SOLVED. First book of YA fantasy series, title something like the Keepers of the Light, about a girl learning magic and passing trials. [s]

[Anne]

I was fairly sure the series was called the Keepers of the Light or Lightkeepers or something, but google isn't yielding anything. The first book is about the heroine learning magic and passing trials to join some kind of elite group (hypothetically guarding a light but I don't remember that actual plot point), and is discriminated against for being female and then proves herself; I think there are dragons involved. Other random details I remember: At one point during her training she's given a leather wand that droops so she accidentally makes her trousers disappear. The trials require fasting and she's tempted with a feast but the locket she's wearing prevents her from eating.
Read in the 2000s. The cover had stylized drawings of the character(s) with light in their hands or something.

[Andria]

Possibly A Wizard Named Nell - it's first in the Keepers series, about the Keepers of the Light.

[Anne]

Ah yes that’s it—thanks!

[Andria]

You're welcome! Happy to help.