Apex Elite Academy: Year 1

by Lyra Winters

Welcome to Apex Elite Academy, where elite supernaturals are sent to train to become agents for the Supernatural Council.

After months of begging, bribery, and a little emotional blackmail, I convinced my overprotective dad to let me take the Apex Elite Academy entrance exams. I passed, as expected, and I’m now a supernatural agent-in-training.

I was thrown into simulated missions with a prickly vampire determined to challenge me at every turn, a quiet dragon agent whose attention burned hotter than it should have, and a flirty chaos demon who hacked the academy’s surveillance just to watch me. Add in attending classes with a violent basilisk who had more uses for his venom than just torture, a clumsy phoenix whose harmless façade hid secret motivations, and a powerful warlock professor infatuated with my venom, and suddenly training was the least of my problems.

Especially when a mysterious illness spreads through the academy before sweeping through all supernatural territories in Kalista. Officially, it was labeled a rare sickness. Unofficially, intel revealed it was a human-made poison engineered to disorient and knock its victims unconscious, with aftereffects that mimicked the human flu. If the humans were responsible, they had a reason to target supernaturals, and none of those reasons were good.

Between risky finals, multiple growing relationships, political tensions, and a poison that clearly held ulterior motives, the first year at Apex Elite Academy might have killed me.

But honestly?

I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Genres: Why Choose

538 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Blair Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always addicted to Lyra Winters and her series. When I first heard of Rune in the last series I was so freaking intrigued. And now it’s here and I blew through this book so fast. Each individual series has its own thing but can I tell you we’re kind of getting back to that almost instant type of love from majority of the characters or obsession? I should say and I just love that. It’s what sucks me in. The different little trials in classes and simulations are so interesting and so well set up. And I’m so happy. This is a more of a rapid release because the ending… I need the next one right now. I know it’s not going to be a seriously super long wait. But I need to know!

[Abbigail Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

SLATER AND ZUKO ARE MY FAVOURITE DUO🤍

I am utterly obsessed with this series already and I’ve only had the pleasure of reading Term 1. Only thing which will probably make me seem impatient is I wished at least one mate bond snapped into place. Didn’t affect how I feel about the book though and as I said I’m obsessed. Well done, Lyra.🤍

[Caylee T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh!

I have never started reading a book so dang fast. I was so excited & so anxious for this book because the past series from this author have been so fantastic. And so far, I feel like this one will not disappoint either.

Rune is on her way to Apex Elite Academy to train as an agent to be. But first day there, she runs into quite a few other supernaturals that turn her head….or dramatically tell her she is their future mate. Slater for the win lol

The men that she surrounds herself with are comedy gold, especially Slater & Zuko. But when you add Dimitri, who is her scholar rival. Then Drecken who is a little out there but still captivated by her. Jesper who is just as vexed by her & not sure what to do. And Koa who thinks protecting her is his best bet. You get this ragtag team that are absolutely obsessed with her.

And Rune dos nothing but encourage it more. She’s just as unhinged as they are. What with drinking poisons because it fills her reserves but also throws everyone off. But then she also has no problem tasting new poisons either.

I absolutely love her & her personality. Plus when she is with the guys, it’s so perfect.

I have a feeling that two members of their squad are questionable & one was proven correct. But I feel like the other made themselves known right at the end. And I don’t like how that outcome could turn out.

But I absolutely devoured this book & now I am so excited for the next book.

Amazing job!

[Kayla Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Lyra hit it out of the park again with this one! I live for fated mates who are obsessed from the very beginning. The fact that Slaters first words to her are that she’s his mate are *chefs kiss*. Zuko’s energy is feral in the best way. He’s just crazy enough but loves her perfectly. Koa and Jesper are adorably innocent and I can’t wait to watch their characters grow and their bonds with Rune develop. Dimitri is that balance mate who doesn’t want to admit he needs her because he’s broken but I’m DYING to watch him crack open for her. And Drecken is so awkward it’s hilarious. Rune is the badass mfc we love to see and she is freaking adorable. I love the reactions everyone has to her drinking poisons. I was actually cracking up. The mini intervention in the kitchen over the tea was too much. Of course, what would one of Lyra Winters books be without an insane cliff hanger? This one though, (without giving any spoilers away for anyone else) was probably a top five dot dot dot endings I’ve read. I’m was like wait, no, where’s the next page! Please! No, let there be at least one more sentence or something. I will be sitting on the edge of my seat doing nothing for the next month until the next book is out. Respectfully.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is probably my favorite of them all set in this world. I love Rune & her “mates” (Dimitri is probably my favorite- I’m a sucker for the broken, reluctant hero).

There was a lot going on, enough to keep my interest for sure. Rune is a perfect FMC, badass & compassionate.

Only complaints:

-Too many scenes of exams and simulations and not enough time between Rune and her mates.
-Hawkes actions were so… random? Like they escalated weirdly to me.
-NO ONE ACTUALLY BECAME HER MATE!!!! (Screaming, crying, throwing my kindle… because what do you mean in the entire book not one of the men had the mate bond snap into place)??
-Some of her mates feel forced and lack chemistry (Koa & Drecken -though I do love Dreckens character, I’m also a sucker for the inexperienced mmc). I feel like we could have just had Slater, Zuko, Dimitri, & Jesper & the story would have been fine. The other two don’t really add to her harem or the novel in general… yet? But I’ll give them time for redemption.

I give it 4⭐️’s & am excited to see more from the next book!

(I have predictions about Aura I’m excited to see come to life in future books)

[BobbiJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Even though this is in the same world as Fate Hollow and Demon Reform, this book is unlike any other that Lyra Winters has written. Or maybe I should say this FMC is unlike any of her others. Rune is absolutely a baddie from the start, and I love her relationship with her family.

Year One at the academy is intense with their classes. There is plot on plot on plot in this book. Between making it through the academy, the humans misbehaving AGAIN, and Koa’s fight for his father… you won’t get bored.

As for the mates, Slater and Zuko are so sweet and they know who Rune is to them from the start. The rest are a work in progress. But Lyra keeps us on our toes with the mate bonds, because they are not working as they have in the other series in this world, so I am super excited to see how this happens.

This series is going to be a rapid release and I am so thankful for that because that cliffhanger was KILLER.

[Nicole Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am entirely obsessed with these characters and their relationships!! Rune is such a badass!! And the whole world and academy is so creative! This is definitely a 5 star read! I can’t wait until the next book comes out I devored this one in 4 hours I could not stop reading! Lyra winters always writes such amazing books but so far this has become my number one favorite the characters and plot and the personalities and complex emotions really give each character their own story and make you feel like your personally know each and every one of them!!! I most definitely recommend! I do wish one mate bond happened but I know Lyra has a plan for every one of them and I can’t wait to read more and see which mate bond snaps in place first!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyra has built an amazing and in depth world that now expands to encompass 3 series with potential for even more.

Rune is a strong, sassy FMC. Very well written characters all around. I do wish at least one mate bond had snapped into place (call me selfish like that lol) but I understand it will be all consuming when they start falling into place. I like that that the angst with Dimitri wasn’t cruel. That seems to be a typical theme in some series but it’s not in this one….so far. (I’m saying so far for my own hopefulness and sanity. lol)

“The man had to be 6’2”. The kind of height that invited obsession….” 🥰🥰🥰

That ending tho….year two is coming out when?! 🤣

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of Apex Elite started off very strong! The FMC Rune, who was introduced in Demon Reform, is a basilisk and immune to all poisons/venoms she’s ever encountered. She begins training to be an agent along with the rest of her family and on the first day she meets 4 of her MMCs, another basilisk, a chaos demon, a klutzy phoenix shifter and a vampire who are all in training with her. Another 2 MMCs are part of the staff. I think Rune might be my new favorite FMC and Slater is prob my new favorite obsessed MMC but Koa the phoenix and his hilariously awkward deaths were cracking me up! This one ended on a pretty good cliffy but thankfully Lyra will release the next one shortly!

[BumblingBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear every series just gets better and better! I absolutely loved Rune, she might be my favorite fmc to date, she is such a badass.

I loved the instant connection between Rune, Slater and Zuko, but I also love that we’re getting a slow burn with her other potential mates as well.

Drecken is probally my favorite mmc at the moment, I love how old but shy he is.

My only critique really is that it felt like we didn’t get much of quarter 2-4 which I get because the book is based over one year and there’s a lot of info to cover

Lyraaaaaa that endingggggggggg omg.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super fun. Zuko and Slater are both crazy in the best of ways and most of the MMCs are completely wrapped around her finger and are not afraid to show it.
I really liked the setting for this book and really enjoyed the classes/exams that were on page. It is true that the length of the year quarters were very disproportionate and I wish I had some more scenes from the last quarter but I completely understand that the book is super long and we literally couldn't get more. So I'm happy with everything we got.

[Joanna Hazell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyra winters books never disappoint- when ever I hear she’s releasing a new book or series I can’t wait to read it/them.

Defiantly a five star read for me.

Obsessed with the characters of apex elite academy,
Rune is such a badass and she might be my favourite FMC of Lyra’s books to date

Slater has easily become my favourite MMC so far, with his instant obsession/connection to rune.

Love that Lyra includes characters from fate hollow academy and demon reform academy.

Honestly couldn’t put this book down till I finished it can’t wait for term 2 to come out

[Joseline Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fmc and how the mmc match her energy. She has nicknames for all of them and them for her. The relationships all develop at their own pace and some progress further than others. I also love the academy setting and them having to go thru simulations of missions and having to work as a team and to their strengths. There’s definitely some suspicious characters that could be apart of something bigger.

[Chrissy Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly could not put this book down. I have fallen in love with all the characters, Slater has easily become a favorite of mine. I was so excited to read Term 1, and I was genuinely wondering how Lyra would top how phenomenal FHA and DRA was. Let me just say, she has blown my expectations out of the water. I am eager to read the rest of the series and can't wait to see how the series progresses. 🤍💚

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much already. I love how Rune can uniquely be herself. I wish she would of at least had one mate bond Snap in place though but it didn't effect the book I still loved it so much patiently waiting for book two.

[Victoria yake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyra has done it again with this first book of her new series!! I loved this book and absolutely devoured it!! I love Rune! She is definitely my favorite FMC by Lyra! And her guys are chefs kiss!🤌🏽 this is a great start to a series I know it is gonna be in my top favorite series ever!!

[Cathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good! Keeps you interested all the Way through