The Network Series: The Complete Collection

The Network #1-4

by Katie Cross

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has prepared for this moment her entire life: the day she’ll enroll in the quietly famous magical school Miss Mabel’s School for Girls.

Winning a spot to work directly with Miss Mabel is a dangerous game. Bianca soon faces enchanting spells, simmering potions, and the warmth of new friendships.

Unfortunately, Miss Mabel has her own evil plans—and if Bianca loses, she’s at the very center of them.


Get all four books in one easy-to-read collection today. Books included are:

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls
Antebellum Awakening
The High Priest’s Daughter
War of the Networks

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Audiobook, Young Adult

2109 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

My world revolves around my husband (who is a major hottie), my precious kids, my Vizsla’s who act like children, and the mountains.

I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.

I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.

I write because I never stopped.

Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.

Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com

Reviews

[Kirstin Pulioff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best recent fantasy series. It has everything: great characters, compelling story, excellent writing, and an underlying message that'll keep you turning pages. Each book in the series gets better and better!!!

[Andy Gonzalez De M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just magical! Full of engaging, complex characters.. some you will love, others you will love to hate! But overall a series of books you will not want to miss out on!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this collection includes all the books in the series, I will just do a short review of each one as I read it. This is quite a stirring series of books - each one grabbed me right away and wouldn't let go. The main character, teenage Bianca, is a fascinating bundle of contradictions as she gains a few close friends and begins to control her powers. The Network is a group of five networks which are pretty much autonomous. They are all populated by witches since the mortals were driven out many years ago. The Central Network is the base for most of the stories, although as the war escalates, the other four get involved - the South and West against Central, with North and East trying to stay out of it. Each network is generally ruled by a High Priest and a High Priestess, although there can be other arrangements - such as three Priestesses.

Mildred's Resistance - this is a prequel to the series. It tells how Mildred came to be the High Priestess of the Central Network by fighting against the elitist changes her one-time friend Evelyn is trying to make under the control of an evil witch.

Miss Mabel's School for Girls - I bought this separately, and reviewed it when I read it. It covers Bianca's time at the school for young witches, where she hopes to make a deal with Miss Mabel to remove the curse she and her family are under. See my separate review.

The Isadora Interviews
A novella containing short stories about four girls interviewed by Isadora for entrance to Miss Mabel's school - Leda, Camille, Priscilla, and Michelle - all of whom will eventually become Bianca's closest friends. This could be read anywhere in the sequence, although it's probably best after School for Girls, where we meet the four.

Antebellum Awakening
Bianca is living at the castle, still grieving for her mother which has caused her powers to spiral out of control. She begins running with Merrick, since her father won't let her go into the wood alone - the running helps her tamp down the uncontrollable power. Merrick also teaches her how to sword fight. She is still under the curse that will kill her on her next birthday, and enters into a pact with her enemy - the evil witch Miss Mabel - to try to get it lifted. But what Mabel requires in return may be too much. Especially when Mabel's mother Angelina shows up.

The High Priest's Daughter
Bianca's father is now the High Priest of the Central Network, making her a pawn for his enemies, since he is very protective of her. Angelina starts a war by causing the Southern Network to attack - she wants her imprisoned daughter Mabel back. Will freeing Mabel make things worse, or will it set mother against daughter? Bianca has to make the choice.

War of the Networks
The war is on in earnest now, and the Central Network is struggling. Mabel has powerful Almorran magic, once banned, which can only be overcome by countermagic in the Book of Light. But where is the Book of Light? Mabel is becoming unhinged, determined to take over the Central Network at all costs and to defeat Bianca and her father. As the war comes closer, Bianca, her friends, the gypsies, the dragons, and their allies from the other networks must all fight together.

Side note:
There are quite a few typos in the e-book - at least one hopes they are typos and not misspellings. Things like 'hoard' instead of 'horde', 'crumbled' instead of 'crumpled', and a couple others - also several misuses of 'I' as an object and 'me' as a subject. Picky, perhaps, but glaring mistakes like this should be picked up by a proofreader, and they always yank me out of the story when I see them. Sloppy. I would have given it 5 stars instead of 4 if the errors hadn't annoyed me so much.

[Amy Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!!

The series has amazing imagery and is so captivating I read each book in almost a day! Defiantly makes my top ten favorites book series list and may even be better stories then hp and lotr in my opinion! A series I will most defiantly be reading again!!!!

One of my favorite parts was the way Cross developed the main characters. Ok I'm no writer so this part is a little unorganized but hopefully you get the idea. I feel like every time I read a book the main character host this point where they just act like an idiot and make stupid reckless choices and if you'd only do this, or I would do this. (Ex: book 2 of twilight, the middle book in divergent, etc.)

Well Bianca is finally a a character I feel like I can really relate to. She goes through all the crazy character building stuff that other characters go through but her decisions and the way she rationalizes and processes things as they happen in her life are much more realistic, for me anyway. And I love it!!!!!

If you like books like hp, lotr, divergent, hunger games, and other fantasy/adventure stories gotta read the network series!!!!!

[Judi Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts: This is amazingly good for what is just a bit above YA but not quite adult fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series. The world building, the characters, the plot and sub plots. It was all very well done. Considering the number of pages (1200+), it was a nice fast read (2.5 days). A population of witches living in 5 different areas, the networks. Each rules itself. An old form of witchcraft that was thought to be lost, very powerful and rather evil. A witch who wants to make some people pay for her suffering. And another young witch who always seems to see the light in things. Recommended.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate- tragic story

This is a hard to rate tragic story with very little light and hope. Mildred the ruler of central makes some very dumb decisions about Mabel which the main character has to fix.

These decisions cost the lives of countless family and friends…

Overall a good book, but not enough hope and friendships. It was more about the single heroine trying to survive grief and coming out on the other side.

Mixed 4 stars….needed more character development in regards to friendships and a lot more
Hope

[Jeanne M. Jacquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than Good!

This series of books was well worth the price! Comparisons to Harry Potter aside, the characters were strong, young people both male and female. They grew in power and confidence as they battled evil together. I thoroughly enjoyed the references to parts of our world and the variety of people's that we find there that were found in the five Networks! I will be checking out more of Katie Crowd's books!

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished the Network Series, Katie you made me laugh, cry and curse your name on many occasions. Took a little time to get into it though because I had to forget that you were the author, so now I understand why you keep the genres separate on social media. Loved the snippets, short stories and further understanding of some of the other characters, just not sure I can forgive you yet for Camille and Brecken and really all the pain and loss you just made me feel. Good work.

[Nancy Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches, Witches, & More Witches

Compelling stories of witches' families, curses, spells, wars, good magic and the very worst. Friendships, first loves, secrets, and much, much danger

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story!

This story had wonderful plot and character development. It grabbed my attention increasingly as I read and never resorted to romance to retain interest (though it had just the right amount of romance too). Definitely recommend!

[Catherine H Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series. During this time of lockdown and quarantine, I found great release for my rambling thoughts with Bianca, Mabel and Derick. Great read. I highly recommend this series. So glad I found it.

[Janet McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun series to read. There were some similarities to the Harry Potter series, but not so many that I felt like it was a knock off. I do not want to say what those were like, however, I do recommend it for people who like to read about magic.

[Carol L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it!!! The entire story from beginning to end with everything inbetween. It is full of intrigue, romance, magic, and wild places. This series gives you everything you could ever want in a magical place and you won't want to put it down (unless your eyes can't stay open anymore!)!!!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed these books and this world immensely. I will definitely be checking out more books by Katie Cross.

[Mella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong fantasy series with complex characters and interesting plots. The heroes are more than good and the villains are more than evil. Pure brilliance.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series.

[Picky Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still on the first book but I'm absolutely hooked. I don't find many books I can't stop reading. This one is one of them. It's wonderful!

[rachel lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This was a great series to read. Really enjoyed the strong female roles and strength of the main character! Recommended read

[Sally Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story and great characters!

The story was good! The characters were great! Thanks for the ending - it seemed to leave things open for more stories to come! Can’t wait!

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read for pandemic escapism. Powerful young women and dragons. Intrigue along with some teen shenanigans. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and am now deep into the prequel Dragonmaster series.

[Ramona Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of adventure!

This series is full of adventure and I had a hard time putting it down. It's not a book just for younger people. I'm 59 and I enjoyed it immensely.

[Kristine M. Zenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

[Carole Clements-Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magical Must Read

This would make a great movie. Do yourself a favour and download this collection. Right now. You won't regret it. Prepare to be transported into another world.

[kimber gieringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and dragons!!!!

I could not book this series down! I fell in love with the characters and wanted to join this mystical world. Fantastic read.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series involving magic, witches and dragons. Great adventures.

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The descendent of two powerful witches goes to Miss Mabel's School to develop her powers.
'Miss Mabel's School for Girls' is the first of the Network Series Collection (5 novels and one novella). It is gripping and enjoyable on its own, but I just HAD to find out what happened after the first novel ended, because 16-year-old Bianca was cursed to die on her 17th birthday. My enjoyment was greatly enhanced by reading the other novels in the series in the proper order; so I strongly recommend that you just start out buying the set, which includes an interesting prequel telling how Bianca, Leda, Camille, Michelle and Priscilla were interviewed and accepted to the School. Then binge read the series. I started with Book 1, but wished I'd read "Mildred’s Resistance" and "The Isadora Interviews" beforehand. You'll get important background on Miss Mabel, her mother, and her grandmother May, who raised Miss Mabel; plus background on many other characters who appear during the series. Their stories are integral to finally understand who Miss Mabel really is and how she became evil. The series follows Bianca, her friends and other characters, starting from their admission interviews, entry to Miss Mabel's school, to the "grand finale", the final confrontation of good and evil in "The War of the Networks" several years later. There is plenty of action, friendship, romance, pain and suffering, deaths of friends and relatives (yes, sadly a lot of the good guys don't make it to the end), good vs. evil, dragons, fairies, and magic, all tied together by a good story and skilful writing.

[Read-Write-Sleep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember exactly when I first picked up this series. I must’ve been a young tween desperate for new books. My mom was getting tired of me rereading the same books over and over again, finally a kind librarian suggested this book. It was in the young adult section that i ha yet to venture in.

I fell in love with Bianca and the world that Katie Cross created! It was beautiful! The world so perfectly crafted and the characters so very real!

Years later we moved away from that library and I couldn’t find the books anywhere. I finally splurged and bought them secondhand online. They were my lifeline during COVID. I began to run through the woods near my house, though I was never quite brave enough to run barefoot like Bianca.

When I discovered that there were more books intertwined in the world I started to read them all! I love the way Katie Cross finishes the stories, but then continues to write in the same world, so that there is both closure and continuation.

If you’ve ever closed a book and longed to read more without drawing out the problem and continuing the plot, Katie Cross’s Alkarra world is for you!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting collection of 4 stories about a young witch growing up and learning how to use her magic for good. Bianca Monroe is the daughter of one of the elite protectors of the Central Network. Her father has taught her how to fight and she is stronger than most young witches. Her goal is to get accepted into Miss Mabel’s School and ultimately to be Miss Mabel’s assistant. She knows she must figure out how to get the curse removed from her family before her 17th birthday or she will die. The books follow Bianca and her friends as they grow. It is about good over evil and how to overcome evil. I purchased this collection through a special sell by the author. Young Adult is not my usual genre but this one may make me change my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and didn’t mind the loss of sleep as I read into the night.

[Kristen Guilmartin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a warning, this collection starts with Mildreds resistance, which is a prequel, written last and not very good. I almost did not continue the series because it was so lackluster in story and writing and I thought it was the first written book of the series which means the remaining 5 books would be similiar. The major rating was the reson I continued and I am glad I did.

I would start with the 2nd book and circle back of you want, but the first book was quite bad in my opinion. I rate this low because of the order of the books but will rate each individual what they deserve.