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Shadowspell Academy #1-3
The Culling Trials Omnibus, #1-3
A teenage girl torn from her family must survive a series of deadly trials to earn her place in a dangerous school of magic, from Bestselling Authors; K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer.
This omnibus edition includes all three books in the trilogy; The Culling Trials, The Culling Trials 2 and The Culling Trials 3.
You don't choose The Academy. The Academy chooses you.
I had no idea how those words would change my life, until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.
My younger brother has been chosen for The Academy: the prestigious, secret school of magic hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place where there’s no guarantee you’ll make it out alive. If he doesn't go, our entire family will be killed.
It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—and he never came home. The Academy has already killed one sibling, and I’ll be damned if they take another. So I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother’s place.
Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What’s a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the deadly physical and mental tests of the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught.
In a cutthroat world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. The Academy tells us we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions.
Not on my watch.
This omnibus edition includes all three books in the trilogy; The Culling Trials, The Culling Trials 2 and The Culling Trials 3.
You don't choose The Academy. The Academy chooses you.
I had no idea how those words would change my life, until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.
My younger brother has been chosen for The Academy: the prestigious, secret school of magic hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place where there’s no guarantee you’ll make it out alive. If he doesn't go, our entire family will be killed.
It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—and he never came home. The Academy has already killed one sibling, and I’ll be damned if they take another. So I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother’s place.
Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What’s a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the deadly physical and mental tests of the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught.
In a cutthroat world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. The Academy tells us we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions.
Not on my watch.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2019
361 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
K.F. Breene
128 books13.9k followersFollow me!
K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Amazon Most Sold Charts and #1 Kindle Store bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy novels. With millions of books sold, when she's not penning stories about magic and what goes bump in the night, she's sipping wine and planning shenanigans. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and out of work treadmill.
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K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Amazon Most Sold Charts and #1 Kindle Store bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy novels. With millions of books sold, when she's not penning stories about magic and what goes bump in the night, she's sipping wine and planning shenanigans. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and out of work treadmill.
Click FOLLOW for notification of new releases.
Join her mailing list to receive BONUS CONTENT, free stories, and hear about the crazy goings-on of her life. Sign up here ➜ http://bit.ly/KFBContent
Check out her chat group on Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 10, 2020
I liked the series. That’s said, all three books are essentially just a single book divided into three parts. I like the reassignment of gender roles but the problem with that was the use of the gender stereotypes. Boys do not... so Wild must be gay. I feel the need to mention that being effeminate does not translate to being gay. And being gay doesn’t mean a guy is effeminate. Also the authors couldn’t seem to get Wild’s gender right when others referred to her. I can’t tell if this was on purpose.
My first big issue with the book is that it isn’t finished and I’m scared it wouldn’t be. There is so much that needs to be resolved between Wild and Ethan, Wild and Rory, Wild and Colt. Why the heck Wild is kissing everyone. (Just two😅 but let my head rant)
There are lots of questions that need to be addressed with Director Frost, and that promise of death, the suspense behind Sandbag. And why for the love of all that’s holy on hot Texas Sunday afternoon is Sandbag’s name Rufus???? Then there is the whole, shadow killer, the mystery behind the mother’s death, the mystery behind Tommy’s death. Is Wild some succubus? Who is Wild’s father?
Second big issue is that the initial plot was lost in all the big things and didn’t get flushed out. So Billy is the recipient of the envelope right... ahem WHY!??? That’s a big question to not answer, considering that is the premise for the entire plot. Every thing else is a side show for that. That’s why Wild is posing as a boy. Who put an academy hit on Wild’s family? Why is Wild’s family in hiding? And Why threaten the family for Billy to show up?
There are other little big things, like how, without any training do the kids always know what to do? It’s way too easy to say magic. They are also all acrobats for some reason. Also Wild referred to her pairs as kids all the time. It detracted from the character. When I immerse in a world, I want to see the characters not the authors. The use of kids was a constant jab at the world build, reminding me that adults wrote it and couldn’t be bothered to fine-tune little details. That and the fact that all these kids were Uber mature and perfect. It was too too polished.
I finished this book asking more questions than the freaking LSAT. Also, the plot the authors started with is not the one they ended with, and due to shifting plots, a lot of answers fell through. Though it was a good read. The book was a product of inattentional writing. The authors perhaps didn’t plan the story and they kept writing without circling back to tie it all in. The story went where it went. But not where it should have gone if the authors paid better attention and planned it. And that is no bueno.
The writing style was pretty cool. It was third person close the whole way with a focus on Wild. And through Wild’s interaction with the world I saw the fringe characters and they kind of started to take shape. Well as much shape as 1 book could allow. The air of mystery behind Orin and the way the author seemed to discard it kinda ticked me off. Ethan’s sudden change too, though understandable was kind of sudden for me. Wally was also going through some crap. And her badassness was also sudden. Okay so character development was nice, somethings were sudden, some could have waited for the next books to fully flush out, but I liked. The scenes jumped around a bit but Wild was interacting with the world in a sufficient manner that I could see the world.
Overall, I would give this book a 2.5. Engrossing enough that It was hard to put down. But not enough to hide the pit falls.
My first big issue with the book is that it isn’t finished and I’m scared it wouldn’t be. There is so much that needs to be resolved between Wild and Ethan, Wild and Rory, Wild and Colt. Why the heck Wild is kissing everyone. (Just two😅 but let my head rant)
There are lots of questions that need to be addressed with Director Frost, and that promise of death, the suspense behind Sandbag. And why for the love of all that’s holy on hot Texas Sunday afternoon is Sandbag’s name Rufus???? Then there is the whole, shadow killer, the mystery behind the mother’s death, the mystery behind Tommy’s death. Is Wild some succubus? Who is Wild’s father?
Second big issue is that the initial plot was lost in all the big things and didn’t get flushed out. So Billy is the recipient of the envelope right... ahem WHY!??? That’s a big question to not answer, considering that is the premise for the entire plot. Every thing else is a side show for that. That’s why Wild is posing as a boy. Who put an academy hit on Wild’s family? Why is Wild’s family in hiding? And Why threaten the family for Billy to show up?
There are other little big things, like how, without any training do the kids always know what to do? It’s way too easy to say magic. They are also all acrobats for some reason. Also Wild referred to her pairs as kids all the time. It detracted from the character. When I immerse in a world, I want to see the characters not the authors. The use of kids was a constant jab at the world build, reminding me that adults wrote it and couldn’t be bothered to fine-tune little details. That and the fact that all these kids were Uber mature and perfect. It was too too polished.
I finished this book asking more questions than the freaking LSAT. Also, the plot the authors started with is not the one they ended with, and due to shifting plots, a lot of answers fell through. Though it was a good read. The book was a product of inattentional writing. The authors perhaps didn’t plan the story and they kept writing without circling back to tie it all in. The story went where it went. But not where it should have gone if the authors paid better attention and planned it. And that is no bueno.
The writing style was pretty cool. It was third person close the whole way with a focus on Wild. And through Wild’s interaction with the world I saw the fringe characters and they kind of started to take shape. Well as much shape as 1 book could allow. The air of mystery behind Orin and the way the author seemed to discard it kinda ticked me off. Ethan’s sudden change too, though understandable was kind of sudden for me. Wally was also going through some crap. And her badassness was also sudden. Okay so character development was nice, somethings were sudden, some could have waited for the next books to fully flush out, but I liked. The scenes jumped around a bit but Wild was interacting with the world in a sufficient manner that I could see the world.
Overall, I would give this book a 2.5. Engrossing enough that It was hard to put down. But not enough to hide the pit falls.
June 20, 2019
This could not be the end of it all. Tell me there’s moooore!!!!
June 11, 2019
Wow, wow, wow! This series is awesome!
I've cracked up laughing, I've been on the edge of my seat, biting my nails trying to guess who, what, where and when!!
In this installment we have the conclusion to the trials. There's zombies, ghosts, murder, (and something else huge, but I won't ruin that surprise!) The crew try to stick together but doubts on fidelities could tear them apart. Will they all make it out of the trials? And if they do, would they still be a full crew?? So many questions! You better get reading to find out for yourself!
I've cracked up laughing, I've been on the edge of my seat, biting my nails trying to guess who, what, where and when!!
In this installment we have the conclusion to the trials. There's zombies, ghosts, murder, (and something else huge, but I won't ruin that surprise!) The crew try to stick together but doubts on fidelities could tear them apart. Will they all make it out of the trials? And if they do, would they still be a full crew?? So many questions! You better get reading to find out for yourself!
December 12, 2020
I honestly can't see why this book is divided in three too-short parts. I hate unfinished stories, so I read them in immediate succession, and I'll rate and comment on them as a whole.
So, average rating 4.5 stars. To be honest, the first part started agonizingly slow – no magic, no action, not much happening at all throughout the first half of the book. If I wasn't a die-hard fan of magic schools and magic trials, I may have chucked it then and there. Things really pick up only after (surprise!) the actual beginning of the trials. Still, it's a Wild ride from there, so what can I say, grit your teeth through all that preliminary fluff and read on. It's totally worth it.
The MC is exactly the badass, know-it-all, can-do-it-all-without-lifting-a-finger heroine I usually hate, and pretending to be a boy, no less. A natural leader, a natural magic user without even knowing that magic existed just a few days earlier – what's not to hate, really? Add to that her unswerving loyalty to her family and crew, coupled with her reckless courage and the ability to make boys salivate after her even when grimy, her hair cut short and in boy's clothes ... definitely much lager than life, isn't she? Still, she somehow manages to pull it off – or perhaps you just wave a hand and enjoy the secondary characters.
And the are all awesome – my all-time-favorite band of misfits at its best. A necromancer girl with self-esteem issues and a penchant for blurting out random statistics, a honey badger shifter and too pretty goblin both considered total outcasts, a reclusive vampire (okay, cliche, but he enjoys NatGeo!) ... and the golden boy mage (and total jerk) who believes the world is his oyster, only to be trumped again and again by our own wonder wo... erm, heroine. The way they grow and come to be a team may be a bit predictable, but is totally satisfying and mesmerizing to watch. I even came to like entitled jerk Ethan by the end of Book 3, and that's saying something.
Only person I didn't like – at all – was Rory, since he's too good to be true. Something tells me that's exactly why Wild will eventually end up with him – they have that in common, after all. I so hope I'm wrong.
All in all, great dynamic between the characters, and great mystery – the villain's identity was a real surprise, and the true nature of Wild's magic promises real darkness to come. I literally can't wait to see her vulnerable/failing in some way, doing something less than perfect for a change.
I'm looking forward to the next installment in the story, and to seeing how they all fare in their respective Houses at the Academy. If they were expected to be that good at the trials, what will they be learning, exactly? Can't wait to find out!
So, average rating 4.5 stars. To be honest, the first part started agonizingly slow – no magic, no action, not much happening at all throughout the first half of the book. If I wasn't a die-hard fan of magic schools and magic trials, I may have chucked it then and there. Things really pick up only after (surprise!) the actual beginning of the trials. Still, it's a Wild ride from there, so what can I say, grit your teeth through all that preliminary fluff and read on. It's totally worth it.
The MC is exactly the badass, know-it-all, can-do-it-all-without-lifting-a-finger heroine I usually hate, and pretending to be a boy, no less. A natural leader, a natural magic user without even knowing that magic existed just a few days earlier – what's not to hate, really? Add to that her unswerving loyalty to her family and crew, coupled with her reckless courage and the ability to make boys salivate after her even when grimy, her hair cut short and in boy's clothes ... definitely much lager than life, isn't she? Still, she somehow manages to pull it off – or perhaps you just wave a hand and enjoy the secondary characters.
And the are all awesome – my all-time-favorite band of misfits at its best. A necromancer girl with self-esteem issues and a penchant for blurting out random statistics, a honey badger shifter and too pretty goblin both considered total outcasts, a reclusive vampire (okay, cliche, but he enjoys NatGeo!) ... and the golden boy mage (and total jerk) who believes the world is his oyster, only to be trumped again and again by our own wonder wo... erm, heroine. The way they grow and come to be a team may be a bit predictable, but is totally satisfying and mesmerizing to watch. I even came to like entitled jerk Ethan by the end of Book 3, and that's saying something.
Only person I didn't like – at all – was Rory, since he's too good to be true. Something tells me that's exactly why Wild will eventually end up with him – they have that in common, after all. I so hope I'm wrong.
All in all, great dynamic between the characters, and great mystery – the villain's identity was a real surprise, and the true nature of Wild's magic promises real darkness to come. I literally can't wait to see her vulnerable/failing in some way, doing something less than perfect for a change.
I'm looking forward to the next installment in the story, and to seeing how they all fare in their respective Houses at the Academy. If they were expected to be that good at the trials, what will they be learning, exactly? Can't wait to find out!
September 14, 2023
The Culling Trials by Shannon Mayer and K.F. Breene is a supernatural Trilogy and the magic K.F. and Shannon made happen. As I have said before these women have constantly showed their work is their passion and it shows in each and every word they weave together to make masterpieces. They are a force to be reckoned with and I am thankful that they came together and shared a magnificent story. As with the first two I could not put this book down. K.F. and Shannon imaginations know no bounds and it shows in the magical world they created where magic and the unknown come together in the trials of young adults trying to find where they fit but more than anything they are battling to survive when everything is against them. It is absolutely brilliant and is infused with just the right amount of quirky. There is never a dull moment when faced with death and you don’t know who, when or where they will strike, humour of from the characters will still have you laughing out loud whilst simultaneously having your heart in your throat.
I am sorry to see it end but am hoping against hope that the girls will continue.
I am sorry to see it end but am hoping against hope that the girls will continue.
Read
April 25, 2021Refreshing my memory before reading Year of the Chameleon.
June 13, 2019
Gah! I hate that this series is over and am hoping for a sequel of some kind. This third book covers that last part of the Shadowspell Academy Culling Trials. Here our main characters find out 1. If they've passed the trials, and 2. which house they'll train in. But the road to this point is rocky and unpredictable, getting to the end is not guaranteed. I won't say much about the book to avoid spoilers, but I couldn't put it down! I literally walked around reading the book, trying to also function as an adult. Wild is her typical tough, resilient, clever self, the tension and mystery deepen, Wild is in even more danger, and the secondary characters get their chances to shine. Breene and Mayer make a great writing team. Please give us more!
April 18, 2021
I finished all 3 “books”! I rlly dk y the author separated the books...it could’ve j been a single book put tg. The endings of each book were so weird...no normal books would end like that...
This was a meh read. Not amazing, not deep, j a surface level read that was decently enjoyable. The idea of the 5 houses could’ve been good if it wasn’t so cliche and predictable. Writing wasn’t v good, it was hard to imagine action scenes at time. Also, the characters were nvr described v well so I couldn’t picture any of them (except for Ethan and mb Pete). That makes me think there’s absolutely no diversity in the book at all, since the author shied away from describing anyone’s appearance in a detailed way...😐
The whole ~knows nothing ab a magical world but j happens to be a natural at everything~ trope is v overused. Like mb it could’ve been good, but the writing j wasn’t good enough to make up for the poor trope. Overall plot was way too confusing. IMO, the end was terrible like the book seems to build up to some crazy event and it j falls flat. WoAhHh she’s a “Chameleon” and ?? That wasn’t even a huge surprise like it was so obvious she was the series’ equivalent of the Avatar from ATLA LMAO. She got away from Director Frost so easily, it wasn’t even a good fight scene. What is Sandman’s role?? Too many q’s unanswered at the end, makes it feel like nothing happened. Who is the Shadowkiller? Who is Wild’s dad? What happened to her mom and brother? How did Rory survive? Is there anyone who’s truly on her side rn? I don’t even trust Rory at the end of the book, even tho I feel like I should.
Aghhh usually I love the found family trope but this book j did not do a good job at it 😕 I liked Wild, Pete, and Wally but when Ethan and Orin were introduced...idk the closeness of the initial trio kinda fell away. The romance aspect of this book was a mess. Like the author hints at Colt liking her, ok ? How does that contribute to the story at all?!?!? It did absolutely nothing. What was the sitch w/ Rory?!?! Childhood bestie to love interest ? The author nvr rlly acted on that idea. Similar case w/ Ethan...y did he suddenly change towards the end. Ugh that was so cringey to read. Entitled, powerful family boy suddenly changing bc of someone the opposite of him. That could’ve been a good change, but it j was not written well.
MC Wild was ok. I liked her in the beginning bc she reminded me of myself in a few ways but as the book progressed and she became another typical fantasy MC who’s perfect and naturally talented despite not knowing anything, the similarities ended rq. Though I DID relate to her having nightmares and bad sleep! 😃
I don’t even have a fav character, all of them j blurred in my mind. Like they all have their unique skills so that SHOULD set them apart but in my mind, they’re kinda j...boring.
Had p high hopes for this book bc the premise was interesting, but it j did not deliver a great adventure. Ig a mediocre one at best. Concept was cool but the writing needed a lot of work. I rlly don’t get the raving reviews of this book but everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.
This was a meh read. Not amazing, not deep, j a surface level read that was decently enjoyable. The idea of the 5 houses could’ve been good if it wasn’t so cliche and predictable. Writing wasn’t v good, it was hard to imagine action scenes at time. Also, the characters were nvr described v well so I couldn’t picture any of them (except for Ethan and mb Pete). That makes me think there’s absolutely no diversity in the book at all, since the author shied away from describing anyone’s appearance in a detailed way...😐
The whole ~knows nothing ab a magical world but j happens to be a natural at everything~ trope is v overused. Like mb it could’ve been good, but the writing j wasn’t good enough to make up for the poor trope. Overall plot was way too confusing. IMO, the end was terrible like the book seems to build up to some crazy event and it j falls flat. WoAhHh she’s a “Chameleon” and ?? That wasn’t even a huge surprise like it was so obvious she was the series’ equivalent of the Avatar from ATLA LMAO. She got away from Director Frost so easily, it wasn’t even a good fight scene. What is Sandman’s role?? Too many q’s unanswered at the end, makes it feel like nothing happened. Who is the Shadowkiller? Who is Wild’s dad? What happened to her mom and brother? How did Rory survive? Is there anyone who’s truly on her side rn? I don’t even trust Rory at the end of the book, even tho I feel like I should.
Aghhh usually I love the found family trope but this book j did not do a good job at it 😕 I liked Wild, Pete, and Wally but when Ethan and Orin were introduced...idk the closeness of the initial trio kinda fell away. The romance aspect of this book was a mess. Like the author hints at Colt liking her, ok ? How does that contribute to the story at all?!?!? It did absolutely nothing. What was the sitch w/ Rory?!?! Childhood bestie to love interest ? The author nvr rlly acted on that idea. Similar case w/ Ethan...y did he suddenly change towards the end. Ugh that was so cringey to read. Entitled, powerful family boy suddenly changing bc of someone the opposite of him. That could’ve been a good change, but it j was not written well.
MC Wild was ok. I liked her in the beginning bc she reminded me of myself in a few ways but as the book progressed and she became another typical fantasy MC who’s perfect and naturally talented despite not knowing anything, the similarities ended rq. Though I DID relate to her having nightmares and bad sleep! 😃
I don’t even have a fav character, all of them j blurred in my mind. Like they all have their unique skills so that SHOULD set them apart but in my mind, they’re kinda j...boring.
Had p high hopes for this book bc the premise was interesting, but it j did not deliver a great adventure. Ig a mediocre one at best. Concept was cool but the writing needed a lot of work. I rlly don’t get the raving reviews of this book but everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2020
I loved this series, can’t wait for the next installment of Wild and crew!
I originally read the Shadowspell books in the digital format when each one was released, I ordered the 3 book omnibus at Christmas to share with my husband and oldest child. All 3 of the Culling Trials books are bound together in one printed edition for this Omnibus.
The story is a YA/NA genre, it��s about an 18yr girl who sets off to a secretive magical school to take part in their series of trials just to find out if she can even go to the academy, her secret- she is there in place of her baby brother but no one can know it’s her and not him. Wild is trying to protect her remaining family and find out what shady shenanigans are going on that may or may not have to do with how her older brother died while he was at the academy.
It’s a fast paced twisty adventure full of magic and a bit of mayhem that I personally loved, my daughter loved and my husband, to my surprise,thoroughly enjoyed and was cracking up at throughout. The snark and sass are on point, the camaraderie and friendships are strong throughout and the main character shows that just because she’s a girl doesn’t mean she can’t whoop your butt or anyone else’s that would mess with her, her friends, or her family! Great role model for being brave and strong in a world full of bullies!
I originally read the Shadowspell books in the digital format when each one was released, I ordered the 3 book omnibus at Christmas to share with my husband and oldest child. All 3 of the Culling Trials books are bound together in one printed edition for this Omnibus.
The story is a YA/NA genre, it��s about an 18yr girl who sets off to a secretive magical school to take part in their series of trials just to find out if she can even go to the academy, her secret- she is there in place of her baby brother but no one can know it’s her and not him. Wild is trying to protect her remaining family and find out what shady shenanigans are going on that may or may not have to do with how her older brother died while he was at the academy.
It’s a fast paced twisty adventure full of magic and a bit of mayhem that I personally loved, my daughter loved and my husband, to my surprise,thoroughly enjoyed and was cracking up at throughout. The snark and sass are on point, the camaraderie and friendships are strong throughout and the main character shows that just because she’s a girl doesn’t mean she can’t whoop your butt or anyone else’s that would mess with her, her friends, or her family! Great role model for being brave and strong in a world full of bullies!
December 13, 2021
O.M.G This Is An Unmissable Adrenaline Ride!💥🌟💥🌟💥
The Best Thing Since ... They Released Them Originally! ✨😳👤💥
Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials (Books 1-3 Omnibus)
O.M.G where do you start with this series? You go in so blind, you think it's a simple Academy read, which I love. Then a chapter in its turned a bit sinister & dark and a who dunnit?😲 Getting to the Academy is a trauma inducing adrenaline roller coaster and then they're sent into the 'Trials'!!😕
Honestly, as a reader, I'd forgotten how full on & fantastic these books were. Reading them as an omnibus I advise staying away from coffee & fizzy drinks. You'll be acting like a four year old on sugar high as it is!😅💥 Seriously, it's stressful, agonizing & completely gripping! You're SO invested in the team, trying to figure out who did what & who the big bad is!😱 Its so completely satisfying when you get to the end, except you want MORE!!😍
Outstanding world building, characters, storyline and the story telling is sublime! These author's truly smashed it with this trilogy.🌟
Debbie, 1970, UK
The Best Thing Since ... They Released Them Originally! ✨😳👤💥
Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials (Books 1-3 Omnibus)
O.M.G where do you start with this series? You go in so blind, you think it's a simple Academy read, which I love. Then a chapter in its turned a bit sinister & dark and a who dunnit?😲 Getting to the Academy is a trauma inducing adrenaline roller coaster and then they're sent into the 'Trials'!!😕
Honestly, as a reader, I'd forgotten how full on & fantastic these books were. Reading them as an omnibus I advise staying away from coffee & fizzy drinks. You'll be acting like a four year old on sugar high as it is!😅💥 Seriously, it's stressful, agonizing & completely gripping! You're SO invested in the team, trying to figure out who did what & who the big bad is!😱 Its so completely satisfying when you get to the end, except you want MORE!!😍
Outstanding world building, characters, storyline and the story telling is sublime! These author's truly smashed it with this trilogy.🌟
Debbie, 1970, UK
July 15, 2020
Holy cats!
So,I have to start off by saying that I was not expecting too much from yet another YA book. As a genre they're very often highly predictable,Which really gets boring, no matter What obstacles are thrown in the way.However. The culling trials are not your usual young adult novel. Yes there was some predictability. Statistically it's unavoidable. But the various twists and turns of this series !are the read more like riding your favorite rollercoaster. The highs took all of my favorite aspects of paranormal fantasy and have them their own apex. The lows, were only when things made sense. I didn't cry (not this time Shannon Mayer!) But I laughed. Oh did I laugh! I do hope there is more for this group of outcasts and underdogs. Maybe from their own perspectives of learning in their various houses, or even just from Wild. Either way, Shadowspell Academy definitely has more secrets to reveal, and I'm as hungry as a honey badger for more.
So,I have to start off by saying that I was not expecting too much from yet another YA book. As a genre they're very often highly predictable,Which really gets boring, no matter What obstacles are thrown in the way.However. The culling trials are not your usual young adult novel. Yes there was some predictability. Statistically it's unavoidable. But the various twists and turns of this series !are the read more like riding your favorite rollercoaster. The highs took all of my favorite aspects of paranormal fantasy and have them their own apex. The lows, were only when things made sense. I didn't cry (not this time Shannon Mayer!) But I laughed. Oh did I laugh! I do hope there is more for this group of outcasts and underdogs. Maybe from their own perspectives of learning in their various houses, or even just from Wild. Either way, Shadowspell Academy definitely has more secrets to reveal, and I'm as hungry as a honey badger for more.
July 26, 2020
This is a decent book to kill time. I wouldn't bother rereading it nor care much that half the plot remains unexplained. Characters become insanely powerful because "magic". No one pays a cost for their decisions and reckless power use. The world feels tacked on to be a wallpaper for the trials. The strength here is in the prose, character conflicts and trials themselves rather than plot, worldbuilding and a true direction. O find "survive" plots boring relative to quest plots since characters become more passive rather than active. So many details are glossed over here, which means this series is due for a heavy rewrite to fill in plot holes.
October 6, 2020
Great series...
Amazing story and plot lines. Had I found this before the three books were together I would have been very upset to wait for the next book to come out with zero plot development or finishing of the story. Should he only one Book in all! Also this was released in June 2019.... where is the rest of the story? Now the trials are over what is next? If this could be fixed I would change my raiting to 5.... but with leaving so many plot lines opened and unanswered it makes you think twice...
Amazing story and plot lines. Had I found this before the three books were together I would have been very upset to wait for the next book to come out with zero plot development or finishing of the story. Should he only one Book in all! Also this was released in June 2019.... where is the rest of the story? Now the trials are over what is next? If this could be fixed I would change my raiting to 5.... but with leaving so many plot lines opened and unanswered it makes you think twice...
August 11, 2025
Thoroughly Entertaining
It's been a long time since I've laughed, sobbed, and felt outrageous bursts of indignation. For me, this book has it all.! I'm still appalled it hasn't garnered as much atrention as I believe it's worth.
If you enjoy strong female heroines - that are far from dainty or helpless - and strong bonds of friendships, this is the one for you.
Add a smattering of animated corpses, a T-Rex with an attitude, snotty entitled wizards, an insane honey badger, stealthy assassins, itty bitty fanged Vamps and pretty gargoyles - this is the book for you
It's been a long time since I've laughed, sobbed, and felt outrageous bursts of indignation. For me, this book has it all.! I'm still appalled it hasn't garnered as much atrention as I believe it's worth.
If you enjoy strong female heroines - that are far from dainty or helpless - and strong bonds of friendships, this is the one for you.
Add a smattering of animated corpses, a T-Rex with an attitude, snotty entitled wizards, an insane honey badger, stealthy assassins, itty bitty fanged Vamps and pretty gargoyles - this is the book for you
April 8, 2020
Stunning
SM and KFB are two of my favourite current authors. Combined, they produced magic. I was instantly drawn into this seamlessly created world of supernatural. Twists that were very well hidden and hard to pick. Characters with many layers. Like an addict, I am left begging for more.
SM and KFB are two of my favourite current authors. Combined, they produced magic. I was instantly drawn into this seamlessly created world of supernatural. Twists that were very well hidden and hard to pick. Characters with many layers. Like an addict, I am left begging for more.
March 15, 2021
I thought this was the end but..
I thought this trilogy was finished but not mad at all there's more coming. I've read both writers in the past but this by far is my favorite book from both. It leans a bit more YA/new YA than I normally read but the witty well done conversations and characters kept it entertaining. Definitely looking forward to the next books in the series.
I thought this trilogy was finished but not mad at all there's more coming. I've read both writers in the past but this by far is my favorite book from both. It leans a bit more YA/new YA than I normally read but the witty well done conversations and characters kept it entertaining. Definitely looking forward to the next books in the series.
May 29, 2023
Decent enough trilogy. The first book is quite slow for about 2/3 of the book. Things don't get interesting until the main character 'acquires' their crew and those relationships start playing out. The remaining books pick up the speed a bit, which is nice. Overall they are *very* YA in tone. Sure to be a hit with tweens.
April 22, 2020
A fast pacing narrative, great characters, amazing scenarios. Secrets that are carried throughout it and it ends in a cliffhanger. Let’s see what comes next for Wild, Ethan, Wally, Pete, Orin, and Rory.
March 21, 2021
O. M. G.
Absolutely looooooved this book. The shadow spell academy is creative and funny and exhilarating and full of twists and turns with complex and amazing characters. I could not put this down for one moment.
Absolutely looooooved this book. The shadow spell academy is creative and funny and exhilarating and full of twists and turns with complex and amazing characters. I could not put this down for one moment.
March 21, 2022
Awesome Woman
Don't tell a country girl she is just a country Bumpkin. This girl is strong, interesting, intelligent, intuitive and catches onto things quickly. She is also fun and witty and takes no crap from anyone. And pretty too. I want to just like her.
Don't tell a country girl she is just a country Bumpkin. This girl is strong, interesting, intelligent, intuitive and catches onto things quickly. She is also fun and witty and takes no crap from anyone. And pretty too. I want to just like her.
June 7, 2020
Loved this! I enjoyed the Hunger Games, and this book beats it hands down! I so hope that K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer work together to add to the story!
November 30, 2020
Love all the books, but felt like there should have been more at the end.
January 4, 2021
Brilliant. Absolutely loved it. Can't wait for more.
February 3, 2021
I love this series and I can’t wait for the next installment!
April 22, 2021
Great new YA book
Two of my favorite authors writing together and it was even better than I’d hoped. Great world building and character development.
Two of my favorite authors writing together and it was even better than I’d hoped. Great world building and character development.
November 7, 2021
Loved it!
A really good story, characters were good too with a good mix of adventures to keep the readers wanting to know more.
Looking forward to reading more about them
A really good story, characters were good too with a good mix of adventures to keep the readers wanting to know more.
Looking forward to reading more about them
January 10, 2022
My boys and I enjoyed reading the tale on Wild and her merry crew. We had fun going along with the mystery and adventures. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments for the reader and listener.
June 11, 2022
Wow.
Make sure you don't have any plans before you start reading this .. I literally could not put it down. It's sooooooo goood!
Make sure you don't have any plans before you start reading this .. I literally could not put it down. It's sooooooo goood!
October 26, 2022
Lots of action.
This book starts with action that doesn't stop for long throughout the complete 3 books. I am going straight into reading the next books today. Cannot wait.
This book starts with action that doesn't stop for long throughout the complete 3 books. I am going straight into reading the next books today. Cannot wait.
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