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The Ordeals

Brief Description
By the author of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells, featured as a Waterstones' Best Romantasy Book. "I absolutely treasured it from beginning to end" β€” Cecelia Ahern, Sunday Times Number One bestseller on The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells. Old Magic. New power. A contest... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2800
Elsewhere:
$3499
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The Ordeals

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By the author of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells, featured as a Waterstones' Best Romantasy Book. "I absolutely treasured it from beginning to end" β€” 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?

"Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance… impossible to put down" β€” 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! β€” Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of Hearts. Readers ADORE The Ordeals:

"Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive" β€” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

"This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning" β€” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

"Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout" β€” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

"I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book" β€” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

"A quite creepy atmosphere and… Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix" β€” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

PRAISE FOR RACHEL GREENLAW:

"It is an absolute masterpiece" β€” Frost magazine.

"Completely captures the imagination" β€” 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." β€” Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008741266

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 October 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HQ

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 520g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Rachel Greenlaw 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. The Compass and Blade trilogy is her first YA fiction series. Rachel's first novel for adults, One Christmas Morning was shortlisted for The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award 2024. Her second, The Woodsmoke Women's Books of Spells featured on Waterstones' Best Romantasy Books of 2024.

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