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Shadow Born
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 28, 2026
Shadow Born pulled me straight back into the world of Shadowflame Academy, and I enjoyed how much darker and more intense everything felt this time around.
Quinn is not just discovering her power anymore, she is trying to understand what it means, what it could cost her, and who she can actually trust. The missing students, the darker magic, and the unsettling dreams all gave the story this constant sense that something bigger was coming, which made it really easy to keep reading.
I also really liked the academy setting because it has that addictive mix of magic, danger, friendships, secrets, and romantic tension that gives Zodiac Academy vibes but YA edition.
Overall, Shadow Born is perfect for readers who love dark magical academies, complicated powers, tension, mystery, and characters who are figuring out who they are.
I recieved Shadow Born as an advanced reader copy by Elishevah, I was excited to read and review this❤️
Quinn is not just discovering her power anymore, she is trying to understand what it means, what it could cost her, and who she can actually trust. The missing students, the darker magic, and the unsettling dreams all gave the story this constant sense that something bigger was coming, which made it really easy to keep reading.
I also really liked the academy setting because it has that addictive mix of magic, danger, friendships, secrets, and romantic tension that gives Zodiac Academy vibes but YA edition.
Overall, Shadow Born is perfect for readers who love dark magical academies, complicated powers, tension, mystery, and characters who are figuring out who they are.
I recieved Shadow Born as an advanced reader copy by Elishevah, I was excited to read and review this❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Shadow Born was honestly such a strong sequel, and I feel like this book took everything I enjoyed in the first one and made it darker, more emotional, and even more addictive.
From the very beginning, the story throws you right back into the chaos, tension, and mystery surrounding Quinn, and I was immediately invested again. The atmosphere throughout the book felt so immersive, like something could go horribly wrong at any moment.
One thing I genuinely loved was Quinn’s character growth in this book. She feels more conflicted, emotionally exhausted, and powerful all at once, which made her feel really real to me. Watching her struggle with the truth about herself, her abilities, and the people around her kept me completely hooked because every new reveal raised even more questions.
The mystery and fantasy elements were so well done here. The visions, secrets, hidden motives, and slow uncovering of the bigger picture kept me invested the entire time. Every time I thought I finally understood what was happening, the story would reveal something new and completely change everything again.
I also really appreciated the character dynamics in this one because the emotional tension felt even stronger. The trust issues, shifting relationships, and love triangle drama added so much depth to the story without overshadowing the main plot. Nothing felt unnecessary, and every interaction actually pushed the story forward.
And the ending… yeah, I’m still thinking about it because that final reveal genuinely shocked me. I need the next book immediately because there’s no way I can move on after that.
The pacing slowed slightly for me in a few middle chapters, but overall this sequel delivered exactly what I wanted: darker stakes, stronger emotions, bigger twists, and even more mystery.
If you love
✨ dark fantasy vibes
✨ magical academy settings
✨ emotional character arcs
✨ hidden powers & dangerous secrets
✨ morally grey vibes
✨ mysteries that keep you questioning everything
✨ tension-filled character dynamics
✨ love triangle drama
✨ and twists that leave you staring at the page for a minute
then this series is definitely worth picking up.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.❤️
From the very beginning, the story throws you right back into the chaos, tension, and mystery surrounding Quinn, and I was immediately invested again. The atmosphere throughout the book felt so immersive, like something could go horribly wrong at any moment.
One thing I genuinely loved was Quinn’s character growth in this book. She feels more conflicted, emotionally exhausted, and powerful all at once, which made her feel really real to me. Watching her struggle with the truth about herself, her abilities, and the people around her kept me completely hooked because every new reveal raised even more questions.
The mystery and fantasy elements were so well done here. The visions, secrets, hidden motives, and slow uncovering of the bigger picture kept me invested the entire time. Every time I thought I finally understood what was happening, the story would reveal something new and completely change everything again.
I also really appreciated the character dynamics in this one because the emotional tension felt even stronger. The trust issues, shifting relationships, and love triangle drama added so much depth to the story without overshadowing the main plot. Nothing felt unnecessary, and every interaction actually pushed the story forward.
And the ending… yeah, I’m still thinking about it because that final reveal genuinely shocked me. I need the next book immediately because there’s no way I can move on after that.
The pacing slowed slightly for me in a few middle chapters, but overall this sequel delivered exactly what I wanted: darker stakes, stronger emotions, bigger twists, and even more mystery.
If you love
✨ dark fantasy vibes
✨ magical academy settings
✨ emotional character arcs
✨ hidden powers & dangerous secrets
✨ morally grey vibes
✨ mysteries that keep you questioning everything
✨ tension-filled character dynamics
✨ love triangle drama
✨ and twists that leave you staring at the page for a minute
then this series is definitely worth picking up.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.❤️
May 30, 2026
I went into Shadow Born expecting a romantasy with familiar academy elements, but what I found was a story that felt much darker, more layered, and far more emotionally gripping than I anticipated.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is the atmosphere. Monrad creates a world that constantly feels like it’s hiding something just beneath the surface. The sense of unease never really leaves the page, whether it’s the disappearing students, the haunting dreams, or the growing feeling that every answer uncovers an even bigger mystery. Loveeeddddddd it! ✨✨✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 1/2
Tropes: Magic academy, Hidden powers, Slow-burn romance, Dark secrets and conspiracies, Found family
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
One of the strongest aspects of this book is the atmosphere. Monrad creates a world that constantly feels like it’s hiding something just beneath the surface. The sense of unease never really leaves the page, whether it’s the disappearing students, the haunting dreams, or the growing feeling that every answer uncovers an even bigger mystery. Loveeeddddddd it! ✨✨✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 1/2
Tropes: Magic academy, Hidden powers, Slow-burn romance, Dark secrets and conspiracies, Found family
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
May 30, 2026
Book 2 of Shadowflame Academy. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.
'As the body count rises, her nightmares spark a dark power she doesn’t want. Driven by the need to find out what happened to Morrigan and the Isle of Avallon, Quinn is determined to find the killer and protect her friends.
Because somehow, she's at the centre of it all.'
The characters continue to grow and develop. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'As the body count rises, her nightmares spark a dark power she doesn’t want. Driven by the need to find out what happened to Morrigan and the Isle of Avallon, Quinn is determined to find the killer and protect her friends.
Because somehow, she's at the centre of it all.'
The characters continue to grow and develop. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2026
It was so hard to put this book down. It was as enthralling as the first book in this trilogy. Quinn has to pick between two different guys, which will she choose? More kids go missing and no one knows who is doing it? What I love about this series is that right when you think you have things figured out there are more twists that you did not expect. I highly recommend this book to all YA enthusiasts.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 1, 2026
This is Book 2 of the ShadowFlame Academy series and I was hooked back into the characters lives right from the start and had a hard time putting the book down. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Magic, Camelot, love triangle, YA romance. I liked it, it was an exciting story to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Magic, Camelot, love triangle, YA romance. I liked it, it was an exciting story to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2026
This book is the second book in the series and it’s just as good as the first book. Now that the characters are known, it was so easy to revisit this world and immerse myself back into the drama. I found myself fascinated by the author’s imagination and I enjoyed reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Book 2 jumps right into the chaos and I’m here for it. Quinn’s finally got control of her flame power, but everything else is falling apart — disappearing students, nightmares of a dead goddess, and some unknown evil lurking at the academy. The stakes feel real and the mystery kept me turning pages.
I also love the love triangle setup. Maxon is the charming, thoughtful distraction with mini-fridge energy, and Layken is the grumpy, shirtless, “I’ll keep you at a distance but somehow you’re always in my tower” type. Both have chemistry with Quinn and the tension works.
If you’re into paranormal academy vibes, slow-burn romance, and a heroine uncovering dark secrets about herself and the Isle of Avallon, this one’s for you. Great to see Aussie indie authors bringing this energy to the genre.
I also love the love triangle setup. Maxon is the charming, thoughtful distraction with mini-fridge energy, and Layken is the grumpy, shirtless, “I’ll keep you at a distance but somehow you’re always in my tower” type. Both have chemistry with Quinn and the tension works.
If you’re into paranormal academy vibes, slow-burn romance, and a heroine uncovering dark secrets about herself and the Isle of Avallon, this one’s for you. Great to see Aussie indie authors bringing this energy to the genre.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews