My score is a little odd, but here's why...

I loved this book. I love the characters so much and the author is AMAZING at writing the sex scenes. So many other novels I've read with multiple sex scenes get repetitive, and/or make me feel awkward with their word choices. This is a me problem, but that doesn't even matter because it's so well done I didn't have to feel that way.

The author is really good at writing fights too. Quite often when there is a battle in a book, I will tune out the battle and just get the jist until the outcome. The actual steps and punches are rarely important so it's not a particularly big deal my doing so. In some novels where the author was particularly bad at writing a fight scene, (not that the writing was bad, just that someone as I, who is more of a pacifist got bored of the over explained movements) I even found myself full on skipping to the outcome. Trials of Blackbriar Academy featured fights where I most often held onto every hit and flourish. I did not find myself getting bored and only really found myself zoning out when very tired. This is a huge plus in my book! Literally!


The reason I gave the story itself only 4 stars was because of the grammar in many parts, and some of the writing in general. Overall, the story is very good and extremely easy to get lost in. The writing is no Hemingway, but it is simplistic in the most positive way. It's easy to follow and even easier to get immersed in. The only things that pull the reader/listener from the world are that along with the second and last issue I had with this story: the world is not well explained.

I felt as though we had a very surface level explanation of the world within which this story has been set. I assume this is our current Earth, but with magic, but I am left to assume because it isn't really explained and we the consumer must take cues from the fact that they mention current North American cities. I do have to add that as a Canadian, the addition of Milo being Canadian really pleasantly surprised me! That said, I was disappointed in not knowing if the wizard world was hidden from humans in this book. We know some aspects of the world aren't common knowledge, but only really a couple of things; nothing else is explained. I also felt that the castle wasn't particularly well mapped either.

These two things that I do consider problems, are not a big enough deal for me to pull down the over all rating, but if considering the story on its own merits, I do feel they warrant ine fewer star. I did love this book and I want others to as well so I hope those who aren't likely to read my review and just judge it on the overall star rating will not be impacted at all by my negative criticism. I do mean for it as constructive criticism however as I am also an author and understand how valuable it can be.

At the end of the day, this is a good read/listen and if you like magic, hot guys, and badass women you'll love it.

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1 person found this helpful

loved the story

I can not wait to see what happens next.
Ren is a powerful role and I am excited to see where this power takes her.

soren is the obvious fav but I think I like Gideon and jessi more.

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It was good

I enjoyed the book. it was good, not great but good. It is like Harry Potter from Hermione's point of view if she had a harem.

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Strong female lead, magic, mystery plus plus plus

I read the comments about it being like Harry Potter however that reader missed out on a great read. You can appreciate that fact this is done by a female, her focus is primarily on different things when it comes to description of situations. I look forward to the next book.

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Sexy College Harry Potter

At times the amount of things that mirrored Harry Potter were eye roll inducing, but the story is fun, original and steamy, will for sure be checking out the next book!

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1 person found this helpful

I liked it

This book was action packed I always love a jaded heroine, but the romance was a bit two fast I found with her background she trusted these men way to fast. Overall it was a good start and I am looking forward to seeing where it takes us next.

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Does not quite match the expectation

The story has potential, I think, but falls short of even being engaging. Overly focused on rather monotonous reiterations of exaggerated sexual tension. After a while difficult to listen to

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Harry Potter for adults

Amazing story, great characters and intrigue with interesting twists. I'll be looking for the rest of the series.

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Quite Juvenile

..but not horrible. Since I got this book for free with my subscription, it wasn't a total waste, I guess. Yes, the setting is eyerollingly unoriginal (a clear rip-off of 'Harry Potter') but - despite being pretty insulting to the reader's intelligence - is executed passably. The plot (involving an ominously powerful potential "Dark Mage" recruited to an exclusive legendary Magic School) is sufficiently interesting, the dialogue is occasionally puerile but realistic, and the descriptions are good enough to warrant attention.
Be aware, however: despite showcasing a stereotypically misunderstood angsty teenager with a "heart-of-gold" (this is a YA story, after all), the constant horniness, unreservedly endorsed promiscuity, baffling preoccupation with explicitly fantasized sex ("I wanted to fuck the Professor right there on his desk".."I was so wet between my thighs"..etc.), and actually pornographic action renders this book a questionable choice if you plan to listen with kids around.

The subpar narration & production values definitely reduce my overall rating, too: Podium Audio is frankly quite lazy (Olivia Ash's natural sibilance is left unaltered & spliced segments are glaringly noticeable) and Ash (while reading with professional diction, timbre, and tone) often slips into an annoying cadence with intermittent sharp intakes of breath.

If you can get this 4/10 star recording as part of the 'Plus' initiative, you're not crazy to spend the time on it. Should they ask for a Credit, however, I have to advise that you use it elsewhere.

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2 people found this helpful

Did not enjoy

This story was not enjoyable. The narrator's reading seemed robotic, but It was due to the material more so than lack of ability.

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