Phoenix Academy: Madness

Blue Phoenix #1

by Lucy Auburn

Life was hard as a witch on the run. Then my psychotic father killed me. I came back. Now my touch drives men mad… and I’ve got three shifter familiars. Whoops?

Special powers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Especially when you can’t control them.

The headmaster at the Phoenix Academy says she can help me with that—along with some teachers and students.

One of those teachers? A witch hunting mage.

Three of those students? Are now my familiars.

What I want more than anything is to get revenge on the Heretic—the powerful man who took everything from me. Also known as Dear Old Dad. First, I need to get control of what’s happening to me.

And try not to kill anyone.

Including my new, sexy familiar trio: Xavier, Reggie, and David. We’re stuck together, whether we like it or not. That is, if we can survive the semester.

There are secrets lurking beneath the ground of the academy, and thanks to my magic, they’re coming for us. We might not survive to graduation.

Welcome to another year at Phoenix Academy, a place where the paranormal lives—and dies—and lives again.

This paranormal reverse harem contains mature themes, a few violent scenes, and no choosing. Reader discretion advised.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Why Choose, Magic, Fantasy

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2019

About the author

Lucy Auburn is an urban fantasy/paranormal romance writer who lives in the Southwest. She loves writing interesting stories about strong women. Some of the writers who inspire her include Patricia Briggs and Sarah J. Maas.

Reviews

[Daisy Sauceda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lucy Auburn writing. She always has an opening that sucks me into her books. There is always something she writes that cracks me up. Even though the story has a lot of elements that make it good. So here we go, Ari is a witch on the run. Why is she on the run? Good question, however I am not going to tell you. Lol Anyways ends up at Phoenix Academy! So how did she end up there well she meets David, Reggie, and Xavier while on the run. Only she didn't know there three men are shifters. They are pretty hot too! So her magic can cause madness but these men can help her control it. So what will happen? Can she control this new magic? Will her relationship with the guys deepen or stay as friends? Will her rage create more madness?

Overall this is an intense emotional ride that is worth reading. It has some humor that is entertaining. Great start to another academy series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

More from the Phoenix academy. It’s a little similar to Dani’s story, forced bonds, being hunted by evil father and moments where Ari thinks about escaping. I’m not too sure where it fits in with Dani’s story but it doesn’t feel like there is any spoilers and she is in it, along with a cast of familiar faces.

Doesn’t end on a cliffhanger exactly but the ending did annoy me, once again focusing on the dead and hell. So not sure when I’ll get around to reading the next one, the academy books are all starting to feel samey.

I did like Ari’s power and the issues it causes, as well as the three guys. There is jealousy and questions. I enjoyed it for the madness and relationship but I think I prefer Dani’s harem.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received ARC from BookSprout for Honest Review
I Give this Book a 2.5-3ish/5 Star Rating, Listing as 2.

This gonna be another read where I cannot base by Overall Rating by my Rating List.

Romance: Technically 1.5/5
Heat: 1/5
Suspense: 5/5, pretty much don’t know what’s going on.
Drama: 5/5
Cliffhanger(?): Yes.

I gotta say overall I’m super confused, and everything is all over the place.

I will be reading more from this Author, but I just don’t know if I want to continue this series.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Academy: Madness by Lucy Auburn is an amazing story that I have had the privilge to read. This is book number one in this amazing start to a brand new series for me to read. I highly recommend to everyon who loves reading about shifters, magic, fantasy and paranormal romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cassidy Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I did like this book but I liked Dani's books better, sorry Ari. I did like how this started out similarly to Dani's because I feel as if you can't become a rare Phoenix unless your death begins with a dick 🤷. I did like the guys but I felt that we didn't get enough time with them for Ari to develop much of a relationship with them, especially David who spent most of the time scowling. I also like Ari too and I hope that she gets her revenge on those who wronged her but I didn't really connect with her again as much as I did with Dani, who I was a little upset that she wasn't in this that much since Ari was in hers many times. Overall this was a good book and it did start to fill in the gaps that were in Dani's books but I was a bit more bored than I was reading the other books set within this world. Ps. Since Ari's story is only in 2 books I was a little shocked this wasn't a little more fast-burn on the relationship between Ari and her familiars.

[Jace · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 58%
I so should have stuck to my guns to stay away from academy books. They're just always such a let down.
This one seemed so interesting though, and it started off pretty good. I think my biggest issue was the writing style.

This author more or less tells you what's happened instead of writing what's happening. So you get a summarized version from the Mc instead of experiencing it first hand. How boring

Also, nothing is really happening. I was absolutely shocked to look down and see I was almost 60% of the way through the book, because nothing has happened.
She is at the school, sure. Has she learned anything? Nope
Any progression in relationships? Nope
Any control in magic? Nope
Any plans for the revenge she desperately wants? Nope
Any follow through from the school on giving her what they said they would if she agreed to come to the school? Nope

How very blah. No thank you.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not that different from dani

Ari and dani's stories are so similar... Rare phoenix, bad dad's, and looking for their mom's spirits. Not bad stories, and the typos are only slightly off-putting because there are quite a few, but still worth plowing thru...

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book. I did not. It is an Academy series with almost no "academy". The characters didn't gel with each other. I stopped liking any of them. No more for me.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half 4 Stars
Second half 2 stars

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. As I’ve said before, I always give honest reviews whether people appreciate them or not.

This story begins with a violent scene which turns into the flashback as to how we got there. Ari, Lizzy and their mom are traveling through the woods, running away from the one Ari refers to as the ‘Heretic’. The three of them are nature witches and they use their gifts to survive. Apparently he’s been trying to catch them so he can kill them. He does eventually catch up to them and capture them. They do put up a good fight, but he definitely seems…not so human. They shoot and stab him, yet he never stops. He kills their mom first then goes to Ari. It turns out the Heretic’s name is Wesley Grainger, and he’s actually Ari’s father. Lizzy isn’t his child though. He kills Ari and throws her into a pyre which is where our girl turns into a phoenix. Yes, he kills Lizzy too.

It’s during Ari’s chase to destroy the Heretic that at least two things happen. The first is that she has absolutely no control over her magic. Since it turns out that she’s a rare, Blue Phoenix now and is hemorrhaging magic everywhere. Blue magic coats the trees, animals, soil and now three predators that are coming after her. So besides being completely enraged with what happened, confused and amazed with her magic and the fact that she’s actually alive, now she’s afraid that she’s about to be attacked by two panthers and a wolf. This is all in the first few chapters too! The predators are shifters Xavier, Reggie, and David. Xavier and Reggie are twins. Somehow or another they manage to get to the Phoenix Academy (hence the title of the book) and the headmaster convinces her to come and get some training. At whatever point Ari’s magic had found the boys must have been when she in some way managed to make them her familiars.

Wow! Ok, the first thing I read in this book was the warning, so it’s the first thing I will say here. “This book contains some violent scenes, and mentions of parental abuse.” You know, I read a lot- many different genres, but mostly fiction. With that said, I was forewarned and went to the first chapter. That warning wasn’t really enough and yet it was perfectly fine. I don’t think I can say enough that Ari is a girl that needs serious PTSD treatment along with magical training. This is a very interesting story that never stops to take a breath. Ms. Auburn wrote excellent characters and did her job so well that she and the story left me unsettled. My biggest issue with the book is how it ended very abruptly. Yes, the second book, Phoenix Academy: Mayhem, is up for pre-order on Amazon, but the release date isn’t until 2020. Sighs. I will now just go and pout a bit that the release isn’t sooner.

[Nina Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Academy: Madness by Lucy Auburn is the first book in the Blue Phoenix series and I would love to be able to give it more than 5 stars. This book features a female witch named Ari who is on the run from a man that she and her family calls the Heretic. This story starts off with a tragedy that the main character Ari has to overcome and deal with. Due to the fast paced set of events that occur in the beginning of this book, it grabbed my attention immediately and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the way Ari reacts to the situations she has to endure and found myself very emotionally drawn to the situations she has to deal with. This is absolutely one of the best academy books I have read. I was enthralled with this story and its amazing cast of characters. If you are looking for a great academy book then you must read this one. Phoenix Academy: Madness is a thrilling 5 + star reverse harem paranormal romance.

[Cheryl Sedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book yet again full of action and various twists and turns a must read. This book is a slow burn with a great storyline.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoiler Alert*
Ari (FMC) not only watches as Heretics/Witch hunters (one of which is related to her) kill not only her mother, sister but they also murder her too. The only difference being that she doesnt stay dead and whilst they burn her body she emerges from the fire newborn as a phoenix. A special kind of blue phoenix. As she is told when confronted by three shifters - Xavier, Reggie and David who bring her to a special academy for all kinds of phoenix's. Somewhere she can feel safe until shes worked out how to use her new powers. A great story but parts at the beginning were a bit dark but if you stick with it its a brilliant read and the ending floored me!! Dying to find out what happens next? Bring on book 2

[Leslie Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Dani and her demons were hard to handle, but Ari is a witch. Ari, 19, her mother ad her little sister, Lizzy, 13, have been on the run from Ari's father for a long, long time. She calls him the Heretic and he is psycho. He catches up with them, kills her mom, then bleeds Ari (to remove the magic in her veins. Lizzy is left and Ari and her mother's bodies were left to burn. When Ari arises she accidently makes three shifters, Reggie, Xavier and David, her familiars. Good thing, too, because she is not in control of her magic and her emotions cause the animal spirits to go feral. Being a witch reborn a phoenix, she is extremely rare and super powerful. This is the first leg of her journey at the Phoenix Academy where they will try to teach her how to control her powers. Needless to say, her father will not give up that easily. He is obsessed with gaining power and Ari is where he thinks he is going to get it. Jump in for another hair-raising, action packed, journey at the Phoenix Academy. This one is even more than Dani's story. Oh yea, Dani and her demons are still at the school and we'll see a bit of them off and on. I requested an advanced reader copy from Booksprout and am under no obligation to leave this review.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ari her death was tragic and cruel her life full of fear and danger chased by a soulless being the Heretic her father. He end her and sister and herself in one final act of cruelty now she is born again as the blue Phoenix full of power and hate. She must save her mother and sisters souls from and afterlife. She will meet three shifters David, Reggie and Xavier this is just the beginning of Ari's journey one that will bring her to the phoenix Academy built by Mages which she hates she should be safe here but she's not and just as she is about to find some kind of happiness with her shifters a great evil will threaten everyone and everything if she doesn't give it what it wants. Yes there is a cliffhanger but this story is well worth getting into cant wait till the next chapter in Ari's story starts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ari goes through a traumatic and tragic experience that sets her off on this new journey as a rare phoenix. On her quest for revenge, she stumbles unto two panthers and a wolf. She makes some sort of connection with the three and then has no other choice but to join the academy to learn and control her powers so she can stop the Heretic and put her loved ones to rest.

Although this is called Phoenix Academy, it is whole new series with a different heroine and harem. I had a bit of trouble at first getting into this one because I was still stuck on the first series from Phoenix Academy. Don't make that mistake if you have read the first series! This book was just as well written with a story of it's own worth reading!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing emotional story I absolutely loved it. Ari her mother and her sister Lizzie are on the run from the heretics they had found them once especially him then they ran and now he and his followers have found them again. Their mother told them to run she was going to sacrifice herself but Lizzie refused to run so they got their guns ready and started shooting him, he smirked when the bullets had done no good so Ari threw her rifle down and said I surrender dad. That’s all I’m going to give you guys but this is just the beginning of an amazing story it’s a 5 plus ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[Reena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intense, fast-paced story, set in the Phoenix Academy universe. As you should gather from the title, as well as the warning in the blurb, this is not a story for the faint at heart. That being said, it is a story that grabs the reader from the start and keeps them breathless throughout reading with its well written narrative, great characters and intriguing plot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aimee Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced PNR will grab your attention from the very beginning with great characters woven into this mysterious Phoenix Academy series! Witches in hiding, found familiars, new discoveries and a mysterious death no one is willing to admit.
First time reading from this author but definitely not my last!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacinta - Aussie Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this world. This book was so good, I could not put it down. It's fast paced and so easy to read. Definitely recommend reading this! Can't wait to see what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Frigault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Phoenix Academy world and i can't get enough of it i need more!! Like the previous books in this series i was glued to my kindle and couldn't put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am volontarily leaving a review.

[Dawn Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the books for Dani and loved this one as well!!!!!! Lucy! Did an amazing job here as well! The story is fantastic the characters!!!!! Ugh I'm in withdrawals!! Ari has such personality! I cannt wait to see what this blue Phoenix does!!!!!!

[flightyinagoodway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of The Originals and Vampire Diaries will love this book. Very fast paced and fun to read. You'll be breathless, excited, and heartbroken. I'd recommend for mature readers, due to intensity levels.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a little early for Christmas but I enjoyed this book from its well developed and engaging characters. To the smooth flowing storyline that had me turning each page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book. The storyline is well written and enjoyable. I loved the characters and found them well developed. I recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dezi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Good story with great writing. Loved the MC and her familiars. Can't wait to see how everything progresses. That cliffhanger has me wondering how everything will play out.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This was a good start to the new series. Except take away the four demon boyfriends, add shifters and it's almost the same story.

[Jennifer Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. Glad I gave it a go.

[Jade Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! I like the characters and the storyline! I am looking forward to the next book.