Very Well Done

For a young adult series, and me being an adult woman, I was shocked by how much I loved it. I thought the story was very well written and portrayed nicely. The author and narration team did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.

I received a free copy of the story and am voluntarily leaving a review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

It’s just a small thing

The story is good but I almost had to stop listening because of the narrator. The main character voices change from when she narrates and makes her sound like a man!! It’s just a small thing but it really grated my nerves.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awesome series

Absolutely awesome series. Book 1 A new author for me and all I can say is Wow a great first book to this series. I am hooked. The authors style has caught my attention. Great characters and a plot that keeps you turning pages. Saxony is a mage who survived what is known to mages as The Burning. Not many who attempt it survive but those few that do find their powers leveled up so to speak and they become more powerful. Now she is attending Arcturus Academy to learn how to control her fire power. The catch is that her teacher doesn't want the other students to know about her burning. She manages to get private tutoring after her tests which catches the attention of Ryan who is the evil twin of her boyfriend Gage. Ryan is a bully, a cheater and a liar. Unfortunately even though Saxony dispises him, they share a mage bond. So when Ryan latches onto April who is meak and a poor mage struggling with her power Saxony knows he needs to be taken down a notch or two. A great first book in the series filled with firepower, friendship and betrayel. Book 2 This is really starting to be a great series. Book 2 didn't disappoint. So many great characters. I really like the headmaster Bassel, he is an interesting character. He is strict but also compassionate. He tries to teach the mages what they need to know and steer them in the right direction but not all the students listen to his advice. In this one Ryan is still up to his triscks. He is blackmailing Saxony. He wants her to bring him through a burning and he is using Saxony's friend April to get her to comply. But April has never wanted to be a mage so when her fire goes out she is thrilled. Ryan is furious when he looses his hold over Saxony so he will have to find another way to get what he wants. Meanwhile his twin Gage is blind to his brothers atrocities. Saxony has to get Gage to see he is traveling down the wrong path. I am really loving this series. Another new author for my favorites list. Book 3 What a great series. I really like the characters and each story gets better and better. Saxony is a very complex character but always tries to see the good sides of people. In this one Bassels father has died and his will states that Bassel and his sister Babbs will run the school together. Bassel knows this won't work because his vision for the school is completely different than Babbs. She believes in getting students to go through the dangerouse burning ritual and Bassel fears students will die. Babbs already runs a school that is smaller than Arcturus but basically does the same thing. An agreement is made that they will compete in a sudden death challenge and the winner will get the academy. The competition is fierce and Saxony being the only one that is burned is expected to win. She is nervous when she realizes she will be competing in the final challenge of hand to hand combat with a girl named Ira. Saxony learns that Ira is a hybrid. She is a fire mage but also something else and Saxony has no idea what it is. She will have to be clever to win this challenge and save the school. Book 4 Another great installment in the Arcturus Academy series. Saxony & her friends are involved in a mystery trying to stop someone from stealing the fire from the fire mages. All over the world mages fire was going out just like what happened to April. While involved in another matter, Gage came to help Saxony with another matter and then he was kidnapped. He was taken by the people stealing mage fire so they had to find him as soon as possible. They will also uncover anorher innocent victim a long the way. There was a lot going on in this one and it had great characters & world building. On to book 5. Book 5 What an epic ending to a fantastic series. Another new author for me that has left me speechless. I will definately be reading more of her books. Interesting characters with a wide variety of personalities and takents. A superior villian that didn't show himself until the last 2 books and what a villian he was. Mages were still loosing their fire and bassel and the students couldn't figure out how it was happening. Gage's fire was taken by brutal force and almost killed him. Saxony and his friends vowed to get the responsible person no matter what. Ryan came back to help but I did not trust him at all. He has done nothing but lie and cause turmoil. As the crew learned more about how it was happening, they embarked on a very dangerous journey to find the truth. In the end there was a couple new characters who definately helped a lot in an epic battle. This is now one of my all time favorite series. A perfect read for any fantasy lover .

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Decent story

Book 1 was entertaining & interesting. Narrator did a good job.
Book 2 was a little annoying. Gage is a pansy regarding his brother and Saxony forgives too easily. I skipped a lot to avpid my frustrations.

** SPOILER vent below **

So after all the ish gets exposed about what Ryan did, Gage overlooks all of the nepharios b.s. done to Saxony, the fmc he supposedly has feelings for, and all is forgiven. THEN Ryan drugs him and lures her away, but it's all good, according to him. AND THEN he can't believe Ryan dips without a word stealing a car. Like, bro. Seriously?? You need to wake tf up. OH, and Saxony doesn't say anything and just accepts it? There is no way her feelings can be so strong as to be a doormat. I get she's 17, but that doesn't mean she's dumb. Or maybe it does in this story.
On to book 3 to see if this gets better.

Book 3, Uuugh. Young love muddlies common sense. Gage has rose-colored blinders on, and Saxony loses all sense with one "burning touch." *rolls eyes*

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awesome

This series is well written and the characters are well developed and interesting. They suck you into the story and have you wanting more throughout the series. The world building was well done and original. The narrator did a great job distinguishing between characters and making the reader enjoy the story. The storyline was well defined and so enjoyable with ups, downs, twists and turns, drama, and humor. Actually I think it had about every emotion you can imagine. It was such an enjoyable book series to listen to and read. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

This is AMAZING

I loved everything, the only reason I didn't give five stars to the story - is that I found it a bit too fast at the beginning
otherwise this is very impressive and I would recommend to the people who like the magical Academy style of books!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

FIRE!!!

Saxony: I feel if I were her I would Have been more of a tattle tale. But in the end these three books were nothing but fire. I can't decide which one of the girls I like more. Because each one of them has a place in my heart. I definitely would have left gauge a lot sooner because of his love for his brother. I hope they become better friends than they were trying to be girlfriend and boyfriend. As for the author of these books she captivated me from day one. The anticipation of every book she's written makes me wantna keep buying them. To the author thank you.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A fun series

#1 ‘Firecracker’

Gripped me very early in, and kept my attention—no small feat. My first read by this author and it was enough to convince me to read on in the series.
Overall this was an intriguing, sometimes-exciting read.

▪️ Academy vibes.
▪️ Fire magic.
▪️ “Mean Girls” vibes (though both sexes were mean).
▪️ Secrets.
▪️ Betrayal, scandal.
▪️ Strong female lead, who grows before the reader’s ‘eyes’.
▪️ Trials.
▪️ Coming of age.

Overall: well done.
4 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Audio:
5 stars on all fronts: performance, production, sound-quality, voice, etc.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#2: ‘Fire Trap’

This one picks up a few months after the end of book 1, with the next school year.

It proved to be a good progression, maintaining the same air of ‘high-school style’ drama, mystery and fire magic. This one also packs a bit of action—very ‘Harry Potter’ ish in set-up style, YA readers should enjoy this installment.

4 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Audio:
5 stars on all fronts: performance, production, sound-quality, voice, etc.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


#3: ‘Fire Games’

This one picks up exactly where book 2 left off—which is fun if you read the series in order. Still has the HP air, aided by a character who smacks of Delores Umbridge.

This one also brings more trials. It’s not as intriguing as the first 2 books and lacks originality, but overall is fun, so I opted to read on for at least 1 more book. We do get a bit more from FMC’s past, which is redeeming for me.

The stakes are elevated in this one, immensely.

• YA-fantasy.
• Juvenile-minded adults.
• Academy setting.
• Trials.
• Puzzles / riddles.
• Love triangle.
• Scandal.

4 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Audio:
5 stars on all fronts: performance, production, sound-quality, voice, etc.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#4: ‘Legends of Fire’

This one is a bit more fast-paced than the previous three, at least at the start, though ultimately it felt a bit longer than it needed to be.
Overall though, it packs plenty of action and excitement.

Well done.
3.5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Audio:
5 stars on all fronts: performance, production, sound-quality, voice, etc.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


#5: ‘Source Fire’

This installment was a lot more slow-paced than the previous 4 books. I semi-enjoyed the characters and some of their banter and the slight mystery aspect, but wasn’t on the edge of my seat.
I think this series could’ve been done in 3 books as each one was a bit slower than the previous, and it didn’t end on the exciting note that it started on. But overall, good writing and character development.

3 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Audio:
5 stars on all fronts: performance, production, sound-quality, voice, etc.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

mc

absolutely hate the inner monologue voice doesnt match her real voice i think she does better with the male voices...

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

narrator really brings the story to life

I loved reading these books, but loved listening to them even more. The audiobook narration really brings the books to life and helps with my imagination so much.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!