My Review
As someone who's always been drawn to stories about identity and belonging (perhaps because I never quite felt I belonged in my small town), this one immediately caught my attention with its premise about waking up in a different body. How absolutely fascinating!
The story follows our protagonist Sena through an academy setting, which I normally find rather cliché, but this one actually kept me thoroughly engaged. There's something quite captivating about the way the author handles the shadow abilities concept – it's refreshingly unique in a genre that can sometimes feel oversaturated with the same old magic systems.
I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between Sena and the four male characters (though "dickheads" might be a bit crude for my taste – I prefer to call them complicated gentlemen). Each has their own distinct personality and shadow abilities, which creates such interesting interactions. The training sequences and war games had me perched on the edge of my reading chair – I actually spilled my chamomile tea twice during particularly intense scenes!
While I appreciated the slow-burn romantic elements, I must admit I was hoping for a bit more development in those relationships. The author seems to be laying groundwork for future books, which is fine, but I'm rather impatient by nature! Also, while the "mean girl" character serves her purpose, I do wish there had been more nuance to her role.
What truly sets this book apart is its exploration of identity and self-discovery. Without giving anything away, the way the author handles revelations about abilities and personal history is quite masterful. I found myself gasping out loud several times – much to my cat's annoyance!
I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars – it would have been a full 5 if there had been a bit more depth to some of the secondary characters. That said, I absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys magical academies with a fresh twist, complex character dynamics, and mysteries that keep you guessing until the end. I've already pre-ordered the sequel and marked my calendar for November!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go reorganize my bookshelf to make room for the series – again!
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Book Description
Death was supposed to be my end. Instead, it was just the beginning.
I woke up in someone else’s body, inside the Shadow Academy, a school for elite warriors. Now they think I’m someone I'm not, and until I escape, I’ll have to play along.
But things get complicated when strange powers awaken inside me, along with forgotten memories.
Then there are the four elite Shadows who hate me for some reason, but also think I’m their mate:
Knox, the lethal assassin who hears my every thought and whispers back in a voice like sin.
Malakai, the Shadow shifter who sees through my eyes—and likes what he finds.
Theon, whose shadows alone cause pain, pretends to be cold, but one hint of my fear sends him feral.
And Cyrus, the nightmare Shadow who slithers into my dreams just to play.
Between brutal classes, war camps, and deadly games against a rival academy, I’m also hunting the truth. Because this body isn’t the only thing that’s stolen.
My death was no accident. And if they think I’ll play by their rules, they’re dead wrong.
Answers or ashes. Maybe I’ll just end up burning this place down.
Rumer Hale is a paranormal and fantasy romance author that loves writing about worlds filled with magic and strong heroines and their love interests. Love will always be at the heart of her stories but adventure is a big part too. So each story will give you a different experience.
She lives in Ireland with her daughter and family. She’s both a morning and nighttime person so her favourite time to write is either early mornings or late at night when everyone is asleep.
When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she’s getting lost in a good book or binging a series or movies.
You can connect with her on TikTok and Instagram @rumerhaleauthor.
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