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The Demon Accords #8
College Arcane
Book 8 of the Demon Accords. College. A time of transition from youth to young adulthood. New lessons, new responsibilities, new distractions. A period of life treasured by most. Unless you happen to attend an institute of higher learning where the bullies are werewolves, the teachers are sadists, and the pretty girls are all deadly. A school like that demands a special kind of student, someone with the skills and power to survive. Someone like Declan O'Carroll.
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 8, 2015
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468 people want to read
About the author
John Conroe
35 books1,702 followersI'm the Urban Fantasy author of the Demon Accords series. For more information, check out my website or follow me on Facebook at the Demon Accords page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
June 1, 2018
College Arcane
By: John Conroe
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
I can't say enough about this series! This book goes into the college for supernaturals. Declan and his friends, and enemies, really expand their skills and train hard. Other issues just keep popping up that need putting down! Always an action packed read! Wasn't sure how I was going to like Declan but now, wow!
The narrator is terrific and gives the series a big boost! I hope this series goes forever!
By: John Conroe
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
I can't say enough about this series! This book goes into the college for supernaturals. Declan and his friends, and enemies, really expand their skills and train hard. Other issues just keep popping up that need putting down! Always an action packed read! Wasn't sure how I was going to like Declan but now, wow!
The narrator is terrific and gives the series a big boost! I hope this series goes forever!
April 12, 2015
Good book, though the author is committing the same mistake I've seen him making in his other books. Which is a certain unequallity between female and male characters.
When Tanya was treating Chris unequally in their relationship (which happens in most books), hiding things from him, manipulating him, treating him in a condescending way (This happens mostly in Brutal Asset and Duel Nature, and is explained as a political maneuver, which I call bullshit on), or not even thinking about him when she did something that affected him (literally abandoning the guy in Demon Driven because her Elder ordered her to), and Chris got upset (or not, since he sometimes acted like a wuss, letting her walk all over him, not even seeing what she was doing as wrong) it was treated as Chris not being understanding enough or some other bullshit reason, while when Chris committed some kind of mistake he was crucified for it. In recent books this has been getting better, with Chris calling her on her bullshit more, instead of feeling some kind of misplaced guilt, and with Tanya getting a little better in being honest, although she still treats Chris with a little unequallity and it is seen as normal in the books. This characteristic of his main female characters is what is making me like the secondary romantic interests, like Stacia and Ryanne, more than the main ones.
The same thing more or less happens in this book. When Caeco confronts Declan with issues she's having with Ryanne liking him and he explains he already rejected her, she remains upset, and when Declan confronts her with the fact she has a crush on their teacher (the same teacher that allowed him to be almost beaten to death), she treats it as unreasonable, and his issue is simply dismissed later in the book, while she later decides that they should take a break because of her issue. This unequallity in these books, with a woman's opinion being seen as more important than a man's (which is not entirely exclusive to the main couple, with other female characters being just as unreasonable), instead of the two being equal, has been bothering me a lot. There is almost some kind of condescending prejudice against men. Strangely enough, the secondary romantic interests are the ones that have a more equal relationship with the main male characters. It's almost like the author wants me to dislike his main female characters and like his secondary ones more. This problem doesn't get better with his male characters sometimes letting the females ones walk all over them, although, as I said, these issues haven been getting better in recent books.
When Tanya was treating Chris unequally in their relationship (which happens in most books), hiding things from him, manipulating him, treating him in a condescending way (This happens mostly in Brutal Asset and Duel Nature, and is explained as a political maneuver, which I call bullshit on), or not even thinking about him when she did something that affected him (literally abandoning the guy in Demon Driven because her Elder ordered her to), and Chris got upset (or not, since he sometimes acted like a wuss, letting her walk all over him, not even seeing what she was doing as wrong) it was treated as Chris not being understanding enough or some other bullshit reason, while when Chris committed some kind of mistake he was crucified for it. In recent books this has been getting better, with Chris calling her on her bullshit more, instead of feeling some kind of misplaced guilt, and with Tanya getting a little better in being honest, although she still treats Chris with a little unequallity and it is seen as normal in the books. This characteristic of his main female characters is what is making me like the secondary romantic interests, like Stacia and Ryanne, more than the main ones.
The same thing more or less happens in this book. When Caeco confronts Declan with issues she's having with Ryanne liking him and he explains he already rejected her, she remains upset, and when Declan confronts her with the fact she has a crush on their teacher (the same teacher that allowed him to be almost beaten to death), she treats it as unreasonable, and his issue is simply dismissed later in the book, while she later decides that they should take a break because of her issue. This unequallity in these books, with a woman's opinion being seen as more important than a man's (which is not entirely exclusive to the main couple, with other female characters being just as unreasonable), instead of the two being equal, has been bothering me a lot. There is almost some kind of condescending prejudice against men. Strangely enough, the secondary romantic interests are the ones that have a more equal relationship with the main male characters. It's almost like the author wants me to dislike his main female characters and like his secondary ones more. This problem doesn't get better with his male characters sometimes letting the females ones walk all over them, although, as I said, these issues haven been getting better in recent books.
February 9, 2022
Rating 5.0 stars (series)
Re-read for the 4th time this year. This is one of my favorite books in the series. I like the college experience. I like the social ineptitude, the trying to do the right thing. I think my favorite thing those is those "holy shit!" moments. Nobody believes that Declan came be very powerful since he is male which. Everytime he does something nobody expects they have that "holy shit" moment. They just can't believe it. It is similar to Chris except that with Declan, everyone thinks they know what they are getting. They have met male witches before. So everytime he blows up their misconceptions it is funny. Then they have to come to terms with his not only being more powerful than they thought, but now he is more powerful than them. He does things nobody has ever seen before, and he does it really easy. I like the Wytch Wars games as well. Different tactics and spells.
Re-read May 2019. This is the third time I have read this book this year. I listened to this story about a month ago (see 2nd review below) and then after that I started listening to another series that I had in the past. When I was done with that I decided to start this series from the beginning again. Then came the dilemma. Should I skip this book since I had read it recently, or should I listen to it again because I am going through the whole series this time. Well, as you can guess, I decided to listen again so that there was no break in the series. First time ever I have read the same book this many times in such a short period of time, and I have to say that I don't have any regrets. I still laughed at how clueless Declan is at times, and I really feel for him with everything he has gone through. On to the next book. Previous reviews below:
4/11/19 - Re-listened to audiobook again - initial review below. I have about 25 audiobooks waiting in my library including Holy Sister that just came out that I am excited about, but I just had to listen to this book again first. I kept hearing part of the story in my head. The narrator did an awesome job, especially with the Irish brogue accent. I was a little shocked when I realized that I first read this book only 4 months ago. Then I was shocked again when I noticed that despite it only being 4 months, I have read/listened to over 100 books since I last head this story. I hope you all have enjoyed this edition of Deep Thoughts by Steven Naylor. Now please enjoy my initial review below.
This book is about Declan and his friends again with Chris and his crew only showing up sporadically. Declan is now in a new kind of college hosted by Nathan Stewart's government program and the Demidova cooperation. Declan is surrounded by his girlfriend Caeco and a bunch of other teenage supers that have been introduced in the previous books (Remember the brother and sister werewolves that were visiting North Carolina when Chris was shot? How about the two hunters in that same story? The psychic that helped out Chris in the last book by taking his picture? The twin witches who look like Norwegian models? And of course, Ryanne the hot witch from Ireland). There were also some new characters including werewolves, werebears and other psychics.
There are problems with the school from the beginning which in looking back make quite a bit of sense. Most supernaturals stick to themselves. They may know and work with each other at times but for the most part they all stick with their kind. Gina runs the school but she is not a teacher. The teachers are other types of supernaturals including a werewolf and a witch. The problem is the same for them. They each have biased opinions about other supernatural creatures. The werewolf teacher runs the physical training program and is completely biased towards other weres, allowing them to do pretty much anything. The Witch teacher is biased towards woman and completely dismisses Declan and what he can do. She even goes as far as calling him a whore in class. These biases absolutely lead to problems. Of course, showing these biases was absolutely needed in order to allow everyone to move forward.
There were a couple of more things that I thought were a little strange
Re-read for the 4th time this year. This is one of my favorite books in the series. I like the college experience. I like the social ineptitude, the trying to do the right thing. I think my favorite thing those is those "holy shit!" moments. Nobody believes that Declan came be very powerful since he is male which. Everytime he does something nobody expects they have that "holy shit" moment. They just can't believe it. It is similar to Chris except that with Declan, everyone thinks they know what they are getting. They have met male witches before. So everytime he blows up their misconceptions it is funny. Then they have to come to terms with his not only being more powerful than they thought, but now he is more powerful than them. He does things nobody has ever seen before, and he does it really easy. I like the Wytch Wars games as well. Different tactics and spells.
Re-read May 2019. This is the third time I have read this book this year. I listened to this story about a month ago (see 2nd review below) and then after that I started listening to another series that I had in the past. When I was done with that I decided to start this series from the beginning again. Then came the dilemma. Should I skip this book since I had read it recently, or should I listen to it again because I am going through the whole series this time. Well, as you can guess, I decided to listen again so that there was no break in the series. First time ever I have read the same book this many times in such a short period of time, and I have to say that I don't have any regrets. I still laughed at how clueless Declan is at times, and I really feel for him with everything he has gone through. On to the next book. Previous reviews below:
4/11/19 - Re-listened to audiobook again - initial review below. I have about 25 audiobooks waiting in my library including Holy Sister that just came out that I am excited about, but I just had to listen to this book again first. I kept hearing part of the story in my head. The narrator did an awesome job, especially with the Irish brogue accent. I was a little shocked when I realized that I first read this book only 4 months ago. Then I was shocked again when I noticed that despite it only being 4 months, I have read/listened to over 100 books since I last head this story. I hope you all have enjoyed this edition of Deep Thoughts by Steven Naylor. Now please enjoy my initial review below.
This book is about Declan and his friends again with Chris and his crew only showing up sporadically. Declan is now in a new kind of college hosted by Nathan Stewart's government program and the Demidova cooperation. Declan is surrounded by his girlfriend Caeco and a bunch of other teenage supers that have been introduced in the previous books (Remember the brother and sister werewolves that were visiting North Carolina when Chris was shot? How about the two hunters in that same story? The psychic that helped out Chris in the last book by taking his picture? The twin witches who look like Norwegian models? And of course, Ryanne the hot witch from Ireland). There were also some new characters including werewolves, werebears and other psychics.
There are problems with the school from the beginning which in looking back make quite a bit of sense. Most supernaturals stick to themselves. They may know and work with each other at times but for the most part they all stick with their kind. Gina runs the school but she is not a teacher. The teachers are other types of supernaturals including a werewolf and a witch. The problem is the same for them. They each have biased opinions about other supernatural creatures. The werewolf teacher runs the physical training program and is completely biased towards other weres, allowing them to do pretty much anything. The Witch teacher is biased towards woman and completely dismisses Declan and what he can do. She even goes as far as calling him a whore in class. These biases absolutely lead to problems. Of course, showing these biases was absolutely needed in order to allow everyone to move forward.
There were a couple of more things that I thought were a little strange
May 30, 2023
This series is fast paced pulp UF. The world-building is a bit simplistic and the plot and story are full of tropes and flaws but none of them really hurt the series all that much as the characters are (usually) a likeable bunch who are easy enough to root for and the story itself is engaging and fun. It all has the feel of a fun action B-movie and tends to hold my attention from start to finish.
It has been nearly three years since I read the 8th Demon Accords book but I still found it pretty easy to get back into this world. I think it helps that it is a fairly simple one with familiar supernatural creatures.
This instalment was another that focused on Declan as the lead. In this one he and Caeco were sent to a magic school that Chris and Tanya had set up in the wake of the supernatural being outed to the general public. The story was OK. The magic school stuff was fun and we did get to learn more about Declan’s powers as well as meet some new characters. There was also an appearance from Ashley from the other spin off book!
The switch from Chris to Declan is a smooth one as they are pretty much just the exact same character with slightly different powers. The only real difference is the fact that Declan is a lot younger.
If there was a flaw specific to this instalment of the series worth mentioning it was the Declan/Caeco relationship. It took a nose dive in this one and we had to suffer from the usual half hearted Conroe harem building. This had a developing love triangle with Rhion which I was not a fan of at all.
This series in general has a ton of flaws but despite them it remains weirdly readable and enjoyable. If you have reached the eighth book then chances are you are already aware of the negatives. The big flaws in these books as far as I’m concerned are the presentation of female characters and the general conservative right wing views of John Conroe which slip into the story. The other main flaw is that this series is straight up male wish-fulfilment power fantasy. I do not think that having an overpowered lead character is necessarily a negative for a series as if done well it can still be a lot of fun but it does tend to be something that becomes more and more of a problem for a series the deeper one gets into it as eventually the lead gets too powerful on all levels and often times tends towards abusing that power. In that regard it was actually a benefit for this particular instalment to jump from Chris to Declan as the lead as the younger Declan, while plenty powerful, is not quite as far along in his overpowered journey as Chris is. That helped keep the stakes of the story on a more human and interesting level.
This is not my favourite UF series but despite its obvious flaws it is still pretty readable. I’ll definitely keep going with this series.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: James Patrick Cronin is a decent enough narrator when doing the American accents but is pretty horrific when it comes to dealing with the accents from other regions. The Irish accents used in this were absolutely horrific on the ears. Sure the dialogue was bad enough from Conroe but I think Cronin’s awful accents made it all the more cringe inducing!
It has been nearly three years since I read the 8th Demon Accords book but I still found it pretty easy to get back into this world. I think it helps that it is a fairly simple one with familiar supernatural creatures.
This instalment was another that focused on Declan as the lead. In this one he and Caeco were sent to a magic school that Chris and Tanya had set up in the wake of the supernatural being outed to the general public. The story was OK. The magic school stuff was fun and we did get to learn more about Declan’s powers as well as meet some new characters. There was also an appearance from Ashley from the other spin off book!
The switch from Chris to Declan is a smooth one as they are pretty much just the exact same character with slightly different powers. The only real difference is the fact that Declan is a lot younger.
If there was a flaw specific to this instalment of the series worth mentioning it was the Declan/Caeco relationship. It took a nose dive in this one and we had to suffer from the usual half hearted Conroe harem building. This had a developing love triangle with Rhion which I was not a fan of at all.
This series in general has a ton of flaws but despite them it remains weirdly readable and enjoyable. If you have reached the eighth book then chances are you are already aware of the negatives. The big flaws in these books as far as I’m concerned are the presentation of female characters and the general conservative right wing views of John Conroe which slip into the story. The other main flaw is that this series is straight up male wish-fulfilment power fantasy. I do not think that having an overpowered lead character is necessarily a negative for a series as if done well it can still be a lot of fun but it does tend to be something that becomes more and more of a problem for a series the deeper one gets into it as eventually the lead gets too powerful on all levels and often times tends towards abusing that power. In that regard it was actually a benefit for this particular instalment to jump from Chris to Declan as the lead as the younger Declan, while plenty powerful, is not quite as far along in his overpowered journey as Chris is. That helped keep the stakes of the story on a more human and interesting level.
This is not my favourite UF series but despite its obvious flaws it is still pretty readable. I’ll definitely keep going with this series.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: James Patrick Cronin is a decent enough narrator when doing the American accents but is pretty horrific when it comes to dealing with the accents from other regions. The Irish accents used in this were absolutely horrific on the ears. Sure the dialogue was bad enough from Conroe but I think Cronin’s awful accents made it all the more cringe inducing!
May 26, 2025
"College Arcane," the 8th book in John Conroe’s Demon Accords series, published in 2015 and narrated by James Patrick Cronin, shifts the spotlight back to Declan O’Carroll, the young warlock introduced in Executable. The audiobook blends urban fantasy with a coming-of-age narrative, set against the backdrop of a unique supernatural college. Cronin’s narration brings vibrancy to this fresh setting, and a story with a little slower pace and ensemble focus.
The story follows Declan as he enrolls at the College Arcane, a secret institution in Burlington, Vermont, designed to train young supernaturals - witches, werewolves, and vampires - in harnessing their powers. Alongside Caeco Jensen, the genetically engineered super-soldier from Executable, Declan navigates academic challenges, social dynamics, and emerging threats. Conroe crafts a vivid campus setting, blending magical academia with the series’ established mythology. The diverse cast, including quirky witches like Jetta and new vampire students, adds humor and depth, while Declan’s struggle to control his immense magical abilities forms the emotional core. His evolving bond with Caeco, marked by mutual respect and subtle romantic tension, grounds the narrative, though familiar faces like Chris Gordon and Tanya Demidova make brief but impactful appearances, tying the story to the broader "Demon Accords" universe. Conroe’s exploration of magical systems, particularly Declan’s affinity for earth and fire, is a highlight, offering rich world-building without overwhelming the listener.
James Patrick Cronin’s narration shines, capturing the youthful energy of the college setting. His voicing of Declan’s earnestness and Caeco’s calculated intensity is spot-on, while his distinct tones for the ensemble cast - especially Jetta’s spunky attitude - add personality. Cronin’s pacing suits the story’s blend of slower character moments and bursts of action. His performance enhances the audiobook’s charm, with its consistency and engagement.
The book’s strengths lie in its inventive setting and character-driven focus. The College Arcane feels like a fresh take on the “magical school” trope, with Conroe’s gritty supernatural lens keeping it distinct. Declan’s growth as a leader and his interactions with peers like Jetta and Caeco are compelling, offering a lighter tone compared to the series’ darker entries.
"College Arcane" by John Conroe, along with Cronin’s narration, delivers a lively, delightful, if slower, chapter for "Demon Accords" fans open to a youthful, campus-based adventure.
The story follows Declan as he enrolls at the College Arcane, a secret institution in Burlington, Vermont, designed to train young supernaturals - witches, werewolves, and vampires - in harnessing their powers. Alongside Caeco Jensen, the genetically engineered super-soldier from Executable, Declan navigates academic challenges, social dynamics, and emerging threats. Conroe crafts a vivid campus setting, blending magical academia with the series’ established mythology. The diverse cast, including quirky witches like Jetta and new vampire students, adds humor and depth, while Declan’s struggle to control his immense magical abilities forms the emotional core. His evolving bond with Caeco, marked by mutual respect and subtle romantic tension, grounds the narrative, though familiar faces like Chris Gordon and Tanya Demidova make brief but impactful appearances, tying the story to the broader "Demon Accords" universe. Conroe’s exploration of magical systems, particularly Declan’s affinity for earth and fire, is a highlight, offering rich world-building without overwhelming the listener.
James Patrick Cronin’s narration shines, capturing the youthful energy of the college setting. His voicing of Declan’s earnestness and Caeco’s calculated intensity is spot-on, while his distinct tones for the ensemble cast - especially Jetta’s spunky attitude - add personality. Cronin’s pacing suits the story’s blend of slower character moments and bursts of action. His performance enhances the audiobook’s charm, with its consistency and engagement.
The book’s strengths lie in its inventive setting and character-driven focus. The College Arcane feels like a fresh take on the “magical school” trope, with Conroe’s gritty supernatural lens keeping it distinct. Declan’s growth as a leader and his interactions with peers like Jetta and Caeco are compelling, offering a lighter tone compared to the series’ darker entries.
"College Arcane" by John Conroe, along with Cronin’s narration, delivers a lively, delightful, if slower, chapter for "Demon Accords" fans open to a youthful, campus-based adventure.
April 17, 2024
I'm liking the Declan side story. almost more than the main story
It's like John Conroe realized where he went wrong and with more experience writing, tried again and skipped the mistakes.
The declan story line is also less overtly right-wing.
It's like John Conroe realized where he went wrong and with more experience writing, tried again and skipped the mistakes.
The declan story line is also less overtly right-wing.
April 11, 2015
Love it
Such a great step in this series. John has done it again. I recommend this author to everyone. I love tie ins.
Such a great step in this series. John has done it again. I recommend this author to everyone. I love tie ins.
April 12, 2015
Really good
I liked this book we got to see a lot more of Declan and group and how they reacted to all the different major players also we see a bit of the face which was freaking awesome!Declan is gaining power and control along with his friends old and new I only have a few things I didn't like namely there might have been a few to many side story going on at times I felt confused from time to time also a few minor spelling errors not big but did pull me out of the read a bit all together this book was awesome I can't wait for the next I need more demon accords also I think I might be beginning to like Declan more than chris.
I liked this book we got to see a lot more of Declan and group and how they reacted to all the different major players also we see a bit of the face which was freaking awesome!Declan is gaining power and control along with his friends old and new I only have a few things I didn't like namely there might have been a few to many side story going on at times I felt confused from time to time also a few minor spelling errors not big but did pull me out of the read a bit all together this book was awesome I can't wait for the next I need more demon accords also I think I might be beginning to like Declan more than chris.
April 14, 2015
Excellent read. Put my mind at ease over some concerns I had with his last release. Conroe is still my favorite author.
January 31, 2025
Couldn't put it down for long! Good young adult book. Witches, werewolves, enhanced humans, and more - all teens. I'm going back to read book 5.
April 5, 2018
Good book. Declan's story is a fun one, but a total tone-shift from our Chris Gordon side of the story.
A bit boring at points, especially this book's version of war games between students.
The relationships between students could've been a bit more fleshed out as well.
Everything was about skin deep when it came to the interactions between the students, minus Delwood and Declan's friendship.
A bit boring at points, especially this book's version of war games between students.
The relationships between students could've been a bit more fleshed out as well.
Everything was about skin deep when it came to the interactions between the students, minus Delwood and Declan's friendship.
April 2, 2017
This is by far the weakest book in the series. Especially compared to the book before it.
Also, sexist much? Constantly slut-shaming one character, and degrading one of the best female characters to a jealous drama-queen. Ew, don't.
Also, sexist much? Constantly slut-shaming one character, and degrading one of the best female characters to a jealous drama-queen. Ew, don't.
December 1, 2019
Another good book for the series, I am sad on where the main relationship of this book ended in, but outside of it it was a fresh view of the universe from the collage kids POV.
October 18, 2018
I can't get enough of Declan! He has my heart!
July 21, 2025
Lots of character we met in passing join wunderkinds Declan and Caeco at the school that Chris and Nathan have mentioned. Ashley Moore from Black Frost, Tami (who ,along with her brother, was rescued from Loki’s Spawn) in Brutal Asset, twins Erica and Britta from Duel Nature, Mack and Jetta from Fallen Stars, and finally Ryanne, the Irish witch we met in Executable join a whole host of new names. Friendships are created and some are nearly destroyed. Gina Velasquez has her hands full.
It is during this book where the character of Caeco becomes a jealous, insecure twat. I get that she’s just a kid, but the way she was raised should have made her less prone to such antics. While she was rightfully mad at herself for failing Declan, she didn’t learn from her mistake. I guess nanites can’t overcome teenage angst. The “teachers” at Arcane are a joke. One should have been in prison for the crap he pulled. We get Mack’s point of view of all this in Lucky Son of a Gun. That book doesn’t properly reflect what we heard from Mack at the time.
Katrina is also going to the school. She is always great. Everyone feels a bit uneasy around her, even the weres. Smart doggies.
Below are some errors that are somewhat spoilers.
Despite its flaws, it was a good read. The kids have a class where they talk about the ramifications worldwide of the new reality people find themselves in after Chris and Tanya brought the supernatural community into the light. There is a ring of truth to what would occur if this happened in real life. One only has to see how the pandemic was handled by certain parts of the population to see how badly they would react to anything of this nature. Ignorance and willful stupidity are more dangerous than any weapon.
It is during this book where the character of Caeco becomes a jealous, insecure twat. I get that she’s just a kid, but the way she was raised should have made her less prone to such antics. While she was rightfully mad at herself for failing Declan, she didn’t learn from her mistake. I guess nanites can’t overcome teenage angst. The “teachers” at Arcane are a joke. One should have been in prison for the crap he pulled. We get Mack’s point of view of all this in Lucky Son of a Gun. That book doesn’t properly reflect what we heard from Mack at the time.
Katrina is also going to the school. She is always great. Everyone feels a bit uneasy around her, even the weres. Smart doggies.
Below are some errors that are somewhat spoilers.
Despite its flaws, it was a good read. The kids have a class where they talk about the ramifications worldwide of the new reality people find themselves in after Chris and Tanya brought the supernatural community into the light. There is a ring of truth to what would occur if this happened in real life. One only has to see how the pandemic was handled by certain parts of the population to see how badly they would react to anything of this nature. Ignorance and willful stupidity are more dangerous than any weapon.
January 4, 2025
Yet another great book to add to this series which is quickly becoming one of my favourite series out there at the moment. Though still displaying the signs calling out for a good editor to sharpen it up a bit or maybe even just a proof reader, College Arcane proves without a doubt that John Conroe can write consistently excellent and engaging books.
Set after the world changing events of Forced Ascent, this book moves away from Chris' POV again to instead deals with Declan, the witch introduced to the series in Executable. Though I had initial misgivings about being away from my favourite characters, I found that I really enjoyed Executable and was therefore very excited about reading this book. It lived up to the excitement.
The Demidova group working with ORACLE has set up a school for gifted/paranormal teeneagers where they can both learn to work together and hopefully foster a brighter future for the supernatural in the face of the changes in the world.
From a magical version of Robot Wars to full blown supernatural fights, this book was full of exciting and high powered action right from the start which is what is to be expected from John Conroe by now. As always the action is well written and engaging and you can't help but grin as our heroes prove time and again just how awesome they are.
The only downside to this book was Caeco. As is often the case with books that deal with young adult relationships, they tend to focus on two people who are each other's first romances and often it feels a little forced. This was the case here and with Caeco's actions throughout the book I found it harder and harder to see why Declan was staying with her. With the exception of physical combat she was neither supportive, loving or fun to be around and by the end of the book it was hard not to dislike this character which is a shame as she had potential. That being said though I thought the author dealt with it well and I liked where the relationship ended up at the end of the book.
Overall this was an excellent book, a fun read and another great outing for the Demon Accords. More than that, this novel actually tied together a lot of story lines in the Demon Accords including the one from the Black Frost novella. If you are like me and sometimes like to gloss over the books that don't star you're favourite characters, please think again with the Declan stories. Though Chris isn't the POV character, he is in the book and the story that occurs in these pages is important to his continuing saga as well.
Basically this is a good book... READ IT!
Set after the world changing events of Forced Ascent, this book moves away from Chris' POV again to instead deals with Declan, the witch introduced to the series in Executable. Though I had initial misgivings about being away from my favourite characters, I found that I really enjoyed Executable and was therefore very excited about reading this book. It lived up to the excitement.
The Demidova group working with ORACLE has set up a school for gifted/paranormal teeneagers where they can both learn to work together and hopefully foster a brighter future for the supernatural in the face of the changes in the world.
From a magical version of Robot Wars to full blown supernatural fights, this book was full of exciting and high powered action right from the start which is what is to be expected from John Conroe by now. As always the action is well written and engaging and you can't help but grin as our heroes prove time and again just how awesome they are.
The only downside to this book was Caeco. As is often the case with books that deal with young adult relationships, they tend to focus on two people who are each other's first romances and often it feels a little forced. This was the case here and with Caeco's actions throughout the book I found it harder and harder to see why Declan was staying with her. With the exception of physical combat she was neither supportive, loving or fun to be around and by the end of the book it was hard not to dislike this character which is a shame as she had potential. That being said though I thought the author dealt with it well and I liked where the relationship ended up at the end of the book.
Overall this was an excellent book, a fun read and another great outing for the Demon Accords. More than that, this novel actually tied together a lot of story lines in the Demon Accords including the one from the Black Frost novella. If you are like me and sometimes like to gloss over the books that don't star you're favourite characters, please think again with the Declan stories. Though Chris isn't the POV character, he is in the book and the story that occurs in these pages is important to his continuing saga as well.
Basically this is a good book... READ IT!
March 23, 2017
This is one of my favourite books in this series. Only 2 things kept it from taking the top spot.
1. I wanted more Chris and his crew. I love Declan as a main character but I think we can all agree that it's the god hammer himself that made the series awesome. I don't mind Declan being the main dude in the book but having Chris around more would have made the book 10x better. Instead of being a continuation of the story this book feels like a side quest and more god hammer would have helped fix that.
2. Caeco... for the love of all that's holy I hate her in this book. She was cool in executable and I liked her a lot in it. I think she got hit by a tractor at some point between books though. She was getting on my nerves more and more throughout this book and went full retard near the end. Thank Christ Declan gets an upgrade in the girlfriend department later in the series(sorry for that mini spoiler)
This is still in my 3rd or 4rth favourite book in the series so far. Would have been perfect if those 2 issues were fixed.
Keep writing these epic books john! I always buy em on audible the day they get released, no exceptions :)
1. I wanted more Chris and his crew. I love Declan as a main character but I think we can all agree that it's the god hammer himself that made the series awesome. I don't mind Declan being the main dude in the book but having Chris around more would have made the book 10x better. Instead of being a continuation of the story this book feels like a side quest and more god hammer would have helped fix that.
2. Caeco... for the love of all that's holy I hate her in this book. She was cool in executable and I liked her a lot in it. I think she got hit by a tractor at some point between books though. She was getting on my nerves more and more throughout this book and went full retard near the end. Thank Christ Declan gets an upgrade in the girlfriend department later in the series(sorry for that mini spoiler)
This is still in my 3rd or 4rth favourite book in the series so far. Would have been perfect if those 2 issues were fixed.
Keep writing these epic books john! I always buy em on audible the day they get released, no exceptions :)
September 24, 2020
Originally read 13 March 2018; re-read 28 March 2019
I really enjoyed this book! Although the focus is on Declan (and is from his POV), all our favourites show up to play in this book about college life for our surprisingly powerful male witch. A good indication of how much I like a book is when I get angry or sad on a character's behalf - with that in mind, I'll you that I was yelling in my car while listening to it, wishing I could punch some people in the face for what they put that sweet boy through... yeah, yeah, it's just a book, I know. But it was great, and an excellent addition to the series. Once again, James Patrick Cronin's narration was awesome, but (and it kills me to criticise because he is one of my favourite narrators) he needs to work on his Irish vs Scottish accents. His accent for Ryanne often varied between the two. But hey, accents are hard and I certainly can't do anything than an Australian accent decently, so who am I to judge?
I really enjoyed this book! Although the focus is on Declan (and is from his POV), all our favourites show up to play in this book about college life for our surprisingly powerful male witch. A good indication of how much I like a book is when I get angry or sad on a character's behalf - with that in mind, I'll you that I was yelling in my car while listening to it, wishing I could punch some people in the face for what they put that sweet boy through... yeah, yeah, it's just a book, I know. But it was great, and an excellent addition to the series. Once again, James Patrick Cronin's narration was awesome, but (and it kills me to criticise because he is one of my favourite narrators) he needs to work on his Irish vs Scottish accents. His accent for Ryanne often varied between the two. But hey, accents are hard and I certainly can't do anything than an Australian accent decently, so who am I to judge?
April 15, 2015
Love it
Couldn't put it down, even though the book was a long read, I could still read some more. Was good from the beginning to the end, can't wait for next, and hopefully many more.
Couldn't put it down, even though the book was a long read, I could still read some more. Was good from the beginning to the end, can't wait for next, and hopefully many more.
May 30, 2017
I loved this book and I love the whole series. This is the second one to focus primarily on Declan, a very powerful male witch. He is starting college in a special program for supernaturals and has to work through a lot of new adult issues, and grow up.
April 14, 2015
I almost like these side stories more then the main story line. Fun read that left you wanting more to read!
April 27, 2015
I read this in a single day. I had trouble putting it down. This world just keeps getting better and better with some really great plot developments.
January 23, 2023
Jan '23. 5 stars again.
August 28, 2017
Another one down for my re-read
I love this series and now that declan has been added in with Chris and Tanya it's just get better.
I love this series and now that declan has been added in with Chris and Tanya it's just get better.
September 19, 2019
Great book series.
September 23, 2023
Please see my review of another addition for details.
May 4, 2025
Re-read: I've read this series a few times now and each time I notice things about characters I didn't the first time. This re-read I focused a bit more on the byplay between the girls at Arcane that Declan is friends with and Caeco. Small things from other books made me realize how some characters are a bit different from what I originally perceived. Most of these books I was pretty neutral on Ashley, but on multiple read throughs I have come to realize she's kid of an asshole and I think this is due to the fact that she's such a "valuable" tool on Faerie. There were multiple times in this book (and others later on) that made me roll my eyes because she'd say stuff that was just hurtful or plain stupid to Declan, who for the most part I haven't seen be anything but friendly and protective to her. An example is when her roommate has bad dreams about portals opening in Europe, she finds out that Chris and crew came to help heal and train Declan since he was beaten to the point of not being able to even eat solid foods or speak, she then proceeds to basically accuse Declan of being the reason people are dying because Chris was in the USA for him, which is a total bastard thing to say or even infer. Later on when Declan gets ambushed and has to kill a the serial killer Witch due to self defense, no on really shows any sympathy for him except his Aunt and Mac, the rest of his friends are comforting Caeco because "She wasn't there for him" when he was fighting.
Later that same day Caeco throws some jealous hissy fit because she got baited by in my opinion the top 5 scumbags in this series "Detective" Krupp, which is understandable, be jealous, be possessive but don't throw these negative emotions to your significant other, especially when said person just had to take a life earlier that day, something he's vastly against. So understandably Declan finally gets fed up and calls Caeco out for having a crush on someone who's like 20 years older than her, and who is also the person that bullied almost got him killed, and *GASP* the audacity of him bringing it up! Caeco ends up storming off because she knows he caught her and she has the EQ of a 9 year old. But guess what guys, here comes Ashley to pin the blame on Declan for Caeco storming off, and that even though he just went through a traumatic experience, something that would make a normal person have PTSD, he should think about how it effects Caeco??? Jetta also butts in, which when initially reading this book annoyed me and honestly made me dislike her until later read throughs where I realize that she's actually just a good friend to everyone, but a little biased because Caeco is her roommate, who later on joins the FBI and Agent Cunty Krupp, who terrorized Jetta and Mac, which is just another reason imo that Caeco's a cunt, yet Jetta still has her back throughout the series, so kudos to her for being too good of a friend to someone generally undeserving. That's it for my Re-read rant.
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College Arcane is the second book with Declan O'Carrol as the main point of view, and for me personally I think it's the best book up to this point (11 is my personal favorite) and a big part of it is that Declan is much more relatable character in my opinion compared to Chris who while the first 7 books was interesting, but he was a bit of or Gary Stu, most handsome man, super powerful, black belt martial artist, background that makes you feel sorry for him, eternally a good guy even when people are trash around him etc. So it's cool to see a character that while is very powerful in his own right, is learning everything as he goes and is figuring out his place in the supernatural world. He's a good looking dude, but isn't some otherworldly super model like Chris, he's a martial artist but he's handicapped by just human strength, while he has a sad backstory with his mother, he isn't as pitiful as Chris was and has a lot of love around him, so while he is similar to Chris, he isn't this perfect angelic being that Chris has been (Later I think Chris and Tanya both suck, but up to this point he's been a total Gary Stu).
Now that I've said part of why I think the switch of main characters POV wasn't a negative from my point of view, let's talk about the whole urban fantasy Harry Potter school, it starts out fun with a lot of new characters and some characters from previous books like Caeco, Gina, Toni and a little Chris and crew but the school itself starts off pretty wanting, that is until Declan pulls off the kid gloves a few hours in and his Aunt steps in and takes over a few classes, from there things change for the better and it becomes a bit of a coming of age story for Declan, he learns to use his powers in a battle capacity and also the trials of first love with him and Caeco splitting up at the end of the book. While all this is happening we get to see interesting interactions between Declan and the rest of the supernatural world when he meets more witches, werewolves and a lone vampire who we much later learn in a side book that just came out (2023) was there to watch over him. The only real issue I have with the setting was that it seemed a little less dark and gritty compared to the rest of the demon accords series so far, but while I would have liked it being darker it really didn't bother me much. I also think that it should have shown even a little bit of Caeco and Declan when they aren't with friends and seen some more of their intimate lives, it's hard to really give a shit about them breaking up near the end when all I have seen is a very sterile relationship and a very shitty girlfriend. If I was Declan I 100% would have broken up with Caeco pretty early on into this book and given Ryanne a shot, they ACTUALLY had chemistry and while she started off joining Arcane and getting to know Declan because of his power, she later shows that she really is actually falling in love with him and always has his back when his GIRLFRIEND sits around like an awkward idiot. That's probably my biggest gripe with this book, Caeco really added nothing and just tied Declan down when he's in college and shouldn't be in a relationship with a girl who treats him like just an awkward friend unless she's getting jealous and irrational, that's about the only time you can tell they are even in a relationship.
So even with those few flaws, this story was extremely fun to read and I've read it numerous times now, and each time I like it more than the last. I highly suggest College Arcane.
Later that same day Caeco throws some jealous hissy fit because she got baited by in my opinion the top 5 scumbags in this series "Detective" Krupp, which is understandable, be jealous, be possessive but don't throw these negative emotions to your significant other, especially when said person just had to take a life earlier that day, something he's vastly against. So understandably Declan finally gets fed up and calls Caeco out for having a crush on someone who's like 20 years older than her, and who is also the person that bullied almost got him killed, and *GASP* the audacity of him bringing it up! Caeco ends up storming off because she knows he caught her and she has the EQ of a 9 year old. But guess what guys, here comes Ashley to pin the blame on Declan for Caeco storming off, and that even though he just went through a traumatic experience, something that would make a normal person have PTSD, he should think about how it effects Caeco??? Jetta also butts in, which when initially reading this book annoyed me and honestly made me dislike her until later read throughs where I realize that she's actually just a good friend to everyone, but a little biased because Caeco is her roommate, who later on joins the FBI and Agent Cunty Krupp, who terrorized Jetta and Mac, which is just another reason imo that Caeco's a cunt, yet Jetta still has her back throughout the series, so kudos to her for being too good of a friend to someone generally undeserving. That's it for my Re-read rant.
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College Arcane is the second book with Declan O'Carrol as the main point of view, and for me personally I think it's the best book up to this point (11 is my personal favorite) and a big part of it is that Declan is much more relatable character in my opinion compared to Chris who while the first 7 books was interesting, but he was a bit of or Gary Stu, most handsome man, super powerful, black belt martial artist, background that makes you feel sorry for him, eternally a good guy even when people are trash around him etc. So it's cool to see a character that while is very powerful in his own right, is learning everything as he goes and is figuring out his place in the supernatural world. He's a good looking dude, but isn't some otherworldly super model like Chris, he's a martial artist but he's handicapped by just human strength, while he has a sad backstory with his mother, he isn't as pitiful as Chris was and has a lot of love around him, so while he is similar to Chris, he isn't this perfect angelic being that Chris has been (Later I think Chris and Tanya both suck, but up to this point he's been a total Gary Stu).
Now that I've said part of why I think the switch of main characters POV wasn't a negative from my point of view, let's talk about the whole urban fantasy Harry Potter school, it starts out fun with a lot of new characters and some characters from previous books like Caeco, Gina, Toni and a little Chris and crew but the school itself starts off pretty wanting, that is until Declan pulls off the kid gloves a few hours in and his Aunt steps in and takes over a few classes, from there things change for the better and it becomes a bit of a coming of age story for Declan, he learns to use his powers in a battle capacity and also the trials of first love with him and Caeco splitting up at the end of the book. While all this is happening we get to see interesting interactions between Declan and the rest of the supernatural world when he meets more witches, werewolves and a lone vampire who we much later learn in a side book that just came out (2023) was there to watch over him. The only real issue I have with the setting was that it seemed a little less dark and gritty compared to the rest of the demon accords series so far, but while I would have liked it being darker it really didn't bother me much. I also think that it should have shown even a little bit of Caeco and Declan when they aren't with friends and seen some more of their intimate lives, it's hard to really give a shit about them breaking up near the end when all I have seen is a very sterile relationship and a very shitty girlfriend. If I was Declan I 100% would have broken up with Caeco pretty early on into this book and given Ryanne a shot, they ACTUALLY had chemistry and while she started off joining Arcane and getting to know Declan because of his power, she later shows that she really is actually falling in love with him and always has his back when his GIRLFRIEND sits around like an awkward idiot. That's probably my biggest gripe with this book, Caeco really added nothing and just tied Declan down when he's in college and shouldn't be in a relationship with a girl who treats him like just an awkward friend unless she's getting jealous and irrational, that's about the only time you can tell they are even in a relationship.
So even with those few flaws, this story was extremely fun to read and I've read it numerous times now, and each time I like it more than the last. I highly suggest College Arcane.
March 24, 2025
amazing urban fantasy, new perspective, same great story!
This book in my new favorite series offers new perspective (well, second time with the new perspective) but still the same great story and top-notch writing! I read tons of Urban Fantasy, and one of my favorite elements is how the author decides on the interaction of modern people and technology with the supernatural. This series brings the relationship of supernaturals and modern tech to a whole new level! How deep the story goes with science, government, and real human emotions and interaction with the supernatural world. By far, John Conroe relates the most realistic approach of any author I've read! And, the plot lines are so superb, I can't put this book down! Amazingly real characters, nonstop unpredictable plot twists, emotional growth, superbly written dialogue, and a fallible MC you want to route for! In fact, the only negative of this series is how it has effected my sleep! I;m up all night reading these nonstop pager turners! Thank you John, you master word-smith!
This book in my new favorite series offers new perspective (well, second time with the new perspective) but still the same great story and top-notch writing! I read tons of Urban Fantasy, and one of my favorite elements is how the author decides on the interaction of modern people and technology with the supernatural. This series brings the relationship of supernaturals and modern tech to a whole new level! How deep the story goes with science, government, and real human emotions and interaction with the supernatural world. By far, John Conroe relates the most realistic approach of any author I've read! And, the plot lines are so superb, I can't put this book down! Amazingly real characters, nonstop unpredictable plot twists, emotional growth, superbly written dialogue, and a fallible MC you want to route for! In fact, the only negative of this series is how it has effected my sleep! I;m up all night reading these nonstop pager turners! Thank you John, you master word-smith!
July 4, 2020
The characters in the book joke about it being an X-men kind of school, and in a way it is, a bunch of super kids learning to control their powers. It's been done a ton of times, but that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome. Also, in this book, unlike the previous Declan book, it's all from his point of view, and I have to admit I like it better.
In this college, we find a bunch of characters we have seen from previous books, most from Chris' adventures, so we already know about some of them, and we get to know a few new ones. This book finally integrates everyone in the Demon Accords' world, in a fresh fun way.
Another point worth mentioning is how the parallels between Chris and Declan are more obvious in this one, it is even mentioned by one of the characters, how Chris favors Declan because he sees himself in him. Rather than feeling like we are getting a copy, we get to know Declan in a way that makes him unique, even if it's really easy to compare him to Chris.
We have a lot of teenage drama, the usual College adventures, plus a lot more going on, from witches to fairies, from past demons (not the literal kind), to future enemies.
You have to read it!!!!
July 30, 2022
Another overpowered hero in the most YA book of the Demon Accord series
I enjoyed the earlier Demon Accord books, but the tone of this series changed when a new protagonist—teenaged, super-warlock Declan O’Carroll—replaced Chris Gordon and Tanya Demidova as lead character. Declan and his supernaturally gifted friends are perfect for this YA book, which focuses on teens entering a new college—one specifically created for supernaturals. The reader basically follows Declan as he lives his life at the supernatural school.
I would’ve preferred a less overpowered protagonist, because why do we need a guy more powerful than Chris Gordon, overpowered Hammer of God. Overall, this book was an easy read, but it had a lot of teen angst, which gave it too much of a YA feel for my liking.
3.5 stars, but didn’t reach 4 stars.
I enjoyed the earlier Demon Accord books, but the tone of this series changed when a new protagonist—teenaged, super-warlock Declan O’Carroll—replaced Chris Gordon and Tanya Demidova as lead character. Declan and his supernaturally gifted friends are perfect for this YA book, which focuses on teens entering a new college—one specifically created for supernaturals. The reader basically follows Declan as he lives his life at the supernatural school.
I would’ve preferred a less overpowered protagonist, because why do we need a guy more powerful than Chris Gordon, overpowered Hammer of God. Overall, this book was an easy read, but it had a lot of teen angst, which gave it too much of a YA feel for my liking.
3.5 stars, but didn’t reach 4 stars.
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