Publisher's Weekly Review
In this thrilling fantasy from June (Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball), teens navigate crushes and real dangers during a ruthless spell-casting competition meant to keep the balance between those with and without magic. Eighteen-year-old Texan cowboy Nigel Barrett's boyfriend dumps him just before the start of the Culling, a tournament that allows only a fraction of gifted teens to keep their power. As the descendant of the first human granted magic, Nigel is determined to do whatever it takes to retain his abilities, but sparks fly when touching competitor Ori Olson in the first challenge drastically increases Nigel's power. After Ori and Nigel are paired up in the second round to cure a curse, their restoration spell spirals out of control and awakens a horde of beings called Depraved who feed on negative emotions. Nigel is the only one who can retrieve the necessary weapon to turn the tide of an oncoming battle, but conspiracies and double-crossings complicate the quest. Deliciously camp depictions of Nigel's Southern ranch life paired with a whip-fast plot, intriguing magical system, and darkly fantastical elements make for a gritty, layered telling. The protagonists read as white; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 12--up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Oct.)
Kirkus Review
Two magicians facing off in a competition discover the strengths--and dangers--of their powers that are amplified as a result of their attraction. It's finally time for Nigel Barrett, a Texan cowboy with elf magic, to participate in the Culling, a tournament in which thousands of 18-year-old magicians--descendants of elves, fae, goblins, nymphs, and sprites--will be whittled down. The best of the best will join the Guild and fight the Depraved, while the rest will be stripped of their powers. When bighearted Nigel encounters Orion Olson during his first trial, he feels a connection, but prickly Ori is not here to make friends. The boys soon realize that being together boosts their powers, but what at first seems like remarkable magic ends up coming with a giant helping of risk. This captivating story with propulsive action features nuanced characterizations of its white leads and racially diverse secondary characters. It sets itself apart from others in the genre by its original worldbuilding, particularly its version of how demons are formed by human hate and cruelty. Fighting them with love-based magic could easily have seemed too twee, but the story works due to its increasingly heavy stakes and surprising turns. The fact that queer love is what is so powerful makes this story especially affirming and noteworthy. The ending enticingly sets readers up for a sequel. With Texas-size heart and cinematic action, this magical fantasy is a crowd pleaser. (Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Nigel Barrett, the youngest magician in his family, is called to the annual Culling--a competition that determines which teenage magicians get to keep their magical powers into adulthood and which don't--while he's at a cheap taco stand being broken up with by his boyfriend. Things can only go up from there, or so he thinks, until he runs into the other apprentices competing for a place in the Guild. Handsome childhood friend Ori and shape-shifter Bex make a good pair to team with, but they all have to watch out for Jaleesa the fae and Laurel the nymph, who cast spells intended to hurt, maybe even kill. They're all due at Guild boot camp for five days, to learn to control their magic. Nigel has an extra challenge, though: he might be falling for Ori, even if the sprite boy seems uninterested. This is a fun entry into the urban fantasy genre, with a well-thought-out magic system and specialties and functions for each of the magicians. Hand to teen fantasy fans moving on from Harry Potter.
