Escaping Shadows: McHenry University

by Sunny W

After experiencing true hell at the hands of my family, I escape to a university for supernaturals like me.


On my first day of classes, I meet four men who claim I'm their mate. A shifter who won't shift back from his human form, a redheaded alpha who defends me, a viking of a man with tattoos who bakes, and the one with warm green eyes and glasses who looks at me like I'm something to be worshipped.

But there’s no way they’ll still want me when they find out what I truly am.
I avoid them at all costs, knowing if they knew how broken and tarnished I am, they wouldn’t want me anyways. They deserve better.

My mates are unrelenting, convincing me they love me unconditionally. That I’m not as broken as I feel. Will they still accept me once they find out my family hates me because I'm a murderer? As new revelations come to light, will we stick together or be forced apart? Not everything is as it seems at McHenry University and it seems I'm to blame.

Please read the list of trigger warnings carefully. No book is worth your mental health. This book contains past child abuse, physical and mental abuse from family, PTSD, mental health awareness, swearing, violence, and explicit scenes. This book is recommended for anyone 18 years of age and older.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2025

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivating story but needs re-editing and ends on a huge cliffhanger

Story was captivating and kept me up at night despite a lot of editing issues.

Spice 🌶🌶 (mostly M/M)
Story 🌟🌟🌟

Looking forward to the next book

[Coralie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so maybe I was just not in the mood for something like this, but I just found the FMC annoying, I get that she was abused and that she’s scared of everything but it wasn’t always coherent…
Also I love overprotective and obsessive MMCs but it was too much in my opinion.

So much so that this was a DNF for me…

[Casiddie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of getting a pre-released copy of this incredible story. As the author's debut novel, she sucked me in and kept me on my toes. I laughed, giggled, gasped and everything in between. I loved watching the FMC's relationships grow with each individual MMC. I am a sucker for fates mated mates.

Aria receives a scholarship to a school and escapes her terrible homelife. On day one she discovers she has an entire harem of wolf shifter mates, but she wants nothing to do with them. The guys are so gentle with her. Never pushing Aria to be anything more with them then she's accepting of.

I cannot wait to dive deeper into their story. Be warned, there is a cliffy!! I yelled at my screen wanting more immediately!

[Kristin E. Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

MC Henry University

If this is your first novel of this genre, you May enjoy this book. It includes every possible trope from every shifter, reverse harem, fated mates, school, magic, abused childhood, hidden heritage novel currently on the market. It's as if someone downloaded a hundred books and this was spit out. It's just too perfect. No real personality, nothing creative. Even the obvious cliff hanger was predictable. It reads like a textbook for the genre, not a novel. I offer my apology to the author if you really did write this, but I believe it's AI.

[Ellie Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

need book 2

Absolutely loved this book.

The narrative centers on a young woman who, after enduring severe familial abuse, seeks refuge at a university designed for supernaturals. There, she encounters four distinct men—a shifter hesitant to revert to his human form, a protective redheaded alpha, a tattooed baker with a Viking demeanor, and a gentle soul with adoring green eyes—all of whom assert they are her destined mates.

It kept me gripped from the first page, it had all the feels in it and ends in a cliff hanger. I need the next book

[J.L. Cres]

DNF 20%. This book was rough for me. The writing was difficult to read. The whole thing needs some developmental editing as it’s mostly the author reciting facts and giving explanations in large paragraphs. It would be better if the story was slowly revealed with more character interactions and conversations. It’s just difficult to read as it is and I found myself skipping through the massive paragraphs with bland information of a character’s history. Also the prose needs work because it just doesn’t flow easy when reading it.

[Alix Bliffen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

I would have given 5 stars for this story, but there were some major editing errors. Missing words, misspelled words and things you had to try to overlook.

The story was paced just right but the timeline was off. Days passed and it kept saying only a week passed. But the character development was great and you can tell each person has hidden depths that are starting to come into light.

[Andrea Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story, the characters, and that cliffhanger ending was a shock. A couple of things I want to mention:

1. The book needs another good editing as there are misspellings and incorrect word usage.
2. The FMC has been through a lot, and I think that's why she comes off incredibly innocent.
3. The author definitely loves the mm spice (I'm totally here for it)

I hope Aria finds her backbone in the next book as I want to see her grow into her role.

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

It was an OK read. I liked how l gentle with the guys were. I wish there was more shifting. It’s always fun to read when they actually shift and play and hang out as wolves. Very big cliffhanger.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! So well written.. the relationships developed great for fated mates… can’t wait to see them all develop more in the next book! That cliff hanger.. oh man I can wait to see how this all turns out!!
Alyssa you have hit it out of the park in my opinion with this :)

[Chele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by a new author! Aria is finding her inner strength and overcoming a nightmare childhood. Her mates are fantastic and supportive. UGH...cliffhangers are always painful, but gosh does it leave you wanting more. I'm looking forward to Book2.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This was a great first book, well paced, action packed, a few continuity errors but nothing major and overall really enjoyable with a wicked cliff.

[Carol Gnz · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story

I really enjoyed this story. No bullying within the harem, not a huge amount outside either until right before the end. Bit of a cliffhanger.

[Kodi Stebelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I could not put this book down. I read this book pretty quickly!! I can't wait until the next one!!

[Casey Herrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, written well. Need to get the next book in the series!!