As the students filed into the classroom, there was an air of excitement and anticipation. Today was the day they would be taking the Witch Traits Exam, a comprehensive test that would determine their magical abilities and aptitude. The students took their seats and waited anxiously for Professor Merlin to begin. The Witch Traits Exam was a rigorous assessment that evaluated a witch's knowledge, skills, and personality traits. It tested their understanding of potions, spells, and enchantments, as well as their ability to think critically and solve magical problems. The exam also assessed a variety of personality traits that were believed to be indicative of a strong witch, such as creativity, intuition, and adaptability.

REVIEW: The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis

In The Curse of Saints, the first in a trilogy from debut author Kate Dramis, we are introduced to a kingdom rife with the power of Visya’s; individuals who are blessed with affinities of raw, god-like magic. Visya powers fall under any three categories: Physical Affinities, Elemental Affinities, and Mind, Emotion & Sensation Affinities. Our protagonist, Aya, falls under the last, possessing the power of persuasion. These powers, however, have been bound to never grow strong enough to challenge the Nine Divine, the realm’s gods. In a nearby kingdom, there are rumours of a dark magic arising, threatening to reach Aya’s home. It is this dark magic that sets the plot of the book into motion, where Aya, the Queen’s Spymaster, is forced to investigate this threat alongside her rival Will, the Queen’s Enforcer and Second. It is on this journey that Aya discovers that her affinity is one that spills over the bounds that restrict the Visya, placing her at risk of becoming a weapon in a war she does not know how to win, or might not necessarily want to.

The Curse of Saints is built on the foundations of what could have been a solid fantasy novel – a complex magic system, warring kingdoms, vague prophecies and morally grey characters. So, it is a shame that the novel ultimately fails to deliver. The book becomes overwhelmed with all of the fantastical elements it tries to accomplish, slightly skimming the surface but never exploring deep enough into the elements to have a substantial impact. The world-building, in turn, felt incredibly rushed, and so I felt very little connection to the kingdom or the characters.

For instance, we spend some time in the first part of the novel learning that Visya’s have wolf companions that are bonded to them, something that is historically sacred within the religion that rules the realm. We even learn the names of both Aya’s and Will’s bonded wolves, only to never hear of them again. I do hope this is an element that is explored further in the rest of the series as it could definitely result in an intriguing layer to the story, because honestly – who doesn’t love an animal companion?

I did, however, greatly enjoy the political tension that permeates once we reach part two of the novel: Enemies and Allies. In this section, we are introduced to the third point-of-view, Prince Aidon, the heir to the neighbouring kingdom of Trahir. The thread that weaves Aya, Will and Aidon together slowly unravels as the political intrigue arises, whereby each character must question how far they are willing to let their budding friendships last in the greater political game that they have become pawns in.

Ultimately, The Curse of Saints felt overwhelmingly generic. I do, however, feel that the bones of the story have promise. Once it overcomes the awkward characterizations, and we begin to learn more of each individual’s personalities, as well as each kingdom’s politics, I am hopeful that Kate Dramis can steer the story away from the predictability that many recent fantasies find themselves victim to.

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Saberin lives in London and works in publishing. More often than not, you can find her with her nose in a fantasy book or doing whatever it takes to get her cats attention! You can find her on @sabisreading on instagram, where she posts all about her current reads, reviews, fictional fixations and general ramblings on life (with the occasional picture of Kiara, the meanest cat to ever exist).

The Curse Of Saints Readalong: Day 5!

Today we’re reading from Chapter 66 to the end of the book.

Grab a snack, get comfy and let’s read!

Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis, from chapter 66 to the end of the book. Please only read on if you’ve finished The Curse of Saints!

The exam also assessed a variety of personality traits that were believed to be indicative of a strong witch, such as creativity, intuition, and adaptability. The exam consisted of both theoretical and practical components. The theoretical portion covered topics such as magical history, magical creatures, and the properties and uses of various magical objects.

-!SPOILERS!-

Aya wakes up in the middle of the desert! She had placed the knife in a spot that would not puncture her heart or lungs, just end the ritual. Very smart.

She heals her wound and sets off back to Rinnia to find Will…then she passes out again.

Aya wakes up (again) and this time she’s in a cave. With Will! HE’S ALIVE!

He comforts her as she tells him what happened and then he reveals that everything he has done has been to protect her. They finally kiss and almost get lost in the throes of passion but Aya is too weak and Will sets her down to rest and eat.

When they get back to Rinnia, Will takes them to see Lorna…who is apparently HIS MOTHER?

It turns out Lorna faked her death and fled to Trahir. She’s a Seer and a descendent of the line who foretold the prophecy of the Second Saint. Lorna’s vision showed a crack in the veil, it’s weakened so Kakos may be able to tear it down. Lorna thinks Gianna wants to call the gods down to get rid of the heretics again.

Lorna believes that Aya’s power could react to something more positive if she allowed it. She has fed/restricted it with her fear/darkness up to this point but there have been moments when it has been positive. Aya has light and dark within her but she can decide her essence, Lorna gives her her mother’s necklace to anchor her.

Will tells Aya to accept the match with Aidon because Aidon is light and he is dark. This doesn’t last long though. At the ball, both Aidon and Aya make their choices clear.

Will immediately wants to speak to Aya and apologise for his suggestion but he is stopped by Sion who tells him Dominic wants to speak to him as Viviane’s party has been attacked.

After dancing for ages, Aya goes in search of Will. Sion tells her he left and went to drink at taverns in town so she goes to her room to wait on his return. She realises she put a shield up when she was being attacked by the Athatis so Will wouldn’t feel her die. Now she finds it and drops it.

Josie turns up at Aya’s door and tells her that they have Will in a dungeon on charges of espionage.

Aya goes to rescue Will but Dominic enters the dungeon, closely followed by Aidon, and guards escorting Josie and Viviane. A beaten Natali is also brought in.

Dominic demands that Aya show her power and the room is filled with screams as he hurts Will and Viviane to motivate her. He reveals that he wants Aya to help him build Kakos’ army.

Dominic plans for Aya to give her power to Aidon, but first to Viviane to check if it is safe. Aya agrees to do it if they let Will go free and Will is taken to his room under guard until she co-operates.

Natali talks Aya through the ritual of transferring her power to Vi. When it is done, they immediately inject Aya so she can’t use her power. Vi survives and Natali confirms that the ritual has worked.

As a “parting gift” Dominic has Aya and Will put in the same dungeon to await death.

As they realise their fate, Aya tells Will to read her now that she has her shield down so he can finally know how she feels about him. They kiss and he proceeds to give her some “motivation” to fight their way out of this…

The next day the executions are to take place in the throne room. Dominic orders for Will to be killed first but Aidon disagrees and says Will should watch Aya’s execution. Aidon asks “Do you remember what you said to me about inner wounds?” before plunging the knife into the scar on Aya’s chest.

Aya pulls the knife out, pushing against the wall holding in her power as she bleeds out. She finally breaks the wall and light explodes from her.

Peter stabs Will in the stomach and Aya is distracted, trying to heal him, so she doesn’t see Dominic coming at her with another knife. Aidon advances on Dominic, catches a knife from his mum and plunges it into Dominic’s heart.

Aya and Aidon both try to heal Will but he’s healing too slowly. They heal him but his eyes are closed and he’s not breathing…is he dead?

Aidon reveals that he is actually a good guy and had told Dominic about Aya’s power to gain his trust and get in on the plan. But he had no idea what Dominic really had planned and he struggled to go along with it and find a moment to intervene. He got Josie and Vi out and commanded Aya to “heal” when he stabbed her, so that she would also heal herself from the tonic.

Aya tells Aidon to tell Trahir and the troops the truth so that they will follow him. She says they must know that the Second Saint and Second War are here and choose to stand against the Dechairé or against the gods.

On the boat back to Tala, Will asks Aya to heal his oath scar. She manages to do so and they then both make a new bloodoath to protect each other.

The epilogue gives us one final, violent scene of Tova being interrogated (or tortured) by Gianna. The book closes as Tova continues to tell herself ‘she is safe, they are safe’.

Did you know Aidon was going to come good?
Do you have any theories for the sequel?
What did you think of the book overall?

That was such an explosive conclusion, I’m still reeling! I need the next book like yesterday…

Thank you all so much for joining us for another FairyLoot readalong. I hope you had as much fun as I did and we’ll see you very soon for the next one!

Students were required to demonstrate their understanding of these subjects through written essays and multiple-choice questions. In the practical portion of the exam, students were tested on their ability to perform spells and brew potions. They were given a set of ingredients and instructions and were expected to follow them precisely. Their potion-making skills were evaluated based on the final product's color, consistency, and magical properties. For spellcasting, students had to demonstrate their knowledge of proper wand movements, incantations, and the correct pronunciation of spells. But the Witch Traits Exam went beyond just the technical aspects of magic. It also assessed a witch's character and personality traits. Students were asked to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, their ability to work well with others, and their level of resilience and determination. These qualities were believed to be crucial for success in the magical world, as witches often faced challenges and obstacles that required them to be resourceful and adaptable. The exam was not just a test of knowledge and skills. It was also an opportunity for students to reflect on their own growth and development as witches. It served as a reminder that becoming a proficient witch was not just about acquiring knowledge but also about nurturing one's character and embracing the qualities that made them unique. As the students completed their exams, there was a sense of accomplishment and pride. They had studied hard, practiced their spells and potions, and were now ready to showcase their abilities. The Witch Traits Exam was not just a test, but a rite of passage for aspiring witches, a way to measure their progress and readiness to continue their magical education. In the end, the Witch Traits Exam served as a reminder that being a witch was not just about casting spells and brewing potions. It was about embodying certain traits and characteristics that set them apart as magical beings. It was a reminder to embrace the magical within themselves and to use their powers for good..

Reviews for "Unleash Your Witch Potential: The Traits Exam Revealed"

- Amy - 1-star rating - I found the "Witch traits exam" to be extremely disappointing. The questions were overly simplistic and lacked any real depth or thought-provoking content. It felt like more of a silly magazine quiz than an actual examination of witch traits. Additionally, the interface was clunky and difficult to navigate, making the whole experience frustrating and tedious. Overall, I was hoping for a more comprehensive and engaging exam, but unfortunately, this fell short in every aspect.

- John - 2-star rating - While I appreciate the concept of the "Witch traits exam," I felt that it missed the mark. The questions were too obvious and straightforward, leaving no room for interpretation or critical thinking. The exam lacked any sense of challenge or intellectual stimulation. Furthermore, the design and layout of the exam were quite uninspired and dull, further detracting from the overall experience. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this exam.

- Sarah - 2-star rating - I had high hopes for the "Witch traits exam," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The questions were too simplistic and lacked any real depth or complexity. I was hoping for thought-provoking inquiries that would challenge my understanding of witchcraft, but instead, I found myself answering basic multiple-choice questions. Additionally, the exam was quite short, which left me wanting more. Overall, I think this exam has the potential to be great, but it needs a significant overhaul to become more engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Uncover Your Witchcraft Superpowers: The Traits Exam