By the Orchid and the Owl (The Esholian Institute #1)
Mariah Montoya
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars
4.05
· Steam/Spice level: 3 of 5
Open door [?]
· 23 ratings · 415 pages · Published: 03 Apr 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rayna Drey should be excited for her Branding, when the island’s Good Council will infuse her blood with one of five sanctioned magics: the ability to wield elements, summon objects, shift forms, talk to wildlife, or manipulate minds. The Good Council is good. The Branding doesn’t hurt. And the institution she must attend afterward, to learn how to control her new gift, is only a little dangerous.
Or, at least, that’s what Rayna has always heard. As soon as she arrives at the Esholian Institute, however, a peer-pressured dare makes her explode with a power as deadly as it is forbidden. Worse yet, the only one who can teach her how to hide it from the Good Council is Coen Steeler, a much-too-handsome fifth-year who can manipulate minds as easily as he breathes. He alone understands Rayna’s forbidden power…because he has the same one.
With their secret in each other’s hands, Rayna soon uncovers other dark secrets that threaten the very foundation of the island itself. And the worst of them? If the Good Council finds out what lurks in her and Coen’s blood, they’ll both face a fate beyond obedience — and a punishment worse than death.
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Tagged as:
- fantasy 7
- new adult 7
- enemies to lovers 5
- magic 5
- dystopian 4
- paranormal 4
- m-f romance 4
- fae 4
- young adult 3
- shapeshifters 3
- college 3
- found family 2
- war 2
- competent heroine 2
- independent heroine 2
- take-charge heroine 2
- alpha male 2
- caretaking 2
- virgin heroine 2
- bad boys 2
- dark romance 1
- sweet/gentle heroine 1
- tall heroine 1
- mystery 1
- insta-love 1
- working class heroine 1
- cruel hero/bully 1
- sweet/gentle hero 1
- possessive hero 1
- bodyguard/protector hero 1
- cliffhanger 1
- Add topics
- content warnings
- fatphobia 1
- slut shaming 1
- Format
- audiobook
- first person pov 4
romance tags
The 'The Esholian Institute' series
4.24 · 38 ratings
cruel hero · first-person-pov · open-door · war · possessive hero · sweet-hero · strong heroine · dystopian · sweet heroine · tall-heroine · magic · length-long · fantasy · mystery · independent heroine · bad boys · alpha male · m-f · found-family · paranormal
The Esholian Institute reading order and complete book list ❯
