SOLVED. YA/Fantasy about a girl who goes to magical boarding school and it received a scathing review [s]

[Tianna]

I never actually read this book, but I did read the 3,000 word plus review about it on a blog. It was the only entry in the blog but had a lot of views.

It was someone's debut novel. It is about a girl who finds out she has magical powers and goes to a boarding school. There is racism against some species that are enslaved. The protagonist has an enemy and a love interest and they kiss under a gazebo after a ball or dance of some kind.

One part stands out in my mind; she witnesses the beating of a slave girl and once it is over she decides to free the girl from the actually chain to which she is shackled.

Please help!

[SBC]

Could it be The Black Witch by Laurie Forest? I know it got some very mixed reviews.

[Tianna]

Yes!! This is it, thank you. :)