How Rare is Aurelia Evangeline by Elise Bebb
A secret world. A magic academy. Two enemies destined to ruin each other.
Eighteen-year-old Aurelia has never belonged anywhere—no home, no friends, no purpose. But when a haunting voice lures her into the woods, she finds herself trapped in a secret magical world and bound to a deadly prophecy she cannot escape.
Ramorya borders our world—home to rarities who possess extraordinary abilities. They have waited for her arrival, prayed to their gods that she will save them from the evil that stirs. She is their only hope. Destined to defeat the king of the Mallory—Janus. He has dreamed of her undoing for a century. And while he is imprisoned on an island for now, it won’t hold him forever.
Aurelia wants to go back home, to her boring, mundane life, but she has no choice. She must attend Ramorya Academy and learn to control her new eruptive powers. The fate of an entire world hangs in the balance. But those that are rare are feared; ancient secrets begin to unravel; danger lurks in the shadows; and Janus, who haunts her dreams, becomes her living nightmare.
It’s not only a world in danger . . . but her mind.
Will she learn to control her power?
Or will it consume her?
Perfect for fans of Zodiac Academy, One Dark Window, and X-men.
Tropes:
-Magic Academy
-Upper YA
-Slow burn
-Found family
-Sarcastic FMC
-Witty banter
BOOK 1 IN THE RARITIES SERIES
Release date: July 28, 2026
What our ARC readers are saying:
“This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and had everything that kept me hooked: an interesting magic system, a hidden magical world, an academy setting, a badass female main character destined to be the prophesied savior, a mysterious brooding male character (future love interest?), a fun cast of side characters, and an all-powerful villain...or is he? I loved how the story unfolded throughout the first book, and the pacing felt just right. The characters were developed gradually, revealing more of who they were as the story progressed. I would have loved even more character development, but it was a fantastic start to what promises to be a great series. I will say the story gave me strong Harry Potter and Zodiac Academy vibes—to the point that I actually wondered if it had started as a Dramione fanfic (it didn't!). If you enjoy accessible world-building, magical academies, and stories like Harry Potter and Zodiac Academy, I think you'll have a great time with this one. And that cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal. I need book two ASAP!” -Kim
“This is a great book for YA readers, particularly those new to the urban fantasy genre. The cast of characters is diverse, and most teen readers will likely find a representation to relate to… The supporting characters in the book really shine through. From Mogz, who carefully watches over Aurelia and grows to love her despite the challenges; and Emmaline, who goes from being despised to being a heroine who saves lives; to Noah, Aurelia's brother, who sparks humor into the story and garners immediate dedication from his new group of friends outside of the mortal world, Aurelia is surely lucky to have such a devoted crew to fight Janus alongside her! …The book, to me, is a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer (for the powerful youth and wise, sage "watcher" relationship) and Harry Potter (with the antagonist and her friends trying to solve problems and grow along the journey they take together). -Cheryl
