An elite academy for magic wielders, dangerous trials, and a protagonist with far more at stake than just a place at an school: The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw may not completely reinvent the dark academia/romantasy genre, but it is nonetheless a thoroughly entertaining read.
The book gets off to a strong start, plunging us straight into the story without a lengthy preamble and delivering plenty of action, a dark academia atmosphere, and a romance that blends seamlessly into the plot. While the story didn’t hold my attention completely from start to finish, it definitely had me hooked again by the end.
A magic academy and trials that not everyone survives
Since childhood, Sophia De Winter has been bound to her cruel uncle—the Collector—by a blood bond. For her, there seems to be only one possible way out: securing a place at Killmarth Academy, an elite school for magic wielders. That way, she could break the bond and further develop her powers.
To be accepted, however, Sophia must first pass the so-called Ordeals—a series of brutal trials that far from all aspirants survive. Along the way, she encounters illusionists, alchemists, botanists, and masters of disguise. To boost her chances, she joins forces with the handsome and powerful wielder Alden Locke. Yet not all her fellow aspirants are only rivals, and other dangers lurk around Killmarth Academy as well. Before long, Sophia must decide whom she can truly trust…
*Affiliate Links
My Dark Academia outfit inspired by The Ordeals
The rather moody “dark academia” vibes of the book inspired my outfit in this blogpost. I like the somewhat formal style of dress that is a key part of this trend. Muted colors, classic patterns—such as plaid—and timeless cuts make the look both suitable for everyday wear, but still exciting.
To avoid looking too prim, I opt for a miniskirt paired with a simple top and nude fishnet tights. The latter, by the way, are my secret tip for great-looking legs; they show off your legs perfectly while being far more subtle and elegant than black fishnets.
Outfit Details:
Skirt: Koton, similar e.g. via Asos*
Top: Pussy Deluxe, e.g. via Amazon*
Fishnet tights: similar e.g. via Amazon*
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman, similar e.g. via TopVintage*
Handbag: Nadja Christner
Hairpiece: via Amazon*
*Affiliate links
Straight into the story – without a long lead-in
Of course, the dark world of the academy offers plenty of inspiration beyond just the outfits—the way the story begins also won me over immediately. Instead of spending chapters explaining the world and all the characters, we are thrown straight into Sophia’s seemingly hopeless situation. This gives the story momentum right from the start and sparks curiosity about Killmarth Academy and its deadly entrance exams.
Of course, a magic academy and dangerous trials are nothing entirely new these days. However, I wouldn’t hold that against the book—after all, those are the very elements used to market it. Anyone who enjoys stories about academies, trials, and magic will likely feel right at home here.
The world-building serves its purpose well, offering an interesting foundation with various forms of magic (botany, alchemy, masquerade, and illusion). However, one shouldn’t expect a completely novel high-fantasy world. For me, the book’s strengths lay elsewhere—in the action-packed trials, the dark atmosphere, and the question of who is truly on Sophia’s side.
Good romance with no “enemies-to-lovers” trope
The romance really worked for me, too. It doesn’t take up too much space or overshadow the trials or Sophia’s own story, yet it is beautifully developed. I found it particularly refreshing that the relationship manages without the seemingly ubiquitous “enemies-to-lovers” trope. No endless hostility that suddenly has to turn into deep feelings—that was a really pleasant change of pace. 😉
The love story complements the plot rather than completely taking it over. This makes The Ordeals appealing even to those who enjoy romantic fantasy but don’t need romance to take center stage on every page. The spice level is also relatively moderate; while there are a few explicit scenes, they do not overshadow the actual plot.
Exciting, but with a few slow patches
As much as I enjoyed the basic premise and the trials, the story hit a bit of a slump for me at times. The writing style, too, didn’t fully captivate me from start to finish (but please note: I read the book in German, so this might not apply to the original English version!). It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what caused this—sometimes a book simply fails to draw you in completely, even though the plot and characters actually work well.
Fortunately, the book picks up significant pace again towards the end. A lot happens, the suspense builds, and the final chapters completely gripped me once more. However, it is worth noting that The Ordeals ends on a major cliffhanger. If you dislike open endings, you might prefer to wait until the sequel is released.
The Ordeals: My Conclusion
The Ordeals is a dark academia romantasy worth reading, featuring deadly trials, magic, action, and a romance balanced just right. While it doesn’t completely reinvent familiar genre tropes, it combines them in a highly entertaining way—and sometimes, that is precisely all a book needs to do. 😉
My enthusiasm waned a little in the middle. However, the strong opening, the dark academy atmosphere, several unpredictable twists, and the thrilling finale ultimately outweighed those aspects for me.
Another plus: the hardcover edition is beautifully designed. Of course, the content is what matters most in the end, but it certainly doesn’t hurt if the book looks good in your reading nook, does it?
The second and final part of the duology is titled The Divines and will be released in early October 2026. A confirmed release date for the German translation is not yet known. (I really hope the second part will also be translated, because I absolutely have to know what happens next, otherwise, I will read it in English.)
*Affiliate links
By the way, you can find numerous other exciting book recommendations in my reading category.
