The Spell

The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #6

by Bella Forrest

The thrilling GRAND FINALE of the Spellshadow series!

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Mystery

412 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2017

About the author

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2024:

BELLA IS BACK!

*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com

*** New books coming soon

*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon

*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join

###

Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.

Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...

Here's a list of some of Bella's books:

DARKLIGHT

Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)

A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3

HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)

THE CHILD THIEF

The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)

HOTBLOODS

Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers

THE GENDER GAME

The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)

THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK

The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE

Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

Books 1 to 7

Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

Books 8 to 16

Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...

Books 17 to 24

Season 4: A Clan of Novaks

Books 25 to 32

Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians

Books 33 to 41

Season 6: A Gift of Three

Books 42 to 50

Season 7: A Call of Vampires

Books 51 to 59

Season 8: A Voyage of Founders

Books 60 to 68

Season 9: A Birth of Fire

Books 69 to 77

Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)

Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, a fantastic series. This last in the series is riveting and thorough. The author really took the time to explore the end and leave no loose ends, which I really appreciated. Great ending to a series that had a slow start for me but really ended up being an enjoyable ride.

[danielle boulanger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story but it could have been amazing if it was condensed to 3 books. Just tooo drawn out!

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, well from the title of this book I'm sure you can guess what it was all about.
This book wrapped up the story quite nicely. Alex grows a lot during this final book, as he at last realises that he can't just do whatever the hell he wants and get away without there being consequences.
Julius is totally off his rocket and I have no idea how Venus stands him.
Hadrian's bravery really impressed me in this book. And Virgil totally surprised me, and is in my eyes just as much a hero as Alex is.
It was interesting to learn how all the characters choose their different paths in life and what happens to the mages, the schools, and the greater magical and nonmagical worlds.

There is one thing that I still just don't get. When Virgil came to Malakai Gray in the vision we experience in book one. Well, why did Virgil totally wreck Spellshadow Manor, and make it into such a rundown broken place. Both Stillwater House and Fall-Leaf House were beautiful, so why did Virgil destroy Spellshadow when he took over.

I cried for Storm and Elias in this book. So, have a tissue handy when reading this last book.
Elias was definitely my favourite character in the series.

So, although this series was good, it just never elevated itself to a fantastic series. It is still worth reading though.

[Jeremy Beitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this series was good, but the story was very slow at times and seemed the same throughout the books. Sure, there were different locations and different bad guys (yet still in the same family), but it felt very much the same through the whole series. The characters didn't seem to grow very much either and the ending seemed to drag on and on. There was definitely something missing to make it feel complete. Maybe it was just me and I was just glad to be done with the series.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series! This book was a great ending to a great series! I did really want to see how his mom would react when he told her what really happened to his dad, but it wasn't in the book. Other than that I can't wait to see what else Bella comes up with!

[Judy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATING !!!
Title: The Spell
Series: The Secret of Spellshadow Manor
Author: Bella Forrest
Designation: Conclusion & Book 6 of Series, Full-Length Novel (Approx 400 pages), NOT A Standalone, NO Cliffhanger
Genre: #fantasy #sciencefiction #actionadventure #mystery #comingofage #romance
My Rating: Five Spellbinding Stars*****
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Bella Forrest rocked my world AGAIN with The Spell, the sixth and final riveting release in her captivating new magical fantasy series, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor! And great balls of fire, it just gets better and better! Forrest has been a busy little beaver! After publishing a new season of the international bestselling A Shade of Vampire series in the past twelve months as well as introducing two other new blockbuster series, The Gender Game and the Detective Erin Bond mystery thriller series, you'd think Forrest would be ready to sit back and take a breather. Nope, just the opposite! I honestly don't think Forrest ever sleeps. Not that I'm complaining... not one little bit! Like thousands of my fellow Bella Forrest fans around the world, I've been hooked since the first book of Forrest's megahit A Shade of Vampire series and now 56 books later, I still eagerly await each new release. I don't even care what genre it is. If Forrest writes it, I'll read it! And it comes as no surprise, Forrest has delivered another new installment in this gripping fantasy adventure that curls our toes, makes our hearts pound and keeps us begging for more! The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is a beautifully written young adult saga unlike any I've ever read. If you loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is definitely for you. Quite simply, it's an irresistibly delicious all-you-can-eat buffet of magic, fantasy, action, adventure, mystery, danger, suspense, angst, and blossoming coming of age romance. But never fear, my friends, it's also a deliciously tasty treat for us older adults who remain young at heart! The story is well crafted, imaginative, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, suspenseful, sweet, romantic and at times, also dark and mysterious. Whew, what a mouthful, but these are only a few of the words that come to mind after reading The Secret of Spellshadow Manor. The narrative is exceptionally well written in the third person with a primary perspective from seventeen-year-old high school senior Alex Webber of Middledale, Iowa. The dialogue is smart, well executed and flows effortlessly. Although the premise and storyline for this series is beyond intriguing, and the vividly depicted world of Spellshadow Manor is nothing short of extraordinary, it's truly the cast of complex characters that truly steals the show. They are well developed, fascinating, engaging, endearing, and most importantly, memorable. They literally explode from the pages, grab your imagination, capture your heart and hold you completely enthralled from beginning to end. Forrest skillfully combines every single one of these elements to craft a beautifully written coming of age fantasy filled to the brim with magic, danger, action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, magic, loyalty, and heartbreak, lies, deceit, secrets, angst, young love, and plot twists that will blow your mind. After reading every single one Forrest's books, there are two things I've learned beyond a shadow of a doubt. First, when reading anything written by Bella Forrest, always expect the unexpected and two, absolutely nothing is ever impossible as any of her readers have witnessed time and time again. In each book Forrest pens, she takes her readers on an emotionally thrilling roller coaster ride, unlike any other, one that keeps us on the edge of our seat and riveted to each page while screaming, "OMG - that didn't just happen!" And the icing on the cake, Forrest's books are always exceptionally well-crafted, edited, formatted and have gorgeous covers! Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am, for ages 12 to 112. Will I read this author again? Of course, just as soon as Forrest publishes her next book. Forrest has the most extraordinary imagination of any author I've ever read, one which knows no bounds! And finally, was I entertained? OMG, YES! Completely! I was glued to my seat, completely enthralled, white-knuckling my ereader with my heart beating wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time, and all the while screaming, "Don't do it!" OMG! I was a nervous wreck! lol... Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
Book One:
Unlike his friends, seventeen-year-old Middledale, Iowa high school senior Alex Webber spends all his free time learning to write computer code and building websites. He's becoming quite the young entrepreneur. Unfortunately, his efforts are born from necessity rather than pleasure. Since Alex's mother was diagnosed with a debilitating long-term illness leaving her unable to work, he desperately needs to earn enough money to supplement their meager monthly income. Hosting a foreign exchange student was supposed to be just another way to add much-needed funds to their dwindling monthly budget... until Alex meets the student...a lovely young seventeen-year-old female student from France named Natalie Chevalier. Oh my! What normal red-blooded seventeen-year-old young man wouldn't appreciate the beauty of a charming French girl, right? When the two teenagers meet, they instantly become fast friends with each looking forward to the upcoming new school year. They're just a couple of normal teenagers who want to enjoy their senior year, right? Hmm... But Alex and Natalie may not be quite so normal after all. What happens when these two seemingly unremarkable young people, brought together by fate, realize they may not be as ordinary as they thought? In fact, they may be quite extraordinary. After seeing a strange and very frightening ghostly figure following Natalie, which apparently one no one else could see, Alex is faced with a life-altering decision that may interrupt his well-laid plans and change his life forever. But there is only one choice for the pragmatic yet sensitive young Alex - no matter the risk, he must protect his new friend Natalie. But at what cost?
The Breaker: Book 2
It's been several months since Natalie was abducted by the ghostly phantom known as Finder, and Alex was mistaken to also be a new recruit for the magical school located within the walls of Spellshadow Manor. No matter their efforts, Alex and Natalie find themselves still imprisoned behind the ivy-covered walls of the mysterious manor. There's only one little problem and it gets worse with each passing day. Unlike the other students at the school, including Natalie, Alex has no magical ability at all. In fact, his problem is just the opposite. Alex discovers he is a Spellbreaker and possesses an inherited genetic trait enabling him to wield a power called anti-magic, an anomalous force which counteracts magic when used correctly. But according to the limited information available, it appears Alex may be the sole surviving Spellbreaker. And why is he the last? Because the other spellbreakers have been hunted to extinction and destroyed by Finder and his predecessors, which means his unnatural new ability is very dangerous to his continued well-being at Spellshadow Manor and must be kept a secret. Of course, we all know seventeen-year-olds are never good at keeping secrets, especially not when he needs the help of his friends Natalie, Aamir, and Jari to cover for his lack of magic. Unfortunately, Aamir may no longer be an ally. Alex's friend and former roommate, Aamir Nagi, is now Professor Nagi. To avoid the impending questionable fate of 'graduation', two weeks ago Aamir challenged and defeated the now missing Professor Derhin in a magical duel. Alex and his friends had hoped this would give them an advantage, possibly helping them to escape, but by all outward appearances, Aamir now seems to be controlled by a magical golden band placed around his wrist by the headmaster of the school, The Head. Yup, you read that correctly; the headmaster is named The Head and he is one scary dude! Nothing is as it seems but Alex is still determined to rescue Natalie and orchestrate their escape. Join our brave, young heroes as they continue their perilous adventure where they must learn to navigate the ever-changing hallways of the mysterious, magical, and very dangerous new world of Spellshadow Manor, where nothing is as it seems, and where one mistake could cost them their lives. For lurking in the shadows at every twist and turn, Alex discovers even more treacherous forces, laden with dark magic and murky secrets, all waiting to make an appearance. But are they friend or foe? We'll see!
The Chain: Book 3
After almost a year of continuing the ruse as a student at Spellshadow Manor, Alex orchestrates a daring escape, unexpectedly aided by a student uprising, two of his professors, and crucial information from the strange, shadowy Elias. Our brave, young heroes travel through a magical portal in search of safe haven, but rather than the human world, they find themselves at Stillwater House, another school for magical students, which at first glance appears to be the antithesis of Spellshadow. But appearances can be deceiving and all is not what it seems. In his search for a way home to his mother and a normal teenage life, Alex finds only dark secrets leading to more questions about his abilities and heritage. With new enemies and perilous danger at every turn, Alex desperately attempts to protect his friends, but the cost is high - maybe too high. This time, the price may be his life. Not all will survive. Who will live and who will die?
The Keep: Book 4
Tricked into revealing his true identity and developing powers by Princess Alypia, Alex and his friends risk everything in another desperate escape which lands them at yet another magical haven, but there's nothing safe about Keepstone Keep. Thankfully, they find two familiar faces who agree to help them. Alex learns more about his origins and his powers but with Alypia hot on their heels, time is of the essence and sadly, his heroic efforts may not be enough to keep them all alive. As more dark secrets are revealed, Alex meets an unexpected ally and is finally given the answers he's sought his entire life. But is it too little too late? Will he and his friends ever find a way back home?
The Test: Book 5
After another devastating betrayal, Alex is nearly killed by Caius. Now separated from his friends and stranded at Kingstone, a desperate Alex embarks on an impossible mission of finding a way to reunite with Professor Lintz, Aamir, and Ellebelle, who traveled through the portal to Falleaf House. When all seems lost, fate once again favors our young hero with another new friend, a legendary Thunderbird possessing a strange intelligence along with the ability to travel between realms without a portal. But soon after his reunion with his friends at Falleaf, Alex receives more disappointing news. To gain access to the spell in the Book of Jupiter that will banish The Great Evil, he and his three friends must first pass a test consisting of twelve tasks, all of which must be completed successfully. Great sacrifice will be required and all rules must be adhered to strictly. But only the worthy will succeed. Failure means death for our motley crew! Oh my! Only the penitent man shall pass! Just a little Indiana Jones humor to lighten the mood! lol... Will Alex and his friends find themselves worthy? Who will live and who will die? We'll see!

The Test: Book 6
Alex is now in possession of the Book of Jupiter but discovers only three attempts are allowed to perform the spell. To save his friends and the remaining survivors who have been captured by King Julius, our young hero must make the ultimate sacrifice to complete the spell that will banish The Great Evil once and for all. Will Alex succeed or will his efforts result only in his own death? We'll see! All will be revealed in the riveting conclusion of The Secret of Spellshadow Manor.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Potter and The Magicians fans will love!

Yes, it’s about students at a school for the magical...they are put in life threatening situations and are expected to save the magical realm. BUT, don’t let that similar plot line fool you! There are plenty of unique, fun, terrifying and just plain weird plot twists to set this series apart! I sincerely enjoyed each book and really love how the story evolved. It went beyond my expectations and def differed from what I’m used to reading from this author, (all her book are good!) but I enjoyed the change!

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may be in the minority, but the finale felt like a huge let down after 5 books. It was clear the author tried to tie everything up in a neat "happily ever after" bow for the survivors, but there was so much deus ex machina, plot hole, and generally lazy story development that it was a huge disappointment to what started out as a really intriguing series with a new take on the magical school trope.

Where do I start? First, it took 300 pages for Alex to figure out what was fairly obvious to the reader in the first 20- what made the spell go wrong? It was always intended as an act of vengeance. While King psychopath-Julius dying was definitely expected, it was very anti climactic. I found all the scenes with him to be really obnoxious, especially how Alex kowtowed to him the whole time. I get that Julius was a psycho, but honestly his rule was failing against a cascade of collapsing havens, so I would think it would have given Alex and his friends more bargaining power, and would like to have read more nuanced interactions between them. I also felt like his end was unsatisfying, and you didnt really get the sense of comeuppance he truly deserved.
The last minute revolt, the former Head, Virgil's, sudden change of heart, and the trick they play at the end of the spell just came across as lazy, and purely convenient for the characters to suddenly come together now after 5 books. That would have been an excellent theme to explore for the whole second half of the series: overcoming tyranny. Instead it was trite and sloppy, a mix of "everything worked out ok behind the scenes" but with the added battles in the first part where Alex made a mess of everything.
Which takes me to my next complaint. Alex. He actually does make a mess of everything here. He shows no true backbone against the King, makes loads of mistakes resulting in the deaths of what comes across as hundreds of mages, and then gets all "woe is me" when he has to perform the spell. I felt so disappointed at the lack of growth and maturity to his character.

It's frustrating to be critical of a series that really had so much potential, but honestly I found myself skipping over several paragraphs and pages of this book. On one hand, I did it because I was trying to get to the juicy bits where interesting stuff actually happened, but also because I just got bored of the filler.

I still feel like the spell of Leander's didnt quite make sense, given that it stole the soul of the caster. In fact, the whole obsession in this series with people's souls and their use as a commodity was pretty disturbing by the end. That, coupled with a psycho king who had no trouble murdering his own subjects (which made NO sense since eventually The Great Evil would wipe them all out) was the ultimate let down. I kept hoping there would be some heartfelt reckoning or magical glimpse into the past in the war, or literally anything to close up all the various plot holes, but was sorely disappointed.

I won't say I don't recommend it, but I do caution the readers starting and/or finishing this series to not keep their expectations too high. There are plenty of truly excellent fantasy series out there that I would recommend over this one.

[Bjorn Sundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Spoiler Alert***

I wanted to finish the whole series before writing a review because sometimes the first book is great but the rest go downhill.

I really liked this series!! I think Belle Forest does a really good job at helping you to get into the book, imagining that your are there. Her writing style is very detailed and she gives just the right amount of suspense to keep you reading.

This was the second series of hers that I read so I already had a feeling I would enjoy this series. The first was The Gender Game, which was fantastic!

I thought at the end when Alex saw his mom, he was going to tell her about how his dad was murdered and didn't leave her, but the book never mentioned that. I had a feeling it was because she had already finally moved on with the new detective David, but I would've liked that to have been mentioned especially because of how big of a deal it was to Alex during the story.

I had a feeling when Alex found out that the King needed to witness the spell that it was meant to kill him as well since he was the one who brought on the whole mess in the first place, but I thought it was poor planning on Leander Wyvern's side to have the spell meant to take the life of the one who was supposed to do the spell that would fix the mess. Seeing as how it would have brought on the spellbreakers' extinction. The only reason Alex didn't die was because of Virgil and Elias, otherwise he would have been toast, killing the last spellbreaker.

Anyway, I loved the books!!

I really like how these two series have no expletives or sex scenes. I think my son would love reading this series and I wouldn't be opposed to him reading either one.

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*spoilers ahead* - You've been warned!

I don't even know where to begin. This was a truly amazing series. I will admit I was skeptical at first but I was wrong to have even a sliver of doubt.

This book was still jammed with action but it remained true to the initial plot of ridding the magical realm of the Great Evil. As ever, Bella was full of surprises. Every hiccup filled me with doubt, I could see so many ways for the book to crash but she created some interesting twists that put our story right where it should've ended.

Initially, I was almost hoping that one of our five would've died in battle. I felt that would've added to the sense of tragedy created by war but losing Storm was enough. It was like Hedwig all over again. Bella created the right amount of tension and intrigue in her writing that kept me turning the pages. (Well swiping the pages - I have a kindle, I'm sorry!!)

I think the series was brought to a good close. It was a very happy ending which is quite rare in a lot of similar books. It was not perfect, the group did not end up together forever, but it was very reflective of reality. We may travel the same journeys together but our destination is not always the same and I really liked that.

I'm so sad this series is over but it was beautifully done. I can't wait to continue with more of Bella's works.

[Karenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilty pleasure!

I've got to be honest, I didn't think I'd be interested in this series, which is silly... Given I've read nearly everything Ms Forrest has written. In fact, I'd waited a long time to read it as I thought it might be too much like Harry Potter. It's nothing like HP, apart from young people with magical powers. But it was much more than that. I like to think I choose from a wide range of genres & authors (including Tolstoy, Brontë, King, etc) and stumbled upon Bella Forrest and have read nearly all her books. I'm 52, so not a teen and really liked this series very much. It's a fast read and I found myself rooting for the characters and enjoyed every chapter. Enjoy!

[Taylor Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable for those who want something more

The Spellshadow Manor series is fantastic for any of those who have an interest in mentally exploring new worlds filled with magic, friendship, as well as some darkness. The Spell, book 6 of the series, has all you can ever want in an ending. Unlike many books, there is a full resolution leaving no strings untied that I could see. I was quite impressed, for I am often unhappy with the endings of the books I fall in love with and generally opt to skip the ending entirely. In this case, I am surely glad that I didn't.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potential SPOILER ALERT!!!! I am FINALLY finished with this series. I found via a Facebook link. The 'promo' line equated this series with the Harry Potter series. Well, that is flat out not true. I found this series just droned on and on. 2400+ pages for the 6 books could have easily been whittled down to 1,000 pages. I kept at the series because I wanted to see if they made it home. The end was very, very anti-climatic! I might check out the Detective Erin Bond series Ms. Forrest writes, but I'll steer clear of her other series....

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peace and building anew

The first sentence seamlessly picks up from the last sentence in The Test. We are thrown right back into the middle of the action. We go to Starcross Pond, a secret haven only revealed in The Test. There are more surprises, sacrifice, pain, deaths, redemption, honour, and finally a bittersweet victory over evil. There is no glossing over of the pain and heartbreak that goes with deaths in a war, but there is a healing balm poured over the wounds; and the vision of a new life built on the foundations remaining form the old: like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

[Patricia Anne Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casting out the Great Evil

Absolutely the best book ever, I truly enjoyed every book in the series!! Wishing now Alex and his friends were in another series, this last book so good I had trouble putting it down. I received it on the 30th of September and finished it today the 3rd of October. I have insomnia so I read when I can't sleep. If you have a chance please read all of these books very good and we'll written.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ending

I had very high hopes for this last book and the end to the journey of good friends. This last book seemed too drawn out as though it was an extended anecdote rather than a seperate volume. I would probably have been happier with five rather than six books. It has been advertised as the best thing since Harry Potter. While it was a unique, it was not Harry Potter. Still it is an entertaining series.

[Poppy Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in this series was better than the last one

I admit it took me a while to really get into this series. I am glad I kept with it however. I had a good vision in my mind of the world created by the author and each character kept growing and developing. I loved the last two books the most. Alex did seem older than his years sometimes, not a normal teenage boy in the thing s he said and did. But that is my biggest criticism. Thanks for such a magical world....

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Series

As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was intrigued by the 1st book. After reading it I was hooked & bought the next & the next & so on. There are some parallels to HP, but this series has its own style & feel. There are just enough twists & turns to keep you hooked without getting frustrated. It was an amazing story from beginning to end. I would love to see it become a movie series!

[Kayleen Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this

I am more of a adult romance reader but my husband questioned why i dont try other areas of reading... So i landed on your books and so far i have really loved every series i have read so far, i think all that is left is your vampire series which is the biggest so i say farewell to alex and his adventure and i look forward to ready many more of your stories to come. Thank you for gifting us with your imagination i really wish i could enter a magical world.thanks

[Kelci D'ann Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Its another amazing series by bella Forrest, she is officially my favorite kindle author. Someone needs to give this woman an award for her creativity and how she brings her literature to life. I plan to read every book she has put out on kindle. The shade series is my all time favorite and I hate waiting for the next book to come out when I'm done. Write faster bella lol

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the story wrapped up but it felt very wordy. I find myself skipping the multiple paragraphs of inner dialogue to actually get to some action. I was also able to put it down for extended periods of time which isn’t a great sign for a series finale, but I did like how it ended and that loose ends were tied up.

[Mary C Dugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice ending

Quite an adventure. Would have liked to have had background on Alex's mom while he was gone. What was she doing? What were her thoughts on finding out how her husband disappeared?

[Twinkle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The secret of spellshadow manor 6: the test

I'm sad it's over but it was a great adventure to have, it was so heart stopping and so intoxicating it was very hard to put down. With their hardships. Love and never letting anything stop them it was a book. Wish it didn't have to end

[Ann Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfying end to a great series. I loved all the books and couldn't wait for the next one every time I finished a book. Fabulous writing, well drawn characters, lots of twists and turns, triumph and disaster. Highly recommended.

[Shobana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Upon reflection

I enjoyed the first few books in this series. The characters were brilliant and the plotlines had potential. The last few books however, don't have the same depth that the first ones did, almost as if they were rushed. Still, I wanted to find out what happened. ...

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Tale

That was quite a good tale. I enjoyed reading all 6 books! It’s no Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, but certainly worth a read if you enjoy these types of things. Well done!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I was sorry to see this series end. Full of action, courage, sacrifice, with A little love for good measure. If it had to end (and they always must) the end was mostly happy ever after.

[Debs Walder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

I couldn’t wait to read this last book and it didn’t disappoint.. It’s been a wonderful journey full of ups and downs and kept me at the edge of my seat ..
I can’t believe Bella’s amazing imagination to create such an Awesome series a must read ..

[Kristin Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good finale, enjoyed the conclusion

Enjoyed the final installment of this series. Amusing writing and great imagery. I thought this book stood out in the series.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending

This series was a pleasure to read. An epic ending! What is next Bella? Bella has turned into one of my favorite authors. Whatever she writes I read!