I absolutely love the concept of this book, with the magic fire (sylla) and how much society runs on it to the secretive society of sisters who help keep the country going with sylla. There are women who are chosen for their special abilities and the world knows them as Gaia’s chosen, they’re called to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Braya is one such woman and born to the bottom rung of society (dregs). Though she’s unconvinced at sacrificing herself. She finds herself thrust into a competition with some of the top of society (Apexes) to select the country’s divine rulers. Will she come out on top? This is a super fun read and book one in a duology!

completed as part of my 24hr readathon, RTC!

oof ok the beginning of this book was really great and i was enjoying it, but as soon as we got to the island part (the aspect which resembles the hunger games mentioned in the synopsis), it went downhill. the political intrigue was interesting but i needed explained and fleshed out so much more. there was no driving factor for a lot of what was happening, no reasoning for anything, and it all felt very surface level.

<spoiler> i did enjoy the action-ish part where our MCs were trying to escape, but the whole "my enemy saved me and we have to compete together" felt very unnecessary. and then once the MCs were actually on the island, we got no backstory, no world building, no true reasoning for why they need to compete. this is compared to the hunger games, ok the HG has a very clear reasoning for why children compete. no such thing for this book.

it was said that "no one can go on this island, so no one knows what's on it, so that's why there's no information or world building" but that just felt like such a huge cop out.

my last straw when whenever our MC lost her virginity and literally as soon as the action gets going she's an expert and zero foreplay before he shoves it in. likeeee please i thought we were free from these terrible sex romantasy scenes. the battle and action aspects were also so rushed, i barely understood what was happening. same with the friendships and who's whose ally and who's on which team and why and blah blah it was all so jumbled and confusing </spoiler>

anyways. i will not be continuing on with this series. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

**THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY, PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR FOR THIS eARC**

**MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**

The Rite of Radnick drew me into a compelling world full of intrigue, betrayal, and emotional challenges, although at times the pacing was a bit slow for my taste. At times, it lacks the “can’t-put-it-down” urgency, and certain sections tend to drag, impacting my overall engagement. Braya Farroe’s journey captivated me from the start—her struggle for freedom in a society governed by strict rules felt very relatable.

The introduction of complex characters like Sayleth and Heyden added depth and uncertainty, making it hard to guess who Braya could truly trust. The Rite of Radnick itself was gripping, filled with alliances, betrayals, and hidden truths that kept me invested despite occasional slower moments. A heartbreaking revelation occurs when Daemon, Senon’s half-brother, is mortally wounded and learns the truth of his lineage from Braya. Witnessing the profound love between Daemon and Iskra makes his loss deeply emotional and poignant.

The story takes a powerful turn when the creatures in the Sereds recognize Braya as Gaia’s chosen one, destined to be her retribution and vengeance. Tasked with restoring balance to the sylla and appeasing the gods angered by humanity’s destructive extraction practices, Braya receives an amulet imbued with divine power. She learns that three such amulets exist—two known and one mysteriously lost.

I appreciated the emotional intensity, particularly Braya’s relationships and personal sacrifices. The intricate reveals and surprising twists about Braya’s identity and destiny added richness to the story, constantly challenging my assumptions.

The ending leaves me eagerly anticipating Book 2, especially hoping Heyden proves to be a good character despite his complicated heritage and the exciting direction Braya’s story is heading. Overall, despite minor pacing issues, The Rite of Radnick was a fascinating read that blended action, suspense, and emotional depth effectively, and I’m excited to continue the series.

Thank you so much Author Tara O’Toole, for giving me the amazing opportunity by inviting me to read ARC of your New Fantasy Novel🖤🗡️💋✨
“The Rite Of Radnick”
The First Installment In The-
“The Rite Of Radnick Duology book series”
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️READ!!! I am utterly amazed by the way I quickly tore this entire book up from start to finish, I was sunk into this book’s rich universe and atmosphere so quickly that every written paragraph had me deeply invested & hooked into my seat!!! Especially with the Author’s beautiful creativity! made me fall so deeply in love with this story in minutes🤩she crafts the tale profoundly where each chapter has a cinematic tone, that brings the story to life and even more with every heartfelt emotional period and jaw dropping plot twisters that ties the essence of the way this book combines a mutual connection/feel of The Hunger Games and Powerless & Dune series, with a dark fantasy element, which is literally hands down all a favorite of mine!✨By side, Tara O’Toole has my heart with her writing skills in plots and with her main characters who I absolutely adore to beyond & more!! That I'm completely in love with them🥹They've left a lasting impression on me! I can’t stop thinking about them ever since I closed the book!! I'm literally counting down the days 24/7 until the next installment is out!! That wicked cliffhanger was insane and I just know I'll love it even more than the first one!!🤩

“The Rite Of Radnick,” takes you on a whirlwind journey with my beautiful girlie-
(✨🖤Braya Farroe 🗡️✨)
Tara O’Toole, beings her tale when-
In Argacia, where the Sect's grip is suffocating where ears listen every step of the way, my girl Braya's forced to choose: give up her life for the greater good or face banishment. And despite the Sect Elders' wishes, Braya wants more than a life of service and sacrifice she’s longing for freedom, she's torn🥹Then, two Mollakai enforcers arrive, and she feels an undeniable pull towards them, that’s upending her world, it’s a mysterious and perilous figure. Fate, however, has other plans though👀 The men who should be her downfall may hold the key to her rescue🤩👀And the only way to find out how this unforgettable tale unfolds is by reading it ASAP!! And also getting the chance to be ready for the second installment🖤✨And here’s a preview of the lovely MFC-

Braya Farroe✨my favorite strong & powerful fearless MFC🤩she embodies so much incredible beauty and fierce power that seizes your attention with her personality and clever attitude and leadership, and It's so beautiful to read how she always looks out for others especially her close loved ones🥹even when it’s kept hidden below the surface, her heart is full of love and pure gold for those around her, and the way she strives to protect and care for them is absolutely touching and sweet, and it’s always shining/showering through on each page plus with her hints of forbidden romance and dystopian moments definitely brings everything together making it a enjoyable 5 star read🥹❤️✨

I actually really enjoyed this. The reason I gave it 3 stars is because it feels more like a rough draft of something that could be truly amazing. There was a lot of telling the reader rather than showing. I would have liked to see Sayleth turn angry in the competition rather than being told since it seemed like a major part of his character development. Also the love connection happened abruptly. The writing seemed to start to improve more towards the final chapters and everything started to fall into place more seamlessly. It really started to grab my attention and now the ending has me wanting to jump into book 2.

DNF @ 34%

Braya is one of Gaia's Chosen, a woman born with the unique ability to power crystals with flame magic. She has been raised her whole life to eventually sacrifice herself to an endless sleep in order to keep the city heated. The religious Sect elders have done their best to brainwash her and the other girls to believe it is their duty and they have no choice, but Braya rebels by running away. She then encounters a secret resistance, and hope for a future outside of the Sect — at a deep cost.

The concept of this book and the worldbuilding was promising, but the writing style of the book really did not work for me. It was of poor quality, and I struggled to continue. It was also paced in a confusing way — I don't think it needed to be as long as it was. I also discovered that the author wrote this book on an AI-powered writing platform, which explains some of the writing quality issues and the grammatical errors. If you enjoy dystopian fantasy romance and don't mind use of generative AI in writing, you may enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it and couldn't bring myself to finish it.

The Rite of Radnick is an intense story about Braya Farroe and her journey to find her sister, save her friend, and ultimately herself and the world she lives in. Braya grows up cloistered and secluded in a world where she is known and marked as one of "Gaia's Chosen," someone who is recognized to have specific powers that can be harnessed. These individuals are taught that their life's purpose is to sacrifice and to serve for the greater purpose. Despite growing up in an environment like this, Braya is a fighter and she tries to fight against these beliefs. Against a backdrop of political intrigue, social justice, religious manipulation, there is also a trial that Braya undergoes which doubles as an opportunity for worldbuilding.

The information in the story is vast and it's clear from the start that there is so much more to be explored. It was really tough for me to follow at the beginning but as the story moves forward, bits and pieces are slowly revealed through the trial - The Rite of Radnick. As this is the first novel in a duology, readers are being set up for what happens next. At times the pacing feels so slow because there is much to be processed, however, once all characters are introduced and there is a more solid foothold in the story, the pacing picks up. There is a sense of urgency and wonder that matches the intensity of events as Braya experiences various revelations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Rite of Radnick is easily one of my favorite books of 2025. I got an ARC and devoured it—couldn’t put it down. The plot? Unique. The pacing? Addictive. The twist on sacrifice and the concept of Sleepers? So well done and totally refreshing. Braya’s loyalty hits hard, and the twists had me yelling. If you love ACOTAR-style fantasy (or want to start reading fantasy), this one’s for you. Tara O'Toole killed it. Cannot wait for book 2.

This book had such a strong setup which some really interesting lore, an oppressive magical system, and the promise of revolution wrapped in a deadly competition. Braya, born as one of Gaia’s “chosen,” is expected to sacrifice herself for the good of her people. But instead of going quietly, she fights back, gets caught up in political schemes, and enters a cutthroat contest with the country’s elite. The class tensions, the religious manipulation, the themes of power and agency, it’s all really intriguing and a solid foundation.

There’s also a great cast of characters (Daemon, Heyden, Marissa and btw I've never read a book who has a character that shares my name!) and a found family-team dynamic that really grew on me. I’m a sucker for unlikely friendships and tense alliances, and this book delivered on that front. The magic system and political world feel like they’re just starting to unfold, and I definitely got the sense there’s a lot more beneath the surface we’ll get in book two.

That said, the first half was pretty slow for me. The plot takes a while to pick up speed, and a lot of the early tension gets lost in Braya reacting to things rather than making active choices. There are also some relationship moments that I wish were fleshed out a bit more. I do think this would have benefitted from having romance as a minor plot point just because of the topic. Some of the romantic moments, felt a bit oddly placed given the amount of trauma and chaos happening around them. I definitely get that fantasy often leans into that kind of drama, even if it doesn’t totally work for me haha.

Overall, The Rite of Radnick has some seriously interesting bones. If the second book tightens up the pacing and keeps digging into the darker themes, I think the duology could be something great. Definitely worth picking up if you like high-stakes fantasy with political intrigue and a heroine trying to reclaim her own story.

4.8⭐️

If you’re looking for something that gives vibes of The Hunger Games and divergent this is definitely something you’ll wanna look into. It’s a great read it’s packed with information and building up the characters

Once I saw what it was about I knew I would enjoy this. However I didn’t expect each chapter to keep me on my toes lol I mean that in a good way. The FMC is a strong character you’ll grow attached to such as you’ll wanna know what happens next and why.

Overall it’s a great read i enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the next book! The author did a great job of putting everything together especially the small details.

The Rite of Radnick is fast-paced with a unique magic system and so many mystical creatures. The different creatures gave me Harry potter vibes, which i loved, and the competition aspect gave me hunger games vibes. I thought the plot was really well done. If anything, I actually wish the book was longer because there were so many interesting ways the plot could have gone. The ending was great, I definitely didn't see the reveal at the end coming. My only complaint is that I wish the relationship with Braya and Sayleth was more fleshed out. Im still not really sure what their relationship even is. Also, Brayas relationship with Heyden could have had more substance as well. It was hard for me to really feel connected to them. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will definitely be reading the second book!

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.