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Validus Vale Academy: Book Three
They took my home, my secrets, and my family. Now they’re going to find out just how far a 'dud' will go to burn their world to the ground.
My adopted parents warned me that if the authorities ever discovered my secret, I’d be taken. They were right—but it turns out telepathy was only the tip of my power iceberg.
Now that I’m in the Conclave’s grip, things are looking grim. They’re funneling dark energy through weak witches, and because they think I’m just an AUA—the weakest of the weak—they have no idea what they’ve actually caught. The darkness here is seductive; it’s a parasitic force that pulls even my strongest allies into its grip, turning friends into strangers.
But I’m not alone. Out there, Ludo, Alexis, and Donovan are ready to tear through the Academy’s foundations to reach me. The Hellhound is on the hunt, too, his teeth bared for anyone who stands in his way.
Then there’s Cosmo. The arrogant dragon has been brought to his knees, his pride shattered as he begs for a forgiveness I’m not sure I can give. He’s desperate to prove he belongs at my side, but I’m not ready to trust the man who once treated me like dirt.
As the Lumina burns brighter within me, the truth of my heritage is finally surfacing. My blood carries a legacy that predates Validus Vale—a lineage so powerful it explains exactly why I had to be hidden from the world.
To save the innocent souls caught in the crossfire and bring my shattered family back together, I must master the power I once feared.
The "dud" is gone. The Lumina is rising. And this time, I’m the one making the rules.
♥Book Three is the high-stakes continuation of the Essence Bound saga. This is a paranormal academy WhyChoose romance where the heat is high, the magic is dark, and the heroine keeps all her men.♥
My adopted parents warned me that if the authorities ever discovered my secret, I’d be taken. They were right—but it turns out telepathy was only the tip of my power iceberg.
Now that I’m in the Conclave’s grip, things are looking grim. They’re funneling dark energy through weak witches, and because they think I’m just an AUA—the weakest of the weak—they have no idea what they’ve actually caught. The darkness here is seductive; it’s a parasitic force that pulls even my strongest allies into its grip, turning friends into strangers.
But I’m not alone. Out there, Ludo, Alexis, and Donovan are ready to tear through the Academy’s foundations to reach me. The Hellhound is on the hunt, too, his teeth bared for anyone who stands in his way.
Then there’s Cosmo. The arrogant dragon has been brought to his knees, his pride shattered as he begs for a forgiveness I’m not sure I can give. He’s desperate to prove he belongs at my side, but I’m not ready to trust the man who once treated me like dirt.
As the Lumina burns brighter within me, the truth of my heritage is finally surfacing. My blood carries a legacy that predates Validus Vale—a lineage so powerful it explains exactly why I had to be hidden from the world.
To save the innocent souls caught in the crossfire and bring my shattered family back together, I must master the power I once feared.
The "dud" is gone. The Lumina is rising. And this time, I’m the one making the rules.
♥Book Three is the high-stakes continuation of the Essence Bound saga. This is a paranormal academy WhyChoose romance where the heat is high, the magic is dark, and the heroine keeps all her men.♥
481 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2026
About the author
Nicky Shivers
9 books56 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 27, 2026
Yea I’m mad. I thought this was book 3 of 4 and it should’ve been. Finding out this was a trilogy when YOU DONT EVEN MEET one of the MMCs!! Like at all! The author has him in a coma until the end of the series?? This was insanely rushed and 2-3 of the mmc’s (not even including the coma patient) were barely developed characters.
This was such a great plot and I’m wildly disappointed with how this ended. I simply do not care about this secondary series the author is trying to spinoff because this one felt so unfinished I’ll never trust this shit again.
Next time maybe have the 4th book so the FMC can at least fuck each of her mates once. Never in my life have I got to an end of a RH series and they were still “just friends”.
I’m so mad at you bitch it’s a miracle this review is still 3 stars because my heart says 1.
This was such a great plot and I’m wildly disappointed with how this ended. I simply do not care about this secondary series the author is trying to spinoff because this one felt so unfinished I’ll never trust this shit again.
Next time maybe have the 4th book so the FMC can at least fuck each of her mates once. Never in my life have I got to an end of a RH series and they were still “just friends”.
I’m so mad at you bitch it’s a miracle this review is still 3 stars because my heart says 1.
April 28, 2026
I’m traveling rn so will hopefully do a better review later. But overall the entire series was an easy read for me. I enjoyed it. But I found some issues which as a reader ticked me off. 3 stars for this final book.
Some bad guys and some mean girls live. I mean. Come tf on. That annoying fiancé of Cosmo’s. We needed some sort of ending for her. She just disappeared from the story. Or did I miss her ending???
If you are rounding out a series like this why let one of the bad guys live? We don’t know if the other bad guy is alive or dead either. The bad guy “doctor lady” bites the dust. As this final book progressed the story got more convoluted and ridiculous.
But it all felt incomplete. Overall. This last book was supposed to wrap up their story and again, leaving it unfinished is fucking cruel to readers. No one wants a HFN in a paranormal ROMANCE!!!😡
And the last man in her harem-her bully-they never sexually connect on page. Not even in the epilouge. We have no idea how the fmc felt meeting her birth mom. We have nothing of substance.
It makes the story feel incomplete. Not sure if that’s intentional as she is moving on to another side character’s story. Cosmo’s sister. But still.
Finally back from my trip. I still agree with my initial assessment. This ending needed more and felt incomplete. Too many hanging threads weren’t cut off.
And it honestly pisses me off she had Cosmo in her harem and the author decides to just let it hang as unfinished. wtf. I decided for this reason to remove a star.
That ending was shitty af. You take your readers thru 3 fucking books and can’t manage to get one of her harems guys together with her????
Yeah. I’m pissed. If this author intends to extend their story then it’s HER responsibility TO EXPRESS THIS WITHIN THE PAGES OF HER BOOK!!!! I’m not joining yet another fucking author fb group just to get info that should be in a book. Ugh.
RH no MM
OW drama
HFN. Not a HEA.
Feels unfinished.
Spice was mid. Not a lot for a RH series.
Some bad guys and some mean girls live. I mean. Come tf on. That annoying fiancé of Cosmo’s. We needed some sort of ending for her. She just disappeared from the story. Or did I miss her ending???
If you are rounding out a series like this why let one of the bad guys live? We don’t know if the other bad guy is alive or dead either. The bad guy “doctor lady” bites the dust. As this final book progressed the story got more convoluted and ridiculous.
But it all felt incomplete. Overall. This last book was supposed to wrap up their story and again, leaving it unfinished is fucking cruel to readers. No one wants a HFN in a paranormal ROMANCE!!!😡
And the last man in her harem-her bully-they never sexually connect on page. Not even in the epilouge. We have no idea how the fmc felt meeting her birth mom. We have nothing of substance.
It makes the story feel incomplete. Not sure if that’s intentional as she is moving on to another side character’s story. Cosmo’s sister. But still.
Finally back from my trip. I still agree with my initial assessment. This ending needed more and felt incomplete. Too many hanging threads weren’t cut off.
And it honestly pisses me off she had Cosmo in her harem and the author decides to just let it hang as unfinished. wtf. I decided for this reason to remove a star.
That ending was shitty af. You take your readers thru 3 fucking books and can’t manage to get one of her harems guys together with her????
Yeah. I’m pissed. If this author intends to extend their story then it’s HER responsibility TO EXPRESS THIS WITHIN THE PAGES OF HER BOOK!!!! I’m not joining yet another fucking author fb group just to get info that should be in a book. Ugh.
RH no MM
OW drama
HFN. Not a HEA.
Feels unfinished.
Spice was mid. Not a lot for a RH series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
Essence bound trilogy
This one finishes this portion of the series, but it appears more off shoots are planned. This is good because there are lots of unfinished plot lines which makes this ending quite unsatisfying. There's a lot less silliness from the characters in the one. The plot becomes quite full and exciting. The end lasts a minute and crashes down never allowing the reader to enjoy the outcome. Some sloppy editing.
This one finishes this portion of the series, but it appears more off shoots are planned. This is good because there are lots of unfinished plot lines which makes this ending quite unsatisfying. There's a lot less silliness from the characters in the one. The plot becomes quite full and exciting. The end lasts a minute and crashes down never allowing the reader to enjoy the outcome. Some sloppy editing.
April 23, 2026
😻
This was really good! But I’m def not completely happy with that ending!! I guess I’m just a bit more bloodthirsty than most!
This was really good! But I’m def not completely happy with that ending!! I guess I’m just a bit more bloodthirsty than most!
May 2, 2026
Great ending to the series
Each of these books has been really difficult to put down, and there were a ton of threads, but the whole series wrapped up in a truly satisfying way!
Each of these books has been really difficult to put down, and there were a ton of threads, but the whole series wrapped up in a truly satisfying way!
May 7, 2026
I’m a bit torn here.
I adored this series.
I loved books one and two.
I really enjoyed most of this book.
I HATED the ending.
There are so many loose ends. Like it wasn’t scrapped up properly.
I see many other reviews are saying the exact same thing.
SPOILERS:
.
.
.
And she STILL never reconciles properly with Cosmo? With her mate? Not in the epilogue even???
Ugh.
Tyrus just dies off page? After all that?
What about her brothers? Francois and Taliesin?? She never connects with them on ANY level?
She hardly connects with her mother. Sitting next to her? There’s zero chemistry and relationship there.
Her father? Thomas Crankshaw? What happens to him??
Wes? What was the story there? He’s a non character the entire series and then comes back for like two pages? What??????? What is happening?
What happens to the kids they saved?
What happens to Zola??????
No. Didn’t like this ending at all.
I adored this series.
I loved books one and two.
I really enjoyed most of this book.
I HATED the ending.
There are so many loose ends. Like it wasn’t scrapped up properly.
I see many other reviews are saying the exact same thing.
SPOILERS:
.
.
.
And she STILL never reconciles properly with Cosmo? With her mate? Not in the epilogue even???
Ugh.
Tyrus just dies off page? After all that?
What about her brothers? Francois and Taliesin?? She never connects with them on ANY level?
She hardly connects with her mother. Sitting next to her? There’s zero chemistry and relationship there.
Her father? Thomas Crankshaw? What happens to him??
Wes? What was the story there? He’s a non character the entire series and then comes back for like two pages? What??????? What is happening?
What happens to the kids they saved?
What happens to Zola??????
No. Didn’t like this ending at all.
May 9, 2026
I honestly wanted to just speed through the entire book at some point. It just kept dragging on and repeating the same plots over in a different format.
Thank goodness for whatever happened at the 78% mark, because that's the only reason I was able to finish this book.
Aside from that, I do think it was a bit unfinished. Like Theo's whole parentage situation. There really wasn't even a hint about what she did after finding out and how it went down. Plus the whole Wes thing? That happened way too suddenly and out of the blue!!
Everything was super rushed towards the end and that took away from the story a lot.
I do think this was a cute series idea though! Curious about the interconnected series for Cosmo's sister. But I'm in no rush or actively seeking it out.
Thank goodness for whatever happened at the 78% mark, because that's the only reason I was able to finish this book.
Aside from that, I do think it was a bit unfinished. Like Theo's whole parentage situation. There really wasn't even a hint about what she did after finding out and how it went down. Plus the whole Wes thing? That happened way too suddenly and out of the blue!!
Everything was super rushed towards the end and that took away from the story a lot.
I do think this was a cute series idea though! Curious about the interconnected series for Cosmo's sister. But I'm in no rush or actively seeking it out.
April 23, 2026
This did not need to be a trilogy. I plodded on with the first 2 as the plot intrigued me, however, very little happened until right at the end of each book. It felt long and drawn out in order to make it a trilogy.
The ending felt rushed with lots of unanswered questions. It seems it's left that way to introduce another fmc and her storyline for a new series. It felt disappointing after sticking with 3 books to not get a solid ending.
The ending felt rushed with lots of unanswered questions. It seems it's left that way to introduce another fmc and her storyline for a new series. It felt disappointing after sticking with 3 books to not get a solid ending.
May 6, 2026
eh, this book was fine. Several parts felt unnecessarily dramatic and overdrawn. Sexy scenes were random and felt a little forced. Cosmo's relationship with Theo felt inorganic and just weird. The ending was also weird. like it was wrapped up but not wrapped up. they had skipped 2 months? I won't lie I started skimming it towards the end because I got bored. I don't know if I will read the next book.
April 24, 2026
Was good. Felt rushed like it needed more or something. Other than that it was good. Liked that she forgave Cosmo at the end and they all became her mates. Wish they had had a moment together like the others but it was good. Lu is my favourite mate. Glad Wes ended up alive in the end and woke up to come to the rescue and help. Glad Cosmo's father died and they got somewhat of that closure. Not sure if I will read the next series.
May 4, 2026
Ovarall a good story. And it had capacity.
I'm not impressed by all character development, aswell as language and the style of writing.
Wes is kind of missing through out the whole series.
The ending felt rushed.
What I've read about the new story with Cos's sister feels kind of more suitable for me and I'm looking forward to it.
I'm not impressed by all character development, aswell as language and the style of writing.
Wes is kind of missing through out the whole series.
The ending felt rushed.
What I've read about the new story with Cos's sister feels kind of more suitable for me and I'm looking forward to it.
April 29, 2026
Not worth the wait
Rushed, summarized epilogue and terrible character development. Unclaimed bond, even at the end and unsatisfying plot holes.
I don't recommend, poorly executed and repetitive
Rushed, summarized epilogue and terrible character development. Unclaimed bond, even at the end and unsatisfying plot holes.
I don't recommend, poorly executed and repetitive
May 20, 2026
Uh… this was not complete. Lots of story left to cover but I guess it continues in another series. Also, other characters besides the FMC were using UK phrases when they’re not from the UK. Lots of inconsistencies like this throughout.
Read
April 21, 2026🟢 This is a reverse harem 🟢
April 26, 2026
Wow!
Been a while since ive been invested in a series as must as this really loved the characters and only wished there was more at the end. A definate must read series.
Been a while since ive been invested in a series as must as this really loved the characters and only wished there was more at the end. A definate must read series.
April 30, 2026
Eh
I hate that the paragraphs are not actually paragraphs. The writing was choppier this time. And seemed like it was in a hurry to finish. I won't continue the series.
I hate that the paragraphs are not actually paragraphs. The writing was choppier this time. And seemed like it was in a hurry to finish. I won't continue the series.
May 6, 2026
Fabulous
I really enjoyed this series. The author has an original voice. I highly recommend reading this series. The final book is just as good as the prior ones.
I really enjoyed this series. The author has an original voice. I highly recommend reading this series. The final book is just as good as the prior ones.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews