The Master's Trial

by Michelle N. Hagood

When Charlie escaped the Magisterium of Magic, she knew it wouldn't be for long. Not when Michael Kale is hunting her.

 

Dragged back into the brutal world of magic, she expects to continue training with the Achilles Heel for the war against her father. But The Crown has been planning in secret too and the board is moving.

 

For the first time in decades, Lawrence Hart steps out of the shadows to announce the Master's Trial a year early. While the Trial is the quickest way to earn a Master title, the highest rank among Magic Users, it's also the deadliest. Each Trial is ruthlessly crafted to weed out the weak and it cruelly breaks more Contestants than it awards.

 

As the Heel scrambles to figure out The Crown's motives, Charlie sees the Trial as an opportunity. If she can get in and earn a title, neither Michael nor Master Lenin could command her. As a Master, she would be their equal. She could stop running. With hardly any experience to face the enemies amassing on all sides and the merciless effects of the Trial, Charlie has no choice but to trust her back to the one person who wants nothing more than to put a knife in it; Michael Kale. 

 

In the second installment of The Royal Trilogy, Charlie and Michael could either save or destroy each other. Or the Trial will do that for them.

Genres: Fantasy

786 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley Ottesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaahhhhhh!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭 What an AMAZING follow up to book one. Even better than the first and the first one was awesome! My heart was ripped out then put back in only to be ripped out again 😭 and the cliffhanger! That cliffhanger was mean. I know books take ages to write and edit so I will attempt patience while waiting for book three.

Fans of Harry Potter and the Hunger Games will thoroughly enjoy this series. Start with book one, The North Tower.

Now to get some sleep, I stayed up way past my bedtime. Couldn’t put it down. ❤️

[Amy Aiken]

What an amazing sequel! I could not put it down! Looking forward to the next one!

[Cate Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sequel so much!! The first book was so good and the sequel is just as amazing!! It hooked me right away and the authors voice in it kept me reading it until it was done. Even though it was 750 pages I would have read twice that just to have more. I loved watching how the dynamic between Charlie and Michael evolved and the ending just aaaaaaaaa!! Cannot wait to see how the series closes up!

[Beth Tuley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read June 13, 2026. Still 5 stars and this time I get to go right into the final book. Can’t wait!



Looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

Dark academia, magical systems, magical realism, games & trials, and if I had to guess, enemies to lovers.

[Makenzie Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. I loved this so much more than the first book. Magic. Magic trials. Unhinged badassery. If I had to sum it it would be: It was very much a goblet of fire meets hunger games meets unhinged Charlie Heart.

[Kristen Burnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down!!! I completely fell in love with the world and the characters. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the 3rd book!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book held me captive for three full days. The plot twists, character development, and the world building are everything you crave in the second book of a series.

It’s hard to top the first book in the Royal Trilogy but this one is in another league of its own.

Charlie is so relatable that’s it’s easy to forgot that I’m reading about a fictional character. Michelle Hagood creates a world that is so easy to lose yourself in.

Would definitely recommend.

Also - how STUNNING is the cover??? Omg.

[Liv Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m fairly certain Michelle is the queen of cliffhangers at this point because… WTF??? How am I supposed to live laugh love in these conditions?

Going to need the rest of the series asap. And I will be very whiny and annoying until I get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I also have 1000 questions, and I demand to know what’s going on between Charlie and Michael!!!

Harry Potter meets the Hunger Games but like in the absolute BEST way. Thank you for getting. Me out of my reading slump!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Michaela Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars. Omg

[Melina (Next Chapter Mama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! This book was so chock full of twists and turns I was literally on the edge of my seat reading.
Deadly trials, all manner of betrayals, heartbreaking losses and heart stopping battles I cannot say enough about this book.

The FMC has trained hard and life keeps hitting back harder and our girl gets back up every.single.time. Her tenacity and sheer will to survive are beyond inspiring. The trials in this book are incredibly complex and unique and the magic system/world is something out of my wildest dreams. Just when I thought I might have things figured out something completely wild would happen and throw me off course in the best way possible. The emotional connections can also not be overlooked. The friendships and found family vibes are so needed in these vicious and cutthroat trials.

I absolutely loved this book and CANNOT wait for the next book!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so, I really loved book one, but this book? book two? blew book one out of the park, I loved it even more 😫😭 I AM OBSESSED. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of times I felt that gut wrenching, stomach sinking moment, and how many times I felt I was the one feeling the betrayal, pain and shock of decisions that have come to pass. If you weren’t as convinced in book one, the number one thing I can say is please stick with it, give it a chance, the character arcs that progress from then to now are top tier, and the history behind them in book one definitely add to the pain of what happens to them in this one. Like I had chills during the entire last like 25%. MY HEART. 😫😭 What these characters have been through, what they continue to go through?! Ok also, THE TRIALS. Ate it up. Yes. Hectic af and I loved it.

[Julia Mikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot just how aggravating Charlie can be 😅 Most of the times I just wanted to smack her upon the head when she jumped into yet another epically stupid thing without knowing anything about it beforehand.
You didn’t just make me read 2000 pages and leave me nowhere did you?! The relationships are so weird in this book. What do you even think love is? There is literally nothing Michael and Charlie wouldn’t do for each other. Yet somehow that is second place to a crush on a boy that smiled at her twice. I waited a whole lot for nothing to happen which left me cranky.
The inconsistencies were a bit jarring too. Her painful touch for instance which came and went - how come Blake didn’t notice all her life that she zinged with magic?? And for the love of god, somebody please proofread the books before publishing, the amount of typos and mistakes were ridiculous. It’s difficult to lose yourself in the plot when you’re struggling to understand basic English sentences.
Bah! Aggravating, the whole thing.
I really loved this book, did I mention that? No? 😁 It’s an amazing story, with magnificent characters. Can’t wait for the next one. Better not wipe her memory though because that would be sooo disappointingly cliche.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely speechless!! Because what do you mean!? 🥹🤯 book 2 took on a whole other level I was not expecting and so ready for book 3! BRB I need to collect my thoughts 😭❤️

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two has double the action, double the drama, double the PAGES?! Yes. I’ve been obsessing over this book for the past couple days and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the final book in the trilogy 😩

[Kiraka · Rating 5 out of 5]

To paraphrase Mr. Darcy- this has consumed me, body & soul, & I love it.

Charlie embodies rage at its finest. My unhinged queen.
Michael is everything.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sequel and all the characters. I really enjoy the author's writing style. WHEN WILL PART 3 COME OUT YOU CAN'T LEAVE US WITH THIS CLIFFHANGER OMG

[Rachel Koch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much - the trials, the characters, everything. This added so much more depth and maturity to the first book - you can really see how the characters grow. I am such a fan of this author and can’t wait to read book 3 and anything else she has up her sleeve!

[Heather | Heather's Book Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an incredible follow-up to ‘The North Tower’! We dive in right where book one left off with Charlie and Kale at odds, and Hagood does a masterful job at evolving their relationship through the wild ride that is The Master’s Trial - like literally, it’s a series of tests that Charlie and other chosen student’s must pass for the chance to become a Master and control their own fate. The pace of this book is so good; you won’t even realize you’ve read almost 800 pages. There is so much action as well as character growth. The world building just explodes in this book, setting us up for what I’m certain will be an epic book three!

[Mary J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second read through:
I think I enjoyed reading this a second time more than the first. I can’t get these characters and their stories out of my head! There is so much that is connected in the whole larger story and now I have so many theories and thoughts. I might explode!
You won’t regret reading this.

(You will have to ignore some typos, but IGNORE THEM!)

Original review:
WOW.
First, Michelle's writing skills from book one to book two improved dramatically. Book one had quite a few errors and oddities that I think some had difficulty looking past. I get it. But the story was way worth it to me. This book? She really elevated her skills and techniques. She completely refined and polished her writing voice. There were still a few typos but all minor and they never took away from the story. So if you are hesitant to read this one, you should ignore that feeling and read it!
Second, I love this story! The character growth was gorgeous! I didn't want to put the book down, and would read for hours because I was enthralled. Charlie is funny, likable, relatable, and oh so crazy!
At times, I was shocked, giggling, moved, and just generally engrossed in this cast of characters. The Trials were designed to be terrifying and really reveal who the characters were and this was a genius plot device for character growth. Getting to know Michael Kale more was a delightful experience that I want to relive.
I could say way more, but I don't want to include spoilers. So just go and read it!

[Shawna Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than the first one! The authors writing style really speaks in this and it’s so much smoother feeling (although I noticed more typos/grammar issues I’m sure that’s more because I was sucked in) I read 300 pages in one day and only put it down because I HAD to sleep for work the next day. Leaving me on a cliff hanger is CRUEL and unusual treatment. I can’t wait to get my hands on the final book.

[Aspen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute master piece!!! The visual artistry was impeccable! You could escape and be lost in this world forever!! Keeps you guessing the whole way. I couldn’t predict a thing! The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. A very heartfelt and dangerous book!! A true wizard with her words!! Now go read it!!! Totally recommend!!!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this novel and it met all my expectations. I had read an early version years ago, and I loved seeing how the story evolved. Just like the first time, it still kept me reading past my bedtime, eager to know how the characters would react or what else would be thrown at them. I'm waiting anxiously for the conclusion.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Filled with many turns and plot twists, it keep me coming back for more. I also loved how book 2 built upon the first book. Can't wait for book 3!

[Vicki Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need the third instalment!!

[Harrison D. Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle N. Hagood has outdone herself this time. I liked how “Cheese and Rice” was called out in the story and poked fun at, making up for the superfluous use of the phrase in The North Tower.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable novel that reminded me of the Hunger Games. However, Hagood’s take on it is more nuanced and “grey” than an outright slaughter of children. However, the parallels are easy to draw.

The back and forth Charlie experienced of either hating or loving Kale, and Michael going back and forth in his hatred and darkness was relatable and poignant. All too often we see character development as linear. But in real life that’s nonsensical and unrealistic. I appreciated Hagood giving a realistic approach to character development and the respective arcs of Heart and Kale.

The Master’s Trial had me devastated and crying one chapter, to have me exhilarated and laughing the next. This was an addictive, fast paced and throughly enjoyable read.

While I initially had some trouble with keeping up the rapid scene changes and different locations, Hagood’s vivid descriptions helped me overcome the slight feeling of dizzying vertigo from “Porting” all over the world, often multiple times per chapter. However, places like the Kale ranch, the Magisterium, the Infirmary and Heart’s apartment were solid grounding points to help anchor myself on.

I look forward to future editions of both The Master’s Trial and The North Tower that fix the spelling and grammatical errors that took me out of the story (which happened far too often for my liking).

I eagerly look forward to the release of the third installment of the Royal Trilogy.

[Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to describe just how much I loved this book. Frankly, the number of times that I laughed or hooted out loud, visibly brought the book closer to pay even closer attention, and felt blood drain from my face as the story flipped timbre in the space of a sentence cannot be counted. The story is amazingly well written (of course it lays into a trope here and there), but I genuinely never knew what was coming.

More than anything though, these characters are some of the best that I've experienced in a long time. They felt real and reminded me of just how complicated everyone's story can be. I don't know that I've had an author utterly break, mend, and shatter my heart so thoroughly in the space of a book with their characters alone. And I know that I have never had it done so thoroughly that I felt almost raw by the time that I put it down. These are truly amazing characters and character development.

I can't call the book perfect (mainly it could use another proofread to catch the odd typo, sentence, or logic gap), but I felt more emotions in these pages than I ever thought I was capable of. And if the goal of a great story is to leave you feeling like you were driven through the journey of its characters along with them, including the misery, hope, remorse, joy, betrayal, and redemption that litters each page, then there is nothing short of magic in these pages.

6/6 cannot come soon enough!

[Abagale Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the third book in my hands asap. I am absolutely in love with everything about this world and these characters. Charlie felt so real and the way her trauma shows up in her thoughts and actions makes total sense to me despite wanting to scream at her to stop more than once. Michael is the perfect mmc and the slow burn is still absolutely killing me despite both characters fully being in love with each other and (maybe) not realizing. The first quarter of this book I was fully convinced it was a rip off of goblet of fire and the hunger games and it kind of was but it absolutely kept me hooked and I didn’t even care by the halfway point. I absolutely did not see the plot twist coming at the end and I almost always see plot twists coming so major kudos to the author for that.

All that said I do have some technical issues with the book. I think a good editor could have really solved all my issues. There was more than a few times where I said to myself “what?? that kinda contradicts what happened 100 pages ago” or “uh that feels like a small plot hole.” Like I said it definitely happened enough to take away from the story but I love the rest of the story enough to look the other way but I can totally see how it might ruin the book for someone else

[Kima · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book... made me feel things. I laughed out loud, I cried real tears. I hoped, I cheered, and boy, did I rage. The characters' relationships are so well-developed over the length of the story that I'm invested in every one of them. The world and certain tropes have some similarities to other magical worlds we know and love, but it's different enough not to bother me. There are unique aspects that make it still interesting. It's the first book I have fully enjoyed in years. It's addicting.

On the other hand, it is riddled with typoes and grammatical errors. Reading it almost felt like it was written in a fever dream and never edited. The word "medal" was used like 6 times in a span of 2 pages, and only once was it spelled correctly. While the first book had maybe two typoes total, the Master's Trial seemed to have one every couple of pages. Ma'am, send me the third one ahead of time and I'll proofread it for free LOL

Jokes aside, it's genuinely a good read. All characters have depth and moral complexity. Very fun!

[Rori Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If I could rate this book six stars, I would.
The Master's Trial has officially taken the place of my favorite book.

Everything about this book was AMAZING! There's no way I can say everything I loved about it in this review, and if I tried I would be writing a whole new book in itself, so I'll try to keep this short.
The tension throughout the book was so well written that it really had me going like "just one more chapter!" *proceeds to read 34 more chapters*.

The relationships between characters were so fun to read and occasionally had me screaming/crying/laughing my heart out.

And don't get me started on Michael Kale. I am 100% obsessed with that man.

I am so excited for the next book! Considering the events that occurred in The Master's Trial, I am sure that the next book will be an excellent, intense, and engaging finale!

[Megan Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutthroat competition. Dastardly deeds. A prize that changes everything.

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of The Master’s Trial and it was everything I wanted and more. In this compelling sequel Hagood plunges us further into her magical world where everyone is hiding something. And some secrets are so dangerous they're worth killing over. Complex characters, incredible pacing, and a plot that will leave you thinking about it long after it’s over, this book had it all. Hagood’s doesn’t disappoint with her incredible continuation of this series.