The Ordeals

A Waterstones' Best Romantasy Book of 2025 Read now and order the second book in this addictive duology, The Divines. 'A quite creepy atmosphere and... Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix' ----- 'The magic system is captivating, and the ending will leave you yearning for the second book' The Express 'A rich romantasy ideal for fans of dark academia' The Mirror 'Sizzling and addictive romantasy' Sunday Post 'I absolutely treasured it from beginning to end' Cecelia Ahern, Sunday Times Number One bestseller on The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells Old Magic. New power. A contest to die for. Sophia DeWinter has been bound to her cruel uncle, the Collector since he exacted a blood bond from her as a child. When she learns of Killmarth, an elite academy for magic wielders outside of the Collector's control, she grabs it as her only chance to break free. Each hopeful must prove their worth by competing in brutal and deadly challenges - the Ordeals. And that's just the beginning, because hopefuls are also being viciously picked off one-by-one. To survive, Sophia could team up with another challenger. Perhaps the powerful wielder Alden Locke. But how to identify an ally from a rival? Or even a murderer? In her haste to escape the Collector's power over her, has Sophia risked everything only to run from the flames and into the fire? 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets the Scholomance series!' Reader review * 'Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance... impossible to put down' Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones 'Deliciously dark with high stakes and a sizzling hot romance, The Ordeals is not to be missed!' Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of Hearts Readers ADORE The Ordeals: 'Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive' ----- 'This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning' ----- 'Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout' ----- 'I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book' ----- PRAISE FOR RACHEL GREENLAW: 'It is an absolute masterpiece' Frost magazine 'Completely captures the imagination' Muddy Stilettos 'The characters are so raw and relatable and the mystery so intriguing that I hated slipping out of this magical world and back to reality.' Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love

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 Atlantic, where she lives with her husband and two children. Rachel's debut novel, One Christmas Morning was shortlisted for the Fantasy Romantic Novel Award 2024. The Compass and Blade trilogy is her first YA fiction series. The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is her second novel for adults and featured on Waterstones' Best Romantasy Books of 2024. Rachel can be found on Instagram @rachelgreenlaw_ and at rachelgreenlaw.com