Book Rating: ★★★✰✰ (3 / 5 stars)
Melanie has been training for the Elite Wizard games for years. She yearns to be one of the five wizards that will win the battle royale and secure herself a place within the Elite Wizard Guilds. Yet, as a pernicious plot unfolds to destroy the Dragon Wizards, Melanie and her friends must join forces to stop the chaos. But will it cause her to lose her place in the guild?
Fast paced and action packed, The Elite Wizard Games is a fun afternoon read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Filled with magic and battles, fairies and dragons, and friendships and enemies, there is something for everyone in this story. You’ll be on the edge of your seat routing for Melanie to both stop the plot to destroy the Dragon Wizard, as well as secure her place in the guild.
Yet, its fast speed comes at a detriment. So much happens in this book in such a short amount of time (I believe it took me 1.5 hours to read this book total). Personally, I didn’t have enough time to meet the characters or get a full understanding of the guilds. It felt like I jumped in halfway through the story, and really wish I had a chance to understand Melanie’s motivations and talents, as well as that of her friends. If this book had been 100-200 pages longer, I think we would have started to delve deeper into all of this, and create a much more well rounded story.
In addition, while I did not count this in my rating of the book, the cover confused me. The story read like a high fantasy, yet the cover made me think it was more urban fantasy or low fantasy. I couldn’t quite figure out if or where technology fit into this world, and while this didn’t impact my rating, it may impact how others feel.
Ultimately though, this was a fun book, and I think if you enjoy fast paced adventures, you’ll enjoy The Elite Wizard Games. It will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish, that I’m sure.
What’s it about?
The competition for a prestigious spot on an Elite Wizards Guild is at hand.
For years, nineteen-year-old Melanie has trained and worked for nothing else. More than anything, she strives to be one of the five wizards that will win the epic battle royale. Yet her plans shift in the midst of the games when she learns of a sinister plot to rob the Dragon Wizards of their ancient magic.
As the competition rages on, the stakes are upped to life or death. Teaming up with one of her competitors may be Melanie’s only chance to save the world. But will it cost her a place in a guild?
Game on. Are you strong enough to survive?
E.S. Barrison 