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The Souls of Blackwood Academy #0.5
Twisted Vows: An Immortal Consequences Story
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 19:51:27
10 copies available
U.S. only
Step into the mysterious, gothic world of Blackwood Academy eighteen years prior to the events of the New York Times bestselling Immortal Consequences in this darkly enchanting prequel novella that traces the origins of fan-favorite couple August and Wren’s heated rivalry and eventual romance.
She’d hate him for the rest of eternity. She’d hate him until the very end.
When Wren Loughty finds herself dropped outside the gates of Blackwood Academy, the infamous magical boarding school located on the fringes of the afterlife, she quickly realizes that she's dead. Worse, she's stuck between life and death, eternally tasked with learning the magical skills required to guide lost souls to the Other Side.
And her first assignment? A class project with the boy known as the notorious "Demon of Blackwood," Augustine Hughes.
August doesn't do friends. He has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the new girl...reasons that are quickly becoming more complicated the more time he spends with her.
As Wren and August navigate the darkly enchanting Blackwood campus and their cutthroat fellow students, an undeniable connection grows between them. But some connections can be twisted.
And some betrayals can’t be undone.
She’d hate him for the rest of eternity. She’d hate him until the very end.
When Wren Loughty finds herself dropped outside the gates of Blackwood Academy, the infamous magical boarding school located on the fringes of the afterlife, she quickly realizes that she's dead. Worse, she's stuck between life and death, eternally tasked with learning the magical skills required to guide lost souls to the Other Side.
And her first assignment? A class project with the boy known as the notorious "Demon of Blackwood," Augustine Hughes.
August doesn't do friends. He has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the new girl...reasons that are quickly becoming more complicated the more time he spends with her.
As Wren and August navigate the darkly enchanting Blackwood campus and their cutthroat fellow students, an undeniable connection grows between them. But some connections can be twisted.
And some betrayals can’t be undone.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
I.V. Marie
5 books1,572 followersI.V. Marie is the instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Bestselling author of Immortal Consequences. She was born and raised in Miami to a Peruvian mother and Chilean father, where she acquired a penchant for afternoon cafecitos and developed an all-consuming obsession with books. Her writing ambitions began behind her grandparents’ computer, where she spent her childhood crafting spooky and fantastical short stories. When she is not writing, you can find her rock climbing or watching atmospheric Youtube videos with her dog, Mr. Darcy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ Since this novella is only under 200 pages, I will make this short:
I adore this YA series and in this novella, we are back for more Blackwood Academy but this time we are traveling 18 years prior to the events of Immortal Consequences. We arrive at the point when Wren discovers that she's dead and meets August for the first time. They are forced to work together and we learn of the events that sets the plot into motion 18 years later in the duology that follows. But what makes this book so bittersweet and emotional is seeing how August fell in love with Wren and the 'twisted vow' he made that would protect her years later.. It's such a a bittersweet ending to a wonderful series. Wren and August have my whole heart.
Some promises and commitments are not always straightforward.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press/Random House Childrens Books and the author, I.V. Marie for an early copy.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
I adore this YA series and in this novella, we are back for more Blackwood Academy but this time we are traveling 18 years prior to the events of Immortal Consequences. We arrive at the point when Wren discovers that she's dead and meets August for the first time. They are forced to work together and we learn of the events that sets the plot into motion 18 years later in the duology that follows. But what makes this book so bittersweet and emotional is seeing how August fell in love with Wren and the 'twisted vow' he made that would protect her years later.. It's such a a bittersweet ending to a wonderful series. Wren and August have my whole heart.
Some promises and commitments are not always straightforward.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press/Random House Childrens Books and the author, I.V. Marie for an early copy.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
okay now give us more because this was everything i wanted! it felt like such a breather after all the chaos in the main duology and i loved getting to just enjoy wren and august’s banter <3 there’s something about knowing how their story plays out that makes you savour the beginning of their relationship even more 🥹🩷
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and random house for the arc!
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and random house for the arc!
October 25, 2026
“She’d hate him for the rest of eternity. She’d hate him until the very end.”
I have so many thoughts after finishing this! Twisted Vows completely exceeded my expectations, and honestly, that rivals-to-allies dynamic had me absolutely hooked from start to finish.
The first half built up so much tension, but once we hit the mid-point jewel hunt across the gothic Blackwood campus? Everything went into a wild ride. The trials were fast-paced, high-stakes, and forced them into close proximity in a way that felt so natural and insanely cinematic.
August as a character kept me second-guessing everything. His hidden motives and that centuries-old debt situation had me so suspicious, but the chemistry and banter between them made it impossible not to root for them anyway. That ending landed so well and wrapped up the novella perfectly!
If you love dark academia vibes, high-tension romance, and secrets that keep you turning pages late into the night, you definitely need to add this one to your TBR! 🌙🌑🪄 (After you read the first two books)
I have so many thoughts after finishing this! Twisted Vows completely exceeded my expectations, and honestly, that rivals-to-allies dynamic had me absolutely hooked from start to finish.
The first half built up so much tension, but once we hit the mid-point jewel hunt across the gothic Blackwood campus? Everything went into a wild ride. The trials were fast-paced, high-stakes, and forced them into close proximity in a way that felt so natural and insanely cinematic.
August as a character kept me second-guessing everything. His hidden motives and that centuries-old debt situation had me so suspicious, but the chemistry and banter between them made it impossible not to root for them anyway. That ending landed so well and wrapped up the novella perfectly!
If you love dark academia vibes, high-tension romance, and secrets that keep you turning pages late into the night, you definitely need to add this one to your TBR! 🌙🌑🪄 (After you read the first two books)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
okay what was the point of this...?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netgalley and Harpercollins publishing for the ARC !
Ignore me, I'm just going to go cry in that corner over there…
To the people who said this wasn’t needed: I lowkey agree with you… BUT this was wanted. Seeing Wren and August again made me cry myself to sleep. August was DOWN BADDD from the beginning oh my goodness. And of course, the banter was bantering as always, and I was giggling and kicking my feet. But reading this after finishing the series really puts Silas’s character into perspective, because the SIGNS WERE ALWAYS THERE. I WAS JUST TOO DISTRACTED BY WRENAUGUST TO NOTICE. This series is soo divine rivals coded, so if you liked the Letters of Enchantment series, you should definitely give this a go. Wren and August are my favourite couple in this series (and for good reason) because where are you going to find a man as obsessed as August ? Honestly, there wasn’t a lot of important content in the book, it was mainly providing glimpses into Wren’s life after she arrived at Blackwood, and it also gives you a little insight into her death and August’s death. (Plus cameos of the other characters so it’s a win-win situation !)
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ Preread 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC EVERYONE STAY CALM I GOT THE ARC AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Ignore me, I'm just going to go cry in that corner over there…
To the people who said this wasn’t needed: I lowkey agree with you… BUT this was wanted. Seeing Wren and August again made me cry myself to sleep. August was DOWN BADDD from the beginning oh my goodness. And of course, the banter was bantering as always, and I was giggling and kicking my feet. But reading this after finishing the series really puts Silas’s character into perspective, because the SIGNS WERE ALWAYS THERE. I WAS JUST TOO DISTRACTED BY WRENAUGUST TO NOTICE. This series is soo divine rivals coded, so if you liked the Letters of Enchantment series, you should definitely give this a go. Wren and August are my favourite couple in this series (and for good reason) because where are you going to find a man as obsessed as August ? Honestly, there wasn’t a lot of important content in the book, it was mainly providing glimpses into Wren’s life after she arrived at Blackwood, and it also gives you a little insight into her death and August’s death. (Plus cameos of the other characters so it’s a win-win situation !)
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ Preread 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC EVERYONE STAY CALM I GOT THE ARC AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Want to Read
July 17, 2026🕯️⌇ pre-release !
⤿ publishing on 10.06.26
october can’t come soon enough 😫 augustwren has my whole heart & i’m definitely interested in seeing how they become rivals, but also don’t want this to end 🥺
i. immortal consequences ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
ii. ruinous ends ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
iii. twisted vows
⤿ publishing on 10.06.26
october can’t come soon enough 😫 augustwren has my whole heart & i’m definitely interested in seeing how they become rivals, but also don’t want this to end 🥺
i. immortal consequences ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
ii. ruinous ends ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
iii. twisted vows
August 3, 2026
I.V. Marie, I am mad at you. How dare you write the perfect novella that takes place before Immortal Consequences but can’t be read until after Ruinous Ends and make me love your characters all over again! That’s just rude. And not only that it was the perfect encapsulation of each one of the characters. Now I’m crying over August and Wren again. It’s like you WANTED us to hurt. (Admit it, I know you did. Mission accomplished.)
All jokes aside, this is the perfect backwards ending to The Souls of Blackwood Academy duology. (DO NOT read this before finishing Ruinous Ends or you’ll be the one having a ruinous end. It’s key that you’ve finished both books before reading this one!) It has the parts we didn’t know we needed. The little glimpse of how it started before we get launched into the narrative in Immortal Consequences, the academic competition in full swing.
The brutal sadness of Olivier, gah it made my heart hurt. And Silas. I fucking hate Silas. All my friends hate Silas. Silas is hateable. But seeing Wren again, seeing Wren the moment that everything changes for her… It was beautiful.
Grab a copy when it hits shelves at your favorite bookish place on October 6. It’s the ending you didn’t know you needed and won’t be able to live without.
6 ghost souls for this one. Absolutely brilliant. (And yes, I am still mad at I.V. Marie.)
Thank you to Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
All jokes aside, this is the perfect backwards ending to The Souls of Blackwood Academy duology. (DO NOT read this before finishing Ruinous Ends or you’ll be the one having a ruinous end. It’s key that you’ve finished both books before reading this one!) It has the parts we didn’t know we needed. The little glimpse of how it started before we get launched into the narrative in Immortal Consequences, the academic competition in full swing.
The brutal sadness of Olivier, gah it made my heart hurt. And Silas. I fucking hate Silas. All my friends hate Silas. Silas is hateable. But seeing Wren again, seeing Wren the moment that everything changes for her… It was beautiful.
Grab a copy when it hits shelves at your favorite bookish place on October 6. It’s the ending you didn’t know you needed and won’t be able to live without.
6 ghost souls for this one. Absolutely brilliant. (And yes, I am still mad at I.V. Marie.)
Thank you to Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
March 27, 2026
“It never goes away... Not really. It’s like an injury that doesn’t quite heal the way it’s supposed to. Sure, it’s patched up, but every so often, there’s a lingering pain... A reminder of what was once there. It’s the same with grief. Every once in a while, you’re unwillingly reminded of it. A deep, resounding ache. A scar that will never fully go away.”
“But why would we want it to? That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift . . . to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that that same love follows you. Even into death.”
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I don't think was nessassary, and I don't think you NEED to read this. It is well written, and it was nice to see the chrecters again, but there really was no addedd value to the story overall in my opinion.
---------------------
I didn't realize we were getting a prequel!
“But why would we want it to? That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift . . . to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that that same love follows you. Even into death.”
---------------------
I don't think was nessassary, and I don't think you NEED to read this. It is well written, and it was nice to see the chrecters again, but there really was no addedd value to the story overall in my opinion.
---------------------
I didn't realize we were getting a prequel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★★ ¼
THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND I.V. MARIE!
🩷💎🌸🪦🕯️
This was GREAT. Once this is published, it will be nice to read it before the duology to get more of the back story. I loved it though. Such a fast read.
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
“ᴍʏ ꜱᴏɴ. ᴍʏ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ꜱᴇɴᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ. ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴꜱ... ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ.”
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★★ ¼
THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND I.V. MARIE!
🩷💎🌸🪦🕯️
This was GREAT. Once this is published, it will be nice to read it before the duology to get more of the back story. I loved it though. Such a fast read.
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
“ᴍʏ ꜱᴏɴ. ᴍʏ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ꜱᴇɴᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ. ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴꜱ... ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ.”
Want to Read
March 13, 2026Update #1 (03/13/26): THIS IS HAPPENING!!! To read about Wren & August this October (Spooky Season)?!?! Yup!!! I am unwell. 🫠🫠🫠.
September 26, 2026
Loveddd getting a little more backstory on Wren and August, how they met, etc!! I’d read anything set in this world with this perfect cast of characters tbh 🩶🩶✨✨✨
October 6, 2026
a stunning and enchanting prequel novella to immortal consequences. ☁️🕯️💫✨
even though this was a shorter novella, this still packed an emotional punch. ESPECIALLY if you read immortal consequences AND ruinous ends first.
i always love reading about the complexities of the afterlife at blackwood academy, and this story gives you a deeper look inside the mind of one of my favorite tortured souls, augustine hughes. seeing how august and wren’s story first began felt like finding the missing puzzle piece that i needed all along. 🥲🧩
thank you to underlined for the gifted ARC!
even though this was a shorter novella, this still packed an emotional punch. ESPECIALLY if you read immortal consequences AND ruinous ends first.
i always love reading about the complexities of the afterlife at blackwood academy, and this story gives you a deeper look inside the mind of one of my favorite tortured souls, augustine hughes. seeing how august and wren’s story first began felt like finding the missing puzzle piece that i needed all along. 🥲🧩
thank you to underlined for the gifted ARC!
Want to Read
February 15, 2026this novella is one of my most anticipated book releases in 2026 and I can't wait to read this novella about wren and august! And the cover is beautiful !
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
It was so interesting, heartwarming, and at times funny to read about how they met! It made me realize how much I missed them, their relationship, and their chemistry. But then, right at the end, my heart just ached...
I went back and forth for a while on when to read this novella—after book one or book two—and I finally decided it was better to read it after the first one, though honestly, it probably doesn't matter either way.
I'd love to read novellas about the other characters too; it would be so interesting to learn more about them. Also, I realized I’ve forgotten some details, to the point where I actually want to reread the first book now.
I'm honestly too lazy to rate this novella or overthink what it might be missing. It gave me all the right feels, and I’m finally in the perfect mood to dive into book two.
It was so interesting, heartwarming, and at times funny to read about how they met! It made me realize how much I missed them, their relationship, and their chemistry. But then, right at the end, my heart just ached...
I went back and forth for a while on when to read this novella—after book one or book two—and I finally decided it was better to read it after the first one, though honestly, it probably doesn't matter either way.
I'd love to read novellas about the other characters too; it would be so interesting to learn more about them. Also, I realized I’ve forgotten some details, to the point where I actually want to reread the first book now.
I'm honestly too lazy to rate this novella or overthink what it might be missing. It gave me all the right feels, and I’m finally in the perfect mood to dive into book two.
August 16, 2026
very pleasant, loved having more Wren x August content 🤭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars.
As much as I am a sucker for deeper interactions with characters and a slightly slower plot line, one problem that usually occurs in a novella like so, is that the plot kind of gets lost. I seriously loved learning more about August and Wren, especially because they were my favorite couple in the first book, but it all felt drastically different in terms of vibes and pacing, which kind of threw me off.
This book being quite short was another part that threw me off, especially as a fast reader. It took me like an hour and a half max to finish the entire book, which as much as I appreciate shorter reads, felt a little bit off putting. At the end of the day, this was just my opinion, but it could have been longer.
I loved the interactions with Wren and August because their banter was so fun. Essentially, I loved learning about Wren when she first joined the school, and August's thought process throughout the entire book. Seeing Oliver definitely made me sick though, I love him so much.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for the arc of Twisted Vows!
(Apologies for the shorter review, I dont have much to talk about.)
As much as I am a sucker for deeper interactions with characters and a slightly slower plot line, one problem that usually occurs in a novella like so, is that the plot kind of gets lost. I seriously loved learning more about August and Wren, especially because they were my favorite couple in the first book, but it all felt drastically different in terms of vibes and pacing, which kind of threw me off.
This book being quite short was another part that threw me off, especially as a fast reader. It took me like an hour and a half max to finish the entire book, which as much as I appreciate shorter reads, felt a little bit off putting. At the end of the day, this was just my opinion, but it could have been longer.
I loved the interactions with Wren and August because their banter was so fun. Essentially, I loved learning about Wren when she first joined the school, and August's thought process throughout the entire book. Seeing Oliver definitely made me sick though, I love him so much.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for the arc of Twisted Vows!
(Apologies for the shorter review, I dont have much to talk about.)
October 20, 2026
4.5⭐️ WREN X AUGUST, MY BABIES! 🖤
The way I devoured this novella in two sittings! I loved getting one final goodbye with Wren and August and a glimpse into their past when Wren first came to Blackwood Academy.
“That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift… to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that their same love follows you. Even into death.” 🥹
I love these two so much, and this was such a bittersweet goodbye!
⚠️ You must read Immortal Consequences and Immortal Longings before this novella, as it contains major spoilers for the completed duology!
The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is because I’m a greedy heifer who wants moreeee! 😭✨
Thank you to GetUnderlined & Delacorte Press for the physical galley and finished copy ahead of the October 20th publication date. All thoughts are my own! I love this series 🩷
The way I devoured this novella in two sittings! I loved getting one final goodbye with Wren and August and a glimpse into their past when Wren first came to Blackwood Academy.
“That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift… to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that their same love follows you. Even into death.” 🥹
I love these two so much, and this was such a bittersweet goodbye!
⚠️ You must read Immortal Consequences and Immortal Longings before this novella, as it contains major spoilers for the completed duology!
The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is because I’m a greedy heifer who wants moreeee! 😭✨
Thank you to GetUnderlined & Delacorte Press for the physical galley and finished copy ahead of the October 20th publication date. All thoughts are my own! I love this series 🩷
May 21, 2026
This book was definitely needed to understand why things are the way they are in Immortal Consequences. I don’t feel like this prequel can be read before Immortal Consequences. I think it would be hard to start the series there. It would have been better to introduce all the characters a bit more for this book to be read first. It does give you an idea of the disdain between the main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this prequel. I highly recommend! I’m now going to listen to Immortal Consequences again!
Thank you to NetGalley, I. V. Marie, and Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, I. V. Marie, and Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2026
Twisted Vows by I. V. Marie
Release date:October 6th
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:15+
Spice:none
Thank you Netgalley for this arc! Was this necessary? No. But was it fun? Yes of course it was. August and Wren are were my favorite from the duology, so I loved getting to learn more about how their journey started. They’ve always had such amazing chemistry, it’s just too good. I’ll miss Blackwood Academy and these characters very much. If you loved the first two definitely check this out!
Release date:October 6th
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:15+
Spice:none
Thank you Netgalley for this arc! Was this necessary? No. But was it fun? Yes of course it was. August and Wren are were my favorite from the duology, so I loved getting to learn more about how their journey started. They’ve always had such amazing chemistry, it’s just too good. I’ll miss Blackwood Academy and these characters very much. If you loved the first two definitely check this out!
October 23, 2026
I’m not going to do a full review here other than to say it was such a satisfying “ending”. You know something is good when the last book is actually a prequel.
The audio narration was also superb as I had both the finished copy given to me by Get Underlined and the audio from PRH audio influencer program
The audio narration was also superb as I had both the finished copy given to me by Get Underlined and the audio from PRH audio influencer program
October 23, 2026
It was fun. I’m really glad we got more of August and Wren and got to see how they met and how they were drawn to each other from the very beginning.
But other than that… not much else to say. 💀 I knew nothing was going to happen between them so I wasn’t really surprised by anything.
I was looking forward to this and I’m sure some people will love it but for me, it felt more like a little bonus scene than anything else. Something was fun, something was a bit boring.
Honestly, I’d happily read a whole book just about August and Wren living their lives in the normal world. GIVE ME THAT.
But other than that… not much else to say. 💀 I knew nothing was going to happen between them so I wasn’t really surprised by anything.
I was looking forward to this and I’m sure some people will love it but for me, it felt more like a little bonus scene than anything else. Something was fun, something was a bit boring.
Honestly, I’d happily read a whole book just about August and Wren living their lives in the normal world. GIVE ME THAT.
April 2, 2026
First off, I am so grateful to have been chosen for another ARC in this series. It has become one of my favorites!!
This story was exactly what I needed! I needed more of Wren and August because I was not ready to let them go after ruinous ends. The banter and relationship between these characters is one of my favorites and you cannot help but rooting for them and just waiting for them to be together. This book was a light read and it was interesting to learn more about both Wren’s and August’s backstories leading up to Immortal Consequences. The brief mentioning of the main characters in Immortal Consequences and Ruinous Ends were perfect Easter eggs. I have such a love for all these characters it can’t be the end of stories in their world.
Thank you I. V. Marie for giving me another chance to love your characters. Fingers crossed for another book where we somehow get more of August and Wren..and also Oliver and Emilio..
This story was exactly what I needed! I needed more of Wren and August because I was not ready to let them go after ruinous ends. The banter and relationship between these characters is one of my favorites and you cannot help but rooting for them and just waiting for them to be together. This book was a light read and it was interesting to learn more about both Wren’s and August’s backstories leading up to Immortal Consequences. The brief mentioning of the main characters in Immortal Consequences and Ruinous Ends were perfect Easter eggs. I have such a love for all these characters it can’t be the end of stories in their world.
Thank you I. V. Marie for giving me another chance to love your characters. Fingers crossed for another book where we somehow get more of August and Wren..and also Oliver and Emilio..
April 5, 2026
I’m incredibly thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Twisted Vows. This book was such a fantastic story, and I loved how it deepened Wren and August’s relationship, making me want to immediately reread Immortal Consequences. I.V. Marie is going to be an always buy author for me. I genuinely hope there’s more to come beyond these three books in the Blackwood Academy series.
October 28, 2026
While this novella felt a tid bit random I still adored it. After Ruinous Ends I needed more of AugustWren and this book delivered 😭
I loved being back in the world (even though I read the last book just a few weeks prior) and I missed seeing the characters, seeing snippets of the other unfortunate acquaintances (minus Emilio) made me really happy.
Something I have to appreciate is how some of the things I didn’t like in the duology got better explained in this, like how the language works and also the fact that we saw more of their past, especially Wren’s. That was what I was missing on the og books! I do ask myself now though how both August and Olivier never managed to get into the Decennial earlier 🤷♀️ (I’m very inquisitive what can I say lmao).
And of course my favourite couple. I loved witnessing their first meeting, how they felt the pull from the start. Knowing how the series ends, a lot of their scenes had me teary eyed. To be honest, at first I was a bit confused how they turned into rivals/kinda enemies? in the further books, but after that ending omggg
One of my fav scenes was honestly when Wren pushed August off the roof, doing something he’d admitted no one had managed to do before.
Also, on a final note to this great series, it really makes me appreciate life a lot. It made me notice how grateful I am for everything in my life and that if I’d die now, I’d die too young, but loved and content <3
Quotes⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
"August." The way she spoke his name sent a blossoming ache of longing through his body, and he had to step away, to physically distance himself, before he did anything he might regret later.
"It's the same with grief. Every once in a while, you're unwillingly reminded of it. A deep, resounding ache. A scar that will never fully go away. But why would we want it to? That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift...to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that that same love follows you. Even into death."
"He'd happily let Wren break his bones, tear him apart, loathe him, if it meant keeping her safe.
Augustine Hughes would protect Wren Loughty for the rest of their eternity.
Even if that meant protecting her from himself."
I loved being back in the world (even though I read the last book just a few weeks prior) and I missed seeing the characters, seeing snippets of the other unfortunate acquaintances (minus Emilio) made me really happy.
Something I have to appreciate is how some of the things I didn’t like in the duology got better explained in this, like how the language works and also the fact that we saw more of their past, especially Wren’s. That was what I was missing on the og books! I do ask myself now though how both August and Olivier never managed to get into the Decennial earlier 🤷♀️ (I’m very inquisitive what can I say lmao).
And of course my favourite couple. I loved witnessing their first meeting, how they felt the pull from the start. Knowing how the series ends, a lot of their scenes had me teary eyed. To be honest, at first I was a bit confused how they turned into rivals/kinda enemies? in the further books, but after that ending omggg
One of my fav scenes was honestly when Wren pushed August off the roof, doing something he’d admitted no one had managed to do before.
Also, on a final note to this great series, it really makes me appreciate life a lot. It made me notice how grateful I am for everything in my life and that if I’d die now, I’d die too young, but loved and content <3
Quotes⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
"August." The way she spoke his name sent a blossoming ache of longing through his body, and he had to step away, to physically distance himself, before he did anything he might regret later.
"It's the same with grief. Every once in a while, you're unwillingly reminded of it. A deep, resounding ache. A scar that will never fully go away. But why would we want it to? That pain is a reminder of the love you once shared. What a gift...to love somebody so much that their absence haunts you eternally. To love so deeply that that same love follows you. Even into death."
"He'd happily let Wren break his bones, tear him apart, loathe him, if it meant keeping her safe.
Augustine Hughes would protect Wren Loughty for the rest of their eternity.
Even if that meant protecting her from himself."
June 15, 2026
First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, and I. V. Marie for the opportunity to read and review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This novella hurt me🥺 but in a good way…i think. Twisted Vows shows Wren Loughty’s beginning at Blackwood Academy, and she’s not the ambitious and studious character that she is in Immortal Consequences. instead, Wren is angry but also numb when she first arrives to the magical school in the afterlife (rightfully so), so she hides herself in her room. however, there will be consequences if she doesn’t start attending classes, so she finally manages to go to them, with the help of a new friend
but of course everything changes when she meets Augustine Hughes for the very first time… the Demon of Blackwood himself. and then the two are paired up for a magical treasure hunting assignment, and Wren learns that August might not be who everyone makes him out to be. or maybe, just maybe, he is.
I. V. Marie once again captivated me from the start with these characters and the rich settings, and i’m so glad to have read first Immortal Consequences and an eARC of Ruinous Ends, and now i’ve had the wonderful opportunity to read and review this novella early too. i highly recommend this world to everyone, and i hope you love these characters just as much as i do💕
This novella hurt me🥺 but in a good way…i think. Twisted Vows shows Wren Loughty’s beginning at Blackwood Academy, and she’s not the ambitious and studious character that she is in Immortal Consequences. instead, Wren is angry but also numb when she first arrives to the magical school in the afterlife (rightfully so), so she hides herself in her room. however, there will be consequences if she doesn’t start attending classes, so she finally manages to go to them, with the help of a new friend
but of course everything changes when she meets Augustine Hughes for the very first time… the Demon of Blackwood himself. and then the two are paired up for a magical treasure hunting assignment, and Wren learns that August might not be who everyone makes him out to be. or maybe, just maybe, he is.
I. V. Marie once again captivated me from the start with these characters and the rich settings, and i’m so glad to have read first Immortal Consequences and an eARC of Ruinous Ends, and now i’ve had the wonderful opportunity to read and review this novella early too. i highly recommend this world to everyone, and i hope you love these characters just as much as i do💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks so much to Random House Children’s for the review copy. All opinions are voluntarily shared and honest.
Ok, so I chaos read this. I have not read the duology yet. I absolutely will! But now I see lots of people saying you must read the duology before the prequel, which… makes no sense to my extremely linear brain because a prequel comes FIRST, thank you very much.
Anyway, I don’t know if I would have gotten more from this if I had already read Immortal Consequences & Ruinous Ends but I CAN tell you that this novella was an absolute delight. Marie does so much work creating a fully fleshed world with complex characters and an intricate magic system that’s accessible to new readers within the shortened novella format. Loved Wren & August & Oliver. Will 100% be reading the whole series.
The ending is NOT an end. It sets up the reader for what’s coming next. Loved it.
Ok, so I chaos read this. I have not read the duology yet. I absolutely will! But now I see lots of people saying you must read the duology before the prequel, which… makes no sense to my extremely linear brain because a prequel comes FIRST, thank you very much.
Anyway, I don’t know if I would have gotten more from this if I had already read Immortal Consequences & Ruinous Ends but I CAN tell you that this novella was an absolute delight. Marie does so much work creating a fully fleshed world with complex characters and an intricate magic system that’s accessible to new readers within the shortened novella format. Loved Wren & August & Oliver. Will 100% be reading the whole series.
The ending is NOT an end. It sets up the reader for what’s coming next. Loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you PRH audio for the alc + Penguin teen for the paperback arc 🫶
‼️Warning‼️: Although this is a prequel novella, I would strongly recommend reading it AFTER the main duology (Immortal Consequences + Ruinous Ends) because there are pretty major spoilers for the duology.
💭This novella is a quick read and it takes place 18 years before the main story and traces the origins of Wren and August’s rivalry and eventual relationship. I wouldn’t say it’s critical to read this, but I did enjoy learning a bit more about their backstory and it was interesting being in August’s POV knowing what we know now after reading the main duology (can’t elaborate without spoilers).
🎧: This novella is narrated by Vas Eli, Ethan Reid, and Kristyna Zaharek in a dual style narration format. Ethan and Kristyna are narrators you’ll recognize from the main duology. I enjoyed the narration for the main duology and this was no different!
‼️Warning‼️: Although this is a prequel novella, I would strongly recommend reading it AFTER the main duology (Immortal Consequences + Ruinous Ends) because there are pretty major spoilers for the duology.
💭This novella is a quick read and it takes place 18 years before the main story and traces the origins of Wren and August’s rivalry and eventual relationship. I wouldn’t say it’s critical to read this, but I did enjoy learning a bit more about their backstory and it was interesting being in August’s POV knowing what we know now after reading the main duology (can’t elaborate without spoilers).
🎧: This novella is narrated by Vas Eli, Ethan Reid, and Kristyna Zaharek in a dual style narration format. Ethan and Kristyna are narrators you’ll recognize from the main duology. I enjoyed the narration for the main duology and this was no different!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Wren Loughty is dropped outside the gates of Blackwood Academy, a magical school on the fringes of the afterlife, she learns she’s dead, and her first assignment pairs her with the notorious “Demon of Blackwood.”
I love the duology, but this felt like a long prologue. I still enjoyed seeing how Wren and August met and Wren’s journey to Blackwood, and it’s added backstory for fans.
I also listened to the audiobook. Kristina Zaharel gives Wren her snarky, rebellious streak, Ethan Reid brings August’s brooding with a deep baritone that oozes danger, and Vas Eli’s omniscient narration sets the atmospheric tone.
I’m rating this 3.5 stars.
Thank you, Penguin Random House Audio, Delacorte, and NetGalley, for my advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
I love the duology, but this felt like a long prologue. I still enjoyed seeing how Wren and August met and Wren’s journey to Blackwood, and it’s added backstory for fans.
I also listened to the audiobook. Kristina Zaharel gives Wren her snarky, rebellious streak, Ethan Reid brings August’s brooding with a deep baritone that oozes danger, and Vas Eli’s omniscient narration sets the atmospheric tone.
I’m rating this 3.5 stars.
Thank you, Penguin Random House Audio, Delacorte, and NetGalley, for my advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
October 30, 2026
It always seemed clear to me that Loughty and August were the author's favourite characters/ship in the first book. They had the strongest plot, banter, development, everything honestly. In some ways I think the series would've benefited from just focusing in on these two, since I think the wide cast overall pulled the story in too many directions and made it a bit weaker.
After bouncing off the final book in the duology, I discovered that this novella was being released and I was still interested in reading more of this couple, even if it was just a prequel. It's not revelationary, but I quite liked it all the same.
After bouncing off the final book in the duology, I discovered that this novella was being released and I was still interested in reading more of this couple, even if it was just a prequel. It's not revelationary, but I quite liked it all the same.
October 18, 2026
Of course this gets 5 stars from me! The Souls of Blackwood Academy is one of my favorite duologies and I’ll read whatever I.V. Marie writes about August & Wren. I loved getting to learn more about the beginning of their story, read their banter and understand why their relationship began the way it did.
Thank you again Delacorte Press & NetGalley for this ARC!
Thank you again Delacorte Press & NetGalley for this ARC!
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