I hope they are, or my witchy life is about to get a million times harder.
Sadly, I’m going to have to stick a pin in the whole ugly demons spewing unsubstantiated nonsense about my murky heritage problem.
I have a sexy vampire prince to rescue. If we don’t find my undead fifth soul-bonded mate soon, my heart will shatter.
And that’s not all…
As if my lost mate and marauding demons hellbent on kidnapping me weren’t bad enough, the storm mage loathes me, my flirty incubus doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘boundaries’, and my snarky familiar needs a serious attitude adjustment.
The goddess knows I’m not afraid of a challenge, but it looks like I’ll need the grumpy storm mage’s help for the perilous journey that lies ahead. And guess what?
Yeah, he’s in a bad mood.
---
Book 2 of the Starfall Academy series picks up immediately after where Book 1, Witch Fire, ended. Expect more craziness, banter, magic and mayhem. There will be a HEA at the end of the series.
I kinda just lost steam with this one. It wasn't bad, but I don't feel like I'm connecting with the characters. They spent the whole book solving one small plot point, and then tragedy struck with another mate by the end. I guess I'm just tired of the FMC getting nowhere with her mates (in terms of getting to know who they actually are as people) and the one annoying mage mate who's standoffish and is still very mean to her. This was fun while it lasted, I guess!
I’ve hoped that book 2 will have some improvements and that the plot expands, unfortunately, I’ve got disappointed, but sadly I’m not surprised.
Honestly, I had the urge to DNF this a couple of times.
There wasn’t any kind of development for any of the characters.
Raven is still annoying and shallow. She cringed me out so bad with every thought and interaction. I don’t think she really has a personality at all, mostly just random thoughts and pop culture references thrown out on the page. Even her own familiar hates her and I could relate with Kenji on that. I was rolling my eyes every other sentence.
The other MC-s are just flat, one dimensional, stuck in their own stupid traits. It was exhausting reading the same thing over and over again.
Even though this is a reverse harem, not every interaction has to end with a spicy scene or the character thinking about it. By the end I was skipping whole pages because I just couldn’t care less.
I hoped that things would be better in book 2, but even the progress of the plot was too little to save this.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Raven just annoys me with the dopey naivety sometimes, like I get she was sheltered. But to watch so much movies and tv shows and read books, then to not know basic things that are stuff you’d of known from the movies/shows referenced. Also, she just lets her mates treat her like crap, then is all “I’m horny I forgive you”. Like come on. They go right back to be dumbasses next chapter. Also, Maverick should not still be this growly bear, she’s mine nobody else’s type. Like dude, you know she has 4 other mates. You do not get to keep her to yourself or choose who she mates with or has sex with. Also, Kai dude. Grow some f*cking balls. “I’m gunna stand up to my mom”…. *doesn’t put up a fight at all*
Kenji is an asshole familiar. Like he’s funny sometimes, but to just say hurtful things to your witch after she’s already having a hard time doesn’t help. He’s supposed to be supportive as a familiar, no matter if he shows up a couple times when she is in trouble. He’s very selfish and acts as if it’s not a cherished connection, but a job that he hates and is below him to be Ravens familiar. I get that’s the idea.. but like where’s the character growth?? Like I feel he became even more of a a**hole instead of getting a little better atleast.
I feel like the cliffhanger wasn’t even a cliffhanger because it just was in a setting that I feel could’ve been better set up. It would’ve been nice to have a bit more with Adam and willow, like it was tense and then just fell flat imo.
I’m still gunna read the next book, but I hope it’s better and I better see some fucking maturing of these dudes. And raven better stop being so daft and childish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The plot is fine but I’m so sick of how fucking whiney the female Mc is. She is always crying over something. Literally everybody does everything she says and she still finds ways to cry about it.
I also can’t stand the fact that she brings up smutty books every few pages. Like can we have more than one hobby please? We get it, you’re trying to relate to readers but this is just annoying.
And then the nicknames are so damn annoying. You don’t need to say them every single time you speak.
AI helped me write this. In burnout so needed AI to help sort it out.
This second instalment is definitely better than the 1st book, though it still hasn't really gripped me. It is an easy listen, but it still feels a little bit like a chore; I find myself getting easily distracted and lacking that pull to jump right back in. However, the character development—especially for the FMC—has improved. Her personality is shining through much more in this book. I really enjoy her protective, slightly stubborn nature, possessive and growing love for her harem. Her doubts and lows about the guys start to annoy me until i remind myself she was a sheltered witch and this harem is her first relationship.
The banter has also leveled up especially between Maverick and Zane, and Kenji in general has me laughing a little. Her dynamic with her familiar Kenji is a highlight, and the fact that she has terrible mental shielding makes for funny moments. Her soul bonds constantly hearing her stray thoughts reminds me of other books I've loved and adds a fun layer to the group dynamic.
When it comes to the romance and the guys, things are still a bit messy as they work out their soul bonds. Maverick who tracked her down and took a job at the academy just to be near her is dealing with some heavy reluctance to share and is very protective even with the other nates, which is an interesting hurdle for them to navigate. Alric, however, is incredibly frustrating to read. Even with his POV insight, his behaviour confuses me. Does he genuinely hates her, or is he trying to protect her, or is he just angry that he likes her...or all or some. Right now, he is just acting like an arsehole for and the reason isn't as clear as it was before, which is annoying because I want a solid reason to dislike his actions. Zane is the fun one, unhinged and dangerous but...not as unhinged as I want, I want him a tad more pyscho like... but he is still my favourite so far. The merman Kaih (sorry spelling) is sweet, but I hear his doubts about his place and his actions are frustrating and leads to miscommunication with is just meh... The vampire is an intriguing addition, even with the dreams it still felt super fast when they came together...get it came together... i will see myself out 🤭. There are definitely hints of "swords crossing" (potential MM ahead?), but without much prior build-up or intel, it still all feels a bit lacking in foundation. Because of this disconnect with the guys etc., the "smexy" scenes are still falling completely flat for me. I found myself barely paying attention when they happened. I don't think it's just my own emotional bluntness; the emotional flow and actions of the MMCs just don't feel natural or unhinged enough to be truly engaging. The chemistry needs more depth before the spice can actually work for me.
For me the biggest issue holding the book back, though, is the overarching plot and world-building. We get the massive reveal that the FMC's father is a Demon King or something, which is clearly meant to be a huge deal, but the world-building fails to explain why. The 1st chapter was a great insight into something but just not enough for me. We aren't told what the demons actually did or why they are considered so bad, I kean did they enslave people or are they just known as evil... it makes it hard to care about the stakes. While it is nice to see the world expanding with more supernatural species, the main plot feels kinda aimless. There is no clear, horrible bad guy and no defined task they are working towards. Ultimately, the book introduces plenty of things that could be fantastic hooks, but the execution leaves them all feeling a bit lacking... 🤷🏿♀️
But that ending, that cliffhanger....it's shameless hook, cause now I have to know what happened. I'm connected enough to want to know so that's a plus!
3.5 Oooo, that cliffy was super rude. Impatiently waiting for book 2. I'm so curious about Kai's home and I can't wait till his mother gets what she deserves. This series has been a lot of fun. It may be a me problem, but I've been DNFing a lot of books recently, so I'm just happy to pick one up that sucked me in and entertained me. I would like to see some growth from Raven, both personality-wise and with her magic. This seems to be very focused on the relationships in the harem before anything else, which can be good/bad depending on personal preference. I do like that, it's why we read RH, but it could have used a little more focus on moving the main plot forward. It feels like we're in the same spot that we were at the end of book 1/the beginning of this book where we don't really know what is going on with the demon situation. Not a lot happened with Alaric's father either.
Lyra! You did it again! I devoured this one faster than book 1 😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️ The banter between Raven and her familiar, Kenji is hilariously amazing. I love Kenji!
Maverick definitely fits his nickname of “care bear”. He’s always fussing over Raven 😅 Zane is my favorite. His ability to turn everything into a joke but the way he can soften for Raven is everything! 🫠 Alaric needs to figure his shit out. 100% an Alar-dick currently 😂 Kai… oh Kai is the shy, softie of the group but I feel like he’s got more layers to him and I’m excited to see them 🥰 Rasmus I feel like is going to be a wild card but I’m looking forward to seeing his character develop and how he will fit in with the group.
Overall, I loved this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next (especially after that ending 😱)
Lyra, thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this series for you! 🫶🏼❤️
Starfall Academy book 2 did not disappoint. The character development and how the story picked up where Witch Fire left off... chef's kiss! I didn't have to go review the previous book to catch up for Mage Storm. You have Raven who has never been exposed to a single thing in her life before now, Maverick and his possessive bear, Zane and his naughty, scheming incubus, Kai and his sweet standoffish merman and Alari-dick. This will make you giggle and have you wrapped up reading it in on setting. I'm so ready for book 3!
Why one star, you ask? Two names are enough: Maverick and Raven. Especially Maverick! There's nothing attractive about this main MMC but annoying, super annoying, disrespectful, A**hole behaviors.
I'm sorry dear author... You've just destroyed the whole intrigue point of the story with how he continued treat Raven's other mates, his illogical unending territorial actions and continues yelling and threatening others is just not attractive. Nope! Nope! Nope! If it was just a little bit, it'd be still okay. But I continued to the second book and he became even worst. And Raven? She acts as if he is the only one having her back and loving her, while Zane had done much much more for her than Maverick. He just didn't push her for sex... Unlike maverick! And therefore she saw it fit to keep dismissing him and his feelings and make him feel less as her mate. While she kept kissing Maverick's ass and encouraging all of his rudenesses towards her other mates. NOPE!
This book was so much worse than the first. It seems Raven is now stuck in the personality traits of whiney, naive and self centred. Boring.
The MMCs are flat and one dimensional. The growth for each character wasn’t there. The sexy times felt forced and not at all natural. The matings after Maverick were weird and abrupt and didn’t feel at all natural. The whole book was stilted and off.
There were weird jumps throughout the book that were jarring. It seemed something important might happen plot wise or relationship wise and then the chapter would end and that would be abandoned.
after everything i complimented in book 1 this was a whole ass nothing burger of an adventure to save her vampire mate. like sure i won’t mind it if it didn’t drag on for like 75% of the book!!!!! i can’t tell if it’s bc i go through the parts i dislike Slowly but literally this rescuing vampire arc took way too long. too many side stories complied into this arc and zero character building. in fact i would argue much character downgrading. also the random introduction to a triad that i thjnk we would never see again?? - not complaining on that one the wolf shifter and their mate are annoying & just not needed one bit. My biggest biggest complain overall if i overlook the spacing of the plot is the character development. Yes i praised this in book 1 that the introduction as well as just giving us a glance into each mate’s pov was well done. this time though it just seems like the author only cares for maverick and zane. and raven’s other 3 mates are an afterthought. barely any character building of them and when we get to their pov its either so bland or theyre just being an angsty male. like it gets to a point. Especially if you consider the fact that Four out of five of her mates are already bonded, i would expect more for kai and rasmus but their main contribution to this plotline was one chapter of mating with raven and theyre basically side characters after that. like sure their characters move the plot but that’s mainly it. you could literally replace them as side characters and that won’t even make dent in raven’s two man harem. and i’m not even going to get started on alaric. claimed him in book 1 to be my favourite and yet :( 2/5⭐️
This was romantasy, fated mates, absolute perfection.
I absolutely love the FMC. She is humble, hilarious, kind, sweet and so empathetic with everyone regardless of how they treat people or which race they fall under. She is written as a very innocent character who basically lived on a supernatural cult? In the middle of the desert where she couldn’t leave, was homeschooled (and very selectively taught) and didn’t have much interaction with other people (aside from the other ones also living there).
We pick right back up where we left off with her and her mates and holy crap, the plot is plotting. Just when you thought in the last book that Alarics dad couldn’t possibly be a worse specimen, your mind will be absolutely blown. He is elitist and a nasty piece of work. The way that things are starting to unfold paints a very bleak picture for everyone who isn’t a witch or a mage and powerful ones at that.
Zane and Maverick just become even more lovable and we learn so much more about Zane in this book. Honestly all her mates with the exception of Alaric are impossible not to love. The bonds are getting deeper with her and each of her mates and the stakes are getting higher and higher (especially for Kai and Alaric).
I absolutely whipped through this and was up til 4am because these books are so thoroughly addicting I needed answers more than sleep.
Thank you to Book Sirens and to the author for this advanced reader copy of the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This is book II, of the Starfall Academy series. The book begins immediately after the OMG cliffhanger ending in book one. There multiple POV and I must say, Raven becomes a more confident; not just as a witch but also as a woman. In this book, we see more of the soul bond relationship dynamics of between her and her multiple mates. I really enjoyed the incubus, Zane he is hands-down, my favorite. His banter is on point. Her familiar is definitely not just cute but a menace This book provides new adventures for all the characters, evolving relationships, and a lot more spice (Maybe a lot more than I’m used to).
I’m super curious what book 3 has to offer so I’m definitely keeping my eye out for it. Thank you BookSirens and Lyra Mishon for the opportunity to read the advance reader copy.
It’s 2026. Why are we calling women who enjoy sex sluts? Why is the person with very little sexual experience but 5 mates calling women sluts?
Beyond that, why is she this supposedly powerful half demon princess when literally none of that is explored. It’s mentioned a few times but does nothing for the plot. We also have 1. Mages potentially making shifters feral 2. Mages potentially causing vampires to go extinct 3. Mages stealing unique women from the islands
And the only thing this book is concerned with is her mates? And being naive enough to misinterpret her mates reactions to her and somehow also be ok going to a sex club and being used.
Idk if I’ll continue this series. I’m kind of annoyed at this point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘: First thought is this really surprised me, we got more world building than book one, we got a detailed plot with good depths, and we got plenty of New and brilliant side characters. However, I was really genuinely surprised at how tame the intimate scenes were. I expected a lot more particularly from the incubus -and his piercings -and the bar scene, I actually think I’m quite disappointed.
The plot itself is darker more intense and packed with so many more emotions and hurt. We’ve moved away from the magic Academy and we’re on a quest to find the missing vampire from book one. This means the world building now includes travelling through various terrains, meeting new people, the areas they live in, and of course the location of the vampire himself.
Pacing wise it was probably a medium but a little up and down here and there as tensions grew and twists started revealing themselves
The relationship drama is there in force, it’s clear there’s still no trust and plenty of jealousy which I’m totally here for! like I said in my review of book one, I do wish there was more character growth still, and we got time to connect with her mates individually -and as a harem. Being allowed time to breathe in between the relationship drama’s would’ve also helped heighten / increase the impact and deepen the yearning.
When I pick up a magical Academy book my main focus -after the relationship, is the academy itself. I love the classes, I love the struggles, I love the side characters, and of course I love the magic and the supernaturals in the school. so not having any of these in this book would usually have upset me -however, Mishon wrote such an interesting plot that I didn’t actually miss it that much, especially when it came to the Demons appearing, the action scenes, and letting some of raven’s secret history just trickle out enough to keep you on the edge of your seat!
🧝♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤: I’ve never known a familiar to be so snarky! I wondered in book one if it was all sarcasm and banter but I’m now beginning to think he doesn’t actually like his witch which is a genuinely interesting concept that I’ve never read before. It also annoys me how cute and loving he is towards strangers compared to how he is with Raven. I’m definitely intrigued in his powers and all his secrets. I’m looking forward to knowing more about him and how his magic grows and changes not only himself, but also Raven
Now onto Raven‘s mates, Alaric brings the bully romance trope one minute he ignores her Next he’s caring he treats her badly so obviously she wants him. No change there from book one we just get lots more of it. Suspicions from the Merman -Kai are explored in this book, he’s shy soft and very caring, but I feel like there’s so much more to him that we didn’t get to see. He’s a prime example of a missed opportunity. The author could’ve gone to town with his character and really developed him and gave him plenty of layers. I’m hoping she’s just leaving something for the next book and that’s when we’ll get to see him shine, but I was disappointed to get so little of him, his past, his fears, and his loves.. Moving onto Care bear -he’s still an overprotective and possessive shifter, who clearly loves Raven and is slowly coming to terms with being in a harem. his struggles with this are written brilliantly and very enjoyable to read about, I hope he never fully accepts it and always keeps that possessive spark to him! The incubus -Zane is still my favourite, he’s a jokester, full of banter, and always has his mind in the gutter! and the way he’s soft only for her is just *chefs kiss. Because I love him so much he actually disappointed me the most. I just thought there would be so much more to his character- like getting deeper into his lust fuelled mind, and getting so much more information around his piercings and kinks and perhaps his past experiences or his magic system! I’m excited to see how the vampire turns out. I’m predicting a dom and sub dynamic with serious rules and punishments. I’m also thinking there will be some sword crossing in the next book, but I suppose I’ll have to wait and see.
😥 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤? This book could’ve done with being another hundred pages longer just like the first one so we got to know the characters more and had more time to develop the horror and on a personal note I really would’ve liked longer and more detailed intimate scenes because of the way book one was leaning it made me expect one thing and another thing was delivered
⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕? Yes I will reread it and yes, I would definitely recommend it again. It’s a light fantasy no big chunks of information to digest and nothing is complicated so if that’s your type of romantasy then pick it up.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: I’m right in the middle with my opinion on this. I enjoyed book one more but the plot in this was better developed. There was more spice but I expected it to be darker and highly detailed from the way book 1 was leaning so I loved it but it wasn’t what I was expecting.
⭐️⭐️ I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
⭐️⭐️.5 It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail] Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥 This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE: 🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.
Just to warn anyone reading this, THERE ARE SPOILERS!!!! I also want to start off by saying that this is solely my opinion and how I felt when reading this book. Not everybody will agree with me and that's okay. We all like different things and see things differently and my review is not meant to hate on anyone or anything. I'm sorry if you really liked this book series and don't like what I say, but again, this is simply my opinion.
I came into this book series with the utmost faith that it was going to be one of the best book series I've read this year. Sadly, that was not the case. I honestly have so much to say but I'll only get into some of the things that bothered me the most.
To start off, the biggest issue I had with this book was that Rasmus was mentioned in book 1 about halfway through (I'm not entirely sure that's correct so don't take my word on it) but wasn't found/rescued until almost the end of book 2. I understand because of all the chaos that ends up happening, Raven couldn't go out and find him until the second book. The part that bothers me is that it's mentioned in this book early on that she needs to start getting things together and asking for help to find Rasmus but doesn't end up getting to him until Chapter 38. I would understand if something really big happened in the second book that would throw her off course from getting to him, but I feel like there was nothing major that prevented that. I felt like we got so much detail about her journey to find Rasmus when it could have been shortened. I mean this in the nicest way possible; I felt like we were told what she ate, how she ate it, who made it, where she ate it, whether it was to her liking, etc. (Not literally of course. This is me simply trying to emphasize my point.)
Second, her character. She was sheltered on a farm and wasn't given the opportunity to truly live with others of her kind and see what the real world was like. Raven's character is understandably naive and that's okay. I actually really liked that because I felt like it was a breath of fresh air, since a lot of books nowadays I feel like are about a strong FMC. However, it kind of stressed me out how they would tell her how Zane's power worked and how he is able to replenish it, but when they mentioned that Zane needs to recharge his power, she would genuinely be lost and have no idea what they were talking about. I understand that this could very much be me just being nitpicky about it, but this stressed me out a little because they told her multiple times how Zane's power works, and yet she would act like she had no idea and was never told how it worked.
Now, I want to preface what I'm about to say by saying that I've only read book 1 and 2 and will only read up until the second book. However, I don't like how at the end of book 1, it's mentioned that Raven is the long-lost princess of the underworld and Nymon—the demon king—is her father and again briefly in the beginning of book 2, as well as in the middle when her mates find out about this but is never mentioned again. I felt like there's so much potential with this info but it's not being used. And I can't imagine how they're going to incorporate this in the third book when it's presumedly going to be about rescuing Kai from his mother. And seeing as how it took practically all of book 2 just to find Rasmus, I can only assume that that will also be the case in the third book where Raven obviously has to go save Kai with the help of her mates. I'm honestly so afraid that book 3 will be a repeat of this, and I honestly don't think I can do it again.
I will end this review by saying, though I do not plan on continuing to read this series, there were things that I liked about it. Personally, I like Zane's character. He can definitely be annoying and an asshole at times, but I found him to be funny, especially with his nicknames. I think Kai is absolutely adorable and endearing and I'm glad that I got to see him and Raven be mated in this book instead of later on. Maverick is also adorable; I just wish that he was more open to the idea of Raven having multiple mates. Alaric definitely has potential and I just know that once he gives in, Raven is going to have him wrapped around her finger. I didn't get to read much about Rasmus, but I think he's going to be an amazing character and will be annoying Maverick and Alaric—with the help of Zane of course.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
SYNOPSIS (of 4 Book Series): This is set in a world where humans and supernaturals all exist together. The FC, Raven, is half witch and half demon. Her mother died when she was young, she never new her father and she is brought up by her mother‘s soul mate in an isolated coven. The story opens with Raven‘s magic getting out of hand and her being sent to Starfall Academy for supernaturals where she must learn how to handle her magic. There she meets her 5 soul mates amidst a backdrop of mage Supremists trying to take power over other supernaturals, a world where all vampires have apparently been killed and shifters are in danger of a feral disease killing them off. It quickly transpires that Raven is very powerful and the leader of the Mage Counsel, father of one of her mates, wants to take her powers from her. The story moves through Raven mating with her soul mates whilst trying to avoid being taken prisoner and killed for her power with a HEA.
HEAT LEVEL 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/🍆🍆🍆🍆 Whilst not completely taking over the story there is a lot of heat from the get go. Group and one on one scenes but no MM, kink or dom elements. The FC spends a fair amount of time objectifying her mates and goes quickly from never having kissed a guy to group scenes 😳
In summary, whilst not original, this story had may positives and there was some great snark and humour. Unfortunately I felt it was let down by an immaturity in some of the writing and the interactions between the characters and the story lacked a solid arc. Having said that, it was still a fun read.
The FC is not so much a kick ass heroine as an accident prone, slightly clueless FC. It‘s fun but I would have like a bit more strength and action from her. The MCs are all individual and there is a decent amount of character development although not much background depth. There‘s the stereotypical caring, alpha Bear shifter, the crazy, sex obsessed Incubus, the grumpy, superior mage, the much older Vampire and the weaker, sympathetic merman. The individual characters relationships are described in broad brush and, as the FC/MC relationships are all mate bonds they are fairly much insta-lust so not much relationship development or romance involved. There‘s a slim cast of secondary characters with the obligatory best friend that add a bit of depth but again, they are very basic and don‘t play material parts in the series. They are brought in for certain scenes and then just seem to disappear. That is, save for Kenji, the FC’s familiar who is a fun, snarky character. Having said that, the characters are generally likeable if a bit irritating at times (Zane??).
The story is enjoyable but could be much better. There are elements of trafficking of and experiments on supernaturals and abuse of power. What is frustrating is that it seems that everyone knew or had a good idea that the Head of the Mage Counsel had been party to all this and yet no one seemed to bother to do anything about it, to rescue the trafficked supernaturals or to curb the mage‘s behaviour. It left a bad taste. Nothing really happens until the FC is kidnapped and then, taking down the trafficking ring and labs seems to be a fortunate happenstance more than anything. There are definitely gaps in the story arc where the reader just has to suspend disbelief such as how the Mage gets away with everything he does (and has done) yet he FC/MCs are all suddenly enemy number one with little to no evidence. The ending also needs work. One of my pet hates with this type of series is where the author drags out a story and makes the villain so reprehensible and yet when „justice“ comes it is either too quick or unsatisfactory. That was the case here. The climax came quickly and was over and done with in a blink. Then, for some odd reason, there are 3-4 more chapters that just seem to ramble a bit before just ending. It was a bit odd. Then there was the FC‘s biological father that suddenly pops up. What was the point? Why was the FC not more upset about her father‘s past actions and their impact on the current situation? It was all a bit odd to be honest and I was unclear what the author‘s purpose was in bringing in this character at the last minute.
Overall this is an enjoyable romp if you suspend disbelief and just let the story run.
There were several elements of this book I enjoyed, and a few that I thought didn’t add to the story at all.
I’m not a huge fan of her time at the academy. So many superemists, and bullies. The majority, from Mages, Witches and Wolf shifters. They were all disgusted she mated with a shifter, as if it mattered to them. Due to all the cult aka coven bs they spew as “News”, they are trying to ban interspecies mating. It just so happens that she’s collected the strongest of the strong from Powerful supes. Maverick, the strongest bear, Zane, the last and most powerful of any Incubus, Kai, the crown prince of the mermaid kingdom, and Alar-dick, aka Alaric Vane, son of the leader of the Mage Council who he supersedes in power. It’s obvious that Alaric is pushing her away so she can’t be used against him, from his powerful father, like his mother. His shifter mother, cut off from her bird form, starved, and anything else that can cause that kind of stillness in a living body. All while his father struts around like a peacock, using spelled charms to make others more agreeable. I should note, from multiple point of views, the incurable virus that moved firstly through the vampire population, has now moved onto the shifter population. Killing each as a mercy due to them all going feral. It was horrible to read, Maverick had to put down his uncle, and then be the bearer of bad news, to his cousin, the son of the bear he put down. Kai, had a vision of a water monster eating Raven if they left without him. He protected her and they bonded. I was so happy to read that, but I also felt a bit pissed off on his behalf when Raven abandoned him after. Although, it’s clear he has self esteem issues, he shouldn’t have abandoned her either to run to his mother, and he especially should have told them what his parents reactions would be. They found her vampire mate, saved him in time, only for the mermaid prince to disappear, and their bond pop not long later, after some excruciating pain. Which is when the book ends. I am glad Alaric went with them, I’m sad he still didn’t treat her well even after the glimpse of hope of knowing this vampire could go up against his corrupt father. They saved the vampire, and there was not a whole lot of talking to get the vampire up to speed, which didn’t really fit in my mind. They didn’t even talk of a plan about how to reintegrate Rasmus into society. Unfortunately, Kai’s mother was upset at the news of his mating outside his species and threw him in the dungeon, and then we learn later his mother made good on her threat to break their bond. Gawd, I sure hope Raven gets there before she marries him off, and kicks her fricken butt! Hopefully Rasmus has something up his sleeve. I don’t think I can take another dramatic cliffhanger in the next one.
Hold onto your spellbooks, because Mage Storm is a whirlwind of magic, heat, and high-stakes drama! After the explosive ending of Witch Fire, I didn't think it was possible to fall more in love with this series, but Lyra Mishon has done it again. This book solidifies her place as one of my absolute favorite authors in the Paranormal romance genre. —it’s official, I am a Lyra Mishon fangirl for life!
The Stakes Are Rising
The story picks up right where the chaos left off in book . Raven’s life at Starfall Academy has gone from "complicated" to "potentially world-ending." The plot of Mage Storm revolves around a high-stakes rescue mission: Rasmus, the sexy vampire prince and Raven’s fifth soul-bonded mate, is in desperate need of saving. The emotional weight of this mission is heavy—Raven’s heart is literally on the line, and the bond she shares with her men is tested like never before.
As if rescuing a vampire prince wasn't enough, Raven is also dealing with:
• Marauding Demons: They are hell-bent on kidnapping her for reasons tied to her mysterious and "murky" heritage.
• The Storm Mage: Alaric Vane (or "Alar-dick," as she affectionately calls him) still loathes her—or does he? Their "enemies-to-lovers" tension is absolute fire in this installment.
The Harem: More Spice, More Banter
What I love about this sequel is how the "Why Choose" dynamics evolve. We get to see the guys—Maverick the protective bear, Zane the flirty incubus, and Kai the sweet merman—interact as a group.
• The Chemistry: The tension between the mates is palpable. Watching them navigate their jealousy and their shared protective instinct over Raven is one of the best parts of the book.
• Kenji the Familiar: Can we talk about Kenji? the snarky kitsune familiar provides the perfect comedic relief. His "attitude adjustment" is still pending, but his banter with Raven is legendary.
Why You Need to Read This
Lyra Mishon has an incredible gift for world-building that feels expansive yet intimate. In Mage Storm, we step outside the academy walls for a perilous journey, and the atmosphere is thick with danger and magic. The growth Raven shows—from a "magically incompetent" witch to someone willing to face down grumpy mages and ancient demons—is so satisfying to watch.
Final Verdict: This book has it all—a heart-pounding rescue, deepening soul-bonds, and a cliffhanger that will make you scream (in the best way possible). Lyra Mishon is a master of the "Paranormal Academy" genre. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?
I really wish we had a bit more in the character's arcs. I need a bit more characterization and growth for these characters to fully carry the story. It doesn't help that the pacing was a bit off. Like the characters relationships were the focal point so even when we had a time limit in place, it was like "eh, no big deal it's fate, it'll work out."
Also certain people need to grow up some.
And I would love it if the naivety got toned down a bit. I get the FMC had a sheltered life, but I'm sorry, I get her pop culture references, girl ain't that sheltered.
But my biggest issue with this book isn't ahole mage surprisingly, I know. Boy is still
My biggest issue is Kai and
I'm trying to hold off judgment on the series for now because the two idiots pissed me off, but I really hope the characters start taking a more of a proactive role in the next book.
MCs are all very stuck in their ways. No real character development. The FMC is quite annoying at times and it’s hard for me to believe some of her naïveté, if she has read as many books and seen as many shows/movies as she constantly says.
Also, the constant horny-ness in all situations, no matter if it’s fitting or not, is not only repetitive but also annoying. For example, they’re supposed to figure out how to get the vampire on school grounds but instead they go to a club. And have more sex. The FMC is supposed to be quite drained, too, but because sex is on the horizon she’s suddenly fully energized.
At least two of the MMCs as well as the FMC are also pretty spineless and total pushovers, despite being apparently super powerful.
This book felt a bit like a filler book and it drove the plot forward a tiny little bit, because one more mate was found, but not much else of true significance happened. At least nothing that couldn’t have been shortened and added to either book 1, book 3 or both.
Another thing that I think is a big inconsistency, in book 1 the FMC says that she’s read many of the books her guardian has in his library and is pretty well read and knowledgeable because of it. Her knowledge gaps come up again and again though and she keeps saying she needs to read up on things, but then she hardly ever seems to do that. Despite it being important for whatever it is she needs to do. She keeps saying her bff is very studious, but what about her? Why is she not trying to catch up to her peers and why is she not working on controlling her magic and learning more spells? She says she prefers reading to going out and partying, but it doesn’t seem like she does much reading. All she really has on her mind is sex and if she’s desirable enough for her mates.
As an aside, I’m pretty sure there will be MM in the future books, but doesn’t seem like there will be love between the MMCs.
So I have a lot to say about this book, and not a whole lot of it is good… 😣 I was really looking forward to this next instalment, but it definitely fell short for me…
While I like a lot of the characters, I do find them all to be pretty daft. I think Alaric & Kai are the most interesting out of the bunch, because they have family issues lol 😂
To me, I feel like this story was just SO repetitive. To the point where I kinda wanted to DNF around 50-60%, a few times. Like, how many inns and cabins could they find and stay in for a night? Also, the fact that at least 5 references to other books were made all before page 200 was kinda crazy. If I was a beta reader, I probably would’ve said “pick one max” lol it just fully takes me out of the story. Sometimes these are added in and they work, as a little Easter egg or something. But to have SO many, it was getting annoying…
I also felt like not much character development happened in this book. The guys getting possessive of Raven, over and over again, also was very taxing to me… Like, how many times can the author write: “can’t they all just share?” Or “sharing is caring.” Lol I think the FMC, Raven, is also frustratingly naive - to the point of almost infantilizing. The guys treat her like she’s a silly little witch, who have zero experience in the world or intimacy, and couldn’t possibly fend for herself. It’s exhausting… Girl, grow a backbone & be a boss ass bitch I know you can be. Tell the dudes to stfu & stand your ground!! Lmao 😂
Just a personal opinion as well: I thought that each intimacy scene was pretty rushed, repetitive or totally random to the plot lol
I’m not fully certain if I’ll be continuing this series, I think I would much rather spend my time elsewhere. But we will see - I like fully closing a chapter and finishing a story 🤷🏻♀️
After the first book I should have cut my losses and moved on, but, alas....I'm a glutton for punishment. I tried to give this book a fair shake. I truly did. But it was still utterly disappointing.
I thought with the addition of the vampire that his strength would rally the others into some sense of hierarchy, but no such luck. The bear is still a controlling, overbearing (no pun intended), jealous, cad. The incubus, though I liked him the most in the last book is now just a pain in the a$$ and not in a good way. The mage remains just as aholian as he was previously, the merman is still a bish. The vampire had promise, but I didn't get much since I DNF'd due to the uselessness of the other characters.
The familiar is infuriatingly useless. He has done legitimately nothing to even warrant being in the dang picture. Snarkiness is only cute when it is paired with usefulness and his scale is leaning hard in the wrong direction. Having a Kitsune familiar should be dope, but his character was written in such a way that it is just a waste.
Although it truly causes me mental anxiety to leave a series unfinished, I have no other choice. I absolutely can't bring myself to read this drivel. This book is just s3x. S3x when it doesn't make sense, s3x whenever the fuggin bear gets mad, s3x because the incubus is low on power, s3x because she is sad, s3x because she is scared, s3x because the sun is up, s3x because it started to ❄️, s3x because she's cold, etc. There is no plot and if there was, it was lost under all of the unnecessary bs that was smooshed into the storyline.
The story could have been so awesome, but it fell so short that I literally couldn't force myself to finish this book. Super happy it was on my KU and that I didn't pay extra for it.