Also by this author: Academy Obscura: The Culling Year, The Culling Year - Winter Term (Academy Obscura, #2), Ignite: A Prequel Novella (Academy Obscura, #0)Can I really let nineteen people be sacrificed?
Spring term at Academy Obscura is unbelievable. In addition to regular classes, there are the Trials. Each student has to face three specially designed Trials. And boy, does the Trial Master know how to expose my weaknesses. Who knows where everyone will stand with the Culling by the end of term.
Which brings me back to my question: Can I let them be sacrificed? There's no good answer to that. If I let the Culling happen, I won't be able to live with myself. If I try to stop it, I could start a war and get tons more people killed. But, I'll need to make a decision soon.
Note: This is a steamy reverse harem romance. It also includes adult language, violence and possible triggering situations.
I received this book for free from Author Gifted in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Update: This author changed their pen name recently. The cover on the review reflects their previous pen name. Their new name is Cassia Briar. Book titles may also be slightly different.
I have been reading this series since the very beginning. Before the first book published I had spoken to the author about being a beta reader for them. So I may have advance knowledge of what happens. Okay not really since I am reading a long with the rest of you.
The series starts with the main character realizing that she is paranormal. It was a huge surprise because she was a foster child living on the East coast just doing what Seniors do. Partying, waiting for graduation, and looking forward to college. For Caprice finding out that she has a grandmother who lives in Oregon is a surprise. Finding out all the secrets her grandmother has is an even bigger one. Read the first book’s review here.
The second book is a bit more in-depth into just what Caprice is getting into. By that I mean more intense relationships with her three partners. Oh, yeah, she has three significant others. They are also all teachers. In this book she has to realize that not everyone will back her, and in fact some people who say they will, will not when push comes to shove. Read that book’s review here.
So now this is the third book. It picks up during the spring term of Caprice’s first full year at the Academy of Obscura. For those playing A.O. Bingo. She has three significant others. A teacher who hates her. A good friend who is a teacher and a witch who is the sister of one of her Significant others. Oh and she has hung out with the King of the bad guys. Okay hung out may be a bit stretching. She has been in a room alone with the bad guy. There, that is better.
This whole book is about the trials, well for Caprice it is primarily about the trials and how to survive them. The trials for those who are just catching up with this wonderful series is a set of three tests that students must face and succeed at. If they don’t, they can be culled. Oh yeah culling, the act of which the school makes those who aren’t academically superiors a gift for the bad cannibals. With me so far?
So while Caprice is trying to figure out why Montrell is so mean to her, she is also trying to figure out how to keep all three of her boyfriends happy.
I like this series, and I like where I think the author is going with it. To be honest through I did not see the third book going where it is, so who knows if I am right about the whole thing. And then those vampires, seriously? Why do they have to bring such shame onto their name and their species? I personally love some vampires in media, these vampires not so much.
There were a couple of things that I had issues with, but I don’t know if they will be in the final copy as I read an advanced copy. So I won’t mention them. They weren’t things that ruined the book, just small things that made the reader question wrongly. By reader I mean me.
Overall I liked this story, and I think that the world is starting to take on a better focus. By that I mean that in the first and second book you are really only grounded to the academy, so you know what Caprice knows. In this book you are starting to get a picture of what the paranormal community as a whole functions.
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About Cassia Briar
I write paranormal romance. Right now I'm focusing on the Academy Obscura series. The last book is being written right now!
My next project is trilogy set in the Academy Obscura world, but not at school. It's inspired by themes from Beauty and the Beast. And it will be a reverse harem!
If you've read my books, feel free to add them to a list on here in the Listopia section. Doing so helps other readers find them. Thank you, you're awesome!
She has five cats, a hunky hubby, and lives in the woods near Portland, Oregon.
