If you love dark magic, shameless academies, and bold heroines, you won’t forget Eva Chase’s Cruel Magic anytime soon. This first book in the Royals of Villain Academy series is a tale of vengeance, survival, and untamed power. The author masterfully combines danger and desire. There’s danger, but also an emotional story with a strong romance.
From the first page, Rory Franco, the main character, drew me into her new, insane world, one filled with chaos and fear. Unlike most fantasy romance, Cruel Magic is dark, sharp, and filled with tension. Each chapter builds to a cliffhanger, and I felt a strong need to continue the story.
- Author:- Eva Chase
- Series:- Royals of Villain Academy #1
- Pages:- 300 Pages
- Genre:- Romantasy, Dark Academy Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Reverse Harem, Magic, and Urban Fantasy.
- Publisher:- Ink Spark Press
- My Rating:- 5 Stars
- Goodreads:- 3.84 Stars
About Cruel Magic Book
Rory Franco believes she’s an ordinary college student, an artist with a protective family and a simple life. But everything shatters when a group of mages invades her home, murders her parents, and drags her into a world she never knew existed. Suddenly, Rory discovers her entire identity has been a lie. Her real name is Persephone Bloodstone, and she’s the lost heir of one of the five royal families of dark magic.
Thrust into the treacherous halls of Villain Academy, Rory is expected to embrace her dark birthright—to rule through fear, to command pain, and to stand beside four other heirs who dominate the academy. These young men are powerful, arrogant, and dangerously alluring. But Rory isn’t interested in ruling beside anyone. She only wants revenge.
The problem? Her magic feeds on fear and suffering, and she has no idea how to control it. As enemies close in and alliances blur, Rory must decide what kind of villain she’s willing to become.
Eva Chase Books Review: A Heroine Forged in Fire
What makes Cruel Magic truly shine is its protagonist, Rory Franco (Persephone Bloodstone). She’s not a damsel or a chosen one waiting to be saved—she’s a survivor. Despite witnessing unimaginable tragedy, Rory remains unflappable and unbreakable. Her strength doesn’t come from brute power but from resilience, sharp wit, and her refusal to lose herself to darkness.
Eva Chase writes her with striking realism—Rory’s fear, grief, and anger feel raw, but they never drown her. Instead, they fuel her determination to fight back. I loved how she stands her ground in a place built to destroy her spirit. Her intelligence and defiance make her one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in dark fantasy lately. She’s someone you root for, not just because she’s powerful but because she earns it.
Villain Academy: Gothic and Brutal
Villain Academy is more than just a setting—it’s a character in itself. The gothic atmosphere, cruel hierarchy, and constant sense of danger make every page tense and addictive. This isn’t a cozy magical school; it’s a place where pain is currency and power is survival.
Eva Chase does a fantastic job of immersing readers in this twisted institution. You can almost feel the cold marble floors, the flicker of cursed candles, and the weight of centuries of dark legacy pressing down on Rory. The other students are ruthless, the professors are worse, and trust is a luxury no one can afford. It’s the perfect backdrop for a heroine determined to break the cycle of cruelty while learning to wield her own strength.
Dark Magic, Power, and Temptation
The magic system in Cruel Magic by eva chase is unique—it’s powered by fear and pain, forcing the characters to confront the moral cost of their power. This isn’t the kind of magic that sparkles; it burns, consumes, and corrupts. Watching Rory grapple with that was fascinating. She wants revenge but refuses to lose her humanity in the process, and that conflict provides the story emotional depth.
Then there are the four scions (Malcom, Jude, Connor, and Declan)—the dangerously magnetic heirs who rule Villain Academy. Their dynamic with Rory is intense and charged and constantly shifting between rivalry and reluctant respect. While romance isn’t the central focus here, the tension between them is palpable. Eva Chase plants just enough hints of attraction and hostility to make you crave what might come next.
A Perfect Blend of Darkness and Emotion
One of the most impressive things about Cruel Magic is how it balances dark fantasy and emotional storytelling. The brutality of this world never overshadows the humanity of its characters. Beneath all the cruelty, there’s vulnerability, grief, and a spark of hope that refuses to die.
Eva Chase’s writing is cinematic and fast-paced. Her scenes are vivid, her dialogue sharp, and her emotional beats hit hard. The pacing is spot-on—every chapter drives the story forward, layering mystery upon mystery. And just when you think you’ve caught your breath, she drops a twist that leaves you reeling.
By the time the book reaches its end, you realize how much Rory has changed—not because she’s embraced darkness, but because she’s learned to wield it on her terms. And that final cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal in the best possible way. It guarantees you’ll be grabbing the next book the moment you finish this one.
Why 5 Stars?
I gave Cruel Magic 5 stars because it gave dark fantasy readers what they wanted. Each story element worked seamlessly. The author skillfully crafted the writing, tension, and strong emotional stakes.
I don’t think I possibly lost interest in any of the chapters of this book. I found the balance between the world-building and the character development to be of the highest quality, and I strongly appreciated the ending. I thought of the cliffhanger as the prelude to an explosive sequel because it was so shocking.
Eva Chase expanded my previously limited worldview of not only the world of villains but also the world of being a villain.
Final Thoughts
If dark fantasy is your ideal genre, then the book Cruel Magic should be your next read. The book had a strong hold on my imagination. Rory is a wonderful heroine, and it is a refreshing change to read about a character that is strong, is courageous, and isn’t a defiant side character.
The Eva Chase books have intensified the personal and challenging nature of dark fantasy, placing the genre under unprecedented scrutiny. I cannot express how excited I am to read the next book in the series.
Have you ever checked out Cruel Magic or any dark academy fantasies? Which fantasy series has the most impressive heroine? Tell us in the comments—we can’t wait to see your suggestions!
