Perfect for fans of dark academia and readers who loved the high stakes, rivalry and romance in Fourth Wing
Old magic. New power. A contest to die for.
In this lush, atmospheric romantasy, an illusionist competes in a series of deadly trials for a spot at an elite magical college—that is, if another hopeful doesn’t kill her first.
Twenty-year-old Sophia DeWinter has only known life bound to her cruel uncle, the Collector, thanks to a blood bond he exacted from her as a child. When she learns of Killmarth College, an elite academy for magic wielders outside of the Collector’s control, she knows it is her only chance to finally break free. But to gain entry, she will have to compete against other illusionists, masquiers, botanists and alchemists in a series of brutal trials that many hopefuls don’t survive—the Ordeals.
Sophia knows her skills as an illusionist are weak; she only makes it through the first challenge by teaming up with a powerful (and insufferably sexy) botanist, Alden Locke. To make it out alive, she will have to hone her magic, and learn to identify who is a rival, who could be an ally, and who is a murderer.
Because now, not only does she have to protect her heart, but her very life. Hopefuls are being viciously picked off one-by-one between the challenges. In her haste to escape the Collector’s trap, Sophia may have fled straight towards her own death sentence.
Rachel Greenlaw grew up in North Cornwall, surrounded by wild moorland. She studied English with Creative Writing at Falmouth University before moving to an island in the middle of the Atlantic, with all the allure of tropical palm trees in the summer and spine-tingling storms in the winter. Rachel’s debut adult novel, One Christmas Morning was published by HarperCollins imprints in the US and UK in October 2023. Her YA debut fantasy novel, Compass and Blade, was published in February 2024 by Avon.
<aside> ⏳
ALREADY A UK BESTSELLER
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
PART OF FANGIRLISH’S 11 Best Fantasy Books of October 2025
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
INCLUDED IN PASTE MAGAZINE’S LIST OF Most Anticipated Romantasy Books of Fall 2025
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
INCLUDED IN GOODREADS’ LIST OF Dark Academia Books for Fall Reading
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
REVIEWED AND INCLUDED IN ROMANTASY ROUNDUPS IN THE DAILY MIRROR AND THE EXPRESS
</aside>
UK Publisher: HQ, October 2025
US Publisher: Ballantine/Dell, October 2025
Primary Agent: Maddalena Cavaciuti
Film/ TV agent: DHA (Clare Israel)
Extent: 384 pages
Co-agents: Chinese Bardon Chinese Media; Japanese Japan Uni
Rights sold: French - Le MacGuffin; German - Klett Cotta, Italian - Giunti, Polish - Swiat Ksiazk
<aside> ⏳
“I've read my fair share of dark academia books, but this soon-to-be-released romantasy from Rachel Greenlaw totally surprised me by becoming one of my favorites of the year.” - Natalie LaBarbera in PureWow’s dark academia books roundup
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
CHOSEN AS ONE OF ALLURIAL’S OCTOBER BOOKS OF THE MONTH
</aside>
The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw
<aside> ⏳
“An exhilarating, high stakes romantasy that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The world building, the peril and slow burn between Alden and Sophia made The Ordeals five stars for me.”
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
“The twists and turns got me, and the tension and banter… My fave!!! I was constantly surprised, and loved all the different types of magic. Now, book 2…?!?!?”
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
“Wow, just wow. This book is more like a 6-star read for me. It was FLAWLESS… Greenlaw’s writing style is beautiful - intelligent, yet accessible. I am floored by it. I wish I could read this all over again.”
</aside>
<aside> ⏳
“Holy wow!!!! This book sucks you in and keeps you guessing the whole way! I could not stop reading.”
</aside>
<aside> ⌛ “[A] powerful, seafaring adventure, featuring a smart and sassy heroine and an irresistible love story” - The Bookseller, Editor's Choice
</aside>
<aside> ⌛ “I flew through each page… Readers will be truly captivated by Mira and her journey to find her father and herself along the way. A magical tale with a lot of heart” - Alexandra Christo, author of To Kill a Kingdom
</aside>