Academy tropes aren’t really my favorite books but they’re hard to avoid as they’re so many out there. But Shadowspell Academy series written by by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer for the first mini-trilogy and now solely by Shannon Mayer for the final three stories, is an excellent read and why I’ll continue to pick up a great series.
Yes, I’ve blown through the final trilogy and loved it.
Wild and her mixed crew of paranormals have been sorted into their “expected” Houses and now they are expected to spend their next years there, training with their own “magical” counterparts.
But it doesn’t work out like that as events force everyone together in one place. A House of Wonder that seems to have it in for all of them, old and new enemies everywhere and Wild’s the target of her greatest enemy.
This is the start of a incredible journey, part horror story, outstanding paranormal adventure, that sees not only Wild but her small group of friends/family growing tighter, developing new powers and showing immense strength and resilience.
Heartbreak, betrayal and high suspense. It’s all here. And it’s amazing. I love Wild so much. And everyone else in her group.
Highly recommended! Fantastic work in every way by the author.
Shadowspell Academy (6 book series)
The Culling Trials #1 through 3
Year of the Chameleon #4 through 6 written by Shannon Mayer
You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.
“This book is Harry Potter meets the Hunger Games in a bold twist on a classic magical young adult adventure.” Jaymin Eve, Bestselling Author of Supernatural Academy
I’ve made it through the Culling Trials, the test that proved my mettle against every possible challenge.
I assumed that meant things would settle down and I’d start truly learning.
MNo more danger.
No more death threats.
No more wondering who was out to get me.
Apparently, that was not to be.
I am what this supernatural world calls a Chameleon—a rarity even amongst all these monsters. And rare things are coveted and feared by the most powerful of all—The House Of Wonder.
It’s a good thing I have my crew at my back, because this Academy?
It’s about to get seriously ugly.
Which means this farm girl is ready to play by only one set of rules.
The third novel in this portion of this series is excellent. Divided into two trilogies, the three books of The Culling Trials are coauthored by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer while the last trilogy is written solely by Mayer.
So this completes the co-authored mini series, The Culling Trials, and it’s exciting, full of intrigue, surprises, really excellent twists, and leaves our mixed found family of paranormal friends graduating into their respective Houses , ala Harry Potter, and ready for their next chapter as first years.
Wild and her small crew are headed into the final trials before they are sorted out by their magical abilities into their Houses. If they survive because someone is trying to kill them or just Wild before they can finish.
And the mystery of their disappearing companions hasn’t been solved yet as a few more teenagers vanish from campus and the authorities have no answers.
Wild and every other person in her group shows realistic personal development as they face growing dangers and a killer that has targeted them.
I really enjoyed this book, even as I debate going forward without Breene as a coauthor. Her influence in the writing here is clear.
I recommend reading this book as part of the mini-trilogy. Read them in the order they are written.
Shadowspell Academy (6 book series)
The Culling Trials #1 through 3
Year of the Chameleon #4 through 6 written by Shannon Mayer
You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.
Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught.
As if the gauntlet-type physical and mental tests aren’t enough, people are going missing.
People that are my friends.
In a dangerous world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. They think we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions.
They clearly think we’re idiots. I got this far by trusting my instincts, and I’m not going to back down now.
Shift Happens takes S. E. Babin’s fantastic Shifter Lords urban fantasy series into its second section with Moira taking the lead as the main character for the last (I think) group of stories.
And honestly, Moira’s journey looks to be dark, emotionally devastating and absolutely heartbreaking in many of its major elements. Things only hinted about in Evie’s storyline are peeled back, starting here.
Dark, horrifying, damaging abuse done to Moira as a child by her mother. Mental, emotional and overwhelmingly physical trauma that made her who she is today. Then there’s the recent magical extras that being god touched has given her and the devastating events that occurred during Evie’s finale.
Moira’s development has been linked with Evie’s journey to Evie becoming the Queen of Fae. It’s folded in her complex relationship with Evan, one of the Lords that now plays a key role in her life.
Moira’s called on by the Lords, including Evan, to investigate a mysterious case of dark magic happening on the territory that is now being run by Soren, an ex of Moira’s .
Shift Happens is a dark and fabulous tale. It reveals much about the past of the main characters and sets in motion some terrifying storylines for the books going forward.
I didn’t think anything would be able to top Evie’s finale but Moira’s arc might just do it.
Amazing narrative storytelling and fabulous character development. Highly recommended.
Moira is a new power player in a world of hungry paranormals, but she’d rather be curled up with a blanket, ignoring the world.
Unfortunately, the Shifter Lords have other plans for her.
Moira still works at her best friend’s flower shop but also serves part-time as a magical consultant for both the fae and the Lords. Her cases run the gamut from investigating petty crimes all the way to working in close proximity to the Lords as they track down rogue shifters.
But when she’s asked to take a case working with Soren, an infuriating Lord she has history with, Moira refuses, only to find out the case they’re investigating involves someone from her past. Reluctantly, she accepts the gig, only to start sabotaging Soren around every corner.
She holds no loyalty to anyone these days, and certainly not to someone who’d stab her in the back with the least provocation. But when the case proves more difficult than she anticipated, and she and Soren get in way over their heads, they must find a way to work together or die.
When it turns out Soren is hiding a very unique talent—one that ensures they could survive what’s coming after them—Moira must learn to trust her enemy and hope he’s not still mad about that teeny tiny time she stabbed him in the back…
A slow-burn paranormal romance, with sharp banter, and high-stakes supernatural intrigue.
I have reviewed books 1-4 and then said, I am just going to binge it the easiest way possible. That’s a collection of books, and luckily with such an extensive series of novels that Michael Anderle put out 3 collections but he also wrote a 4-book series that is a necessity for Collection 2 as their events are of utmost significance to each other.
That’s the series that focuses on vampire Michael and his adventures on earth as he attempts to make his way to Bethany Anne. Those four books happen within the same time line as the second Collection.
That author is a busy writer as this goes from 2014 to 2024, maybe even past that.
Here it’s centered around Bethany Anne, her journey to becoming the Queen Bitch, the organization she establishes and the battle to escape to space.
The novels are all quick reads, flowing naturally one into the next with all the high stakes and adventure energy of the early Buck Rogers movies. Or maybe the Adam West Batman tv series.
There’s werewolves, vampires, secret societies, government agencies, crazy space ships and AI beings along with genetically modified humans doing battle with magic and robots and aliens. Bloodshed, deaths, sometimes by the thousands, but it’s removed from any real emotion or connection with those events as we don’t know or haven’t built up any foundation for a real cause to be engaged with anything happening here. It’s all very one dimensional. All actions sequence scenarios. Which is fine because that’s what you are expecting.
All framed out by an action packed, fast paced adventure narrative that’s just short of a “KAPOW” and a “BAM” and an Emperor Ming.
Highly entertaining, and I find myself blowing through them like narrative Bon bons.
Space exploration that’s fun, not taking too seriously but highly enjoyable.
Her time is running out. His reign is coming to an end.
The UnknownWorld is on the cusp of gaining a new Queen, one who sees humanity in shades of gray. But will this world accept her? With her special-ops team and a legacy of secrets, Bethany Anne must untangle the web Michael leaves behind.
As she steps into her new role, the question isn’t just whether she will survive but whether the UnknownWorld will splinter under her reign or unite in unforeseen harmony?
Dive into The Kurtherian Saga with the first 11 books of the bestselling urban fantasy-meets-scifi series!
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Die young or live forever. What’s your choice?
Bethany Anne Reynolds isn’t your typical government cold case investigator. Known for her fiery temper and creative cursing that would make even the battle-hardened blush, her pursuit of justice is borderline obsessive…
And now, with her own life ticking away due to the same rare blood disorder that claimed her mother, her fight for the defenseless becomes even more urgent.
Her last hope? A world-weary vampire. Michael, bound by his legendary inflexible honor, has ruled the UnknownWorld with an iron fist for over a millennium. Exhausted and on the brink, he finds in Bethany Anne a fire that could reignite the supernatural world—or destroy it.
As Michael prepares to pass his mantle, he wonders: in choosing Bethany Anne, is he saving his world or thrusting it into deeper chaos?
The UnknownWorld is on the cusp of gaining a new Queen, one who sees humanity in shades of gray. But will this world accept her? With her special-ops team and a legacy of secrets, Bethany Anne must untangle the web Michael leaves behind.
As she steps into her new role, the question isn’t just whether she will survive but whether the UnknownWorld will splinter under her reign or unite in unforeseen harmony?
Unleash the power of choice and change humanity’s destiny.
Included in this boxed set:
Death Becomes Her
Queen Bitch
Love Lost
Bite This
Never Forsaken
Under My Heel
Kneel Or Die
We Will Build
It’s Hell To Choose
Release The Dogs of War
Sued For Peace
Unleash the power of choice and change humanity’s destiny. Click ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Read for Free’ to join Bethany Anne’s epic journey!
NOTE: This boxed set contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading these books.
This was a book I saw advertised on FB, maybe that was a clue. I have had some good finds that way but by 55% of the story, I’ll admit I was struggling to continue reading. Each chapter, especially from the middle on when I saw Jax’s character development stays basically where it was at the beginning, I’m wavering between a DnF and keep page flipping.
It comes down to the main character, Jax, a magical woman whose powers are channeled through her emotions, primarily from her pain.
Rated Magus 10, a scale from her first Council kidnapping, she’s been crafted by Lawrence as an unappealing mess of a paranormal being. A private investigator of paranormal cases, once hired, by her methods, she doesn’t actually investigate anything. Instead she accepts intense, highly charged case after case, then without actually sitting down and thinking about each one of them and prioritizing the work, she just runs off.
No research into her cases or investigative work that would make her credible. Instead plunging into dangerous situations, often turning things worse instead of better. The people who have hired her end up worse off in every instance. She ends up constantly being caught, beaten up, losing objects or breaking things she was supposed to find. And is always surprised when things go sideways. Or that people she trusted are not trustworthy. Every single scenario is full of TSTL moments where, at least me, starts flipping pages even faster.
“I don’t understand,” I said again”
That’s a constant refrain from Jax. And I’m on Chapter 37. I’m thinking I don’t understand why I’m still reading this book.
Honestly I kept thinking surely she has some plausible plan in mind, nope. Or backup. Again no. She’s the mindless equivalent of the ball in a pin-ball machine, endlessly ricocheting around the table. As it is, I’m sympathizing with Jax’s client’s when they look at the unmitigated disaster she’s made of their lives and cases, threatening her when the damage she’s left by not paying attention or getting things done or even making the right decisions, have left death in her wake. And theirs.
Are we supposed to be on her side? Really? I have run into several authors who craft their characters in this manner and it always leaves me astonished. Give me a well written competent, ingenious , intelligent person, no matter what gender, who is capable of researching and investigating their cases, with or without any magical abilities. And I’m happy. In other words, a well thought out, multi dimensional, intelligent person.
And giving them a ghostly companion (who they often berate for cleaning their apartment, oh no, and a magical albino ferret, neither of which has any background history or foundation to them), doesn’t enhance her character. It’s empty layering for her the most part.
There’s some interesting aspects to this story. Outside of how she wields her powers, there’s also the facts that the world’s magical and non-magical realms are divided into floors accessible by a elevator, humanity is one floor, otherworldly beings and creatures and their realms are on others. I guess the world is flat? Idk It’s a neat idea , although not exactly new, that needs further exploration here. And all the magic is done with Latin words. And wands. “Illumino”.
Btw, going back, at Chapter 26, Jax has just now remembered she’s got two prior important cases to be solved, one of which is for her best friend about the death of that friend’s neighbor who just happened to Look Oh no. SMH
So , I’m not going further here. I just can’t with characters like this. I have zero tolerance for them and their stories.
If you do, here’s a series for you.
Blood Magic: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (Complete 6-Book Series) (6 book series):
Meet Jacqueline Denna Knight, the best wizard detective in the city.
Jax turns vampires to ash and pain into magic. She also has a knack for finding things. So when a distraught—and obscenely wealthy—elf calls Jax at midnight to hire her for an intriguing job, she grabs the opportunity with both hands…
But what Jax doesn’t know is that this case is going to unravel her life. She’ll get tangled up with a host of intriguing characters, most of whom are not who they appear to be.
As Jax speeds down a path toward the most powerful vampire clan in the country, she’ll have to put everything on the line.
Will she be able to use her unique brand of magic to save the Realm?
This complete Blood Magic series contains the following books:
Under My Heel sees a turn of the series and characters towards a different direction. It heralds the end game of the mission that is more current political government based and sees Bethany Anne switch her team’s vision towards a new world view.
But first, let’s target David, Michael’s dark son who’s focused on domestic domination, while simultaneously getting the new global agenda ready to go.
Under My Heel delivers up some great twists and surprises. I really love her inner Guard. And Stephen, of course, I would love to see Stephen develop more fully into her new dominant adviser.
Michael needs more narrative presence and depth than he’s given to be able to be a credible presence. He’s not that yet. And the role the author seems to have planned for him isn’t viable in the current circumstances. He needs more definition of character than he currently has.
Beware that there are character deaths here and within the series.
Highly recommended. Hey I just went ahead and bought all the box sets so there you go.
David is only adding to the conflagration by setting a trap, one our team will trip to save those people still alive.
There is one thing every enemy of Bethany Anne finds out: they will be ground under her heels.
Now, something is heating up between Bethany Anne and Michael, and it isn’t her anger over him leaving her behind.
Well, much.
Further, the Patriarch is learning there might be someone worth sticking around for in his future.
If she would just stop being so hard-headed.
David believes he is smarter than the rest. Now, he must fight both the Patriarch and the Queen Bitch.
Are his days numbered?
Go up and click Read for Free or ‘Buy Now’ and continue The Kurtherian Gambit.
“I love a good story especially if it can make me laugh, cry, cheer, and a host of other emotions. So far in this series I have hit them all.”
Read the series one Amazon Reviewer says: “I have absolutely DEVOURED this series in a period of 36 hrs, and am considering knocking on the author’s door to ask him to hurry up with the rest of the series.
NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading this book.
Terrific story with one of the best elements being the mission to reach and rescue Michael, the Patriarch, who’s been missing since the beginning of the series.
Michael’s status and how he, a formerly strict, rigid ruler, is going to factor into a very changed world and future is just one of the great narrative challenges here.
Bethany Anne’s role and character is developing in tandem with her team’s, as she grows her mission and expands their bases and branches from military to scientific research and space innovation.
Sometimes, I’ll admit it’s hard to keep track of every new character beyond the initial Queen’s Guard, her found family and father. Then it begins to blur.
Except for the villains of course.
But the military hardware, the helicopters, the planes and all the other equipment/weapons are well defined and marvelously deployed here. Things go boom often.
Many, many battles, lots of fighting and tons of bloodshed and bodies. Heads and body parts do go flying.
So, for me, it’s sort of funny to see a note from the author talking about the all the “cursing” here in the dialogue. IMO, if it’s the naughty words and not the constant bloodshed and death (however well deserved) that a reader takes issue with, maybe some sort of reflection might be needed. Just saying.
Anyway, I thought this story has some really terrific writing, great elements ( especially Michael in a box) and all the things factored into that thread. Plus do I love Ashur? Yes I do. Paul is another great favorite character.
Heading quickly to more of this series. A real winner.
Life is beyond dangerous when you are caught up in the ongoing war between Bethany Anne’s group and the Forsaken.
** AMAZON Top 100 Best Selling Author **
Both vampires and humans have been targeted, but if there is one thing those who work with Bethany Anne learn, it is that you are NEVER FORSAKEN.
This time, Bethany Anne is after Anton, who has something, or someone, Bethany Anne wants back.
Can she find out where he is and break in to save the Patriarch if he is still alive?
Or is it a trap? Will Anton, with his centuries of experience, have the final laugh at both of their expenses?
This time, Bethany Anne is up against one of Michael’s direct children, who is one of the most powerful vampires in existence.
Don’t miss the reunion.
Go up and click Read for Free or Buy Now and continue The Kurtherian Gambit.
Never Forsaken, The Kurtherian Gambit 05 follows the story after Bite This. If you haven’t read the preceding books YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO. These are a series and many of the characters have been introduced in preceding volumes.
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NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading this book.
It’s time to take to the seas, start building a navy, a multi-paranormal species army and gamble on a AI that might be able to help you when the scientists working on it get it done.
But first there’s Anton to deal with, his evil zombies and plans for vampire domination. Plus the missing Michael.
The author’s twists on how vampires and werewolves were created using alien nanotechnology is a fascinating element that’s going to be explored further as the series continues and we learn more about the origins of the spacecraft and its history.
They need to grab a ship, figure out who is trying to dig into her businesses, get their hands around the potential for creating an A.I. and the ongoing mess with Anton and South America.
One of these days, she will get a break. Fortunately for us, it wasn’t today.
Got an attitude? That’s nice. Just don’t show it around Bethany Anne. When she slaps a face off, the whole head goes with it.
Bite This, The Kurtherian Gambit 04 follows the story after Love Lost. If you haven’t read the preceding books YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO. These are a series and many of the characters have been introduced in preceding volumes.
Amazon Reviewer MistyDawn says: “I’m surprised. I thought when I read the first book in this series, that it couldn’t get better…. I was wrong. I read almost continuously, and for the past year and a half, I haven’t read a series (or even one) book that I’ve loved as much. With such loyal characters, friendship, and badassery… just don’t wait to start reading these. So just, just wow.”
**Please note, as mentioned in another review, there is flagrantly foul language in this novel. The main character does not have a problem with cussing, just uninspired cussing.
This book begins with a deep emotional loss for Bethany Anne. It’s not one that will register with the reader until a couple of books later with the same narrative impact when we meet his widow.
But this murder sets in motion a series of events that has Bethany Anne further developing her team, enlarging her plans for revenge and preparing for the next phase of her journey.
It’s multiple stages, storylines and points of view and it all works.
When one of Bethany Anne’s loved one gets caught in the crossfire between her and the Forsaken, she goes rabid in rage.
** AMAZON Top 100 Best Selling Author **
She doesn’t believe in seeking peace and harmony, but rather revenge and mayhem.
Continuing the story of Bethany Anne and TQB team, Love Lost picks up after Queen Bitch. She works to complete both her business and military team leads and we meet Stephen’s daughter Gabrielle as plans are made to exact revenge South of the Border.
You don’t touch one of Bethany Anne’s loved ones and get away with it, no matter how far away you live.
**Please note, as mentioned in another review, there is flagrantly foul language in this novel. The main character does not have a problem with cussing, just uninspired cussing.
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NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading this book.
I’m pretty much done with certain tropes because I feel they’ve been overdone by authors recently in many genres. It’s the academy or trial settings or trials taking place in academia settings, throw in a romance, shifters , vampires and magic and you can probably find or name over 50 books that fit that category alone, maybe more if you consider series.
But I adore Breene and while I am waiting for her next book (Magical Midlife series) to be released, I thought I’d give this one a try.
The setup is compelling. A farm family that’s worn down by its losses of their mother and older brother, a broken father barely making it, with debts piling up and plenty of mouths to feed.
We meet the oldest daughter, Wild, who’s really running the farm as her father is physically in a bad state and her siblings are much younger. Her mother is dead as is her oldest brother, Tommy, who left for an academy but was killed in a mysterious accident there.
Now that same academy is demanding that her younger brother attend and Wild is equally determined that they not lose any more children to a school they don’t know about.
Of course, it’s never that simple. There’s plenty of secrets and things that have been hidden from her.
I absolutely adore the character of Wild, a brave and intelligent young woman, determined to save her family from another loss.
The found family aspect of the academic life and group that’s formed isn’t anything new but still very interesting and entertaining.
It’s the first book. She’s hiding her gender and lack of knowledge in a group of misfits. And the authors don’t seem to draw this out very far with a cliffhanger ending.
It’s got a terrific main character, predictable elements and an entertaining plot.
Recommended for those who love the authors and this type of storytelling. It’s a good read.
You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.
I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already…
Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.
In an invitation.
My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive.If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed.
It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died.
The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 