Series: Ravencrest Academy

BOOK REVIEW: Fate Sealed (Ravencrest Academy #4) by Theresa Kay

BOOK REVIEW: Fate Sealed (Ravencrest Academy #4) by Theresa KayFate Sealed (Ravencrest Academy #4)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Playing games can have deadly consequences.

After exposing a secret lab and illegal experiments, I assumed the culprits would be held accountable. Unfortunately, I underestimated how deep the corruption within OSA runs. Instead of punishing the actual criminals, OSA expels me.

But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.

As I dig deeper into the Dumont family’s past, I find a surprising connection to the present. The fae have been manipulating events far longer than anyone suspects, and the Wild Hunt is closing in on any witch who dares to use fae magic—including me.

Dragged into the fae realm, I’m forced to compete in their games where every choice could mean my death. Worse, the fae hold no love for witches, not even those with royal blood. They would rather watch us all die than see one of us emerge victorious.

With the odds stacked against me, there’s only one way to save the boy whose fate is entwined with mine and the other witches brought here against their will.

I have to win.

Fate Sealed is the final book in the Ravencrest Academy series, an exciting YA supernatural academy series with a slow burn rivals-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Bloodline Academy, Paranormal Academy, and Demigods Academy.

Review:

Fate Sealed was my favorite book in the Ravencrest Academy Series!  And that’s saying a lot, because I loved the enemies to lovers vibe in the first book, Magic BoundThis story brimmed with action, friendship and love!  And the latter half had a grittiness to it that had me desperately needing to know what happened next!  If you’re looking for a young adult romance, academy series, or a series that makes you want to not stop reading, then definitely give this one a try!

Here, in this moment, there is nothing but the two of us and I let myself get lost in his touch, the rest of the world fading away.

What started out as an enemies to lovers romance, has four books later turned into a beautiful, heartfelt relationship.  I loved how much Tristan and Selene came to rely on one other.  I loved that they had each other’s backs.  And that they were able to overcome unfathomable obstacles by working together!  Selene and Tristan were definitely a formable pair, and they were so easy to fall in love with!

It seems the more people I draw into my orbit, the more people get hurt.

There were so many happy moments within these pages!  With Selene and her father, you’ll love watching him make the story come alive of how he met her mom.  My heart absolutely soared.  Having all of our friends’ back that we love so much?!  It made this story so much fun!  Her grandparents, Adrian, and so many more shined brightly in this story.  They were unique and added so much heart!

But whatever impressions I had before don’t matter. The stakes have become crystal clear and there’s no room for error.

This story also had so much political intrigue within the human, witch, shifter and fae worlds!  OSA made my blood boil by turning a blind eye to criminals.  The Wild Hunt left me terrified of the fae at every turn.  The blanks, shifters and witches, there are so many things for you to discover about them in this story.  So when you put it all together, it wove a fascinating tale that made this book impossible to put down!

A sense of utter hopelessness takes over as the reality of my situation comes into even sharper focus. I slide down the wall as my legs give out and I end up sitting on the floor, the cold stone sending a chill through my body. My chin drops to my chest and I pull my knees up, curling in on myself as I finally allow the tears to fall.

It felt like at times as though we couldn’t catch our breath.  From being chased, to the games, I kept hoping everyone would be okay.  If you have read Theresa’s other series, you’ll know that not everyone is safe and makes it to that final page.  So when the game started, I was so nervous.  They were intense and put Selene and Tristan in horrific situations.  So with the stakes even higher, and twists and turns that were phenomenal, this story owned me!  And by that final page I even shed a couple of tears ♥.

We’re both sweaty and more than a little dirty, but I don’t care. And neither does he. He takes hold of my face and slams his lips down on mine, a mix of passion and fear and relief turning the kiss into something almost desperate.

This book wrapped up Tristan and Selene’s story so wonderfully!  We got all of the answers we’ve been desperately waiting for!  Yet there was a thread or two left, which leaves the possibility for a spinoff series.  And I am so excited about that!  So yes, I can’t recommend this series enough.  It’s one that will stay in my heart for a long time to come!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Ward Locked (Ravencrest Academy #3) by Theresa Kay

BOOK REVIEW: Ward Locked (Ravencrest Academy #3) by Theresa KayWard Locked (Ravencrest Academy #3)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

New classes. New director. And lots of new rules.

After spending my three-week Winter Break under magical house arrest, I’m looking forward to returning to school. But when I get there, everything has changed.

OSA has tightened its hold on every academy and Ravencrest’s new director takes the restrictions a step further, leaving me without my two closest friends. Worse, the boy who left me behind is back on campus with an even bigger surprise in tow…one that involves a ring.

And all that is the least of my worries.

Shifters and witches are disappearing and someone is working in the shadows, twisting magic to their whims in unnatural ways. With my own magic still out of control, my biggest issue will be figuring out who to trust. Making the wrong choice could be the last thing I ever do.

Ward Locked is the third book in the Ravencrest Academy series, an exciting YA supernatural academy series with a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Paranormal Academy, Legacy Academy, and Darkblood Academy.

Review:

Ward Locked was filled with mysteries, friendship, love, political intrigue, and fabulous twists and turns.  With fae, witches, wolves and vampires, oh my, this book was so much fun!  This story made me fall that much harder for the Ravencrest Academy series! 

If someone had told me six months ago that I’d be sitting in the backseat of a fancy car with a driver as I returned to my super exclusive private school, I’d have laughed.

Coming back to school, there were so many changes.  Those we loved from the previous books weren’t there.  Students, teachers, staff….they were just gone.  It caused so much unrest, and heartache for Selene.  Yet it wasn’t a simple black and white answer for why some of those were gone.  OSA didn’t even remember them.  And if that wasn’t enough, Tristan was back at school with a fiancé.  Who was even in some of Selene’s classes.  There were so many obstacles in Selene’s life and world, and I loved watching her try her best to persevere!

Every bit of common sense I have is screaming that this is asking for trouble, that I’m going to end up hurt, that—
And then he kisses me, and all thoughts leave my head.

I was so happy with how many answers we got within these pages!  Multiple about Selene!  And watching her come into her own power was beyond phenomenal!  But so much was going on around her.  Not only with the disappearance of people, but what you’ll learn about the Hunt.  There were also moments that made me see red, like the self-defense with Callahan.  And a character whose name I don’t want to mention for spoilers, but every moment with them made me want to punch them in the throat.  So while there was still some good surrounding her, there was so much that needed to be fixed.

My gaze clashes with his, and there are all sorts of things I can read in his golden-brown eyes. Lust. Love. Pain. Hope.
I can’t encourage any of those emotions, but it’s that last one I really can’t afford to give in to. To do so would only hurt myself.
“We can’t do this,” I pant out. “You’re engaged.”
“You know that’s not real.”
“It’s real enough,” I snap.

Like Tristan.  Sigh.  I still love him with all of my heart.  Yet when he apologized to Selene for being engaged, nope I wasn’t hearing it!  I was just as upset as she was.  I wanted him to stand up to his mom and end it.  Yet as the picture was painted for us, things were even more dire than I could have fathomed.  I had no clue how it was going to be fixed!  Yet I kept the hope alive.  And that’s all I’m saying about that ♥.

“Wait fifteen minutes and then head for Marie’s office. I will create a distraction.”
“A distraction? What is that supposed to mean?”
His expression goes cold. “Marie is looking for fae. I shall give her one.”

This story had so many twists and turns in the latter half.  As someone who loves being able to guess what will happen next, there was so much that left me grappling.  I had absolutely no clue how certain things were going to unfold.  So hold on, because it was a very bumpy ride and I loved every minute of it!  

BOOK REVIEW: Spell Linked (Ravencrest Academy #2) by Theresa Kay

BOOK REVIEW: Spell Linked (Ravencrest Academy #2) by Theresa KaySpell Linked (Ravencrest Academy #2)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

School sucks, even for the supernaturally gifted.

The fallout from last quarter is worse than I could have ever imagined and hostilities between shifters and witches are intensifying by the day. OSA has practically taken over campus in their search for Bitten witches—and any traitors who didn’t report them. Including... me.

But that's not the only secret I have to hide.

My powers are growing, while my control over them is not. Unfortunately, there's no one I can turn to for help. My roommate's already suffered the consequences of being drawn into my problems, and after a magical mishap ends with another friend being blasted across the room, I refuse to endanger anyone else. Still, I'm a little tempted to give some magical payback to the arrogant witch-boy who kisses me one minute and gives me the cold shoulder the next.

All of this aside, I still have to find a way to pass all my classes. With the end of semester tournament closing in, there’s no time for mistakes. In this volatile equation, one little slip-up could be deadly.

Spell Linked is the second book in the Ravencrest Academy series, an exciting new YA paranormal academy series with a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Supernatural Academy, Bloodline Academy, and Oberon Academy.

Review:

Spell Linked was a fabulous continuation of the Ravencrest Academy series!  And if it’s been a while since you read that first one, no worries, the beginning gave us a great summary of the previous book.  It was quick, caught me up to speed, and fit in so effortlessly.  If you love academy and young adult books, then you need this series in your life!  

When he says things like that it makes me want things I shouldn’t.
Like him.

I loved Selene’s voice so much!  She was so easy to like and click with.  So I wanted to clap out loud and cheer for her when she finally found something at school she was good at.  Sigils!  It was such a huge win and I was so happy for her!  Even if it did leave me with more questions.  She was still growing and had so much to figure out….not only with her school work, but her powers, and who was trustworthy too.  So yes she did have some mistakes along the way.  But I loved that she learned from them.  And tried her best to do better the next time!

“….No matter what they say or do tonight, they can’t affect you. This isn’t your life unless you choose it.”

Tristan is still the king of hot and cold.  Yet after what happened at the end of book one, I understood why.  He didn’t know what to think.  His whole world got turned upside down and he was stuck in a horrific position.  I’d be jaded and wary if I was him too!  Yet Tristan was still protective of Selene.  He was the sigh-worthy person we fell in love with in that first book.  And the dress?!  Sigh.  As we continued to learn more about him, my heart continued to break but I found myself falling harder.  And I was counting the minutes until Tristan and Selene were together!

Blood doesn’t make a family, people do.

Friendship was still such a strong theme.  I adored Selene and Adrian’s friendship.  Their platonic relationship was done beautifully.  And Basil, oh his matchmaker ways had me laughing out loud!  He just wanted what was best for Selene and he is my favorite type of grandpa character!  I also loved her friendship with Isobel.  And of course the romance between Tristan and Selene, will they or won’t they.  That got answered in this book!

His eyes are closed, his hands at his sides, every bit of him under careful control. Control I want him to lose.

Spell Linked was laced with a mysterious element that had me guessing from that first page to the last.  And just know that while we got answers in this book, there are still so many to come in books 3 & 4!  I can’t recommend this series enough!

BOOK REVIEW: Magic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1) by Theresa Kay

BOOK REVIEW: Magic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1) by Theresa KayMagic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Starting a new school is never easy and this time not fitting in could cost lives.

Despite being raised by shifters, my life was fairly ordinary . . . until I tried to break up a fight and got zapped with magic.

Then, all hell broke loose.

Power I didn’t know I had came surging out of me, revealing me as a witch and drawing unfavorable attention to my adoptive parents.

Now, as the witches attempt to use my concealment as an excuse to push an anti-shifter agenda, the only way to keep my parents—and myself—safe is to enroll in the elite Ravencrest Academy and prove I can control my newfound abilities.

Unfortunately, raw power doesn’t translate into competency and everything is way more difficult than I imagined.

Even with all the things working against me (like my complete ignorance of magic and witch society), I manage to make a few new friends and there's a spark of something more with the last person I expect.

But I can’t let that distract me from the ugly truth that many who walk the halls of Ravencrest are eager to see me fail. To keep the peace between shifters and witches I must succeed . . . no matter the cost.

Magic Bound is the first book in an exciting new YA paranormal academy series with a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Supernatural Academy, Shadowspell Academy, and Evermore Academy.

Review:

Magic Bound was heartwarming, addictive and completely mesmerized me.  With characters that were easy to relate to and a story line that made this book impossible to put down, I devoured this book so fast!  It was just so much fun.  With enemies to lovers, magic and friendship swirling through the pages, Magic Bound easily landed on my favorites list!

The fragile hold I have on my emotions shatters, and the tears come down full force, followed by a hiccuping sob.
I can’t do this. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.

Selene had been raised by her adoptive parents, who were shifters. She thought she was a blank, a child that had no magic and was from two witches. But a moment at a party went awry, and she discovered she had magic.  To help protect her adoptive family, since shifters should not have raised a child with magic, she was shipped off to Ravencrest Academy.  But life wasn’t easy there for Selene, and what unfolded had me turning the pages faster and faster.

The level of arrogance dripping off this guy is ridiculous. And I’ve dealt with moody alpha level shifters. It makes me want to punch him. Hard.

Selene is definitely one of my favorite heroines.  She was brave, kind, held her own, and acted from her heart. So she was someone I easily looked up to and respected. But oh my gosh did she struggle. She had problems with something as simple as opening a door, with her magic.   And because of how she was raised, and her lack of knowledge, others weren’t kind to her.  She was different.  She was an outsider.  But even though Selene struggled with magic, she was still completely kick ass. She had so much fire in her and I loved that she had a backbone and stood up for herself.  Especially when it came to her interactions with Tristan.

From the very first moment I met Tristan, he irritated me. The fact that he’s a St. James just makes it all the worse.

Ohhh the illustrious Tristan St. James.  I. Loved. Him!  He landed on my favorite book boyfriend list, but it wasn’t an easy path.  You see, Tristan was a total douche bag.  He wasn’t nice to Selene and he hurt her at times.  But I always looked for the tiniest of clues that Tristan was so much more than what he showed the world. And what I saw underneath it all, made me fall for him so hard.  As more of his past came to light, and we saw how he was raised, it all started to click together.

“You are a St. James after all. I don’t know why I ever expected better. You’re just as bad as everything I ever thought about your parents. Maybe worse. Perfect, pretty Tristan who always gets what he wants.”
“I always get what I want?” he asks, the question carried on a huff of incredulity. “If only that were true . . .”

Selene and Tristan had the most addictive slow burn enemies to lovers romance.  Especially since there was a forbidden feel to it, because of who they each were.  So I loved watching their interactions.  They butted heads, each had their preconceived notions and it was rough at times.  But I fell so hard watching them interact.  Moments made me smile and sigh, and others had me wondering how they could even be in the same room together lol.  So hold on because it was a bumpy ride.  On top of Selene and Tristan, there was friendships, family, school and even politics in the pages.

Tristan grabs my arm. “You didn’t have to do that. There’ll be . . . repercussions for you, won’t there? With your pack or whatever.”
“Did you think I was going to stand there and let you get hurt? That’s really not my style.” I tug my arm out of his hold.

The side characters rounded out this story so perfectly.  There was Basil, the eccentric “Grandpa” who helped guide Selene at the academy.  And whose quirks made me smile.  To Isobel, who was Selene’s roommate and was the sweetest girl ever.  To even her cousin Reid, who felt more like a brother and was someone I cared deeply for.  But my favorite side character was Adrian.  He was a fellow student who made me laugh and smile so much.  He seemed to have a lot of secrets, so I can’t wait to learn all about him in this series!

My entire world narrows down to nothing but the feel of his mouth on mine, his breath against my face, his fingers around my waist. And I am lost in it.

So, yup, this book had it all!  And that ending had me beyond excited to see what will happen next.  It was such an easy book to devour and understand their world.  Plus I loved so many of the characters.  So if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, academy books or paranormal stories, then definitely add this one to your list!   I can’t recommend it enough!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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