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Essence Bound #1
Validus Vale Academy: Book One
“Dear Theodora, Congratulations on your scholarship to Validus Vale Academy…”
This is a twist. A total m-fing twist.
So the big question is—should I go?
My parents would have said no, but they’re dead. My ex-lovers would definitely veto the idea, and my only friend just wants me to stick around as a free babysitter. So I guess I’m going to Validus Vale.
I’m sure I’ll be safe among the other witches as long as I keep my head down. Yep, everything will be just fine as long as the authorities don’t uncover my impossible I’m telepathic. They’ve spent millennia searching for this kind of innate magic. One slip and I’ll be a lab-rat before I know it.
But keeping a low profile here is difficult. The academy halls are filled with dark secrets, savage students, and a conspiracy that stretches to the highest seat of power. I walked into the belly of the beast, and I’m not escaping without help.
Which means turning to most unlikely the professor who controls my every move, the silent guardian whose gaze never leaves me, and the ruthless Elite who wants nothing but my destruction.
♥Validus Vale Academy is book one of a slow-burn paranormal reverse harem romance series. This is a why choose series, which means the main character will have many love interests and not have to choose between them. The heat level rises with each book.♥
This is a twist. A total m-fing twist.
So the big question is—should I go?
My parents would have said no, but they’re dead. My ex-lovers would definitely veto the idea, and my only friend just wants me to stick around as a free babysitter. So I guess I’m going to Validus Vale.
I’m sure I’ll be safe among the other witches as long as I keep my head down. Yep, everything will be just fine as long as the authorities don’t uncover my impossible I’m telepathic. They’ve spent millennia searching for this kind of innate magic. One slip and I’ll be a lab-rat before I know it.
But keeping a low profile here is difficult. The academy halls are filled with dark secrets, savage students, and a conspiracy that stretches to the highest seat of power. I walked into the belly of the beast, and I’m not escaping without help.
Which means turning to most unlikely the professor who controls my every move, the silent guardian whose gaze never leaves me, and the ruthless Elite who wants nothing but my destruction.
♥Validus Vale Academy is book one of a slow-burn paranormal reverse harem romance series. This is a why choose series, which means the main character will have many love interests and not have to choose between them. The heat level rises with each book.♥
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2025
About the author
Nicky Shivers
9 books57 followersNicky Shivers lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, kids and various fur babies. When not juggling the family, she is holed up in the study, writing stories. Her fictional characters work through challenges and personal flaws to find their HEA’s; sometimes in the most unconventional ways!
Shivers writes contemporary and paranormal romances, often with a #whychoose plot.
Shivers writes contemporary and paranormal romances, often with a #whychoose plot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
December 12, 2025
Quick DNF:
I don’t often leave reviews, but had to in this case. I tried to give this a chance but the author wrote “so… *shrug emoji*” into the book and it gave me the ICK. Not to describe the actually emoji, but the characters inner monologue. Tried to get over it but couldn’t make it far without thinking about it on every page. Seemed cool in concept, but did not meet my personal expectations for the quality.
I don’t often leave reviews, but had to in this case. I tried to give this a chance but the author wrote “so… *shrug emoji*” into the book and it gave me the ICK. Not to describe the actually emoji, but the characters inner monologue. Tried to get over it but couldn’t make it far without thinking about it on every page. Seemed cool in concept, but did not meet my personal expectations for the quality.
December 25, 2025
This book is so bad😭😭
Very little character and relationship development (all characters are 2D archetypes, especially FMC), crazy crazy age gap and with a professor, serious infantilization and emphasis of the FMC being super small, and very little actual academy/classes plot or explanation of the magical system / extent of powers like her telepathy even though it could be super super cool
And yet I still did skim thru and finish the whole thing so that does say something good about it lol
Very little character and relationship development (all characters are 2D archetypes, especially FMC), crazy crazy age gap and with a professor, serious infantilization and emphasis of the FMC being super small, and very little actual academy/classes plot or explanation of the magical system / extent of powers like her telepathy even though it could be super super cool
And yet I still did skim thru and finish the whole thing so that does say something good about it lol
September 29, 2025
Validus Vale Academy is an engaging and mysterious academy fantasy that kept me hooked from the very beginning. Theo’s story as an orphan struggling with both personal challenges and the shocking opportunity of a scholarship into such a prestigious academy was relatable and touching. Her search for the missing twins—who mean so much to her—brought so much emotional depth to the plot.
I really enjoyed the way the author weaved in supporting characters like Cosmo, Alexis, and even Ludo the janitor. Each of them added another layer to the mystery, making the academy feel alive with secrets, tension, and unexpected alliances. The suspense about the twins’ disappearance and the strange happenings at the school made it hard to put the book down.
The mix of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements made this a fresh take on the academy genre. Theo’s determination to balance her secrets, her relationships, and the dangerous truths of Validus Vale kept me turning the pages.
If you enjoy academy settings with mystery, danger, and heart, this is definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed the way the author weaved in supporting characters like Cosmo, Alexis, and even Ludo the janitor. Each of them added another layer to the mystery, making the academy feel alive with secrets, tension, and unexpected alliances. The suspense about the twins’ disappearance and the strange happenings at the school made it hard to put the book down.
The mix of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements made this a fresh take on the academy genre. Theo’s determination to balance her secrets, her relationships, and the dangerous truths of Validus Vale kept me turning the pages.
If you enjoy academy settings with mystery, danger, and heart, this is definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 11, 2025
this was…weird. I’ll never understand these kinds of books that put their heroines in toxic/highly unjust environments and the fmc never rages or gets mad about her circumstances.
Did Not Finish
May 27, 2026DNF @ 8% / 2 chapters
It’s not bad, I want to know where the story is going, but I absolutely can’t stand the writing style.
It’s not bad, I want to know where the story is going, but I absolutely can’t stand the writing style.
November 10, 2025
Must Read for Academy Magic RH
I have not read a book in so long that has managed to keep my ADD attention but this most certainly did! Why choose reverse harem and it’s a slow burn so nothing big in the first book regarding spice. But the characters are so well written and each has their own set of distinct qualities. Enemies to lovers and mean girls aside, the magic system is unique too and I greatly enjoyed every second of this book.
I have not read a book in so long that has managed to keep my ADD attention but this most certainly did! Why choose reverse harem and it’s a slow burn so nothing big in the first book regarding spice. But the characters are so well written and each has their own set of distinct qualities. Enemies to lovers and mean girls aside, the magic system is unique too and I greatly enjoyed every second of this book.
November 3, 2025
That ending was wild. Certainly not on my bingo card at all and I appreciate that.
I'd probably rate this about a 3.75
Theo is offered a school scholarship after bombing out during their 6 week program to try to help magical duds like her find their 'spark'. She spent the original program in a whirlwind romance with twin brothers who seemingly ghosted her after she returned home. When she returns to the school a year later, she learns that the twins have been missing since she left and a bunch of people hold grudges against her for that, for various reasons.
Theo - FL
Reverse Harem -MLs
Wes, missing twin
Donovan, other missing twin
Cosmo, rich dickbag (searching for bffs Wes and Dono)
Alexis, grumpy professor (searching for missing cousin Max)
Ludo, sweet, mute janitor
Magic academy
Shady magical politics
Adopted FL
Parental issues
Mean girl bs
Lots of secrets
New ride or die friends
Sapphic swooning from side characters (I hope Willow gets her dream girl tbh)
Abuses of magic
FL w/telepathy
I'd probably rate this about a 3.75
Theo is offered a school scholarship after bombing out during their 6 week program to try to help magical duds like her find their 'spark'. She spent the original program in a whirlwind romance with twin brothers who seemingly ghosted her after she returned home. When she returns to the school a year later, she learns that the twins have been missing since she left and a bunch of people hold grudges against her for that, for various reasons.
Theo - FL
Reverse Harem -MLs
Wes, missing twin
Donovan, other missing twin
Cosmo, rich dickbag (searching for bffs Wes and Dono)
Alexis, grumpy professor (searching for missing cousin Max)
Ludo, sweet, mute janitor
Magic academy
Shady magical politics
Adopted FL
Parental issues
Mean girl bs
Lots of secrets
New ride or die friends
Sapphic swooning from side characters (I hope Willow gets her dream girl tbh)
Abuses of magic
FL w/telepathy
October 14, 2025
I'm a big fan of paranormal academy reverse harems, but this one just didn't impress. The world-building felt very surface-level; I never really got a sense of the magical world or the academy's prestige. The dialogue was also a bit of a mess – it often felt unrealistic and didn't flow well, which made it hard to believe the relationships or the tension. Despite the promise of ex-lovers and dark secrets, I just couldn't get fully into the story. It had potential, but it didn't quite deliver the immersive experience I look for in this genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2026
very fun
For a bit I worried this would be a bully romance, but no - thankfully it’s not. Rather, this is a mysterious introduction to a new world with new rules and interesting characters, and I have a feeling, nothing is quite what it seems.
For a bit I worried this would be a bully romance, but no - thankfully it’s not. Rather, this is a mysterious introduction to a new world with new rules and interesting characters, and I have a feeling, nothing is quite what it seems.
December 28, 2025
Pretty good!
How I loathe amazon's demand for a 20 word review on the Kindle, when all my brain will come up with is "I really enjoyed that"...
How I loathe amazon's demand for a 20 word review on the Kindle, when all my brain will come up with is "I really enjoyed that"...
May 26, 2026
Good ideas, poor execution. Everything reads like a rough draft and there isn’t enough of anything.: not enough magic, relationship development, character development. The first like 60% is just a bunch of scenes with pretty bad transitions. I think the author should have written this with single pov. The last bit is better because there is some plot formation and progression but somehow was even choppier; just not enough plot to save this.
I really liked the hs telepathy magic and i liked how the academy was set up with the strongest magic users in different dorms and classes than the others but that everyone had a chance to move based on how their magic progressed. Good potential here just needs some more work.
Part of me is a little curios about what the MCs find in the end of book one but I really don’t think the author has the current writing skills to pull this world expanding off, we barely got enough development of things as it is. So I’ll stop here.
I really liked the hs telepathy magic and i liked how the academy was set up with the strongest magic users in different dorms and classes than the others but that everyone had a chance to move based on how their magic progressed. Good potential here just needs some more work.
Part of me is a little curios about what the MCs find in the end of book one but I really don’t think the author has the current writing skills to pull this world expanding off, we barely got enough development of things as it is. So I’ll stop here.
September 15, 2025
Theodora (Theo) has gotten the chance to attend Validus Vale Academy (a school for witches) on full scholarship. She decides to go, even though she hasn't found her magical spark, and her exes go to the school. While she's there, she realizes multiple students went missing at the same time last year and decides to investigate.
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this book! It is first person, multi-POV, and ends on a cliffhanger. One of the parts I loved most about this book was that you didn't know who would become one of her guys until it was their POV. I got to be surprised every time there was someone new added.
My only criticism is that I felt like this book should've had a little more information about what happened to the missing students by the end. The cliffhanger left me more confused than worried, but I still plan to get the next book as soon as it's available.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I kept thinking about it when I couldn't read it, and I found myself genuinely excited to see what was going to happen. The characters had a lot of depth, and I'm excited to see them grow together in the coming books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this book! It is first person, multi-POV, and ends on a cliffhanger. One of the parts I loved most about this book was that you didn't know who would become one of her guys until it was their POV. I got to be surprised every time there was someone new added.
My only criticism is that I felt like this book should've had a little more information about what happened to the missing students by the end. The cliffhanger left me more confused than worried, but I still plan to get the next book as soon as it's available.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I kept thinking about it when I couldn't read it, and I found myself genuinely excited to see what was going to happen. The characters had a lot of depth, and I'm excited to see them grow together in the coming books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 19, 2026
Great Book
Spoiler Alert!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m sad it sat in my TBR pile for so long. It’s the exact kind of story I love. Well built world without it being overly described. Multiple point of views, and manly men who are somewhat obsessed with the fmc. Theo, a telepathic, is accepted into an academy she had an internship at, but failed to develop her “spark” on a scholarship that is super rare. She stutters, she’s incredibly kind, and caring. She befriends other students who also have yet to activate their spark. Shes terrible at fitness, can’t protect herself from offensive spells, that force her to do things against her will.
Thankfully, she meets Ludo, the silent protector, he sees what she needs and either makes it for her or finds it for her. He’s a bit of a sad character, his past was hard to read and it was heart breaking to read his self doubt.
Alexis, her professor, who slowly fell her as he got to know her. Theo the fmc, isn’t a sniveling, suck up, only getting by on her good looks like he thought. He saw she needed education, physical and defensive endurance, so he pushed her in his classes and tutoring sessions. I loved reading about him teaching her parkour.
Cosmo Drakeward, if I didn’t read his thoughts during his point of view, he would have been unredeemable. He’s a complete prick to Theo right from the start. His “Dud” nickname for her, is offensive but she doesn’t complain. He’s worried about the twins which bonds the two of them. Unfortunately, with his snobby personality, he handles it poorly. The twins were his best friends and they had chose her over their friendship. She had an internship at this academy for 6 weeks, a year ago and they fell head over heels. Cosmo despised her for taking his brothers away from him, also she’s super poor, which he looks down on her for. He slowly but surely, starts to fall for her too. He saved her from drowning, defending her against other bullies, even when they about gossiped about her, saying that she’s his to bully or whatever he wants her to do. He helped her when she was drawn to the cursed shoes of Maximus, Alexis cousin who also disappeared with the twins.
They are investigating every lead to find the 3 of them, and it leads them to tunnels underneath the academy. This is where the light Theo keeps talking about seeing leads them. That drawing force to go to the light overpowers them all, even when they try to restrain her. It’s there, Cosmo finds Donovan. The body of a horse and a human body on top. I think that’s a centaur. It’s a Pretty spectacular book. It starts off normal then slowly reveals a paranormal world, which they uncover when the main characters search for friends and family. Can’t wait to read more.
Spoiler Alert!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m sad it sat in my TBR pile for so long. It’s the exact kind of story I love. Well built world without it being overly described. Multiple point of views, and manly men who are somewhat obsessed with the fmc. Theo, a telepathic, is accepted into an academy she had an internship at, but failed to develop her “spark” on a scholarship that is super rare. She stutters, she’s incredibly kind, and caring. She befriends other students who also have yet to activate their spark. Shes terrible at fitness, can’t protect herself from offensive spells, that force her to do things against her will.
Thankfully, she meets Ludo, the silent protector, he sees what she needs and either makes it for her or finds it for her. He’s a bit of a sad character, his past was hard to read and it was heart breaking to read his self doubt.
Alexis, her professor, who slowly fell her as he got to know her. Theo the fmc, isn’t a sniveling, suck up, only getting by on her good looks like he thought. He saw she needed education, physical and defensive endurance, so he pushed her in his classes and tutoring sessions. I loved reading about him teaching her parkour.
Cosmo Drakeward, if I didn’t read his thoughts during his point of view, he would have been unredeemable. He’s a complete prick to Theo right from the start. His “Dud” nickname for her, is offensive but she doesn’t complain. He’s worried about the twins which bonds the two of them. Unfortunately, with his snobby personality, he handles it poorly. The twins were his best friends and they had chose her over their friendship. She had an internship at this academy for 6 weeks, a year ago and they fell head over heels. Cosmo despised her for taking his brothers away from him, also she’s super poor, which he looks down on her for. He slowly but surely, starts to fall for her too. He saved her from drowning, defending her against other bullies, even when they about gossiped about her, saying that she’s his to bully or whatever he wants her to do. He helped her when she was drawn to the cursed shoes of Maximus, Alexis cousin who also disappeared with the twins.
They are investigating every lead to find the 3 of them, and it leads them to tunnels underneath the academy. This is where the light Theo keeps talking about seeing leads them. That drawing force to go to the light overpowers them all, even when they try to restrain her. It’s there, Cosmo finds Donovan. The body of a horse and a human body on top. I think that’s a centaur. It’s a Pretty spectacular book. It starts off normal then slowly reveals a paranormal world, which they uncover when the main characters search for friends and family. Can’t wait to read more.
January 27, 2026
This started good and became boring. The FMC is weak and always needs help. Oh and she is friendly with every guy that takes a liking to her 🙄🙄.
There is no character of romance building. She is perfect, weak and nice.
Sorry not my kind of FMC. And the MC were weird … a huge rich asshole, an inappropriate professor and weird janitor.
There is no character of romance building. She is perfect, weak and nice.
Sorry not my kind of FMC. And the MC were weird … a huge rich asshole, an inappropriate professor and weird janitor.
December 7, 2025
DNF 20% review em Português
Gatas, urgente uma revisão no livro, precisa URGENTEMENTE de uma formatação e ESPAÇAMENTO. A escrita? Ruim também, precisava passar por uma BOA revisão de concordância e coerência.
Urgente.
Gatas, urgente uma revisão no livro, precisa URGENTEMENTE de uma formatação e ESPAÇAMENTO. A escrita? Ruim também, precisava passar por uma BOA revisão de concordância e coerência.
Urgente.
January 7, 2026
Theo #1
This book took a while for me to get into. I just had a difficult time connecting to the world. It didn't seem like there was a good sense of the universe created, the magic or the customs of witches.
I did enjoy the mystery once we picked up speed and I will definitely be reading the next book.
This book took a while for me to get into. I just had a difficult time connecting to the world. It didn't seem like there was a good sense of the universe created, the magic or the customs of witches.
I did enjoy the mystery once we picked up speed and I will definitely be reading the next book.
January 14, 2026
1star
The writing was just juvenile and within the first few chapters I already had a ick for the FMC. The way the story is written. It’s hard to really connect with any of the characters as well. I unfortunately couldn’t even finish the book
The writing was just juvenile and within the first few chapters I already had a ick for the FMC. The way the story is written. It’s hard to really connect with any of the characters as well. I unfortunately couldn’t even finish the book
October 23, 2025
Spice: 🌶️ Low (but it’s definitely smoldering. sizzling. smoking)
Vibes: mystery, haunted hallways, magical school stress, hot boys with secrets
Reads Like: Paranormal new adult with a foot in why choose romantasy. honestly? kinda reminds me of riverdale if riverdale was better written and made more sense. so not like riverdale. more the hot young people dealing with drama and paranormal mystery with some funny funny writing.
If you like: Crave + Zodiac Academy, but with a little more heart and a little less edge
Tropes & Features
Reverse harem / why choose
Paranormal academy/university setting
Slow burn
Bully romance
Found family
Multi-POV
Low spice (i have a feeling it will change lol)
Check content warnings
What I Liked:
Theo is your classic unlucky new girl with wet cat energy and a tendency to attract drama (and hot guys). Her inner monologues are hilarious, and honestly? Even though the romance is a sloooow burn, I didn’t mind because the vibe carried me. Her new squad is great, and the banter makes it super readable. Also: Striker (snarky PI side character who communicates through emojis) is my fave side character in maybe anything. Her and Cosmo's back and forth is SO good.
Here are my rough character notes:
theo: plucky, unlucky everygirl, kind of a wet hen but in a good way
alexis: hottie professor, eastern european, blunt, comes across as unkind but isn't really
cosmo: rich bitch, omg i hate him but in a love to hate way, he needs to get bullied lmao. at one point he compares himself to mr darcy in the first half of pride and prejudice, which 1: he wishes and 2: that's psycho cosmo!! my DUDE
ludo: sweetheart! i love how his povs are so different to the rest of the casts, it reminds me kind of how jaime was written in the asoiaf books
What Might Not Be For Everyone:
It's a true slow burn—like we’re still gathering the boys by the end. Cosmo is the drama and you’ll want to fight him. There’s bullying and the cliffhanger is rude (in a good way). Not super spicy (yet).
Imagery to Expect: A gothic school with secrets in the walls on the outside, a college gymnasium with magical athletes on the inside, strange music, and a shitty dorm room. Theo wearing a weird sweater.
If It Were a Candle: iron, pinewood smoke, bleach, a hint of blood orange, and sweat.
Overall:
This book is fun. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but I think it makes the ride feel fresh. The character work is really, really good. Easy to read, good pacing, characters you’ll grow to love (even Cosmo, maybe, eventually. Love to hate?). Ends on a cliffhanger i'm still thinking about.
Highly recommend for rh/why choose lovers who want character-driven paranormal drama and enough chaos to keep it spicy without actual spice. (yet). (give it time)
(i kinda think cosmo and alexis should make out.)
Vibes: mystery, haunted hallways, magical school stress, hot boys with secrets
Reads Like: Paranormal new adult with a foot in why choose romantasy. honestly? kinda reminds me of riverdale if riverdale was better written and made more sense. so not like riverdale. more the hot young people dealing with drama and paranormal mystery with some funny funny writing.
If you like: Crave + Zodiac Academy, but with a little more heart and a little less edge
Tropes & Features
Reverse harem / why choose
Paranormal academy/university setting
Slow burn
Bully romance
Found family
Multi-POV
Low spice (i have a feeling it will change lol)
Check content warnings
What I Liked:
Theo is your classic unlucky new girl with wet cat energy and a tendency to attract drama (and hot guys). Her inner monologues are hilarious, and honestly? Even though the romance is a sloooow burn, I didn’t mind because the vibe carried me. Her new squad is great, and the banter makes it super readable. Also: Striker (snarky PI side character who communicates through emojis) is my fave side character in maybe anything. Her and Cosmo's back and forth is SO good.
Here are my rough character notes:
theo: plucky, unlucky everygirl, kind of a wet hen but in a good way
alexis: hottie professor, eastern european, blunt, comes across as unkind but isn't really
cosmo: rich bitch, omg i hate him but in a love to hate way, he needs to get bullied lmao. at one point he compares himself to mr darcy in the first half of pride and prejudice, which 1: he wishes and 2: that's psycho cosmo!! my DUDE
ludo: sweetheart! i love how his povs are so different to the rest of the casts, it reminds me kind of how jaime was written in the asoiaf books
What Might Not Be For Everyone:
It's a true slow burn—like we’re still gathering the boys by the end. Cosmo is the drama and you’ll want to fight him. There’s bullying and the cliffhanger is rude (in a good way). Not super spicy (yet).
Imagery to Expect: A gothic school with secrets in the walls on the outside, a college gymnasium with magical athletes on the inside, strange music, and a shitty dorm room. Theo wearing a weird sweater.
If It Were a Candle: iron, pinewood smoke, bleach, a hint of blood orange, and sweat.
Overall:
This book is fun. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but I think it makes the ride feel fresh. The character work is really, really good. Easy to read, good pacing, characters you’ll grow to love (even Cosmo, maybe, eventually. Love to hate?). Ends on a cliffhanger i'm still thinking about.
Highly recommend for rh/why choose lovers who want character-driven paranormal drama and enough chaos to keep it spicy without actual spice. (yet). (give it time)
(i kinda think cosmo and alexis should make out.)
May 29, 2026
★★.4 stars
TL;DR: Theodora, an unawakened magic-user (?) (a "dud"), returns to the ruthless, magically segregated Validus Vale Academy to find the twin brothers she fell in love with have vanished. Forced into classes way above her pay grade and tormented by her missing boyfriends' cruel best friend, Theo teams up with a gruff undercover professor, a silent giant janitor, and her literal bully to uncover a dark conspiracy and a hidden portal to another realm.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
We follow Theo, who is basically at the absolute bottom of the magical food chain at Validus Vale Academy in the United States of Havengard (🙄) —a country strictly ruled by the Magical Elite. She’s an AUA (Anomalous Unawakened Adult), meaning she has the magic gene but can't cast a single spell. Naturally, she's thrown into a basement dorm and put into advanced elite classes just to watch her suffer.
The good part of the book is absolutely the mystery. Where are the Hart twins? What happened to Maximus Larsen? What is the strange, otherworldly light pulling Theo to the bottom of the diving pool and the underground tunnels? Culminating in a wild cliffhanger where they literally fall through a portal and find Donovan as a .
However, let’s be brutally honest about the romance and character dynamics. The writing itself isn't winning a Pulitzer, but it’s highly readable. My biggest hurdle? Cosmo Drakeward. If you struggle with extreme bully romances, brace yourself. . As a reader, I can appreciate a good enemies-to-lovers arc, but it’s incredibly hard to swallow a world where a female lead could ever be romantically involved with her torturer, no matter how much he eventually grovels. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the author attempts to pull off his redemption in this obvious "why-choose" setup, because right now, I want him completely out of the picture.
A solid, messy, entertaining read!
✨ TROPES ✨
🥀Academia
🥀Reverse Harem / Why Choose (with massive red flags)
🥀Bully Romance / Enemies to Lovers
🥀Hidden/Extinct Magic (Telepath!)
🥀Professor/Student (Heavy power imbalance)
TL;DR: Theodora, an unawakened magic-user (?) (a "dud"), returns to the ruthless, magically segregated Validus Vale Academy to find the twin brothers she fell in love with have vanished. Forced into classes way above her pay grade and tormented by her missing boyfriends' cruel best friend, Theo teams up with a gruff undercover professor, a silent giant janitor, and her literal bully to uncover a dark conspiracy and a hidden portal to another realm.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
We follow Theo, who is basically at the absolute bottom of the magical food chain at Validus Vale Academy in the United States of Havengard (🙄) —a country strictly ruled by the Magical Elite. She’s an AUA (Anomalous Unawakened Adult), meaning she has the magic gene but can't cast a single spell. Naturally, she's thrown into a basement dorm and put into advanced elite classes just to watch her suffer.
The good part of the book is absolutely the mystery. Where are the Hart twins? What happened to Maximus Larsen? What is the strange, otherworldly light pulling Theo to the bottom of the diving pool and the underground tunnels? Culminating in a wild cliffhanger where they literally fall through a portal and find Donovan as a .
However, let’s be brutally honest about the romance and character dynamics. The writing itself isn't winning a Pulitzer, but it’s highly readable. My biggest hurdle? Cosmo Drakeward. If you struggle with extreme bully romances, brace yourself. . As a reader, I can appreciate a good enemies-to-lovers arc, but it’s incredibly hard to swallow a world where a female lead could ever be romantically involved with her torturer, no matter how much he eventually grovels. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the author attempts to pull off his redemption in this obvious "why-choose" setup, because right now, I want him completely out of the picture.
A solid, messy, entertaining read!
✨ TROPES ✨
🥀Academia
🥀Reverse Harem / Why Choose (with massive red flags)
🥀Bully Romance / Enemies to Lovers
🥀Hidden/Extinct Magic (Telepath!)
🥀Professor/Student (Heavy power imbalance)
September 20, 2025
An Engaging and Magical Academy Adventure
Validus Vale Academy: Book One by Nicky Shivers offers a captivating dive into a world of magic, mystery, and youthful discovery. This book is a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting series, blending the classic magical academy setting with fresh characters and intriguing plot twists.
One of the standout features of this novel is the richly built world. The academy itself is vividly imagined, with its unique magical curriculum, hidden secrets, and quirky traditions that feel both whimsical and immersive. Shivers does a great job balancing descriptive world building with action and character development, which keeps the pacing steady and engaging.
The protagonist is relatable and well-rounded, navigating not only the challenges of mastering their powers but also the complexities of friendship, trust, and self-discovery. The supporting cast adds depth and variety to the story, each bringing their own strengths and struggles that complement the main narrative nicely.
While the plot moves at a good pace overall, there are moments where the story could have delved a little deeper into some of the mysteries and character backgrounds. However, these slight gaps also build anticipation for the next installment, making readers eager to continue the journey.
The magic system is inventive and thoughtfully explained, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment for fantasy fans who appreciate detailed world mechanics. The mix of humor, suspense, and heartfelt moments makes this book a well-rounded read.
Overall, Validus Vale Academy: Book One is a strong and promising start to a magical series. With its engaging characters, imaginative setting, and intriguing storylines, it’s a great pick for fans of young adult fantasy and magical school adventures. I’m excited to see where Nicky Shivers takes this story next!
Validus Vale Academy: Book One by Nicky Shivers offers a captivating dive into a world of magic, mystery, and youthful discovery. This book is a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting series, blending the classic magical academy setting with fresh characters and intriguing plot twists.
One of the standout features of this novel is the richly built world. The academy itself is vividly imagined, with its unique magical curriculum, hidden secrets, and quirky traditions that feel both whimsical and immersive. Shivers does a great job balancing descriptive world building with action and character development, which keeps the pacing steady and engaging.
The protagonist is relatable and well-rounded, navigating not only the challenges of mastering their powers but also the complexities of friendship, trust, and self-discovery. The supporting cast adds depth and variety to the story, each bringing their own strengths and struggles that complement the main narrative nicely.
While the plot moves at a good pace overall, there are moments where the story could have delved a little deeper into some of the mysteries and character backgrounds. However, these slight gaps also build anticipation for the next installment, making readers eager to continue the journey.
The magic system is inventive and thoughtfully explained, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment for fantasy fans who appreciate detailed world mechanics. The mix of humor, suspense, and heartfelt moments makes this book a well-rounded read.
Overall, Validus Vale Academy: Book One is a strong and promising start to a magical series. With its engaging characters, imaginative setting, and intriguing storylines, it’s a great pick for fans of young adult fantasy and magical school adventures. I’m excited to see where Nicky Shivers takes this story next!
May 27, 2026
It’s weird. Really weird.
The formatting is strange and a bit off-putting.
I think her tab key was broken or something. Not a single indent in sight.
Also, we’re being thrust into a story that began a year prior. Don’t love being left out and rehashing things when we already know how they ended.
She plays Boggle in her mind to calm herself, which only stressed me out.
Never played Boggle before but I definitely get the gist now.
It’s all kinda dumped on us.
Theres no flow or immersion at first.
Mostly dialogue, which is infantile and cartoonish.
There was no inference in anything.
Everyone said exactly what they meant, even in their thoughts.
That’s boring. We want mystery, ambiguity, curiosities.
Not: ‘I like scaring her because it makes her nervous and submissive.’
Oh? You don’t say?
But seriously. Don’t say that.
And the big ominous bully that strikes fear in her heart?
His name’s Cosmo. Cosmo!
I’m sorry, but the only shaking you should do in his presence is from laughter.
Cosmo?!
Ridiculous.
The most tolerable chapters are from the insane guy. Don’t know what that means for me.
I just appreciate how his cadence is concise, to the point, paints a picture, and proves that the author knows how to write in a way that’s not annoying but chooses not to.
Cosmo makes a lot of pop culture references like movie and book quotes.
None of them are implemented organically. Very forced from the brooding man with a name that borders on child abuse.
It gets better, thank goodness. It wasn’t totally awful and definitely had room to get worse.
I don’t know if I just got used to it or if the quality actually improved, but the story picks up and expands itself beyond the cliches.
The cliffhanger doesn’t make a lick of sense but I’m trying out the next book anyway.
The formatting is strange and a bit off-putting.
I think her tab key was broken or something. Not a single indent in sight.
Also, we’re being thrust into a story that began a year prior. Don’t love being left out and rehashing things when we already know how they ended.
She plays Boggle in her mind to calm herself, which only stressed me out.
Never played Boggle before but I definitely get the gist now.
It’s all kinda dumped on us.
Theres no flow or immersion at first.
Mostly dialogue, which is infantile and cartoonish.
There was no inference in anything.
Everyone said exactly what they meant, even in their thoughts.
That’s boring. We want mystery, ambiguity, curiosities.
Not: ‘I like scaring her because it makes her nervous and submissive.’
Oh? You don’t say?
But seriously. Don’t say that.
And the big ominous bully that strikes fear in her heart?
His name’s Cosmo. Cosmo!
I’m sorry, but the only shaking you should do in his presence is from laughter.
Cosmo?!
Ridiculous.
The most tolerable chapters are from the insane guy. Don’t know what that means for me.
I just appreciate how his cadence is concise, to the point, paints a picture, and proves that the author knows how to write in a way that’s not annoying but chooses not to.
Cosmo makes a lot of pop culture references like movie and book quotes.
None of them are implemented organically. Very forced from the brooding man with a name that borders on child abuse.
It gets better, thank goodness. It wasn’t totally awful and definitely had room to get worse.
I don’t know if I just got used to it or if the quality actually improved, but the story picks up and expands itself beyond the cliches.
The cliffhanger doesn’t make a lick of sense but I’m trying out the next book anyway.
October 12, 2025
I did find this slow to start with but once I got into it, it gripped me! The world building is quite interesting and the plot has me wanting to know what happens next, especially after the ending! I enjoyed the alternative povs from the love interests, giving that different perspective into the plot and giving us insight into them. Ludo is definitely a mystery so interested in learning more about him. This book is slow burn so looking forward to the relationship development and all the cute bonding moments! This was a slight refreshing twist on magical academy books I've read in the past so looking forward to the next one and can happily recommend this if you don't mind ongoing series!
I did find Theo's, our fmc, personality a little annoying but I know this is how she is being portrayed with the circumstances of her life as being considered magicless. I'm looking forward to her character development, especially after the latter half of the book where she got a little better to me. Cosmo I feel will be the one that needs the redemption arc due to his personality but given his current family and circumstances, it's understandable from the little we see. As mentioned above, Ludo is still a mystery but he is instantly there for Theo and obsessed with her and her silent protector which I'm here for. Finally the last one we meet in this book is Alexis whose our teacher, he comes across as gruff and "leave me alone" attitude but he slowly thaws with Theo during the book and excited to see their relationship develop more!
I did find Theo's, our fmc, personality a little annoying but I know this is how she is being portrayed with the circumstances of her life as being considered magicless. I'm looking forward to her character development, especially after the latter half of the book where she got a little better to me. Cosmo I feel will be the one that needs the redemption arc due to his personality but given his current family and circumstances, it's understandable from the little we see. As mentioned above, Ludo is still a mystery but he is instantly there for Theo and obsessed with her and her silent protector which I'm here for. Finally the last one we meet in this book is Alexis whose our teacher, he comes across as gruff and "leave me alone" attitude but he slowly thaws with Theo during the book and excited to see their relationship develop more!
December 31, 2025
This book has potential, but skirted some absolute "NO" tropes for me.
These included: mind control, bullying from a harem member, and a character so weak it became a mind numbing frustration to read about her.
Other things were a little buggy as well, such as our MFC had the power to read minds, but didn't feel right about invading people's privacy in that way ... all while she's almost mind controlled into being raped. (I just can't)
Ok so ... our MFC has flunked out of this academy before when she was invited for a 6 week intensive course, so is understandably shocked when she receives a scholarship offer to enroll full time. (This is never explained about further). She believes that the two boys she fell in love with during that intensive course ghosted her and is not looking forward to seeing them again. When she gets to the academy she is put in the "dud" dorms and is the lowest of the low. She soon discovers that the two boys she is in love with disappeared as they were coming to see her. This starts her on a mission to discover what happened to them.
* The book had elements I usually like, but they just weren't done well. For instance, I like when students attend class (show not tell), but when the author wrote about this, it just seemed tedious. probably because she was always failing and never improving on anything, so it was just an exercise in frustration.
The book ends on an interesting cliff hanger. I'm now trying to decide if it is worth it to continue.
These included: mind control, bullying from a harem member, and a character so weak it became a mind numbing frustration to read about her.
Other things were a little buggy as well, such as our MFC had the power to read minds, but didn't feel right about invading people's privacy in that way ... all while she's almost mind controlled into being raped. (I just can't)
Ok so ... our MFC has flunked out of this academy before when she was invited for a 6 week intensive course, so is understandably shocked when she receives a scholarship offer to enroll full time. (This is never explained about further). She believes that the two boys she fell in love with during that intensive course ghosted her and is not looking forward to seeing them again. When she gets to the academy she is put in the "dud" dorms and is the lowest of the low. She soon discovers that the two boys she is in love with disappeared as they were coming to see her. This starts her on a mission to discover what happened to them.
* The book had elements I usually like, but they just weren't done well. For instance, I like when students attend class (show not tell), but when the author wrote about this, it just seemed tedious. probably because she was always failing and never improving on anything, so it was just an exercise in frustration.
The book ends on an interesting cliff hanger. I'm now trying to decide if it is worth it to continue.
January 20, 2026
book 1
Still not sure how I feel about what I read. On one hand I thought it was interesting- but it didn’t get interesting until the end- where there was actual momentum. I get this was an extremely slow burn book, I just wish that if there wasn’t any spice, I would’ve gotten better plot. There were a few little inconsequential things I didn’t care for (and that’s totally on me), I didn’t care for the FMC’s name- I kept thinking it was a boy and bc this will be a RH I kept having to remind myself it’s the female lead and not a new character. I also wasn’t a fan of using the word witch, as a non-gendered term- used as both male and female. It was confusing calling the males witches. For me, it has always had feminine connotations, so treating it as universal, didn’t feel right, or that it flowed. I also didn’t like the pictures of the characters at the beginning of each chapter, again, it’s on me- I don’t think they were good, and I felt like Ludo looked creepy, greasy, and old. Thinking of him as part of the group when he looks like he’s close to 40 (and he’s supposed to be much younger) just made it gross to me. I would’ve rather had it left to my imagination. It’s hard to think a certain way about cartoon characters when I’m trying to think of them as real people. And I feel like that made it hard to connect with the characters- poor depictions in cartoon form makes it hard to feel like this is a real life play in my head instead of an animated version.
Still not sure how I feel about what I read. On one hand I thought it was interesting- but it didn’t get interesting until the end- where there was actual momentum. I get this was an extremely slow burn book, I just wish that if there wasn’t any spice, I would’ve gotten better plot. There were a few little inconsequential things I didn’t care for (and that’s totally on me), I didn’t care for the FMC’s name- I kept thinking it was a boy and bc this will be a RH I kept having to remind myself it’s the female lead and not a new character. I also wasn’t a fan of using the word witch, as a non-gendered term- used as both male and female. It was confusing calling the males witches. For me, it has always had feminine connotations, so treating it as universal, didn’t feel right, or that it flowed. I also didn’t like the pictures of the characters at the beginning of each chapter, again, it’s on me- I don’t think they were good, and I felt like Ludo looked creepy, greasy, and old. Thinking of him as part of the group when he looks like he’s close to 40 (and he’s supposed to be much younger) just made it gross to me. I would’ve rather had it left to my imagination. It’s hard to think a certain way about cartoon characters when I’m trying to think of them as real people. And I feel like that made it hard to connect with the characters- poor depictions in cartoon form makes it hard to feel like this is a real life play in my head instead of an animated version.
October 26, 2025
Validus Vale
Book one of unfinished (at this time) series. Has potential to be a good story. Pnr, magic, shifters, academy, lost heritage, potential reverse harem. The world is described as a magical continent off the west coast of the USA. Apparently, Zeus and other gods awarded all humans magical abilities long ago but in subsequent generations most humans no longer have the powers. Those who do can be allowed to attend this academy in the hopes of letting their magic spark develop. Our heroine is Theo (Theodora) who is actually a double orphan unknown to her? Her adoptive parents passed away but they actually adopted her from her unknown birth parents. Her adoptive aunt raised her and she has received a scholarship despite having hidden her strange magic, telepathy. She attends hoping to find her twin lovers who disappeared a year ago. I had a few issues with the plot; first she is basically treated as a slave by a fellow student and that just gives me the visceral creeps. Plus stylistically I object to the use of obscure popular references as a descriptive device. Not everyone understands these and I had to stop and look up references to understand plot points. IMO this is lazy writing. However, I did enjoy most of the book, but recommend waiting for the series to be completed before starting.
Book one of unfinished (at this time) series. Has potential to be a good story. Pnr, magic, shifters, academy, lost heritage, potential reverse harem. The world is described as a magical continent off the west coast of the USA. Apparently, Zeus and other gods awarded all humans magical abilities long ago but in subsequent generations most humans no longer have the powers. Those who do can be allowed to attend this academy in the hopes of letting their magic spark develop. Our heroine is Theo (Theodora) who is actually a double orphan unknown to her? Her adoptive parents passed away but they actually adopted her from her unknown birth parents. Her adoptive aunt raised her and she has received a scholarship despite having hidden her strange magic, telepathy. She attends hoping to find her twin lovers who disappeared a year ago. I had a few issues with the plot; first she is basically treated as a slave by a fellow student and that just gives me the visceral creeps. Plus stylistically I object to the use of obscure popular references as a descriptive device. Not everyone understands these and I had to stop and look up references to understand plot points. IMO this is lazy writing. However, I did enjoy most of the book, but recommend waiting for the series to be completed before starting.
February 11, 2026
no spice yet (very interesting plot!)
WHAT!? What a crazy ending! oh my god! Dying to read book 2 now. I love the characters, the politics are interesting, and the magic is super cool. The mystery is easy to understand while also still keeping you engaged and on your toes. In a few ways there were some Hogwarts vibes without being overly obvious thankfully. Spice wasn’t a big theme of this book BUT it makes sense given the context. This was more of a world & story building book. There was definitely enough “spice” type of mentions in other ways to indicate this series will be delicious soon enough. I hope. My main complaint is that I felt like there was a crazy amount of references which I often found unnecessary in most contexts. Aside from there being a few I couldn’t quite understand/relate to I just felt like there was way too many. At times it felt like they would take away from the story by trying to force humor and for me they didn’t always land. My secondary complaint is that while I do love the touch of MMC saying curses or phrases in another language, too often I found that I couldn’t always guess or google what it may mean. I hated that I couldn’t connect to the character more in that way. I wish there was a guide, or more context around whatever was said to help convey the message. Very interesting to continue reading! Neat cover art as well.
WHAT!? What a crazy ending! oh my god! Dying to read book 2 now. I love the characters, the politics are interesting, and the magic is super cool. The mystery is easy to understand while also still keeping you engaged and on your toes. In a few ways there were some Hogwarts vibes without being overly obvious thankfully. Spice wasn’t a big theme of this book BUT it makes sense given the context. This was more of a world & story building book. There was definitely enough “spice” type of mentions in other ways to indicate this series will be delicious soon enough. I hope. My main complaint is that I felt like there was a crazy amount of references which I often found unnecessary in most contexts. Aside from there being a few I couldn’t quite understand/relate to I just felt like there was way too many. At times it felt like they would take away from the story by trying to force humor and for me they didn’t always land. My secondary complaint is that while I do love the touch of MMC saying curses or phrases in another language, too often I found that I couldn’t always guess or google what it may mean. I hated that I couldn’t connect to the character more in that way. I wish there was a guide, or more context around whatever was said to help convey the message. Very interesting to continue reading! Neat cover art as well.
April 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (DNF @ 30%)
This one had me going back and forth the whole time.
The beginning?? Kinda weird and a little cringy with the gods. I was definitely confused at first, BUT I will say—it did start to make more sense after a few chapters, so I’ll give it that.
I actually liked the FMC’s voice and the overall flow. It was easy to read, and I wanted to like it more than I did.
But then things just…didn’t fully come together for me.
For someone who can literally hear voices and is supposed to be hiding it, it barely felt important? It would come up randomly and then just disappear again like it wasn’t a huge deal. I needed that to feel more central to the story.
Also…the tone felt a little childish at times. The FMC being obsessed with the twins gave very “no backbone, school crush” energy instead of something deeper or more compelling.
And Cosmo?? Absolutely not. He felt like a sociopath in a way that just wasn’t enjoyable for me. I’m sure there would’ve been development later, but I didn’t care enough to stick around and find out.
I made it to 30% and decided to call it. It wasn’t bad at all—just not something I was interested in continuing.
⸻
🌶️ Spice: none (so far)
💔 Angst: low
🔥 Tropes: academy, paranormal powers, multiple love interests
This one had me going back and forth the whole time.
The beginning?? Kinda weird and a little cringy with the gods. I was definitely confused at first, BUT I will say—it did start to make more sense after a few chapters, so I’ll give it that.
I actually liked the FMC’s voice and the overall flow. It was easy to read, and I wanted to like it more than I did.
But then things just…didn’t fully come together for me.
For someone who can literally hear voices and is supposed to be hiding it, it barely felt important? It would come up randomly and then just disappear again like it wasn’t a huge deal. I needed that to feel more central to the story.
Also…the tone felt a little childish at times. The FMC being obsessed with the twins gave very “no backbone, school crush” energy instead of something deeper or more compelling.
And Cosmo?? Absolutely not. He felt like a sociopath in a way that just wasn’t enjoyable for me. I’m sure there would’ve been development later, but I didn’t care enough to stick around and find out.
I made it to 30% and decided to call it. It wasn’t bad at all—just not something I was interested in continuing.
⸻
🌶️ Spice: none (so far)
💔 Angst: low
🔥 Tropes: academy, paranormal powers, multiple love interests
January 3, 2026
Reviewing as I read.
What is with this writing? Its so odd. And the inner thoughts aren't differentiated to the narration so it comes across weirdly. Word choice is odd in some places. Words used unnecessarily when a simpler one is more suited in the context.
Dialogue dates the story, too many references to pop culture and Gen specific lingo is taking me out of the story. A lot of name dropping too.
The classification of power levels is quite cliche and tropey.
The dialogue is getting annoying. Especially with the male points of view.
What's with the stalking? Is he a Love Interest? There is a line between cutesy psycho and creepy stalker...
79% Its getting better. The stalking has stopped.
There isn't anything really unique about this book.
Ok, so it got better near the end. But the writing and the characters were shallow and lacked uniqueness.
There was a cliffhanger, but the story did not keep me interested enough to care, so I wont be reading the next book.
3 stars, because although it wasn't great, it didn't piss me off.
What is with this writing? Its so odd. And the inner thoughts aren't differentiated to the narration so it comes across weirdly. Word choice is odd in some places. Words used unnecessarily when a simpler one is more suited in the context.
Dialogue dates the story, too many references to pop culture and Gen specific lingo is taking me out of the story. A lot of name dropping too.
The classification of power levels is quite cliche and tropey.
The dialogue is getting annoying. Especially with the male points of view.
What's with the stalking? Is he a Love Interest? There is a line between cutesy psycho and creepy stalker...
79% Its getting better. The stalking has stopped.
There isn't anything really unique about this book.
Ok, so it got better near the end. But the writing and the characters were shallow and lacked uniqueness.
There was a cliffhanger, but the story did not keep me interested enough to care, so I wont be reading the next book.
3 stars, because although it wasn't great, it didn't piss me off.
January 18, 2026
So the ground idea was cool and actually good.
- I liked the idea her being a telepathic.
- I liked the world building (even if there wasn’t that much)
- I loved how she included an ADHD brain. (I don’t know if she featured it right but it was still good)
- the story was hooking to a certain extent. As you can see I read it in one day. So that has to be good, right?
Butttttt. What I did not like:
- her still „loving“ the twins. I mean yeah. It could be but I had to cringe the einziger time the two of them were mentioned
-Ludo seeing her the first time and getting completely obsessed with her
- her not curious about her powers and wanting to learn more about them
- the system with the hole obeying sb who has a higher status than you
- also her getting nearly SA. It felt like it was only there for her to trust Alexis. And yeah idk
- her trusting Willow wayyyy too soon. Like girl. You know this girl since a week and already tell her nearly your deepest secret? Yeah nvm
- I liked the idea her being a telepathic.
- I liked the world building (even if there wasn’t that much)
- I loved how she included an ADHD brain. (I don’t know if she featured it right but it was still good)
- the story was hooking to a certain extent. As you can see I read it in one day. So that has to be good, right?
Butttttt. What I did not like:
- her still „loving“ the twins. I mean yeah. It could be but I had to cringe the einziger time the two of them were mentioned
-Ludo seeing her the first time and getting completely obsessed with her
- her not curious about her powers and wanting to learn more about them
- the system with the hole obeying sb who has a higher status than you
- also her getting nearly SA. It felt like it was only there for her to trust Alexis. And yeah idk
- her trusting Willow wayyyy too soon. Like girl. You know this girl since a week and already tell her nearly your deepest secret? Yeah nvm
September 16, 2025
What I loved about this book was how it was written (an easy read) with a good plot line. The author didn’t drag on and repeatedly describe everything (the academy, the characters, plot) like some books, making the storyline flow. So far, the FMC has five mates (not sure if Max will be another, making it 6). Hopefully, we get more background descriptions on each MMC as each seems to have pasts. Plenty of viewpoints from each character to show their feelings/emotions. Ludo has to be the favorite right now since he was on the FMC’s side right when he met her. Alexis close as he showed more emotions towards the FMC at the end of this book. Still dislike Cosmos because of his ego. He better be groveling in the next one and Theo doesn’t forgive him as easily. I need a character buildup for him. With the cliffhanger at the end, I can’t wait to see what happens and the relationship between each character.
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