Semester Aboard

More than Magic #1

by Elizabeth Kirke

College student Jen Maddox is a few days into her summer study abroad program and has loved every moment. She just left Mexico and is back on her cruise ship campus, ready to sail to Panama. Everyone tells her that the experience will change her life, but none of them realize just how right they really are.
One night Jen goes out on deck and encounters five other students. She knows Charlie from one of her classes and he's a funny, friendly, regular guy. Picture-perfect Dani and his gorgeous wife Mariana live right down the hall from Jen. And she has seen TS, who's built like a truck, around the ship and recognizes the cute, but quiet Thomas as well.
Then Jen sees something that isn't humanly possible. Jen would have thought that it was all a dream, if not for the fact that Charlie, Dani, Mariana, TS, and Thomas are making every effort to cover it up. Suddenly, the five of them are everything but normal and Jen is determined to figure out what they're hiding.
When she does, her life really does change. Jen expected to spend her summer studying the cultures of Latin America, she never dreamed she'd learn about a magical culture instead.
But Jen's childhood fantasy come true is about to turn into a nightmare; there's something on the ship. Something dangerous. Suddenly, everyone on board is threatened by a creature that Jen never even believed existed. Jen and her new friends might be the only people who can stop it!
Now Jen has to learn everything she can about her new world before it kills her. And her friends. And maybe everyone on the entire ship.

Readers Favorite 2014 International Book Awards

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Magic, Romance, Urban Fantasy

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2011

About the author

Elizabeth Kirke wanted to be an author before she even knew what an author was. She used to say that she wanted to be an artist, but that was only because she was too young to write and had to tell stories with pictures instead. She hasn't stopped writing since she learned how. It wasn't long before she dreamed of becoming an author and couldn't be happier now that that dream is a reality.

If she isn't writing...well, let's be honest; if she isn't writing she's probably on Facebook thinking that she should start writing. But, if she isn't writing or on Facebook, she's probably doing something involving books, baking, gardening, or yarn. In an ideal world, she'd be reading and knitting while something from the garden is in the oven. Then again, in an ideal world, she'd have a flock of ducks and a couple of goats.

Like most slightly-nosy, avid readers, Elizabeth can't resist trying to catch a peek at books she sees people reading when out in public to see if she can figure out what it is. While doing just that one day, she realized that it would probably be the coolest-thing-ever if she caught a complete stranger reading one of her books. That's her new dream.

Reviews

[Airicka Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: EPIC!



This book was a total Holy Cow smack upside the head. It was beautifully written with realistic characters and insane plot twists. It was a whirlwind of unique personalities brewing into an amazing story line that left me yelling at my screen, demanding more. Elizabeth Kirke is brilliant!



This book had a little something for everyone with every sort of taste. There were vampires, werewolves and even freaking mermaids! It kind of reminded me of this old TV show I really used to love called Breaker High, but WAY cooler. The kids are all supernatural creatures who go to school on a cruise. Okay, why was this option not available when I was going to school?! Seriously. They get to go to all these awesome places so you're not trapped reading about a bunch of kids floating around on a boat the whole time. Everything is explained in perfect detail, but it's not overwhelming. I didn't skim a single part. It was all beautifully paced.



Our Heroine, Jen, adorable. She's the kind of person everyone wants as a friend. She's funny and sweet. And she handled the whole kid getting shoved overboard a whole lot better than I would have. I would have been running around screaming like a lunatic. Then, because that wasn't crazy enough, she finds out she's a witch and there are blood-thirsty vampires out killing students. Then! THEN!! She learns that her blood is like vampire crack and everyone wants a piece of her. *exhale* poor girl does not get a break. Luckily for her, she's got friends like Mariana the mermiad, who is my all time favorite character, btw. LOVED her. And Charlie the Fire Elemental (anyone who knows me, knows my love of Fire so this was no big surprise). There are others and each one is so cleverly written that you feel like you know these people, that you've known them your whole life. I could seriously go on and on about this book, but I won't. In fact, I don't know why you're still reading this when you could be hitting the buy now button and getting your own copy. No review in the world could do this book justice. You have to read it yourself to fully experience the awesomeness.




So go forth... AND READ!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you were stuck out on a floating college for a semester and found out that magic truly does exist? Not only does it exist, but that you too are magic? One night Jen, the main character, isn't feeling well due to sea-sickness and decides to go for some fresh air. There she see's something that will change not only her life, but how she see's things. One of her fellow student's is pushed overboard and no one reacts! Then he reappears and all of his friends act like it never happened. Jen is left with plenty of questions as to why someone, who should never have survived a fall, let alone get up to the highest level of the ship from the water, is acting like it's no big deal. Soon she finds out why and the plot becomes thick with: witches, wizards, elementals, vampires and werewolves, to name a few.

There is a big cast of characters from many different "races" of magic. The cast consists of:
Dani: the water elemental who goes overboard at the beginning of the story
Charlie: fire elemental
Mariana: mermaid
Tethys (TS for short): werewolf
Thomas: that one's a surprise!
Jen soon finds out that her new found friends are part of the MES, Magical Enforcement and Security. Not only are they all magic but apparently Jen is a witch, which is the only reason she knew that there was something different with the others. Soon she is wrapped up in more drama then she bargained for when a rogue, evil vampire boards the ship and starts snacking on the inhabitants. Although all the guys are seasoned MES agents they are not prepared for this. What follows is a fight for their lives.

This is a very well written, well thought out plot. Definitely not a quick read. I can usually finish a book in a day or two, and it took me almost four. The characters are very well written, the descriptions of, not only the magic and characters but also the landscapes and scenery are very descriptive and detailed. Some might think it too wordy but I thought it was enough to bring it up another level than "just any YA book about magic". It makes it more in-depth.

I was not paid for this review, I was gifted an Ecopy of the story to read and that is it. This is my written review and my opinion only, it was in no way swayed. Thank you for reading, I hope you have a great holidays!
A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

[Yvonne (vonnie_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!! A YA style book with characters my own age! :D

I loved this book. It had everything I could ask for. Vampires, werewolves, witches, water elements, fire elements...basically every magical being you could thing of. I loved all the characters. Dani, Charlie, Thomas, and TS were just the funniest and most adorable people ever. I didin't really connenct with Mariana as she was quit shy and didn't talk that much. Jen was a great character also. She was a bit naive of magic at first as she didn't know any of this existed, and it came as quit a shock to her when she finds out.

The story was very interesting. Kirke's writing was easy to follow and it just flowed really well. I loved learning about all the different magical beings and seeing all the different places they got to visit while on the cruise. I loved how the entire story was set on a cruise ship they are taking classes on. I thought it added a fun element to the story. Things really started to get interesting when a vampire starts feeding on humans on the ship and the gang have to find a way to stop him.

There wasn't a lot of romance in the book which kind of disappointed me as I am a huge romantic but I predict something happening in book two. Fingers crossed anyway!

Overall this was a fun and interesting read. There were a few grammatical errors but nothing major. I would recommend this to anyone who loves paranormal or fantasy books and is looking for a fun and exciting read. :)

Teaser:

"Are you just making stuff up?" Dani demanded. He flipped through a couple of pages. "This entire page is wrong too!"
"What?" Thomas yelped. He frowned at the page in confusion. "How is this wrong?" Dani started to smirk and Thomas narrowed his eyes at him. "You're such a dick! Is any of this wrong?"
"Nope."
Thomas glared. "I might kill you."
"Come on, Tommy. You know I only tease you because I have a secret crush on you."
"God help me," Thomas muttered. "And don't call me that."
"He gets to." Dani jabbed his thumb in TS' direction.
Thomas glared. "That's because he isn't referring to the rock opera."
"Can't prove that I am," Dani said.
Thomas sighed and rolled his eyes. "Except I know that you are."
"For a deaf, dumb, and blind kid, you really are observant," Dani said.
Thomas groaned. "Charlie, do something, please."
Charlie held up his hands helplessly. "Don't drag me into this, I'm innocent."

[Annette M Guerriero Nishimoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today's review is on Semester Aboard by Elizabeth Kirke

Semester Aboard is the first installment in Kirke's More than Magic series and brings together vampires, werewolves, witches and a whole slew of other magical creatures.

Jen Maddox is college student who is lucky enough to be able to spend the summer studying aboard a cruise ship traveling through Mexico and South America. Little did she know that she would be thrown into the adventure of her life though. Not only does she find out that there really are things like vampires, witches and werewolves, but there are other magical creatures too. More surprising though is that she herself IS a magical creature. She in fact is a witch. If that's not enough to handle, aboard the ship there is a vampire who is feeding off of the passengers.

With Jen learning how to cast just one spell, it is up to the rest of the MES team aboard the ship to not only protect the people on the ship but her also. Along the way Jen learns a lot about herself and her new friends and somehow finds herself falling in love Thomas and becoming part of TS' pack.

After battling Nathaniel the evil vampire and the rest of his gang; with nearly everyone of Jen's new friends not unscathed, the trip comes to a close and it's time to go back home and wait for the next adventure.

Semester Aboard has all of the elements of a really good book. However, with that being said, it was also a book that seemed to go on and on and on between exciting portions. I know that lately I have been getting down on books that seem to be to short; 68, 87 pages long, but then again some books have to much fluff in between the slices of bread and Semester Aboard is one of them.

There too were quite a bit of grammatical errors and for that alone I have to lower my rating.

I loved the characters and the main story. I just would have liked to have less of the other fluff. I am however looking forward to the next installment. (I just have to see where Jen and Thomas' relationship goes from here.)

3 of 5 stars

[Delphina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had been in my TBR pile for quite a while. I was super lucky and won it in a huge blog contest someone was having. It was quite refreshing to read a YA novel that had elements that would attract older teens, while at the same time had content I would feel comfortable sharing with a much younger teen. I am not sure, with the introduction of the "New Adult" category of books if this would still be considered young adult because the characters are in college, but I feel that the writing and content would definitely appeal to teens.

I'll tell you what I liked about it:

*The friendships/relationships run very deep. It is nice to see how the main characters truly care about each other and work together. They truly are family to one another. None of the main characters are ruled by their own selfishness. The "evil" characters, well that is another story.

*I love the way the story unfolds. The author does not overly share information that our main character, Jen, does not know. Seeing the story unfold before her eyes made it more "magical".

*I adore, love, am excited about, (insert a ton of awesome descriptors here), Dani's relationship. I would say more, but I do not want to add spoilers. Let's just say that it really warmed my heart.

*This book is appropriate for the age group. This novel does not push the envelope with sex and language. While those types of books have their place and audience, it is wonderful to have a book that breaks that mold without having content below the age level.

*The author made sure to expose us to the places the characters went during their semester aboard. It would be easy to have the whole novel take place on the ship, but she allowed the reader to visit many places along the way.

*There were witches, weres, vamps, mers, elementals, you name it. There was something for everyone who loves paranormal type works.

I simply had a great time reading this book. I have heard that a sequel and a prequel are both in the works and I will definitely be picking them up once they becomes available.

[Practical Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a great book. It's not horrible either.

I guess my biggest problem with the story is the amount of time we spend inside the head of a naive, recently-exposed-to-a-new-world young lady who spends gobs of page time reasoning through what any experienced reader figured out long before. A number of times she reasons through something she already reasoned through.

Seems like a big gripe, but the author does a great job of making that a mind worth spending some time in... for the most part. There were a few eye roll moments and also a number of times where grammar mistakes or typos kicked me out of the story, but I kept coming back.

It's a likeable cast of characters... the plot moves along decently... the action scenes were well constructed (only one dragged a little bit for me)... there's a sense of wonder and discovery here that doesn't get conveyed in most books... There is a great story in here somewhere. Some professional editing would have been a big help.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disjointed writing and my lack of empathy with Jen makes this book a difficult read.

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also at my book blog, with more teasers and extras, some other post there will also have teasers for this book and many others.


I REALLY, REALLY, Loved this book. Its like a modern day college age Harry Potter, with out the Hogwarts, lol. I mean, ok, not really, but the part of Jen, Not knowing she was a witch until she meets up with other Magics, that's similar.(that's what they call the supernaturals, were's, water, fire and other kinds of Elemental's, vampires, Mermaid's, and more)

Fans of books like HP and other paranormal will LOVE this book. Its got action and suspense around every corner. You think we hit the climax of the story, to have something else happen. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way. I LOVE how it takes place over a long summer voyage on a cruise ship, which is like a floating school. The whole idea of spending a whole semester aboard a cruise ship is great, and going to all those places is so cool. The detail of the trips are great, I felt like I was really there.

The character building was great. I came to really, truly care for them. I also like how the love interest for Jen takes a long time to develop, really getting to know each other, and there is not love triangle craziness going on, its pure magic excitement.

The characters:
Jen:
She does not know anything of the world of magic, and when she sees something that should not be possible, she learns soon after that she belongs to the magic world too, its shocking and unimaginable.

Dani(Danio):(quote of his description, is a water elemental, a noreid. He is always game for a practical joke and loves to give everyone a hard time, but he holds many secrets, I really love Dani too)

He was really tall, with short hair, and tan, olive skin. His hair had looked black on the bus, but once I saw it in the sun I was pretty sure that he dyed it midnight blue. And he was drop-dead gorgeous with a personality to match. He was incredibly friendly and outgoing. (another part about his blue eyes) His eyes got even lighter, but streaks of dark blues starting churning in. It was fascinating and so strange to watch.

Mariana Is lovely, here is a quote of her description, (she is a mermaid)
I turned to see a girl striding down the hall toward us. I’d seen her around the ship before; she looked like a supermodel. She was tall with thick, wavy blonde hair that looked like it had green streaks in it. She had a figure that women paid thousands for and eyes so blue they probably made mine look gray. I noticed that she had on a t-shirt that said Marlins Swim Team, which explained her green hair. She was probably a great swimmer; she definitely had the body for it.

Charlie(Char):(is a fire elemental, an Imp. He is flaming in more than one way. I loved Charlie, he is a great friend and very protective of those friends)
He had wavy red hair and looked like he'd gotten sunburned in Mexico. I was pretty sure he could pull off the natural redhead look, but I could see streaks where the red dye, which was a bit too bright to be natural, had faded to orange and blonde. It gave his head an almost flaming appearance, which, I had a feeling applied to more than just his hair.
(Another part about his eyes): As he spoke something weird happened. His eyes, which were a very reddish-brown, seemed to change. It must have been the rain or the lights or something, but bright reds and oranges flared in his eyes, almost like flames.

TS(Tethys):(he is an overbearingly big werewolf. Human during the day, a wolf at night when he wants to be. TS is loyal and caring when it comes to his friends.)
He had shaggy, dark brown hair and a fairly large nose. I’d heard a few girls giggling about him, but I didn’t think he was that good looking. (Another Part Here) I could see that his eyes were dark, dark brown and his hair wasn’t just shaggy, but messy (And here is another cute descriptive part) but then laughed. I noticed that the very tip of his tongue poked oddly out of the corner of his mouth when he did.

Thomas: (He and TS are as close as brothers…closer even.He is a brooding, deep character, and it takes longer to know what kind of magic, so will not tell you, its a complicated history with him)
Thomas stepped closer and more into the light, allowing me to finally get a good look at him. He was a few inches taller than me and pretty thin. The rain had plastered his bangs across his forehead and over one eye. It struck me as a sort of emo haircut. He looked fairly pale and I could see circles under his eyes, like he didn't sleep enough. His cheeks were a bit hollow and he looked like he might have been a bit seasick. He was wearing a retro looking band t-shirt and I stifled a groan; he probably was one of those emo kids. (And another Part here) He looked a lot different in the light than he had last night. His eyes were somewhere between gray and green, but the color was muted, almost dull. His skin was a bit pallid, like he didn't get out much, and I hoped he was planning on using sunscreen when we got to the equator. Now that it was dry I could see that his hair was almost as light brown as mine and, without the rain matting it down, it was a totally different style, not at all emo like I had thought. His bangs fell almost neatly across his forehead, not quite long enough to be in his eyes, and it was slightly longer in back. I hated to admit it, but now that I could see him in better light he was cute. Really cute, actually. If he put on a little more weight and got a light tan he'd be really handsome.

Jon (He adopted Thomas after a terrible accident left him without family. Jon is a wizard and an agent with the MES (Magical Enforcement and Security) Agency.)

I really felt I was in Jen's world with her, and discovering the world of Magic with her. Here is a cool quote when she is talking to Dani about the strange things his eyes do, she still is unaware of the magic world at this part:

"Interesting how?"
"They uh..." I wasn't sure how to say it without sounding crazy. "Change color." Eyes did that. Not nearly in the way that Dani's did, but it didn't sound as insane if I said it like that.
That got his attention. Now he was definitely curious. He almost looked surprised. "Change color? What do you mean?"
"Like, different shades of blue." Well, now that I was telling him... "And they move. The colors sort of, I dunno, splash around. It's like water."
Dani's jaw literally dropped. Then the touch of the deep blue I had started to associate with angry splashed in his eyes. "You're not just something messing with us, are you?"
"What?" I asked in confusion. "No, I'm not. Your eyes really do that!" I figured that was something he would have known.

I was impressed with the interaction between Elizabeth’s characters.They felt real to me, and not forced. The characters that are in love have been together for a really, really long time. The relationship Jen wants happens very slowly…if at all. Even though More than Magic was told in first person (from Jen’s) point of view…I definitely did not feel lost when it came to what the other characters were feeling.

I highly recommend this book, anyone who loved Harry Potter, will love this, anyone who likes magic,and other supernaturals will love this. Its a story that is told in such a believable way too. Beautifully written too. I really look forward to the next book.

Here is some more favorite parts (this is where she is told of the magic world, and gets some proof)

I looked up and froze. Thomas and Dani were still sitting on the bed and half on them – half off the bed, was a wolf. At least it looked like one. I had seen wolves in the zoo before, but this was nothing like them.

How could I possibly just run away and leave him here to die? And then he pulled me closer and kissed me. For a moment my brain screeched to a halt. This couldn’t be happening. This was the wrong time, the worst possible time, for a kiss. The guy I had been trying to keep from developing a huge crush on was kissing me and we were both about to die.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author for my honest review.

Summary
Jen is looking forward to spending an entire summer studying abroad on a cruise ship and she knows the experience will change her life. Then she sees something she wasn't supposed to see, something she can't explain. Jen finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed and her life will change more than she imagined. That is, if she can survive the dangers lurking on the ship.

[Anna (Enchanted by YA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received the paperback free as a review copy from the publisher by being part of their social media team in exchange for an honest review***

After what I realised was nothing more than a slow start in order to introduce the characters, I couldn’t put this book down; mainly because those characters are incredible! Originally it was overwhelming (after recently reading books with less than 3 side characters you can’t blame me for taking a while to get my head around 5) but their vivid personalities jumped off the pages and it takes no time at all for you to get to know them.

Of course that doesn’t mean you won’t be continually surprised by the revelations about their pasts… One of my favourite things about this book was the character development we both see and don’t. It’s clear the author knows her characters exceptionally well along with the world she’s created.

The magical beings in this book are similar, yet so different to the ones from movie/novel lore. It really emphasises the point to not believe everything you read, something of which Jen is regularly reminded when facing vampires who do not burn in the sun and werewolves who love to be petted. Her lack of magical knowledge meant the reader could learn alongside her as well as unravel the mysteries surrounding the cruise.

Being a very character orientated story meant there were plenty of fun banter scenes, but action was not to be missed out. The second half of Semester Aboard flew by in a whirlwind of tension and life-threatening fights until I was at the final page catching my breath and with heaviness in my heart that can only come from not having the sequel in my hands (something I plan to remedy, immediately).

It’s safe to say I definitely enjoyed this book and believe fans of YA paranormal/fantasy will to. But only if you’re ready for something without a love triangle which I’m pretty sure we all have been for some time!



Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those stories that I really didn't know how to rate. On one hand I quite enjoyed it, I loved the idea of a cruise ship college (what a fantastic opportunity), the world building thorough (almost too thorough but I'll get to that in a minute) the cast of characters were all interesting and likable. For the most part I enjoyed the story line too, however there were a lot of parts that seemed to drag as well. There a lot of pointless day to day ( I went to class, I had lunch with X, I went on a tour with Y) scenes that add nothing to the narrative. Also, like Jen we are learning about this magical world as we go and there is a lot to learn but it got to a point where I wanted the info dumps (disguised as either Jen's mental musings or the VERY frequent Q& A sessions Jen has with whatever character she happens to be in the scene with)to stop and the progress with the action. And now we come to the other issue I had with this story - the villain of the piece and how he is so difficult to find at defeat. Aside from Jen the other FIVE characters are members of the magical enforcement/police who supposedly regularly deal with things like this yet they seem incompetent, unable to handle a single vampire. It was weird & unbelievable. They actually acted more like the college students (with supernatural powers) they appeared to be rather than the supposed experienced magical law enforcement they were. While I was glad not to have and insta-love romance I would have like a bit more development in Jen & Thomas'relationship. I like the characters and story enough to seek out the next one but I hope that it has undergone some serious editing and flows more smoothly in terms of action that this one.

[Cheryl Whitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer is having the time of her life spending a whole Semester aboard a ship sailing down the South American Coastline stopping for trips and excursion as well as taking classes to keep up with their syllabus.
One night needing fresh air Jennifer witnesses something that shouldn’t be possible. To keep Jennifer from saying anything that tell her all will be explained at the next port. So for next couple of days she followed and becomes friendly with the most fascinating group on the boat.
No one is more surprised than Jen to find she is a witch. So Thomas starts training her, Jen is over the moon. Unfortunately as this is a first in a series there is a lot of magic world building. This is a fun paranormal adventure on board ship with great locations. The narration was excellent with all the voices that had to be done. A great start to a new series, and can’t wait to see how Jennifer progresses with her magic.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Elizabeth Kirke. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Stacey Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of fantasy creatures you will find ALL of them here! Vampires, werewolves, elementals, water sprites, witches, the list goes on and on! This wonderfully creative concept of all the "supes" working together in a secret organization is set on the fabulous backdrop of a cruise ship. The setting becomes a character and adds to this story idea that is so fresh and original. This is an amazing debut novel from a VERY talented author and I for one am eagerly awaiting book 2!

[Kristin A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Kirke’s Semester Aboard is a fun and exhilarating paranormal tale that includes elementals, mermaids, werewolves, witches, wizards, and vampires. I truly enjoyed this fantastical book and fell deeply in love with the characters. I found them creeping into my thoughts when I wasn’t reading and they carried me away when I was.

Jen – is a bit naive when it comes to magic…or maybe she knows nothing about magic. When she happens across some students playing on deck, she finds there is nothing normal about them. And the things she learns about herself…unimaginable.

Dani (Danio) – is a water elemental, a noreid. He is always game for a practical joke and loves to give everyone a hard time. However, underneath the fun loving guy is a wealth of strength and secrets.

Mariana – just happens to be a mermaid. She has been the only girl intermingling with the magics on this journey through South America.

TS (Tethys) – could be none other than the overbearingly big werewolf. Human during the day, a wolf at night. TS is loyal and caring when it comes to his friends. Once you have crept your way into his friendship…he’s not likely to ever forget you.

Thomas – well, let’s just say we have a lot to learn about this young man. He and TS are as close as brothers…closer even. Their history is one for the books. Thomas is the brooding character and he has plenty of reasons.

Charlie – is a fire elemental, an Imp. He is flaming in more than one way. I loved Charlie. He’s fun-loving but fiercely protective of those he cares about.

Jon – adopted Thomas after a terrible accident left him without family. Jon is a wizard and an agent with the MES (Magical Enforcement and Security) Agency.

Mark – is Charlie’s roommate on the ship. Unfortunately he falls into the hands of the wrong person.

Semester Aboard begins with a group of college students spending a semester touring South America via ship. Jen…just an innocent human, happens to see something she shouldn’t have seen and now she will have to pay the consequences…good or bad. As Elizabeth Kirke takes us on an intriguing journey, we learn the many secrets that her characters are hiding. There will be magic, adventure, action, love and deception.

Things I loved: The interaction between Elizabeth’s characters feels real, not forced. The characters that are in love have been together for longer than I have been alive. The relationship Jen wants happens very slowly…if at all. Each time I sat down to read…I was pulled into the lives of these characters. Even though Semester Aboard was told in first person from Jen’s point of view…I definitely did not feel lost when it came to what the other characters were feeling. When someone got hurt…I felt it. When someone was happy…I felt it. When someone was in trouble…I wanted to run out and help.

Semester Aboard was different from most of the other books I have read. It was more of an urban fantasy than a romance. The interaction between so many paranormal races was interesting to say the least.

Things that were just so-so: At times I felt like the book dragged. It could possibly be my impatience in wanting to know how things would work out. I have that problem a lot which is why I can’t put a book down once I have started it. I also felt like Jen sat by and let a lot of things happen when she should have been helping more.
Favorite Parts:

I looked up and froze. Thomas and Dani were still sitting on the bed and half on them – half off the bed, was a wolf. At least it looked like one. I had seen wolves in the zoo before, but this was nothing like them. – pg 44

How could I possibly just run away and leave him here to die? And then he pulled me closer and kissed me. For a moment my brain screeched to a halt. This couldn’t be happening. This was the wrong time, the worst possible time, for a kiss. The guy I had been trying to keep from developing a huge crush on was kissing me and we were both about to die. - pg 317

* I was given a free e-book by the author in return for an honest review of her work.

[Kate Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this review and more like it on my site www.ufreviews.com

This was a fun ride from beginning to end, and one of those books that puts together a wide variety of magical creatures in one book. The book starts off with Jen going on a semester aboard a ship, where they visit various different countries and basically immerse the students in local culture. All is going as planned until one night she sees a girl push a guy off the ship, and shocker of all shocker, no one does anything to help the guy. And then when Jen starts to panic, thinking this guy needs a life jacket, they all look at her like she's crazy. She quickly catches on that something more is going on her, and she spends the next few days trying to figure out what is wrong with this group of people she happened to stumble upon.


As it would turn out everyone in the group is some form of "magic" (or magical creature), and the reason why Jen notices the differences of the magics from the non-magics is because Jen is a magic too. This all makes for a lot of information in a not a lot of time. It was confusing for Jen and in parts a little confusing for me as a reader too. I think that is largely in part to the fact that the group is semi-big and explaining all of the details of each of these different creatures abilities is difficult. Thankfully you start to catch on after a couple of chapters.


I really like the wide variety of people and abilities in this book, it makes it a lot more interesting in my opinion, and in the down time, when Jen is just hanging out with the group, she asks a lot of questions. It keeps the reader still interested in the people and in the book itself without requiring there be all action all the time.


I'm not entirely sure if this book is intended YA or not. I actually looked around a little bit online to see if I could find out, but alas, no luck. I think this would make a great YA book, for the older crowd of YA. There isn't any sex in it and while there is violence I don't think it's gratuitous. That being said I still it makes for a good fun read for the average adult urban fantasy reader.


The characters were fun to get to know, and all had very distinctive personalities. I think if I had to pick a favorite it would be TS, the resident werewolf. He just has such a great friendly personality, and I feel like he brought a lot of comfort to the main character Jen throughout the book. Charlie was also a fun character, as a fire elemental, he has strong emotions, and is fierce when protecting the ones he loves.


While I did like the secondary characters, I think Kirke did a good job with Jen. She was completely naive to magic when this whole journey started, but she never acted dumb. She was willing to learn, acknowledging she didn't know everything, and always had a question at the ready, which made it easier for me as a reader to learn the world as well. I also appreciated that Kirke didn't make her some kind of magical savant, she didn't catch onto everything quickly, and I can tell through the series she is going to have a lot of learning to do. I think it is going to be a fun ride watching Jen learn magic throughout the book.


Overall, I think this is a fun read. Like I said early I think this reads as an upper YA book, but I'm a person who is very picky about the YA I enjoy, and this is definitely one I like. It does have some series subject matter (with some violence), but generally speaking its a relaxing fun read. I could easily see myself curls up on the sofa on a rainy day with this book, the perfect escape.

[Sher A. Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to say this rating might change to 4 stars. After I posted this review, the author told me she uploaded a new, thoroughly edited version in December after I had read the old version. I'll explain more at the bottom.

I enjoyed this book for its atmosphere, maybe because I've been on enough cruises to recognize the touches that made it feel authentic. I had mixed emotions about its leisurely pace at the start, though the normalcy and routine of taking college classes, not that different aboard than on land, was part of what made it feel real. Another plus was how the author put this leisure time to good use in building characters and relationships, Jen being the main female character, a college student.

Once Jen sees something she shouldn't, things get a little tense and creepy when a group of students begins watching and tailing her. When she demands answers, the students arrange a meeting with their leader. By now Jen has seen many things she shouldn't have, and one thing in particular forces the group to accept her. From then on she's marked in a good way. It won't spoil anyone's enjoyment to say there's magic involved, or that Jen ends up on the good guys' side.

Of course there are bad guys. Once they board ship, things take a nasty turn. And of course the good guys aren't trained or equipped to handle them. Neither is Jen. She's very new to all this magic stuff and becomes a target for reasons I won't say here. That's when things get scary exciting and it's hard to put the book down. Mysterious illnesses lead to fighting and life-threatening injuries. It doesn't help that Jen becomes attached to a *******.

This all happens between cruise stops, more than once. Ships do stop at ports and people go on day trips, but I found it odd that each tour was strictly sightseeing, entertaining but no real trouble. Back aboard, the trouble resumed. I would have thought the bad guys would track Jen on land when she was separated from all but one of two of the good guys.

This would be a good book to read on a cruise. In some places it was easier to put down than in others. Later on there were some real hair-raising scenes I stayed up late to finish. I most enjoyed the way one character saved the day by outsmarting the bad guy. The author did a very good job making her characters relate-able so I cared whether they lived or died.

What she didn't do well was edit. Without so many errors, I would have rated Semester Aboard 4 stars. Besides punctuation errors, there were a lot of missing words. Each one took me out of the story, but I still look forward to the next book. If you're like most people, your brain will supply the missing words anyway. Mine did. So what are you waiting for?

If you have an eye for detail like I do and read the new version before I do, please let me know if the copy is now clean. I would take your word for it and change the rating because I hate to stifle sales for a problem that has been taken care of. Thanks!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you went out to stargaze while on a cruise and saw someone get pushed over the side of the boat? This is exactly what happens to Jennifer one night on her Semester Abroad Program. Needing some air, she decides to come up to the deck to watch the stars and sees a group in other students talking and horsing around. Suddenly, one gets pushed off the side as a joke. Jennifer rushes foward when nobody acts to help the student. They try to convince her she didn't see anything and when Dani, the student suddenly vaults back onto the deck, Jennifer is stunned. The next day, she is followed from class to class by different members of the group all day long. They won't tell her what is going on until they met with Jon, their boss. After Jon determines that Jennifer is a witch and all of the students in the group are magics of different types. As Jen is introduced to a world that she didn't dream exsisted, there is suddenly a danger on the ship: a vampire.

Jennifer is immediately submerged into a wonderous world learning about magic and magical creatures. She is able to bond with the others and becomes one of the tight group of friends. Jennifer and her new friends are tested by having to face the horror of a vampire roaming the ship creating dhampirs and killing students. Jennifer faces grave danger because her blood is changing as she gets in touch with her magic. Witch blood is 3x as potent as a humans and makes Jen a target.

Semester Abroad immediately engaged me and drew me into a world of magics. At first, I was a little frustrated with Jen as her questions went unanswered. But soon answers are revealed in a manner that slowly builds a believable fantasy. I loved Jen who is somewhat niave but believable to me because I was just like her. Dani, Charlie, Thomas, TS and Mariana became my friends as I read about them and learned their stories. The adventures they have both fighting the vampire and going on trips at the ports was well told and a roller coaster ride of emotion. The only thing that would have made this more perfect was more romance. I can't wait to see where this goes in the next book. This story would be a good read for even younger teens who enjoy paranormal but I highly recommed this for fans of Harry Potter and the Paranormal. This was an excellent read and so worth the price.

[Franz McLaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "More Than Magic: Semester Aboard", Elizabeth Kirke has penned a novel that has nearly everything that a fantasy lover could want. She has combined a college course cruise through Mexico and South America with a discovery of self through interaction with a host of magical creatures. With the deft touch of a natural story teller, she brings to life vampires, werewolves, elementals, witches, and a host of enchanting creatures in a believable mix of legend and contemporary insight. All of this while still ensuring that her heroine, Jen, maintains good grades in class.

This is a tale that touches the reader on many levels. The interaction between the characters is believable. The angst of a college student is skillfully portrayed. The confusion of meeting and trying to understand unfamiliar cultures is deftly handled. All of this, while simultaneously maintaining a high level of suspense, leads to a book that is hard to put down. Fortunately for us, Elizabeth Kirke has left this book wide open for many sequels. I for one look forward to reading more of Jen's tale in the near future.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many books on vampires and werewolves now, because ya know-
Stephenie Meyer made it cool...

However, Elizabeth takes her own twist on the fictional world of
all things mysterious and intriguing. You won't be lacking in
a need for characters, but I found myself in love
with some very specific characters,
such as Dani and Jen.
The story offers a theory of things so unreal, so magical,
it makes you wonder whats really out there.
The writing is put together so well.
The book flows from area to area, leaving no
mystery of unexplained, and giving me
almost that movie picture essence of a book.
I have never wanted to go on a cruise, but this book
makes me wonder about what things would be like,
and how adventures could really be out there!

Learning to discover, find abilities you never knew where there,
and facing things that one wouldn't have even thought were real...
yes, this book is one that will you will eat up for quiet some time.
Beware the cruise ship, and all it has to offer---and what the water might be hiding.

Well worth your time! And....you will NOT want to wait for Book 2!

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*
I really enjoyed Semester Aboard. I felt totally pulled into Jen's world as she entered the realm of magic. I loved learning about all of them. And so much was included - werewolves, vampires, mermaids, elementals, nymphs, witches, etc - and they were all woven together so well. The characters in this book were amazing. The author did a great job making the characters multi-dimentional and allowing the reader to experience their emotions and lives. Reading about Jen's transition into magic was great, as were her many questions. It really felt like a real journey. The book's progress was slow at times, probably because I was more eager to see the magic develop than the actual cruise tour. I fell for these characters and, like Jen, didn't want the journey to end. I look forward to the adventure continuing, as I would like to read about what's next in Jen's life and if any romance continues.

[Leann (TheBiblioTourist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semester Aboard was surprisingly intriguing and refreshing to the supernatural/paranormal genre in young adult fiction. Jen finds herself witnessing an act that seems impossible among a group of "students" aboard her semester study abroad program. She then is sucked into their life adventures where she finds out these "students" are not fully human and neither is she. Meet Char (fire elemental), Danio (water elemental), Thomas (witch/vampire), Tethys (werewolf), Mariana (mermaid), and Jennifer finds out she is a witch.
Just when Jen is learning about who she really is the ship they are on is ambushed by Vampires wanting to feed illegally on the students. So Jen and her new friends (MES) try to protect the ship occupants while not revealing their true identity. This proves to be difficult and also proves to make the story fast paced, action filled and a page-turner with a unexpected crush in the mix. A Must Read!!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading and I enjoy many different kinds of books, mostly paranormal YA romances. At least lately. The market is flooded with vampire books, werewolf books. And books with a combination of different paranormal creatures. While each is a little different from the next, it does take something special for me to end the book and say WOW! That's how I felt after Semester Abroad. From the moment I started reading it I was sucked into this strange world that exists within our own. The characters were fantastic and each brought so much to the story. There was action packed fight scenes; surprises around every corner. Humor and pop culture references brought lightness to the story, and of course so did the romance. The book did not end on a cliff hanger, but at the end I was salivating for another book because I need to read more about the awesome characters in the book.

[Babs | babs_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first chapter had me hooked so I kept reading until I was finished. Vampires, mermaid, witch, elementals and a were-oh my! A very unique twist on vampires...I loved it. It did have a slight Harry Potter feel but more...mature? I liked that Jen had to work for her magic and at times was useless as she hadn't had enough practice. It didn't just click together and bam she was an awesome witch. I loved the elementals and their lack of emotional control which caused them to 'typhoon' or 'erupt'. My favorite part of them were their eyes and the way they reflected their moods using their element. I wish we would have learned more about Mariana and the mermaids, perhaps in the next book. I also wish Jen had gotten her familiar a lot sooner than she did, I kept waiting for it. Loved the story and grew attached to the characters. Ready for the next book.

[Shona Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of a book club on facebook. I'm not sure if it is something I would have picked up by myself and if that's the case I would have seriously missed out because this was freaking amazing.

The first chapter or two was a little slow, and honestly most books are, but this laid the foundations for a great story that did not let up until the very end.

The book follows Jen as she learns about Magics. Werewolves, Vampires, Mermaids, Witches and more. Be prepared to learn yourself as these magical creatures are different to the ones we are used to. This is the first book in a while that has had me laughing and crying as I read. As soon as I finished reading this I immediately did an amazon search for the next book in the series as I want to read it NOW! but alas for me I shall have to wait :'( but if it is anything like this one it will be worth the wait.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you look for in young adult fantasy?

If your answer has anything to do with relatable characters, creative spins on familiar magical beings, and adventures that will keep you on the edge of your seat, check out More than Magic: Semester Aboard.

It's got a modern take on magic, combining laptops with leviathons. It's got three-dimensional, realistic characters you will fall in love with (and possibly want to date). It's got someone new to the magical world, learning with you. Above all, it's a story where being stronger, smarter, better isn't how you win. And it's got some clever twists I'd never have expected.

Some of the people I know who've read it, found the beginning slow - I didn't - but if you do, keep reading. Trust me, it's worth it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. It sucked me in and I couldn't walk away. It was one of those "just one more chapter" books that I ended up staying up way to late to finish.

I loved the characters, I loved the plot, the book moved at a very good pace and the relationships between the characters were very well created and defined. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to see where this story goes.

This is one of those books where I didn't even have a favorite character. I won't go into details, but the character interactions were fantastic. I loved the way all the characters interacted with each other and how they treated Jenn.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy reads.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a book with vampires, werewolves, witches and other magical creatures? This is the book for you. I really enjoyed this book. It has many unexpected plot turns and twists. It begins with Jen Maddox, a young college student, spending a semester on a cruise ship travelling throughout Mexico and South America. She encounters all sorts of magical creatures, some of whom are not too friendly towards her! He is on a voyage of discovery about herself and those around her. This book is a lot of fun. I felt close to many of the main characters. I give it 5/5 stars

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had everything paranormal possible in it!! Vampires, Witches, Werewolves, Mermaids, Fire Elemental, Water Elemental, Wizards, just everything you can think of in one story and to top it all off they are on a cruise as students taking classes!! This book was very well written, and very fast paced. I couldn't put it down and I had to know what was around the next corner!! I cant wait for book 2 and see the next adventure!! Thank you Elizabeth for such an awesome heart pounding story!! 10*s out of 5*s!!

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this author through anothet author on facebook. I ended up getting this book for free and was amazed on how great of a book it was. It deals with magic and vampires and witches and so much more. It was hard for me to put it down, but I had too to get things done. I can not wait to read the next book when the author writes it. I really want to hear what will happen between Jen and Lord Whiskers, if she keeps in touch with the others, and if something will happen between her and Thomas! This was a great read for me and I highly recommend it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than Magic Semester Aboard by Elizabeth Kirke is worth every penny. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop. For a paranormal fan this book has it all Vampires (good & bad), werewolves, witches, wizards, mermaids, water fire air earth elements & much more. What sets this book apart from others is, everything about it, More than Magic Semester Aboard is a breath of fresh air, with a new way to look at the paranormal world. I don't do spoilers so you'll just have to trust me when I say this book is amazing.

[L.M. Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lengthy, exciting, suspenseful, fantasy book with a dash or romance. The characters were captivating with great dialogue and interesting corny humor. It's a non-scary thriller with interesting creatures like vampires, werewolves, water elemental creatures,witches, wizards, a little taste of everything. I only gave it a 4.5 because the romance was a bit lacking. However, I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one.

~ review from NYIA, teen book reviewer