SOLVED. Blindfolded students led to top of tower, told to step off it. Magic school initiation? Read 2018/19 [s]

[Amber]

I believe this was the opening scene of the book. The main character is blindfolded and has been led to the top of a tower in their school, along with other students. It seems to be some sort of test/initiation led by the teachers/mentors of the school. Main character is suspicious and scared. The mentor tells them they must step off the tower (still blindfolded) or be pushed off. I think the idea is that it will activate their powers or something? Some of the students are laughing or don't seem worried because they trust their mentors (or, as the main character wonders, perhaps they're in on a joke/hazing event that the main character is not privy to).

[Charlotte]

do you remember more or less how long ago you read this?

[Amber]

I read it either in 2018 or 2019

[Rainbowheart]

Was the book for kids, teens, or adults?

[Amber]

I didn't get the impression they were children, I think it's YA and a school-like setting so most likely teens - college age at most

[Florence]

It sounds a little like divergent by Veronica Roth?

[[deleted user]]

I agree with Florence, it kinda sounds like the Dauntless initation in Divergent

[Amber]

It's not Divergent. This scene takes place at the top of a tower within a school, to activate magical powers. There is no such scene in Divergent, they don't jump off a school tower and it has nothing to do with magic.

[bup]

In The Magicians I recall something similar.

(view spoiler)[They became goose-like birds and had to fly to Antarctica. (hide spoiler)]

[Amber]

Thanks but it wasn't Magicians. I just finished reading it and I had a similar thought to you but that wasn't it because they weren't blindfolded! And a few other differences.

[Alice]

This sounds likes the initiation of the new students in Zodiac Academy: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham. The girl who ends up living in the Air Tower is shoved off while blindfolded as a hazing ritual and turns out she was just pushed off a small step. I think she later does really get shoved off the top of the tower - my memory is hazy.

[Amber]

It is Zodiac Academy! Thank you, Alice.