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Royals of Villain Academy #5-8
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 5 - 8
A brewing magical war. Four impossible loves. Can we conjure a happy ending?
I was starting to think I knew what I was dealing with at the university best known as Villain Academy. I’d come to believe that by owning my role as the last remaining Bloodstone, I could change this place for the better. Then a series of shocking revelations turns everything I believed on its head.
The other scions have my back now, with all the trouble that's brought them. How much more will they have to sacrifice before we can find some kind of peace? I'm ready to fight for my newfound life, my family, and the guys I'm falling for... but this battle may bring more casualties than I can bear.
Do I have the defiance in me to overthrow centuries of magical tyranny? Looks like it’s time to find out.
*Royals of Villain Academy is a university-age paranormal academy series. Expect magical villainy, a tough heroine who bends to no one’s will, a dollop of steam, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance where the men discover the joys of sharing.*
Enjoy over 1200 pages of excitement in one box set! This set contains the final four books in the Royals of Villain Academy series—Corrupt Alchemy, Foul Conjuring, Grim Witchery, and Vicious Arts—plus 30+ pages of exclusive bonus scenes.
I was starting to think I knew what I was dealing with at the university best known as Villain Academy. I’d come to believe that by owning my role as the last remaining Bloodstone, I could change this place for the better. Then a series of shocking revelations turns everything I believed on its head.
The other scions have my back now, with all the trouble that's brought them. How much more will they have to sacrifice before we can find some kind of peace? I'm ready to fight for my newfound life, my family, and the guys I'm falling for... but this battle may bring more casualties than I can bear.
Do I have the defiance in me to overthrow centuries of magical tyranny? Looks like it’s time to find out.
*Royals of Villain Academy is a university-age paranormal academy series. Expect magical villainy, a tough heroine who bends to no one’s will, a dollop of steam, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance where the men discover the joys of sharing.*
Enjoy over 1200 pages of excitement in one box set! This set contains the final four books in the Royals of Villain Academy series—Corrupt Alchemy, Foul Conjuring, Grim Witchery, and Vicious Arts—plus 30+ pages of exclusive bonus scenes.
31 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 28, 2020
2157 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Eva Chase
126 books3,893 followersEva Chase is an Amazon bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She grew up on a steady diet of magic, mayhem, and romantic angst, and brings plenty of all three to her stories. But no need to fear the dreaded love triangle—her heroines never have to choose.
Eva's best-known series are Flirting with Monsters, Royals of Villain Academy, and Bound to the Fae. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her family and one velcro-like cat. Visit her online at https://www.evachase.com
Eva's best-known series are Flirting with Monsters, Royals of Villain Academy, and Bound to the Fae. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her family and one velcro-like cat. Visit her online at https://www.evachase.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 10, 2024
Okay, this story is similar to a few academy paranormal books. But it mostly reminds me of the Michelle Hercules Gifted Academy series. But only in the guys and their traits. But this series is so much better. Better smutty steam, better less cringe characters, better fierceness, and better explained powers.
I love the series, and I love the steamy scenes. It was a roller coaster of emotions. Is her mum evil? She is, but is she really? OK, that was pretty bad, but maybe she can be redeemed...? And I had slight hope with every bit of hope she had, too. It was intense not knowing how they would get out of this. And sometimes it was sweet seeing the relationship between them grow and cermet.
4.7 stars
I love the series, and I love the steamy scenes. It was a roller coaster of emotions. Is her mum evil? She is, but is she really? OK, that was pretty bad, but maybe she can be redeemed...? And I had slight hope with every bit of hope she had, too. It was intense not knowing how they would get out of this. And sometimes it was sweet seeing the relationship between them grow and cermet.
4.7 stars
January 4, 2022
Royals of Villain Academy
I really enjoyed this series. My only complaint is that there is to much story recap in each book in the box set. I feel that the recap just added unnecessary filler to the story.
I really enjoyed this series. My only complaint is that there is to much story recap in each book in the box set. I feel that the recap just added unnecessary filler to the story.
December 27, 2024
I think this series should have ended after the 4th book, these had so much repetition and conflict just for the sake of conflict.
January 28, 2023
My reviews are pasted on the books individually.
Please check there for them.
Please check there for them.
August 5, 2022
Overall, I loved the second half of this series. Each book is individually rated in separate posts. The entire series is 5/5
August 10, 2023
The ending was a bit rushed, but otherwise a good story.
November 9, 2024
So, I read both of the Royals of Villian Academy as the mega-books. There are 8 books in the series, but I read them as two separate 4 book novels. I think they were much better read that way. Not only did we get bonus chapters if you read the mega-books, but you also just get to flip the page to get to the next part of the story. I appreciated that.
Things I liked:
The Scions - the 4 young men who are set to take over the pentacle from their parents are very entertaining. When we first meet them, they fit all the normal stereotypes of a group of boys in an academic setting. We have Malcom, who is the leader and the one who looks perfect from the outside, Declan, the by the books quiet and studious one, Jude, who is the class clown and there for comic relief, and Connar, the muscle head who has no depth. At least that's what it seems like on first glance. They are all so much more than the roles they are given. All of the men have depths and differences. They all have secrets that they are trying to hide from everyone and grow and change throughout the story. They start off pretty awful, but as they open up to Rory and the reader, they grow and change and become believable and likeable characters. I really enjoyed seeing the depth and grown of each of them and the fact that there was more to them then the surface appearance. As a slight side note, Rory is also included in the Scions. However, when we first meet them, it is just the men until Rory wins them to her side. Any other use of Scions in this review will refer to all five of the Scions - Malcom, Declan, Jude, Connar, and Rory.
The Barons - okay, I didn't like them like them. But they are so fun to dislike. They make the perfect villains. Not only are they the villains of the stories, but the fact that they are the Scion's parents makes it even worse. They say they have the best interest of their kids and the fearmancer society at large, but that's a bunch of lies. Watching them act and watching their children's reactions to the actions is great. Especially since we see so much grown in the kids and so little grow or willingness to change in the adults. Maybe that made them a shade on dimensional, but the Barons truly fit the saying: Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The magic system - When we first meet our FMC, Rory, she is living with who she thinks are her parents. They are joymancers, magic wielders that gain their power through creating joy in other people. That's a pretty cool idea. The more joy and good they do for people, the more power they get. But as in everything in nature, there is an opposite to this, and that's the fearmancers. They gain their power through scaring other people. Rory, who is a fearmancer by birth, has a lot of issues dealing with this aspect of the magic, because of how she was brought up. But finding ways to work around that show how flexible the magic system can be and that people can try different things. I liked that part a lot, because it's not the same magic system that is in every other fantasy story.
The setting - This was set at the fearmancer school, and all of the buildings and the university itself were named after the ruling Barons. Because of this setting, we understand from the very beginning how important to the fearmancer society those five main families are. The way the school is set up and the different aspects of the hierarchy in it really help the reader understand the society in general that we are being introduced to with Rory.
The POVs - I loved that we got different POVs from all of the main characters. I liked that we were able to get into the Scions' heads and see how they were reacting to different things. I really feel like that was part of the growth of the four male Scions. We got to see so much of their thoughts and realized how much was going on beneath the surface. It was nice to see these scary BMOC type guys had doubts and insecurities, just like everyone else. It made them much more believable. And being able to read the story with Rory's points of views just made the reader more invested. I do wish that we had gotten at least one chapter from each of the Barons. Their viewpoints would have been twisted, but it would have been so entertaining to see how they justified all of their violence and machinations in their heads. I do wish the bonus chapters had been added to their proper place in the stories. They were all great, but reading them at the end of each book took you out of the story a bit, since they were generally about things that happened early in the stories.
Things I was on the fence about:
Rory - I absolutely loved Rory in the first half of this series. She was the ultimate "you can knock me down and try your best to terrorize me, but I'm never giving up" main character. I liked her spunk and her fire. The fact that she was able to use the knowledge from her adoptive parents and form it into an armor and a weapon against the abuse she suffered at the hands of the other students was great. She refused to give in. As she started winning the Scions over to her point of view and making them really take a look at the society they were living in, she was perfectly written. However, in the second half of the story, she kind of annoyed me a bit. I'm not sure if it was just the fact that this was the first reverse harem book I've read or just that she became slightly whiney in the second half, but I feel like she lost her spunkiness towards the end. Instead of being the badass that she was in the first book, she spent the whole second book trying to talk her mother, a Baron, into seeing her viewpoint over and over again. Granted, Rory was 100% correct in her views, but her mother had NO interest in seeing anything from another viewpoint. She told Rory that multiple times. And yet, Rory wouldn't stop complaining about it and then trying to talk to her more, and then being surprised when her mom didn't listen or lashed out in another way. I get that she and the other Scions were trying to avoid an all-out war, but considering how each of the men's parents had either tried to kill them, put them under a compulsion spell, or physically abused them, Rory should have been clued into the fact that nothing was going to change with the Barons, especially through talk. The Barons were all about action, and that type of person does not stop just because someone wants to talk to them. Given that her mother had been held captive for 17 years and was looking for revenge, I feel that Rory should have used some of that same fire she had at the beginning to come up with a plan sooner, before so many people were killed.
The ending - *Don't read ahead if you don't want spoilers. There will be some mild spoilers in here. You've been warned. * After everything the Scions went through in all of the books, the ending seemed kind of rushed. Not the whole ending. They did do some really cool thinking outside of the normal magical boxes. They did actually work with the Naries, people who had no magic at all, to come up with some ideas to try to stop the Barons' plans. But honestly, the stuff they did seemed kind of bleh. Malcom, Declan, Connar, and Jude all grew up with these Barons. Even though Rory's mother had been taken prisoner and Declan's mom had died at the same time, the other Barons did not really change into monsters when Rory showed up. The men should have used the information about how their parents/aunt worked with Rory when they were trying to come up with a plan to thwart the Barons. Rory even witnessed some of the aggression of the Barons towards herself and the other Scions. I completely get that these were their parents, and they didn't want to take action against them, but it's not like the Barons were shy about taking action against the Scions. There comes a point when you have tried talking and they haven't listened and have used aggression with you that you just have to realize that it is going to some kind of battle. The Scions and their allies got there eventually. I just felt like by the time they got there, the last book was almost over and then everything moved at warp speed. The Scions spend the whole story talking about how strong their parents are and how hard it will be to beat them in a battle, and yet when we get to the final battle, it's like 5 minutes and it's over. None of the Scions seemed to have any trouble taking on the Barons who were left at this point. There were a few injuries here and there, but nothing major and anyone who did happen to die, other than the last two Barons, was just a minor, unnamed character. I don't know what could have been done differently. I feel like battle scenes like this in books always seem kind of quickly paced and over in a flash. I think if we had gotten some differing POVs during the last battle, it wouldn't have seemed quite as fast.
These books gave me some mild Zodiac Academy vibes, which I was okay with. I liked all of the characters. I enjoyed the magic system and the school setting. There were a few things here and there that I didn't really like, but nothing that detracted from the story as a whole.
My rating:
Royals of the Villain Academy Books 1-4: 5 stars
Royals of the Villain Academy Books 5-8 : 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Things I liked:
The Scions - the 4 young men who are set to take over the pentacle from their parents are very entertaining. When we first meet them, they fit all the normal stereotypes of a group of boys in an academic setting. We have Malcom, who is the leader and the one who looks perfect from the outside, Declan, the by the books quiet and studious one, Jude, who is the class clown and there for comic relief, and Connar, the muscle head who has no depth. At least that's what it seems like on first glance. They are all so much more than the roles they are given. All of the men have depths and differences. They all have secrets that they are trying to hide from everyone and grow and change throughout the story. They start off pretty awful, but as they open up to Rory and the reader, they grow and change and become believable and likeable characters. I really enjoyed seeing the depth and grown of each of them and the fact that there was more to them then the surface appearance. As a slight side note, Rory is also included in the Scions. However, when we first meet them, it is just the men until Rory wins them to her side. Any other use of Scions in this review will refer to all five of the Scions - Malcom, Declan, Jude, Connar, and Rory.
The Barons - okay, I didn't like them like them. But they are so fun to dislike. They make the perfect villains. Not only are they the villains of the stories, but the fact that they are the Scion's parents makes it even worse. They say they have the best interest of their kids and the fearmancer society at large, but that's a bunch of lies. Watching them act and watching their children's reactions to the actions is great. Especially since we see so much grown in the kids and so little grow or willingness to change in the adults. Maybe that made them a shade on dimensional, but the Barons truly fit the saying: Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The magic system - When we first meet our FMC, Rory, she is living with who she thinks are her parents. They are joymancers, magic wielders that gain their power through creating joy in other people. That's a pretty cool idea. The more joy and good they do for people, the more power they get. But as in everything in nature, there is an opposite to this, and that's the fearmancers. They gain their power through scaring other people. Rory, who is a fearmancer by birth, has a lot of issues dealing with this aspect of the magic, because of how she was brought up. But finding ways to work around that show how flexible the magic system can be and that people can try different things. I liked that part a lot, because it's not the same magic system that is in every other fantasy story.
The setting - This was set at the fearmancer school, and all of the buildings and the university itself were named after the ruling Barons. Because of this setting, we understand from the very beginning how important to the fearmancer society those five main families are. The way the school is set up and the different aspects of the hierarchy in it really help the reader understand the society in general that we are being introduced to with Rory.
The POVs - I loved that we got different POVs from all of the main characters. I liked that we were able to get into the Scions' heads and see how they were reacting to different things. I really feel like that was part of the growth of the four male Scions. We got to see so much of their thoughts and realized how much was going on beneath the surface. It was nice to see these scary BMOC type guys had doubts and insecurities, just like everyone else. It made them much more believable. And being able to read the story with Rory's points of views just made the reader more invested. I do wish that we had gotten at least one chapter from each of the Barons. Their viewpoints would have been twisted, but it would have been so entertaining to see how they justified all of their violence and machinations in their heads. I do wish the bonus chapters had been added to their proper place in the stories. They were all great, but reading them at the end of each book took you out of the story a bit, since they were generally about things that happened early in the stories.
Things I was on the fence about:
Rory - I absolutely loved Rory in the first half of this series. She was the ultimate "you can knock me down and try your best to terrorize me, but I'm never giving up" main character. I liked her spunk and her fire. The fact that she was able to use the knowledge from her adoptive parents and form it into an armor and a weapon against the abuse she suffered at the hands of the other students was great. She refused to give in. As she started winning the Scions over to her point of view and making them really take a look at the society they were living in, she was perfectly written. However, in the second half of the story, she kind of annoyed me a bit. I'm not sure if it was just the fact that this was the first reverse harem book I've read or just that she became slightly whiney in the second half, but I feel like she lost her spunkiness towards the end. Instead of being the badass that she was in the first book, she spent the whole second book trying to talk her mother, a Baron, into seeing her viewpoint over and over again. Granted, Rory was 100% correct in her views, but her mother had NO interest in seeing anything from another viewpoint. She told Rory that multiple times. And yet, Rory wouldn't stop complaining about it and then trying to talk to her more, and then being surprised when her mom didn't listen or lashed out in another way. I get that she and the other Scions were trying to avoid an all-out war, but considering how each of the men's parents had either tried to kill them, put them under a compulsion spell, or physically abused them, Rory should have been clued into the fact that nothing was going to change with the Barons, especially through talk. The Barons were all about action, and that type of person does not stop just because someone wants to talk to them. Given that her mother had been held captive for 17 years and was looking for revenge, I feel that Rory should have used some of that same fire she had at the beginning to come up with a plan sooner, before so many people were killed.
The ending - *Don't read ahead if you don't want spoilers. There will be some mild spoilers in here. You've been warned. * After everything the Scions went through in all of the books, the ending seemed kind of rushed. Not the whole ending. They did do some really cool thinking outside of the normal magical boxes. They did actually work with the Naries, people who had no magic at all, to come up with some ideas to try to stop the Barons' plans. But honestly, the stuff they did seemed kind of bleh. Malcom, Declan, Connar, and Jude all grew up with these Barons. Even though Rory's mother had been taken prisoner and Declan's mom had died at the same time, the other Barons did not really change into monsters when Rory showed up. The men should have used the information about how their parents/aunt worked with Rory when they were trying to come up with a plan to thwart the Barons. Rory even witnessed some of the aggression of the Barons towards herself and the other Scions. I completely get that these were their parents, and they didn't want to take action against them, but it's not like the Barons were shy about taking action against the Scions. There comes a point when you have tried talking and they haven't listened and have used aggression with you that you just have to realize that it is going to some kind of battle. The Scions and their allies got there eventually. I just felt like by the time they got there, the last book was almost over and then everything moved at warp speed. The Scions spend the whole story talking about how strong their parents are and how hard it will be to beat them in a battle, and yet when we get to the final battle, it's like 5 minutes and it's over. None of the Scions seemed to have any trouble taking on the Barons who were left at this point. There were a few injuries here and there, but nothing major and anyone who did happen to die, other than the last two Barons, was just a minor, unnamed character. I don't know what could have been done differently. I feel like battle scenes like this in books always seem kind of quickly paced and over in a flash. I think if we had gotten some differing POVs during the last battle, it wouldn't have seemed quite as fast.
These books gave me some mild Zodiac Academy vibes, which I was okay with. I liked all of the characters. I enjoyed the magic system and the school setting. There were a few things here and there that I didn't really like, but nothing that detracted from the story as a whole.
My rating:
Royals of the Villain Academy Books 1-4: 5 stars
Royals of the Villain Academy Books 5-8 : 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
May 28, 2021
The focus of the story shifts from Academy life to a search for a lost relative.
The 5th installment focuses more on the search for her relative and the uncertainties that come with that and the relationship between the Scions but it was a nice change from having seen Rory struggle and strife and slowly rise above all the things the Barons (current members of the Pentacle) and everyone else has thrown towards her.
Book 6: Eventhough the Pentacle of Scions has been weakened in a most unsupected way (well the ending of book 5 made it clear but I mean unsuspecting for the other Scions), they come together the best they can to try and overcome the problem they now face. But beside that problem it is clear there is still something major that can either crush their Pentacle or their bond altogether or make it tighter than ever before.
Meanwhile Rory is adjusting to life with a Fearmancer parent.
Book 7: Apart from the scions’ necessary actions to stop the sinister plans the barons have set in motion, Rory’s mother seems to be getting back to her full strength after her ordeal. But is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Book 8: With the ending of book 7, the last book had the promise to be captivating and interesting. And it delivered!
The conclusion to this great series wraps up everything with convincing details and without anything feeling rushed. And I must say, the ending is just perfect <3
The 5th installment focuses more on the search for her relative and the uncertainties that come with that and the relationship between the Scions but it was a nice change from having seen Rory struggle and strife and slowly rise above all the things the Barons (current members of the Pentacle) and everyone else has thrown towards her.
Book 6: Eventhough the Pentacle of Scions has been weakened in a most unsupected way (well the ending of book 5 made it clear but I mean unsuspecting for the other Scions), they come together the best they can to try and overcome the problem they now face. But beside that problem it is clear there is still something major that can either crush their Pentacle or their bond altogether or make it tighter than ever before.
Meanwhile Rory is adjusting to life with a Fearmancer parent.
Book 7: Apart from the scions’ necessary actions to stop the sinister plans the barons have set in motion, Rory’s mother seems to be getting back to her full strength after her ordeal. But is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Book 8: With the ending of book 7, the last book had the promise to be captivating and interesting. And it delivered!
The conclusion to this great series wraps up everything with convincing details and without anything feeling rushed. And I must say, the ending is just perfect <3
January 8, 2021
Audio book
Wow what can I say about the box set. Eva chase continues with her push and pull with Rory and her mates. She finds out her mother is alive and being help prisoner. When her mother comes back you think her mother will change her outlook on life but Rorys mother makes things worse for non magical people. You’ll love this box set and her story’s Stephen Dexter and Meg Slyvan performance was magical . They brought all the characters to life
Wow what can I say about the box set. Eva chase continues with her push and pull with Rory and her mates. She finds out her mother is alive and being help prisoner. When her mother comes back you think her mother will change her outlook on life but Rorys mother makes things worse for non magical people. You’ll love this box set and her story’s Stephen Dexter and Meg Slyvan performance was magical . They brought all the characters to life
December 27, 2022
Not worth the read. Mostly boring sex. Not good
Not an author I would recommend.
There was way too much porn in these books. It became boring and nonsensical. One woman with 4 men constantly. I had to skip most of the porn as it became pathetic. Will never read thus author again. Writing could have been go
od with some sex not 75 percent.
Not an author I would recommend.
There was way too much porn in these books. It became boring and nonsensical. One woman with 4 men constantly. I had to skip most of the porn as it became pathetic. Will never read thus author again. Writing could have been go
od with some sex not 75 percent.
February 7, 2025
The main character beds all the guys at the same time. Soon-enough there's dialogue about "I'm not jealous of all the other guys you're having sex with too, it just means you're even more happy than I could have made you on my own!" Gross. Makes me think the author must be very immature. This isn't what love looks like. This isn't what the fantasy of love looks like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
Ahhh
I have a love\hate relationship with this entire set of books lol I love the fierceness the loyalty. The love and the amount of steamy spots. I had to set my kindle down several times throughout cuz I would be overwhelmed by events but I obviously always picked it back up.
I have a love\hate relationship with this entire set of books lol I love the fierceness the loyalty. The love and the amount of steamy spots. I had to set my kindle down several times throughout cuz I would be overwhelmed by events but I obviously always picked it back up.
March 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this series, In book 5-8 the chaos explodes and I was amazed how the characters joined together and their bonds grew as they fought for a common goal. Fighting against the rules of the world they were raised in and blazing a new path for a better place for all.
Well Written!
Well Written!
February 7, 2023
INTENSE
Intense that pretty much describes the entire series. The only one that I still haven’t read is the last one about Cressida. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book in series. If you enjoy stories about magic and deception you have to read the series.
Intense that pretty much describes the entire series. The only one that I still haven’t read is the last one about Cressida. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book in series. If you enjoy stories about magic and deception you have to read the series.
October 19, 2023
Amazing
This series is absolutely perfect from all rorys trials to finding love with the guys to eliminating the barons one of which was her real mom. Courage an love to do what's right no matter what
This series is absolutely perfect from all rorys trials to finding love with the guys to eliminating the barons one of which was her real mom. Courage an love to do what's right no matter what
December 20, 2023
Loved the ending!
Happy to see Rory and her guys get their HEA! Was a little sad that they had to be at the barons the way they did, because I know it's not the way they wanted to. Still happy with how it ended and can't wait to read the next story from villian academy.
Happy to see Rory and her guys get their HEA! Was a little sad that they had to be at the barons the way they did, because I know it's not the way they wanted to. Still happy with how it ended and can't wait to read the next story from villian academy.
April 6, 2024
The storyline and culture of this world kept me reading avidly. Most of the time, especially in the last few books, I was skipping over the “romance” parts. There’s just a lot of it. At times an unbelievable sex drive. But I really was fascinated by this world of fearmancy.
August 17, 2021
Again fluffy, fun, engaging. A nice quick read through a series. Good villain arc, nice way to challenge a readers concept of right and wrong, good and bad. Worth a look at of you have a moment!
January 27, 2025
Way too long!
You could skim 85% of this series, and still have no problem following along with the storyline. These books were way longer than they needed to be
You could skim 85% of this series, and still have no problem following along with the storyline. These books were way longer than they needed to be
January 11, 2025
The story of Rory Bloodstone continues in this second omnibus edition of the Royals of Villain Academy series, with even more secrets, surprises sexytimes in store. The main focus remains on the pentacle of scions, but expands beyond Blood U to take in the wider world, both mage and nary, to take you on a ride where the outcome isn't certain for any of them. This is more emotionally charged than the first half, both in terms of your investment in the characters and the overarching narrative, there are moments that really draw you in to examining your own stance on various happenings in the real world, and moments that make you wish you lived in fiction!
As before, the pace is very quick, with the whole story really being more than the sum of its parts. But what I liked about this was the various elements of uncertainty throughout. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping the options open every step of the way, so that it's completely possible for the various scenarios to have multiple outcomes. I found myself wanting to keep reading so I could get all the answers, from whether all of the pentacle would make it to the end and would there be a HEA, to whether certain characters would turn out to be heros or villains. Again, the omnibus is over 1,000 pages but it is definitely not a hard read and it really does fly by!
This book also has the advantage that, even though it essentially follows straight on, the characters all seem to come into their own a little more, presenting much more maturely and facing the problems of the outside world as adults rather than the petty middle school childishness that went on in books 1-4. I found this made all of the main characters far more likeable, and when coupled with their individual moments in the spotlight, made them all more well rounded too. They probably could have done with a little bit more development to really flesh them out as they don't come across in my head as vividly as others, but they're engaging enough for you to envy Rory her position, and to recoil from the barons.
The chemistry between Rory and the boys cranks up a notch here, with the appeal of each only improving as the story progresses. This book has helped me understand the appeal of the reverse harem, although I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of four guys at the same time, especially with no crossing swords... may need to go back and read those bits again... 😉.
There is what feels like a little bit of catastrophising social commentary within (well, maybe it's not catastrophising if it feels like we're heading that way!), but it's also a great illustration of the power of people, young and old, when they band together to take a stand about issue they believe in and the way the power of the minority in charge could be brought to bear on those who disagree. In some respects, I felt that this element was glossed over a bit too quickly, which detracted from the effectiveness of Rory's machinations. Likewise, the ending felt somewhat rushed and a little bit of a disappointment after the long old build up; it all just slotted into place a little too quickly and neatly.
Overall, I prefer this book to the first one, but the series as a whole was well worth a read and I'm definitely making sure the author is on my list to go and meet at RARE25!
As before, the pace is very quick, with the whole story really being more than the sum of its parts. But what I liked about this was the various elements of uncertainty throughout. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping the options open every step of the way, so that it's completely possible for the various scenarios to have multiple outcomes. I found myself wanting to keep reading so I could get all the answers, from whether all of the pentacle would make it to the end and would there be a HEA, to whether certain characters would turn out to be heros or villains. Again, the omnibus is over 1,000 pages but it is definitely not a hard read and it really does fly by!
This book also has the advantage that, even though it essentially follows straight on, the characters all seem to come into their own a little more, presenting much more maturely and facing the problems of the outside world as adults rather than the petty middle school childishness that went on in books 1-4. I found this made all of the main characters far more likeable, and when coupled with their individual moments in the spotlight, made them all more well rounded too. They probably could have done with a little bit more development to really flesh them out as they don't come across in my head as vividly as others, but they're engaging enough for you to envy Rory her position, and to recoil from the barons.
The chemistry between Rory and the boys cranks up a notch here, with the appeal of each only improving as the story progresses. This book has helped me understand the appeal of the reverse harem, although I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of four guys at the same time, especially with no crossing swords... may need to go back and read those bits again... 😉.
There is what feels like a little bit of catastrophising social commentary within (well, maybe it's not catastrophising if it feels like we're heading that way!), but it's also a great illustration of the power of people, young and old, when they band together to take a stand about issue they believe in and the way the power of the minority in charge could be brought to bear on those who disagree. In some respects, I felt that this element was glossed over a bit too quickly, which detracted from the effectiveness of Rory's machinations. Likewise, the ending felt somewhat rushed and a little bit of a disappointment after the long old build up; it all just slotted into place a little too quickly and neatly.
Overall, I prefer this book to the first one, but the series as a whole was well worth a read and I'm definitely making sure the author is on my list to go and meet at RARE25!
July 2, 2025
Rory is a great FMC in many ways - she's smart and independent and rises to the occasion when she needs to fight for her principals. On the whole, the reason I got into the series was simply because she was so satisfying to read about. Yes, her parents were murdered in front of her and then she was cast into a world that she didn't have any idea existed, but that didn't mean she had to fall apart and admit defeat.
After being raised by adoptive parents that have and use magic while telling her she has no magic of her own, the fact that she's sent to a school for mages is a shock. Though not as much of one as when she finds out that she gets magic when people fear her. So this whole society is based on creating fear/terror to make yourself more powerful. These people are just really great. She gets to school and immediately meets the incredibly handsome but douchey boys that smell great so you know these are her harem. They start in right away with bullying her and generally making assess of themselves, all while she sees all these mages around misusing the 'naries' or regular non-magic folks. At the start she makes it her whole thing to treat them better and try to get other people to do so as well.
As the books go on, the boys each spend time with her and realize how great she is and how wrong they are, just in time for her to realize that her birth mother is alive and they can save her from the people who kidnapped our FMC when she was two. There's concern over bringing her mother back because she's going to be full of rage from her 17 years of confinement, but Rory is sure she'll be able to talk her around.
She can't. Her mom is full of rage and hates regular humans and is hell-bent on taking over the country so that magical people don't have to live in secret anymore and they can put all the 'feebs' in their rightful place. I get that, for a villain, that's a great goal. But it's never delved any deeper into the why's or wherefores' that are driving this plot so, as villains, the mom and her cohorts are pretty 2-dimensional.
For me, this whole series is Zodiac Academy fanfic, and I don't hate that, but I did find that after a point, I just wanted to get to the end to see how everything works out. It does so in a way that you will not be surprised about. I could wish for a lot better world building, the magic system is a bit goofy, and the over-all story could have gotten so much deeper.
There were times in Zodiac when the FMCs would get pretty mean girl and act as bullies themselves, and it feels that in this fanfic, the FMC over compensates by being too soft at times and apologizing for things that are nowhere near her fault. She spends a lot of time 'just checking in' with people and I just can't with that.
Our 4 boys have pretty straight forward and not at all surprising backstories of parental abuse and a society set to love them, so none of them have arcs that go anywhere surprising. They start as bullies and douchebags, and end up being super supportive and caring. So.
I'm glad this series was completed and I could just read it straight through. Now I can read something better written and maybe never read anything from this author again.
After being raised by adoptive parents that have and use magic while telling her she has no magic of her own, the fact that she's sent to a school for mages is a shock. Though not as much of one as when she finds out that she gets magic when people fear her. So this whole society is based on creating fear/terror to make yourself more powerful. These people are just really great. She gets to school and immediately meets the incredibly handsome but douchey boys that smell great so you know these are her harem. They start in right away with bullying her and generally making assess of themselves, all while she sees all these mages around misusing the 'naries' or regular non-magic folks. At the start she makes it her whole thing to treat them better and try to get other people to do so as well.
As the books go on, the boys each spend time with her and realize how great she is and how wrong they are, just in time for her to realize that her birth mother is alive and they can save her from the people who kidnapped our FMC when she was two. There's concern over bringing her mother back because she's going to be full of rage from her 17 years of confinement, but Rory is sure she'll be able to talk her around.
She can't. Her mom is full of rage and hates regular humans and is hell-bent on taking over the country so that magical people don't have to live in secret anymore and they can put all the 'feebs' in their rightful place. I get that, for a villain, that's a great goal. But it's never delved any deeper into the why's or wherefores' that are driving this plot so, as villains, the mom and her cohorts are pretty 2-dimensional.
For me, this whole series is Zodiac Academy fanfic, and I don't hate that, but I did find that after a point, I just wanted to get to the end to see how everything works out. It does so in a way that you will not be surprised about. I could wish for a lot better world building, the magic system is a bit goofy, and the over-all story could have gotten so much deeper.
There were times in Zodiac when the FMCs would get pretty mean girl and act as bullies themselves, and it feels that in this fanfic, the FMC over compensates by being too soft at times and apologizing for things that are nowhere near her fault. She spends a lot of time 'just checking in' with people and I just can't with that.
Our 4 boys have pretty straight forward and not at all surprising backstories of parental abuse and a society set to love them, so none of them have arcs that go anywhere surprising. They start as bullies and douchebags, and end up being super supportive and caring. So.
I'm glad this series was completed and I could just read it straight through. Now I can read something better written and maybe never read anything from this author again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
I'm going to have to file this second half of the series under Did Not Finish at around 84%. Well, I kind of finished it by skipping ahead to see the final results but overall I got bored waiting for the obvious ending that I could see coming.
I agree with many reviews I've read that this 8 book series could have easily been 4 books. As with the previous books, the author repeats entire pages of back history for every character and situation... Someone who made it to book 5 of this series DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW WHO DEBORAH IS! We knew since book 1! And yet we have to hear about her again anytime her name comes up in each book. That is just one example, picture that for every single character and situation. It's made me skim through entire sections and skip ahead multiple times because I really just wanted to know how the final outcome worked out.
I mentioned in previous reviews how I thought the spicy stuff was unnecessary and that can be said again and again for all 4 of the books in this second series. I know some people read specifically for the spice but I prefer the storyline. If you remove the actual spice, the rest of the book could be very young adult oriented and I know young adults who would have enjoyed the series but won't be reading it because they don't want the spice. I would have preferred the scions to come together as friends and a group of leaders instead. The boys in this second half are just fawning all over Rory, doing anything for her which is it kind of ridiculous. It takes away their strength and personality and makes them seem weak. I guess that is the point of these types of stories, that the girl gets anything she wants, but I'm not interested in that. I would have rather her end up with 1 partner in particular and the rest just be strong leaders and friends together.
So if you made it through the first 4 and thought maybe you can read through to see what happens - I'll just tell you it's pretty predictable ending. Nothing mind blowing in my opinion, and a lot of it is dragged out when it's obvious what is going to happen. If you were to edit out the spice and the repetition, this could be a 4 book series that teens would love. Unfortunately that's not what it is... and I'm not planning to look into other books from this author.
I agree with many reviews I've read that this 8 book series could have easily been 4 books. As with the previous books, the author repeats entire pages of back history for every character and situation... Someone who made it to book 5 of this series DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW WHO DEBORAH IS! We knew since book 1! And yet we have to hear about her again anytime her name comes up in each book. That is just one example, picture that for every single character and situation. It's made me skim through entire sections and skip ahead multiple times because I really just wanted to know how the final outcome worked out.
I mentioned in previous reviews how I thought the spicy stuff was unnecessary and that can be said again and again for all 4 of the books in this second series. I know some people read specifically for the spice but I prefer the storyline. If you remove the actual spice, the rest of the book could be very young adult oriented and I know young adults who would have enjoyed the series but won't be reading it because they don't want the spice. I would have preferred the scions to come together as friends and a group of leaders instead. The boys in this second half are just fawning all over Rory, doing anything for her which is it kind of ridiculous. It takes away their strength and personality and makes them seem weak. I guess that is the point of these types of stories, that the girl gets anything she wants, but I'm not interested in that. I would have rather her end up with 1 partner in particular and the rest just be strong leaders and friends together.
So if you made it through the first 4 and thought maybe you can read through to see what happens - I'll just tell you it's pretty predictable ending. Nothing mind blowing in my opinion, and a lot of it is dragged out when it's obvious what is going to happen. If you were to edit out the spice and the repetition, this could be a 4 book series that teens would love. Unfortunately that's not what it is... and I'm not planning to look into other books from this author.
November 20, 2024
Amazing Ending
Title: Royals of Villain Academy Books 5-8
Author: Eva Chase
Format: ebook
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, NA, RH, Enemies to Lovers, Bully, Academy
Standalone: no
Part of a Series: Box Set of Books 5-8 of the Villain Academy series
POV:Rory, Jude, Malcolm, Connar, Declan
Steam Level: toasty at times
5/5
An excellent end to the series. The tension and stakes keep ramping up throughout this series, especially these last four books of the series. I wasn’t sure what would happen but, given everything that happened, I’m glad it was the way it was (how’s that for cryptic?). I was especially engrossed in the final two books - ripping through them to see what would happen next. I was happy with the very end (epilogue not explicitly stated as an epilogue) but would also have loved another epilogue further in the future. While eight books was longer than I expected to read I found myself not wanting to say goodbye to theses characters. Definitely worth the time investment.
Book 5: corrupt Alchemy
POV: Rory, Jude, Malcolm, Connar, Declan
Wow What a rollercoaster. Corrupt Alchemy starts off right where the previous book ends. The race is on to see if it’s true and a race to find a location and mount a rescue. I like that we get to see more of Malcolm as this book progresses.
Book 6: Foul Conjurings
Rory, Declan, Malcolm, Jude, Connar
The insanity continues in Foul Conjurings. As one problem is “solved,” another presents itself.
Book 7: Grim Witchery
POV: Rory, Jude, Declan, Malcolm, Connar
Oh my. The intensity of this story is growing and growing. Quite a few secret are revealed in this book but then several more come about. I’m super excited to see how the events that are set up at the end of this book play out. I’m also excited to see how this series will end.
Book 8: Vicious Arts
POV: Rory, Declan, Connar, Malcolm, Jude
Holy wow was this book intense. It was one giant climax that continued to build and build with intensity. Amazing ending that made the time spent reading this long series well worth it.
Title: Royals of Villain Academy Books 5-8
Author: Eva Chase
Format: ebook
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, NA, RH, Enemies to Lovers, Bully, Academy
Standalone: no
Part of a Series: Box Set of Books 5-8 of the Villain Academy series
POV:Rory, Jude, Malcolm, Connar, Declan
Steam Level: toasty at times
5/5
An excellent end to the series. The tension and stakes keep ramping up throughout this series, especially these last four books of the series. I wasn’t sure what would happen but, given everything that happened, I’m glad it was the way it was (how’s that for cryptic?). I was especially engrossed in the final two books - ripping through them to see what would happen next. I was happy with the very end (epilogue not explicitly stated as an epilogue) but would also have loved another epilogue further in the future. While eight books was longer than I expected to read I found myself not wanting to say goodbye to theses characters. Definitely worth the time investment.
Book 5: corrupt Alchemy
POV: Rory, Jude, Malcolm, Connar, Declan
Wow What a rollercoaster. Corrupt Alchemy starts off right where the previous book ends. The race is on to see if it’s true and a race to find a location and mount a rescue. I like that we get to see more of Malcolm as this book progresses.
Book 6: Foul Conjurings
Rory, Declan, Malcolm, Jude, Connar
The insanity continues in Foul Conjurings. As one problem is “solved,” another presents itself.
Book 7: Grim Witchery
POV: Rory, Jude, Declan, Malcolm, Connar
Oh my. The intensity of this story is growing and growing. Quite a few secret are revealed in this book but then several more come about. I’m super excited to see how the events that are set up at the end of this book play out. I’m also excited to see how this series will end.
Book 8: Vicious Arts
POV: Rory, Declan, Connar, Malcolm, Jude
Holy wow was this book intense. It was one giant climax that continued to build and build with intensity. Amazing ending that made the time spent reading this long series well worth it.
October 2, 2024
Absolutely loved it! Great read and conclusion!
I absolutely loved these stories! This is the 2nd half of the series with the four books collected in one and you are definitely going to want to have read the first 4 books in the series as well as go from one book to the next. There is plenty of action and intrigue as we watch things develop for Rory with her men and the Fearmancer world. She is dealing with a lot and a lot of changes as she continues to be herself but also trying to figure out what is going on with the Barons and what their large plot is. She is also dealing with the fact that her mother is alive and needs rescuing as she has been held by the Joymancers all this time. She has something starting to brew with Malcolm as he has stopped trying to attack her and made it known that he is sorry and his bullying is over to her and is now standing up and by her side in public. There is a lot of trust that still needs to be built with him but he is ready to step up for that. I loved how she made it known that she was willing to see where things go there but she was not willing to give up her other relationships with the other Scions that she had. I loved watching those continue to build with each other as well. They continue to start seeing things from a different perspective and it allows them to build a stronger and stronger team between themselves. This story had me engaged from beginning to end and I truly enjoyed reading the entire series and watching everything come together. Very well done and can't wait to read more in this world and by Eva Chase.
I listened to the audio version and the narrators did a phenomenal job with all the characters and personalities and having the action and emotions come alive. They really complimented each other.
I absolutely loved these stories! This is the 2nd half of the series with the four books collected in one and you are definitely going to want to have read the first 4 books in the series as well as go from one book to the next. There is plenty of action and intrigue as we watch things develop for Rory with her men and the Fearmancer world. She is dealing with a lot and a lot of changes as she continues to be herself but also trying to figure out what is going on with the Barons and what their large plot is. She is also dealing with the fact that her mother is alive and needs rescuing as she has been held by the Joymancers all this time. She has something starting to brew with Malcolm as he has stopped trying to attack her and made it known that he is sorry and his bullying is over to her and is now standing up and by her side in public. There is a lot of trust that still needs to be built with him but he is ready to step up for that. I loved how she made it known that she was willing to see where things go there but she was not willing to give up her other relationships with the other Scions that she had. I loved watching those continue to build with each other as well. They continue to start seeing things from a different perspective and it allows them to build a stronger and stronger team between themselves. This story had me engaged from beginning to end and I truly enjoyed reading the entire series and watching everything come together. Very well done and can't wait to read more in this world and by Eva Chase.
I listened to the audio version and the narrators did a phenomenal job with all the characters and personalities and having the action and emotions come alive. They really complimented each other.
December 12, 2020
I received a free audio copy of this book directly from the author for an honest review.
I honestly enjoy this series so much it has so many twists and turns it’s picked straight up from the previous book and hearing about her real mother is possibly alive?! It has a definite heartbreaking moments in these books but also a great more depth into character building especially with Malcom and Declan. Our scions characters continue to develop into these incredible individuals and watching their relationships blossom throughout this series has been an incredible journey in itself. This series gets you so involved in all the characters well fairs it’s pretty impressive to see just how much you get engrossed in the story. There’s not just the bigger picture going on though there’s all the little things and politics it’s all cleverly integrated into one big story.
There’s so much to be said about this book so much action and not just the steamy kind! So many twists and plots and I’m not going to spoil them by writing them down but there’s so many moments that have you in shock. There’s danger, suspense and full of it’s full of emotion.. I absolutely have loved this series and will definitely be listening to other books by this author!
I honestly enjoy this series so much it has so many twists and turns it’s picked straight up from the previous book and hearing about her real mother is possibly alive?! It has a definite heartbreaking moments in these books but also a great more depth into character building especially with Malcom and Declan. Our scions characters continue to develop into these incredible individuals and watching their relationships blossom throughout this series has been an incredible journey in itself. This series gets you so involved in all the characters well fairs it’s pretty impressive to see just how much you get engrossed in the story. There’s not just the bigger picture going on though there’s all the little things and politics it’s all cleverly integrated into one big story.
There’s so much to be said about this book so much action and not just the steamy kind! So many twists and plots and I’m not going to spoil them by writing them down but there’s so many moments that have you in shock. There’s danger, suspense and full of it’s full of emotion.. I absolutely have loved this series and will definitely be listening to other books by this author!
February 7, 2026
I've read this series twice now, and definitely enjoyed them. While they are young, 19-21, they never actually act or talk that way, so it's easy to forget.
Additionally, the author didn't write it as an 18 year old chosen one saves the world, while the adults watch in awe. (Yes, I dislike those for obvious reasons.) Instead, the scions are less powerful than their parents (or rather, less trained/experienced), they can't directly stand up to them, but have to outsmart them. This was a refreshing view in academy stories.
The romance feels organic, with the FMC conflicted over caring for multiple men. Their arcs from bullies to allies to lovers is mostly believable and acceptable to the reader, although one case stretched it a bit...
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the series and would recommend it to anyone that likes academy, why-choose, or romantasy.
September 24, 2023
What I liked:
I enjoy the occasional reverse harem and academy plots. This series was pretty action heavy and didn't spend too much time going into time detailing the intimatcies between Rory and her four men. There were some fun bonus scenes from the male perspectives included in the box set.
What I Didin't Really Like:
It was tough to get through over 1200 pages combined into one box set. I had to break it up and switch to other things between each of the individual four books. It wasn't quite satisfied with how things ended between Rory and her mother. I guess I was rooting for redemption of some sort or at least a more detailed explanation of her mother's motivations for her actions.
Overall:
If you like new adult paranormal romance, you should definitely give this series a try.
I enjoy the occasional reverse harem and academy plots. This series was pretty action heavy and didn't spend too much time going into time detailing the intimatcies between Rory and her four men. There were some fun bonus scenes from the male perspectives included in the box set.
What I Didin't Really Like:
It was tough to get through over 1200 pages combined into one box set. I had to break it up and switch to other things between each of the individual four books. It wasn't quite satisfied with how things ended between Rory and her mother. I guess I was rooting for redemption of some sort or at least a more detailed explanation of her mother's motivations for her actions.
Overall:
If you like new adult paranormal romance, you should definitely give this series a try.
September 17, 2025
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 5–8 (Villain Academy Box Sets Book 2)
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 5–8 (Villain Academy Box Sets Book 2) ~ This second box set takes everything from the first one and cranks it up—more danger, more betrayal, and the relationships become so tangled I didn’t know who to trust. The heroine really comes into her own here, standing toe-to-toe with the “royals” and proving she’s more than a pawn in their games. The romance gets hotter and the stakes higher—by the time I finished, I was fully invested in every character, even the ones I loved to hate. Eva Chase has a way of mixing swoon-worthy tension with jaw-dropping action that makes it impossible to stop reading.
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 5–8 (Villain Academy Box Sets Book 2) ~ This second box set takes everything from the first one and cranks it up—more danger, more betrayal, and the relationships become so tangled I didn’t know who to trust. The heroine really comes into her own here, standing toe-to-toe with the “royals” and proving she’s more than a pawn in their games. The romance gets hotter and the stakes higher—by the time I finished, I was fully invested in every character, even the ones I loved to hate. Eva Chase has a way of mixing swoon-worthy tension with jaw-dropping action that makes it impossible to stop reading.
December 31, 2020
This did not disappoint. There were all sorts of unexpected twists and turns, and I really didn't know what to expect! This series really takes you through a whole range of emotions and I really bonded with these characters. It's hard to say goodbye, but they were given a worthy ending. Definitely a series worth diving into and getting lost.
As for the narration, both get 5/5. I've gained a couple new favorite narrators from this listen. They both speak clearly and bring the stories to life with their character voices.
As for the narration, both get 5/5. I've gained a couple new favorite narrators from this listen. They both speak clearly and bring the stories to life with their character voices.
November 5, 2023
Rory and her four lovers had a big battle with the barons to restore peace between Joymancer and Fearmancer. They had to get rid of their parents because they did not want to stop attacking the humans. Barons wanted complete control all over the world. They wanted to practice magic in the open instead of keeping away human eyes. Rory pleaded with her mother to stop what she was doing. Rory wanted peace and did not want anybody to get hurt. She changed her lovers so that they didn't have to hurt humans or their own kind feeding off fear to make them stronger.
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