4 stars. 
 "Perhaps the gods will surprise us and it will be neither." 
 "A true tragedy." 
 "Of epic proportions." 
 "Two longstanding rivals." 
 "And only one robe to bear." 
 "Who will win?" Darren's tone was wry. "The handsome prince?" 
 I grinned. "Or his valiant betrothed?" 
 SO how do I describe my love for this book. I love-love-loved First Year and the second Apprentice. But this third book, this just gave me so many feels and made me cry for sometime over certain characters. A part of my brain was just yelling over and over that this is not fair. 
 The author has a flair for making us attach to the characters that we have no option but rather fall hopelessly in love with them and stop thinking rationally and just go with the flow, be it the romance, betrayal or the life altering decisions at the end of the book. 
 Rachel E.Carter did not disappoint and I think this book was even better than it's predecessors. 
 "That's the thing about enemies. You never know who they could end up being." 
 20 years old Ryiah, finally a Combat War Mage but it isn't enough. Training for so many years she wants to prove herself and the only way is through the candidacy- THE NEXT BLACK MAGE. There is only one problem, she has yet to beat Darren in a fight. And to reach the Black Robe she has to fight him. Though everything is not as it seems. Trouble is on the horizon. War is around the corner. New Alliances are being formed. Secrets are being revealed. Secrets are being kept hidden. Nothing is as it seems. 
 The old characters like Alex-her twin and Ella, they were not given much priority but that is acceptable as it was for the development of the story. And a cameo role from Priscella was something to look forward to. "She's resilient as a cockroach." Ya that is one grand way to look at Ryiah. I laughed so hard reading this thinking this was so much true. Wren was such a adorable character I just couldn't help but smile every time I read about her. In certain scenes(namely Alex and the arena), I was sure I was going to be bawling in a corner, clutching my hair, just closing my eyes and just yelling at the author in my mind. 
 ("Chapter 12: oh no no!! That is... You didn't... What!! But...the plot!! Ohh!!") 
 The author was playing mind games with the readers making us think everything about the characters we have come to hate and love. I could now understand the reasons behind Darren being an uptight Prince in the first two installment and could see him in a new light. It was really overwhelming to see that he could choose Ryiah above everything else but how much that is that question we have come to ask. I guess that is what we will get to see in the Last Stand. I just can't wait to read it. And the world building is something which improved immensely from the last two books. 
 I am giving 4 stars for this amazingly, fantastic book and taking away that 1 star only because I expected lots of action in the candidacy and lots of Darren. 
 So people read it, enjoy it, devour it. 
 Relax and Enjoy!!!