Good
WARNING! Cliffhanger! This one probably rates a 4 or 5/5 on my scale. Four for those who saw it coming, and just want to read more, five for those who were a bit surprised! Either way, you will have to wait for more story.
Raven was a sheltered nineteen year old, never let off of the compound on which she was raised, until an incident with her magic led to her being taken to Starfall Academy for magical training.
There she meets the males who are her fated Soulbound Mates, and begins to learn all the things a normal upbringing would have taught her. And maybe, she might actually bond with some of her mates…
Raven is an intriguing blend of naïve innocence, and righteous anger. She has a rather grey sense of morals, (fairly common in the fantasy universe I find) which can be an amusing thing at times. We have met four of the five soulbound mates the story has given us so far, and although she knows who the fifth is, there are complications!
Maverick is an intriguing shifter character. I love that he’s a huge Kodiak bear, and he definitely has teddy bear tendencies- though he can also be fierce.
Zane is a complicated character. As an incubus, he’s rather tricky in temperament, but his story is enough to explain just why he’s the way he is. He is incredibly powerful, and I don’t think we’ve seen the full extent of what he can do.
Alaric is both secretive and complicated. His background has shaped him, and he’s struggling against the bindings his father has around him. He’s a formidable mage, and I think it will be interesting when he finally gets to align himself with Raven and the others.
Kai is a complicated character we don’t see as much of in the book as I would like, and I am hopeful that we learn a little more about him, and Raven’s fifth in the next book.
Kenji, Raven’s kitsune, is a holy terror with massive secrets. Possibly related to exactly who Raven is, which we will also hopefully get answers to in the next book. That being said, he’s by far the funniest and cutest character!
Glynda, Raven’s new friend, seems to be a good person, and although she is definitely “lesser” to the elite, she’s smart and powerful in her own way. Contrastingly, Willow, Raven’s childhood friend, seems to be much less trustworthy, and I wonder how that will play out.
Ultimately, this is an engaging book, with likeable and interesting characters. There are quite a few steamy scenes, though the spice level is maybe three out of five peppers, it is definitely going to ramp up in the future. There is an interesting background plot, with several different stories playing out, and I’m also looking forward to learning more about those too!
All in all, an entertaining read and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing where it goes.
This is a good choice for RH Academy/RH Fantasy enthusiasts.