ARC Review: Magic Academy

Tags

fantasy, new adult, under 1000 ratings

Out of a young woman’s ambition comes a love triangle that could destroy more than her heart.

Firia has always wanted to be a witch, but even though she’s a natural in magic, there’s a problem: She’s human.

Considered by the elven elite to be inferior, Firia needs an edge to be accepted into the Magic Academy. Out of sheer desperation, she summons the demon Varuj, a terrifyingly gorgeous spirit who helps her win the entrance competition. But at what price?

As the commanding demon does everything he can to penetrate every aspect of her innocent life, Firia still finds herself drawn to her study partner, Mae’lin. Not only is the sweet elf completely different from the powerful Varuj, but their relationship is forbidden.

How is she supposed to choose between the demon she owes her life to and the innocent elf who makes her a better person?

This thrilling new adult romance is from fantasy author, Jillian Keep.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about this novel when I first started it. I felt a little disjointed and bland. But as I got into it, these feeling ebbed away and left me with a well rounded book.

I still did feel it was a little lacking in oomph but it was a pleasant read. The characters were pleasant, but there wasn’t as much distinction between the good characters and the bad characters as I would have liked.

The magic elements were well expressed and exciting. I particularly enjoyed her test to get into the Academy. Although I found the main character a little annoying, she got too easily wound up and angry and then was subdued with a word from the demon.

There was not enough description of the surroundings and the world for my liking, it was very character centric which was not always a good thing.

3 out of 5 stars

 

Review: Teacher’s Pet

Tags

magic, under 1000 ratings, vampires, werewolves, young adult

Alice Dibble has finally made it to the Nocturnal Academy, and is ready to start lessons at the most exclusive private school in Australia. She believes she is about to be trained to become a nocturnal defender of the Earth against the chaotic hordes of the Immaterium, and is ready to face up to this noble challenge.

Unfortunately, when she arrives she discovers that the Nocturnal Academy isn’t really that different from her old school. Lessons are tedious, equipment is old and broken, bats roosting in the rafters keep dropping presents on her notebook – and then there is scullery duty, which involves taking rubbish out to the epic compost heap, known to swallow children whole.

Alice’s new friend Toby, once a popular kid at her primary school, has become an outcast; her old enemy Carla needs help to learn how to change into her new animal form, and a little omniwere boy who can only change into tiny creatures like rats and rabbits has developed a crush on her.

Alice must also learn how to use her new vampire powers responsibly without succumbing to the lure of the darkness.

To make matters worse, Professor Abbacus, a teacher Alice thought liked her, now seems to want to kill her. It is all Alice can do to keep one step ahead of him and all of his devious, convoluted plans to punish her for the destruction of the Holloway Grimoire.

I enjoyed getting to know the character better in this second installment of the series and learning how the world works. It was good to see the old characters but also be introduced to new faces. A villain hiding in plain sight, got me good. I did not expect that at all.

I sometimes forget that the characters are so young, not even teenagers yet, they act so mature, which is probably not very realistic but it only bothers me when I am reminded of their ages.

The action is well written and enjoyable.

All in all it’s a good book for younger readers, but adults will enjoy it.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Thing About Scorpions

Tags

books, sociopath, thriller, under 1000 ratings, young adult

“Autumn had been born six weeks before her due date. Maybe she wasn’t complete. Perhaps God was about to give her a heart and a conscience, but she came out before she was whole.”

Something is wrong with Autumn. Unfortunately, she has a way of getting her friends to do anything. Lying and manipulating are her special skills. Fifteen-year-old Cicely Scott and her friends find themselves tangled in Autumn’s web unable to free themselves as bodies pile up around them. Cicely is at her breaking point and must find a way to release herself from Autumn’s clutches. The only problem with that: Autumn won’t let her go easily. Then there’s poor Emma, the pretty girl dating Autumn’s crush who mysteriously turns up missing . . .

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This a complex young adult book. There is something truly scary about someone being able to manipulate and lie to people to get them to do just about anything, including killing someone. When these people are kids, it gets even more frightening.

Autumn is such an individual. She can get people to do just about anything she wants, including letting her choke her friends, sister and eve helping her cover her tracks when she hurts other people.

The story progressed well for me. I liked how you got to the friendship of the six girls as young children then the main part of the story takes place when they are sixteen. It’s a clever way to show the true dynamic between the characters and how things changed.

Everyone seemed to hate Autumn yet she had control over her friends. Her friends who are not as nice as they would like to think they are.

I was a fan of how the story wrapped up one mystery but let one as a cliff hanger ready for the next book. Which I am very much looking forward to.

The only thing was I am sure someone would have noticed what was happening, in a small town as it was described.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Similar books in my opinion

The dynamic of the six girls especially at the start was very similar to Pretty Little Liars, I was glad when things changed, felt like the book was coming into it’s own.