VIVID

An orphan and a loner, Ava Locke studies and hopes to become a Benefactor like her mentor, Selene, protecting the land of Magus against Mentalists.

Seventeen-year-old Ava is a top student at Prism, one of Magus’ elite schools, where they teach Shapers (Blue magic users) and Augmentors (Red magic users). In the past, Prism also taught Yellow magic users, or Mentalists, until they began abusing mind control. Since then, Yellow magic has been forbidden. Ava is troubled that the school teaches nothing about Yellow magic: How can she fight the unknown? When Ava meets gallant Elm, a Mentalist, she knows she should turn him in, but she can’t resist the possibility of learning about Yellow magic from him. Thus begins her alliance with Elm, setting both of them in opposition to Selene and the Benefactors. Slowly dawning realizations are limited to narrator Ava’s perspective, and the action is largely centered on her internal struggle. Ava questions whether Mentalists are inherently evil, and as she helps Elm dismantle devices created by the Benefactors to control public perception, she learns that the Benefactors are abusing their power. She also recovers memories about her parents. This first book in a new series is focused on worldbuilding and introducing the default White cast. The innocent romance between Ava and Elm and the hint of a battle to come will hook readers for the next installment.

Compelling magical fare for early teens.