This book was so good from beginning to end. The characters are amazing and the story had me hooked. This is exactly my kind of book and I have no words for how much I enjoyed it

This book was alright! It was a little all over the place but it was readable. I just wish the stakes had been lower instead of everything being super dangerous all the time.

I had such a hard time reading this book. It couldn't grab my attention at all and it took me forever just to read 6 chapters. I don't know why it is compared to Fourth Wing because for the first 6 chapters it is nothing like Fourth wing.

Single POV, feminine rage, unique magic, everything is a lie, so much betrayal and backstabbing, sign language rep, rivals(?) to lovers to ??, terrifying monsters, deadly rite that influential families send their children into, ruthless society, chosen one, the land is unbalanced

Braya is chosen. Which is a fancy way of saying she is destined to sacrifice her life to help fuel her society. But she won't go down without a fight. When she is caught trying to escape with her friend, everything gets so much worse. But she is rescued by an unlikely ally and is given the chance to try to rescue her sister by entering a deadly competition that will determine the next generation of rulers of the land.

Breya had always been ready to risk herself to try to protect others, even when it often got her in trouble, and through this book she expanded that protection to a much larger extent. I was kept guessing for a bit as to who the MMC was, which was kind of fun. The betrayals kept on coming and by the time we were through I was sort of mad at most everyone😆. I will be finishing the duo!

5 stars!

one word WOW! What an amazing story, and I NEED book 2 now!

In this book we follow Braya who grew up as Gaia's Chosen one in the theocratic state of Argacia. She is being raised with one goal in mind, that she is being put to 'sleep' when she is 21 so her body can be used as a vessel for to extract Syllan Flames from Syllan Crystals. This is a type of energy source used in Argacia.

However she doesn't just accept her destiney and refuses to be taken to the butcher to be "slaughtered" like a meek lamb. She conjures up a plan to free herself and save some of her friends from the same destiny.

While trying to escape, she is being helped by a rich family, however they also have their own agenda. She needs to join the Rite of the Radnick in disguise. Not knowing much of the outside world she has to survive in a group of rich people, the aristocracy of Argacia. During the rite she has to form alliances with others to survive and find a new deposit of Sylla.

Who is speaking the truth? Who wants to kill her? Who can she trust? Who can she open her heart to? Will her feelings betray her? Will she Rise or Die?

Read it now in this epic fantasy, with great world building, an spectactular mix of a reluctant heroine, found family, magic, and a deadly trials.

If you are a fan of books like the Hunger Games, and the Powerless series check it out!

I really enjoyed this book! It was super unique compared to some romantasy books out there and I especially loved the magic system. The world building and character development was also wonderful as well! Would definitely recommend to fans of this genre.

I found this book to be promising, if under baked. The first issue I have is with the pacing. Although it introduces an interesting world and tense scenario, the first act is painfully slow. Then, as the romance picks up, it feels tonally dissonant from the situation. Moments of levity are too light, like they are completely outside of the plot. The end was arguably when it finally got interesting, but then it was over. I would say this novel needs a few passes from a seasoned editor, but would probably be worth it.

It was a GREAT surprise! I had a blast reading it and was intrigued from the beginning and I read it so quickly. This book hooked me instantly!

The world is really interesting and I really liked Braya. My one complaint is I feel like there was literally no development at all between the love interests. That was a very undercooked romance, in my opinion. I wish more time was spent on their relationship.

There is so much that was revealed at the end that really has me at the edge of my seat, and I needed the explanation because I felt there was a lot going on. OMG. Looking forward to the second book in this duology!

If you love romantasy, I’d definitely add this to your list

I do love it when I find a book that draws me in from the start and then keeps me hooked. And this did that for sure.

Think magic, fantasy dystopia vibes and not knowing who to trust throughout. Then add some awesome twists at the end I did NOT see coming and this is easily a five star read for me.

I honestly kept switching thoughts on different characters but was still blown away in the last few chapters with the plot twist revelations.

I so wanted to see Breya escape the clutches of the Sect and save her friend and sister. Then it was edge of your seat high stakes fantasy action as she took part in the Rites of Radnick. Right up till the final pages I honestly couldn't see that ending coming.

As a fantasy debut this was brilliant. So many characters I just wanted to see make it, a romance I hoped would be a HEA and trials to the death I didn't know the outcome of.

Definitely have to read book two now, because honestly that ending broke me!

Highly recommend this to all fantasy fans, especially those who love twisted magic systems, friendships, betrayals and high stakes trials.

3,5⭐️ thank you to netgalley and the author for the ARC! I had a hard time at the beginning but halfway it started to flow and the twists at the end left me floored. it is rather rare nowadays that I don't see the twists coming so that was fresh! there was a little bit of Handmaid's Tale vibe at the beginning and Hunger Games in the Rite itself! I enjoyed it and would like to read the other to finish this duology🙂‍↕️ the names and world building were sometimes confusing but it just took some getting used to. Some of the characters and relationships also felt a bit distant (they've known each other for like a day so it can't be that deep) but I enjoyed the characters and the nature almost folklore vibes! overall very solid and fast paced story!

I was skeptical going into this book. The first few chapters just weren't doing it for me. But things slowly started picking up, and by the middle I didn't want to put it down anymore. The world was unique. The monsters were unique (some of them I'll never forgive). The plot was fantasy with a dash of dystopia. And I'm a sucker for a good trial/competition situation. This met all of that and then some. I can't wait for the second one!

Short Summary:

🩶 Braya escapes her role as a sacrifice to the gods only to be thrown into a deadly game of survival with a select group of competitors. Alliances are forged and broken, trust is earned and lost, and Braya must decide what outcome she truly wants for herself and the future.

Best Parts:

⛰️ Braya's resilience
⛰️ Plot layout
⛰️ World-building

Worst Parts:

⛰️ Sayleth (little bitch)
⛰️ Nuinn and her cronies
⛰️ Mandalins

The Rite of Radnick had a lot going for it—gods, betrayal, found family, and one of the most brutal punishments I’ve come across in a while. The concept was solid, especially the contest Braya is forced into under an alias. The worldbuilding, politics, and magical beasts all hit the mark, and once the plot kicked in, I was hooked. It gave me echoes of some of my favorite fantasy reads, which is always a win.

That said, it took a bit to settle into the writing, and I never fully connected with Braya. She felt a little distant, which made it hard to get emotionally invested.

I did enjoy the action and pacing during the Rite, but things moved so fast, I barely had time to process when characters were injured or killed. Overall, it was entertaining!

The Rite of Radnick has a lot going for it—Tara O’Toole’s writing is atmospheric and often beautiful, and the world the author has created is rich with eerie, folklore-inspired detail. It’s the kind of setting that sticks with you.

That said, the story’s pacing is uneven. The buildup was slow, and when the big moments finally arrived, they didn’t always feel as impactful. The plot sometimes felt a bit scattered, and the character development—especially for the supporting cast—didn’t quite land for me. It was hard to stay fully connected when motivations and relationships weren’t fully fleshed out.

Still, there’s real potential here. Readers who enjoy slower, mood-driven fantasy might find plenty to appreciate, and there’s a lot of room to grow in the next book.

In "The Rite of Radnick", Braya finds herself the unlikely contestant in the eponymous competition to identify the next generation of divine leaders. But as one of Gaia's chosen, girls who have the ability to harvest the power of their world's magic source, Braya's destiny was always to sacrifice herself for the good of her country. In her search for the freedom to choose her own path, she falls into the upper echelon of society, navigating complex political relationships and learning more about what the Elders have kept from her and all the other women who have given their lives so freely to Gaia.

This book has good bones--the lore and the magic system seem unique and interesting, clearly with many secrets yet to be unraveled later in the series. The political machinations of not just the society she finds herself in during the Rite, but also lower in the Dregs and in the sect, made me want to keep reading as well. The realizations near the end complicate these even more, so I'd be interested to see where the second book takes this. And you know I can't resist a ragtag group of friends or companions, and I definitely got that vibe with Daemon, Heyden, and Marissa. While I'm not sure we'll get the same grouping in book two, I'm hoping this won't completely disappear in book two.

Unfortunately, this book needs a bit more editing for me to really like it. The first half dragged on for me, and I wasn't invested until about halfway when conflict began branching out beyond the sect. Much of the world building relies on fantasy tropes that aren't developed enough in places, so seem like attempts to lure an a certain type of audience into reading it (and it certainly worked on me). The competition, the love triangle (maybe?) with the blond-haired love interest and the dark-haired love interest, the omnipresent war, the secretly badass heroine who despite living a cloistered life had time to carry out combat and weapons training with her sister who was similarly busy working in the factories. I liked the flirtation she had with the man she eventually finds a connection with in this book, which made for some fun banter. However, I didn't feel like where their relationship ended up before the final twist of the book made much sense for the trajectory established for the reader. It all seemed too quick and too unrealistic, not only to her character, but just how first relationship for young people usually go. Beyond the plot, there were some distracting sentence fragment patterns, some issues with parallel structure, and some undeveloped dialogue that made the reading experience a bit confusing and frustrating at times for this reader.

I really like the concept of this book and wonder if this will be a stronger series in book 2 whereupon in rereads I can just skip to the halfway point of book 1 to recap. I'll likely read the second as I'm intrigued with how this book ended, but this book on its own just wasn't for me.

The Rite of Radnick seems to have all the ingredients I usually look for in a great fantasy read - action, adventure, betrayal, romance, and a strong female lead. While I enjoyed it and those elements were definitely present, the book didn’t fully come together for me as something I’d call a standout in the genre.

I enjoyed following Braya’s story overall, though I had a hard time connecting with her - and, honestly, with any of the characters. Braya didn’t always feel consistent or particularly likeable, and some of her decisions were frustrating. The writing at the start felt patchy and a little hard to settle into, but things started to click more around the 25% mark once the world and story were more grounded, we moved away from the sect, and the pace picked up.

One slightly amusing (and frustrating) element was how almost every new male character was young, hot, and a potential love interest. Because of that, when the actual love interest appeared, I didn’t realise he was 'the' one until well into their arc. The concept of the Rite - a deadly, magical contest Braya enters under duress, and under an alias - is intriguing, and I liked the worldbuilding, deadly creatures and politics. But events moved so fast that I never had time to really care when characters were injured or killed. I would've preferred less time in the earlier stages of the book in order to spend more time during the Rite.

The Rite of Radnick is an entertaining read. There’s definitely something missing for me here, but I’m still definitely curious to see how the story wraps up in the second book.

This is a 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tara O’Toole for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

The Rite of Radnick delivers a sharp, immersive fantasy with stakes that never stop climbing. From the very first chapter, Braya’s voice pulled me in—fierce, flawed, and desperately craving freedom in a world built to crush it. O’Toole crafts a theocracy brimming with tension and control, and it makes every act of rebellion feel electric. Braya’s journey is layered with danger, grief, and moments of raw humanity that kept me turning the pages late into the night.

The competition at the heart of the novel is brutal, filled with characters who are just as dangerous as they are compelling. No one is quite what they seem, and the betrayals? Sharp enough to draw blood. I loved that even the side characters carried weight—each one with personal stakes and secrets that added depth to the world. It’s a story about resistance, sacrifice, and forging your own destiny even when the odds are designed to break you. If you enjoy dystopian fantasy with high-stakes quests, layered world-building, and heroines who won’t go quietly, this book absolutely belongs on your shelf. I’m already counting down the days for the sequel.

This book manages to put a new spin on fantasy, while maintaining the magic and adventure the genre is known for. I also found the world-building in this book to be extremely believable and well done. Ultimately, I did enjoy The Rite of Radnick, and will be seeking out the second book in the series. That being said, it took me a while to get into the story, and I didn't love the author's writing. 3.5/5 stars, Would recommend to others.

Thank you to netgalley, the author, and publisher for this ARC, looking forward to reading O'Toole's next book!

From page 1, The Rite of Radnick enthralls and immerses, creating a poignant, powerful story and an emotional, righteous ride within the corrupt, patriarchal world that seeks to cage our heroine, Braya, magically adept and thus chosen to be sacrificed for the good of her people.

With inspiration drawing from Greek mythology, heavily featuring a religious ideology in the name of Gaia, goddess of the Earth and mother of life, Tara O’Toole beautifully crafts a wholly unique, layered, and connective world, one full of rot and hope in equal measure.

The writing is beautiful, captivating, and alive. It is full of powerful thematic exploration, and an imaginative, yet grounded narrative full of monsters, unrealized magic, and biting social commentary. Like the best dystopian fiction, despite the nearly suffocating bleakness and entrapment, there is an underlying poeticism, emotional resonance, and unwavering spirited daring to challenge those who seek to keep us silent and small.

The romance is well-crafted and just present enough, offering a sense of connection, desire, and vulnerability, without taking focus away from bigger things happening such as the main character’s personal journey, the bonds of sisterhood, and revelations of an unbalanced, corrupt world.

Despite every attempt to break her into submission, our resilient heroine, Braya, is an admirable survivor, an uncompromising dreamer, and one who loves and fights fiercely for those who matter most to her. As things escalate and more is revealed, particularly revealing the treachery, manipulation, and lies around everything she has ever known, she goes on a journey of re-wiring her identity and connection with the world around her. Yet, she isn’t immune to the need to wear a mask, maneuver, and put everything on the line to to find her way back to her family and begin to chip away at the erosion that has long since poisoned so many.

The Rite of Radnick is a beautifully composed, exhilarating, high-paced adventure with incredible worldbuilding, exposing the danger of blindly accepting ones’ fate and the toxicity of religious extremism among highlighting the strengths that found family and personal autonomy can bring. I very much look for to reading the continuation of Braya’s story and what will come of her world in part II of the duology: Act of Ascension.

Contains:
Greek Mythology Roots
Allies or Adversaries?
The Bonds of Family- Both by Blood and Found Family
Forbidden Romance
Unique World Building and Magical Systems
Fight to the Death Survival Tests
Challenging a Corrupt World

Perfect for fans of:
The Grishaverse/ The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Thank you to the author for reaching out with a review request and for NetGalley for the reader access.

The story definitely gives off Handmaid's Tale & Hunger Games vibes, but is still different enough to keep it interesting.

The book is well written and hooked me from the start. While there are many characters, none of them fell flat, and all seemed to have their own motives and secrets.

And, oh, the secrets and betrayals! While I saw some coming, there were a few that kept me on my toes.

All in all, this book is a great story of a broken society, of resistance and of found friends and family. I look forward to reading the next one!

Honestly I liked this book, the idea itself is quite interesting. For me the only problem was that I found the story a little confusing at first and it cost me to get into the rhythm. After getting into the rhythm, it turns out to be an interesting reading even in a somewhat captivating way!
I like the way this story is full of secrets, betrayals and sacrifice.