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The Terra Australis University for Alchemists
Not yet published
Expected 18 Feb 26
One Year. One Tournament. One Impossible Choice.
Hidden by the frost-bitten mountains of Antarctica lives a secret society of Alchemists, monitored by government agencies worldwide.
After an explosion decimates her high school graduation, the United Defense Against Magic offers 18-year-old Shiloh Benson a deadly bargain. Infiltrate Terra Australis University on behalf of her nation, or face execution for her crimes.
Thrust into an elite military academy for the children of the founding families, Shiloh wonders if a society that has managed to master the elements and eradicate all poverty is too good to be true. And when her sharp tongue lands her in hot water among their ruling class, she’s forced to compete in a tournament before the King where the rules are Win or die trying. That is… if her bloodthirsty classmates and the ruthless sons of the founders don’t finish her off first.
But time is running out. With the rumblings of war looming on the horizon, one destined to wipe out the human race, Shiloh Benson’s success might be humanity’s last hope of survival.
However, she'll have to make it through the year first.
Hidden by the frost-bitten mountains of Antarctica lives a secret society of Alchemists, monitored by government agencies worldwide.
After an explosion decimates her high school graduation, the United Defense Against Magic offers 18-year-old Shiloh Benson a deadly bargain. Infiltrate Terra Australis University on behalf of her nation, or face execution for her crimes.
Thrust into an elite military academy for the children of the founding families, Shiloh wonders if a society that has managed to master the elements and eradicate all poverty is too good to be true. And when her sharp tongue lands her in hot water among their ruling class, she’s forced to compete in a tournament before the King where the rules are Win or die trying. That is… if her bloodthirsty classmates and the ruthless sons of the founders don’t finish her off first.
But time is running out. With the rumblings of war looming on the horizon, one destined to wipe out the human race, Shiloh Benson’s success might be humanity’s last hope of survival.
However, she'll have to make it through the year first.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 18, 2026
4 people want to read
About the author
Jada Mckinley
1 book1 followerThe Terra Australis University for Alchemists is an explosive debut from author, Jada Mckinley. You can find more of her on Instagram and TikTok @jadamckinleywrites where she’ll post the occasional Spotify screenshot or divulge her most recent hyper-fixations to anyone who will listen. To catch up on the latest news, visit jadamckinley.com, or The Mckinley Notebook on Substack.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 12, 2026
DNF @ 25%
I have received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and I was actually really looking forwards to reading this which makes this review even more heartbreaking to write.
The concept of this book really drew me in , I was expecting a hunger games type of story with magical elements and I suppose in a way it might be, just worse.
The story follows an 18 year old Shiloh who is arrested for a crime she may or may have not unintentionally committed which in turn uncovers truths about herself, that her parents kept from her, her entire life.
Okay I obviously didn’t like it BUT I do believe this book does have potential and could become something great with a bit more work.
Shiloh as a main character was somehow both bland and irritating, I obviously do not know how she evolves as the story progresses but from my limited experience it wasn’t looking good.
The world building felt very lazy and borderline boring as well as overwhelming specifically with the plane journey info dump we’ve received around 6-7% in. That alone made me want to DNF the book.
I won’t say anything about the story itself as I have not finished the book however the writing I will talk about. I feel as though the author was really overcompensating for the lack of good writing by constantly over describing everything (I really didn’t need to know that the carton of milk was styrofoam) this really took me out of the story. I do think this book could do with another round of proofreading before release date especially considering several grammatical and spelling errors I have encountered in my short reading experience.
Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity and my biggest good luck to Jada McKinley with her upcoming release
I have received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and I was actually really looking forwards to reading this which makes this review even more heartbreaking to write.
The concept of this book really drew me in , I was expecting a hunger games type of story with magical elements and I suppose in a way it might be, just worse.
The story follows an 18 year old Shiloh who is arrested for a crime she may or may have not unintentionally committed which in turn uncovers truths about herself, that her parents kept from her, her entire life.
Okay I obviously didn’t like it BUT I do believe this book does have potential and could become something great with a bit more work.
Shiloh as a main character was somehow both bland and irritating, I obviously do not know how she evolves as the story progresses but from my limited experience it wasn’t looking good.
The world building felt very lazy and borderline boring as well as overwhelming specifically with the plane journey info dump we’ve received around 6-7% in. That alone made me want to DNF the book.
I won’t say anything about the story itself as I have not finished the book however the writing I will talk about. I feel as though the author was really overcompensating for the lack of good writing by constantly over describing everything (I really didn’t need to know that the carton of milk was styrofoam) this really took me out of the story. I do think this book could do with another round of proofreading before release date especially considering several grammatical and spelling errors I have encountered in my short reading experience.
Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity and my biggest good luck to Jada McKinley with her upcoming release
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this as an ARC through netgalley and I was actually super excited to read it, as the description sounded right up my street, but I have to admit I really disappointed.
The description gives the impression this is a fantasy book about an alchemist who has to basically spy on a school in what I think is essentially another realm. It says she will have to overcome obstacles due to her inability to keep her mouth shut, but she will basically be the saviour in an upcoming war.
I would say this is sort of true. Shiloh does get asked to report back to - what I think is - the government, and she does get forced to attend this university. But the majority of the story is long ramblings that barely make sense (made me think of joey in Friends when he uses tbe thesaurus to write the letter for the adoption agency) and Shiloh trying to get laid, and eventually ending up with sky for 2 night then Sky dies the next day.
The first two chapters of the book dont give enough information to make sense. I enjoyed the chapters where Shiloh first arrives at the University and up until she goes to meet Ezra for the first time.
The rest of the books is a mystery to me. its long ramblings about various topics, that go on for too long and get boring. With sprinkling of actual plot. Small insights into the world Shiloh has entered are thrown in here and there, at about 60% she is finally told she has to enter the tournament, but its not a full focus of the book.
I understand that Shiloh was on drugs, but even that isnt always clear, and that if its her retelling then the story would be a bit confusing and blocks would be missing where she cant remember - but this book made very little sense to me and I genuinely dont know what its about.
I was expecting an exciting fantasy book about a girl coming into herself in this new world and learning to control her power, but its not what was delivered.
There were many errors in this book, words missed out or spelled incorrectly.
I think the premise is great and it could have been amazing book if it was just simplified quite a bit.
The description gives the impression this is a fantasy book about an alchemist who has to basically spy on a school in what I think is essentially another realm. It says she will have to overcome obstacles due to her inability to keep her mouth shut, but she will basically be the saviour in an upcoming war.
I would say this is sort of true. Shiloh does get asked to report back to - what I think is - the government, and she does get forced to attend this university. But the majority of the story is long ramblings that barely make sense (made me think of joey in Friends when he uses tbe thesaurus to write the letter for the adoption agency) and Shiloh trying to get laid, and eventually ending up with sky for 2 night then Sky dies the next day.
The first two chapters of the book dont give enough information to make sense. I enjoyed the chapters where Shiloh first arrives at the University and up until she goes to meet Ezra for the first time.
The rest of the books is a mystery to me. its long ramblings about various topics, that go on for too long and get boring. With sprinkling of actual plot. Small insights into the world Shiloh has entered are thrown in here and there, at about 60% she is finally told she has to enter the tournament, but its not a full focus of the book.
I understand that Shiloh was on drugs, but even that isnt always clear, and that if its her retelling then the story would be a bit confusing and blocks would be missing where she cant remember - but this book made very little sense to me and I genuinely dont know what its about.
I was expecting an exciting fantasy book about a girl coming into herself in this new world and learning to control her power, but its not what was delivered.
There were many errors in this book, words missed out or spelled incorrectly.
I think the premise is great and it could have been amazing book if it was just simplified quite a bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews