Title: Candidate
Author: Rachel E. Carter
Series: The Black Mage
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Page Count:382
Genre: YA, high fantasy, romance, magic
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon Purchase
Rating:
SYNOPSIS (FROM GOODREADS):
Welcome to the Candidacy. Where dreams go to die. Twenty-year-old Ryiah is a black mage of Combat, but she’s not the Black Mage. Yet. She’s had her eyes on the legendary robe for as long as she can remember, and in just one year, she will have a chance at her country’s prestigious—and only—tourney for war mages... Too bad she is going up against a certain prince—the one person she has yet to beat. The Candidacy finally arrives and a winner is robed, but something dark is lurking in her kingdom’s midst. Rival nations are closing in, and it’s time to make an alliance. Unfortunately for Ryiah, that’s only the beginning. The worst enemy resides in the palace.
MY THOUGHTS:
Even thought this was not the last book of the series, for a period of time I believed (to my dismay, I'll explain why later) that is was because of the "The End" in the end of the last chapter. And at that time no future information was released on whether or not this series of continued, and it paused at a horrible end. I would've given this book a four stars because of the lousy ending if I haven't' find out later that it wold still be continued.
Many of the original positive factors from the last two books was not only preserved, but improved and magnified in this book. And again, Rachel added many new factors. From politics to international relations, and the rebels' were more apparent here.
Even though overall the characters did not change, pasts were discovered and revealed, with Darren's older brother, the crown prince, Blayne as an example. We were shown how he used to be kind, and an incident which switched the boy with their characteristics.
Because Ryiah is now engaged to a member of the royal family, the readers get a better look at inside, and what is happening in the palace. And Rachel used that to show and revel hidden mysteries and secret from the past.
Even though the grand villain was revealed. The problem is not solved. On that happy note, fourth book is coming up, and remember to check it out when you do!
