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For twenty-one years, I've been the Morvoren family secret—the female twin vampire no one could know existed. Too rare. Too valuable. Too vulnerable. While my brother built his reputation at SilverGate Academy, I studied behind enchanted walls, a shadow student of a world I couldn't join.
Until now.
For reasons my family won’t tell me, I’m finally free. Safe to be part of the world.
But it's hard to be excited when your academy bedroom comes with a resident ghost, you’re not the only new supe at the Academy, and your brother’s hot friend has more secrets floating around than the family crypt.
William: frozen in time for a century, he isn't what I expected—neither is the intensity of his focus when he realises what I am.
the fallen angel whose silver eyes seem to see through every defensive spell I cast.
CJ: my brother’s intimidating vampire friend who watches me like I'm both salvation and destruction, and whose secret is worse than mine.
Something hunts at SilverGate, something that knows what I am. The shadows closing in make me wonder if I was sent here for protection or for sacrifice.
This is a dark paranormal romance book 1 out of 3 in a brand new reverse harem romance by USA Today Bestselling Author, Eve Newton. You will come across TWs so please see inside for details. READ THEM!
Until now.
For reasons my family won’t tell me, I’m finally free. Safe to be part of the world.
But it's hard to be excited when your academy bedroom comes with a resident ghost, you’re not the only new supe at the Academy, and your brother’s hot friend has more secrets floating around than the family crypt.
William: frozen in time for a century, he isn't what I expected—neither is the intensity of his focus when he realises what I am.
the fallen angel whose silver eyes seem to see through every defensive spell I cast.
CJ: my brother’s intimidating vampire friend who watches me like I'm both salvation and destruction, and whose secret is worse than mine.
Something hunts at SilverGate, something that knows what I am. The shadows closing in make me wonder if I was sent here for protection or for sacrifice.
This is a dark paranormal romance book 1 out of 3 in a brand new reverse harem romance by USA Today Bestselling Author, Eve Newton. You will come across TWs so please see inside for details. READ THEM!
486 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2025
3519 people are currently reading
1776 people want to read
About the author
Eve Newton
238 books843 followersEve is a USA Today Bestselling Author with a specialty for steamy romance with strong female leads.
She lives in the UK, with her husband and five kids, so finding the time to write is short, but definitely sweet. Eve has a number of series, both completed and on the go and hopes to release some new and exciting projects, both paranormal and contemporary in the future, so stay tuned!
Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/sinfullyde...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorEve
Eve also writes under the name S.E. Traynor
She lives in the UK, with her husband and five kids, so finding the time to write is short, but definitely sweet. Eve has a number of series, both completed and on the go and hopes to release some new and exciting projects, both paranormal and contemporary in the future, so stay tuned!
Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/sinfullyde...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorEve
Eve also writes under the name S.E. Traynor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
June 10, 2025
2.5 spoilers ahead.
I think this author is just not for me, so if she is your cup of tea just move on by this review. The bare bones of this story are intriguing and there are parts of the lore that very much make you want to be more engaged in the story and find out what happens next. The execution of the plot is why this book was not for me. It was ALL over the place.
We get everything on fast forward when it comes to the relationships we are watching build. Instalust is fine, and I'm glad I didn't have to read another enemies to lovers RH, but this felt extremely rushed. With the extreme rush of the relationships we also get a weird plot line of rushed ideas and all things happening at one time. Everything that is going wrong is going on all at once and it was hard to get into any one plot point because of that.
The romance was okay, but not great. CJ- I mean everyone likes the obsessive stalker right? Can I be honest and say the thing that annoyed me was his inconstancy between his POV and his actions in her POV. He starts off as a straight up stalker psycho(sign me up) then he just is not anywhere near that character by book end. Just give me the stalker back.
Cass-we don't really get to know much about cass aside from the eternally curious problem, and that he just takes sexual advances without consent, more than once. William- I mean. I'm down with the concept of him being a ghost but at times I just had to ask why one of the guys needs to be a ghost.
overall this wasn't awful but it just was not my style of writing and I felt like there was not a real connection to what is happening to her. It just fell flat for me.
I think this author is just not for me, so if she is your cup of tea just move on by this review. The bare bones of this story are intriguing and there are parts of the lore that very much make you want to be more engaged in the story and find out what happens next. The execution of the plot is why this book was not for me. It was ALL over the place.
We get everything on fast forward when it comes to the relationships we are watching build. Instalust is fine, and I'm glad I didn't have to read another enemies to lovers RH, but this felt extremely rushed. With the extreme rush of the relationships we also get a weird plot line of rushed ideas and all things happening at one time. Everything that is going wrong is going on all at once and it was hard to get into any one plot point because of that.
The romance was okay, but not great. CJ- I mean everyone likes the obsessive stalker right? Can I be honest and say the thing that annoyed me was his inconstancy between his POV and his actions in her POV. He starts off as a straight up stalker psycho(sign me up) then he just is not anywhere near that character by book end. Just give me the stalker back.
Cass-we don't really get to know much about cass aside from the eternally curious problem, and that he just takes sexual advances without consent, more than once. William- I mean. I'm down with the concept of him being a ghost but at times I just had to ask why one of the guys needs to be a ghost.
overall this wasn't awful but it just was not my style of writing and I felt like there was not a real connection to what is happening to her. It just fell flat for me.
October 13, 2025
My English review is right below the Dutch one!
Soms moet je verdwalen in het donker om jezelf te vinden
‘Dark Soul’ vertelt het verhaal van Isolde, de helft van een zeldzame vampiertweeling. Al eenentwintig jaar wordt ze streng bewaakt, zonder echt te weten waarom. Maar tijdens de nacht van een bloedmaan verandert alles. Binnen vijf minuten moet ze haar spullen pakken en wordt ze zonder uitleg naar de mysterieuze SilverGates Academy gebracht. Daar treft ze niet alleen haar tweelingbroer, maar ook andere bijzondere en onweerstaanbaar knappe wezens.
Eve Newton schrijft met een vlotte pen. ‘Dark Soul’ leest dan ook heerlijk weg. De auteur weet de sfeer van de Academy levensecht neer te zetten; je waant je tussen de duistere gangen, voelbaar omringd door mysterie en verleiding. De donkere, erotische ondertoon is sterk aanwezig en wordt met precies genoeg spanning en detail beschreven om te blijven boeien.
De kracht van dit verhaal zit in de meeslepende setting en de intrigerende mix van verleiding en gevaar. Toch blijft de diepgang van de personages wat aan de oppervlakte, waardoor sommige gebeurtenissen voorspelbaar aanvoelen. Dat neemt niet weg dat het een verslavend boek is voor liefhebbers van dark romance en paranormale elementen.
Duister, verleidelijk en mysterieus, met een sfeer die je moeiteloos de wereld van de SilverGates Academy in trekt.
‘Sometimes you have to lose yourself in the dark to find out who you truly are’
‘Dark Soul’ tells the story of Isolde, one half of a rare vampire twin. For twenty-one years, she has been closely guarded, without ever truly knowing why. But on the night of a blood moon, everything changes. Within five minutes, she must pack her things and is taken without explanation to the mysterious SilverGates Academy. There, she not only reunites with her twin brother but also meets other extraordinary and irresistibly handsome beings.
Eve Newton writes with an easy, engaging style, making ‘Dark Soul’ a pleasure to read. The author brings the atmosphere of the Academy vividly to life; you can almost feel yourself wandering its shadowy halls, surrounded by mystery and temptation. The dark, erotic undertone is ever-present, described with just the right amount of tension and detail to keep readers hooked.
The strength of this story lies in its immersive setting and its intriguing blend of seduction and danger. However, the characters’ depth remains somewhat on the surface, making certain events feel a bit predictable. Still, it’s an addictive read for fans of dark romance and paranormal elements.
Dark, seductive and mysterious, with an atmosphere that effortlessly pulls you into the world of the SilverGates Academy.
Soms moet je verdwalen in het donker om jezelf te vinden
‘Dark Soul’ vertelt het verhaal van Isolde, de helft van een zeldzame vampiertweeling. Al eenentwintig jaar wordt ze streng bewaakt, zonder echt te weten waarom. Maar tijdens de nacht van een bloedmaan verandert alles. Binnen vijf minuten moet ze haar spullen pakken en wordt ze zonder uitleg naar de mysterieuze SilverGates Academy gebracht. Daar treft ze niet alleen haar tweelingbroer, maar ook andere bijzondere en onweerstaanbaar knappe wezens.
Eve Newton schrijft met een vlotte pen. ‘Dark Soul’ leest dan ook heerlijk weg. De auteur weet de sfeer van de Academy levensecht neer te zetten; je waant je tussen de duistere gangen, voelbaar omringd door mysterie en verleiding. De donkere, erotische ondertoon is sterk aanwezig en wordt met precies genoeg spanning en detail beschreven om te blijven boeien.
De kracht van dit verhaal zit in de meeslepende setting en de intrigerende mix van verleiding en gevaar. Toch blijft de diepgang van de personages wat aan de oppervlakte, waardoor sommige gebeurtenissen voorspelbaar aanvoelen. Dat neemt niet weg dat het een verslavend boek is voor liefhebbers van dark romance en paranormale elementen.
Duister, verleidelijk en mysterieus, met een sfeer die je moeiteloos de wereld van de SilverGates Academy in trekt.
‘Sometimes you have to lose yourself in the dark to find out who you truly are’
‘Dark Soul’ tells the story of Isolde, one half of a rare vampire twin. For twenty-one years, she has been closely guarded, without ever truly knowing why. But on the night of a blood moon, everything changes. Within five minutes, she must pack her things and is taken without explanation to the mysterious SilverGates Academy. There, she not only reunites with her twin brother but also meets other extraordinary and irresistibly handsome beings.
Eve Newton writes with an easy, engaging style, making ‘Dark Soul’ a pleasure to read. The author brings the atmosphere of the Academy vividly to life; you can almost feel yourself wandering its shadowy halls, surrounded by mystery and temptation. The dark, erotic undertone is ever-present, described with just the right amount of tension and detail to keep readers hooked.
The strength of this story lies in its immersive setting and its intriguing blend of seduction and danger. However, the characters’ depth remains somewhat on the surface, making certain events feel a bit predictable. Still, it’s an addictive read for fans of dark romance and paranormal elements.
Dark, seductive and mysterious, with an atmosphere that effortlessly pulls you into the world of the SilverGates Academy.
July 19, 2025
yas girl give us nothing 🫶
June 7, 2025
Listen, I have read quite a few RH books that range from slow burns to instant spice, but when the spice goes faster than the plot it becomes a struggle to continue reading. Reading the synopsis, I was excited to dive into this book but was disappointed by the lack of substance in regard to the main story line. I truly don’t mind slow paced books where the story starts to pick up, but when you don’t get to that part until the 90% mark of a 486 page book you start to question if you should DNF or continue on. In honesty, I would give it about 2.5. It was written well but the development of the characters and main plot was crawling at a snail’s pace. You end up reading almost 500 pages where nothing really happens or any questions that appear as you read are never really answered. I may try to give the second book a chance but it might be a DNF series for me.
June 4, 2025
2-2.5⭐️ I think. I’m not gonna lie, I’m never usually conflicted about how I want to rate a book, but this one has me a bit stumped. On one hand, the world building and writing is lacking on a great level. We go from knowing next to nothing to getting a major info dump and I just don’t enjoy when stories don’t flow well. I also go back and forth on whether I like these characters. I find the fmc to be a bit whiney and annoying, and the men sometimes I like them sometimes they irritate me. The smut in this seems forced and rushed. Everything about this is very rushed. So where am I conflicted? I find the mystery and plot within this story to actually be very interesting especially for a paranormal reverse haram series. It has the potentional to be really interesting and good, but the writing lacks maturity in the storytelling itself. I’m very confused by the ending, and I feel like this had so much potentional to go a certain way and I’m just not sure where it’s headed. So I don’t know. On one hand I finished it rather quickly, but most of the time I was annoyed. But the murder mystery and the magic system (what we know of it) is kind of interesting. Ugh idk. I probably won’t finish the series since it’s not completed yet.
July 16, 2025
so good!
I don’t know what I was expecting but damn this was SO good!
I cannot wait to see what happens next
This is such a page turner with vampires and magic and secrets, it’s extremely addictive!!
I don’t know what I was expecting but damn this was SO good!
I cannot wait to see what happens next
This is such a page turner with vampires and magic and secrets, it’s extremely addictive!!
June 15, 2025
DNF 6%
Lots of trigger warnings in this book. Here’s the noteworthy ones.
Hunting FMC
Unconsensual Voyeurism
Violence, Death & Dismemberment
Self-inflicted wounds
Possessive/Obsessive MMCs
Ghost MMC
Compulsion
Somnophilia
Our FMC, Isolde (terrible name), is a 21 yo vampire that’s been kept in a tower her entire life under the guise of protection.
This book suffers from a lack of contractions, one of my pet peeves, so it reads stilted.
We also have a lot of info dumping and telling rather than showing. Not to mention logic issues. In a circular room, there’s literally no way for a bed to be in the corner. Circles don’t have freaking corners. (This is page 3!) In addition, you have a lot of plot holes (still only page 4) surrounding the red moon. Our FMC has only briefly interacted with her father, but comments on everyone freaking out. Not to mention she has no reason to believe that it’s the red moon causing her father to force her to her room.
The author has made the mistake of having our FMC make assumptions based on little to no information and forgetting to actually lay out the story and reasoning etc. for the reader. Unfortunately, this is very common in this book.
The character introductions are done poorly. The interactions and dialogue leave a lot to be desired. This book reads like Wattpad fanfic and I’ve long since moved on from that.
Not for me.
Lots of trigger warnings in this book. Here’s the noteworthy ones.
Hunting FMC
Unconsensual Voyeurism
Violence, Death & Dismemberment
Self-inflicted wounds
Possessive/Obsessive MMCs
Ghost MMC
Compulsion
Somnophilia
Our FMC, Isolde (terrible name), is a 21 yo vampire that’s been kept in a tower her entire life under the guise of protection.
This book suffers from a lack of contractions, one of my pet peeves, so it reads stilted.
We also have a lot of info dumping and telling rather than showing. Not to mention logic issues. In a circular room, there’s literally no way for a bed to be in the corner. Circles don’t have freaking corners. (This is page 3!) In addition, you have a lot of plot holes (still only page 4) surrounding the red moon. Our FMC has only briefly interacted with her father, but comments on everyone freaking out. Not to mention she has no reason to believe that it’s the red moon causing her father to force her to her room.
The author has made the mistake of having our FMC make assumptions based on little to no information and forgetting to actually lay out the story and reasoning etc. for the reader. Unfortunately, this is very common in this book.
The character introductions are done poorly. The interactions and dialogue leave a lot to be desired. This book reads like Wattpad fanfic and I’ve long since moved on from that.
Not for me.
June 4, 2025
6 star read. I love the plot and the characters in this book so much. And I can't wait for book 2, especially after that ending. I'm so glad book 2 comes out at the end of this month and the final book at the end of July.
September 6, 2025
Not for me. The plot was decent but felt rushed. I love a good reverse harem, but this was all over the place. I was intrigued that one guy was a ghost, but the author blurs the lines of consent too many times. Also, I kind of lost the plot near the end...
November 6, 2025
This is some of the best worldbuilding I have seen for a fantasy.
I’m obsessed with the creatures and the way magic is presented.
Isolde is so strong and works so hard despite the very little chances she was giving at life and I feel like its so inspiring.
Just wow🤍
I’m obsessed with the creatures and the way magic is presented.
Isolde is so strong and works so hard despite the very little chances she was giving at life and I feel like its so inspiring.
Just wow🤍
June 14, 2025
DNF. I tried to finish this, but it got progressively worse. It wasn't cohesive.
December 16, 2025
Terribly written, but maybe mindless trash was what I needed today.
December 27, 2025
DNF 63%
October 22, 2025
I struggled with what to rate this, because overall I had fun…in the mindless “popcorn read” kinda way and I thought the characters were compelling. But…
To be completely honest, I probably won’t continue this series, even though it has a lot of things that I tend to gravitate towards - paranormal creatures, academy setting, darker themes, etc. The writing just wasn’t for me.
I think the bare bones of the plot and character were great, I could totally see the potential, but it just fell flat for me. Something I really dislike in books is when everything seems to be a little too “convenient.” Like, you pull an answer out of your ass suddenly about this very specific question we need answers for, that only YOU know because you studied it for years in your tower, off-page, and you’re REALLY SMART. I just felt like character moments, plot devices, and such were just so…hollow.
This book moves FAST. Insta-lust or insta-love is totally fine, especially in a Why Choose…but it’s a delicate balance. The fact that the world building, plot, character backstories, etc were also moving so fast - it just made the book feel so rushed.
Bummer. It had great potential!
To be completely honest, I probably won’t continue this series, even though it has a lot of things that I tend to gravitate towards - paranormal creatures, academy setting, darker themes, etc. The writing just wasn’t for me.
I think the bare bones of the plot and character were great, I could totally see the potential, but it just fell flat for me. Something I really dislike in books is when everything seems to be a little too “convenient.” Like, you pull an answer out of your ass suddenly about this very specific question we need answers for, that only YOU know because you studied it for years in your tower, off-page, and you’re REALLY SMART. I just felt like character moments, plot devices, and such were just so…hollow.
This book moves FAST. Insta-lust or insta-love is totally fine, especially in a Why Choose…but it’s a delicate balance. The fact that the world building, plot, character backstories, etc were also moving so fast - it just made the book feel so rushed.
Bummer. It had great potential!
July 5, 2025
DNF @34%
A frustrating read for several reasons, but mainly because I feel like this author writes well - technique wise - but the characters, the plot, the pace... not awesome.
Everything feels half-formed, repetitive, chaotic, overly complicated while still lacking in nuance, and so OTT that it verges on satire.
Nothing really feels well fleshed out, and the rapidity of the character introductions - all with diverse backgrounds - felt annoyingly contrived and info-dumpy.
Add to that the innocent, cloistered virgin trope combined with one of the MMCs and his toxic, roid-rage rapey vibe, randomly whipping his dick out and basically telling her he doesn't care if she says No, and I wasn't really interested in continuing.
P.S.
Huge pet peeve of mine is authors who write spells, or enchantments, or ancient prophecies, or whatever that are being translated from another language but somehow rhyme IN ENGLISH. I've got news for you - if it rhymed in the original language, there's the slimmest of slim off chances it's going to still rhyme in the translation.
A frustrating read for several reasons, but mainly because I feel like this author writes well - technique wise - but the characters, the plot, the pace... not awesome.
Everything feels half-formed, repetitive, chaotic, overly complicated while still lacking in nuance, and so OTT that it verges on satire.
Nothing really feels well fleshed out, and the rapidity of the character introductions - all with diverse backgrounds - felt annoyingly contrived and info-dumpy.
Add to that the innocent, cloistered virgin trope combined with one of the MMCs and his toxic, roid-rage rapey vibe, randomly whipping his dick out and basically telling her he doesn't care if she says No, and I wasn't really interested in continuing.
P.S.
Huge pet peeve of mine is authors who write spells, or enchantments, or ancient prophecies, or whatever that are being translated from another language but somehow rhyme IN ENGLISH. I've got news for you - if it rhymed in the original language, there's the slimmest of slim off chances it's going to still rhyme in the translation.
May 31, 2025
Great premise, annoying FMC
One of my biggest pet peeves is stupidity and incompetence. I was with the FMC and here naivety - it made perfect sense. But what I can't stand is she constantly jumping into situations she knows she does not have skills to combat and constantly needing to be saved. Then, she does nothing to learn how to protest herself. Pick a lane - if you can't fight, at least be smart and if you can't be smart, learn how to fight. You can't be dumb and weak at the same time.
I'm hoping book 2 will have more to offer now that some secrets have been revealed. The MMCs are unique and very interesting except for one who was supposed to be a secret then reveals himself as soon as he gets around people.
One of my biggest pet peeves is stupidity and incompetence. I was with the FMC and here naivety - it made perfect sense. But what I can't stand is she constantly jumping into situations she knows she does not have skills to combat and constantly needing to be saved. Then, she does nothing to learn how to protest herself. Pick a lane - if you can't fight, at least be smart and if you can't be smart, learn how to fight. You can't be dumb and weak at the same time.
I'm hoping book 2 will have more to offer now that some secrets have been revealed. The MMCs are unique and very interesting except for one who was supposed to be a secret then reveals himself as soon as he gets around people.
July 4, 2025
If you enjoy a bunch of immature idiots arguing in circles with zero story progression, then this is the book for you!
DNF at 70% and didn't even skim to the last page because I honestly didn't care what happened to any of these insufferable characters.
DNF at 70% and didn't even skim to the last page because I honestly didn't care what happened to any of these insufferable characters.
September 16, 2025
Not here for a long time, but here for a good time!
September 18, 2025
This has been an interesting read. I think I am getting a little bored with the academic setting that many reverse harem stories are set in. I’ve read a fair few outside of this sub-genre, but it does seem to be a predominant plot point. This book deals with many supernatural species, an evil ‘vague’ antagonist who mostly remains in the shadows, multiple dimensions, and a whole lot of kept secrets.
I did feel that the characters moved too quickly, sexually. I say this because it is noted that the FMC is a virgin at the beginning of the book. I am not saying it is out of the ordinary for a virgin to want to lose their virginity quickly – in real life or fictionally. However, because the book made a point of revealing this and the extent of her innocence multiple times, it felt odd.
So, let's look at the characters. Our FMC is called Isolde – and let me tell you, this name and my dyslexia do not get on well! – I’m not convinced even now that I know how to correctly pronounce it. She has been hidden away her entire life like a princess locked in a tower, except she wasn’t waiting for her knight in shining armour. Isolde’s parents have kept her hidden for years with no context as to why, and then suddenly the moon changes colour, her parents panic, and she is pushed headfirst through a portal and arrives at Silvergate Academy.
This character has been sheltered her entire life; she has no concept of real life, no experience. All she knows is the knowledge found in the books she has read and the talks with her brother. This narrative seems to have been completely thrown out in the first half of the book and forgotten entirely, which severely irritated me.
It would have been better if she were a character who was already badass and rebellious. Isolde has defensive magic, and her brother has offensive magic, but really, her brother, Issac, is not much involved in this book. He is mentioned, and he has a small narrative, but it is clear that he isn’t important to the plot at large.
This book has 3 male love interests. CJ, Cassiel, and William.
So, CJ is Issac’s best friend, whom Isolde has been crushing on for a long while. He is wild and dark and dangerous. He holds secrets. He takes what he wants – he wants Isolde – and he gives no shits about hurting anyone who gets too close to her. He’s from another dimension – I think – and he is hiding part of himself from the academy and Isolde. He is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome.
Cassiel is a fallen angel, literally. He falls to the earth in this book, crashes to the ground, breaks all the bones in his body and is welcomed to the academy with open arms by the headmaster. Cassiel is an interesting character because he was only an angel for 21 years, but he was clearly rebellious and not suited to the high gates of heaven. On the ground, he has all the experiences and emotions to discover and explore. He explores…Isolde is isolated quite well throughout the book.
William is last and again an interesting character. He’s a ghost. But a ghost that has been dead for 100 years, and Isolde is the only one who has been able to see him in all that time. He presents himself as a gentleman but also is quite quick to anger and filling Isolde with fear… He was a Sanguinarch, someone who could manipulate blood in different ways. He was incredibly powerful and was working on a project that he had almost completed, but he was pushed off the top of a tower and fell to his death. Unsolved. So, Isolde decides to help him solve his own murder. It’s a relationship that has potential but is twisted almost. I don’t know what will come of it.
The vague antagonist is/are The Collectors. As it turns out, The Collectors, this mysterious group of unknowns, hunt rare supernatural beings. I mean, that is bad enough, but no, it gets worse. These collectors specifically hunt beings like Isolde so they can extract their consciousness and put it into a grimoire to record complex spells and rituals. You heard me, sentient books. In this book, the antagonist is more of a complex looming threat rather than a close-quarters threat.
Blackridge, the headmaster, is a twisted fucker. Okay, so the ending. The thing about having a vague antagonistic character, or in this case, a collective, is that you never know where the ending of the book will go. This ending was confusing, fast-paced, and left-field. I’m not sure what to do with the information I was given. It makes little sense, and I can’t classify it as a cliffhanger because I’m not sure I understand the meaning behind the actions.
I wondered whether to continue reading when I got to the end of this book because it was 3/5 stars. I didn’t like how quickly the sexual interactions started because it seemed out of character for the FMC, when it had been explicitly stated that she was sheltered and overly innocent. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the vague notion of an antagonist party without any follow-through. BUT I do have questions that remain unanswered, so I think I will read the second book in the series and make my decision on the series then.
I did feel that the characters moved too quickly, sexually. I say this because it is noted that the FMC is a virgin at the beginning of the book. I am not saying it is out of the ordinary for a virgin to want to lose their virginity quickly – in real life or fictionally. However, because the book made a point of revealing this and the extent of her innocence multiple times, it felt odd.
So, let's look at the characters. Our FMC is called Isolde – and let me tell you, this name and my dyslexia do not get on well! – I’m not convinced even now that I know how to correctly pronounce it. She has been hidden away her entire life like a princess locked in a tower, except she wasn’t waiting for her knight in shining armour. Isolde’s parents have kept her hidden for years with no context as to why, and then suddenly the moon changes colour, her parents panic, and she is pushed headfirst through a portal and arrives at Silvergate Academy.
This character has been sheltered her entire life; she has no concept of real life, no experience. All she knows is the knowledge found in the books she has read and the talks with her brother. This narrative seems to have been completely thrown out in the first half of the book and forgotten entirely, which severely irritated me.
It would have been better if she were a character who was already badass and rebellious. Isolde has defensive magic, and her brother has offensive magic, but really, her brother, Issac, is not much involved in this book. He is mentioned, and he has a small narrative, but it is clear that he isn’t important to the plot at large.
This book has 3 male love interests. CJ, Cassiel, and William.
So, CJ is Issac’s best friend, whom Isolde has been crushing on for a long while. He is wild and dark and dangerous. He holds secrets. He takes what he wants – he wants Isolde – and he gives no shits about hurting anyone who gets too close to her. He’s from another dimension – I think – and he is hiding part of himself from the academy and Isolde. He is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome.
Cassiel is a fallen angel, literally. He falls to the earth in this book, crashes to the ground, breaks all the bones in his body and is welcomed to the academy with open arms by the headmaster. Cassiel is an interesting character because he was only an angel for 21 years, but he was clearly rebellious and not suited to the high gates of heaven. On the ground, he has all the experiences and emotions to discover and explore. He explores…Isolde is isolated quite well throughout the book.
William is last and again an interesting character. He’s a ghost. But a ghost that has been dead for 100 years, and Isolde is the only one who has been able to see him in all that time. He presents himself as a gentleman but also is quite quick to anger and filling Isolde with fear… He was a Sanguinarch, someone who could manipulate blood in different ways. He was incredibly powerful and was working on a project that he had almost completed, but he was pushed off the top of a tower and fell to his death. Unsolved. So, Isolde decides to help him solve his own murder. It’s a relationship that has potential but is twisted almost. I don’t know what will come of it.
The vague antagonist is/are The Collectors. As it turns out, The Collectors, this mysterious group of unknowns, hunt rare supernatural beings. I mean, that is bad enough, but no, it gets worse. These collectors specifically hunt beings like Isolde so they can extract their consciousness and put it into a grimoire to record complex spells and rituals. You heard me, sentient books. In this book, the antagonist is more of a complex looming threat rather than a close-quarters threat.
Blackridge, the headmaster, is a twisted fucker. Okay, so the ending. The thing about having a vague antagonistic character, or in this case, a collective, is that you never know where the ending of the book will go. This ending was confusing, fast-paced, and left-field. I’m not sure what to do with the information I was given. It makes little sense, and I can’t classify it as a cliffhanger because I’m not sure I understand the meaning behind the actions.
I wondered whether to continue reading when I got to the end of this book because it was 3/5 stars. I didn’t like how quickly the sexual interactions started because it seemed out of character for the FMC, when it had been explicitly stated that she was sheltered and overly innocent. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the vague notion of an antagonist party without any follow-through. BUT I do have questions that remain unanswered, so I think I will read the second book in the series and make my decision on the series then.
November 28, 2025
trying so hard not to dnf everytime the term sanguimonarch is used
June 12, 2025
2.4 stars. almost to the average but there's something going on with this book that doesn't have me give it three stars.
What I read this again? no. will I read the next part? maybe. so there's a lot going on in the story and it's got some really good plot points but there's a lot of Confusion And honestly nothingness that is happening in this story being that it's almost 500 pages and it's a three-part series. like to the point I think they probably could have taken this story down to like 250 pages and we would have learned the same information and had a more cohesive story.
for the FMC being in basically confinement at her parents' house for over 20 years because of how special she is or whatever you think that they would have had more training for her or something. I don't know it just didn't make a lot of sense. so the fmc's brother Isaac goes to this Academy already and the book starts because there is a red moon at her house and her parents come in and tell her she needs to pack up and leave right then and her mom pushes her through a portal which brings her to the academy that her brother is at. they tell her to tell people that she is his younger sister but not to tell them that she's his twin. the actual Academy portion of the story is very small considering there's only a few days for the storyline to develop. apparently Isaac has a friend named CJ which is one of the mmcs who has been at the campus for like a year and she sees him when she used to talk to her brother over these mirror communications. now the story is very much and InstaLove BUT it also kind of feels like the connection between the characters is kind of lacking and the povs between the characters and how the other characters see the other characters and how they interact with each other is kind of like off. like CJ for instance he's very much stalkerish in the beginning but then you'll see him from the fmc's POV or one of the other guys and it just doesn't feel like it's the same person or the same actions happening. then you have the Fallen Angel MMC and he does a lot of non-con situations and then you have her ghost and then see which has a whole other scenario. then you have all these story Lines within story lines and they're kind of competing with each other. for instance CJ doesn't like to tell anyone that he's part dragon. then even will the ghost is apparently the same thing that the FMC is and you don't realize that until the end of the story but you can be multiple things like the FMC is whatever will is plus a vampire plus a female twin vampire. then you also have this storyline with the collectors organization who tries to essentially steal a sought after creatures including people like her because vampire twin girls are hard to come by I guess and apparently you can harness their soul and make books out of their skin and that will hold knowledge. yeah it's a whole thing and there were certain sections of the book where I had to reread them because I wasn't 100% sure what was going on.
What I read this again? no. will I read the next part? maybe. so there's a lot going on in the story and it's got some really good plot points but there's a lot of Confusion And honestly nothingness that is happening in this story being that it's almost 500 pages and it's a three-part series. like to the point I think they probably could have taken this story down to like 250 pages and we would have learned the same information and had a more cohesive story.
for the FMC being in basically confinement at her parents' house for over 20 years because of how special she is or whatever you think that they would have had more training for her or something. I don't know it just didn't make a lot of sense. so the fmc's brother Isaac goes to this Academy already and the book starts because there is a red moon at her house and her parents come in and tell her she needs to pack up and leave right then and her mom pushes her through a portal which brings her to the academy that her brother is at. they tell her to tell people that she is his younger sister but not to tell them that she's his twin. the actual Academy portion of the story is very small considering there's only a few days for the storyline to develop. apparently Isaac has a friend named CJ which is one of the mmcs who has been at the campus for like a year and she sees him when she used to talk to her brother over these mirror communications. now the story is very much and InstaLove BUT it also kind of feels like the connection between the characters is kind of lacking and the povs between the characters and how the other characters see the other characters and how they interact with each other is kind of like off. like CJ for instance he's very much stalkerish in the beginning but then you'll see him from the fmc's POV or one of the other guys and it just doesn't feel like it's the same person or the same actions happening. then you have the Fallen Angel MMC and he does a lot of non-con situations and then you have her ghost and then see which has a whole other scenario. then you have all these story Lines within story lines and they're kind of competing with each other. for instance CJ doesn't like to tell anyone that he's part dragon. then even will the ghost is apparently the same thing that the FMC is and you don't realize that until the end of the story but you can be multiple things like the FMC is whatever will is plus a vampire plus a female twin vampire. then you also have this storyline with the collectors organization who tries to essentially steal a sought after creatures including people like her because vampire twin girls are hard to come by I guess and apparently you can harness their soul and make books out of their skin and that will hold knowledge. yeah it's a whole thing and there were certain sections of the book where I had to reread them because I wasn't 100% sure what was going on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
From the very start I was intrigued by the story and it didn't disappoint - it was action packed, full of suspense, thrilling dialogue and characters that had my heart. First you have Isolde, she's been kept in the family castle tower literally since she was born, then you have CJ, A dark, possessive and utterly gorgeous Italian vampire that comes from somewhere other than this realm, then we have a fallen angel Cassiel, inquisitive, intrusive and he has no idea of personal space or questions when it comes to Issy 😍 and finally we have William, he's a ghost but oh my no one can brood like this dramatic ghost - if only he could find out why someone unaliver him, I mean that would certainly put me in a bad mood for 100 years, what did I do to get thrown off the Bell Tower?
While CJ is warning every single person away from Isolde, and Cassiel is trying to figure out these new feelings and urges he has that he has zero Fs about asking Isolde about 😁, and while William is nagging her to find out who killed him and why, we have people hunting down Issy for her just existing. Who's the bad guys? Well everyone in this story is, it's a dark paranormal academy Rh - so I'll re word it - who's the bad guys who are hunting our girl and our guys? Well that's all part of the fun and the journey.
SilverGate Academy is in a whole different realm to any academy Rh you've read before. Trust me, this ain't no children's wizarding story! This has meat and bones (and a ghost!) and will encapture your imagination from the offset.
While CJ is warning every single person away from Isolde, and Cassiel is trying to figure out these new feelings and urges he has that he has zero Fs about asking Isolde about 😁, and while William is nagging her to find out who killed him and why, we have people hunting down Issy for her just existing. Who's the bad guys? Well everyone in this story is, it's a dark paranormal academy Rh - so I'll re word it - who's the bad guys who are hunting our girl and our guys? Well that's all part of the fun and the journey.
SilverGate Academy is in a whole different realm to any academy Rh you've read before. Trust me, this ain't no children's wizarding story! This has meat and bones (and a ghost!) and will encapture your imagination from the offset.
June 9, 2025
I was hooked from the very first page—Dark Soul completely consumed me. This book is everything I love about dark paranormal academy romance: rich world-building, twisty mysteries, powerful (and chaotic) love interests, and a heroine who's been kept in the shadows and is finally stepping into her own.
Isolde is a vampire who’s been locked away her entire life, and when she’s finally thrust into SilverGate Academy, her world turns upside down—and I loved watching it happen. The guys she meets? Unforgettable. CJ is the definition of dark, possessive, and dangerous (yes, please). Cassiel is a fallen angel with no filter and zero understanding of boundaries, but he’s so curious and weirdly charming that I couldn’t help but love him. And then there’s William, the broody, dramatic ghost who low-key stole my heart with his tragic sass and mystery.
What stood out to me was the constant sense of danger and not knowing who to trust. Everyone seems to have an agenda, and watching Isolde navigate it all, while trying to figure out who’s hunting her and why, made this book impossible to put down.
SilverGate Academy isn’t just dark—it’s viciously addictive. I’m obsessed with this world and these characters, and that ending? It ruined me in the best way. Counting the days until book two.
Isolde is a vampire who’s been locked away her entire life, and when she’s finally thrust into SilverGate Academy, her world turns upside down—and I loved watching it happen. The guys she meets? Unforgettable. CJ is the definition of dark, possessive, and dangerous (yes, please). Cassiel is a fallen angel with no filter and zero understanding of boundaries, but he’s so curious and weirdly charming that I couldn’t help but love him. And then there’s William, the broody, dramatic ghost who low-key stole my heart with his tragic sass and mystery.
What stood out to me was the constant sense of danger and not knowing who to trust. Everyone seems to have an agenda, and watching Isolde navigate it all, while trying to figure out who’s hunting her and why, made this book impossible to put down.
SilverGate Academy isn’t just dark—it’s viciously addictive. I’m obsessed with this world and these characters, and that ending? It ruined me in the best way. Counting the days until book two.
May 31, 2025
Dark and Addicting
Isolde- rare female twin vampire who has been sheltered and hidden for 21 years. Now she is shoved, quite literally, into SilverGate Academy. Not knowing why she is in the real world, what is she going to do? Well, enter in CJ, Cassiel, and William.
CJ- Vampire/something else (yeah I'm not telling you, you need to read to find out). He is powerful, hot, and possessive. He is captivated by Isolde and will do anything for her.
Cassiel- Fallen Angel. Oh, what I would give to have him experience firsts with me. He is inquisitive and funny. Isolde is something he can't get enough of in learning all he can with her (yeah still not telling you. You need to read to know what I mean).
William- Resident Ghost. He knows what it feels like to be trapped and can't get enough of Isolde.
Together they will take a journey to find out why Isolde was locked away and hidden and why she ended up at Silvergate.
You need to read this first book of the series. If you didn't know you had darkness inside you, then you will after reading this book. It calls to you on a deeper level and you will bond with all of the characters.
Isolde- rare female twin vampire who has been sheltered and hidden for 21 years. Now she is shoved, quite literally, into SilverGate Academy. Not knowing why she is in the real world, what is she going to do? Well, enter in CJ, Cassiel, and William.
CJ- Vampire/something else (yeah I'm not telling you, you need to read to find out). He is powerful, hot, and possessive. He is captivated by Isolde and will do anything for her.
Cassiel- Fallen Angel. Oh, what I would give to have him experience firsts with me. He is inquisitive and funny. Isolde is something he can't get enough of in learning all he can with her (yeah still not telling you. You need to read to know what I mean).
William- Resident Ghost. He knows what it feels like to be trapped and can't get enough of Isolde.
Together they will take a journey to find out why Isolde was locked away and hidden and why she ended up at Silvergate.
You need to read this first book of the series. If you didn't know you had darkness inside you, then you will after reading this book. It calls to you on a deeper level and you will bond with all of the characters.
November 29, 2025
This was November's pick for The Mythic Rose Book Club.
We follow Isolde, a female vampire who has been locked away by her parents for her whole life. Then at 20 she is thrown into the real world when she is sent to join her twin brother at SilverGate Academy, an academy for the most powerful supernatural beings.
Here she finally meetings her long term crush, Cj, her brothers best friend and a vampire dragon hybrid, Cassiel, a Fallen angel who happens to fall from heaven and land right out side the Academy and finally, William, a student who was murdered on the grounds a long time ago and haunts his old room, which is now Isolde's room.
Whilst I did enjoy this and I feel there is potential it just missed the mark for me a little bit. I am a big fan of a paranormal academy and reverse harem but I did find in this one I just couldn't connect to the characters and found I wasn't invested and had to push myself to get to the end of it.
Whilst I do not mind an insta love/lust story, infact I rather enjoy them, but I just didn't like the interactions between all the men and how they were towards her.
I may one day move onto read book 2 but I won't be going straight into it.
We follow Isolde, a female vampire who has been locked away by her parents for her whole life. Then at 20 she is thrown into the real world when she is sent to join her twin brother at SilverGate Academy, an academy for the most powerful supernatural beings.
Here she finally meetings her long term crush, Cj, her brothers best friend and a vampire dragon hybrid, Cassiel, a Fallen angel who happens to fall from heaven and land right out side the Academy and finally, William, a student who was murdered on the grounds a long time ago and haunts his old room, which is now Isolde's room.
Whilst I did enjoy this and I feel there is potential it just missed the mark for me a little bit. I am a big fan of a paranormal academy and reverse harem but I did find in this one I just couldn't connect to the characters and found I wasn't invested and had to push myself to get to the end of it.
Whilst I do not mind an insta love/lust story, infact I rather enjoy them, but I just didn't like the interactions between all the men and how they were towards her.
I may one day move onto read book 2 but I won't be going straight into it.
January 28, 2026
Excellent world building.
Eve Newton is a new to me author and SilverGate Academy is the first series I am reading by her. If this first installment is any indication, Newton is about to become an automatic one-click for me.
Newton lays the foundation for a complex, multidimensional world in Dark School. The school is home to every supernatural imaginable and a few I have never heard of.
Izzy is a strong FMC. She may have been locked away from the world for 21 years but you'd never know it. She carries herself well. And can we talk about the 3 MMC and her love interests? Hawt! Spicy! Oh my!
As the 4 of them attempt to learn more about Izzy's powers and save her from The Collectors, dark, long buried secrets are brought to light. No one, including the MCs, are who they seem and the school itself is resting on some very old blood magic.
This first installment is fast paced and quite a page turner. It lays the groundwork forcwhat is sure to be an epic series. Of course book 1 ends on a major cliffhanger but thankfully since I am late to the game book 2 is available. And yes, I will be diving into it immediately.
Eve Newton is a new to me author and SilverGate Academy is the first series I am reading by her. If this first installment is any indication, Newton is about to become an automatic one-click for me.
Newton lays the foundation for a complex, multidimensional world in Dark School. The school is home to every supernatural imaginable and a few I have never heard of.
Izzy is a strong FMC. She may have been locked away from the world for 21 years but you'd never know it. She carries herself well. And can we talk about the 3 MMC and her love interests? Hawt! Spicy! Oh my!
As the 4 of them attempt to learn more about Izzy's powers and save her from The Collectors, dark, long buried secrets are brought to light. No one, including the MCs, are who they seem and the school itself is resting on some very old blood magic.
This first installment is fast paced and quite a page turner. It lays the groundwork forcwhat is sure to be an epic series. Of course book 1 ends on a major cliffhanger but thankfully since I am late to the game book 2 is available. And yes, I will be diving into it immediately.
May 29, 2025
Welcome to SilverGate Academy where the darkness is where you flourish. This new academy series by Eve Newton has started off with a wild ride of mysteries and suspense. I am antsy to read this new world. I recommend anything Eve Newton writes but this is TOP TIER. Highly recommend!
Slow paced on the spice but when it hits? Better grab a fan to cool off from all that steam!
Isolde- sweet, smart and stronger than she knows. I really enjoyed the way she is swayed by certain characters. I can't wait to see how she flows in future.
CJ- Going in I knew he was mine. He is pure male perfection with a big side of toxic, which I go feral for. Love his obsession with our FMC.
Cassiel- he is absolutely hilarious and I love him. I would definitely let this man "experiment" with me. Love him and his wings.
William- we get glimpses of his story and I can't wait to see what is next.
I have a few theories going on in my mind but I won't share them. I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite dark Academy Series of the year.
Slow paced on the spice but when it hits? Better grab a fan to cool off from all that steam!
Isolde- sweet, smart and stronger than she knows. I really enjoyed the way she is swayed by certain characters. I can't wait to see how she flows in future.
CJ- Going in I knew he was mine. He is pure male perfection with a big side of toxic, which I go feral for. Love his obsession with our FMC.
Cassiel- he is absolutely hilarious and I love him. I would definitely let this man "experiment" with me. Love him and his wings.
William- we get glimpses of his story and I can't wait to see what is next.
I have a few theories going on in my mind but I won't share them. I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite dark Academy Series of the year.
June 29, 2025
Holy Sh!t This was an amazing read!
I don’t write reviews often. But this was worthy of a review. From the beginning this book drew me in and held my attention big time.
I don’t normally like the whole virgin trope but this author manages to tell this trope in a way that not only doesn’t make me cringe like every other one has but I truly enjoyed.
The characters are all amazing, well fleshed out and distinct. I love Isolde’s men, especially Cassiel, and William. Cassiel is truly a delight.
The story is smooth and flows well without anything to disrupt its flow.
Lately I have had trouble finding books that hold my attention from start to finish, but I definitely didn’t have that problem. I didn’t stop till the very end and am looking forward to reading the next.
I usually avoid books with the virgin trope or school trope as they can read very immature/amateurish and be very cringeworthy. I am delighted to say this was not one of those.
Honestly cannot say enough good things about this book, and I can be hard to please. Absolutely Amazing!
I don’t write reviews often. But this was worthy of a review. From the beginning this book drew me in and held my attention big time.
I don’t normally like the whole virgin trope but this author manages to tell this trope in a way that not only doesn’t make me cringe like every other one has but I truly enjoyed.
The characters are all amazing, well fleshed out and distinct. I love Isolde’s men, especially Cassiel, and William. Cassiel is truly a delight.
The story is smooth and flows well without anything to disrupt its flow.
Lately I have had trouble finding books that hold my attention from start to finish, but I definitely didn’t have that problem. I didn’t stop till the very end and am looking forward to reading the next.
I usually avoid books with the virgin trope or school trope as they can read very immature/amateurish and be very cringeworthy. I am delighted to say this was not one of those.
Honestly cannot say enough good things about this book, and I can be hard to please. Absolutely Amazing!
August 15, 2025
I liked this one a lot. The characters aren't annoying, and they are interesting. Good World building. The big secret is a little lame. Like, it would suck, but "make her into a book" - really? I was expecting something more groundbreaking or shocking. I think that the particular act is super interesting and that could have been a side thing that these monsters did to get their brutality across, but for that to be the big thing that they wanted to do to her didn't seem like enough.
Also, I wanted more jealous girl action in the form of exes or something. CJ having no one that would be jealous and petty towards Isolde seems unrealistic. I love that drama in a book, especially if the MMC has to suck up for his past hoe-ish actions. There is no romantic tension either really, it has no resistance, just a mind-altering obsession. (mates? I am thinking that is the case, but it hasn't been explicitly stated, just casually mentioned by CJ, "you know why" -- but I dont! Tell me!)
I don't know what her new/hidden power means for her or the guys but it seems very complicated.
Also, I wanted more jealous girl action in the form of exes or something. CJ having no one that would be jealous and petty towards Isolde seems unrealistic. I love that drama in a book, especially if the MMC has to suck up for his past hoe-ish actions. There is no romantic tension either really, it has no resistance, just a mind-altering obsession. (mates? I am thinking that is the case, but it hasn't been explicitly stated, just casually mentioned by CJ, "you know why" -- but I dont! Tell me!)
I don't know what her new/hidden power means for her or the guys but it seems very complicated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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