What do you think?
Rate this book
The Pathways Tree #2
The Academy
Librarian's note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this edition of this book here.
Apparently, school is supposed to be the best time of your life. Obviously, whoever believes that has never tried to rescue a ghost and study for mid-terms.
Bea’s back!
But life at the Academy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Being the only fairy is bad enough, but then the rumours of a ghost spread, setting everybody on edge. And when people are afraid, it’s never a good time to be the odd one out.
So Bea is determined to keep her head down and not, absolutely not, draw attention to herself. That is, until she comes face to face with the so-called ghost. Bea realises that things at the Academy are a lot more complicated than they first appear - and that's before an unwelcome face turns up begging a favour...
Exactly how far will Bea go to do the right thing - and is she prepared to finally meet the fearsome, three-headed Beast to do it?
Get your copy now and begin your adventure!
"I literally couldn’t put it down, fantastic!"
"This sequel is beautifully written, witty, dark, funny and remarkably complex ... Just read it - you won’t be disappointed.”
The Academy is the second novel in the ongoing fantasy series The Pathways Tree. Heartfelt, spooky and with more than a little mystery, The Academy will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next! It sees the return of fan favourites Bea, Melly, and Joan (amongst others!) and introduces you to a host of new characters you'll fall in love with!
The Academy was rated 'Outstanding' in the 5th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards (2017) for Plot and Story Appeal; Character Development; and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar.
Apparently, school is supposed to be the best time of your life. Obviously, whoever believes that has never tried to rescue a ghost and study for mid-terms.
Bea’s back!
But life at the Academy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Being the only fairy is bad enough, but then the rumours of a ghost spread, setting everybody on edge. And when people are afraid, it’s never a good time to be the odd one out.
So Bea is determined to keep her head down and not, absolutely not, draw attention to herself. That is, until she comes face to face with the so-called ghost. Bea realises that things at the Academy are a lot more complicated than they first appear - and that's before an unwelcome face turns up begging a favour...
Exactly how far will Bea go to do the right thing - and is she prepared to finally meet the fearsome, three-headed Beast to do it?
Get your copy now and begin your adventure!
"I literally couldn’t put it down, fantastic!"
"This sequel is beautifully written, witty, dark, funny and remarkably complex ... Just read it - you won’t be disappointed.”
The Academy is the second novel in the ongoing fantasy series The Pathways Tree. Heartfelt, spooky and with more than a little mystery, The Academy will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next! It sees the return of fan favourites Bea, Melly, and Joan (amongst others!) and introduces you to a host of new characters you'll fall in love with!
The Academy was rated 'Outstanding' in the 5th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards (2017) for Plot and Story Appeal; Character Development; and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2016
41 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
F.D. Lee
7 books93 followersF D. Lee is the author of the internationally bestselling fantasy series, The Pathways Tree, and the award-winning SF novel, In the Slip.
A lifelong fantasy and science fiction fan, Faith is an advocate of self- and indie-publishing and has a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has been featured in The Independent, appeared on Radio 4 to talk about her research into genre fiction, and has given a mini-TED talk on why stories matter.
Faith is online and always happy to chat! Facebook, Instagram, Threads: @fdleeauthor (Facebook is the best place to catch her!). Visit Faith's website (www.fdlee.co.uk) to read her work, including free short stories and sample chapters.
A lifelong fantasy and science fiction fan, Faith is an advocate of self- and indie-publishing and has a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has been featured in The Independent, appeared on Radio 4 to talk about her research into genre fiction, and has given a mini-TED talk on why stories matter.
Faith is online and always happy to chat! Facebook, Instagram, Threads: @fdleeauthor (Facebook is the best place to catch her!). Visit Faith's website (www.fdlee.co.uk) to read her work, including free short stories and sample chapters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 15, 2021
Good! I liked book 1 better, theres a lot going on in this one. But it's like, the world is getting bigger so there's that.
April 23, 2017
Fresh from causing havoc at the climax of the first novel in this sequence, ‘The Fairy’s Tale’, plus-size cabbage fairy Bea finds herself entering the fabled Academy to learn how to be a Fiction Management Executive (FME). For those who have yet to encounter the amusing ‘Orwell with pixies’ world of FD Lee’s ‘Pathways Tree’ books, the conceit is that we humans are characters whose destinies are determined by tales invented with daunting industry by a supernatural agency operated from a world just beyond our own. Whether we follow or even believe in these tales determines both their continued existence and the energy that keeps that world operational. Belief is a power source, like electricity, and if you think that’s far-fetched you should probably have a look at the news sometime. This agency is populated by mythical characters from witches and elves to genies and even Cerberus, Watchdog of the Underworld, who serves as a dreaded enforcer called The Beast.
The supernatural community is a great creation, not just for the level of metaphysical detail involved its depiction but also because it is as full of misinformation, ignorance and bigotry as our own. Bea, for example, is looked down on by just about everyone including the other species of fairy, particularly the pretty winged ones who have a higher belief rating despite being demonstrably more ridiculous. Due to an ill-advised alliance in aeons past, fairies have become outcasts and none have ever attended the Academy, let alone become an FME. However, since her ambiguous success at the end of ‘The Fairy’s Tale’, Bea has acquired a sponsor in the form of Mistasinon, a powerful figure who appears to be on equal standing with the senior Academy staff and to whom Bea is attracted, despite the fear he inspires in her.
The novel has several points of view, one of them Mistasinon’s, and it becomes clear that he is suffering some inexplicable malady, probably psychological, with roots in his sense of identity. This arc is one of the most powerful in the novel and climaxes with a great twist. Many of the characters, particularly the antagonists, are motivated not by evil but by love. Like belief however, love can become destructive, especially when its sheer hopelessness prompts extreme action at Bea’s expense.
A word of warning: the ghosts we meet are not the ghosts we are expecting. Indeed, there is a question about whether they are ghosts in the traditional sense at all, which goes back to that bedlam of mythologies and belief systems that informs Bea’s world in the first place. The ghosts also appear about halfway through, so this isn’t a ‘Woman in Black’ type story designed to make you jump out of your seat. There is horror, but it is a subtly political, even fantastical kind as some peculiar malaise turns people into brain-dead automatons who let entitled authorities with dodgy agendas do what they want with them (check the news again).
There is a risk with this kind of novel that it can be too metaphysical for its own good, and the workings of Bea’s world do repay close reading. There are also a lot of characters, some of whom deal with the fallout from what Bea is dealing with in a way that flavours the narrative without necessarily advancing it. I particularly liked chain-smoking elven witch Melly, who is too preoccupied to bother with niceties like personal hygiene and who is clearly a talent to watch. However, she inhabits her own story peripheral to Bea’s and I would rather she feature in her own novel asap.
The story goes from whimsical and intriguing to downright compelling once Bea encounters the ghosts. The conspiracies that spawn these sad creatures are intricately drawn and their outcomes executed with real imaginative flair. For example, Bea can communicate with the Academy itself via the wood used to panel its walls because that wood used to be trees, which are a cabbage fairy’s natural ally. There are also a series of climactic action sequences, particularly one involving a troll, a storm and an unwelcoming window ledge. The book is strongest here, when psychological pain or even illness move from creeping unease disguised as flippancy to elemental conflicts driven by a sense that even supernatural beings struggle to understand where they’re meant to fit in.
As always, the trump card is Bea, who for all her self-doubt will always do what’s right even if it comes across as catastrophically wrong. Like many of the characters, she deals with the consequences of her actions in the first book. She has physical scars, but is still better off than King John, who is now permanently confined to a wheelchair. The novel is very honest about outcomes, and not for nothing is a new harshness entering the narrative world. The latest story doing the rounds on earth is one of those disturbing tales whose misogyny is disguised as actual horror, in which a girl suffers torments for the approval of a male character. Interestingly, it is one of the ‘old tales’, which everyone sucks up without question because it’s easy.
Meanwhile, Bea is constantly belittled, bullied and snubbed. She does have friends at the Academy, but they’re outcasts like her. One is a female dwarf called Chokey and another is one of my favourite characters: an elf called Hemmings who does a nice line in elegant, intelligent despair, like a goth Marvin the Paranoid Android. A more surprising ally is one of the witchlein staff; a spiny, snakelike creature whose species are responsible for Bea’s scars. Bea’s solution to her terror of this character is set up and executed with a warmth and humanity that is hard won.
‘The Academy’, perhaps even more than ‘The Fairy’s Tale’, comfortably straddles adult and youth fiction. The college setting with its rules and hierarchies will be grimly familiar to younger readers although they should be aware that despite outward similarities, Hogwarts this ain’t; for one thing, you can’t leave… Adults will identify with the sense of self as it disintegrates into conflicting factions in response to rules no one understands anymore and roles that belong in the bin of history. For all that, this is a light and fun novel, albeit one with a rather dark heart.
The supernatural community is a great creation, not just for the level of metaphysical detail involved its depiction but also because it is as full of misinformation, ignorance and bigotry as our own. Bea, for example, is looked down on by just about everyone including the other species of fairy, particularly the pretty winged ones who have a higher belief rating despite being demonstrably more ridiculous. Due to an ill-advised alliance in aeons past, fairies have become outcasts and none have ever attended the Academy, let alone become an FME. However, since her ambiguous success at the end of ‘The Fairy’s Tale’, Bea has acquired a sponsor in the form of Mistasinon, a powerful figure who appears to be on equal standing with the senior Academy staff and to whom Bea is attracted, despite the fear he inspires in her.
The novel has several points of view, one of them Mistasinon’s, and it becomes clear that he is suffering some inexplicable malady, probably psychological, with roots in his sense of identity. This arc is one of the most powerful in the novel and climaxes with a great twist. Many of the characters, particularly the antagonists, are motivated not by evil but by love. Like belief however, love can become destructive, especially when its sheer hopelessness prompts extreme action at Bea’s expense.
A word of warning: the ghosts we meet are not the ghosts we are expecting. Indeed, there is a question about whether they are ghosts in the traditional sense at all, which goes back to that bedlam of mythologies and belief systems that informs Bea’s world in the first place. The ghosts also appear about halfway through, so this isn’t a ‘Woman in Black’ type story designed to make you jump out of your seat. There is horror, but it is a subtly political, even fantastical kind as some peculiar malaise turns people into brain-dead automatons who let entitled authorities with dodgy agendas do what they want with them (check the news again).
There is a risk with this kind of novel that it can be too metaphysical for its own good, and the workings of Bea’s world do repay close reading. There are also a lot of characters, some of whom deal with the fallout from what Bea is dealing with in a way that flavours the narrative without necessarily advancing it. I particularly liked chain-smoking elven witch Melly, who is too preoccupied to bother with niceties like personal hygiene and who is clearly a talent to watch. However, she inhabits her own story peripheral to Bea’s and I would rather she feature in her own novel asap.
The story goes from whimsical and intriguing to downright compelling once Bea encounters the ghosts. The conspiracies that spawn these sad creatures are intricately drawn and their outcomes executed with real imaginative flair. For example, Bea can communicate with the Academy itself via the wood used to panel its walls because that wood used to be trees, which are a cabbage fairy’s natural ally. There are also a series of climactic action sequences, particularly one involving a troll, a storm and an unwelcoming window ledge. The book is strongest here, when psychological pain or even illness move from creeping unease disguised as flippancy to elemental conflicts driven by a sense that even supernatural beings struggle to understand where they’re meant to fit in.
As always, the trump card is Bea, who for all her self-doubt will always do what’s right even if it comes across as catastrophically wrong. Like many of the characters, she deals with the consequences of her actions in the first book. She has physical scars, but is still better off than King John, who is now permanently confined to a wheelchair. The novel is very honest about outcomes, and not for nothing is a new harshness entering the narrative world. The latest story doing the rounds on earth is one of those disturbing tales whose misogyny is disguised as actual horror, in which a girl suffers torments for the approval of a male character. Interestingly, it is one of the ‘old tales’, which everyone sucks up without question because it’s easy.
Meanwhile, Bea is constantly belittled, bullied and snubbed. She does have friends at the Academy, but they’re outcasts like her. One is a female dwarf called Chokey and another is one of my favourite characters: an elf called Hemmings who does a nice line in elegant, intelligent despair, like a goth Marvin the Paranoid Android. A more surprising ally is one of the witchlein staff; a spiny, snakelike creature whose species are responsible for Bea’s scars. Bea’s solution to her terror of this character is set up and executed with a warmth and humanity that is hard won.
‘The Academy’, perhaps even more than ‘The Fairy’s Tale’, comfortably straddles adult and youth fiction. The college setting with its rules and hierarchies will be grimly familiar to younger readers although they should be aware that despite outward similarities, Hogwarts this ain’t; for one thing, you can’t leave… Adults will identify with the sense of self as it disintegrates into conflicting factions in response to rules no one understands anymore and roles that belong in the bin of history. For all that, this is a light and fun novel, albeit one with a rather dark heart.
November 11, 2024
I LOVED IT SO MUCH OMG !!! CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3!!!
August 25, 2023
The second Installment of the Fairy life is darker and a tad slow to start with, till about 15% when the plot took off and was just couldn't put it down.
Bea is taking her first step toward realizing her dream of becoming an FME, especially a Godmother. Being the fairy she is, she is determined not only to achieve what she wants, but also unable to be a bystander to any wrong goings on in the GenAm.
We see a totally different side of the plotter Mistasinon and the mystery about him. We do meet a few more GenAm characters i this, who will and may play a huge role in the series.
It's amazing though, how close this Fae world, mirrors the real one. I found myself suddenly reminded of the actual Fae features, cause I was so lost in the plot, my mind featuring regular people into the storyline! Incidentally this 'Plot' is more captivating that the 'plots' being watched in the story... and definitely ME LIKEY!!!!!
Looking forward to reading the third one!
Bea is taking her first step toward realizing her dream of becoming an FME, especially a Godmother. Being the fairy she is, she is determined not only to achieve what she wants, but also unable to be a bystander to any wrong goings on in the GenAm.
We see a totally different side of the plotter Mistasinon and the mystery about him. We do meet a few more GenAm characters i this, who will and may play a huge role in the series.
It's amazing though, how close this Fae world, mirrors the real one. I found myself suddenly reminded of the actual Fae features, cause I was so lost in the plot, my mind featuring regular people into the storyline! Incidentally this 'Plot' is more captivating that the 'plots' being watched in the story... and definitely ME LIKEY!!!!!
Looking forward to reading the third one!
November 26, 2018
Within the prologue of the book we discover a women been tortured and ends up dying, I believe that we discover who this character is later on in the book, but I couldn’t be 100% that it is the character.
The main part of the book starts of with The raconteur telling stories, and Bea getting ready before leaving for the academy. Since Bea has been accepted for the academy she has been getting a mixture of hate and praise mail delivered.
When Bea arrives at the academy there is a few people that don’t like her, especially Carol who she used to watch plots with who also got accepted to go to the academy. Everyone thinks that Bea managed to persuade her plotter to get her a position in the academy, which he did but not for the reasons all the others believe.
Reading through this book I felt it was a lot quicker paced than the first one and that the characters had developed a lot more. I also found that it was more interesting as the story had developed and it was a different scene that kept having its own little problems. I also found that i liked it more because it didn’t just stick to the scene at the academy it also went back to the aenathelin, and we re-visited Merry and Joan. We discovered what they were doing with their lives now that Bea has left them. I found that really good to be honest because you get some authors who include these sort of characters in the first book and because the main character moves on the others get forgotten, and you are always left wondering what they were doing or how they got on.
The new characters that we meet that I quite enjoyed was Chokey and her brother the thoughts person. These characters I started liking from the very start because they automatically included Bea and their mother had already sorted all of them a room out. Even though none of them had actually met yet or gotten to know each other. The friendship between these three is really interesting because it is just like Bea is back at home because they always stick by her side and follow what she wants to do even though they don’t think it’s a good idea. But that’s what true friends do they help you out no matter what.
The discovery of who Bea’s plotter is was also really good, and it sort of makes sense how he has different personalities now. It was also nice to revisit things from his past two and meet characters that he knows. It was nice that all of the characters in the end kind of linked up it just fit together perfectly.
The adventures within this book were a lot more detailed and felt more realistic. At times I did feel sorry for Bea because she just seemed to be getting a lot of bad luck all at once and nothing seemed to be going right for her again just like the first book. There was times that I was really proud of Bea too especially overcoming her fears with the witchelin and becoming a totally different person and thinking things through. I found that she was really brave to especially fighting the fae she had to and trying to keep things to herself again so she didn’t get anyone else in trouble.
This next scene I’m about to describe may possibly be classed as a spoiler so if you don’t want to know skip this paragraph......... I found when Bea tried to overcome her fear of the witchelin quite hilarious I really did not expect her to do what she did. I was expecting her to smash the bottle and then start killing the witchelin.
I’m looking forward to reading the third copy to see what happens in the next book, as the ending was so sweet I loved it. I want to know what other adventures we will go on and what other plot twists and problems occur with the characters.
The main part of the book starts of with The raconteur telling stories, and Bea getting ready before leaving for the academy. Since Bea has been accepted for the academy she has been getting a mixture of hate and praise mail delivered.
When Bea arrives at the academy there is a few people that don’t like her, especially Carol who she used to watch plots with who also got accepted to go to the academy. Everyone thinks that Bea managed to persuade her plotter to get her a position in the academy, which he did but not for the reasons all the others believe.
Reading through this book I felt it was a lot quicker paced than the first one and that the characters had developed a lot more. I also found that it was more interesting as the story had developed and it was a different scene that kept having its own little problems. I also found that i liked it more because it didn’t just stick to the scene at the academy it also went back to the aenathelin, and we re-visited Merry and Joan. We discovered what they were doing with their lives now that Bea has left them. I found that really good to be honest because you get some authors who include these sort of characters in the first book and because the main character moves on the others get forgotten, and you are always left wondering what they were doing or how they got on.
The new characters that we meet that I quite enjoyed was Chokey and her brother the thoughts person. These characters I started liking from the very start because they automatically included Bea and their mother had already sorted all of them a room out. Even though none of them had actually met yet or gotten to know each other. The friendship between these three is really interesting because it is just like Bea is back at home because they always stick by her side and follow what she wants to do even though they don’t think it’s a good idea. But that’s what true friends do they help you out no matter what.
The discovery of who Bea’s plotter is was also really good, and it sort of makes sense how he has different personalities now. It was also nice to revisit things from his past two and meet characters that he knows. It was nice that all of the characters in the end kind of linked up it just fit together perfectly.
The adventures within this book were a lot more detailed and felt more realistic. At times I did feel sorry for Bea because she just seemed to be getting a lot of bad luck all at once and nothing seemed to be going right for her again just like the first book. There was times that I was really proud of Bea too especially overcoming her fears with the witchelin and becoming a totally different person and thinking things through. I found that she was really brave to especially fighting the fae she had to and trying to keep things to herself again so she didn’t get anyone else in trouble.
This next scene I’m about to describe may possibly be classed as a spoiler so if you don’t want to know skip this paragraph......... I found when Bea tried to overcome her fear of the witchelin quite hilarious I really did not expect her to do what she did. I was expecting her to smash the bottle and then start killing the witchelin.
I’m looking forward to reading the third copy to see what happens in the next book, as the ending was so sweet I loved it. I want to know what other adventures we will go on and what other plot twists and problems occur with the characters.
December 4, 2019
Funny, atmospheric and incredibly easy to read, The Academy is the second book in The Pathways Tree series and follows Bea as she tries to become an FME while, as a side plot, there are strange goings on in the world of Ænathlin.
Once again, Bea has completely stolen my heart. I love hearing about this little fairy and I find it such a joy to continue her tale. It was also great to get some more character development for my other favourite characters in this series - Melly, Joan and Mistasinon (saw that twist coming but am so happy I worked it out). Seven's absence was definitely noticeable (I loved him in the first book) and I look forward to seeing him again in the third book. However, a bit of a let down is the obvious love triangle that could potentially develop in the next book and I am really hoping that it doesn't go down that path - or at least not too seriously - and I know I would like Bea to end up with someone (I know who as well but that would be spoilers). The new characters of Chockey and Hemmings are wonderful although I was very sad about Luca - I want to see more of him and felt that the scene in the lunch hall was charming and heartfelt. It would have been great to see more of him.
The take on fairy tales and other famous works such as films, other stories and poems are brilliant and I love the "easter egg hunt" element. My favourite was about Hemmings being found in a handbag and then being described as completely earnest.
I was initially not a fan of the reveals regarding who the "big bad" was and the impact that this had on other characters as I felt it was out of context for the rest of the book - however, once I had some information around other references made in this series it made complete sense.
Overall, this is a fitting sequel to a great first book - it is incredibly atmospheric in parts and very silly in others. I feel that this is such an underrated series and I can't wait to get to the third (and currently final) book
Once again, Bea has completely stolen my heart. I love hearing about this little fairy and I find it such a joy to continue her tale. It was also great to get some more character development for my other favourite characters in this series - Melly, Joan and Mistasinon (saw that twist coming but am so happy I worked it out). Seven's absence was definitely noticeable (I loved him in the first book) and I look forward to seeing him again in the third book. However, a bit of a let down is the obvious love triangle that could potentially develop in the next book and I am really hoping that it doesn't go down that path - or at least not too seriously - and I know I would like Bea to end up with someone (I know who as well but that would be spoilers). The new characters of Chockey and Hemmings are wonderful although I was very sad about Luca - I want to see more of him and felt that the scene in the lunch hall was charming and heartfelt. It would have been great to see more of him.
The take on fairy tales and other famous works such as films, other stories and poems are brilliant and I love the "easter egg hunt" element. My favourite was about Hemmings being found in a handbag and then being described as completely earnest.
I was initially not a fan of the reveals regarding who the "big bad" was and the impact that this had on other characters as I felt it was out of context for the rest of the book - however, once I had some information around other references made in this series it made complete sense.
Overall, this is a fitting sequel to a great first book - it is incredibly atmospheric in parts and very silly in others. I feel that this is such an underrated series and I can't wait to get to the third (and currently final) book
February 17, 2019
Warning - hilarious writing which causes unladylike snorting! don't read under the desk at work!
I've just chain read the Fairy Tale and the academy in a week. I must admit it was the tag line to Fairy Tale which caught my interest (for people who don't trust fairy tales). The authors style is one of the easiest and most enjoyable pieces writings I've read in a long time. Reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's style, this book is full of complex characters, laugh out loud moments, and gritty topics. I also love the fact that Bea (the protagonist) is not a sleek and slender, sword wielding, warrier girl, like every other book in this genre, instead she is a plump fairy who is brave, feisty, mostly level headed, and above all relatable. This is a fantastic read which breaks the fantasy mould for the better.
I've just chain read the Fairy Tale and the academy in a week. I must admit it was the tag line to Fairy Tale which caught my interest (for people who don't trust fairy tales). The authors style is one of the easiest and most enjoyable pieces writings I've read in a long time. Reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's style, this book is full of complex characters, laugh out loud moments, and gritty topics. I also love the fact that Bea (the protagonist) is not a sleek and slender, sword wielding, warrier girl, like every other book in this genre, instead she is a plump fairy who is brave, feisty, mostly level headed, and above all relatable. This is a fantastic read which breaks the fantasy mould for the better.
May 12, 2025
Delightful sequel to 'The Fairy's Tale'
The tone of this book is quite different to the first - much quicker (after a slightly slow start), a richer world, and a more complex plot. I did find the first half of the story a little difficult to keep in my head because so much is going on, but after about half way, things snap more into focus, pulling strands together and highlighting the primary thread. I liked the sharp twists and turns, when Bea does something very unexpected, and the highlight for me was the revelation of Mistasinon's origins. If I have any criticism of the story, it was how quickly the 'big bad' was dealt with - almost an anti-climax. Despite that, still a great story.
Looking forward to book 3.
The tone of this book is quite different to the first - much quicker (after a slightly slow start), a richer world, and a more complex plot. I did find the first half of the story a little difficult to keep in my head because so much is going on, but after about half way, things snap more into focus, pulling strands together and highlighting the primary thread. I liked the sharp twists and turns, when Bea does something very unexpected, and the highlight for me was the revelation of Mistasinon's origins. If I have any criticism of the story, it was how quickly the 'big bad' was dealt with - almost an anti-climax. Despite that, still a great story.
Looking forward to book 3.
October 26, 2019
The Academy
Bea's dream has finally come true. She has made it to The Academy to study to become an FME.
But from the start things go wrong. Not only has The Academy changed locations it also has a new headmistress. And Bea is far from popular with students and staff. Things can only go from bad to worse, and they do.
This second book in the Pathways Tree series sees all the characters from book one return with two new ones Chokey and Hemmings.
I do so love this book. It was well written and the characters stronger than in the first novel. It is Fast paced and I had to keep reading as I was itching to see what happened next.
Highly recommended.
Bea's dream has finally come true. She has made it to The Academy to study to become an FME.
But from the start things go wrong. Not only has The Academy changed locations it also has a new headmistress. And Bea is far from popular with students and staff. Things can only go from bad to worse, and they do.
This second book in the Pathways Tree series sees all the characters from book one return with two new ones Chokey and Hemmings.
I do so love this book. It was well written and the characters stronger than in the first novel. It is Fast paced and I had to keep reading as I was itching to see what happened next.
Highly recommended.
December 18, 2018
A fairy tale unlike any you've ever read. It is entertaining and full of surprises that kept me turning pages late into the night (my favorite kind of book). I enjoyed it even more than book 1 and I hope you will as well.
June 20, 2019
Took a while with the house move and the garden needing A LOT of work, but I finally managed to sit down and finish it, I’m so glad there’s another book because I’m really not emotionally ready for the journey with Bea to end, I urge everyone to buy this series! It is a truly wonderful series
February 20, 2020
Enjoyable read which has left me wanting to go straight to reading the third in the series! Great escapism. I detracted a star because there are a number of grammatical errors - this was the case with the first book too.
March 12, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book, maybe not quite as much as the first but I felt connected to the characters, especially Isabella. I'm looking forward to the next one to see what happens with Bea and Mistansinon.
October 16, 2020
I understand that fairy tales were dark. What charmed me about the first book soon gave wavy to the increasing violence of the second. I couldn't finish, not wishing to follow the violence through to its conclusion.
April 21, 2021
Intresting sequel, lots of mystery components.
Answers some of book #1s questions.
But still confused why Bea would want to be a Fme when she hates the organisation in charge of the Fmes. A bit confusing.
Answers some of book #1s questions.
But still confused why Bea would want to be a Fme when she hates the organisation in charge of the Fmes. A bit confusing.
April 28, 2024
A lot of fractured scenes that do get sewn together by the end but it makes 3/4 of the book go slowly. This feels like a gap book that is setting up for future stories. It left a bunch of questions at the end.
July 30, 2024
Fairytale or real life?
Engaging storyline, which really hots up as it goes along. Love following Bea's journey and the relationships she builds. Also, the running thread of wit and the insights into today's 'human' world.
Engaging storyline, which really hots up as it goes along. Love following Bea's journey and the relationships she builds. Also, the running thread of wit and the insights into today's 'human' world.
July 17, 2017
A worthy sequel to the first book - darker and more gothic but no less enjoyable. Plus a completely new settign and a host of new characters to get to know.
Bring on Book Three!
Teddy
Bring on Book Three!
Teddy
March 2, 2018
excellent book, love the main character Bea
June 5, 2018
Highly enjoyable second book in the series, as some mysteries are solved and others begin
(Note- I should add that I know the author)
(Note- I should add that I know the author)
February 8, 2019
The Adventure Continues!
The story continues at a good pace. You get to know more about the original characters & meet some endearing new ones. All in all well worth a read.
The story continues at a good pace. You get to know more about the original characters & meet some endearing new ones. All in all well worth a read.
October 11, 2019
A lot better than book one. Less confusing, or maybe I’m just getting used to the author’s style. Plenty of twists in this one to keep you guessing almost to the end.
November 8, 2019
Great book!
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequel. The characters are engaging, the plot is complex, and best of all, I couldn’t guess the ending!
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequel. The characters are engaging, the plot is complex, and best of all, I couldn’t guess the ending!
October 12, 2020
Had The Divine Comedy in my head after reading this. "She said, 'There's something in the wood shed.'" Very funny, but that shouldn't have been the highlight of the book.
July 7, 2021
An absolute joy to read!
The connections to Greek mythology were a pleasant surprise. I like how Bea is making her own path by doing what she thinks is right!
The connections to Greek mythology were a pleasant surprise. I like how Bea is making her own path by doing what she thinks is right!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
Just as good as the first book! I love this series!
August 23, 2019
So good! Can’t wait to read the next one....
March 30, 2025
📚 Mini Review: The Academy (The Pathways Tree, #2) by F.D. Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved following Bea as she navigates the challenges of becoming a Fictional Management Executive! The world-building continues to shine, and the mix of humor, adventure, and heart makes this a fantastic sequel. Bea’s journey is engaging, with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. This sequel expands on the world introduced in The Fairy’s Tale, diving deeper into the magic system and the politics behind it.
🎧 book
I loved following Bea as she navigates the challenges of becoming a Fictional Management Executive! The world-building continues to shine, and the mix of humor, adventure, and heart makes this a fantastic sequel. Bea’s journey is engaging, with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. This sequel expands on the world introduced in The Fairy’s Tale, diving deeper into the magic system and the politics behind it.
🎧 book
July 31, 2020
I went to sleep thinking about the Story & woke up thinking about the story .... I think it might be addictive ?
I read the Fary's Tale literally one year ago & decided to read it again, however this time i got it on AudioBook !! ... the first time i got it on Kindle from Amazon then discovered if you've already bought it once you get it on Audible for £3.50 where it's normally over £20 - well worth it SUCH A BARGAIN ! I Find the Pathways tree series really relaxing and i have found that the more the books go along the better they get ! i have now finished book 2 on Audible (again £3.50) but mostly looking forward to listening to the third one which is my favorite - then onto the fourth book via kindle again (its not out on audio yet) . i dont normally read 'Fiction' books but i use this series to take a break and find them extremly relaxing
I read the Fary's Tale literally one year ago & decided to read it again, however this time i got it on AudioBook !! ... the first time i got it on Kindle from Amazon then discovered if you've already bought it once you get it on Audible for £3.50 where it's normally over £20 - well worth it SUCH A BARGAIN ! I Find the Pathways tree series really relaxing and i have found that the more the books go along the better they get ! i have now finished book 2 on Audible (again £3.50) but mostly looking forward to listening to the third one which is my favorite - then onto the fourth book via kindle again (its not out on audio yet) . i dont normally read 'Fiction' books but i use this series to take a break and find them extremly relaxing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews