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4.0
By the Orchid and the Owl: The Esholian Institute Book 1
ByPublisher Description
On the island of Eshol, a ruling council gifts magic to all its citizens On the island of Eshol, a ruling council gifts magic to all its citizens — whether they want it or not.whether they want it or not.
Eighteen-year-old Rayna Drey should be excited for her Branding, when the island’s Good Council will infuse her blood with one of five sanctioned magics: the ability to wield elements, summon objects, shift forms, talk to wildlife, or manipulate minds. The Good Council is good. The Branding doesn’t hurt. And the institution she must attend afterward, to learn how to control her new gift, is only a littlelittle dangerous.
Or, at least, that’s what Rayna has always heard. As soon as she arrives at the Esholian Institute, however, a peer-pressured dare makes her explode with a power as deadly as it is forbidden. Worse yet, the only one who can teach her how to hide it from the Good Council is Coen Steeler, a much-too-handsome fifth-year who can manipulate minds as easily as he breathes. He alone understands Rayna’s forbidden power…because he has the same one.
With their secret in each other’s hands, Rayna soon uncovers other dark secrets that threaten the very foundation of the island itself. And the worst of them? If the Good Council finds out what lurks in her and Coen’s blood, they’ll both face a fate beyond obedience — and a punishment worse than death.
Eighteen-year-old Rayna Drey should be excited for her Branding, when the island’s Good Council will infuse her blood with one of five sanctioned magics: the ability to wield elements, summon objects, shift forms, talk to wildlife, or manipulate minds. The Good Council is good. The Branding doesn’t hurt. And the institution she must attend afterward, to learn how to control her new gift, is only a littlelittle dangerous.
Or, at least, that’s what Rayna has always heard. As soon as she arrives at the Esholian Institute, however, a peer-pressured dare makes her explode with a power as deadly as it is forbidden. Worse yet, the only one who can teach her how to hide it from the Good Council is Coen Steeler, a much-too-handsome fifth-year who can manipulate minds as easily as he breathes. He alone understands Rayna’s forbidden power…because he has the same one.
With their secret in each other’s hands, Rayna soon uncovers other dark secrets that threaten the very foundation of the island itself. And the worst of them? If the Good Council finds out what lurks in her and Coen’s blood, they’ll both face a fate beyond obedience — and a punishment worse than death.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesBy the Orchid and the Owl: The Esholian Institute Book 1 Reviews
4.0
“Me, reading the synopsis: “So… Divergent for witches?”
Me, reading the book: “Oh. Divergent for horny witches.””
“I finished this book in a day. It was a good read but it feels like something I've read before. I know the story in the academic setting, where the heroine finds out she's special in a dangerous way and is protected by the love interest.Not groundbreaking but well written.
I enjoyed it's unique setting and the diversity of the powers the students have.
The story follows Rayna Drey as she travels from her home to the Esholian Institute where she will receive her magic and spend the next 5 years learning to control it. But while getting to know some of her new classmates the night before their branding Rayna's innate magic goes haywire and she's saved Coen, who shares the same illegal magic.
I really loved listening to Amy Hall narrate this book. She did such an amazing job that, while writing this the day after listening, I believed this was a duel narrator.
I am looking forward to the next in this series. I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.”
“I listened to this one because it was a featured audiobook on my Libby app. It’s just a little too spicy for my taste, but it’s not really that much. This first book left me wanting to know more of the story. I definitely think it’s a series I’ll continue.”
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