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Shadow War Academy #2
Shadow Fated
Death was just the beginning… now it might be the beginning of my end.
Answers finally brought into the light have revealed who switched my body.
Or should I say… switched it back. Apparently, it was mine all along.
And now I’m finally free of the Shadow Academy. But instead of gaining my freedom, I’ve ended up in enemy territory with the Winged Shadows.
Hiding my true identity, I blend in as another student and try to figure out my role in this new reality.
Unlike my four Shadow mates that followed me here and seem to enjoy causing havoc and playing games.
But everything is not what it seems. And as the dark slowly closes in around us, time begins to run out…
Turns out Commander Levington plans to destroy the Hollow once and for all. And if he’s successful, we would never have to worry about the dark creatures or terrigons ever again.
I just have to pass his little tests to get onto the team going.
That’s if my four possessive mates, who hate the idea of me being hurt, don’t block my chances.
But I also have to reveal my secret to them. A secret that could make us stronger…
Or maybe just break us once and for all.
Answers finally brought into the light have revealed who switched my body.
Or should I say… switched it back. Apparently, it was mine all along.
And now I’m finally free of the Shadow Academy. But instead of gaining my freedom, I’ve ended up in enemy territory with the Winged Shadows.
Hiding my true identity, I blend in as another student and try to figure out my role in this new reality.
Unlike my four Shadow mates that followed me here and seem to enjoy causing havoc and playing games.
But everything is not what it seems. And as the dark slowly closes in around us, time begins to run out…
Turns out Commander Levington plans to destroy the Hollow once and for all. And if he’s successful, we would never have to worry about the dark creatures or terrigons ever again.
I just have to pass his little tests to get onto the team going.
That’s if my four possessive mates, who hate the idea of me being hurt, don’t block my chances.
But I also have to reveal my secret to them. A secret that could make us stronger…
Or maybe just break us once and for all.
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2026
About the author
Rumer Hale
11 books578 followersRumer Hale is a paranormal and fantasy romance author that loves writing about worlds filled with magic and strong heroines and their love interests. Love will always be at the heart of her stories but adventure is a big part too. So each story will give you a different experience.
She lives in Ireland with her daughter and family. She’s both a morning and nighttime person so her favourite time to write is either early mornings or late at night when everyone is asleep.
When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she’s getting lost in a good book or binging a series or movies.
You can connect with her on TikTok and Instagram @rumerhaleauthor.
She lives in Ireland with her daughter and family. She’s both a morning and nighttime person so her favourite time to write is either early mornings or late at night when everyone is asleep.
When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she’s getting lost in a good book or binging a series or movies.
You can connect with her on TikTok and Instagram @rumerhaleauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
January 31, 2026
first 50% was annoyingly rife with the dreaded miscommunication trope... but the second half was so much more fun! they finally communicated 🎉 and now all cards are laid on the table and everyone (including me) is happy. awful cliffhanger again, but i'm ignoring it for the foreseeable future! all in all, it ended up being decent fun.
February 3, 2026
First half of the book -> miscommunication trope GALORE
Second half of the book -> There's a creepy commander dude that's doing his best to separate us, but are we gonna do anything about it? Naaaahh that's just a problem for another day.
World building? None
Character development? The FMC just gets amazing and unbeatable at everything at the exact right moment.
Relationship building? None.
Plot? Potential, but the writing doesn't allow it to prosper.
Smut? Bad
Second half of the book -> There's a creepy commander dude that's doing his best to separate us, but are we gonna do anything about it? Naaaahh that's just a problem for another day.
World building? None
Character development? The FMC just gets amazing and unbeatable at everything at the exact right moment.
Relationship building? None.
Plot? Potential, but the writing doesn't allow it to prosper.
Smut? Bad
February 6, 2026
oh….. what happened??? i almost dnf’ed this. if the conflict that goes on for 50% of the book is resolved by a simple conversation (or more like a sentence) then it’s not even worth it lmfao. i’m not interested in anything anymore the plot has gone downhill and the love interests have gone stale. i actually enjoyed the first book btw i’m well aware i’m reading slop but how did this become wattpad level slop where is her editor….. i don’t even care about that cliffhanger. nvm.
February 6, 2026
Honest review (miscommunication trope — communication is a myth apparently)
I waited for this book like it was going to change my personality, fix my sleep schedule, and emotionally destroy me in the best way possible. A full month of anticipation — which, for someone with zero patience, deserves a medal. The second it released, I jumped in ready for magic, chaos, and that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling.
Instead, I got front-row seats to the Miscommunication Circus.
By page 120 we are STILL watching characters avoid basic conversations like they’re allergic to honesty. And I mean… if someone had just LISTENED for five minutes, we could have saved at least 100 pages of dramatic confusion. Five. Minutes. That’s less time than it takes to make coffee.
Also — can we talk about the FMC? Where is the strong, capable woman from book one? Who replaced her with this watered-down, permanently confused version? It felt like watching a powerful character slowly turn into a background extra, and honestly I felt personally betrayed.
Meanwhile, the world is apparently collapsing, stakes are supposedly high, danger everywhere… but yes, let’s focus on prank week at college. Because nothing says “urgent fantasy plot” like chaotic campus jokes while the universe burns.
And the MMC's? Flat. Emotionally two-dimensional. The vibes were there but the depth never showed up.
But the FINAL BOSS that made me close the book? The endless miscommunication trope. Not cute. Not clever. Just frustrating enough that it started feeling like filler designed to stretch the page count rather than move the story forward.
Such big expectations. Such dramatic disappointment. I officially DNF’d because reading should not feel like arguing with fictional people who refuse to use their words.
Maybe it improves later — but honestly, I ran out of emotional energy before the characters ran out of misunderstandings.
One star for commitment to chaos. Zero stars for communication skills.
I waited for this book like it was going to change my personality, fix my sleep schedule, and emotionally destroy me in the best way possible. A full month of anticipation — which, for someone with zero patience, deserves a medal. The second it released, I jumped in ready for magic, chaos, and that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling.
Instead, I got front-row seats to the Miscommunication Circus.
By page 120 we are STILL watching characters avoid basic conversations like they’re allergic to honesty. And I mean… if someone had just LISTENED for five minutes, we could have saved at least 100 pages of dramatic confusion. Five. Minutes. That’s less time than it takes to make coffee.
Also — can we talk about the FMC? Where is the strong, capable woman from book one? Who replaced her with this watered-down, permanently confused version? It felt like watching a powerful character slowly turn into a background extra, and honestly I felt personally betrayed.
Meanwhile, the world is apparently collapsing, stakes are supposedly high, danger everywhere… but yes, let’s focus on prank week at college. Because nothing says “urgent fantasy plot” like chaotic campus jokes while the universe burns.
And the MMC's? Flat. Emotionally two-dimensional. The vibes were there but the depth never showed up.
But the FINAL BOSS that made me close the book? The endless miscommunication trope. Not cute. Not clever. Just frustrating enough that it started feeling like filler designed to stretch the page count rather than move the story forward.
Such big expectations. Such dramatic disappointment. I officially DNF’d because reading should not feel like arguing with fictional people who refuse to use their words.
Maybe it improves later — but honestly, I ran out of emotional energy before the characters ran out of misunderstandings.
One star for commitment to chaos. Zero stars for communication skills.
January 31, 2026
I want more??? The only complaint I have is that the characters should be like early to mid 20s not 19 and THE BOOK SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER CUZ NEED MORE AND THAT ENDING DIABOLICAL OH MY GOD
February 4, 2026
I enjoyed this book but imo there was too much miscommunication, not enough character development and world building.
March 24, 2026
What happened?? Don’t get me wrong, the first book wasn’t going to win any awards, but it still had some good aspects. This one was sooo bad!
1 - there were so many typos/spelling errors (to the point that I had to read a sentence twice to try and figure out what it was saying.
2 - it’s so random, especially the first half of the book… they go to this new academy and instantly they are thrown into this prank war, then the guys are shitted on, then there’s some training montages so they can go destroy this random thing that isn’t well explained.
3 - Why. The. Hell. Do. You. Need. 50. Pages. Of. Miscommunication? My Lord it was painful. Mind you, I hate the miscommunication trope in general (it’s just poor storytelling in my opinion), but when you have characters holding back simple clarifying information for absolutely no fucking reason, it is infuriating. And what’s worse, it didn’t move the plot forward at all. It was just a way to make the guys have to grovel. But again, since it was out of their control, it didn’t feel like they had anything to gravel for.
4 - can these characters work for anything? Besides the flying practice, every “challenge” the MFC faced was instantly solved. And usually by some magic force that just happened to make itself known in that moment.
“My Alita side rises to the surface, deciding it wants to come out to play, and I soon move with the skill of an assassin and slash a path through the rest of them and their shadows, knocking them out before turning to Arabella.”
I stopped caring whenever she was betrayed or had to do a test, because I knew she would magically skate through it.
5 - None of these characters act normally. For example, the MFC spends the entire book training to go on this mission because the commander told her that she needs to destroy the Hallow in order to save the world (essentially). They find out that that same commander has been messing with them and their bond and decide to wait until AFTER they return from said mission in order to confront him.
I’m sorry, but if I find out that the person who told me about this dangerous mission was actively sabotaging me and my team leading up to it, I would seriously question that mission. They are literally going on the word of someone they cannot trust. It could be a trap at the very least…
6 - if I have to read, “what the _____ are you??” one more time… I think every character said it at least once to various members of the main group. 🙄
It’s just so stupid and it was painful to read. This definitely needed more thought behind it. Maybe the author was just trying to push it out the door… but this was baaaad.
1 - there were so many typos/spelling errors (to the point that I had to read a sentence twice to try and figure out what it was saying.
2 - it’s so random, especially the first half of the book… they go to this new academy and instantly they are thrown into this prank war, then the guys are shitted on, then there’s some training montages so they can go destroy this random thing that isn’t well explained.
3 - Why. The. Hell. Do. You. Need. 50. Pages. Of. Miscommunication? My Lord it was painful. Mind you, I hate the miscommunication trope in general (it’s just poor storytelling in my opinion), but when you have characters holding back simple clarifying information for absolutely no fucking reason, it is infuriating. And what’s worse, it didn’t move the plot forward at all. It was just a way to make the guys have to grovel. But again, since it was out of their control, it didn’t feel like they had anything to gravel for.
4 - can these characters work for anything? Besides the flying practice, every “challenge” the MFC faced was instantly solved. And usually by some magic force that just happened to make itself known in that moment.
“My Alita side rises to the surface, deciding it wants to come out to play, and I soon move with the skill of an assassin and slash a path through the rest of them and their shadows, knocking them out before turning to Arabella.”
I stopped caring whenever she was betrayed or had to do a test, because I knew she would magically skate through it.
5 - None of these characters act normally. For example, the MFC spends the entire book training to go on this mission because the commander told her that she needs to destroy the Hallow in order to save the world (essentially). They find out that that same commander has been messing with them and their bond and decide to wait until AFTER they return from said mission in order to confront him.
I’m sorry, but if I find out that the person who told me about this dangerous mission was actively sabotaging me and my team leading up to it, I would seriously question that mission. They are literally going on the word of someone they cannot trust. It could be a trap at the very least…
6 - if I have to read, “what the _____ are you??” one more time… I think every character said it at least once to various members of the main group. 🙄
It’s just so stupid and it was painful to read. This definitely needed more thought behind it. Maybe the author was just trying to push it out the door… but this was baaaad.
February 3, 2026
DNFed, life is too short to read childish miscomm for half a book.
It's not me, it's you.
It's not me, it's you.
January 30, 2026
I’m hooked
I read this as soon as it was live and finished it just as quickly. And omg was it a ride and I wanted to shake Sena so badly at some parts. And that cliffhanger? Now I wish I didn’t read this so damn fast 😭
This was so good and I can’t wait to see how this wraps up. But I’m also scared at the same time
I read this as soon as it was live and finished it just as quickly. And omg was it a ride and I wanted to shake Sena so badly at some parts. And that cliffhanger? Now I wish I didn’t read this so damn fast 😭
This was so good and I can’t wait to see how this wraps up. But I’m also scared at the same time
February 21, 2026
I think I'm going to DNF. It really blows because I really enjoyed book one, but this is just lazy miscommunication to keep the tension. It's been nearly a month and I'm only 50% of the way through. I can only get about a chapter further along every time I open the book. This could have been such a great story, but it missed the mark. At the same time, I feel like nothing has happened for the first like 45% of the book. The grammatical issues are pretty awful, too. I don't usually mind too much, but words are missing and it sounds super weird using text to speech.
I may change my opinion as I try to work through this, but I have so many other books I need to read that it doesn't seem worth hanging on despite how badly I wanted this to work out.
I may change my opinion as I try to work through this, but I have so many other books I need to read that it doesn't seem worth hanging on despite how badly I wanted this to work out.
February 9, 2026
youre actually a special female warrior
wait no youre actually a royal
wait no youre actually the LAST royal and will cure the entire world
yeah yeah sure sure
wait no youre actually a royal
wait no youre actually the LAST royal and will cure the entire world
yeah yeah sure sure
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
3.5 ✨ overall I loved the storyline and the main characters but omg the miscommunication was killing me! Like just talk to each other 🤣 I enjoyed the second half of the book so much more and the ending was so good but the start dragged a little for me!
March 20, 2026
I struggled with this book because the miscommunication trope was front and center for the first 50%. I still enjoyed myself but I would have preferred a bit more emotional depth and character development.
February 2, 2026
The entire first half of this book is literally just non/miscommunication. It’s worse than in any book I’ve ever read and was added just for filler nonsense. It’s so disappointing because it could have been an INCREDIBLE story but instead there’s completely needless tension that does nothing to add to the story. If you’re going to add a giant ass miscommunication trope that takes over the entire plot, at least let it have a point 😩 def not finishing the series. It probably should’ve been a duet.
March 11, 2026
This book is absolute shambles. I wouldn’t even let my cat read it
August 7, 2026
⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️
( How many times am I going to say "miscommunication" in this review?) 😂
After reading book 1, I am sad to announce that Book 2 wasn't as good. 🫣 Prepare yourself for THE biggest miscommunication trope.
I completely understand why so many readers got frustrated with it, because... yeah. Me too. 🥲
Both sides could've literally explained what happened and been honest for five minutes, about 90% of the chaos would've disappeared.
Instead, it takes FOREVER before they finally talk to each other.
So I totally get why so many readers were frustrated, because I was sitting there for like 80% of the book screaming:
JUST. TALK. TO. EACH. OTHER.
The FMC practically says things that should make alarm bells go off and the boys are just like...
👁👄👁
Nothing.
No thoughts.
You'd think that because there are FOUR MATES, they'd be able to combine their brain cells and come up with at least one functioning thought.
Nope.
Not a single brain cell was clocked in. 🤡
I genuinely think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if the miscommunication arc hadn't dragged on for so long. It took away from the rest of the story, which is a shame because, just like Book 1, this could've been such a surprisingly fun and light read.
Sooo long story short. Book 2 wasn't as enjoyable as Book 1.
Does that mean you should skip the series?
Absolutely not.
As I said in my Book 1 review...
4 mates? Hell yeah🥵
(And before the dirty minds arrive... NO, there isn't a foursome. 😭)
I'd still recommend the series if you want a fun, easy, light read with an interesting world.
Just be prepared to occasionally want to grab the characters by the shoulders and yell:
COMMUNICATE. PLEASE. I AM BEGGING YOU.
P.S. I said “miscommunication” like four times in this review. Honestly? I think that's pretty reasonable considering the circumstances. And I apologize for this big ass review. 😂
( How many times am I going to say "miscommunication" in this review?) 😂
After reading book 1, I am sad to announce that Book 2 wasn't as good. 🫣 Prepare yourself for THE biggest miscommunication trope.
I completely understand why so many readers got frustrated with it, because... yeah. Me too. 🥲
Both sides could've literally explained what happened and been honest for five minutes, about 90% of the chaos would've disappeared.
Instead, it takes FOREVER before they finally talk to each other.
So I totally get why so many readers were frustrated, because I was sitting there for like 80% of the book screaming:
JUST. TALK. TO. EACH. OTHER.
The FMC practically says things that should make alarm bells go off and the boys are just like...
👁👄👁
Nothing.
No thoughts.
You'd think that because there are FOUR MATES, they'd be able to combine their brain cells and come up with at least one functioning thought.
Nope.
Not a single brain cell was clocked in. 🤡
I genuinely think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if the miscommunication arc hadn't dragged on for so long. It took away from the rest of the story, which is a shame because, just like Book 1, this could've been such a surprisingly fun and light read.
Sooo long story short. Book 2 wasn't as enjoyable as Book 1.
Does that mean you should skip the series?
Absolutely not.
As I said in my Book 1 review...
4 mates? Hell yeah🥵
(And before the dirty minds arrive... NO, there isn't a foursome. 😭)
I'd still recommend the series if you want a fun, easy, light read with an interesting world.
Just be prepared to occasionally want to grab the characters by the shoulders and yell:
COMMUNICATE. PLEASE. I AM BEGGING YOU.
P.S. I said “miscommunication” like four times in this review. Honestly? I think that's pretty reasonable considering the circumstances. And I apologize for this big ass review. 😂
June 14, 2026
Awwww man super bummed because I love the idea and where it was heading in book 1 but all of a sudden it felt like a completely different series. After all they went through in book 1 it’s like it’s never happened and now they are all deeply in love , bond is absolutely perfect like nothing happened. Mfc starts acting like a toddler, major miscommunication trope. Literally first chapter is like this so what happened to you, we are on the brink of war, next chapter hey let’s do prank wars….then she says she’s serious about her training and thinks she can do it but then doesn’t eat and starves herself, like come on. Ugh I’m sorry, I hate leaving bad reviews, this is no hate to the author. I think this series has a lot of potential, sad to see it go down this route for book 2.
April 27, 2026
4.50⭐️
WHAT DO YOU MEAN!!! WHAT DO YOU MEANNNNN!!! I’m freaking out right now, I need the third book😭. Rumer Hale, I love you but WTF!
Badass FMC, Morally gray/groveling men! Action, war, SPICE, academy setting! This series has everything I’ve been looking for in a series, I need moreeee.
Fav Quotes:
“This…is just a a place. But you…you are our home.”- Cyrus
“Touch her and you die.”- Theon
“You crave a devil, not god, baby. But feel free to scream my name.”- Malakai
“Fuck it. Everyone’s fucking dying tonight.”- Knox
WHAT DO YOU MEAN!!! WHAT DO YOU MEANNNNN!!! I’m freaking out right now, I need the third book😭. Rumer Hale, I love you but WTF!
Badass FMC, Morally gray/groveling men! Action, war, SPICE, academy setting! This series has everything I’ve been looking for in a series, I need moreeee.
Fav Quotes:
“This…is just a a place. But you…you are our home.”- Cyrus
“Touch her and you die.”- Theon
“You crave a devil, not god, baby. But feel free to scream my name.”- Malakai
“Fuck it. Everyone’s fucking dying tonight.”- Knox
May 4, 2026
La mitad del libro se pasó con un problema de comunicación y la otra mitad, aunque estuvo mucho más divertida, hubo muy poco desarrollo de personaje. Me gusta, pero siento que podría ser mejor. Me molesta un poco que todo se resuelve con intuición y fácilmente, me gustaría que los retos fueran más profundos.
Veremos que tal el siguiente, me gustaría que los personajes fueran mucho más profundizados.
Veremos que tal el siguiente, me gustaría que los personajes fueran mucho más profundizados.
January 31, 2026
just freaking talk!
I enjoyed the progression of the story but can I just say one of my biggest pet peeves is when one of the plot points used is that the characters don’t freaking TALK to each other? Oooooh girl that is just annoying af.
Still can’t wait till the next one to see what happens!
I enjoyed the progression of the story but can I just say one of my biggest pet peeves is when one of the plot points used is that the characters don’t freaking TALK to each other? Oooooh girl that is just annoying af.
Still can’t wait till the next one to see what happens!
February 27, 2026
There’s nothing I hate more than a miscommunication trope.
March 25, 2026
Not as fun as the first book😪
August 8, 2026
Fun . banter. Unique premise. Non stop action scenes.
Trials and wars. Fast paced.
Wanted more character depth.
Only know FMC backstory not the MMCs.
Slow burn.
Didn’t like the miscommunication and dragging of her secret.
Romantasy Why Choose
Trials and wars. Fast paced.
Wanted more character depth.
Only know FMC backstory not the MMCs.
Slow burn.
Didn’t like the miscommunication and dragging of her secret.
Romantasy Why Choose
January 31, 2026
2 stars because I liked the first book. I also thought this was gonna be the last one but apparently not.
June 9, 2026
First ever review just to say that this was absolute booty cheeks. ASS. What the fuck did I spend my day reading. I should have worked instead
Read
April 14, 2026Enjoyed the first book and was keen for the plot to thickennnn but this book was literally 50% miscommunication.
I could see glimpses of plot but then it just kinda got brushed over or the characters were like ‘oh well that’s tomorrow’s problem’ like what????
I wanted to DNF this multiple times but made myself push through with every little bread crumb of plot an it honestly wasn’t worth it in the end. What was that cliffhanger too?
I could see glimpses of plot but then it just kinda got brushed over or the characters were like ‘oh well that’s tomorrow’s problem’ like what????
I wanted to DNF this multiple times but made myself push through with every little bread crumb of plot an it honestly wasn’t worth it in the end. What was that cliffhanger too?
May 16, 2026
So bad... same problems as the first one.
April 4, 2026
*2.5
Just noticed I never wrote a review for this lol. This review also doesn’t need a lot of words cause this book was BAD.
The miscommunication trope made me wanna pull out my hair and cliffhanger at the end of the book was awful. It made me so unbelievably mad.
Will I ever read book 3? Who knows, maybe.
Just noticed I never wrote a review for this lol. This review also doesn’t need a lot of words cause this book was BAD.
The miscommunication trope made me wanna pull out my hair and cliffhanger at the end of the book was awful. It made me so unbelievably mad.
Will I ever read book 3? Who knows, maybe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews