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Fate Hollow Academy #1

Fate Hollow Academy: Term 1

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Welcome to Fate Hollow Academy, where supernaturals blessed by the Fates cultivate their manifested powers and master ancient magic.

Fate Hollow is the academy of the elite, where supernatural beings with special magic train for war against humans.

A big-hearted, naïve arctic fox shifter like me couldn’t have prepared for the treachery lurking within the walls of the academy. Students were going missing or turning up dead on campus and rumors circulated about humans infiltrating academy grounds.

Seeds of fear bloomed within the student body. To make matters worse, the mate that rejected me was hellbent on painting a bright red target on my back with the help of his new girlfriend.

Against all odds, I found refuge with seven irresistible monsters, each one more different from the last.

Would the bond of my mates be enough to manifest my hidden power? Without it, I was vulnerable. And with a dragon cult attempting to wage war on humans, I had no choice but to fight.

501 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2022

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About the author

Lyra Winters

24 books403 followers
Lyra Winters is a twenty-something Kentucky woman who adores the book world. When she's not typing away on her laptop or daydreaming book ideas, Lyra is occupying her time taking care of her two spunky daughters and dreamy husband. She's addicted to Coca-Cola, 2000's rap music, and bubble baths. Her dream is to write love stories that touch the reader's hearts.
Visit her website at https://www.lyrawinters.com/

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5 stars
3,369 (44%)
4 stars
2,324 (30%)
3 stars
1,359 (17%)
2 stars
421 (5%)
1 star
155 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 603 reviews
Profile Image for Heather.
44 reviews3 followers
February 11, 2022
The story had so much potential. There was a unique world build that was excited for but it just fell to the background.
It was really fast paced for how little (but also how much) happened.
This book also had ALL the tropes and I mean ALL
- MC was unaware of her beauty
- MC has traumatic childhood
- MC best friend is in love with her
- Rejected fated mate
- MC super naive and unaware of real world
- MC is “super special and destined for great things”
- we’ve got magical plot powers… legit one of the characters randomly gets new powers that suddenly saves the day.

- EVERY MALE WANTS TO FUCK HER!!
Like every male, multiple times we see the potential mates coming across other students talking about either how hot she is and how much they want to sleep with her OR! How badly they want to violate her because of how sweet and innocent is…
Other than the mates we never see a male treat her with respect.
- We are pretty much immediately introduced to all her mates yet she constantly says “I won’t have any”

Like I said the base story has so much potential but it’s not written or edited well enough to really hold its own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
120 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2022
Disappointed

I was loving the book until the book seem to be all ABOUT Damien and Wren. I felt bad that her other guys Thorn being her best friend just in the background and every time she got to be with one of her guys Damien would drop in and snatch her away. Wren of course kept getting lost in herself with Damien that she was fully avoiding her other guys. On top of that the way he treated Trixie was still disappointing because there was no apology to her just Wren. She also gets super intimate with him only. I feel like the book should be about just her and Damien. The book doesn't feel like a RH more like favoritism and it's a put off. Just got bored with being those two instead of the other guys getting equal share. Thorn was the closest and he gets nothing just a peck here and they've been close since kids. So yeah disappointed how the story played out.
Profile Image for Paula.
435 reviews85 followers
January 21, 2022
This is exactly what I needed. All fluff and romance, no drama & possessive supernatural heroes. It had a M. Sinclair vibe to it that I loved.

This is my first 5 stars in a long time. I can't wait to read the next one.

Profile Image for Georgia Bradlaw.
45 reviews5 followers
July 11, 2022
(I would say mild spoilers but there was little plot to spoil)

How the hell this book has such great ratings is a great mystery. I picked up and put this book down so many times thinking that since it had good reviews, if I keep forcing myself I might start enjoying it. Nope. I officially admit defeat.

There are more issues then I could touch upon, so I’ll give you the highlights. Firstly, by 30% into the book we’ve only reached day one at the Academy. 60% in was around day 5. Yet the characters interact like they’ve known each other months. I’m talking the female roommate declaring BFFs within the first 5 minutes of knowing each other. Now I can look past a lot of insta love/insta lust in the name of ‘true mates’ but the vibe just came off as creepy and rushed. I didn’t feel a true connection with any of the characters.

And don’t even get me started on the background context that every other male in thud world lowkey wanted to rape the FMC - and conveniently talked about it near her potential mates? A lot? And kept being ‘dealt with’. Just bizarre and added very little to the plot. I get the FMC is a super special snowflake, but every man in the academy? Really?

The world building in itself was lacklustre as well. We get told repeatedly that there are hierarchies in the supernatural world, but it is never expanded upon. We never get a clear picture of what supernatural would be considered higher than another. The academy itself is supposed to be for the unique special snowflakes of the world to be invited. Yet we see incompetent professors and multiple (kinda rapey) students being called stupid / incompetent etc you get the picture. Nothing really keeps the idea it is a privilege to be at this academy except the first few chapters.

There was a lot of potential in this story and with better planning (especially with more passage of time) it would have been a great read. With time this author could be great.

DNF - 63%

Profile Image for Angela By The Bookcase.
346 reviews276 followers
March 29, 2022
Overall: 2.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 1/5
Worldbuilding: 2/5
Entertainment/Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall this book was okay and the story has potential. I really liked the concept of the world and the story was quick paced, and some of the characters were interesting. But it felt underdeveloped and the relationships between Wren and her love interests fell flat and seemed shallow. Relationships make or break romance books for me and this story left me wanting.

Wren is the last arctic fox shifter, an outcast in her village of arctic wolves because of her breed and because wolves only have one destined mate and look down on foxes because they take several. After finding her first mate is the son of the Alphas for the Arctic Wolves, they reject each other because of his inability to accept she’d be fated to have other mates.

After getting a chance to go to a selective academy that trains adult supernaturals (all >20 years old) she quickly finds herself developing relationships with 7 additional men that she believes could be her mates. I’ll give a quick rundown of who they are (they’re easy to spot in the story because she meets them pretty quickly after getting to the school and are the only ones she has any positive interactions with on page).

Thorn - an ice Fae and her childhood friend
Damien - a shadow demon that follows her everywhere
Lachlan - a werewolf that is highly protective
Kian - a shy necromancer who respects life
Alister - a vampire who teaches a few of her classes
Rhett - an incubus and the school counselor
Rowan - a fire drake and the headmaster of the school

Wren has very little identity outside her love interests. There’s 7 of them so that’s a LOT for an RH series to manage, and it wasn’t managed well here. Most of the relationships felt forced because their interactions were sporadic and brief so they didn’t develop naturally through the book. Despite having no power, she has a kind heart, but being nice becomes her defining and sole personality trait. The relationships lean heavily on the guys being in awe of her because she’s so nice and that’s foreign to them. Which can be fine in addition to other things but that’s really the only thing connecting for all of them and it’s just not enough to make their romance feel substantial or compelling. We get bits and pieces of the male leads personalities too but again, it wasn’t balanced well against everything else and left a lot to be desired.

There is a plot in here somewhere with conflict between the fire and ice Fae realms, a threat of war between the humans and supernaturals, and academy students going missing and turning up dead but with the story already struggling to juggle all the relationships in a way that felt balanced it was a blip on the radar of the story.

If at least one of these things (character growth, relationship development, or plot) had been better developed it would have greatly improved the story overall.
Profile Image for Miki’s⚠️Safety Reviews⚠️.
326 reviews313 followers
March 18, 2024
⭐️Brief Summary:
4.5 Stars! Super Entertaining and LMAO while having lots of ♥️ Heart!

-Wren a Arctic Fox Shifter and the last of her kind has been living with a Arctic Wolf Shifters pack since she was 5 and her parents were killed. She is made an outcast because the Alpha from the pack is a dick.
Because of this she’s very secluded and innocent at 22yr old with only her aunt and a Thorn a Ice Fae that visits her.

-On the very last day that supernaturals can be marked and called to Fate Hollow to her surprise she gets mark. Considering that she has no special powers she shocked.

-Only the strongest get taken to Fates Hollow it’s considered a great honor and it’s a place that they prepare and train supernaturals to fight against humans.

-Fox shifter have multiple mates and at 22yr old she still hasn’t felt a bond with anyone. On the same day she gets marked she gets her first bond mate to her packs Alphas son Greyson (a total douche) they both reject each other.

And this is where Wren adventure begins.

-This is a coming of age story with lots of different supernaturals, hot protective men, and a girl who blossoming while she meaning friends and falling for her mates.

-There’s a few different thing going on in the Story. Theres a mystery going on cause murders are happening. There’s a war on the horizon with the Dragons and the humans.


🌟 Overall Opinion:
This was surprisingly funny I had more than a few LMAO moments. There’s also a lot of depth and personality to each character. The world building is good and the storyline is also really good.

-As we all know with first books in a series a lot of building is being done so character are being fleashed out. Storyline is still a bit mysterious although towards the end more is revealed. We get to know Wren and her men and some of their pasts and their traumas that make the who they are. The harem dynamic is starting to form and we can see what each person brings to the group and it was all so enjoyable to read.

-The Harem 💕 is great! Being a large harem I was concerned they wouldn’t have depth but EACH man is totally different and unique to the group they are also really well fleshed out💕.
-We are introduced to the harem and there’s a special connection between them and Wren but her mate bonds haven’t activated yet so each person is left hoping they will be her mate but not sure at the same time. I will say we get a few matebonds that nap into place before the end🥳. Love not waiting forever.

-😡I definitely did NOT like that Thorn has been in love with Wren since he was 6yrs old and visited her regularly knowing she was a virgin but he didn’t save himself for her. That made me mad! That’s feels like a betrayal to me . And how much he loves her degrades those feelings down a few notches knowing he did that.

-Of course with any harem we all have our favorites mine is definitely Damien♥️, Rowan💕 and Thorn💙 but honestly I liked them ALL.
♥️Damien is my absolute fav though I love everything about him.

-This story and the characters sucked me in and I loved that they are all adults. Wren is kinda a damsel in distress and that’s not usually my jam but with all her powerful
Men that protect her it didn’t bother me. Also she is NOT a doormat so I loved that to.

-No MM which I really 🙏🏻 appreciated. It’s not for me and it’s getting hard to find RH without it.
-NO OW and I LOVE this cause I’m academy reads that’s rare ♥️💕💜

📖 Pages: 484

Hero: RH

🧚🏻‍♂️Thorn-23 yrs old - Fae and the I w Kingdom Prince
Power/ can read thoughts and had Fae powers
His nickname for her- Kit

😈Damian- 26 yrs old -Shadow Demon Power/ feeds off of pain had shadow powers
Nickname for her - Little bird

☠️Kian- Necromancer
Power/ See visions of past, present and future.
Nickname for her - none yet

🧛🏻Alister- Vampire and professor.
Power/ Blood affinity 🩸
Nickname for her- Sweet Ruby

😍Rhett- Incubus and Academy Counseler
Power/ Sexual Kind
Nickname for her - none yet

🐉Rowan- Headmaster and a Firedrake Dragon
Power/ Fire? Not totally clear yet
Nickname for her - Fledgling

🐺Lachlan- Werewolf
Power-Earth Affinity
Nickname for her- not yet

🦸‍♀️ Heroine:
Wren- 22yrs old a Arctic Fox Shifter and almost extinct
Powers/ not revealed yet

Rejected Mate Turned Enemy
Grayson- Wolf Shifter from her pack- rejected mates and enemies. He’s NOT part of her Harem! they rejected each other.
Her cause he was cruel and a Ho.
Him cause fox shifters have multiple mates and he didn’t want to share an mate. And cause he’s a complete ASS!


💭 POV:
Multiple First person which is amazing especially in this story I love getting to know the guys through their POV. Plus we get lots of other goings on that Wren doesn’t know yet.

🔥 Burn Rate:
Slow but we do get sexy times in in book sexy times before sex starts about 65%.

😡/😍 Emotion Level:
Medium…
You get lots of feels but it kinda light to.

❤️‍🔥 Sexy Times:
Oh yes!!
But full sexy times is starts around 80%
We get some mate bonds completed as well 🥳

💥 Descriptive sex:
Moderately descriptive with quicker shorter scenes but we do get a good amount that’s flows with the story.

🌓 Push/Pull:
Not really only Rhett really held off more than the rest

☠️ OW/OM Drama:
Nope!

🤮 OW/OM Sex/Fluids exchange/DNA:
Nope!

🤬 Cheating:
Nope!

👰🏼‍♀️ Virgin:
Virgin h
Kian is a V
None of the rest are and I was pissed that Thorn wasn’t a V.

😑 Separation:
No

Safety⚠️Triggers🗡️:
Some Violence/ mild torture not graphic
Discrimination
Blood 🩸 consumption
No MM
No OW

💕 Epilogue:
No but not really a cliffy either

❤️ HEA:
Not yet

🤔 Closing Summery:
I really enjoyed this and honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect with mixed reviews. But it was super enjoyable and I loved the harem. I loved that it was relationship focused but there stroryline was still VERY much moving forward as well. I can’t wait to get to book 2 💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mabel.
197 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2023
Like a sundae made all of your favorite flavors of ice cream, covered in the thickest possible layer of the world’s most processed cheese, this book has no interest in coherence. It only aims to please as many readers possible in as short a time it can. This is the finest example of a book written trope-first, with only some sparing thoughts for plot coming later.

I could go on about the sheer absurdity of this entire book, but I won’t, because others have done a much better job of it than I ever could, and also because despite it all, I kind of liked it. It’s by no means a good book, but the sheer insincerity of it all – the fact the author clearly did not give a shit about the story or the rules of the world it is set in, she just wanted to hit as many reader kinks as she could – makes it almost charming. I was never meant to care about the plot, I was never meant to think too deeply about the setting. I was meant to find to my favorite trope and see it hammed up by x100. This is empty calories in written form.

And that is fine. I have read similar messes that annoyed me more because it was clear the author did care and believed their shit work was worth anyone else’s time. Not Fate Hollow Academy, though! This is the book you read when you want to turn your brain off and read something that will not challenge you in any way. Like a greasy meal while hungover, or eating a family-sized bag of cookies by yourself after a long day. This is brain popcorn.

Needless to say, I won’t be getting the rest of the audiobooks. I can’t justify that expense for something I don’t truly care about. However, I may get the ebooks because like I said, I didn’t hate it. It was an easy listen that was more amusing than anything else, and I could even see myself recommending it to someone in the right circumstances.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
3,592 reviews2,289 followers
June 10, 2023
This was an interesting story but for me lacked in romance. I think there were a few too many mates and it had a lot of characters that were supposed to be important to the heroine pushed into the background. I actually felt bad for Thorn who knew Wren for years, was her best friend and potential mate, and then we'd go chapters without seeing or hearing about him. It just made all of the men other than Damian feel very unimportant.
Profile Image for Rachel.
232 reviews21 followers
January 7, 2024
High Fantasy Academy Reverse Harem

This book takes place in a world called Kalispe (I'm probably spelling that wrong) where humans and the supernatural exist and there is a large collection of supes, vampires, shifters, witches/mages, demons, fae, and everything in between. Our FMC is a rare almost extinct Artic Fox Shifter who grew up around wolf shifters who ostracized her for being different. She's 22 and an herbalist and doesn't think she'll ever come into her powers or find her mate/s.

Well turns out she finds one Mate right in the village (village idiot #1) This spoiler talks about things that happen in the first couple of chapters...


She ends up with a large number of mates but I had no issues remembering them all or being able to tell them apart, it worked for this story.
The potential Mates...


Things That Bothered Me...

The FMC is the typical manga harem type or whatever you call it when everyone falls head over heels for the sweet girl, and men just throw themselves in her path. Everyone either loves and wants to protect her, or they hate and are jealous of her (never a happy medium). This type of FMC never used to bother me but with this book, it was too unrealistic for me to enjoy. Halfway through her potential mates start un-aliving people by the dozens because they're talking or thinking about raping her 🤯😱 WTF!? Nobody is that alluring!? She's not an incubus or siren who's calling men to her, she's just a sweet little unresistible fox shifter unknowingly turning men into abusers. This kind of character is so unbelievable it's not even fathomable in fiction novels.

I like to call my next complaint 'misunderstanding simple measurements'.
The FMC is a small cute fox shifter and naturally, all her men are taller than her. I understand this much and have no problem with it. My issue started here...
'He dropped to his knees in front of me, and his head was still an inch taller than mine.'
She's standing and he's on his knees and he's still a foot taller than you!? My brain cannot compute this, either she's the size of a toddler or he's as tall as a regulation basketball hoop, I can't imagine a middle ground here.
My issue continues when she says his dick is the size of her forearm (hold up your forearm, ball your fist, and try to picture that for me).
She says "It will split me two" because YES honey it would, and he says "It'll fit, we're mates we were made for each other" 🙄 NO! Nope Not going to happen, he'll probably get 8-10 inches of that pant monster in before he hits a wall. So in made-up measurements that equals just the tip of his third leg.

description


I can't decide if I want to continue this series or not. It's highly entertaining with a strong plot and interesting characters that might be entertaining enough for me to overlook my previously mentioned grievances. But there are so many potential books to read, so why waste my time on something I don't love?
Profile Image for Autumn (Triquetra Reviews).
401 reviews18 followers
February 4, 2022
Three stars according to Goodreads for "I liked it."

I have a weird love/hate relationship with this book. I loved the world building, the Academy itself seems to have a lot of potential, and I would really like to see more behind the scenes with that, actually. I loved the drama and mystery and the cliff hanger is working - I definitely want to stick around for Term 2.

I understand that it's a reverse harem, and I like the non-possessiveness of the guys in the harem. It's refreshing that while they're possessive "you're mine," it's never to the detriment of Wren's other relationships.

The hate part is that it felt like it all piled on a little too quickly for me, and was just a little too perfect.
I'm not quite sure, but it annoyed me to have everyone describe Wren as absolutely perfect, flawless. She knew just what to say at just the right times, and it felt too unrealistic to me.
Then again, the entire story is fantasy, so maybe I'm being too judgmental. To have her go from near the bottom of the hierarchy to (SPOILER ALERT) just seemed piled on, a little forced, and also strangely weird.

Love/hate for sure!

Profile Image for Morgan LeFay.
18 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2023
DNF 36%

I usually try to be nice but I just can't with this one because it disappointed me so much. This is going to be a pretty harsh review. You've been forewarned.

Listen. Babes. I don't even know where to start.

Did it have world building? Eh sorta. Was the main character interesting? Not one itty bitty bit, but all the men love her instantly and think she's perfect and angelic and intriguing. Based on nothing.

This book flipped back and forth between "cute mindless RH fluff" to "trigger warning needed despite not advancing the nonexistent plot" faster than a freaking pingpong ball. It has left me both confused and irritated because it had so much potential and decided to go for "hit every trope way too hard" instead.

✅Academy romance where they learn nothing
✅Naive girl who's "not like any other girl"
✅Shy blushing but super horny virgin FMC
✅Instalove done badly 6-8 times
✅Rejected mate (she'll probably still end up with unfortunately because she's a mindless piece of cardboard)
✅"Tiny" FMC and they all have to mention how tiny she is all the time in case we forgot
✅All other women are bitches except the token best friend who swears like a sailor because she had to have at least one character quirk
✅Unhinged level of "touch her and die" trope (to the point that it's like...not at all cute)
✅Large male harem that all basically blend together except for their descriptions and that one unhinged demon that was tolerable
✅Lots of crying males because the main character is I guess their therapist off the bat? Idk

It was bad. I'm sorry. I normally love love love RH and I'm usually not so mean about reviews, but this one was painful. I spent the whole time internally screaming at the characters. The plot was...well, not there. And I didn't find the steamy bits all that romantic, just more fluff without any personality.

Anyway. It wasn't the worst thing I ever read, but I should have DNFed even earlier. Just saying.
493 reviews9 followers
December 31, 2021
Lyra has created the absolutely bewitching world of Kalista. A land divided by territories and race, supernatural and human alike. Each one wanting to be the most powerful on the hierarchy but during these dark times, deceit, manipulation and experimentation make power moves in the shadows.

Wren is an undeniably pure, innocent soul who has been outcast and shamed by those in the village she grew up in. Upon receiving entrance to the prestigious Fate Hollow academy her life is about to change in ways she never imagined possible. Intrigue, friendships, obsession, mates and possible death await her.

Rowen, Damien, Alister, Rhett, Thornton, Kian and Lachlan are utterly divine, devastatingly handsome, broken, powerful and obsessive men you could ever expect to meet. They all have an instant connection with Wren, some without even meeting her. They will fight anyone and anything for her and pray to be one of her fated mates.

Fate Hollow is filled with wonder, magic, supernatural of all kinds who are placed on a level playing field for the first time in their lives. They will be trained in their powers but they will also be trained for war however not everyone is there to just learn. There is darkness running free in Kalista and no one is safe.

The world building is incredibly detailed and you are transported to a new dimension. There are twists and sub plots galore that will keep you glued to the next word. There are obsessive alpha males who will unalive anyone who threatens their girl and there are those with the sweetest heart who a desperate for only a chance to be in her world.

This is the first book in an exciting, new addictive series and i can't wait for term 2.
Profile Image for beth m.
802 reviews
September 16, 2022
eyeroll worthy

There is a lot of potential but this book was constructed so poorly. The characters lack depth and everything happens so quickly. It feels like every person who comes into contact with the FMC is infatuated/love with her. There’s no build up. You only get two days into her stay at the academy and she’s developed deep feelings for a bunch of guys.

It becomes monotonous when everyone thinks she’s cute, kind, gentle, sweet, ect. These characteristics come up so often and are remarked upon so often it gets old. I have to agree with the reviewers, some of the attention she pays to others and are not equally dispersed, gets old. This is an RH and the favoritism gets old. The idea of this book is nice but the follow through and the writing style needs work. It needs a lot of work and the help of a better editing team. The repetitious phrases make this book not enjoyable.

I get that there’s a lot of books out there with similar tropes but I couldn’t help feeling like some of the characters bore a striking resemblance to other characters I’ve read about, Damien having some very similar characteristics to a den of vipers character same mannerisms and words. The whole “fae ball” similar to ruthless boys of the zodiac. I didn’t feel immersed in this new and magical world. In a way the FMC and reader are on the same page: both clueless to all the new things and experiences and quite honestly I have no clue about this new world as it hasn’t felt like an immersive experience.

I couldn’t help but feel annoyed with Damien her demon mate. He kept popping in out of nowhere when she was finally having some get to know you time with all her other potential guys. It was just so annoying. There’s hot stalker and there’s annoying stalker which brings my next issue: there’s inconsistencies at the academy: bullies are not tolerated and not harming others is part of the creed, it’s touted as a safe place for species to intermingle yet the students who are team FMC are killing anyone who slights her with no recourse. The headmaster is concerned about student disappearances yet Thorn has contracted over 8 people to go and die in his homeland these students have up and left with only a note. Damien has straight up maimed people. And it’s all ok. So what’s the point? As I said, this book needs work.

The timeline of how quick it takes to progress from interested to in love in a 6 hour span is so eye roll worthy, within two days she’s got 5 potentials super interested in her.

Dear author,
If you’re going to write RH and have more than 4 mates you need to give equal representation to all mates, the men are all blurring together and there’s no equality.
Profile Image for Allie.
25 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2022
I had to fight myself to finish this book. it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good. it was definitely only the slow side. the way the book is set up is slightly confusing. how did wren know grayson and rowan were her mates immediately but not with the others? i have so many questions but i don’t want to read book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katherine.
190 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2022
There are so many things happening and it’s like the author doesn’t trust us to follow subtext so everything is spelled out. Just not my thing.

Given the overall rating, I’m obviously alone here, but alas, I usually am when I don’t like a book.
Profile Image for Cat Hoffpauir.
1,566 reviews155 followers
February 22, 2023
4.6 stars.
I’m trying to temper my excitement because I know I’m usually too invested in the first books of series and then I tend to lose interest. So I’m really hoping that’s not the case with this one because I really love these characters so far.

Wren is such a sweetheart.
I love how the guys are so protective of her.
I also love how they tease her.

I’m just really enjoying things so far and I’m hoping that feeling sticks for the rest of the series.
May 8, 2023
This contains so many spoilers. So sorry not sorry for my stream of consciousness!

TLDR: This book just has hella f*ing holes that frustrated me. The ending was also kinda shit and not a strong enough cliff hanger to encourage you to read the next book. Wouldn’t recommend and I don’t think I’ll read the second one.



bruh… it started out pretty interesting and then it started going to shit. Lots of stuff happens in like a single week and then we just skip a whole month and none of the relationships progressed in that month???? And then in two days lots happens and then another month passes and nothing changes??? These time jumps are f*ing annoying.

Now as for the characters, the friendship with Trixie, the only other character who isn’t a mate, sucks and lacks ALOT of like depth and culmination to get to the weird point they’re at. It doesn’t seem that they know each other at all but they’re also bffs? It just doesn’t sit well and feels kinda forced for the plot.

Damien was wicked and cool but then turned into like a weird excited protective puppy? Like he was supposed to be our resident bad boy and just seems whiny now and I hate that. He also seems to have an ungodly amount of power and why doesn’t he just hunt the bad guys from the shadows? It feels reasonable based on how much of his power we’ve seen yet this doesn’t occur??? He could be the easy solution to this weird looming threat and he just doesn’t?

Also how has it been MONTHS and Kian’s relationship hasn’t progressed at all??? I thought they’d lose their v cards together and that’d be sweet and romantic except now he’s just gonna feel further behind and less worthy and to bridge that feels like it’ll be less genuine than it could’ve been. Idk. Started good and got not so good.

So like I get the teacher student trope, but it doesn’t feel taboo in this world so it kinda loses its appeal a bit. And like shouldn’t there be some kind of rules in place so students don’t get taken advantage of like that bitchy vamp teacher is trying to do to the other professors? It just seems like she could easily force a student and face no consequences? Just feels lawless and while I get fantasy worlds will have different morals and laws, but there’s gotta be at least some right???

And how many students go to this school??? The guys keep making contracts and killing off the people who are mean or potentially dangerous to her but like if they off 8 people a week and the classes only seem to have like 25 students how is the school not more concerned? I thought thorn making the students write letters was gonna be a plot point in regards to the students being killed and leaving in strange manners but it’s a secret other threat that is also killing off students? So how many students do they have exactly????

ALSO if this is a war training school why tf do we never have a fight training or weapons training class???? Why aren’t they taught to use guns which are clearly in world as the humans use them? Like war is declared and no one seems to have had a fight class?? Also when war is declared people just continue to sit at their desks until class is dismissed? Like that’s wayyyy too casual. Not one student runs out bc they’re scared???


WHY IS SHE EVERYBODY’S THERAPIST!?!?!?!? This woman is ignored by everyone in her village and basically uneducated and should therefore have questionable social skills but she’s like the most well adjusted person and helps people through their traumas??? Like wtf people aren’t just magically good at being a therapist. WOMAN ARE NOT REHAB CENTERS FOR BROKE MEN!!!!!!!!!! Why aren’t any of these guys well adjusted? Not all characters have to be broken. On top of that she has terrible self esteem and confidence but isn’t nervous or uncomfortable to have suddenly like 7 dudes all up on her and in her business? Her personality just doesn’t mesh for me. Uggggghhhh idk it just makes me mad the more I think about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Daphnne.
1,168 reviews7 followers
January 13, 2022
What a great start to a new series!

Wren has been isolated all of her life with the exception of Thorn. This makes her a bit naive and very innocent but she's also kind and open minded after being treated a certain way all her life. She really blossoms when she starts making friends and meeting other guys. The guys are all a little broken, with hurt pasts and some are a little crazy but OMG! They are sweet and protective of Wren and so, so hot when she interacts with them. Honestly I liked all of the characters and am curious to see how all of the mates will pan out. Also, the mystery of what's going on is intriguing - war is coming but from several fronts - why and what role will Wren and her guys play? All in all a good read and I highly recommend.
580 reviews3 followers
February 3, 2023
KU read. DNF @ 35%

Now I don't usually review books that I don't finish on Kindle Unlimited - mostly because I just download stuff which sounds bonkers or is not my usual type of book, so I get a lot of misses.

But this one really annoyed me. At the time of reading, this had a 4.5 stars on amazon and 3,188 ratings

Am I reading the same book? Insipid FL and and an inconsistent world which makes NO SENSE. Plus scary stalker MLs

It's a shame, because buried in this train wreck are lots of tropes that I love, and I think, a bit of an interesting plot

Profile Image for Christina Rybka.
1,045 reviews13 followers
January 7, 2022
Wren is a snow fox shifter and her parents were killed so she lives with her mother wolf shifter family and the only person who talks to her is Alice. She has a secret friend Thorn who is a ice fae. Her mate the alpha’s son rejects her because Snow foxes have more then one mate, and she rejects him back and on that day she gets her mark. The alpha banned her from the pack so she leaves and her and Thorn who also has a mark goes to Fate Hollow Academy. She starts to make friends and connections but there is a danger lurking in the academy. Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing Book. This is book one I can’t wait to read book two.
Profile Image for Book Addict.
150 reviews11 followers
January 14, 2022
4 “little bird” stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked this one. The story was really cute and the RH aspect was great. All the guys had distinct personalities for the most part. Is there a lot of plot? No but there is a lot of romance and the sexy scenes were good too.

I like Alister and Damien the most so far. I’m excited for the next book I think it will have more plot.

I read a lot of books like this but this one still felt a little unique and different.
Profile Image for Ines.
871 reviews20 followers
January 9, 2022
Wren doesn't have a lot in life to look forward to besides the stolen moments with her fae friend Thorn. Living in a village where she is barely tolerated as the only arctic fox shifter is a lonely existence, but the day she loses a mate, is also the day she can follow Thorn to Fate Hollow Academy. A new place comes with new friends, new possible mate bonds, but also new challenges and dangers. With war looming on the horizon; will Wren find the power to keep herselves and the ones she loves safe?

This is the first book in a new multiple POV series, set in an original world. First of all, I have to mention how much I love Damien. I love possessive, slightly unhinged characters who are willing to kill for the ones they love and Damien absolutely fits the bill. And his looks: icing on the cake! This series has plenty of different tropes: rejected mates, friends-to-lovers, teacher-student, mixed species, fated mates, age gap, ... and I loved them all. All characters still have a bit of mystery left to them and I'm looking forward to discovering more in the next books!
Profile Image for Alisha Williams.
Author 61 books920 followers
January 28, 2022
more please !

I was needing some PNR in my life and this book was just perfect for it! I loveeeee Wrens mate! They are all so different but the one thing they have in common is how much they care for their mate.

I do have to say our crazy sexy Shadow Demon is my favorite.

Can't wait until book two! Just bought the paperback.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
153 reviews
August 27, 2022
DNF @36%
I don't understand how everyone thought Wren was perfect as soon as they met her. And how everyone besides her potential mates wanted to violate her. She had a perfect answer for everything and it almost felt like she was lecturing sometimes. She was too naive for me and way too trusting of people she just met.
Profile Image for Cee.
2,685 reviews133 followers
October 22, 2023
Is this great? No.
Highly entertaining? Yes.

Wren is super sweet, but totally fine with having mates who don't need an excuse to kill. Damien is completely unhinged and I am HERE for it. Her guys are mostly different, but there are 7 of them (so far?) which is pretty much my limit of remembering who everyone is. The author does a decent job making them different and giving them time with Wren.
But they are supposed to be at school and not much school-wise actually happens? And at the school for training, but no training takes place?

I had a hard time caring about the lack of plot and school stuff, because the vibes were on point for me. She's sweet and cute just livin' her best life while in the background people are dying or being forced into Fae contracts by her mates because they talked badly about her. Actually... just how many students are left after all the death Damien caused????? Anyhow, it was exactly the kind of book I was looking for.

So, the end of the book hints at conflict and plot coming, so maybe this book was more to set the scene and get the characters ready for the next step. Honestly, don't really care because I'm going to be reading the next book for more Damien being an unrepentant stalker while Wren picks herbs calmly knowing and liking he's somewhere nearby.
235 reviews4 followers
August 24, 2023
I enjoyed this story up until her first fated bond at the academy snapped into place but it required a LOT of suspension of disbelief.

Awesome
1) Damien; he was consistently creepy, unabashed himself and vastly entertaining; hands down the best character I have read in a while

Good
1) The maps at the front
2) Thorn and his deals were quite entertaining
3) The romance-driven storylines between the lead female and the fae, shadow demon and necromancer were engaging and charming
4) Dragon culture was refreshingly unique for the species
5) Necromancer culture was stunningly terrifying

Mixed
1) This is not a stand alone story; it is more of an introductory installment of a serial
2) The lead female was likeable and enjoyable but not realistic or relatable*
3) Out of the lead males, the fae, shadow demon and necromancer were well-fleshed out, enjoyable characters but the witch, werewolf and incubus were hollow placeholders, and the wolf shifters, dragon and two vampires were complete cliches.

Bad
1) Male leads fail to deal effectively and efficiently with the biggest personal threat to the lead female despite the best strategy being stated outright by one of the characters
2) Mature and experienced male leads continually fail to think thru anomalies to their obvious conclusion
3) Towards the end,
4) The five foot nothing, petite, VIRGIN lead female was de-virginized by a cock that is the size of her forearm and half as wide as her pelvis. (I can only assume she has a pocket dimension in her vagina.)
5) Her counsellor trying to get in her pants; so much wrong here I can't even
6) One of her current professors also trying to get in her pants (really? you can't wait until the term is over and there is no more conflict of interest? you're a hundred and twenty years old, get it under control!)
7) The amount of rapey guys was off the charts (I can only assume her unmanifested power is invoking sexual obsession in the opposite sex, which also explains the male leads immediate and fervent fixation on her)
8) The infantalizing nicknames for the lead female

*My rambling thoughts on the ridiculous lead female and why I like her anyways:


I can't recommend it because the ultimate alpha showing up smashed so much of what was good but I am going to go onto the second just to enjoy some more of Damien's antics.
Profile Image for Cassidy Sheridan.
124 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2022
ARC Review!
This book was AMAZING!
Reverse harem(7 guys, 1 girl!)
Wren is such a strong character! I love that she always stands up for herself. She was dealt the short end of the stick, she lost her parents and was an outcast in her pack because she is the only Arctic Fox.
She finds one of her mates Greyson and he rejects her so she rejects him right back. As an Arctic fox she takes more than one mate!
She gets into the Academy with her friend Thorn!
We meet so many different characters and there’s so many different kinds of species!!
She meets a few different men who all treat her great, and she feels so many different feelings that are foreign. But she likes how they make her feel. There’s an instant connection between her and the guys and the need to protect her is goals!
Damien- the sexy demon who is extremely protective of her!
Thorn- he’s been in love with her since they were kids and he the way he protects her.
Allistar- the sexy vampire teacher!! The bite scene was very hot.
Rowan- the firedrake headmaster and her mate! He loves her instantly.
Rhett- the sexy Sex demon who makes her horny for the first time.
Kian- the necromancer that’s shy and super sweet!
Lachlan- the werewolf who’s protective of her.
The bond she has with her men is phenomenal and I can’t wait for book 2!!

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