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The First Year
I was fanged by a vampire.
I am a wolf shifter, and even though I did not turn, I’ve been taken from my school and deposited in one in the middle of nowhere to make sure I cannot harm others.
I still feel like me, but nobody else seems to think so. Unlike my old school, Urban Academy, everything here is very regimented, and we are locked in our cells…rooms…at night. My closest neighbors on this floor are three incredibly hot males who also bear the marks and also have not changed. They are a year ahead of me and have been here that much longer, so I want to find a way to talk to them, learn what to expect…and if there is ever going to be any way out of this place. If big strong wolves like them are still here, what can a female with no physical abilities to speak of hope to do?
Depend on I am not spending my whole life in the prison the administration calls Summer Ridge and we call Marked Blood Academy. I’ve done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be treated like a dangerous criminal or an animal. When I complained, the uniformed guard accompanying me told me I should be glad not to be put down. Put down?
The First Year is the beginning of the new Marked Blood Academy series. When a whole new type of vampires descends upon the world, none of the rules apply. In the past, you died or were changed, but now, some young people do neither…so far. And those victims are a wild card who the councils decide must be segregated from the rest. Nothing the headmistress of Urban Academy or any of the other schools sways the council. The students bear the marks, the stain, the shame of something they had no control over and are imprisoned without benefit of trial. None of the rules for their protection apply.
y.
I am a wolf shifter, and even though I did not turn, I’ve been taken from my school and deposited in one in the middle of nowhere to make sure I cannot harm others.
I still feel like me, but nobody else seems to think so. Unlike my old school, Urban Academy, everything here is very regimented, and we are locked in our cells…rooms…at night. My closest neighbors on this floor are three incredibly hot males who also bear the marks and also have not changed. They are a year ahead of me and have been here that much longer, so I want to find a way to talk to them, learn what to expect…and if there is ever going to be any way out of this place. If big strong wolves like them are still here, what can a female with no physical abilities to speak of hope to do?
Depend on I am not spending my whole life in the prison the administration calls Summer Ridge and we call Marked Blood Academy. I’ve done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be treated like a dangerous criminal or an animal. When I complained, the uniformed guard accompanying me told me I should be glad not to be put down. Put down?
The First Year is the beginning of the new Marked Blood Academy series. When a whole new type of vampires descends upon the world, none of the rules apply. In the past, you died or were changed, but now, some young people do neither…so far. And those victims are a wild card who the councils decide must be segregated from the rest. Nothing the headmistress of Urban Academy or any of the other schools sways the council. The students bear the marks, the stain, the shame of something they had no control over and are imprisoned without benefit of trial. None of the rules for their protection apply.
y.
- GenresVampiresParanormal
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
105 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Mazzy J. March
105 books174 followersMazzy J. March is a fan of all things paranormal--shifters, vampires, witches...dragons and all the many creatures that inhabit the world beyond the ordinary. She has been plotting her Academy stories for a long time and is thrilled to finally have them releasing and ever grateful to the readers who are offering such support and helping her dreams come true.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 14, 2025
Roxy has had a hard life so far and it's only getting worse. She was at war as a shifter and got bit by a vampire. So now shes getting shipped off to a new school for people like her that's has got bit and needs observation. 🙃 She is struggling when she gets there and meets three new shifters who take a special interest in her. what will happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
Nothing happened.
Nothing of note happened in this entire book. I’m pretty sure it could’ve been condensed down into 20 pages and used as the first couple of chapters for a book.
Don’t get me wrong, the premise has potential and I may give it another chance once the series is complete. I’m genuinely not meaning to be rude, the characters seem nice enough (though lacking a little depth and backstory) and I’m hoping the world building will come more into play later in the series, it just feels like a first draft in its current state.
Nothing of note happened in this entire book. I’m pretty sure it could’ve been condensed down into 20 pages and used as the first couple of chapters for a book.
Don’t get me wrong, the premise has potential and I may give it another chance once the series is complete. I’m genuinely not meaning to be rude, the characters seem nice enough (though lacking a little depth and backstory) and I’m hoping the world building will come more into play later in the series, it just feels like a first draft in its current state.
May 29, 2025
This was a really exciting news, story about wolf shifters who are marked by vampires, but don’t change. Roxy Swifthunt was recruited into the vampire shifter war and had been bitten by a vampire during her struggles, but she hasn’t turned and has been taken to Summer Ridge Marked Blood Academy, but it’s more like a prison. She meets three hot males who are also at the academy for the same reason. Odin, Evander and Sol feel strangely drawn to Roxy and do their best to help you in everything that they can. Roxy makes a friend with another female, Desi and she helps her try to settle in at the new Academy. The book ends where Oden finds Roxy out of it outside her door, when he takes her into her room, she latches onto his neck, draining his blood. His friends burst into her room just after this, and we are left with a cliffhanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2025
The First Year begins the Marked Blood Academy series with an intense and suspense-filled story that held my interest from the start. It’s a short novella that ends on a cliffhanger, going into the next book.
Roxy is a shifter who had the bad luck to be bitten by a vampire, but has not turned. Unfortunately, for her, there is a special school for folks like her. Deep in seclusion, with cells that lock, Roxy is determined to escape… It’s just a matter of time, and learning all she can from others who are trapped here as well.
The First Year by Mazzy J. March is intense and grabbed my attention from the beginning. If you love a well-written paranormal romance with bite, then you’d enjoy this one.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author's team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Roxy is a shifter who had the bad luck to be bitten by a vampire, but has not turned. Unfortunately, for her, there is a special school for folks like her. Deep in seclusion, with cells that lock, Roxy is determined to escape… It’s just a matter of time, and learning all she can from others who are trapped here as well.
The First Year by Mazzy J. March is intense and grabbed my attention from the beginning. If you love a well-written paranormal romance with bite, then you’d enjoy this one.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author's team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
May 21, 2025
This was quite the dark series opener and poor Roxy has been getting the short end of the stick for most of her life. Being shipped off to an academy for shifters like her that have been bitten by a vampire but haven't turned into one is definitely not an improvement. However, despite the horrible uniform, rules and classes, the food is good, she's got a new friend and three hot guys watching out for her. This book ends on a dramatic cliffie and I have to say it's a shocking twist. I cannot wait for the next book to come out to see how her story continues to unfold ;D
June 1, 2025
Roxy is a orphan that was living with her cruel aunt. On her 18th birthday the shifter Council recruited her bye Force to fight in the war against vampires. After being bitten she was sent away to an academy that was more like a prison. That is where she meets Odin, Evander and Sol. All three instantly felt protective of her. But she is still suffering from lasting effects of the vampire bite. That Cliffhanger definitely has me excited to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 30, 2025
Urban Academy, or as the prisoners, excuse me, students call it, Marked Blood Academy, is a place for those who have the mark but do not change into vampires. A wolf shifter Roxy finds herself now being forced to stay at this new school, and there she meets three men who also bear the same mark as her and haven't changed. This was a short read that really hooks readers in and ends in such a crazy cliffhanger that I cannot wait to dive into book 2!
January 11, 2026
Well, ooooo-kay then. I'm not sure why this was published as a 94 page novella, but I don't hate it. It's the goddang cliffhanger that gets me.
The plot probably isn't that unique, but I haven't read anything quite like it before. I love the concept. The writing is clear, concise, and consistent. I love that the guys are similar enough you can tell why they're friends, but not so much that they lose their individuality. I'm excited to see what comes next.
The plot probably isn't that unique, but I haven't read anything quite like it before. I love the concept. The writing is clear, concise, and consistent. I love that the guys are similar enough you can tell why they're friends, but not so much that they lose their individuality. I'm excited to see what comes next.
July 2, 2025
Had to finished I didn’t think I’ll like it but I did. It was written amazingly. I need more. I want to know what happened.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 21, 2026
Okay start, needs work
The idea is interesting but the plot is nonexistent and badly needs editing. The story is so short that connecting with the characters is difficult. I may read the next book I can't say for sure as this just hasn't lit a fire with me.
The idea is interesting but the plot is nonexistent and badly needs editing. The story is so short that connecting with the characters is difficult. I may read the next book I can't say for sure as this just hasn't lit a fire with me.
September 21, 2025
This and the next book are novellas although they aren’t listed as such. The first is 94 pages with the second at 84. Additionally, they each cost $4.99 on Amazon. Complete rip-off.
February 8, 2026
This was fun and different. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews