!).
Greenlaw has a gift for taking classic fantasy tropes and making them feel entirely new. The story follows Sophia, an underdog who has spent most of her life under the thumb of the menacing Collector. Her only hope for freedom is to find and enter the Crucible, where she can take the difficult exam for the prestigious Killmarth magic academy. But she quickly learns that the trials are even more dangerous than she imagined.
Early in her journey, Sophia crosses paths with Alden, and their off-the-charts chemistry ignites a thrilling rivals-to-lovers romance. But the romance is just one layer of this complex world. This book delivers on every front, from its vicious trials and compelling dark academia setting to a genuinely unique magic system and a heartwarming found family dynamic. The characters will grab you from the first chapter, and you won't want to let them go.
This book truly blew me away. With a spice level of 2.5 out of 5, it balances tension, emotion, and action perfectly. The Ordeals has all the qualifications of a five-star read and is an absolute must-add to your TBR list. Make sure to pre-order it now—it officially comes out on October 7, 2025!

+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++

I want to thank @netgalley @rachelgreenlaw_ @randomhouse @bellantinebooks and @delacortepress for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.

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I just finished The Ordeals and I’m still thinking about it. I got completely pulled into the world and the trials right from the beginning. It has that perfect mix of dark magic mystery and just enough romance to keep things emotionally grounded.

Sophia was such a great main character. She’s determined and tough but also vulnerable in ways that made her feel real. Watching her navigate the magic school setting and the deadly Ordeals had me fully hooked.

The setting at Killmarth was so atmospheric. I loved how each trial revealed more about the world and the magic system. It felt original and a little eerie in the best way. The different magical paths like illusionists and botanists were super interesting too.

And Alden? Total soft spot. I loved how his connection with Sophia grew slowly and felt really natural. It wasn’t rushed or over the top which made it feel more meaningful.

The whole story had this immersive quality where I just wanted to keep reading. It had tension and stakes but also moments of warmth and softness that balanced it out.

If you love magical competitions strong heroines and slow burn connections this one is definitely worth picking up. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

📖 The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw

✨ Review ✨

Illusions, blood bonds, deadly trials, and a girl desperate for freedom. The Ordeals had me hooked from page one. 🌑

Sophia DeWinter has spent her life chained to her cruel uncle, bound by a blood pact she never chose. Her only chance at escape? Competing in The Ordeals is a brutal, high-stakes set of magical trials that serve as the entrance exam to Killmarth College, an elite academy where only the strongest survive. But survival comes at a cost: rivals lurk in every shadow, hopefuls are being picked off one by one, and trust is as dangerous as betrayal.

Enter Alden Locke, the infuriatingly talented (and yes, maddeningly attractive) botanist who becomes Sophia’s reluctant ally. Their partnership crackles with tension, equal parts rivalry and slow-burn chemistry, making every trial even more heart-pounding. ⚔️💚

What I loved:
🌑 Deadly trials that gave me Hunger Games x Fourth Wing vibes
🌑 Lush, gothic atmosphere with serious dark academia energy
🌑 A flawed but fierce FMC clawing her way toward freedom
🌑 A morally gray, rivals-to-lovers romance that simmers beneath the danger

Rachel Greenlaw builds a world dripping with tension, betrayal, and gothic magic and I devoured this. It’s sharp, haunting, and impossible to put down. The last page left me whispering: I need book two immediately.

⭐ If you love Fourth Wing, A Deadly Education, or Carissa Broadbent’s Serpent & the Wings of Night, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.

#TheOrdeals #RachelGreenlaw #NetGalley #RomantasyReads #DarkAcademiaFantasy #DeadlyTrials #RivalsToLovers #DarkRomanceVibes #FantasyBooks #MagicAndMayhem #BookishObsessions #RandomHousePublishing