In book two of The Academy series, Jamie is torn between the safe Liam and the adventurous Wren as she discovers that evil is not always clear.After joyfully reuniting with the brother she thought she lost fifteen years ago, Jamie finds she must now devise a way to save him from certain death. The only possible path? Discover a way to complete the prophecy and destroy the evil Eldest Brothers and his pack once and for all. But in the midst of this life or death conflict, Jamie struggles to fight against romantic destiny.The wolf shifters’ complicated love triangle only intensifies as Jamie discovers Liam has not always been honest with her. In search of answers, Wren and Jamie take to the road to hunt for the lost pack that will either provide the answers they have been searching for or reveal new evils. Along the way, Jamie begins to question everything—and everyone—she thought she knew.Can the wolf shifters fulfill the prophecy, battle a pack of evil shifters, and save themselves? Or will the dark forces at work prove too powerful?
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Journey is the second book in the Academy series, a YA wolf-shifter romance trilogy. I absolutely love wolf-shifter romances and have been kind of obsessed with them lately so I was super excited to dive right in to the sequel! I have read multiple books by D. D. Larsen, I love the way she writes, specially the romance!
Spoilers below!
Journey starts right where the first book left off: with the return of Jamie's brother, Jacob. Jamie feels overwhelmed with this entire new life that has been sprung upon her: living in the Academy, having the wolf-spirit herself but never shifting, having the fate of the wolf-warriors depending on her... Jamie is the only one who can save them in a Bound ceremony, with the sexy but incredibly frustrating Wren. I love the hate-to-love dynamics between Jamie and Wren which builds up slowly across the series.
Jamie's character is easy to connect to, she's a headstrong woman who likes to investigate and decides things on her own, without blindly believing what others tell her. She decides to search for answers to all the secrets behind her new life, exploring the Academy's library and at the same time training with Wren to prepare for the upcoming battle and the evil Eldest Brothers. I love both the forced-proximity and one-bed tropes and D. D. Larsen delivers these perfectly! Until her ex-boyfriend comes back and asks Jamie for another chance, now Jamie is torn and must choose between these two drool-worthy men... I am #teamWren!
Journey delivers a lot more insights into the wolf-shifter world and Jamie's past, adding many more layers to the story. We discover that Jamie's life is linked to another's from the past, interconnected by magic and the wolf-spirit through centuries.
The book ends in a cliffhanger and lucky me, I already had a copy of book 3; Bound! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
Wow! This series gets better and better. Destiny left me hanging for more and Journey continued the story of Jamie, Wren and all the amazing characters. Jamie got some of the answers but many more came up. I love the love between Jamie and Wren. Once you start this series you want to know more. I do recommend this series
Earlier this year, I really enjoyed reading Destiny, the first book in this series, which united a wonderful small-town feeling with a great paranormal romance storyline. There were also elements of the first book that I was hoping to see expanded and explored in the sequel, and JOURNEY delivered!
While the small town atmosphere was still very present and as enjoyable as ever, we also get to explore a lot more of the paranormal aspect with added characters that gave even more depth to the story. The plot picks up exactly where we left off in Destiny, and as Jamie begins to accept the changes in her life, we get to learn more of this new world she’s thrust into. We’re now fully in the Academy—the prestigious boarding school in Accalia and safe haven for shifters—and thus get to explore the mysterious and intricate shifter lore, which I loved! The stakes were so much higher in this book, and I enjoyed having trust issues throughout as the plot became more complex.
Though I did feel like the romance element was a little reduced compared to the first book, I was still very much invested. We left Jamie in a potential love triangle situation between her human sweetheart, Liam, and the sexy, broody (and sometimes worthy of a slap) werewolf Wren, who she is “destined” to be bonded to. Love triangles usually aggravate me, but it helped that both men are handsome and likeable in their own way, and that I liked Jamie’s interactions with both of them. It also helped that Jamie’s heart clearly tugged her toward one man and not the other, so I didn’t really feel the competitive aspect of a love triangle and was able to enjoy the ride for what it was. I mean…this is a shifter romance, so I think we all know what the right choice is here (I’ll give you a hint: he’s all muscle one moment and furry the next). The characters went through an intense character growth in this second installment. I really enjoy Jamie’s character, especially her fight in wanting to be in control of her life and destiny within this magical new world she finds herself being a part of, but my relationship with Wren was a bit more complicated in Destiny. I sometimes found him to be too rough with Jamie, which was a bit of a turn-off for me. However, the man saw reason! Once he stopped fighting his feelings for Jamie, his tough demeanor softened and I appreciated that he was willing to give her space to understand her own feelings instead of flashing the “we are destined mates” card. We love our alphas brooding and protective, yes, but also respectful of boundaries.
There’s little more I can say without spoiling, so I’m going to wrap up this review here and bless the book gods that the next book, Bound is already in my loving hands, because the ending completely overwhelmed me!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
Huge thank you to D.D. Larsen for giving me an ARC of this book.
4.5 stars
This book was a great Journey haha, I'll see myself out. There were many twists and turns that took off immediately after the events of Destiny and so glad the cliff hanger for book one was answered. I loved the mystery aspect in this book, not knowing who to trust and Jamie's ongoing conflict in finding herself, her character development was good and so glad the love triangle is over. I liked exploring more of the world for answers and going to add Colorado and Montana to places I want to travel. I'm still in shock over the cliffhanger and need the next book.
Only thing letting this book down was that the first half seemed like an irrelevant info dump of Destiny's entire plot on repeat. It made getting through the first half very difficult because Destiny was still fresh in my mind, but the book redeemed itself and the fast paced quality of Destiny thankfully returned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Journey picks up right where Destiny left off. We’re introduced to new characters, some of my theories were confirmed, and others developed along the way. But most importantly, while the Academy was sort of a mysterious entity in the first book, now we get to see it up close and live within its walls. In this book, the paranormal aspect of the series gets upped a lot, and I’m here for it! Not only do we get to see the shifters up close, but the magic and lore are explored in more depth.
My favorite aspect of this second installment was the drama. First of all, there’s the one within Jamie herself and her coming to terms with everything she’s learned. Her life changed drastically, and she didn’t simply accept it. I really liked that, and I liked that she held on to her normal life as much as she could before giving in to her reality fully.
Then, of course, there’s the romantic aspect that sees Jamie in a sort of love triangle between Liam, her human boyfriend, and Wren, the shifter she’s destined to bind herself to. They’re both gorgeous, both have a rollercoaster type of story with Jamie, and they’re both valid options, but I say “sort of” because can we truly call it a love triangle when Jamie’s heart is clearly tugging her in one direction? I enjoyed that a lot. It gave the book some drama without putting too much weight on the usual love triangle madness. Jamie isn’t really undecided. Her heart knows what she wants, it’s just that it’s hard to let go of the safer route. It also doesn’t take up all of the book. In fact, the romantic plot moves rather nicely. To figure out in which direction Jamie goes, well you’re gonna have to read the book. (Though I think you all guessed it by now!)
I’m really excited to continue this story because that ending…wow! There’s so much at stake, and I need to see how everything wraps up.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Journey is the second installment in The Academy Series
I loved the first books and the second one is even better, it was such a ride. Jamie’s story continues, hidden family secrets come to light causing her world to become more complicated than before, so she begins to question everything she knew.
The author did a great job, this book was so twisting and beautifully written. Just like in the first book the ending in the second one crushed me and got me screaming out loud. I need book three right NOW! I loved it and I had so much fun while reading it.
OMFG hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride. Some of the story will be swift and smooth, some rough and tumble, there will danger and destruction, their will be longing, love and loss...
Oh how I hate and love the middle book/s in a series they give you so much information and yet nothing at all. Nothing in the sense that you can guess what will happen next but you know enough you could also rule out everything you put together, All at the same time.
D.D. Larsen has definitely created one of my new favorite places to escape, I absolutely can't get enough of Jamie's story. I love everything about her relationship with Wren and her discovery of who she is. I love the traveling of places and time with her as she deciphers the clues to her destiny.
Waiting for the next will for sure be sweet torture.
JOURNEY is the second book in The Academy series and we continue where book one left off. Jamie is still fighting being a wolf and wants Liam as her safety net. Wren is still protecting her and has made it clear he understands how she is feeling and won't pressure her for anything else.
Of course, this would all be over if Jamie chose Liam for real, so we have the story to go through first. There, you will find parts that may or may not surprise you, that help to fill in the story, as well as leave you with more questions that need answering.
The only downside of this -- for me -- is that is now another possible love triangle in the mix. Although Liam is out of the picture, it appears Alex is taking his place. Now, don't get me wrong, Jamie is a lot better in this book than the first, but I don't understand this "undeniable" attraction she seems to hold for everyone. Personally, I feel it takes something away from her character, to be pulled in every direction.
That being said, there is enough intrigue and mystery to keep most people happy. I am enjoying the changes in the characters as the story progresses and I look forward to continuing with the series.
Recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens! All opinions are my own!
In book two of The Academy series, Jamie is torn between the safe Liam and the adventurous Wren as she discovers that evil is not always clear.
I have to say that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected! I found myself glued to the pages and unable to concentrate on anything else until I could figure out what was going to happen!
I really like that the world that's been created in these books is so unique. It's not just a story about werewolves, but it's one that isn't like any others you've read before, and I really appreciate that. It does have some themes that are common to most werewolf stories, but it spins them in such a way that it still feels fresh!
The one thing I will say is that it felt repetitive at times, especially when Jamie was thinking through her feelings or trying to figure out what to do next. But then the action would pick right back up and I'd be sucked right back in!
If you're looking for a unique fantasy romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat, definitely check this series out!
After the exciting ending to book 1, I was eager to jump into book 2! I think these books are best read all together so you don't get taken out of the story.
There is a lot happening in this series. Wolves, secret academy...and just secrets in general! Jamie has finally reunited with her brother, but the hard part has just started. She is now tasked with the job of saving his life. But who can she trust and rely on to help her? Wren? Liam?
This book felt more like the paranormal romance book I wanted it to feel like after the first read. Albeit it is a little tamer on the romance part in this book, but I didn't mind that. I loved seeing a new side to this world and learning as Jamie did. I am not a fan of love triangles, but I know many people are so that is definitely going to appeal to a lot of readers.
Jamie is just a great overall character. I love how she is written and appreciate that she wants to take charge of her own life. I can't wait to see where her path takes her.
Overall, I think this is a fun, fast paced story that many will enjoy.
I loved this book! It was great! There is a lot of character development which is great.
Jamie was so confused and immature in the first book but now she has assembled her thoughts and she knows what she wants. She has become more mature now.
Jamie and Wren’s relationship felt wrong and forced before but now it feels right. They are together because they want to be together, not because they have to. They are starting to understand each other and they love each other for who they are.
I need to read the next book in the trilogy and finally get all the answers. There are so many secrets and I don’t understand who can be trusted and who cannot.
This second book of the series was a wild ride; a total adventure. You keep getting hooked and intertwined in the story it’s so good you don’t want it to end can’t wait to read the third book on the series. This series is the perfect book to read after being in quarantine for so long it takes you out into the wild without really going out.
Larsen is a go-to author for me. If she writes it, I’m reading it, without knowing anything about it. 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝟮 picks up right after 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝟭, 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆, ends, as a “to be continued….” Oh my! Her words just keep flowing so that I can’t stop until I get to the end. It’s that good & there’s that much going on. And of course, it ends in another cliffhanger, so #DDLarsen, I’m first in line, for Book 3!!!
I don't want to spoil anything but this book is great. I love Jamie I'm so happy she is reunited with her brother after 15 years. I would hate to be her with the struggles she has to face between her life and love life. D.D. Larsen did a great job I felt like I was in the book and felt everything.
The twist and turns had me hooked throughout the whole book! It’s was so good you didnt want it to end but also wanted to keep reading to find answers. I can’t wait for book 3!
First off, I swear this author is killing me with cliffhangers! I do enjoy it though. The second installment of this series was even better than the first. Just as we get more answers... we get more questions. So many secrets! I'm truly enjoying this journey with Jamie and Wren and I can't wait to see it continued in Bound.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a honest review.
I love this series!!! I love following the story of Jamie and Wren. I feel like in the second installment we got to learn more about this world and I was drawn in right from the start. The story weaves in the history of the wolves and explains more about the prophecy. I pick up these books when I want a quick and sassy read. Ugh the cliffhangers.... I don't want to give away anything so just pick up this series and read it ... can't wait to find out what happens in book 3!!!
This is the second book in this series that I would describe as a fantasy action romance read.
The author does a great job of giving the background from book one so if you haven’t read it or it’s been a few months since you’ve read it (like in my case) then you feel up to speed.
I don’t want to give too much away because I really enjoyed book one as well as this one and I don’t want to spoil anything.
In this book, Jamie is living at the Academy. This place is a training ground and sanctuary for a group of wolf shifters.
She is there there for a multitude of purposes. She is doing physical training. She is researching to learn more about the Binding Ceremony which she will be a participant in. She is also there for safety from a perceived threat Alex, who is the Eldest Brother.
Not all is as it seems, as Jamie begins to have visions of another woman and her journey. She also finds out after meeting another group of wolf shifters that the Binding Ceremony’s purpose and the Eldest Brother’s presence may not be exactly what she is being told by the man that runs the Academy.
There is also a love triangle aspect as Jamie has Wren who is a wolf shifter and Liam a former boyfriend that both give her feelings of safety during this time.
This was a one sitting read for me.
Fantasy is not my top genre but a book like this that has the magical elements easily explained and a fast flow to the book makes this a must read.
I don’t usually like cliffhanger endings but this series just keeps throwing them at me and it works in this book for me as well.
I’ll admit it! I’m hooked on this series and look forward to what happens in Book 3.
Journey was deliciously addictive, and I’m already craving more!
It’s the second book in The Academy Series by D.D. Larsen, which follows Jamie as she struggles to figure out her place in a world full of shapeshifters, magic, secrets, and mysterious paranormal events.
I loved getting to know Jamie even more in the second book. She is a strong, fierce heroine, and I was constantly rooting for her to find and claim her inner power. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll just say there were numerous twists and turns and plenty of steamy scenes! Team Wren! I also loved finding out more about the history of the Wolf Warriors and trying to figure out the mystery behind them, and I couldn’t get enough of the lush descriptions of the forest. I was completely swept up in this world full of wolf-shifters, magic, spirits, mystery, adventure, and natural elements!
Larsen weaves an excellent summary of book one within the first few chapters, so Journey can definitely be read as a stand-alone. However, I highly recommend reading the first book, Destiny, as well! I’m glad I was able to immediately jump into Journey after that cliffhanger in Destiny!
At the end of this book, I literally said, “What!? Oh, come on!” out loud! I need the third book in this series yesterday!!!
Go grab Destiny & Journey before the third book comes out this fall! Trust me, you’ll be hooked, especially if you’re a fan of fantasy and paranormal romance!
Thank you so much Kate Rock Book Tours and D.D. Larsen for the gifted ebook to read and review!
I adore a good wolf-shifter romance, and this is no exception.
JOURNEY is the second entry in The Academy series, and while it didn’t totally live up to the excitement of the first, it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s steamy, dramatic and action packed!
D.D. Larson knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning what you know & who to trust. It’s a delicious adventure with lots if twists, and turns. And a cliffhanger!? Luckily, I’ve got the next book loaded on my kindle - I couldn’t even pause to write this review I had to go read straight away!
The best part of this series is definitely the characters, there’s such an interesting cast. I adore Jamie and see a lot of myself in her. And Wren?? Steamy & dreamy!!
I seriously can’t recommend The Academy series enough. It’s fun, written very conversationally which I love, and filled with rich characters and plots. And I’m not just talking about Liam’s money.
I had so much fun reading JOURNEY, so pick these up if you love a YA supernatural romance, because I cannot get enough.
**I received a free copy for an honest review**Thank you to BookSirens & the author bc I love these books so much**
I enjoyed the love triangle as Jamie tries to figure out if she should stay with Liam or Wren (Team Wren) . Jamie discovers Liam has not been honest with her. But he is not the only one keeping secrets.
Edward is keeping secrets regarding the prophecy that will destroy the evil Eldest Brother and his pack. Wren and Jamie go on a journey to find the lost pack in hopes of finding answers. Along the way Jamie's feelings for Wren change.
Jamie begins to question everything—and everyone—she thought she knew. Can the wolf shifters fulfill the prophecy, battle a pack of evil shifters, and save themselves? Or will the dark forces at work prove too powerful?
Even though this is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read Destiny to get a better understanding of the characters. Paranormal stories with shape shifting wolves is not my usual genre but I am hooked on this series. This story is filled with twist and turns that will keep you turning the pages. Book three is coming out this fall and I am looking forward to the continuation of this story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Resistance is pointless. Here she is, fighting the natural attraction to Wren. Jamie wants to feel normal, if it was up to her, she would play no part in this prophecy. It seems the Universe didn’t get that memo. The further Jamie pushes away Wren, the more destiny is pushing them back together. She cannot even let her wolf spirit out. She is so confused and terrified of this whole wolf business, she finds ways to try and run away from it. Her boyfriend Liam is her anchor to the real world. But when she encounters the Elder Brother, more questions rise up then answers. Even with her new found biological father and long-lost brother, she still feels that something isn’t right. This is the time that Jacob, Wren and Jamie are going on adventure to unearth the truth. But they are getting more then they are bargained for as more evil spirits roam the Earthly realm.
Beautifully written, even though I read this second books months later, it seems I still can pick up the story. There is an equal part of action, romance and desires that make's Jamie resist it. But what you resist, persist.
This was a brilliant follow up book. You couldn't ask for more really.
It was great to see some character growth for Jamie. Throughout this whole book really my impression of Jamie grew. She certainly stepped up to the plate with the whole prophecy which was good.
Wren was just lovely and brilliant the whole way and so my opinion of him solidified really.
Wren and Jamie together also grew as a couple which was enjoyable to read. Their chemistry was good and it was good to finally have Jamie settle with Wren.
There was so many unanswered questions still and so it makes you crave the next installment of this intriguing series.
The story flowed really well and I was just hooked from the beginning once again which in itself is telling for me. If I can't put down my kindle then I know I am reading an enjoyable book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Book one was full of mysterious characters and twists and turns. Book two picks up right where we left off in the first. We explore more of Jamie and her relationships with her father, friends, and two love interests.
Honestly, I am not here for the love triangle. I can’t stand them normally and I’m all about the why choose. This one gave me the omega verse vibes with the alpha and beta feels. But it is clear who Jamie will be ending up with.
Wren is all sorts of alpha. All sorts of brooding. All sorts of furry. I loved him from the start. We get to see a different side to him in book two. We also get to see all sorts of fun happening at the academy. I’m here for the paranormal aspect.
Ms. Larsen continues to intrigue and entertain me as Wren, Jaime and Liam. Things are not as they seem as Jaime prefers to make her own decision yet she is part of a prophecy where she must mate with Wren, who always seem to be there when she is in need of a rescue.
While attending the Academy she learns her brother never died fifteen years that's not the only thing she discover and I'll let you discover that on your own because I think you should grab this one as Jaime has more to discover on her journey as she continues on her journey.
I am definitely enjoying this series and cannot wait for the next story to be written. There are so many things I enjoyed about this story but I'll leave you with these one: Great world building, intrigue and realistic characters.
I voluntarily chose to read/review this complimentary copy with my own honest opinion written in my own words that cannot be bought therefore there was no compensation involved.
In the second book, Liam and Jamie are still involved in a relationship. Her feelings toward Wren are changing though. It comes to a point where her decision will have deadly consequences. She receives news about Liam that totally shocks her! When Edward decides to make things even more like a prison, Wren and Jamie will escape to go on another quest to discover the truth about the prophecy. They learn so much more than expected and it becomes a question of who to trust. No one is safe! Wren and Jamie HAVE to make the correct decisions or evil will rule the world. Things are getting trickier and the more Jamie hears, the less she understands and is suspecting certain people of having hidden agendas. I cannot wait for the third book to discover what happens next! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“Journey” book 2 in The Academy series by D. D. Larsen
Jamie is still torn between her feelings for Liam and Wren but is beginning to adapt to The Academy.
She makes a shocking discovery at The Academy that confuses her even more and sends her in search of more information about the Prophecy.
D D Larsen does really good with writing in a way that you can feel and understand the emotions of Jamie but, not so much the men in her life. They are more one dimensional and could be made more complex in their emotions and feelings.
A very enjoyable book especially after finding and meeting the lost pack. You have romance, mystery, danger, shapeshifters, and a prophecy to be fulfilled. Or will it?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book in this series and wow, I like this book even better than the first book. The twists and turns of this series will keep you on the edge of your seat! There is a lot of character development which is great. Jamie and Wren embark on a grand adventure in search of the truth surrounding the prophecy. There are so many secrets. Who else can they trust???? Unbelievable! You keep getting hooked and woven into the story and it's so well written that I can see it as if I'm watching a movie. You don't want it to end with this cliffhanger, which is why I can hardly wait to read the third book in this series and get those answers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.