First Year (The Black Mage)
“You don't become the best if you aren't willing to stick your hand in the fire.”
The first book of this series is amazing!
I am only disappointed in one thing – I didn’t get to be in Darren’s head. I first read the prequel, and I guess I had been in his head too long I am having Darren hangover. I wanted to know what he thinks of and feels for Ryiah. But that doesn’t affect my review; it was just a fan’s personal feeling.
Characters
Ryiah’s character is fierce, strong-willed, and resilient. She really wanted to be in Combat, and she won’t stop even when all the highborns are against her. She develops a weird yet strong connection with Darren, even though most of the time all she could think of is beating his ass.
“Pain is a sign you are working your body to its limits.”
I can’t believe Darren can be a jerk, although I really can’t blame him because of what he went through. But even when he’s being mean, he challenge Ryiah so she could reach her full potential, so that still earns him brownie points.
Ella seems to remember the incident differently. She thought Darren turned his back on her. Good thing that one cleared up before it all went bad.
Plot
The plot reminds me of Vampire Academy, where everyone’s being trained for combat and magic; The Selection, because only 15 will be chosen for the apprenticeship; and the Hunger Games, because the Masters, and even the fellow first-years, are doing their best to eliminate the weakest.
Pace
I would be disappointed if Darren and Ryiah confessed their love after their first meet; I’ve read a lot of YA books that seems to rush the romance part of the story. This one took their time to build the connection, you can see how they went from indifference to civil to respect until admiration. They started as two people who hated each other’s guts, to challenging each other, until they help (well, mostly Darren helping Ryiah) each other be the best they can be. I love how the author knew not to rush this, but instead make it as realistic as it can be.
Ending
When she lost during the first round, I was thinking that maybe she’ll become an apprentice some other time or some other way. I was guessing that maybe she’ll do something extraordinary on the second book and that’s when she’ll be (re)discovered and become one. So when she was called as the 6th apprentice, it was a surprise, though somehow expected. I always had a feeling Ryiah she will become an apprentice. But that was a good twist, with her losing the first round and destroying the armory.
Overall, it was a very good start. Like I mentioned, it’s like studying in Vampire Academy, only there’s Selection where only 15 will be chosen, and there’s a Hunger Games feel to it where the weakest will be eliminated. And all this is happening in a Harry Potter world with Game of Thrones setting.
I love how it was able to combine everything from other paranormal or fiction worlds, but still stands out.
5 stars.
