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Supernaturals of Castle Academy #1
Legacy of Shadows
All I wanted was to keep my head above water. To survive long enough to hit my eighteenth birthday so I could escape the nightmare that my homelife had become. But all of that was turned upside down the moment they showed up.
The best friend from my past. The surly brooder. The kind-hearted nerd. The king of campus. The dark one.
They say they’re here to give me a fresh start in a place where I’m safe, warm, and cared for. And I can’t deny the pull I feel to all five of them. The buzz that lights beneath my skin when they touch me. And for the first time, I feel like I might belong.
But not everything is as it seems. These guys have secrets. Ones that will rip my world wide open. But when a dark evil begins stalking us, we’re all in for the fight of our lives…
Book one in a new paranormal, why choose, reverse harem romance trilogy from Amazon Top 20 author, Tessa Hale. Fated Mates, powerful supernaturals, and an evil who is out for them all…
The best friend from my past. The surly brooder. The kind-hearted nerd. The king of campus. The dark one.
They say they’re here to give me a fresh start in a place where I’m safe, warm, and cared for. And I can’t deny the pull I feel to all five of them. The buzz that lights beneath my skin when they touch me. And for the first time, I feel like I might belong.
But not everything is as it seems. These guys have secrets. Ones that will rip my world wide open. But when a dark evil begins stalking us, we’re all in for the fight of our lives…
Book one in a new paranormal, why choose, reverse harem romance trilogy from Amazon Top 20 author, Tessa Hale. Fated Mates, powerful supernaturals, and an evil who is out for them all…
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2023
4735 people are currently reading
12980 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Hale
23 books3,128 followersAuthor of love stories with magic, usually with more than one love interest. Constant daydreamer.
What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA
What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 882 reviews
September 23, 2023
Some spoilers below so proceed with caution.
This is hard. I have a lot of bookish friends, whose opinions I usually agree with, who LOVE this author. Unfortunately, this is the 2nd series that I've read by Tessa Hale (the 1st was the Shifting Fate series), and I just cannot get into her characters.
In my opinion, the FMC, Leighton, in this series is incredibly weak, stupid, childish/immature, and overreactive (similar to Shifting Fate series' FMC). I know the characters are fated mates, but beyond that, I have absolutely 0 idea why any of the male main characters are obsessed with her. It's a little torturous to read an entire book with a POV from a character who is really dumb and naive. She acts like a 9-year-old child, so it also creeps me out every time there's a spicy smut scene. I'm like....does this character even know what sex is? She seems to have the IQ and EQ of a preteen.
I am also confused as to why she was so surprised about the ending information (the "betrayal" ...but it really wasn't) that made her run away. Obviously Colt has known where she was this whole time--why was that a surprise? He's obsessed with her. In my opinion, it made sense that they didn't come for her. They didn't know she was being abused by her mom, and they were legitimately trying to keep her safe, seeing as all of their parents were murdered and she's their mate (who no one in the supernatural community wants them to be mated to) and she doesn't have power (for now). Why would they bring her into their dangerous world, where everyone seems to be getting killed, when she is seemingly powerless. (Side note, I definitely do not believe she is actually powerless--I am convinced her abilities will manifest at some point; they're probs hidden away with a spell or her early life trauma made it delayed or something.) But anyways, I understand Leighton has lived through trauma, but this girl cries all. the. time. She is a constant damsel in distress, and the overprotective guys (which I usually love in a book) gets a little repetitive and old when the FMC is incapable of going to school for 1 full day without having to be saved/whisked back home to cry in her room. Tbh, after watching her exist at their school for a few weeks, I completely understand why the guys never went to get her earlier--this girl cannot hang in this community. And the fact that Leighton also just believed Chloe in that final scene and didn't see through this trap just made her even more dumb to me. Chloe has been bullying and abusing Leighton since the moment they met...why is she listening to Chloe more than her own mates and running away into a clear trap rather than listening to her fated mates for 2 minutes??? Another point for how dumb Leighton is. She just isn't very smart and overreacts like a child. I find her really really immature and hard to root for.
ALL THAT SAID, I do think the story is pretty addicting for now. It's a short, quick read, with very brief chapters. I will continue the series for now because I have legitimately nothing else interesting me at the moment. The writing and the plot is good. We will see how long I can deal with the very poor characters and relationship-building though.
This is hard. I have a lot of bookish friends, whose opinions I usually agree with, who LOVE this author. Unfortunately, this is the 2nd series that I've read by Tessa Hale (the 1st was the Shifting Fate series), and I just cannot get into her characters.
In my opinion, the FMC, Leighton, in this series is incredibly weak, stupid, childish/immature, and overreactive (similar to Shifting Fate series' FMC). I know the characters are fated mates, but beyond that, I have absolutely 0 idea why any of the male main characters are obsessed with her. It's a little torturous to read an entire book with a POV from a character who is really dumb and naive. She acts like a 9-year-old child, so it also creeps me out every time there's a spicy smut scene. I'm like....does this character even know what sex is? She seems to have the IQ and EQ of a preteen.
I am also confused as to why she was so surprised about the ending information (the "betrayal" ...but it really wasn't) that made her run away. Obviously Colt has known where she was this whole time--why was that a surprise? He's obsessed with her. In my opinion, it made sense that they didn't come for her. They didn't know she was being abused by her mom, and they were legitimately trying to keep her safe, seeing as all of their parents were murdered and she's their mate (who no one in the supernatural community wants them to be mated to) and she doesn't have power (for now). Why would they bring her into their dangerous world, where everyone seems to be getting killed, when she is seemingly powerless. (Side note, I definitely do not believe she is actually powerless--I am convinced her abilities will manifest at some point; they're probs hidden away with a spell or her early life trauma made it delayed or something.) But anyways, I understand Leighton has lived through trauma, but this girl cries all. the. time. She is a constant damsel in distress, and the overprotective guys (which I usually love in a book) gets a little repetitive and old when the FMC is incapable of going to school for 1 full day without having to be saved/whisked back home to cry in her room. Tbh, after watching her exist at their school for a few weeks, I completely understand why the guys never went to get her earlier--this girl cannot hang in this community. And the fact that Leighton also just believed Chloe in that final scene and didn't see through this trap just made her even more dumb to me. Chloe has been bullying and abusing Leighton since the moment they met...why is she listening to Chloe more than her own mates and running away into a clear trap rather than listening to her fated mates for 2 minutes??? Another point for how dumb Leighton is. She just isn't very smart and overreacts like a child. I find her really really immature and hard to root for.
ALL THAT SAID, I do think the story is pretty addicting for now. It's a short, quick read, with very brief chapters. I will continue the series for now because I have legitimately nothing else interesting me at the moment. The writing and the plot is good. We will see how long I can deal with the very poor characters and relationship-building though.
August 16, 2023
Such an entertaining start to a new series from Tessa Hale! I really love the paranormal worlds she creates and the dynamic she has between her characters. Because this is a why choose, I need my heroes to be unique and have strong individual connections with the heroine. Tessa definitely delivered with that! Leighton lost her father when she's younger and as the years pass, her mom treats her worse and worse. Living in the garage as her only safe place, she's surprised when a friend from her past shows up to take her away. Leighton is intrigued by Colt and his new friends that all live with him in his enormous mansion. She also is scared by the feelings she's having not only for Colt, but also his friends. Of course, there are some paranormal things going on that Leighton never realized existed, so we're introduced to this world along with her. Since this is a trilogy, this has a cliffhanger and I'm dying for book two! I also love a tortured and damaged hero, and we definitely have one of those in here. I'm so excited to learn more about this world and about Leighton and I can't wait to see the guys again in book two!
I also got to to listen to this on audio and it was so good! Highly recommend!
I also got to to listen to this on audio and it was so good! Highly recommend!
April 23, 2023
Sigh. I really wanted this to be my next series to dive into and get obsessed with but 🤷🏻♀️
It was hard for me to get through all the cliches. From the evil mean girl queen bee making childish insults that gets a rise out of the FMC every time without fail, to the FMC being "extraordinary" for doing...literally nothing, she was very VERY ordinary and honestly sort of a Pick Me girl.
There was the cliche of the mean girls printing papers targeting the FMC and handing them around school, and the top mean queen bee spilling a drink on her on purpose, and...yeah. Just a LOT of overdone cliches from early 2000s YA dramas. So many cliches it hurt.
The FMC is a mix between Bella from Twilight and Elena from the Vampire Diaries TV show, but with an RH. She literally runs from every confrontation down to the very end. Chloe is bullying her? Runs. Guys are fighting each other? Just leaves. Now the guys are ready to fight Chloe? Walks away as if that solves everything.
To be clear, I'm a very big fan of sweet, innocent, gentler FMCs in books, but this was not that for me. She was just fragile and fragile, always hurt or screaming and then running away. They keep calling her strong but she's kind of just there? Like she doesn't have this quiet inner strength or anything. She's literally a blank slate.
I had beef with the way the guys all say they'll "end" every threat toward her. Like, that's their exact wording, give or take a little variation. They say they'll "end" anyone who touches her 5-7 times throughout the book. At least Trace got inventive saying he'd burn their skin off.
Also, the guys aren't super distinctive outside of their very basic stereotypes. There's the stereotypical "stay away from me I'll ruin you" angsty guy. Dash is the "nerdy smart" one, Colton is rich, Ronan is...growly, I guess? And Declan is just not with the others by default, and that seemed to be his main thing.
Their eyes "swirl" a lot. Had me imagining the snake from The Jungle Book. Idk what swirling eyes are supposed to look like otherwise???
The spicy scenes were weird for me. Between Dash's awkward recitation of facts about the female anatomy to them saying her clit would harden like a diamond...? 🧐 Um no.
Anyway. Those sparse scenes a big miss for me, too.
TBH it felt disjointed. Chapters ended abruptly just when I figured it was getting to a good part. The moment something important was said it cuts to the next chapter with her going to school or petting her cat or something. Confusing for me and dragged things on.
Also, I'm all for OTT protective guys, but...yeah, they WAY overreacted to every little thing that happened to her. It was just one thing after another of "oh no poor Leighton, someone gave her a dirty look we must end them" and it got tiring.
Lots of repeated phrases, stereotypes, and cliches. It wasn't a bad book, but it felt a bit childish and that made me uncomfortable considering the "steam" slowly building up in it. Not my cup of tea and I feel like this type of story has been overdone repeatedly, RH or no.
That being said, there were some cool ideas and it might get better later in the series. I probably won't read the next but this could totally be someone else's cup of tea, and if so, good for you.
✌️
It was hard for me to get through all the cliches. From the evil mean girl queen bee making childish insults that gets a rise out of the FMC every time without fail, to the FMC being "extraordinary" for doing...literally nothing, she was very VERY ordinary and honestly sort of a Pick Me girl.
There was the cliche of the mean girls printing papers targeting the FMC and handing them around school, and the top mean queen bee spilling a drink on her on purpose, and...yeah. Just a LOT of overdone cliches from early 2000s YA dramas. So many cliches it hurt.
The FMC is a mix between Bella from Twilight and Elena from the Vampire Diaries TV show, but with an RH. She literally runs from every confrontation down to the very end. Chloe is bullying her? Runs. Guys are fighting each other? Just leaves. Now the guys are ready to fight Chloe? Walks away as if that solves everything.
To be clear, I'm a very big fan of sweet, innocent, gentler FMCs in books, but this was not that for me. She was just fragile and fragile, always hurt or screaming and then running away. They keep calling her strong but she's kind of just there? Like she doesn't have this quiet inner strength or anything. She's literally a blank slate.
I had beef with the way the guys all say they'll "end" every threat toward her. Like, that's their exact wording, give or take a little variation. They say they'll "end" anyone who touches her 5-7 times throughout the book. At least Trace got inventive saying he'd burn their skin off.
Also, the guys aren't super distinctive outside of their very basic stereotypes. There's the stereotypical "stay away from me I'll ruin you" angsty guy. Dash is the "nerdy smart" one, Colton is rich, Ronan is...growly, I guess? And Declan is just not with the others by default, and that seemed to be his main thing.
Their eyes "swirl" a lot. Had me imagining the snake from The Jungle Book. Idk what swirling eyes are supposed to look like otherwise???
The spicy scenes were weird for me. Between Dash's awkward recitation of facts about the female anatomy to them saying her clit would harden like a diamond...? 🧐 Um no.
Anyway. Those sparse scenes a big miss for me, too.
TBH it felt disjointed. Chapters ended abruptly just when I figured it was getting to a good part. The moment something important was said it cuts to the next chapter with her going to school or petting her cat or something. Confusing for me and dragged things on.
Also, I'm all for OTT protective guys, but...yeah, they WAY overreacted to every little thing that happened to her. It was just one thing after another of "oh no poor Leighton, someone gave her a dirty look we must end them" and it got tiring.
Lots of repeated phrases, stereotypes, and cliches. It wasn't a bad book, but it felt a bit childish and that made me uncomfortable considering the "steam" slowly building up in it. Not my cup of tea and I feel like this type of story has been overdone repeatedly, RH or no.
That being said, there were some cool ideas and it might get better later in the series. I probably won't read the next but this could totally be someone else's cup of tea, and if so, good for you.
✌️
June 19, 2024
This was the stupidest Twilight wannabe book I've ever read and I can't believe many ate that shit up!!!
(The Miosis-Mitosis scene was sooooo a big give away)
And that smelling-her stuff
I don't know what filled me more with rage🤬
The pathetic Female lead that is LeaLea (Leighyon)
Or the way this book tried so hard to not reveal anything until the end
Meet Leighton, the epitom of "woo-is-me, I've been abused all my life and hate anyone to see my scars cause I'm ashamed of them for some reason but every male I see falls for me cause I'm ""special"" and "strong weak" and cry 😢 all the time and everytime I face a problem I scurry like a mouse 🐁 to my corner"
I can shout at weed that it's a beautiful flower all day long but at the end of the day, it's just a weed
Telling LEALEAH "God I hated that name" that she is the strongest person ever because she took her abuse like a champ and never complained and never sought help and never fought back and never learned to defend herself is the STUPIDEST SHIT YOU COULD EVER WRITE!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
NO! Scratch that! You want to know what is stupider???
Bringing your mate to a predator infested school without giving her any heads up or telling her the truth or preparing her to defend herself
Stupider is when they tell you over and over to not wander alone cause it's not safe but you keep being attacked everytime you run and you keep doing it anyways!!! 🤪🤪🤪
God! I wanted to strangle her and them myself
I can't believe there are ppl who gave this shit 5 stars
Baaaaaaaad
(The Miosis-Mitosis scene was sooooo a big give away)
And that smelling-her stuff
I don't know what filled me more with rage🤬
The pathetic Female lead that is LeaLea (Leighyon)
Or the way this book tried so hard to not reveal anything until the end
Meet Leighton, the epitom of "woo-is-me, I've been abused all my life and hate anyone to see my scars cause I'm ashamed of them for some reason but every male I see falls for me cause I'm ""special"" and "
I can shout at weed that it's a beautiful flower all day long but at the end of the day, it's just a weed
Telling LEALEAH "God I hated that name" that she is the strongest person ever because she took her abuse like a champ and never complained and never sought help and never fought back and never learned to defend herself is the STUPIDEST SHIT YOU COULD EVER WRITE!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
NO! Scratch that! You want to know what is stupider???
Bringing your mate to a predator infested school without giving her any heads up or telling her the truth or preparing her to defend herself
Stupider is when they tell you over and over to not wander alone cause it's not safe but you keep being attacked everytime you run and you keep doing it anyways!!! 🤪🤪🤪
God! I wanted to strangle her and them myself
I can't believe there are ppl who gave this shit 5 stars
Baaaaaaaad
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March 15, 2023🌟 LEGACY OF SHADOWS IS LIVE 🌟
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Get ready for fated Mates, powerful supernaturals, and an evil who is out for them all…
Read or Listen Now!
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/LgcyofShdwsAmzn
Audio: https://geni.us/LgcyofShdwsAudio
April 2, 2023
This was pretty much identical to the author’s other books, but in such a fun way!! I read these for entertainment and distraction and trashy rh fun, and this author delivers. Love it :)
August 25, 2024
so trashy but so damn lovely😩
August 4, 2023
The Good
1) The writing is quite competent for self-published.
2) The storytelling is quite tight.
3) Settings are well done; the gradual decline of neighborhoods in the beginning was really well done.
Neutral
1) Not a stand alone; more of the first installment of a serial than the first book in series.
2) Very similar to author's other series.
The Bad
1) I could not find a plot-driven storyline.
2) The character-driven storyline had no build up, no romance, no substance.
3) The sex scenes came off as predatory due to the male leads as a group acting on the virginal female lead's body and talking over her about her sexual reactions like she's a new interesting sex toy.
4) Lead female has no curiosity, no gumption, no backbone, no agency and is too stupid to live.
5) Lead males keep telling the lead female how strong she is but her inactions/actions are that of a damsel, and a weak, easily panicked damsel at that.
6) Lead males' lie to, deceive and even gaslight the lead female over and over and over again to keep her ignorant, accessible and in their control.
7) Lead males keeping the lead female in the dark makes a huge fool out of her because everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE ELSE, is in the know.
8) Lead males' keeping the lead female in the dark, so she is unable to act competently in or even comprehend her situation, leaves her with no defense against the harassment and threat of violence she is exposed to on a daily basis because of them.
9) Despite failing over and over and over again to keep the lead female safe from the harassment and violence, the lead males continue to keep her ignorant for their own purposes.
9) Lead males keep making HER past abuse all about their upset over it.
10) When lead males' big secret is exposed due to circumstance (not their own sense of integrity), the lead female never takes them to task for the deceit, manipulation, gaslighting and making her a victim and a fool. Nope, she just hides, they find her, give her an orgasm and she completely ignores what they have done to her.
11) When lead female becomes aware there are more things about this world being kept from her, things that might be life and death for her, she just accepts it.
12)
12) Cliffhanger ending.
The female is just a victim looking for a railroad track, the men are all selfish, overbearing aholes and, at this point, what I really want to see is that awful mean girl take over and clean house because she won't put up with this stupidity!
1) The writing is quite competent for self-published.
2) The storytelling is quite tight.
3) Settings are well done; the gradual decline of neighborhoods in the beginning was really well done.
Neutral
1) Not a stand alone; more of the first installment of a serial than the first book in series.
2) Very similar to author's other series.
The Bad
1) I could not find a plot-driven storyline.
2) The character-driven storyline had no build up, no romance, no substance.
3) The sex scenes came off as predatory due to the male leads as a group acting on the virginal female lead's body and talking over her about her sexual reactions like she's a new interesting sex toy.
4) Lead female has no curiosity, no gumption, no backbone, no agency and is too stupid to live.
5) Lead males keep telling the lead female how strong she is but her inactions/actions are that of a damsel, and a weak, easily panicked damsel at that.
6) Lead males' lie to, deceive and even gaslight the lead female over and over and over again to keep her ignorant, accessible and in their control.
7) Lead males keeping the lead female in the dark makes a huge fool out of her because everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE ELSE, is in the know.
8) Lead males' keeping the lead female in the dark, so she is unable to act competently in or even comprehend her situation, leaves her with no defense against the harassment and threat of violence she is exposed to on a daily basis because of them.
9) Despite failing over and over and over again to keep the lead female safe from the harassment and violence, the lead males continue to keep her ignorant for their own purposes.
9) Lead males keep making HER past abuse all about their upset over it.
10) When lead males' big secret is exposed due to circumstance (not their own sense of integrity), the lead female never takes them to task for the deceit, manipulation, gaslighting and making her a victim and a fool. Nope, she just hides, they find her, give her an orgasm and she completely ignores what they have done to her.
11) When lead female becomes aware there are more things about this world being kept from her, things that might be life and death for her, she just accepts it.
12)
12) Cliffhanger ending.
The female is just a victim looking for a railroad track, the men are all selfish, overbearing aholes and, at this point, what I really want to see is that awful mean girl take over and clean house because she won't put up with this stupidity!
April 4, 2023
I totally get delaying the reveal for the storyline- but 3/4 of the book?! Honestly it was just irritating by the time it was finally revealed it wasn’t even a surprise or anything special really. All of that build up for what? Felt more like a flop. The choices are ridiculous to me… Who wouldn’t demand more answers AT SOME FREAKING POINT?! I hate that it’s set with high school kids too- absolutely hate that- it feels smarmy. Make it a college if you just have to have the school setting. This story was just one blunder after another with the main being a damsel in distress. I almost DNF it- but I was hoping that there would be some sort of redemption. Spoiler alert though- there wasn’t. Just more irritation.
April 3, 2024
★3.5/5! I AM NEVER FORGIVING THEM BRO WHEN I CATCH THESE MEN IM THROWING HANDS! what the fuck was that ending? the grovelling better be top tier. fuck you ESPECIALLY Colt fucking bitch! enemy #1 = Colt
known of them deserve Leighton, i’ll protect her definitely better than them. I’m so anti men at the moment irl AND fictional.
SPOILERS
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I pray to the universe that she comes into her power and just kills everyone MHM EVEN HER MATES! Colt nahhhhhh ‘she’s my best friend i love her’ CLEARLY NOT MATE i can’t forgive him EVER
known of them deserve Leighton, i’ll protect her definitely better than them. I’m so anti men at the moment irl AND fictional.
SPOILERS
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I pray to the universe that she comes into her power and just kills everyone MHM EVEN HER MATES! Colt nahhhhhh ‘she’s my best friend i love her’ CLEARLY NOT MATE i can’t forgive him EVER
August 26, 2023
Updating my review to be more detailed 🫶🏼 5/5 ⭐️’s I don’t know what Tessa Hale puts in her books but I think it’s crack because I’m OBSESSED. In my opinion, Tessa Hale is the best PNR reverse harem writer. I gobble her books up like nothing else!
If you like paranormal romance reverse harems, this is the book for you. It is spicy, it’s jam packed, and the plot is *chefs kiss* 🫶🏼
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes: RH, Academy Setting, Fated Mates, & Shifters
FMC: Leighton - she’s shy and timid, but you know she’s hiding a complete badass persona. She has a hard home life and that trauma has caused her to try and hide herself as a way to avoid attention. However, she’s witty when she needs to be, and our girl knows her worth 👏🏽
MMC’s: Colt (childhood best friend), Dash, Trace, Declan, and Ronan. They’re all possessive and obsessed with her. Some try to hide it more than the others. But they are all straight perfection. You have the leader of the bunch, the funny and caring one, the possessive one but pretends to not like her one, the tough guy, and the one that is all manly man but not afraid to show his feelings towards her. Overall, each guy is totally different, but I’m totally obsessed with ALLLLL of them!!
Legacy of Shadows ends on a cliffhanger but it’s not a terrible one, just leaves you ready to read the next book 😍
Overall, I’m obsessed with this book and I CANT WAIT for book 2! 🫶🏼
One day I’ll stop posting about this series, but probably not within the next 2 years so buckle up friends 👏🏽🤣
If you like paranormal romance reverse harems, this is the book for you. It is spicy, it’s jam packed, and the plot is *chefs kiss* 🫶🏼
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes: RH, Academy Setting, Fated Mates, & Shifters
FMC: Leighton - she’s shy and timid, but you know she’s hiding a complete badass persona. She has a hard home life and that trauma has caused her to try and hide herself as a way to avoid attention. However, she’s witty when she needs to be, and our girl knows her worth 👏🏽
MMC’s: Colt (childhood best friend), Dash, Trace, Declan, and Ronan. They’re all possessive and obsessed with her. Some try to hide it more than the others. But they are all straight perfection. You have the leader of the bunch, the funny and caring one, the possessive one but pretends to not like her one, the tough guy, and the one that is all manly man but not afraid to show his feelings towards her. Overall, each guy is totally different, but I’m totally obsessed with ALLLLL of them!!
Legacy of Shadows ends on a cliffhanger but it’s not a terrible one, just leaves you ready to read the next book 😍
Overall, I’m obsessed with this book and I CANT WAIT for book 2! 🫶🏼
One day I’ll stop posting about this series, but probably not within the next 2 years so buckle up friends 👏🏽🤣
May 11, 2025
I recognize that books by this author are very much a complete hit or miss for me. This one was one of those misses. I couldn't tell you anything particular about any of the guys because they all kinda sorta blended into one? They didn't seem to have very distinct personalities aside from the black sheep of the family (whose name escapes me now...oops?). Say what you want about damsels in distress' but that's usually my cup of tea in books. The FMC in this one drove even me up a wall. Everywhere she went and everything she did ended up in either a life or death situation or something very traumatizing happening to her and the guys having to rescue her. She couldn't go a full school day without being rescued in some way, shape, or form. It became an ick by the end of the book for me. I will not be continuing on in this series.
January 24, 2024
4.35
This is so entertaining and I'm loving our main characters so far!!
So we are following Leighton and her fated mates . However there are many twists and turns throughout this book and we are left on a cliffy so you bet I am going to go read the next one right now.
In this there are wolf shifters,dragons,casters,incubus and vampires
This book definitely deserves more hype!
This is so entertaining and I'm loving our main characters so far!!
So we are following Leighton and her fated mates . However there are many twists and turns throughout this book and we are left on a cliffy so you bet I am going to go read the next one right now.
In this there are wolf shifters,dragons,casters,incubus and vampires
This book definitely deserves more hype!
May 7, 2024
2.5 - the story was entertaining but 98% of the characters’ actions were predictable.
July 11, 2023
pnr amazingnesssss
Loved the start to this series cannot wait to get into more!! Love the school world building and the spice was spicing.
Loved the start to this series cannot wait to get into more!! Love the school world building and the spice was spicing.
October 21, 2024
4.35
This is so entertaining and I'm loving our main characters so far!!
So we are following Leighton and her fated mates . However there are many twists and turns throughout this book and we are left on a cliffy so you bet I am going to go read the next one right now.
In this there are wolf shifters,dragons,casters,incubus and vampires
This book definitely deserves more hype!
I've already read and reviewed this but for some reason my review wasn't showing up🤷🏻♀️
This is so entertaining and I'm loving our main characters so far!!
So we are following Leighton and her fated mates . However there are many twists and turns throughout this book and we are left on a cliffy so you bet I am going to go read the next one right now.
In this there are wolf shifters,dragons,casters,incubus and vampires
This book definitely deserves more hype!
I've already read and reviewed this but for some reason my review wasn't showing up🤷🏻♀️
March 15, 2023
3.5 Why Choose Stars
There is a LOT going on in this first book of the SUPERNATURAL OF CASTLE ACADEMY TRILOGY and it sets up the following two books really well. We start off with Leighton at her dad's funeral upset and scared. Unfortunately for her it's just the beginning of bad things that happen to her.
Colt is Leighton's best friend but after her father's funeral she hasn't seen him for years, that is until one day he returns to rescue her from her home life and bring her back home with him.
While reading this book I found similarities between characters from this trilogy and THE ROYALS OF KINGSWOOD and a few plot bunnies were similar yet different as well which is why I rated this 3.5 stars. I think if I hadn't read the other trilogy so recently or at all I would have rated this higher.
Vanessa Moyen did an incredible job with the narration of this story, I really enjoyed listening to her bring Leighton's story to life.
I would recommend this book to those that enjoy Paranormal Romances, Why Choose/Reverse Harem Romances, Fated Mate Romances, or High School Romances.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewLoS
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
There is a LOT going on in this first book of the SUPERNATURAL OF CASTLE ACADEMY TRILOGY and it sets up the following two books really well. We start off with Leighton at her dad's funeral upset and scared. Unfortunately for her it's just the beginning of bad things that happen to her.
Colt is Leighton's best friend but after her father's funeral she hasn't seen him for years, that is until one day he returns to rescue her from her home life and bring her back home with him.
While reading this book I found similarities between characters from this trilogy and THE ROYALS OF KINGSWOOD and a few plot bunnies were similar yet different as well which is why I rated this 3.5 stars. I think if I hadn't read the other trilogy so recently or at all I would have rated this higher.
Vanessa Moyen did an incredible job with the narration of this story, I really enjoyed listening to her bring Leighton's story to life.
I would recommend this book to those that enjoy Paranormal Romances, Why Choose/Reverse Harem Romances, Fated Mate Romances, or High School Romances.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewLoS
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with BooksYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
June 17, 2024
Female mc is borderline unbearable.
Literally every 5 paragraphs she’s running off to sob hysterically over nothing.
Written very YA but has cringe smut scenes.
But ended on a cliff hanger and I want to know what her power will be bc I know it’ll come 🙄
Literally every 5 paragraphs she’s running off to sob hysterically over nothing.
Written very YA but has cringe smut scenes.
But ended on a cliff hanger and I want to know what her power will be bc I know it’ll come 🙄
March 21, 2024
Ну я в шоці. Я сама тільки дізналася, що мені подобаються книги з тропом гарем, але в книзі ще повинна бути магія і школа/академія. Ця книга для мене виявилася ідеальною. От я не знайшла особисто мінусів. Хіба що дуже багато таємниць, але це не мінус для мене, а інтрижка, щоб читати продовження.
І так гг забирають від божевільної мамки, яка залишила їй купу шрамів. Забирають її чоловіки (дужее сексуальні, і в мене вже є улюбленець!!!!) Я не можу більше сказати, щоб не було спойлерів, алеее тут є дракони! вампіри, вовкулаки, демони і маги. Але хто така гг ми ще не дізналися і яка в неї сила також не знаємо.
Були спайсі сцени і не просто сцени, а груповуха. я в шоці, бо я до цього була не готова. Ви скажете, але ж це троп гарем! а я відповім на свій захист, що тільки почала знайомитися з тропом і в тій книзі нічого подібного не було (так, то також цикл і я тільки почала його читати) під гаремом я думала, що в гг просто багато сексі мужичків. Але загалом мені сподобалося. Такі цікавенькі сцени))
Книга закінчилися тим, що все пішло у велику дупцю.
І так гг забирають від божевільної мамки, яка залишила їй купу шрамів. Забирають її чоловіки (дужее сексуальні, і в мене вже є улюбленець!!!!) Я не можу більше сказати, щоб не було спойлерів, алеее тут є дракони! вампіри, вовкулаки, демони і маги. Але хто така гг ми ще не дізналися і яка в неї сила також не знаємо.
Були спайсі сцени і не просто сцени, а груповуха. я в шоці, бо я до цього була не готова. Ви скажете, але ж це троп гарем! а я відповім на свій захист, що тільки почала знайомитися з тропом і в тій книзі нічого подібного не було (так, то також цикл і я тільки почала його читати) під гаремом я думала, що в гг просто багато сексі мужичків. Але загалом мені сподобалося. Такі цікавенькі сцени))
Книга закінчилися тим, що все пішло у велику дупцю.
May 23, 2023
Tessa Hale is absolutely brilliant.
This book had me completely intrigued the entire time! I listened to this via audiobook and read it all in one sitting because I just needed to see how everything turned out for Leighton and her boys.
The book opens up with Leighton grieving her father at a very young age. Not only did she lose her father but she was also separated from her best friend and left with only her abusive mother. Years later her best friend Colt comes back to get her away from her mother and take her back to his house where she meets his group of friends that she also feels immediately drawn towards.
Our heroine is used to flying under the radar but as she moves to this new town all the attention is on her. So much is happening in this book (in the best way possible). Our heroine is navigating all these new feelings she has, there are so many secrets within the town, and our heroine has to navigate the treachery that is High School.
I think this first book did a good job at introducing all the characters and giving them their own unique personalities but also building the world of magic and supernatural goodness. This is the a trilogy so it did end on a massive cliffhanger which literally had me screaming. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I've read almost all of Tessa Hale's other books and she never disappoints.
Tropes: Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Supernatural Romance, Fated Mates
This book had me completely intrigued the entire time! I listened to this via audiobook and read it all in one sitting because I just needed to see how everything turned out for Leighton and her boys.
The book opens up with Leighton grieving her father at a very young age. Not only did she lose her father but she was also separated from her best friend and left with only her abusive mother. Years later her best friend Colt comes back to get her away from her mother and take her back to his house where she meets his group of friends that she also feels immediately drawn towards.
Our heroine is used to flying under the radar but as she moves to this new town all the attention is on her. So much is happening in this book (in the best way possible). Our heroine is navigating all these new feelings she has, there are so many secrets within the town, and our heroine has to navigate the treachery that is High School.
I think this first book did a good job at introducing all the characters and giving them their own unique personalities but also building the world of magic and supernatural goodness. This is the a trilogy so it did end on a massive cliffhanger which literally had me screaming. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I've read almost all of Tessa Hale's other books and she never disappoints.
Tropes: Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Supernatural Romance, Fated Mates
March 20, 2023
Paranormal Romance era incoming!!?! This was so fun! Super entertaining read and I’d totally continue on with the series. This is was outside of my comfort zone but I had such a great time. It was a touch hard for me to separate each guy from each other as we don’t get their POVs, but aside from that I really enjoyed this!
October 23, 2023
was kinda digging it at first but then the fmc just kept making stupid choices to further the plot and the relationships felt surface level, so i'm not continuing
September 2, 2024
I loved this one. It was so much fun and I can't wait to read the next book. The guys are just amazing.
March 27, 2025
A good start to a why choose, paranormal romance. Leighton is a great heroine. So far, I’m interested in the plot and romance.
December 17, 2023
STOP THIS IS SO ENTERTQINING ITS LIKE THE BONDS THAT TIE ALL OVER AGAIN
March 5, 2023
I swear I always finish Tessa’s books in 24 hours as they’re so addicting. I’m always drawn in and cannot stop myself from reading.
This book has a lot of my loves, why choose, paranormal/supernatural, fated mates, a hint of forbidden love (that’s my take on it slightly but others may not see it that way), strong heroine, over protective mates. All the good stuff really.
Leighton has had a stressful life since her dad died and really the stress keeps coming. She’s been through so much, and I have a feeling it’s not going to stop until the epilogue of book 3. I know she’ll come into herself though and be able to fight back, I just have this feeling plus I want that for her so bad.
The guys need to grovel for me a bit. They really said gaslight, gate keep, girl boss. (Maybe not the girl boss part but whatever). But good lord, the secrets. Just tell her, secrets help no one so they have a lot to make up for, but luckily I think they know that. So I’m excited to see some penance 😈
This book has a lot of my loves, why choose, paranormal/supernatural, fated mates, a hint of forbidden love (that’s my take on it slightly but others may not see it that way), strong heroine, over protective mates. All the good stuff really.
Leighton has had a stressful life since her dad died and really the stress keeps coming. She’s been through so much, and I have a feeling it’s not going to stop until the epilogue of book 3. I know she’ll come into herself though and be able to fight back, I just have this feeling plus I want that for her so bad.
The guys need to grovel for me a bit. They really said gaslight, gate keep, girl boss. (Maybe not the girl boss part but whatever). But good lord, the secrets. Just tell her, secrets help no one so they have a lot to make up for, but luckily I think they know that. So I’m excited to see some penance 😈
May 18, 2023
4.5 stars! Legacy of Shadows is the first book in the Supernaturals of Castle Academy series and it is a new adult, paranormal, why choose romance that was so good! But how dare it end on a cliffhanger and leave me hanging. 🤣 I really enjoyed this one and it gave me all those paranormal nostalgic vibes I love and delivered on found family vibes and romance too!
We first meet the heroine Leighton in the prologue when she’s just 9 years old and it’s her father’s funeral. It is the last time she sees her childhood friend Colt, who is the son of her father’s best friend. We then jump to 8 years later and Leighton has been living a not-so-great life in Louisiana with her abusive mom. But her life turns around when her old friend Colt shows back up in her life! He brings his friend Ronan and they tell her she needs to join them and leave that night!
She joins Colt and Ronan and shows up at their mansion. While there she ends up meeting their friends Dash, Declan, and Trace and finds out some things about herself and all of their pasts as well. While dealing with secrets and school, Leighton finds herself really pulled to the guys in her life as well. I liked seeing how this played out! It’s a slow burn romance but I liked seeing time with each of the heroes and her. The paranormal elements and how they were revealed was just so fun and I am itching to find out what happens in the next book/rest of the series!
I loved the audiobook for this! It kept me intrigued and entertained all the way through and the narrator, Vanessa Moyen, did an excellent job! I do hope we get POVs of the heroes in future books. 👀
Thanks so much to Forever and Always PR for an audio ARC! All thoughts in this review are my own. You can read Legacy of Shadows now on Kindle Unlimited and/or audiobook.
We first meet the heroine Leighton in the prologue when she’s just 9 years old and it’s her father’s funeral. It is the last time she sees her childhood friend Colt, who is the son of her father’s best friend. We then jump to 8 years later and Leighton has been living a not-so-great life in Louisiana with her abusive mom. But her life turns around when her old friend Colt shows back up in her life! He brings his friend Ronan and they tell her she needs to join them and leave that night!
She joins Colt and Ronan and shows up at their mansion. While there she ends up meeting their friends Dash, Declan, and Trace and finds out some things about herself and all of their pasts as well. While dealing with secrets and school, Leighton finds herself really pulled to the guys in her life as well. I liked seeing how this played out! It’s a slow burn romance but I liked seeing time with each of the heroes and her. The paranormal elements and how they were revealed was just so fun and I am itching to find out what happens in the next book/rest of the series!
I loved the audiobook for this! It kept me intrigued and entertained all the way through and the narrator, Vanessa Moyen, did an excellent job! I do hope we get POVs of the heroes in future books. 👀
Thanks so much to Forever and Always PR for an audio ARC! All thoughts in this review are my own. You can read Legacy of Shadows now on Kindle Unlimited and/or audiobook.
January 24, 2025
I loved this from page one! The action starts almost from the first chapter and doesn't let up. Tessa Hale is great at simultaneously introducing her characters while keeping the plot moving. I love the world Hale has created: paranormal creatures, magical bonds, sexy & supportive mates, political intrigue.
Life has not been kind to Leighton since her father died when she was 9: she lost her best friend, Colt, and her mother started physically abusing her. Now she's 17 and determined to get out and better her life. During an evening shift at the dinner she works at she waits on a kind and mysterious stranger. Turns out he's one of Colt's best friends and they are both there to bring her back to their world. She's hesitant to accept their offer, but knows it's for the best. Leighton is thrust into a world of rich, prep school kids and secrets.
Leighton is smart, empathetic, independent, and has an inner strength. These characteristics serve her well in her new world. She can tell almost immediately that there's more going on then what Colt and his friends are telling her.
The guys (Colt, Dash, Ronan, Trace and Declan) have distinct personalities. It didn't have to struggle to remember who was who. Each guy has gone through some trauma and there are some challenging dynamics at play. I can't wait to find out more about this world and for all the secrets to come to light.
My only complaint about this book was that it was a long time before the secret of what they guys are and what the world is to be revealed. This was more to do with my anxiousness to know rather than poor plotting and writing.
Life has not been kind to Leighton since her father died when she was 9: she lost her best friend, Colt, and her mother started physically abusing her. Now she's 17 and determined to get out and better her life. During an evening shift at the dinner she works at she waits on a kind and mysterious stranger. Turns out he's one of Colt's best friends and they are both there to bring her back to their world. She's hesitant to accept their offer, but knows it's for the best. Leighton is thrust into a world of rich, prep school kids and secrets.
Leighton is smart, empathetic, independent, and has an inner strength. These characteristics serve her well in her new world. She can tell almost immediately that there's more going on then what Colt and his friends are telling her.
The guys (Colt, Dash, Ronan, Trace and Declan) have distinct personalities. It didn't have to struggle to remember who was who. Each guy has gone through some trauma and there are some challenging dynamics at play. I can't wait to find out more about this world and for all the secrets to come to light.
My only complaint about this book was that it was a long time before the secret of what they guys are and what the world is to be revealed. This was more to do with my anxiousness to know rather than poor plotting and writing.
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