Grading with a Gargoyle

Slaymore Academy #2

by Darci R. Acula, Sedona Ashe, Starling Dax

Gargoyles aren’t supposed to have pesky things like emotions. If I don’t get mine under control, I’ll be forced to spend the next hundred years stoned—and not in the way you are thinking!

I’ve spent my life being told I’m a failure, thanks to my inability to become the emotionless, logic-driven gargoyle I’m supposed to be. Despite my years of effort, I can’t figure out how my species manages to teach themselves to be emotionless, and it seems the harder I try, the more I suck at controlling my feels.

The fix, according to my parents, is sending me to Slaymore Academy instead of a gargoyle college. That way, I can get my degree without drawing too much attention from the Gargoyle Council until I’ve conquered my emotions and can stand before them as a proper gargoyle. At least, that’s the plan.

But things start shaking up—literally, with repeated earthquakes—and my mentor collapses from a mystery illness. I agree to team up with Thane, a sexy hellhound who can feed on my emotions, to get to the bottom of things. It doesn’t take long for me to realize that being around Thane is stirring feelings inside me I’ve never experienced, and it’s unraveling the progress I’ve made over the past three years.

Before coming to Slaymore, I’d never questioned my future. I just accepted that being a proper gargoyle meant protecting my own city, being assigned a partner to reproduce with, and a life spent watching the world pass by on the streets far below my rooftop perch with few interactions outside of my corvid companions. Now I’m wondering if there could be a different life for me—one where I don’t have to give up my emotions, my boisterous friends, or the sexy hellhound who claims I belong to him.

I’m starting to wonder if my future truly is set in stone… or if I can carve out my own destiny.

Grading with a Gargoyle is the second book in the Slaymore Academy series.
The steam builds a little slower than some of my other books, but when it kicks in, there is plenty of heat in the bedroom… and other places. Each book in the Slaymore Academy series is a standalone, featuring a different girl struggling to fit in with the rest of her species, who finds herself at Slaymore. Every book in this series will end with a HEA… so no cliffhangers! Since these books feature various paranormals who possess a variety of abilities, the steamy parts of the books will definitely take advantage of those skills.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Darci R. Acula is Sedona Ashe's not-so-secret pen name. Sedona's books tend to focus on Reverse Harem relationships, while Darci's books feature only MF relationships.

Darci (aka Sedona) doesn’t reserve her sarcasm for her books; her poor husband can tell you that her wit, humor, and snarky attitude are just part of her daily life. While she loves writing paranormal shifter reverse harem novels, she’s a sucker for true love, twisted situations, and wacky humor.

Darci lives in a small town at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She and her husband share their home with their three children, adorable pup, five cats, pet arctic fox, chickens, and over a hundred other reptiles. When she isn’t working, she enjoys getting away from the computer to hike, free dive, travel, study languages, and capture images of places and animals through her photography. Darci has a crazy goal of writing a million words in a year, and spending six months exploring Indonesia.

Reviews

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, cute, fun read.

[Alex(Books-In-A-Storm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was amazing. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it was so much better. I loved the two of them together. They are just the cutest.

[Brittany Duszczyszyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is good but I can’t help but feel like something is missing 🤷‍♀️. Maybe it’s just that they are very predictable like I thought it was stupid they didn’t figure out sooner why the professor was sick, it seemed so obvious to me.

Than when they were hooking up for the first time he was in the middle of doing face painting (which is not very sexy) but the entire scene as they were getting hot & heavy I was just laughing but I could picture her trying look sexy (but he could of put a unicorn or something on her face 😂). If they had just stuck to naked body painting ya that can be hot, but childish face paint 🎨 ya no!

I liked her friends and wished they were in the book more, this book was a good light hearted read just a little simpler than I was hoping for I guess.

Cute but predictable ending, but it gave us the happily ever after.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm definitely liking these unusual and unexpected pairings in this book series. A gargoyle deemed defective for being unable to be stoic and emotionless at all times and a hellhound deemed defective for being unable to properly manipulate the emotions in others. Then there's the issue of both of their parents viewing them as the ultimate disappointments and disgraces to both their bloodlines and their races. Getting sent to Slaymore Academy was supposed to be a banishment of sorts, where both of them could "fix their defects". But turns out, this path was just the universe bringing together two individuals from different species in an unprecedented and magnificent way.

[Rachel-Leigh LaBuschagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is so great that the author has dealt more into the other supernatural species. A lot of books focus on the main species like vampires, werewolves and fae. But it is so nice to create and make original stories based off other creatures. It creates a unique storyline and a unique universe. I think with not only the story but also the first one in the series that there is many lessons that can be learned. You can listen to the stories out of order because they are separate from each other and not intertwined.

[Zlobna.Vila · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relatively short read, but the story is confidently developed and keeps you hooked from start to finish. The romance is well-paced, with just the right balance of spice and tension between the characters. The chemistry feels natural, and the emotional pull makes it easy to invest in their journey. The choice of narrator for the audiobook was excellent—bringing the characters to life in a way that added depth and made the listening experience even more enjoyable.

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon } · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️’s YA, but very well written.

Very sweet and fun.
A little YA for me to want to re-read, but I did enjoy it, and finished easily.

Could use a clean up and edit, a lot of repetition and words used multiple times in one paragraph.

But I’d be willing to continue, and even check out B1.
(Choose this first for the Hellhound and Gargoyles.)

[Biggs_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vela and Thane were perfect for each other! This story has such a unique feel and amazing flow. I love that the relationships never seem forced but it flows naturally. Such a fun read with so much heart and I love that she added a little more at the end after the dust settles. Funny, sweet and full of heart. Narrators are truly magic and make this great book shine!

[Heidi LaGrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a feel good paranormal romance read this book! Vela and Thane are the most adorable and unlikely of pairs that I have read about in a long time! Their journey is full of emotions, humor, drama and of course sexy times! Just a beautiful read!

[Angelina Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. This book was so hard to put down and so easy to fall in love with the MCs. Sedona has again hit one out of the park with this series. I can't wait to read the next book. A must read for everyone who loves shifter romance.

[Rachel Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book with a FMC as a gargoyle. I'm glad I gave it a try because I really enjoyed it!
The storyline was original and fun.
There was drama, humor, feelings and some spice.
Vela and Thane were perfect for each other!

[Bookish Serendipity Shannon williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read!

I looooved Vela and Thanes story!

I loved seeing them come together and find their true selves.

Such a fun read with some serious tension and some spice.

Can’t wait for more in the Slaymore world!

[ROMEOISNOTFUNNY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed a mind cleanser for my book hangover. This was a quick, cosy, cute, finding themselves, romance.

There's a bit of angst but it's easily and smoothly sorted, a bit of smex, and ends with a satisfying show off and HEA outlooks

3.8 stars

[Sheree Cavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very rnjotsble. I love how the authors group together varying paranormals and there expectations in the mundane world. MFC and MMC one of my favorite paranormal characters in many novels I have read already.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

They’ve done it again!! This book is absolutely fantastic!! I can only hope there is more Slaymore Academy in the future!!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and I liked the characters a lot. I wouldn’t mind more stories in this setting and as standalone as well.

[elara.elori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a surprisingly refreshing read. The idea of a FMC being physically stronger than the MMC + the one raised to be emotionless is quite a novel idea, especially when compared to the MMC, who is considered "defective" due to his being unable to inspire emotions in others.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg the way this book started off in the audio, I thought I was going to suffer!
It was giving the emotionless Meh family from the Emoji Movie for me. I was like "umm... there's no way I can sit through hours of this." Haha Thank goodness it turned around!! Our fmc is a gargoyle & gargoyles are apparently not supposed to have emotions. They think only using logic. No sympathy, no sorrow, no happiness, no friendship, no romance, no hope, no love, etc. They think our fmc defective because she has emotions & cannot hide them
Our mmc, oooo lala. Just my type.
Dark, broody, hot, mysterious, doesn't fit in with the crowd. But how they start off is everythingggg!

*spoiler alert*
Fake dating troupe!
When she brings him flowers. Omg I adored that so much. The humor was amazing & totally hilarious because our fmc doesn't understand a lot of humor
Her reactions & his reactions in response to her reactions are just too funny.
Our fmc has a chosen family & I love them. Her friend group (roommates) are totally amazing!
The way they have her back & protect her & become her friends despite her trying not to let that happen... Love. I adore them! The head mistress of the school... Love her too! I'd love a backstory on her!!
They figure out the mystery of what is happening to their professor & the mmc still loves her.
He protects her from a severe punishment she was sentenced with & in turn bonds with her & turns to his hellhound self! He is SCARY in that form & I loveeee ittttt! Hades even makes an appearance!
Seriously, again, I wish this was a major world building series because I would eat this series up & leave no crumbs!!