What do you think?
Rate this book
Ravenridge College #1
Witch Slap
Welcome to Ravenridge College.
Get drunk. Make stupid decisions. And kick serious interdimensional butt.
Petra Brightshade was under the impression that college meant going to, like, classes. But she was recruited to this “prestigious mage college” because she’s something called a primal. Her innate magic is uniquely suited to fighting monstrous creatures from another dimension. Those creatures are pouring through a breach in the fabric of the universe right into the college’s library.
Petra would rather carve the word “primal” into her own stomach than fight those freaking creatures. She’s been fighting them her whole life, and they haunt her nightmares.
But that hot gargoyle that recruited her said that she was pretty much the only hope to save the world. And he’s intriguingly straight-laced. She can’t help but want to loosen him up a bit. And it’s true that the other primals seem to subscribe to the philosophy, “Fight hard. Party harder.”
So, Petra’s in. She’s going to fight. As soon as she gets some coffee, that is.
Get drunk. Make stupid decisions. And kick serious interdimensional butt.
Petra Brightshade was under the impression that college meant going to, like, classes. But she was recruited to this “prestigious mage college” because she’s something called a primal. Her innate magic is uniquely suited to fighting monstrous creatures from another dimension. Those creatures are pouring through a breach in the fabric of the universe right into the college’s library.
Petra would rather carve the word “primal” into her own stomach than fight those freaking creatures. She’s been fighting them her whole life, and they haunt her nightmares.
But that hot gargoyle that recruited her said that she was pretty much the only hope to save the world. And he’s intriguingly straight-laced. She can’t help but want to loosen him up a bit. And it’s true that the other primals seem to subscribe to the philosophy, “Fight hard. Party harder.”
So, Petra’s in. She’s going to fight. As soon as she gets some coffee, that is.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2017
344 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Val St. Crowe
61 books84 followersVal St. Crowe is the fantasy and sci-fi pen name for USA Today Bestselling author V.J. Chambers.
Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.
Under the pen name Jove Chambers she writes dark romance.
A Joss Whedon fanatic, she loves all that is speculative, from Elemental Assassin to Arrow to The Lost Boys.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV with her partner Aaron, their son, and their kitty cat.
Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.
Under the pen name Jove Chambers she writes dark romance.
A Joss Whedon fanatic, she loves all that is speculative, from Elemental Assassin to Arrow to The Lost Boys.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV with her partner Aaron, their son, and their kitty cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 20, 2017
Witch Slap (Ravenridge College Book 1) by Val St. Crowe is a book I really enjoyed! Loved the title and cover but the book itself was great. A witch is followed by a gargoyle and come to find out that he is trying to see if she is good enough to come to a special school. Of course this she finds out after she surprises him and punches him in the jaw. Ouch, gargoyle, tough jaw! She ends up going after talking with her Grandmother and the wild stuff starts and doesn't end. It is fast paced, full of magic, suspense, mysteries, lots of fun, and a hot gargoyle, with a tough jaw, lol. Loved this book and started on the next book right away!
December 28, 2017
This book. How can I put it? Just as I was starting to think it may make up for its faults, it ended. With a really lame, gimmicky cliff-hanger. Come ON.
Still, I’m having trouble reviewing it. It has a decent hook — magically talented misfit with dysfunctional family goes to magical school and turns out to be one of their only hopes to save the world. I know it sounds somewhat unoriginal, but the setup is actually pretty decent and the characters likable.
What’s not good is the writing. It reads like a kid’s diary, like those shows where the narrator is a child and they keep getting ahead of themselves and have to backtrack and explain things. For quite a long while, there is a lot of telling and not very much showing and I felt like I was trying to watch a show when I’d missed the first two seasons.
Another thing I didn’t like was that the characters could have been so much more, but they were not really developed, so things just kind of fall flat. It doesn’t help that the dialogue is quite uninspired. Seriously, if these were real people they’d have zero game.
Not planning to read the rest of the series. Moving on.
Still, I’m having trouble reviewing it. It has a decent hook — magically talented misfit with dysfunctional family goes to magical school and turns out to be one of their only hopes to save the world. I know it sounds somewhat unoriginal, but the setup is actually pretty decent and the characters likable.
What’s not good is the writing. It reads like a kid’s diary, like those shows where the narrator is a child and they keep getting ahead of themselves and have to backtrack and explain things. For quite a long while, there is a lot of telling and not very much showing and I felt like I was trying to watch a show when I’d missed the first two seasons.
Another thing I didn’t like was that the characters could have been so much more, but they were not really developed, so things just kind of fall flat. It doesn’t help that the dialogue is quite uninspired. Seriously, if these were real people they’d have zero game.
Not planning to read the rest of the series. Moving on.
November 22, 2017
Slap & Tickle
This was a really fun read with plenty of monster action and a dash of hard as stone slap and tickle.
This was a really fun read with plenty of monster action and a dash of hard as stone slap and tickle.
November 10, 2017
Not very good
The characterization was horrible. I feel like their reactions to the situations was unreal. It felt rushed and there was really no depth to the book.
The characterization was horrible. I feel like their reactions to the situations was unreal. It felt rushed and there was really no depth to the book.
March 7, 2020
The reader is thrown right into this new adult story what makes for a turbulent beginning. Petra finds out that she is special even for a paranormal. So, she and two others find themselves at Ravenridge College where they are supposed to close a gap into another dimension. Petra does not feel quite comfortable with her strange powers and has an unique way of coping with her situation. But all that begins to change after she meets Logan. There is a lot of guessing and experimenting on how to close the gap. Also. The friends find out about the bigger picture and that not everything is as it seems.
May 9, 2019
Okay, I will admit it. I am a sucker for a great book cover and that is what initially drew me to "Witch Slap." This was not another cover of a hot woman, dressed in leather with a wicked blade or gun in her hand. It was an interesting take on a woman in a wierd dance or contorted stance. Anyway, I decided to check out the reviews. They were average at best but since the book was free on Kindle, I downloaded the story.
I have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by this story. Petra is a 21 year old waitress who lives with her mother and grandmother. Her mother suffers from some mental problems steming from attacks she and Petra suffered during a demon invasion. No, they didn't come from outspace. They came through a breach in the realm. One evening after leaving work, Petra found herself being followed by a handsome gargoyle. She decides not to go home and put her family at risk so she leads him on the outer edge of town where she gets the jump on him. He tells her that he is there to find out if she has the skills necessary to attend a prestigious university, Ravenridge College. She tells him that she isn't interested. That is until she goes home and tells her grandmother of the encounter.
The gargoyle, Logan comes to Petra's house and again tries to talk her into coming with him. After he assures her that by leaving with him she will actually protect her mother, she doesn't hesitate to go. Upon arrival, she meets he roommate, Tatum and they quickly become good friends. She also meets a womanizer, Reid who she shags and then leaves. For once the table is turned on him. As Petra attempts to understand what is going on at the university she quickly discovers that she has been brought there to help close a breach. Together with her newfound friends they attempt to seal all of the breaches that are allowing strange creatures to enter our world. Along this journey, each of them will discover important things about their backgrounds and importance in this fight. It is isn't going to be easy for them to swallow.
I found this story quite interesting. The herione, Petra is flawed but fearless. She puts others needs before her own and she does not apologize for her actions. There is plenty of action as well as comical moments as well. I found myself chuckling in a few spots. In the end, I am intrigued enough to go on to the next book in this series. I can't wait to see what will happen next.
I have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by this story. Petra is a 21 year old waitress who lives with her mother and grandmother. Her mother suffers from some mental problems steming from attacks she and Petra suffered during a demon invasion. No, they didn't come from outspace. They came through a breach in the realm. One evening after leaving work, Petra found herself being followed by a handsome gargoyle. She decides not to go home and put her family at risk so she leads him on the outer edge of town where she gets the jump on him. He tells her that he is there to find out if she has the skills necessary to attend a prestigious university, Ravenridge College. She tells him that she isn't interested. That is until she goes home and tells her grandmother of the encounter.
The gargoyle, Logan comes to Petra's house and again tries to talk her into coming with him. After he assures her that by leaving with him she will actually protect her mother, she doesn't hesitate to go. Upon arrival, she meets he roommate, Tatum and they quickly become good friends. She also meets a womanizer, Reid who she shags and then leaves. For once the table is turned on him. As Petra attempts to understand what is going on at the university she quickly discovers that she has been brought there to help close a breach. Together with her newfound friends they attempt to seal all of the breaches that are allowing strange creatures to enter our world. Along this journey, each of them will discover important things about their backgrounds and importance in this fight. It is isn't going to be easy for them to swallow.
I found this story quite interesting. The herione, Petra is flawed but fearless. She puts others needs before her own and she does not apologize for her actions. There is plenty of action as well as comical moments as well. I found myself chuckling in a few spots. In the end, I am intrigued enough to go on to the next book in this series. I can't wait to see what will happen next.
April 2, 2018
If you are looking for something creative and different then I would recommend you give this book a go.
Although I really liked this book I did not love it completely because I never really got to know how the characters felt about what was happening, and I never got to find out what Petra looked like at all. So I tried to picture her as the girl I see on the book cover. The characters lacked depth and feeling, and at some moments I felt like the book was a bit rushed. For this reason I rated the book four stars.
This book did not lack in the action department at all. I really loved the creativity of the creatures in these books, and I felt like a lot of the book was really fun to read because of the uniqueness of the story and the creatures. I have never seen another book like this one where there is such a difference from other books that I have read; for that reason I look forward to continuing the series and hope to learn more about the characters as well.
Although I really liked this book I did not love it completely because I never really got to know how the characters felt about what was happening, and I never got to find out what Petra looked like at all. So I tried to picture her as the girl I see on the book cover. The characters lacked depth and feeling, and at some moments I felt like the book was a bit rushed. For this reason I rated the book four stars.
This book did not lack in the action department at all. I really loved the creativity of the creatures in these books, and I felt like a lot of the book was really fun to read because of the uniqueness of the story and the creatures. I have never seen another book like this one where there is such a difference from other books that I have read; for that reason I look forward to continuing the series and hope to learn more about the characters as well.
October 24, 2017
Petra and her new found friends face a demon menace.
Petra is asked to join a magic academy due to her magic.her grandmother gives her okay,though Petra's 21,but her mother is in a bit of a state.petra meets Reid,a high class snob,whom she has sex with but regrets it.her roommate tries to hit on the half human half gargoyle.made it through this book of sexual musical chairs,and info is given out sparingly
Petra is asked to join a magic academy due to her magic.her grandmother gives her okay,though Petra's 21,but her mother is in a bit of a state.petra meets Reid,a high class snob,whom she has sex with but regrets it.her roommate tries to hit on the half human half gargoyle.made it through this book of sexual musical chairs,and info is given out sparingly
October 19, 2017
Honestly terrible--but terrible in that kind of endearing way. Facile plot, bizarrely stupid characters, transparent and flimsy use of plot devices just to get things moving, no use of professional editor, and NO ENDING. I wouldn't pay money for this, and wouldn't read the rest. Barely acceptable, and only because I was ill. Plus points: reasonable characterisation in parts, interesting world concept.
1.5*.
1.5*.
October 24, 2017
Start of a new series about magical young people who can interact with another dimension. Some romance too. Spinoff of Dragon City series.
It was frustrating as a reader for a character to recall how a breach was closed, then for her to not try the same thing until someone else mentioned it.
Typos: in for it ("I've never seen in disintegrate"), archaic "wracked my brain," lay/lie confusion ("...duffel bag, which he'd lain down on the floor").
It was frustrating as a reader for a character to recall how a breach was closed, then for her to not try the same thing until someone else mentioned it.
Typos: in for it ("I've never seen in disintegrate"), archaic "wracked my brain," lay/lie confusion ("...duffel bag, which he'd lain down on the floor").
January 22, 2018
Missing pieces
This book cones with zero world building and no back story for one of the MC's, even though it's alluded to. It would have been nice if the author let us know that, even though this is the first book in this arc, it's not the first book in this world and shouldn't be read as such. That said, the character development was subpar and there were grammar issues.
This book cones with zero world building and no back story for one of the MC's, even though it's alluded to. It would have been nice if the author let us know that, even though this is the first book in this arc, it's not the first book in this world and shouldn't be read as such. That said, the character development was subpar and there were grammar issues.
February 4, 2018
Blah,blah blah, blah. This book is horribly boring and lacks any depth or Creativity. I am so glad it was a free read. I will quickly read the next volume for the same reason. Note to the author, don't end a book just so you can start the next volume to try and sell for more money. This book ends without any closure to the current story.
October 22, 2017
Okay
Not a bad storyline, definitely interesting and quite different from most UF. The book does Need some editing work, mostly for grammatical errors.
Not a bad storyline, definitely interesting and quite different from most UF. The book does Need some editing work, mostly for grammatical errors.
Want to read
September 25, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/25/2020)! 🎁
February 28, 2023
Her name is Petra Brightshade, and she is a human and a witch. She can do magic like any other human with a talisman made from a dragon, but unlike other humans, she can also do summoning magic. No matter what it is, she can summon and use it, but in doing so, she attracts black things not of this earth. Then one day, she notices she is being followed by a gargoyle no less. When she confronts him, she sees that he is good-looking, buff, and hard as stone, living moving stone. He passes along an invitation to a magic school that needs her help to fight those strange black things, but that is the last thing she wants to do, but then she does want to learn how to use her magic.
First, I love the wordplay in the title. The world-building had me imagining where the team members were. Then their interactions had me grinning in places, and I’m surprised you didn’t go there. I mean, it’s right there and “impressive.” I mean, it’s a rock-hard…
It has fantasy, even dark fantasy, and a paranormal romantic thing going on. I give it four stars out of five stars.
First, I love the wordplay in the title. The world-building had me imagining where the team members were. Then their interactions had me grinning in places, and I’m surprised you didn’t go there. I mean, it’s right there and “impressive.” I mean, it’s a rock-hard…
It has fantasy, even dark fantasy, and a paranormal romantic thing going on. I give it four stars out of five stars.
January 3, 2019
Good start
This was a decently good book 1. It held my interest but kinda got off track with some unnecessary sex. I am more of a fade to black or behind closed doors kind of a person. But it wasn't terrible. I'm not sure if I will or won't continue with the series. I really didnt feel a connection with the characters. They felt very 2 dimensional for me.
I feel as though the author lost her imagination when I came to a way of getting out of the dragons house/shed. Death or sex was the only option? Really? It's just like the author felt like she needed a sex scene and she made herself a scene to add it. It was unnecessary and could have been left out and for them to find another way to make a life event. Or any other way... Literally ANY OTHER way I would have been fine with. Chop off the dragons hand and place his hand on the door. Recite a spell using the dragon blood to unlock the spell. Something. Anything. Not sex. Sex shouldn't be used as a filler.
This was a decently good book 1. It held my interest but kinda got off track with some unnecessary sex. I am more of a fade to black or behind closed doors kind of a person. But it wasn't terrible. I'm not sure if I will or won't continue with the series. I really didnt feel a connection with the characters. They felt very 2 dimensional for me.
I feel as though the author lost her imagination when I came to a way of getting out of the dragons house/shed. Death or sex was the only option? Really? It's just like the author felt like she needed a sex scene and she made herself a scene to add it. It was unnecessary and could have been left out and for them to find another way to make a life event. Or any other way... Literally ANY OTHER way I would have been fine with. Chop off the dragons hand and place his hand on the door. Recite a spell using the dragon blood to unlock the spell. Something. Anything. Not sex. Sex shouldn't be used as a filler.
June 20, 2021
Started out strong
This started out so good and cool. And then she met the others and it slowly started to unravel for me.
Her thing with a guy wasn’t too pivotal in my liking this because the author set up a pretty fun system of magic schools. Our heroine and three others are the scholarship kids who go on missions instead of class. but that’s it. When she needs to do something, it sets them all on a mission to find something and then it ends.
There is one questionable scene for me, and only because it requires two people to have sex in order to free others. I personally think it’s hot and a great way to force someone to admit what they don’t want to, but it’s also a little bit of a grey area because had these characters not been a certain way, the requirement would’ve been a LOT for some people. Does that make sense?
Overall I liked the author’s writing. A little fast sometimes or wobbly but it wasn’t bad.
This started out so good and cool. And then she met the others and it slowly started to unravel for me.
Her thing with a guy wasn’t too pivotal in my liking this because the author set up a pretty fun system of magic schools. Our heroine and three others are the scholarship kids who go on missions instead of class. but that’s it. When she needs to do something, it sets them all on a mission to find something and then it ends.
There is one questionable scene for me, and only because it requires two people to have sex in order to free others. I personally think it’s hot and a great way to force someone to admit what they don’t want to, but it’s also a little bit of a grey area because had these characters not been a certain way, the requirement would’ve been a LOT for some people. Does that make sense?
Overall I liked the author’s writing. A little fast sometimes or wobbly but it wasn’t bad.
January 5, 2018
With a cover like that, I saw potential.
But...the pace was choppy, the book was in a whole different dimension from what I was expecting, I didn't really like or get to know any of the characters, and whole thing was just downright disturbing.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking (like I was) for a good magic school/college story with, like, CLASSES and stuff. I mean, it's called "Ravenridge COLLEGE", right? Anyway, it pulled a real 180 and then didn't impress me with what did happen.
3 stars. There was so much potential! Please excuse me while I go cry tears of sadness and disappointment.
But...the pace was choppy, the book was in a whole different dimension from what I was expecting, I didn't really like or get to know any of the characters, and whole thing was just downright disturbing.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking (like I was) for a good magic school/college story with, like, CLASSES and stuff. I mean, it's called "Ravenridge COLLEGE", right? Anyway, it pulled a real 180 and then didn't impress me with what did happen.
3 stars. There was so much potential! Please excuse me while I go cry tears of sadness and disappointment.
March 26, 2018
Wow Wow Wow!
Very few times have I finished reading a book shocked by how it ended. This was one of those times. The shock at the plot twist left me with my jaw hanging open and I'm now jonesing for the next book in the series! So far, the characters are really well developed, each with their own strengths and flaws and how each plays a part in the flow of the story has been well thought out. Being the first book I've read by this author, it makes me wonder if the quality of all other books is just as high and intoxicating!! Can I get a frequent reader's discount as it looks like I'm gonna be selling my first born to get all the books Val St. Crowe has written!!?!
Very few times have I finished reading a book shocked by how it ended. This was one of those times. The shock at the plot twist left me with my jaw hanging open and I'm now jonesing for the next book in the series! So far, the characters are really well developed, each with their own strengths and flaws and how each plays a part in the flow of the story has been well thought out. Being the first book I've read by this author, it makes me wonder if the quality of all other books is just as high and intoxicating!! Can I get a frequent reader's discount as it looks like I'm gonna be selling my first born to get all the books Val St. Crowe has written!!?!
December 31, 2018
Me and my sister read this book together and this book was amazing. The plot to where they have to get this spell and her having to have awkward sex with Logan was a really good section because there was no gross details that was just so bad you didn't want to read it. Then her having to drink the dragons blood and cut her wrist and squirt it on the breaches that they had to close to stop having things come through them was a really good. They left me on a cliffhanger where at the end something comes to her after she wakes up from passing out with losing so much blood. It says to her, hey sis,then it ends. Can't wait to read the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2019
An unpredictable, exciting, adventure into a magical community! The three students are fighting to save the world from these evil, vicious, otherworldly creatures! Theses students are awesome in their determination to destroy these creatures! They shoot, stab, hack, and kill, them, but more and more pour into their world! Can they conquer these evil creatures, or will they destroy them, as they have already destroyed so many others? Surprises are in store for all of them, as they learn they are offspring to one of these evil beings! Will they be able to save themselves, or is it to late? Their mother’s lives have already been destroyed by this evil!
August 17, 2018
Interesting
Slow start but it picked up nicely. Good characters. Developed nicely. Good premise as well. Almost quit early on because Petra was just talking about her sex life and I was worried we were going to have a book full of angst. No worries. Everything shifted to action and didn’t stop until the cliffhanger ending. The rating would have been higher with that. Recommended. But make sure you have book 2 ready.
Slow start but it picked up nicely. Good characters. Developed nicely. Good premise as well. Almost quit early on because Petra was just talking about her sex life and I was worried we were going to have a book full of angst. No worries. Everything shifted to action and didn’t stop until the cliffhanger ending. The rating would have been higher with that. Recommended. But make sure you have book 2 ready.
August 15, 2019
This was weird. Still deciding if it was good or not. I mean at the very least i read it in one sitting and enjoyed the originality of things even if reading the thing was a bit of a mind fuck tbh. I'll almost certainly read the next book since its not do bad to deter me from doing so and i'm interested to see how things pan out even if it isnt executed in the best or clearest way it remains relatively enjoyable nonetheless.
July 14, 2020
Não entendi este rating alto.
A idéia do livro não é ruim, mas faltou urgentemente um revisor para o texto, está mal escrito, vazio, cheio de buracocarece em detalhes. Falta tanto para que a trama seja coerente.
Os personagens não possuem nenhum carisma, o romance é fraco, tudo é muito raso e vago, uma decepção. Dei 2 estrelas porque consegui ao menos terminá-lo, embora a vontade foi de abandoná-lo por pelo menos 3 ou 4 vezes.
Não recomendo esse livro.
A idéia do livro não é ruim, mas faltou urgentemente um revisor para o texto, está mal escrito, vazio, cheio de buracocarece em detalhes. Falta tanto para que a trama seja coerente.
Os personagens não possuem nenhum carisma, o romance é fraco, tudo é muito raso e vago, uma decepção. Dei 2 estrelas porque consegui ao menos terminá-lo, embora a vontade foi de abandoná-lo por pelo menos 3 ou 4 vezes.
Não recomendo esse livro.
April 5, 2023
This whole book was just "Meh" to me. The plot was way too slow at times and then felt rushed through the action bits. It feels like you are thrusted into this extravagant world with little backstory about the magic system and whatnot. I also wasn't a huge fan of the main character, Petra. (04/2023)
2.5 stars out of 5, rounded down
2.5 stars out of 5, rounded down
November 26, 2017
OMG!!!! Absolutely loved this book! Love how it starts off. Petra being followed made it mysterious and suspenseful. I couldn't stop reading. Magical creatures and creatures from another dimension. What is next in this series? I received this book for an exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2017
Quick and entertaining read, I’ll continue on to the next one see where the series goes. The characters were likable and the plot was entertaining, the sudden ending had me looking for book 2, so that’s a plus. (Hopefully someone proofed two and three better than the first one though...)
January 13, 2018
I hate books that don't end
It was ok at best and then didn't have the decency to find an ending. Good for tv shows. I will leave the books to figure it out for themselves. What a waste of time.
It was ok at best and then didn't have the decency to find an ending. Good for tv shows. I will leave the books to figure it out for themselves. What a waste of time.
April 20, 2018
Already purchased the next book!
I usually hate cliffhangers, but knew it was coming in this case (the author made it fairly clear). Because this book left me a bit breathless, I have to keep going. Definitely a must read!
I usually hate cliffhangers, but knew it was coming in this case (the author made it fairly clear). Because this book left me a bit breathless, I have to keep going. Definitely a must read!
December 10, 2018
Ok read, needs Editing
Ok read, but needs an editor. Basic mispellings and grammer issues were a little distracting throughout the book. A little choppy at times, but i would read the next one, just to see what happens with Logan.
Ok read, but needs an editor. Basic mispellings and grammer issues were a little distracting throughout the book. A little choppy at times, but i would read the next one, just to see what happens with Logan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews