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Spell Traveler Chronicles #1
Witchling Academy: Semester One
Having magic is a blessing from the gods, and they gave me an especially powerful gift when they made me a Spell Traveler. Now if only I could use it properly without randomly teleporting, falling, and inevitably crashing into important people! As the youngest member of the renowned Harlow family, I, Brianne Marie Harlow, have some big shoes to fill. With amazing parents on the magic council and a sister who works for Witchling Star Agency, I’m determined to prove that I can meet the expectations of our family name. I hope. Getting accepted into Witchling Academy isn't the problem, given my gift. But surviving in a school filled with witches and warlocks? That is a whole other dilemma. My game plan? Focus on learning, do my homework, and speak to no one — except for my best friend, Elijah, who I secretly have a crush on. What could go wrong? Turns out, everything. On the first day of classes, I managed to piss off the leader of the Notorious Four, a group of hot boys with their eyes all on me. As if that weren’t bad enough, now I’m getting death threats and random men are chasing me after school, trying to steal my power. Now I only have two goals. One, survive long enough to graduate and make my family proud. With craziness and danger coming at me left and right, it's up to me and Elijah — with the help of N4 — to find a way to make it out alive. Goal number two? Manage not to fall in love with all five boys in the process.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
August 23, 2019
Brianne’s name is NOT Breanne, and it’s this kind of troubling detail that makes me question everything about how a writer can sincerely think they can tell me a story this way. At a fairly late stage in this ‘work’ another character verbally addresses the heroine as Breanne and is corrected.
Questions:
Is that a hard I in her name, and if so is her name Brian, and why did the book wait THIS long to tell me that?
Is one of her ‘secret magical talents’ that she can ‘see’ intended spelling when someone speaks? I wonder if this would be a sort of mind reading technique, where you can ‘see’ how someone would spell a word, and if so: the only use I can think of is going to really annoy people.
Anyway, here’s a by no means comprehensive account of the many annoyances in this book:
Nothing happens, it’s all just talking and a sprinkling of nastiness that appears to be no more than mildly inconvenient to this overly gifted heroine.
Her hair is orange. Everyone has anime hair.
The hot boys she likes are barely capable of human interaction, not sexy, and it’s nearly impossible to work out why they are objects of desire.
A 16 year old girl who calls a penis a willy wonka is not ready for relationship team leading. Regardless of whether she plans to get old enough to do something with penises, she’s not equipped with sufficient emotional intelligence for any of it.
This book is almost entirely awkwardly constructed, overly expositional, repetitive and poorly edited dialogue.
I like pink cats. I hate the idea of a pink cat liking the heroine as an example of her specialness.
A professor at the Academy, delivers the first day orientation: ‘you may get bullied, suck it up. But if you say anything anti polyamorous relationships I will cut you, because that affects me personally, and I have zero tolerance.’ Just: no. Have zero tolerance of people being shit to each other, and that shit escalating into violence. Telling a bunch of 18 year olds (and a 16 year old) that you expect they have suddenly become adults, and that being an adult means they are expected to be fully equipped to deal with whatever is not a policy. Have a policy! And have something that will actually work for the at risk groups you want to help! (Ed note: I thought about how the speech also included zero tolerance bullying of LGBTQ as well as polyamory and the tolerance message was positive but so undercut by the rest of what the character says, and what happens later).
Then, everyone is told that this may be the first day of class, but they don’t have to go. WHAT????
The magic system is boring and poorly explained. The heroine’s uncontrolled talent is boring and poorly explained. The world building is boring and poorly explained.
The heroine’s sister’s backstory is explained multiple times and is in no way relevant to the plot.
The heroine has no growth, makes no discoveries about her own character, and her strategy for managing conflict with others is to endure and then explode.
This is a bad book, with a plot that lurches from scene to scene without developing any interesting conflicts or overarching purpose.
Questions:
Is that a hard I in her name, and if so is her name Brian, and why did the book wait THIS long to tell me that?
Is one of her ‘secret magical talents’ that she can ‘see’ intended spelling when someone speaks? I wonder if this would be a sort of mind reading technique, where you can ‘see’ how someone would spell a word, and if so: the only use I can think of is going to really annoy people.
Anyway, here’s a by no means comprehensive account of the many annoyances in this book:
Nothing happens, it’s all just talking and a sprinkling of nastiness that appears to be no more than mildly inconvenient to this overly gifted heroine.
Her hair is orange. Everyone has anime hair.
The hot boys she likes are barely capable of human interaction, not sexy, and it’s nearly impossible to work out why they are objects of desire.
A 16 year old girl who calls a penis a willy wonka is not ready for relationship team leading. Regardless of whether she plans to get old enough to do something with penises, she’s not equipped with sufficient emotional intelligence for any of it.
This book is almost entirely awkwardly constructed, overly expositional, repetitive and poorly edited dialogue.
I like pink cats. I hate the idea of a pink cat liking the heroine as an example of her specialness.
A professor at the Academy, delivers the first day orientation: ‘you may get bullied, suck it up. But if you say anything anti polyamorous relationships I will cut you, because that affects me personally, and I have zero tolerance.’ Just: no. Have zero tolerance of people being shit to each other, and that shit escalating into violence. Telling a bunch of 18 year olds (and a 16 year old) that you expect they have suddenly become adults, and that being an adult means they are expected to be fully equipped to deal with whatever is not a policy. Have a policy! And have something that will actually work for the at risk groups you want to help! (Ed note: I thought about how the speech also included zero tolerance bullying of LGBTQ as well as polyamory and the tolerance message was positive but so undercut by the rest of what the character says, and what happens later).
Then, everyone is told that this may be the first day of class, but they don’t have to go. WHAT????
The magic system is boring and poorly explained. The heroine’s uncontrolled talent is boring and poorly explained. The world building is boring and poorly explained.
The heroine’s sister’s backstory is explained multiple times and is in no way relevant to the plot.
The heroine has no growth, makes no discoveries about her own character, and her strategy for managing conflict with others is to endure and then explode.
This is a bad book, with a plot that lurches from scene to scene without developing any interesting conflicts or overarching purpose.
December 25, 2020
So... this was kind of bad. Most of the time, when people say that the writing in a book is weird or off, I don't really notice it, maybe because English is not my first language. But if even I could tell that the writing in this book is cringy, awkward, and repetitive, that must mean that it's really bad, right?
Besides that, what 16-year-old girl doesn't get basic references or know anything about sex? She's not 10? Even if you have never done anything with a boy, you at least know how things work. So her being clueless about normal things was really exasperating, annoying, and just ridiculous.
However...I didn't hate it? It was ridiculous at points but I kind of want to know what happens next lol. I admit that I tend to keep reading a book, even if it's bad, if I'm interested in at least one aspect of it, and I want to know more about their magic, so I'll probably keep reading.
Besides that, what 16-year-old girl doesn't get basic references or know anything about sex? She's not 10? Even if you have never done anything with a boy, you at least know how things work. So her being clueless about normal things was really exasperating, annoying, and just ridiculous.
However...I didn't hate it? It was ridiculous at points but I kind of want to know what happens next lol. I admit that I tend to keep reading a book, even if it's bad, if I'm interested in at least one aspect of it, and I want to know more about their magic, so I'll probably keep reading.
May 2, 2019
This book is captivating from start to finish. Whilst the prologue is a little taste of what is to come . Readers are thrown head first into a world where our heroine Bri is about to make her entrance into adulthood a little early thanks to her entrance to Witchling Academy. The average age of a freshman being eighteen and our Bri well, she isn't the most worldly person.
She is the girl stuck in the books persona and she been oblivious to a lot of things. It's the type of innocent that makes her endearing to this story. As this true coming of age story with twists and turns that you won't see coming. It the sort of story that is common in YA , finding yourselves and your place in the world
However it's RH style and whilst the early bonds forms allowing the sense that it's going to be told in YA fashion, it's slow paced as the author takes time to dissect the situation. Therefore readers are left to read the clues and figure there more to this story then it lets on in many ways.
If you like you Academy type of readers, this RH will tick all the boxes . This probably feels upper YA given the heroine is still a tender 16 but don't worry. There is plenty of heat elsewhere that will keep you entertained to the very last page
She is the girl stuck in the books persona and she been oblivious to a lot of things. It's the type of innocent that makes her endearing to this story. As this true coming of age story with twists and turns that you won't see coming. It the sort of story that is common in YA , finding yourselves and your place in the world
However it's RH style and whilst the early bonds forms allowing the sense that it's going to be told in YA fashion, it's slow paced as the author takes time to dissect the situation. Therefore readers are left to read the clues and figure there more to this story then it lets on in many ways.
If you like you Academy type of readers, this RH will tick all the boxes . This probably feels upper YA given the heroine is still a tender 16 but don't worry. There is plenty of heat elsewhere that will keep you entertained to the very last page
July 19, 2020
Pretty cool read so far... I will continue to read this series and hopes it gets better and better...
Overall rating:
3.5* ~ I Like It!
Overall rating:
3.5* ~ I Like It!
October 6, 2021
4.75 stars
I likedd it..
I lovedddd everyone (except Elijah- you are a jerk).
Bri, is powerful. She is selected to the Witchling Academy at 16, when the rest are atleast 18. She was innocent, slow and oblivious to stuff around her. At first, I found it a bit hard to believe but somehow, it fit her.. I loved her family, especially Starlight and her mother.
The Notorious 4 were fun. They were cute, sweet, open-minded and friendly to Bri. I loved the nickname they gave Bri.
Elijah - you can go to hell.
I likedd it..
I lovedddd everyone (except Elijah- you are a jerk).
Bri, is powerful. She is selected to the Witchling Academy at 16, when the rest are atleast 18. She was innocent, slow and oblivious to stuff around her. At first, I found it a bit hard to believe but somehow, it fit her.. I loved her family, especially Starlight and her mother.
The Notorious 4 were fun. They were cute, sweet, open-minded and friendly to Bri. I loved the nickname they gave Bri.
Elijah - you can go to hell.
February 5, 2025
◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢
🛑 IF UR NEW TO THIS AUTHOR, PLEASE READ THIS BLURB B4 YOU STARTING BEFORE U START READING THIS/& OTBY THIS AUTHOR!
⚠️ KNOW THAT THIS SERIES IS UNFINISHED! THE AUTHOR IS NOT GOING TO COMPLETE/WRITE ANY MORE BOOKS IN SERIES*
(*Tracker Hive Academy, SSS Academy, Blazing Academy, & More Are all incomplete series. Read below for more info!*)
🫶 PERSONAL NOTE: I wrote this b/c I'm truly sad. I honestly did extremely enjoy this & other series by Avery Song/Phoenix. Which is why I'm so bummed! If series had stunk I wouldn't care, but b/c I loved them, & want the endings to read, is why I'm writing this & informing others b4 they end up in the same position as me. Having read multiple series & none have an ending & will never have an ending/final book/s written.
🚨 Spent 2 years waiting for updates/releases after reading over 14 books by author. Will NEVER read another book from this author. Explanation below!
───────✧❁✧───────
⚠️ CHECK TO SEE IF THE SERIES OF BOOKS YOUR INTERESTED IN READING IS A COMPLETED SERIES B4 STARTING DO NOT GET UR HOPES UP WAITING FOR A NEW BOOK IN A SERIES TO COME OUT! ESPECIALLY ANYTHING OLDER/UNDER ANY OF HER PRIOR "AUTHOR NAMES" IT MOST LIKELY ISN'T
HER MOST UP TO DATE AUTHOR NAME IS ☆AVERY STONE☆
───────✧❁✧───────
♥︎ {AVERY SONG & AVERY PHOENIX Are her prior/older Author Names.
If the authors name on the series is either of those & not "Avery Stone," check to see if series is completed if not understand peior that you wont get an ending to any incomplete series under those names.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
◇ If the Authors name is "AVERY STONE," this is her new author name & some books/series are still being released to complete the series. So make sure to check the authors name, especially since there is always "AVERY" & all her book covers/cover photos all look so alike & have the same exact style. You can't differentiate unless you're looking at the entire authors name!*}
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
◆ For info on release dates under her newest author name of "Avery Stone," I would suggest following her Facebook Group Page for any updates. I follow & have asked about prior unfinished series under Song/Phoenix name & she's stated she won't be finishing the series without funds prior to writing the final book/s in the series!*)
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ This series (SSS Academy), along with others like (Tracker Hive Academy) + more - Are/Will never be completed!
The author tends to start series, write 4-7 books in the series, and then just stop. After a couple of series being incomplete, she changes her name and starts again. She just leaves so many series incompleted years and years later! & she acknowledged she won't complete them either.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ So be warned before reading any series of books! Don't say no one warned you before you wasted day/weeks+ reading 7 books in a series only to find out you'll never get an ending!
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ Her books are amazing, but you'll never get an ending to the stories. If you're okay with that, then proceed to read. If not, I'd find a different author or make sure the entire series is completed before starting to read the books.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ Don't get me wrong, as much as this drives me crazy I do absolutely LOVE Avery's writing. It's just extremely frustrating to read 7 books or 5 books only to not have an ending, wait 2 years only to find out the author says shes not writing anymore in the series unless she's has income from it somehow upfront...
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ However, ...none of her series ever gets finished! It's so frustrating to read 7 books and then nothing. It's been 2 yrs since I read the series, along with Tracker Hive & others not realizing NONE of them were completed. I waited cause sometimes u just have to wait for releases, but it's been 2 yrs now & and there's no update. No release date. She actually said she's not finishing SSS Academy unless people pay upfront for the book *BEFORE* she writes it!! Insane! I just can't read any more of her series unless there 100% completed series cause of this.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ She also changes her name whenever she's got too many series unfinished. She's done so 2X within the last 2 years alone & she did the same thing under Avery Song name & Avery Phoenix name. She now is under a difference. AVERY ..... name.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ I'm unfortunately not the only one who's noticed either. It's rather sad actually cause she's a great writer, and I'd really love to know the dang ending and have it all come together! Especially cause with this series especially (SSS ACADEMY) several series are supposed to combine into one storyline. I've read every dangnabit series that goes along with this joining ... and most are incomplete series like this one. It's just very, very frustrating!
🛑 IF UR NEW TO THIS AUTHOR, PLEASE READ THIS BLURB B4 YOU STARTING BEFORE U START READING THIS/& OTBY THIS AUTHOR!
⚠️ KNOW THAT THIS SERIES IS UNFINISHED! THE AUTHOR IS NOT GOING TO COMPLETE/WRITE ANY MORE BOOKS IN SERIES*
(*Tracker Hive Academy, SSS Academy, Blazing Academy, & More Are all incomplete series. Read below for more info!*)
🫶 PERSONAL NOTE: I wrote this b/c I'm truly sad. I honestly did extremely enjoy this & other series by Avery Song/Phoenix. Which is why I'm so bummed! If series had stunk I wouldn't care, but b/c I loved them, & want the endings to read, is why I'm writing this & informing others b4 they end up in the same position as me. Having read multiple series & none have an ending & will never have an ending/final book/s written.
🚨 Spent 2 years waiting for updates/releases after reading over 14 books by author. Will NEVER read another book from this author. Explanation below!
───────✧❁✧───────
⚠️ CHECK TO SEE IF THE SERIES OF BOOKS YOUR INTERESTED IN READING IS A COMPLETED SERIES B4 STARTING DO NOT GET UR HOPES UP WAITING FOR A NEW BOOK IN A SERIES TO COME OUT! ESPECIALLY ANYTHING OLDER/UNDER ANY OF HER PRIOR "AUTHOR NAMES" IT MOST LIKELY ISN'T
HER MOST UP TO DATE AUTHOR NAME IS ☆AVERY STONE☆
───────✧❁✧───────
♥︎ {AVERY SONG & AVERY PHOENIX Are her prior/older Author Names.
If the authors name on the series is either of those & not "Avery Stone," check to see if series is completed if not understand peior that you wont get an ending to any incomplete series under those names.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
◇ If the Authors name is "AVERY STONE," this is her new author name & some books/series are still being released to complete the series. So make sure to check the authors name, especially since there is always "AVERY" & all her book covers/cover photos all look so alike & have the same exact style. You can't differentiate unless you're looking at the entire authors name!*}
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
◆ For info on release dates under her newest author name of "Avery Stone," I would suggest following her Facebook Group Page for any updates. I follow & have asked about prior unfinished series under Song/Phoenix name & she's stated she won't be finishing the series without funds prior to writing the final book/s in the series!*)
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ This series (SSS Academy), along with others like (Tracker Hive Academy) + more - Are/Will never be completed!
The author tends to start series, write 4-7 books in the series, and then just stop. After a couple of series being incomplete, she changes her name and starts again. She just leaves so many series incompleted years and years later! & she acknowledged she won't complete them either.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ So be warned before reading any series of books! Don't say no one warned you before you wasted day/weeks+ reading 7 books in a series only to find out you'll never get an ending!
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ Her books are amazing, but you'll never get an ending to the stories. If you're okay with that, then proceed to read. If not, I'd find a different author or make sure the entire series is completed before starting to read the books.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ Don't get me wrong, as much as this drives me crazy I do absolutely LOVE Avery's writing. It's just extremely frustrating to read 7 books or 5 books only to not have an ending, wait 2 years only to find out the author says shes not writing anymore in the series unless she's has income from it somehow upfront...
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ However, ...none of her series ever gets finished! It's so frustrating to read 7 books and then nothing. It's been 2 yrs since I read the series, along with Tracker Hive & others not realizing NONE of them were completed. I waited cause sometimes u just have to wait for releases, but it's been 2 yrs now & and there's no update. No release date. She actually said she's not finishing SSS Academy unless people pay upfront for the book *BEFORE* she writes it!! Insane! I just can't read any more of her series unless there 100% completed series cause of this.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♡ She also changes her name whenever she's got too many series unfinished. She's done so 2X within the last 2 years alone & she did the same thing under Avery Song name & Avery Phoenix name. She now is under a difference. AVERY ..... name.
☆ ════⋆★⋆ ═════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ☆
♥︎ I'm unfortunately not the only one who's noticed either. It's rather sad actually cause she's a great writer, and I'd really love to know the dang ending and have it all come together! Especially cause with this series especially (SSS ACADEMY) several series are supposed to combine into one storyline. I've read every dangnabit series that goes along with this joining ... and most are incomplete series like this one. It's just very, very frustrating!
May 2, 2019
DISCLAIMER: I was lucky enough to ARC read this book, and received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. However, please note that all opinions and views are my own.
Actual rating:
This is the debut novel of Avery Song but do not let that fool you!! The world building is strong, the character building is interesting and doesn't seem out of place. The book is written from the heroine, Brianne's, perspective alone. This does limit how much knowledge readers gets of everything that's going on, but that doesn't affect the story in a bad way as everything does revolve around Bri.
The beginning is a bit too confusing and it didn't immediately grab my interest. It's written in a way that gets us ahead of the story, before Bri decides to start at the beginning instead of the middle. Admittedly I do like the Pulp Fiction vibe, where you jump around in time, until you find the right breadcrumbs and get back on track. However, this just wasn't executed in a way I liked, it felt a bit sloppy and weak to me. But... oh here comes the famous but..... From chapter two and for the rest of the book, I was happy that I stuck with it because that's where the real magic begins (no pun intended). The writing picks up and I found myself being drawn in despite this book actually containing elements of tropes and genres I don't care all to much for.
Academy books
Character in the YA catagory
Yes, I know, I know - I have issues!! But academy books and YA just aren't for me. Or so I thought!!! Because Avery have just proved me wrong!!!!!
Bri is 16, but magically excels for her age and have skipped two years ahead to reach a level that's suitable for her skills. The guys she ends up rooming with at the dorms are 18/19, and her (former) best friend is 18. So yes, I actually went into this thinking I might not like it much, but I knew I would admire at least aspects of the writing, which is why I applied to be on the authors arc team. That just goes to show that with the right writer, anything is possible!!
Now I don't believe it's a secret that Avery Song is another pen name for Yumoyori Wilson. So even though this is Avery's first book, this is a seasoned author!! I'm not really sure as to why this particular book warrants a change in pen name, as the recipe reads so much like Yumo's academy and other books about attending some sort of educational institution. There's also a lot of the same elements:
instant attraction/interest
powerful girl
shy characters who blush at the mere mention of kissing (this makes more sense with YA characters, that Yumo's that tends to be 23+)
magical powers
familiars
Apart from this book being about the different powers the students have, instead of being different paranormal beings, I don't see a lot of difference - and that did disappoint me slightly. This doesn't mean that I didn't like the story (because I do - a lot), I had just expected something different!! But I'm still left feeling bummed that there's no more pages to read, because I want to see what's next for Bri and her guys!!
Actual rating:
This is the debut novel of Avery Song but do not let that fool you!! The world building is strong, the character building is interesting and doesn't seem out of place. The book is written from the heroine, Brianne's, perspective alone. This does limit how much knowledge readers gets of everything that's going on, but that doesn't affect the story in a bad way as everything does revolve around Bri.
The beginning is a bit too confusing and it didn't immediately grab my interest. It's written in a way that gets us ahead of the story, before Bri decides to start at the beginning instead of the middle. Admittedly I do like the Pulp Fiction vibe, where you jump around in time, until you find the right breadcrumbs and get back on track. However, this just wasn't executed in a way I liked, it felt a bit sloppy and weak to me. But... oh here comes the famous but..... From chapter two and for the rest of the book, I was happy that I stuck with it because that's where the real magic begins (no pun intended). The writing picks up and I found myself being drawn in despite this book actually containing elements of tropes and genres I don't care all to much for.
Academy books
Character in the YA catagory
Yes, I know, I know - I have issues!! But academy books and YA just aren't for me. Or so I thought!!! Because Avery have just proved me wrong!!!!!
Bri is 16, but magically excels for her age and have skipped two years ahead to reach a level that's suitable for her skills. The guys she ends up rooming with at the dorms are 18/19, and her (former) best friend is 18. So yes, I actually went into this thinking I might not like it much, but I knew I would admire at least aspects of the writing, which is why I applied to be on the authors arc team. That just goes to show that with the right writer, anything is possible!!
Now I don't believe it's a secret that Avery Song is another pen name for Yumoyori Wilson. So even though this is Avery's first book, this is a seasoned author!! I'm not really sure as to why this particular book warrants a change in pen name, as the recipe reads so much like Yumo's academy and other books about attending some sort of educational institution. There's also a lot of the same elements:
instant attraction/interest
powerful girl
shy characters who blush at the mere mention of kissing (this makes more sense with YA characters, that Yumo's that tends to be 23+)
magical powers
familiars
Apart from this book being about the different powers the students have, instead of being different paranormal beings, I don't see a lot of difference - and that did disappoint me slightly. This doesn't mean that I didn't like the story (because I do - a lot), I had just expected something different!! But I'm still left feeling bummed that there's no more pages to read, because I want to see what's next for Bri and her guys!!
June 2, 2020
Reads like anime.
Weirdly, I quite liked this book, even though it isn't well-written and has a lot of the same problems I just slated another similar book for....
So I'm totally inconsistent in my ranking... originally I gave 3 stars but a re-read convinced me I couldn't justify that to myself when compared to other books I've rated 3 star. Plus the problems become more noticeable.
It's one of those stories where I can't say why I liked it. There was just something that appealed even though there were so many things to complain about.
The writing is naive, it kind of reads like anime or manga in written form, with lots of bright hair colours mentioned repeatedly, (it's a weird obsession) and clothing styles. The reference to Sailor Moon makes me wonder if that was a model for the author's style. There's an overall "little girl" feeling, a weird blend of wisdom and innocence (despite the focus on relationships) that is not in keeping with the characters' ages. Even a 16 yo is not as innocent and clueless as the heroine is portrayed, maybe a 12yo... or one not raised in the modern world (or someone with something like autistic tendencies perhaps? Not sure on that one, and there's no hint of that in the story anyway). She just doesn't sound like a teenager to me, especially not one supposedly advanced enough to be going to higher education.
I don't know if the author just has a juvenile writing style or this is a deliberate attempt to emphasize the youthfulness of the FMC. It is a major theme of the story, with her being clueless about emotional situations. At this stage I actually found it cute, but it might get annoying as the series progresses, especially as relationships develop. It will be downright creepy if she's still like this once her relationships become physical. At least she does have a temper and isn't all cutesy sweetness. .
This book is introductory, with lots of meeting, hanging out and chatting and little action. And a lot of description details and backstory that are irrelevant. There isn't much of a plot , limited character development, sketchy world-building and rules to the magic and a rather worrying introductory speech from a professor (Why a professor rather than the dean/head of admissions? Why bring up personal stuff that is none of the students' business?) which I think was more poorly expressed than an intentional attempt to say they weren't interested in dealing with bullying(?). There are several things that don't make sense or are conveniently glossed over/contradictory to set up a particular circumstance, and the FMC narrator is one of the dreaded Mary Sues/special snowflakes, but we are told about her specialness repeatedly without seeing much of it in action. She also describes herself as doing a lot of giggling/ cheering/ whining.
Pop culture references seem a bit weird for the world setting, like the author couldn't decide what year/world version they wanted, or forgot.
And yet I found it a fun, light read.
Weirdly, I quite liked this book, even though it isn't well-written and has a lot of the same problems I just slated another similar book for....
So I'm totally inconsistent in my ranking... originally I gave 3 stars but a re-read convinced me I couldn't justify that to myself when compared to other books I've rated 3 star. Plus the problems become more noticeable.
It's one of those stories where I can't say why I liked it. There was just something that appealed even though there were so many things to complain about.
The writing is naive, it kind of reads like anime or manga in written form, with lots of bright hair colours mentioned repeatedly, (it's a weird obsession) and clothing styles. The reference to Sailor Moon makes me wonder if that was a model for the author's style. There's an overall "little girl" feeling, a weird blend of wisdom and innocence (despite the focus on relationships) that is not in keeping with the characters' ages. Even a 16 yo is not as innocent and clueless as the heroine is portrayed, maybe a 12yo... or one not raised in the modern world (or someone with something like autistic tendencies perhaps? Not sure on that one, and there's no hint of that in the story anyway). She just doesn't sound like a teenager to me, especially not one supposedly advanced enough to be going to higher education.
I don't know if the author just has a juvenile writing style or this is a deliberate attempt to emphasize the youthfulness of the FMC. It is a major theme of the story, with her being clueless about emotional situations. At this stage I actually found it cute, but it might get annoying as the series progresses, especially as relationships develop. It will be downright creepy if she's still like this once her relationships become physical. At least she does have a temper and isn't all cutesy sweetness. .
This book is introductory, with lots of meeting, hanging out and chatting and little action. And a lot of description details and backstory that are irrelevant. There isn't much of a plot , limited character development, sketchy world-building and rules to the magic and a rather worrying introductory speech from a professor (Why a professor rather than the dean/head of admissions? Why bring up personal stuff that is none of the students' business?) which I think was more poorly expressed than an intentional attempt to say they weren't interested in dealing with bullying(?). There are several things that don't make sense or are conveniently glossed over/contradictory to set up a particular circumstance, and the FMC narrator is one of the dreaded Mary Sues/special snowflakes, but we are told about her specialness repeatedly without seeing much of it in action. She also describes herself as doing a lot of giggling/ cheering/ whining.
Pop culture references seem a bit weird for the world setting, like the author couldn't decide what year/world version they wanted, or forgot.
And yet I found it a fun, light read.
May 1, 2019
What fantastic Debut for the amazing Avery Song!!! I swear I fell in love from the very first page when we meet Bri. The prologue peaks your interest making it easy to get hooked as the story starts because you just have to know how it ends up there. She is hanging with her BFF Elijiah as it starts so we get to see how close the two really are though secretly have crushes on each other. Each gets accepted into Witchling Academy which changes their friendship forever as we meet the Notorious Four. Explosive meeting followed by one roller coaster ride all the way to the ending that leaves you wanting book two like right now. Total must read. I loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
May 19, 2019
3,5*
May 7, 2019
Witchling Academy! Welcome, all! This book is fun, fast-paced and trust me when I say...it's hard to put down. Once you start this book, clear your schedule, grab a snack, and get comfortable because this story is a real treat!
Meet Brianne, the younger sister of Starlight - amazing sister who really kicks butt, and daughter to two parents who are on the magic council. So as you can guess...her last name gains her quite a bit of attention. But that's not all. She has a unique gift, too. She's a spell traveler and boy does this exceptional gift get her in trouble. LOL! She can't control it so of course...she ends up in odd places...at inconvenient times. Ready for more? Dive in!
I have to say that this author has written a fantastic story. You get so much and I love it! Brianne has a crush on her best friend, but she's afraid to push the boundaries. Are there really any though? Missed signals really do suck. Let's all agree to that. Her and her bestie Elijah get accepted to Witchling Academy, but what Bri doesn't expect...is all the attention that she quickly acquires. Now! I am an avid fan of cute cats and hot guys and this book is full of both. So as you can imagine...I was in heaven and jealous. LOL! The pacing of this story is fantastic! There is never a dull moment! I love the interactions between the characters and how well it all flows.
Needless to say...I'm beyond eager for more of this series. If you are looking for an engaging reverse harem novel then this is the book to pick up. The author keeps this story YA and slow-burning because of Bri's age, but you can tell that there is more to come and I'm ready for it! For that, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars! I will be crawling the walls eagerly anticipating the next book and devouring it as soon as I get my claws on it.
Meet Brianne, the younger sister of Starlight - amazing sister who really kicks butt, and daughter to two parents who are on the magic council. So as you can guess...her last name gains her quite a bit of attention. But that's not all. She has a unique gift, too. She's a spell traveler and boy does this exceptional gift get her in trouble. LOL! She can't control it so of course...she ends up in odd places...at inconvenient times. Ready for more? Dive in!
I have to say that this author has written a fantastic story. You get so much and I love it! Brianne has a crush on her best friend, but she's afraid to push the boundaries. Are there really any though? Missed signals really do suck. Let's all agree to that. Her and her bestie Elijah get accepted to Witchling Academy, but what Bri doesn't expect...is all the attention that she quickly acquires. Now! I am an avid fan of cute cats and hot guys and this book is full of both. So as you can imagine...I was in heaven and jealous. LOL! The pacing of this story is fantastic! There is never a dull moment! I love the interactions between the characters and how well it all flows.
Needless to say...I'm beyond eager for more of this series. If you are looking for an engaging reverse harem novel then this is the book to pick up. The author keeps this story YA and slow-burning because of Bri's age, but you can tell that there is more to come and I'm ready for it! For that, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars! I will be crawling the walls eagerly anticipating the next book and devouring it as soon as I get my claws on it.
September 13, 2019
I've never read reverse harem before, but I am (was) open to giving it a go.
I was drawn to this story by the gorgeous cover art and the promise of magic school. I love magic school! The atmosphere of academia, the funky lessons, the excuse to make up a lot of fun material, mechanics, and mythos. If you're lucky you get mean girls, illicit explorations and revelations of terrible secrets.
Huh. Anyway.
For my first experience of this genre, "The Spell Traveller Chronicles" fails on all fronts. There is no atmosphere. Like, none at all. From the home of the main character Brianne, we go to school, where basically none of the story takes place. We know of the existence of one teacher. This teacher subsequently pops up in the one scene which takes place in school during her ONE interaction with other students who are not part of her harem. Does the rest of the school exist? Do lessons take place if Brianne doesn't need to dramatically skip them? Brianne, we are told, is a genius; so are members of her harem. Does anything academic take place at all? Anything magical? Why is this set at a magical institute again?
Moving on, let's talk about this harem. As a newcomer to the genre, I was prepared to smile indulgently as fanciful and implausible scenes played out. I was prepared to accept the attractiveness of Brianne. I was even prepared to suspend my disbelief over the romantic tastes of several improbably alluring men. But. This story requires a level of suspended disbelief bordering on the astronomical. Why would anyone be interested in, let alone attracted to, Brianne? In fact, we are given the answer. We are told, several times, that she is clever and kind, interesting and empathetic. But we never SEE a single instance of intelligence or compassion (we are also told she is incredibly strong, unlike the other two instances of character, we actually get to see an example). In contrast, what we are shown is that she is bland, insipid, childish. Unable to make coherent conversation and lacking in any charm or nuance whatsoever. Emphasis is placed on her innocence. Now, innocence is a character trait I can really appreciate. It can work well in every setting and at every level, when done well. Brianne is not innocent, she is moronic. For example, a character mentions being forced to impart intimate favours. "Intimate?" she asks, "like, holding hands?" Yes dear. That was what he meant. And can we get past portraying innocence via stammering, please, Author? In fact, take it out completely, it's clear you haven't a clue what innocence of character means.
The dialogue is inane. The sentence structures uncomplicated. The plot nonexistent. The subject of polyamory is introduced and discussed clumsily. The narrative is in first person; Brianne describes herself as whining and giggling constantly. That mere fact alone should be enough to put anyone off.
That is not to say there is nothing good about this book, however. There was one long scene (of a telephone conversation) near the end which I enjoyed- if not immensely, then at least comparatively much to the rest of the book, and there was one following conversation which promised to reveal depth of character. But you know, it's an unfortunate truth that one scene and one conversation does not a good story make.
I was drawn to this story by the gorgeous cover art and the promise of magic school. I love magic school! The atmosphere of academia, the funky lessons, the excuse to make up a lot of fun material, mechanics, and mythos. If you're lucky you get mean girls, illicit explorations and revelations of terrible secrets.
Huh. Anyway.
For my first experience of this genre, "The Spell Traveller Chronicles" fails on all fronts. There is no atmosphere. Like, none at all. From the home of the main character Brianne, we go to school, where basically none of the story takes place. We know of the existence of one teacher. This teacher subsequently pops up in the one scene which takes place in school during her ONE interaction with other students who are not part of her harem. Does the rest of the school exist? Do lessons take place if Brianne doesn't need to dramatically skip them? Brianne, we are told, is a genius; so are members of her harem. Does anything academic take place at all? Anything magical? Why is this set at a magical institute again?
Moving on, let's talk about this harem. As a newcomer to the genre, I was prepared to smile indulgently as fanciful and implausible scenes played out. I was prepared to accept the attractiveness of Brianne. I was even prepared to suspend my disbelief over the romantic tastes of several improbably alluring men. But. This story requires a level of suspended disbelief bordering on the astronomical. Why would anyone be interested in, let alone attracted to, Brianne? In fact, we are given the answer. We are told, several times, that she is clever and kind, interesting and empathetic. But we never SEE a single instance of intelligence or compassion (we are also told she is incredibly strong, unlike the other two instances of character, we actually get to see an example). In contrast, what we are shown is that she is bland, insipid, childish. Unable to make coherent conversation and lacking in any charm or nuance whatsoever. Emphasis is placed on her innocence. Now, innocence is a character trait I can really appreciate. It can work well in every setting and at every level, when done well. Brianne is not innocent, she is moronic. For example, a character mentions being forced to impart intimate favours. "Intimate?" she asks, "like, holding hands?" Yes dear. That was what he meant. And can we get past portraying innocence via stammering, please, Author? In fact, take it out completely, it's clear you haven't a clue what innocence of character means.
The dialogue is inane. The sentence structures uncomplicated. The plot nonexistent. The subject of polyamory is introduced and discussed clumsily. The narrative is in first person; Brianne describes herself as whining and giggling constantly. That mere fact alone should be enough to put anyone off.
That is not to say there is nothing good about this book, however. There was one long scene (of a telephone conversation) near the end which I enjoyed- if not immensely, then at least comparatively much to the rest of the book, and there was one following conversation which promised to reveal depth of character. But you know, it's an unfortunate truth that one scene and one conversation does not a good story make.
July 6, 2020
Semester One
I truly love Bri and The Notorious Four. I will definitely be reading Semester Two!
This book is so not a typical reverse harem series and there's nothing more refreshing! The plot and sub-plots are interwoven nicely. Elijah was always a complete asshat and I'm glad Brianne finally realized it. Never ever base your self worth on what somebody else may think of you. Great message and happy reading! 3.5 stars!
I truly love Bri and The Notorious Four. I will definitely be reading Semester Two!
This book is so not a typical reverse harem series and there's nothing more refreshing! The plot and sub-plots are interwoven nicely. Elijah was always a complete asshat and I'm glad Brianne finally realized it. Never ever base your self worth on what somebody else may think of you. Great message and happy reading! 3.5 stars!
May 31, 2019
Loved it!
What a fun story of magic and mayhem! I really enjoyed reading about Brianne and the Notorious Four. Such an easy read, it was quirky and positive and I love the belief and faith the group all have in each other! This is a winner! Looking forward to Semester Two!
What a fun story of magic and mayhem! I really enjoyed reading about Brianne and the Notorious Four. Such an easy read, it was quirky and positive and I love the belief and faith the group all have in each other! This is a winner! Looking forward to Semester Two!
May 23, 2020
What a waste of time.
That's what I get for reading something without first reading the description or reviews.
That's what I get for reading something without first reading the description or reviews.
September 18, 2019
This was a first book for me by Avery Song. It was well written but a bit slow paced. This is a YA book about a witch named Brianne she is attending academy 2 years before she should, has little control of her powers, and comes from a well known magic family with hopes to fill the shoes she follows. She is sweet and innocent (if not a bit naive and over protected) and trying to figure her way around her new peers.
This is a second audio performance by Lacy Laurel that i've had the chance to listen to and I enjoyed it very much, looking forward to other audios by her.
#AudiobookObsession
🎧AudiobookObsession
This is a second audio performance by Lacy Laurel that i've had the chance to listen to and I enjoyed it very much, looking forward to other audios by her.
#AudiobookObsession
🎧AudiobookObsession
May 3, 2019
An incredible start to a new YA RH academy series from a brand new author. I know that witch academies and RH romances are nothing new but this story puts a new twist on things and is so well written it feels like something new. It will keep you hooked from page one. The writing, world-building, and characters are all impeccable. You will get to know and fall in love with each and every character. Brianne is such a strong, intelligent and independent young lady but I love how innocent she is at the same time. It's refreshing to read about a teenager that doesn't act or think like a twenty-something year old. Her guys are all so sweet and hot, I can't wait to get to know more about them. This is a slow burn and while it is YA, it clearly will soon transition to an NA series so I would say this would be an acceptable series for 16 years and up (for now). Can't wait for book 2!
August 31, 2019
I like the premise of this series, although I hate what a bad friend Elijah ended up being.
It's very slow burn and innocent. I kind of like how everyone in the Notorious 4 just decided to take care of Brianne.
I want to know more about the shadow people for sure!
It's very slow burn and innocent. I kind of like how everyone in the Notorious 4 just decided to take care of Brianne.
I want to know more about the shadow people for sure!
September 22, 2019
3.75 Stars
There is very little of substance that happens in the story, however this first uin series solidly sets the scene for things to come.
There is very little of substance that happens in the story, however this first uin series solidly sets the scene for things to come.
January 17, 2021
4.5 stars
- great YA book
- great YA book
August 5, 2025
This was a good cleansing read and I actually got through it pretty quickly, although it was boring and I couldn’t really see what the plot was?
1.75 stars
1.75 stars
February 10, 2025
dnf @4%
the writing is horrendous
the writing is horrendous
May 2, 2019
I just loved the innocence of Brianne. I howled with laughter a few times. This book didn't feel rushed like some academy books do, trying to lay out the story and the romance and the back story. June can not get here fast enough. Looking forward to watching the love story unfold between the 4 guys.
May 4, 2019
It took me a long while before I actually started enjoying this one, and the MC is beyond annoyingly ‘clueless’ at times. It was very nearly a DNF, but it picked up and overall it was a fun, light read.
May 2, 2019
Brianne Marie Harlowe comes from a strong witch family. Her parents are both on the council, and her beloved older sister Starlight is one of the top agents at Witchling Star Agency. Suffice to say her family are well known and powerful, yet very down to earth. She adores her family and her BFF Elijah that she'd grown up with. In fact she has a massive crush on the guy too. At age sixteen, Bri has been accepted early into Witchling Academy thanks to her intellect and strong powers. Thankfully Elijah is also going to attend 😁. Bri thought everything was going great...as long as her Spell Traveling power doesn't magically transport her to strange places without her choosing to do so. If only life remained so simple. Within hours all she'd known her life to be would be turned on its head. The four hottest guys in the school end up in her dorm, AND she's sharing a room with one of the them. Meet days after attending, Elijah starts drifting away and acting like someone completely different. Rumors and death threats toward Bri begin to chip away at her self esteem, but she refuses to allow bullies to reign. Pull up a seat for the fun, antics, friendship, and action. This book is farthest from boring. It drew me in gleefully from the first moment. I for one hope Elijah grows up and realizes what a jerk he's been. Instead of trusting the girl who repeatedly saved him from his alcoholic father, and oodles of other things, and has been in his life from childhood he chooses to believe the rumor mill before asking her himself. If roles were reversed Bri would never believe rumors over her friend! It's Elijah really a friend of just a user? I guess we'll learn more in the next book...I look forward to seeing what happens with her powers, the notorious four, and anything else that comes her way. For somehow I think there a lot more to come 😊. Outstanding debut!!!!! Can't wait for more.
May 1, 2019
Exceptional book from Avery Song. Brianne is a kind, innocent young woman starting at Witchling Academy. She finds herself making new friendships and questioning old ones. She's magically gifted and it doesn't always work the way she wants, but that's part of what growing up is about. This book is funny, sweet and an excellent story with wonderful characters.
September 28, 2019
“Willy wonka”
Googling swear words
Dressing ‘cool’ and not like a nerd girl
Doesn’t know what hooking up or a threesome is?!
I felt mighty old reading this.
Also, when magic is portrayed as ‘limitless’, the world is abit unbelievable and confusing.
Like why have bulbs if you can have wand lights?
How do magic instant cars (that appear instantaneously) work with the normal petrol cars?
Why buy clothes if you can just magic some designer ones on?
Why buy Ikea tables if some people could magic tables into existence?
Why towel dry if you can magic dry?
Apart from the teen factor, somethings in the plot just didn’t add up or make sense. Or things would be randomly added as the story progressed.
One minute our heroine has just 1 power, the next she conveniently uses her other “hidden” one to one flatten her bullies.
And, Why walk all the way back to school late at night on one day, if you can supposedly teleport on another?
I can’t help but nitpick.
I really felt old reading this.....
Googling swear words
Dressing ‘cool’ and not like a nerd girl
Doesn’t know what hooking up or a threesome is?!
I felt mighty old reading this.
Also, when magic is portrayed as ‘limitless’, the world is abit unbelievable and confusing.
Like why have bulbs if you can have wand lights?
How do magic instant cars (that appear instantaneously) work with the normal petrol cars?
Why buy clothes if you can just magic some designer ones on?
Why buy Ikea tables if some people could magic tables into existence?
Why towel dry if you can magic dry?
Apart from the teen factor, somethings in the plot just didn’t add up or make sense. Or things would be randomly added as the story progressed.
One minute our heroine has just 1 power, the next she conveniently uses her other “hidden” one to one flatten her bullies.
And, Why walk all the way back to school late at night on one day, if you can supposedly teleport on another?
I can’t help but nitpick.
I really felt old reading this.....
May 5, 2019
Fantastic
Owwww la la, what a little treasure we have here! Totally loved this book, it's a young adult and the kids in the read act accordingly. I had a few issues with her being very innocent with words like whore, slut, ECT. But as I thought about it, maybe this could be, she has no friends, her parents don't talk like that, not her sister either, so I put that away as maybe it could happen. I was sad with her an Elijah, I thought maybe she should have chilled with him alone, but then I got the thinking! She can't let someone control her like that, anytime with her would have been worth it, but like I said these kids all are immature and have to go through this crap while growing up, sometimes we drift apart. With saying this I loved this book when I remember what it was like being a teenager and not an adult, and when you remember that you can truly enjoy and fall in love with this read.
Owwww la la, what a little treasure we have here! Totally loved this book, it's a young adult and the kids in the read act accordingly. I had a few issues with her being very innocent with words like whore, slut, ECT. But as I thought about it, maybe this could be, she has no friends, her parents don't talk like that, not her sister either, so I put that away as maybe it could happen. I was sad with her an Elijah, I thought maybe she should have chilled with him alone, but then I got the thinking! She can't let someone control her like that, anytime with her would have been worth it, but like I said these kids all are immature and have to go through this crap while growing up, sometimes we drift apart. With saying this I loved this book when I remember what it was like being a teenager and not an adult, and when you remember that you can truly enjoy and fall in love with this read.
May 29, 2021
Okay I absolutely loved this. Bri is the most relatable, most perfectly awesome MC EVERRRR. All of the N4 were great, even Elijah was great in his own special way.
Okay, I know this book had no plot. And no action. And that it was basically just Bri living her best life. BUT I AM SO INVESTED. This just marks the quality of the writing style. And the magic system was super fun too. I am sooo over the usual elemental only magic books. At least add a little spice to the powers like with Jax!
This is my second time reading this and both times my family has had to ask me if I’m okay because my face is bright red. Not only do I feel waves of second hand embarrassment, but everything was so darn cute! I legit squealed. Moving on to the second one now because I am quarduply (totally a word) in love and just read moooooore!
Okay, I know this book had no plot. And no action. And that it was basically just Bri living her best life. BUT I AM SO INVESTED. This just marks the quality of the writing style. And the magic system was super fun too. I am sooo over the usual elemental only magic books. At least add a little spice to the powers like with Jax!
This is my second time reading this and both times my family has had to ask me if I’m okay because my face is bright red. Not only do I feel waves of second hand embarrassment, but everything was so darn cute! I legit squealed. Moving on to the second one now because I am quarduply (totally a word) in love and just read moooooore!
June 3, 2021
I was drawn in in book 1, super cute and new but it's downhill from there. Have to DNF book 2 at 46% waaayy too annoyingly preachy and a personal pet peeve I'm not a fan of constant time jumps or m/m in an rh. What was cute before seems to have lost it's shine this time around. The relationship seems to have progressed without us in the blink of an eye their saying I love you making it all feel very superficial and a bit too tweeny. Also that turnaround with Elijah was so random I want an explanation at some point but not enough to keep reading. When you have this kind of slower pace it needs interesting characters, relationships and dialogue to keep you interested. Unfortunately book 2 falls short for me which sucks as I was looking forward to reading a longer series.
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