I never asked to be a walking magical lust bomb. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I became after unintentionally projecting everyone’s deepest, dirtiest desires at the summer solstice celebration.
The Council gave me two Bind my magic forever, Or enroll at the Academy of Carnal Arcana—aka, magic school with an extremely hands-on curriculum.
Now I’m the only student who’s never reached the finish line in a place where pleasure is basically a graduation requirement. My familiar won’t stop judging me. My roommate thinks pants are a social construct. And my “specialized training” involves a half-incubus professor with boundary issues and a tattooed TA whose hands should honestly be illegal.
Also, there’s an ancient desire-hungry eldritch entity living under the school that feeds on unmet longing. Because of course there is.
I’ve got six months to figure out how to master my magic, unlock my own pleasure, and avoid accidentally blowing up the Academy with my repressed feelings. No pressure.
At least the aphrodisiac desserts are optional. Mostly.
This book is the invitation. The velvet rope. Astrid’s just beginning her journey, still pretending she’s the kind of girl who needs permission.
If you came looking for an instant plunge into full-blown, six-limbed chaos... hang tight. This is the simmer. The sauna. The slow burn.
Your patience will be very well rewarded from book two and beyond.
This was more tame than I was expecting it to be. The premise of it had me thinking it was going to be super kinky super spicy just spice on top of spice but it wasn't that. It was a very good story I enjoyed it when we did get some spice it was good. I am very much interested in continuing.
3.5 stars. This was an interesting start to a new series. The premise is intriguing, and the characters are engaging, so why not 5 stars? Pacing.
This was a pretty short book to begin with, so I was concerned when I hit the 50% mark and the plot still hadn't advanced yet. The first half of the book was going through a magical sorting ceremony and describing the school's layout. If this book had been 500 pages, I could understand taking some time to set the scene, but it felt like wasted time when all the action, plot, and character development was squeezed into 100 pages. I would've loved a little more time for the connection between Astrid and Cruz to simmer and to build the anticipation. The final events in the book happened so quickly that I didn't have time to appreciate Astrid discovering the depth of her magic or contemplate the connection between her and Professor Ravish. I am looking forward to the second book because I enjoyed Pepper, and hopefully, the pacing will be better because the world building happened already.
Thank you to BookSirens and Salem Sinner for the free eARC.
Despite the length of the title, this was a short but interesting novella. The author states that it is not exactly dark anything, which I agree. It was more of a cute, this would never happen in real life, but a girl can dream type of fantasy.
The female main character is not in touch with her magic, turns out it is sex magic, but she can't harness it because she can't orgasm. After a magical incident happens, she is sent to an academy to learn to harness her magic before she does real damage.
When she gets there, she is assessed then assigned to a hot professor (half succubus) and and his TA. They work with her on her block and she unlocks more than just her magic. In real life, being hot for teacher (and TA) would usually not be socially acceptable to the point that they can openly help get you off in the middle of a private instruction room.
Filled with cute banter, a little angst, and a charming but sassy cat familiar, this book is a cute summer read that keeps you captivated and wanting more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story turned out to be a pleasant surprise and completely different from what I expected. It follows an FMC who’s touch-starved and emotionally scarred by her family and ex. When she’s sent to an academy for those who wield sex magic, she finally finds people who understand her and begins to form genuine connections. Through them, she learns to embrace her identity and discovers that vulnerability can be both powerful and freeing. The academy’s sorting process gives off Harry Potter vibes—with a deliciously wicked twist. From the emotion-reflecting Sundays to the friendships and magic, I was captivated. I can’t wait to dive into the next book!
First in the great series of the Academy of Carnal Arcana! A bit on the spicy side, a well written story of a young woman with an emotional block that prevents her from accessing her magical energy. With the help of her half incubus professor and his half hellhound TA, Astrid learns to let go of her inhibitions and accept her immense magical power. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Surprisingly different from what I expected. This story followed and FMC who is touch starved and emotional damaged by her family and ex. Forced to attend an academy for those who have sex magic she finds others like her and makes connections. She learns how to embrace who she is and trust that vulnerability is ok and can be freeing. The sorting process for the academy houses is reminiscent of Harry Potter with a dirty twist. Sundays that can reflect you emotional state, the friendships and the magic had me hooked. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This review copy was freely provided to me by the author via Booksirens - thank you!
Some notes at the bottom for trans readers, from a trans reader. It's a "be aware," not a "beware," fret not.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | 🌶️ (1)
I flew through this in a single, two hour sitting, and am immediately moving onto the next book!
As a general rule, I don't dip into the academy/school genre - it's just not my jam. However, this kept popping up and the blurb was so intriguing I had to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did.
The writing is good, though I find the descriptions of, specifically, sultry voices a tad repetitive. The pacing was phenomenal, for 40k words? I expected rush, glossing over things I'd thought would add to the story, while lingering on things I couldn't generate interest in. Delightfully, it does none of that. We get to see enough day-to-day school to get a feel for the institution, the peers, some of the staff. It perfectly rides the lines between succinct enough not to bore, and detailed enough to genuinely intrigue; the magic system is elaborate and varied to interest, while not too complicated to the point of distraction.
There are some intensely tricky conversations being had about consent in this world. It changed my perception of the story from "fun sex magic," to "oh, we're going there? Ethics and morals, and fighting against the system? Sign me UP." I hope that this continues in the series.
We also have an in your face, unapologetically queer character, and that seems totally normal - colossal green flag - but shortly after, we see many groups of strangers coupling. Each stranger is gendered by the MC according to their genitalia. It was disheartening, to say the least. The nbi character introduction went so well, seemed to be a queernormative world, and then. Well. I'm desperately hoping the next book(s) prove me wrong, and this trans character isn't an outlier.
Between the Magic School Similarities (negative), the glimpse of bigger important themes around ethics and morals (positive, hopefully), trans character (positive), yet still being a cishet world - or viewing through a character that doesn't even consider it might not be (negative), I'm feeling very conflicted about a final rating. I think I have to go with a 4 star, but the next book will make or break the series for me. The MC is trans, and as a trans person, I have very high expectations.
TRANS FOLKS, a note. We all know about a certain magical school series. Some of us are more sensitive to similarities than others. I went into this unaware that there are some very solid similarities - surface level, at least. It almost feels satire adjacent. I'll add some examples and thoughts under a spoiler below.
This isn't a condemnation, an accusation, or anything of the sort; together, I found it a bit tough. As I said previously, it feels a bit like satire. Still, it caught me entirely off guard and was discouraging.
This is a very interesting concept. I really enjoyed reading it. The idea of a school for sexual magic is fascinating. I like the characters and enjoy the friendships that were growing. I love how explosive Astrid's connection is with Cruz and Ravish. I am not going to lie but I think my favorite part is the diner Midnight Moans. I love the creativity of such a place. well the creativity for the entire story concept is a dream. I really enjoyed reading this story. I am only giving this less than 5 stars because I wish there was more detail and character connection, especially with Pepper, Kai and Juniper in the growth of their friendship with Astrid. I confess the title of this book led me to believe it would be about Professor Ravish more than it was, but I thoroughly enjoyed Astrid's growth. The pacing felt a little off, time passed in randoms ways. I felt a little disconnected like it jumped a bit or that it all happened in a short time but not. I wish there was a little more detail on the world building. There is so much potential to understand the world of Cinnamon City a bit more, though it could be that Salem Sinner is saving that for the future books. I am so intrigued about the way the academy reacts to the magic around it and within. It would have been cool to get a bit more detail into the classes and other students interacting with our characters too. I hope as I move forward with the next books I can get a better perspective of the other characters. I am afraid and excited to meet this Concupiscent being. The author hints to a few things and it is left quite mysterious. I am excited to jump into the next book. I highly recommend this book for a quick exciting exotic read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Professor Ravish & His Carnal Curriculum" is about a witch, Astrid, who needs help overcoming emotional blockage from years of being taught her brand of magic is shameful at an academy for sex magic.
This book was a quick and easy read, and I thought the spicy scenes were well done, but for a book about "Carnal Curriculum," it wasn't as spicy as I'd anticipated. And for being the namesake of the book, Professor Ravish isn't really a main character.
The "magic academy" tropes were a little unoriginal - a sorting ceremony, houses, the manic-pixie-dream-roommate who's immediately happy to show the FMC around, and the inexplicably jealous, blonde rival.
The world building has the potential to be fascinating, but things were glossed over without any explanation. Why does everyone have a familiar? Why are some more sentient than others? Is there a difference between animal types?
And what are all the different types of magic? We know Astrid's parents come from divination magic, and she's sex magic, but what else is there? If there are demons and shifters, are there angels and vampires, too?
It could have used some more careful polishing as well. Professor Ravish was described as "predatory" far too many times for a 207 page ebook, and there were several misplaced quotation marks.
It was still a fun read, although I'm a little disappointed the next book will focus on another character, because it really felt like Astrid's was just getting interesting when this one ended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
PROFESSOR RAVISH & HIS CARNAL CURRICULUM is the first book in the Academy of Carnal Arcana series, and features Astrid, a diviner's daughter who has untapped sex magic. Her home life is very much standoffish, so casual touch - let alone anything else - does NOT come easy.
The whole academy is way out of Astrid's comfort zone, although she finds help in the form of good friends Pepper and Kai, as well as Professor Ravish's TA, Cruz. And before we go any further, Cricket deserves a mention! She is a sassy familiar with strong opinions, and I love her!
Professor Ravish plays a key role in this book, but doesn't actually appear as often as I would have thought with the book being named after him. Cruz, however, well, he certainly makes his presence known.
This was a one-sit-read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed every word. I can't wait to see what happens next and hope that Astrid and Cruz continue to play a part. Apparently, this is the tamest of the books too, so all I can say is bring it on!
Pepper's story is next, and I look forward to. In the meantime, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this novella if you are looking for a steamy but light-hearted look at the Academy.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! Jul 30, 2025
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this read. This book is “Harry Potter” meets “Wednesday”…. It was in the back of my mind throughout…. Although I knew it was magic-related and set at an academy, I wasn’t aware of what else this story was going to be about. The academy however, was a sex magic school which was an interesting concept. I honestly thought this would have been far more spicy than it was. It was angsty and there was a buildup throughout which I really did enjoy. Personally I would have liked more spice given the concept of a sex magic academy…. But overall…. I was interested in the characters and the FMC, Astrid, learning more about herself! Who knew the power of an orgasm could truly unlock a hidden realm lost hundreds of years before!
** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
This book promises that the next instalment will be spicier and wilder…. If that’s the case…. I would easily sign up again!
A quick and easy read. I requested this ARC based on its summery being absolutely bonkers. The story surprised me however. Its written well and while it has its joke moments the story as a whole is actually very positive for the FMC. While the book themes around the idea of sex magic, there isn't constant x rated activity going on. Also FMC has a delightful familiar who easily became my favorite character.
My main wish is that the characters age was more established. I dont think its mentioned that I can remember, aside from an old memory of her being 16. I spent the whole book mentally saying "this is a college this is a college". While smutty activities do happen, I can say I really expected more of it to be happening based on the books blurb.
Overall if you grew up reading dubious wizard fanfiction about a world she-who-shall-not-be-named wrote I think you would like this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm sorry but I don't get this book. It is absolutely NOT what the blurb (and the title, for that matter) promised. You have a witch with affinity for sex magic going to sex Hogwarts being taught sex magic by a half-incubus teacher and his sexy half-demon assistant. The "trigger warnings" mention BDSM elements (WTF? there was, like, holding hands, maybe?), explicit sexual context and even dubious consent. NONE of those were there. Aside from that one oral scene like 90% into the book, there was ZERO sex. Yes, in a book about sex magic taking place in sex Hogwarts, there was no sex. The word cock wasn't used and no "magic wands" showed up. Nada.
It's a shame because I really loved the worldbuilding, the magic system was well thought through, the school with its houses and mysteries was amazingly done and has great potential. Honestly, without that oral scene, the book would work as YA, but the blurb set expectations that the book really didn't meet.
This book is chaos—and I mean that in the best, most orgasm-triggering, soul-binding way.
It’s a magical academy of sex, trauma, and consent forms signed under duress. A repressed witch accidentally nukes a solstice ritual and gets assigned to the demon professor everyone fantasizes about. Oh, and his assistant Cruz? Cold, precise, and quietly lethal. The kind of man who watches you unravel and whispers “good girl” only when you earn it.
Dark, absurd, spicy, and strangely emotional—this one had me smirking, squirming, and side-eyeing my cat wondering if it, too, was judging me.
If you like:
Morally questionable mentors
Emotionally blocked heroines
A sidekick cat with more sass than your ex
Cruz. Just… Cruz.
Then welcome to your new obsession. Book Two is already open. I am not okay.
I am so happy I stumbled across this series. I am new to the author and after reading book 1, I am eager to devour the rest of the series.
I will say this is not for the faint of heart. The school name tells it straight. It is a different magical world where physical connection and pleasure literally makes magic. This book is STEAMY! I love that the story is about embracing yourself as you are, not as you or others wish you were.
Astrid is sent an an unwilling student as a condition to keeping her magic. Her other option is to loose it forever.
Astrid finds a unique found family that I want to learn more about. So excited for more in this world. Her familiar Cricket has such a dry wit and does not sugar coat the situation at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Professor Ravish & His Carnal Curriculum is a tale about Astrid who is a witch, but she needs help overcoming her emotional blockage from years of being taught her magic is not acceptable and is shameful so she attends an academy for sex magic.
This book was an easy read, and I thought the spicy scenes were tasteful, but for a book with "Carnal Curriculum," in it's title I was expecting a lot more spice.
I also felt that the first part of the book took too long, there seemed to be a lot of detail and then towards the end, this level of detail was missing and everything felt rushed and crammed into a small part of the book.
However, I did enjoy this story and will be looking out for the next installment.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review which I leave voluntarily.
This was such a short and spicy read—it flew by, but I had a great time with it! The magical school setting gave me nostalgic vibes with a very adult twist. Think that other well-known academy, but with more heat, emotion, and a whole lot of hands-on learning.
The magic system was fun, the tension was high, and the emotions hit harder than I expected for something this quick. I totally get why so many of the reviews mention how surprisingly heartfelt it is—I felt that too.
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, steamy magical romp with a bit of heart, this one’s worth picking up. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Looking to kill a little down time, I accepted a copy of this book.
At first, after reading the blurb, I wasn't sure. It all seemed a little silly, to be perfectly honest. I decided to give it a try and had mixed feelings.
The first few chapters had some similarities to Harry Potter. Professor Pince, sorting into houses, professors award house points… My outlook was very grim. But, that is where the similarities ended, thankfully.
I found that I was really rooting for Astrid and Cruz. I needed her to show Aiden who's boss and find her happily ever after. Luckily, I enjoy having my needs met, which it seems is what this school is all about.
An ominous Sex Magic Academy. A sex witch who can’t orgasm. A hot Professor and teaching assistant. What else can you ask for! I have actually never read anything like this before. I was intrigued by the mention of a sex witch. I really enjoyed the lore and overall magic system specifically within the academy itself. The rituals and environment are something unique and special. Astrid was such a relatable character and her emotional struggles were something I resonated with personally. She has such unlocked potential I can’t wait to see what is in store for her. Not just magic wise but with her relationship with Cruz and professor Ravish.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is book and the entire series is extra extra spicy which I suppose is the main draw here. I gave 5 stars for creativity in the said scenes and the whole set-up of a sex magic school. The characters were likable and a good variety of different tropes that made for brisk and interesting dialogues. However, I wish this was a novel rather than novella because the plot suffered from the fast-forward pace of the story. There were some lose threads that were never followed through in this or the next books (like what happened with the secret library?) as well as the pace of the events and character development felt rushed and thus unrealistic. Nevertheless, I finished all five books in these series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Professor Ravish & His Carnal Curriculum is a deliciously spicy start to a new series that blends magic, desire, and academic intrigue. The writing is engaging and well done—the plot buzzes with simmering tension, magical obstacles to overcome, fascinating familiars, and the irresistible allure of the academy setting. The spice level is just right, adding sizzle without overshadowing the character arcs and magical conflict. After devouring book one, anticipation for the next installment is sky-high. Four highly enjoyable stars for a magical, sexy read that delivers on every promise!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is a bold, steamy read that fully embraces its provocative premise. Set in a charged academic environment, it thrives on tension, power dynamics, and forbidden attraction. The writing focuses on mood and anticipation, making the central relationship the clear driving force of the story.
Best approached as escapist fiction, it delivers high heat and indulgent drama rather than realism. Readers who enjoy confident leads, authority-based fantasy, and intense chemistry will likely find it an engaging and satisfying read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ARC provided by author I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting into with this book, I wanted to read something with a concept that I wasn’t used to reading and I was really surprised by this book. I think the build up to the climax of the book was really well done and I think the characters were complete as individuals, but I really wanted more towards the end. I think the characters had great chemistry and this was a fun quick read that I would definitely recommend, but I’d love to have seen the plot advance just a bit further!
If you're looking for a quirky romance that dances on the edge of magic and desire, then this is your perfect potion.
This is a novella of self-discovery filled with charmingly quirky characters and steamy encounters! The chemistry is brooding yet undeniably charming.
With a delightful blend of humor, heart, and a sprinkle of spice, Salem Sinner has crafted a novella that’s a reminder to embrace our true selves. If you enjoy a unique twist on a romantic tale, this one’s a must-read! I can’t wait to dive into book two!
This book follows Astrid as she has been mandated to Academy of Carnal Arcana by the council after causing an event with her magic, which is sex magic. Here Astrid meets Pepper and Kai who immediately become good friends to Astrid. Astrid is to start lessons with Professor Ravish and his TA Cruz to unlock her magic and help her learn how to control it. Astrid hasn't had good luck with her magic as she has always been taught that it was crude and wrong, so she has to learn to embrace herself and her magic. I did enjoy the journey Astrid was on, but I felt that it could have been expanded on in another book or maybe a longer book. All in all, it was a good book and I would read books by this author again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mind the tags! A detailed list is linked to their website from the Author's Note, which I found to be accurate and thorough. The first book is the most vanilla apparently, and the sex itself was very minor compared to a lot of romantasy, but there are strong dubcon aspects as well as family abandonment themes so please review the list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The chapter titles are actually one of my favorite parts 😂 brilliant
I was not expecting a book with heavy emphasis on spice to have this level of plot and developed characters. These characters feel rea, have backstories and fantastic personalities. I am hooked from book one!
I am intrigued to see where these books go in the future. My love for the sarcastic Cat familiar is unmatched.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. If you love a good spicy book with fantastic plot and great characters then this is the book for you!! I can't wait to read the rest.
What an interesting read… This was pretty different for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...While I've read tons of paranormal books, a school for sex magic is definitely a first. The whole story was sort of like a sexy adult Hogwarts, they even have their own special sorting mechanism but you have to read it to find out for yourself. It was a fun read and unexpected with the magical world that was created. It was sexy, funny and very original. I think I'll check out the next book in the series to see where this magical adventure leads.
I've given this book 5 stars! While I enjoyed the story, (I started/finished in the same day) I wasn't all too keen on the long chapter names. The book hooked me from start to finish and I felt very immersed in the setting. The story and FMC/MMCS were great! One of the MMCs gave me Lance Orion (Zodiac Academy) Vibes which is never a complaint 😂
Thank you for letting me read and review this!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We love a little novella moment! However, I have to say the pacing here felt a bit off. I felt like it was slow to start, but then all of a sudden everything happened at once… I am open to continuing the series, but I don't feel the need to binge it. Hope that the next book brings a bit more energy, excitement, and spice.
📖 / 3⭐️
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free eARC, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. All opinions are my own.