Royals of Villain Academy by Eva Chase - Reading from 'Vile Sorcery (Royals of Villain Academy #2)' from July 28th 2019

[Tiera]

I thought I was ordinary Rory Franco: college student, artist, and over-protected daughter. Then mages barge into my family’s home, murder my parents, and whisk me off to a university known to the rest of magical society as Villain Academy.

It turns out I’m Persephone Bloodstone, the long lost heir to one of the five royal families of dark magic. I’m destined to learn how to manipulate the world with fear—and to stand beside the four other scions: the scorching-hot, arrogant young men who rule this school.

Unfortunately, I’m having trouble locating my supposedly wicked skills. I don’t want to use a power that feeds off people’s pain, but I have to tap into my talents fast if I want to survive. I’ve got no time to grieve for my family. The students here are even more vicious than the teachers, and my fellow scions are worst of all.

The four of them crush anyone who doesn’t kowtow. No way will I bow to any villain, no matter how brutally alluring. They can turn on the charm or tear me down, but they can’t break me, even if I can barely get my magic working.

They’ve never met anyone like me before. I don’t care about ruling. I just want to avenge the people I loved.

It doesn’t matter what kind of power runs through my veins. I’m taking Villain Academy down.

*Cruel Magic is the first in 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 reverse harem romance where there'll be no choosing required.*

[Jennifer]

I hope you don't mind, I got an early start. I've got four different BRs starting on the 8th.

Ch 7 (25%) - (view spoiler)[ OK, first there is something glaringly wrong with the history as presented and the world that has evolved from it - if joymancers get their power from joy, then how would they ever accumulate enough to kill in a battle scenario like the one that supposedly happened in the incident where her parents were killed. I mean, I guess her adopted mom did get a little energy when the bad guy that killed her thought she was going to answer his question, but it just seems strange that a mage fueled with joy would then kill someone. I hope we get to know more about this incident. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 15 (51%) - (view spoiler)[ OMG, Malcome is awful. I get that these four are being set up to be her harem, but I honestly can't see Malcolm's character EVER getting there with her. He goes way beyond the asshole with the hidden heart type of character. I think he is truly evil no matter what his father has done to him. He totally reminds me of Draco Malfoy!!! I don't think Rory (or I) will ever like him. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 22 (74%) - I have a theory..... (view spoiler)[ Could she break their world by showing these boys what real "love" feels like? I mean, taking down the school is one thing that might get a lot of people hurt if the joymancers are equally prone to killing people as the fearmancers. But, retraining their emotions to include love and compassion?? That would change the world, wouldn't it? And she's already gotten under the skins of two of the boys! (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ Oh goody, she's proven she has talent, but she hasn't solved how she will store up enough magic to make a difference. There has to be another way she can get some power besides scaring people. (hide spoiler)]

What I think I like about this series so far is that the guys are and aren't your usual RH types. I mean yes, one is athletic, one is a nerd, one is an artist, and one is an asshole - but at the same time, we hate ALL of them at the moment. And furthermore, I can't decide if she is going to make them better people, or if they are going to make her a worse one when they all finally get together. There is so much that is different about this story than other RH's that it is exciting. I totally want to continue reading it!

[Tiera]

Yea I’m pretty sure I accidentally did that. I meant to put an audio and a physical on the 7th then another physical on the 8th’s but I totally botched it all up lol.

[Tiera]

I think this may be leaning towards the bully romance fad that has popped up recently. My KU recommended is full of bulky romances and academy series lol.

[Jennifer]

Yeah, mine has all the academy ones, but I've only seen a few bully romances. Given all the anti-bullying mantras, why would they create a bunch of bully romances? I don't get it.

[Tiera]

I don't know. Its like their publicists get together and plan out for all their authors to write the same stuff to create a fad or something. I'm not huge into the bully romances but that's because I get pissed off and then only want revenge lol.

[Tiera]

4% Whaaaattt (view spoiler)[ Didn't see "rescue mission" coming. Dang that sucks. (hide spoiler)]
28% (view spoiler)[ oh a little Harry Potteresk on the leagues there. I like it! (hide spoiler)]
53% (view spoiler)[ I'm not quite sure where Shelby fits in... she seems more important than just a side character but thats kind of all she is portrayed as. (hide spoiler)]
72% Ughhhh I freaking hate Malcolm. (view spoiler)[ I hope this dude chokes and dies in the end.. harsh I know.. I just don't see how hes going to turn this around. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: Its good. We have to continue this series. I have to know what happens. (view spoiler)[ I like how the author jumped on the Academy Craze and the Bully Romance Fad all at the same time lol. Clever girl. I also like how in this romance all the MMC's weren't out to seduce and then break Rory's heart. Cruel Intentions style. I've read several that play that angle. This seems more like all these fearmancers are bred and raised to not understand decency and its up to Rory to straighten their asses out. I just wish shed get the iron out faster. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Should I ask if Sarah can convert this thread to a series one? Or should we just make a thread for book 2?

[AℳY♔Queen of Fat cats♔Ain't no lie Baby Byebyebye]

Need!

[Tiera]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[ Honestly it looks like Bane field was under some sort of silence spell.. he gets horribly sick when he runs his mouth. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[ I'm totally waiting on the other foot to drop with her and Jude.. I mean especially after what happened with Connor. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ So glad that she is out finally visiting her families place. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[ Aww Jude is bad tore up.. rethinking his hole way of life.. I guarantee that Malcolm is salty af watching his carefully laid plans falling a part. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[ Well ... we still just don't know enough! I want to finally get into why her birth parents were killed. I hate to say it but I think the mouse may be involved or know more than she is telling. I kind of wish that she would get another familiar or something. I think this has a super interesting plot for sure. The chemistry in this book was just meh for me really. I'm super intrigued to see where this goes tho. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 8 (25%) - (view spoiler)[ Hmm, ok, so Jude is going to be all friendly now. Are we just going to work our way thru the scions until we get to Malcolm? I can't wait to see how the author turns that nightmare around. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16 (52%) - (view spoiler)[ I am a little surprised that Jude stood up to Malcolm. I honestly thought he would just try to play off the whole thing as his way of messing with her. Rory is dividing them without even knowing it! (hide spoiler)]
Ch 23 (75%) - (view spoiler)[ Ah, I was wondering when we would hear that not all fearmancers are haters. I am a little disappointed that Rory isn't even trying to see the world as a whole and that there have to be bad deads by joymancers as well, etc. She certainly likes sticking her head in the sand on this issue. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ Ooo, a mysterious key! I am sad that Banefield died. She needed a grown-up ally.

I also can't help but think that the journal she shoved back into the drawer at her parent's cottage is actually more important than she originally thought. (hide spoiler)]

I liked this one better than the first.

[Tiera]

Dreading the dead thread!! lol I'm going to go ahead and start book I'm going to need an "E" soon!

[Tiera]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[ What the heck Malcolm is so stupid delusional.. hes never almost had her on her knees, and yes he has been making everything worse with his hostile bit. smh.. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ What the heck.. So is Malcolm really sorry or is he only changing his tactic because he was told to do so... grrrr.. glad she didn't sleep with him but I know its inevitable.. grumble.. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ YEEESSS finally some justice in this world as Bichtoria gets a piece of her own medicine! Loving how Rory is really getting the hang of this magic stuff. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[ Aww things are finally coming to light. I'm not sure when the next book is due to be out. I think things are finally going to be blown out of the water! Finally! I am wondering.. where all Rory's powers come from? She doesn't seem to need to make people fear her in order to have the magic she needs... Shes not like part joymancer by chance is she? Maybe "squeaks" is like her real life aunt? (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

Book 4 comes out August 28.. I think I saw.

[Jennifer]

I’m going to start book 3 this weekend. I’ll try to keep this thread alive

[Jennifer]

Ch 8 (24%) - (view spoiler)[ Whoa, jealous much there Jude? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16 (51%) - (view spoiler)[ I thought that the game she was playing with Malcolm would blow up in her face. Really, what did she expect - that he wouldn't want to sleep with her? At least he isn't as evil as she suspected and he didn't force her. I think that rejection is just going to refuel his resentment of her though. (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

Jennifer wrote: "
Ch 8 (24%) - [spoilers removed]
Ch 16 (51%) - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I had some really evil glee going on when she rejected Malcolm and again later in Chapter 26! I think these bully romances are making me a bad person lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 24 (74%) - (view spoiler)[ Wow, so Malcolm might be leaning toward turning on his father at some point? That Rory must have a magic vagina! Anyone that gets close to it becomes a better person. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ Uh, so I can't understand how Rory could be framed for that. It seems like these mages would be able to track the magic used to a specific person, etc. They were rather quick to arrest her without any blood on her hands or anything. IDK, I'm just not that worried that she will get it pinned on her.

It was a little interesting that the author dropped the pressure Rory was feeling to acknowledge that joymancers were bad people sometimes too. We didn't get any of that in this book, yet I thought it was an important point for her to learn. Oh well, maybe next book. Comes out in a couple weeks! (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Tiera wrote: "
Chapter 9: [spoilers removed]
Chapter 16 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 26 [spoilers removed]
Finished: [spoilers removed]"

RE: Finished - (view spoiler)[ I didn't really think much about her not having trouble storing up her power, but you are right, the author barely mentioned it. I have been starting to suspect that they should be able to get their power from alternate sources if they are keyed into it - like when she got a little buzz from her swimming with Connor and Jude; however, I wonder why she never got a hint of magic when she was happy with her joymancer parents. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Tiera, Book 4 came out yesterday. Any interest??

[Tiera]

Yep! But I won’t be able to start I don’t think till september

[Jennifer]

Sounds like a plan

[Jennifer]

Ch 8 (26%) - (view spoiler)[ Aw, he loves her. I'm really liking Jude right now, and I can't wait until he can stick it to his father. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16 (51%) - (view spoiler)[ Could Cressida have let the killer into the dorms? If so, and even if not, why would she come to Rory's aid? I really hope Jude doesn't have to convince her. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 24 (75%) - (view spoiler)[ So does this mean that Rory is really giving up her plan to have the joymancers infiltrate the school. It sounds like it, but I'm not 100% convinced that she has wised up. I HOPE she has. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - Of course! (view spoiler)[ Now the question is - is it really her mother or just a fake? and will Malcolm be able to warn her before she gets sucked in? (hide spoiler)]

I'm still enjoying this series. It feels very juvenile at times, but then again, I need a little juvenile sometimes.

The last book in the series (I think it is the last) comes out at the end of October. I think it might be better if we put it off until November, assuming that we will have the series challenge again.

[Tiera]

Scrambling to catch up on all this hoping to read this today.

[Tiera]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[ Well Crap did she just put a spell on her somehow? What was with the pinch feeling? Bet that she forgets all about it, despite the fact that its stupid suspicious, until its too late. (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ Ok it says that she is actually building magic with fear here. I was thinking she might actually not be a fear mancer after all but now I'm sure she is. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ What the heck is really going on with between the fearmancers and the narys? I wish I could understand more motive here and see where the heck this is all coming from. Rory's nightmares is obviously from the pinch Lillian gave her I'm sure. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 27: (view spoiler)[ Good now thats over we can finally move on jeez I hate that she is indebted to whats her face now. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[ Dang just when you think you are making progress through the plot something like that happens. Her mom alive? Really? Sounds a little fishy. (hide spoiler)]