The First Year Continued

by Mazzy J. March

Leave it to me to bite the first guy who was nice to me.

Adjusting to the Marked Blood Academy is going about as well as I dreaded. Call it what they may, it is more of a prison, maybe like a juvenile facility, although we are all young adults, than an “academy.” And I have my experience at The Urban Academy to compare it to.

Back then, I thought I was unhappy. I didn’t quite fit in, never had a group of friends to hang out with, and everyone seemed to pair up—or harem up. Sometimes it felt like a romance academy. Not for me. I never felt the least bit of attraction to anyone anyway. But there is not one but three guys my wolf is doing growly backflips over. This is not the time to be fooling around.

Especially with what I just discovered in the shower.

We are here because we are a danger to the community. We have all been bitten by vampires in battle or elsewhere and not turned or died. Most of us got very sick for a while, but the powers that be are afraid we could turn at any time.

If this is such a safe place, how did a new vampire bite appear on my belly? Definitely not the time to be interested in romance. This is a battle for survival.

The First Year Continued is the second in the 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.

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2025

About the author

Mazzy 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.

Reviews

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

This was was fun and sexy with a little bit of crazy mixed in. I need the next book asap.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, listen—I knew the second book in the Marked Blood Academy series was going to be darker and twistier, but The First Year Continued? Mazzy J. March absolutely delivered. This one hit like a stake to the gut, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Coming back to this world felt like stepping into a pressure cooker. I swear, my anxiety was right there with our girl—still stuck in this not-quite-prison, where “academy” is just a fancy word for isolation and suspicion. The whole concept of being bitten, not dying or turning, but still marked? It makes everything feel raw and unfair. You feel her frustration, her confusion, and most of all—her fear.
And then there's the wolf. Ohhhh, the wolf. The same girl who’s never felt attraction is now growling (literally and figuratively) for three different guys?! Yeah, I gasped right along with her in that shower scene. Let’s just say the tension? Through the roof. But even with the hints of romance (and okay, maybe a little swoony chaos), it never distracts from the real stakes.
This book is about survival. It's about identity. It’s about being labeled dangerous for something you didn’t choose—and trying to navigate that while the world sees you as a threat. The vibe is eerie and tense, like you never know who to trust. And the twist with the fresh bite on her belly?? Let’s just say I immediately started scanning every page for clues and suspects. My inner detective was on high alert.
The tone? Think gritty academy suspense meets slow-burning, “what-is-happening-to-me” paranormal mystery—with just enough heat to keep your pulse racing.
I loved that Mazzy gave us more depth into the politics of this world. The council’s decisions, the secrecy, the way the other schools are powerless? It makes everything feel so claustrophobic in the best, most intense way. Like we’re right there, trapped beside her.
So yeah—if you're into:
✔️ Dangerous secrets and haunting questions
✔️ A tough heroine trying to make sense of it all
✔️ Unexplained vampire magic and wolf instincts colliding
✔️ Found family vibes (maybe?? we’re still figuring that out)
✔️ And just the right amount of romantic tension to mess with your head
Then you need to dive headfirst into this series. I did. And now I’m pacing my floor waiting for book 3 like a caged wolf with trust issues.
Mazzy J. March, please don’t keep us hanging for long.

[Nicole Deanne Veracruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the series more than the second. Because by the time things started happening the book was basically over. It needs to be longer. I'm still very much rooting for Roxy, Odin, Evander and Sol. But there was one big mistake in this book. After Roxy and Odin were intimate they both marked each other. I quote " then he bent and sank his wolf fangs into my throat. "Mate." I'm sure if it was unusual but knowing it was right, I returned the favor, marking him, tasting blood but not drinking. I had another mark, but this one I would wear with pride." Then at the end of that same chapter Odin said and I quote " my wolf wasn't happy about not marking her," so what is it did they Mark each other or did they not Mark each other make up your mind. Also with how short these books are how many is there going to be in this series so I can decide if I want to continue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Roxy and her guys have been given an assignment to find evidence of vampires in the school. Roxy and Oden both have marks on their stomachs, but Sol and Evander are unmarked. The vampire takes Roxy while she’s in her bed, and Oden is in the bathroom, but because they have blood bonded, Oden is able to find her and the vampire in between the two of them, they dispose of him. Once they returned to Roxy‘s dorm room, they consummate their mating, Oden doesn’t mark her. The other two come back to Roxy‘s room and they learn of their mating and walk away dejected. This is where the story ends and leaves us hanging to read the next instalment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I glided over the plot mistakes in the first book, but there were a few big ones in this novel. When do Roxy and Desi become roommates? At the end of book 1, Roxy is in a solitary room and no time seems to have passed between books. Given the strict student rules, it also seems that overnight stays with a man and woman in the same room would be strictly forbidden as they aren’t allowed to have sex. So why is there no repercussions to the boys staying every night? Also, when Odin and Roxy are having sex, they bite each other to leave a mating mark. Then Odin keeps harping on the fact that they aren’t marked as mates. What?

[Page Vanover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy starts to realize what has happened when she sees Odin and the guys rushing in to help. They are coming to the realization that she is each their mate but none of them have talked to each other about it. Later on they are called to the headmistresses office to meet with Tyrol a man they dont know to be asked to help figure out who the Vampire is among them at the academy. When they leave they all try to act like everything is normal. One thing leads to another and a Vampire comes out of no where and kidnap Roxy leaving the guys wondering where she is.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being bitten and not turning into a vampire should be a good thing, but not in this world. In this world you are sent to the Marked Blood Prison *ahem* I meant, Academy just in case you turn later. Roxy finds her wolf feeling something earth shattering with three men, and to top off the added tension and heat, she finds a new bite mark on her that shouldn't be possible given that vampires can't get into this academy. Or at least, they shouldn't be able to. Full of mystery, suspense, action and romance, this was a great second book in the Marked Blood Academy series!

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite the wild reading ride and an engaging continuation of the series. Roxy and her men are growing closer but there are weird things going on. Not the least of which is the fact that that the guys have been tasked with seeing if there is evidence of vampires on the campus. With mysterious bite marks, a kidnapping, a strong blood connection, some spice and a wicked cliffy, I'm anxiously awaiting the next book to see what else unfolds. Good fun!

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second book in the series. I was excited to read it finally as the first book ended in a cliffhanger. Now I'm anxiously waiting to read the next book to see what happens to these characters.

[Elena Puig Powell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am fairly certain AI was used here. This book has no real direction, is extremely rushed, and most surprising is 70 pages where nothing and too much happen simultaneously

[kelsey H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short?

Trying to understand why the book was so short. Also seemed rushed or maybe Ai was part of editing. Pretty good story though.