Catacombs

Spellcrest Academy #5

by Michael Pierce

Death lurks in the catacombs…

After a narrow escape from the catacombs, Maeve now knows what she’s up against. She’s seen the plague firsthand, and it personifies her worst nightmares.

But how did she end up there?

She was intentionally sent into the hidden subterranean level of Spellcrest Academy, where the plague has been safely locked away for generations. However, someone intends to release it—them—and Maeve’s needle just so happens to be the key.

Maeve must discover who hexed her soul crystal before she finds herself in the catacombs again. Next time, she may not be so lucky…

Follow Maeve into the darkness in the heart-racing fifth book of the Spellcrest Academy series.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Angels, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Paranormal

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2020

About the author

Michael Pierce loves stories that are thrilling and unexpected, fantastical and romantic—addictive tales that keep you reading long past the witching hour.

He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, kids, and two blood-thirsty chiweenies. When he's not at the computer, he enjoys spending quality time with family, practicing yoga, playing guitar behind closed doors, and listening to audiobooks.

Find him on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Pierce...

Visit his website: www.michaelpierceauthor.com

List of Michael's books:

SPELLCREST ACADEMY

Spellcrest Academy (Book 1)
Crestfallen (Book 2)
Crystallize (Book 3)
Medial Candidate (Book 4)
Medial Candidate (Book 5)
Chrysalis (Book 6) ➜ Releasing July 10, 2020
Sapient Curse (Book 7) ➜ Releasing early 2021

ANGELES VAMPIRE

Angeles Vampire (Book 1)
Angeles Underground (Book 2)
Angeles Betrayal (Book 3)
Angeles Covenant (Book 4)
Angeles Prophecy (Book 5) ➜ Releasing Fall 2020

ROYAL REPLICAS (Completed Series)

Royal Replicas (Book 1)
Royal Captives (Book 2)
Royal Threat (Book 3)
Royal Return (Book 4)

HIGHER REALMS (Completed Series)

Provex City (Book 1)
SUSY Asylum (Book 2)
Doria Falls (Book 3)
Archanum Manor (Book 4)

And don't forget to say "hello" on...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrpierceauthor
Twitter: @mrpierceauthor
www.michaelpierceauthor.com

Reviews

[Christina Luberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have mystery. Maeve made it out of the catacombs where the plague lives. Who sent her there? What do they want? Can she trust Devon? Can she trust Toby? Is is someone in S&S? Who is trying to set them free? Why are they after her? Will she survive?

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

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. Filled with suspense and mystery. Maeve makes it out if the Catacombs but danger still lurks. Totally intriguing.

[Mary A. Muchowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catacombs is Book 5 in the Spellcrest Academy series. Maeve and Finley grew up in foster homes after their parents were supposedly killed in a car accident. Maeve had no idea that she even had magical abilities until she came upon a woman who had been attacked who forced a needle into Maeve's finger and told her she must get to Headmistress Christi at Spellcrest Academy. Soon, someone comes looking for Maeve and intends to take her to Spellcrest Academy. Maeve makes a deal that her brother Finley can also come with. There are a lot of secrets being kept from Maeve and one of them is that her mother had a lot of money and that one of the halls on campus is named after the Rainley family. Maeve also learns that her parents were fighting with the Kicryians and were crystalized and that they could be brought back. Maeve also learns that Headmistress Christi had intended that her son, Devon get the needle and become a tailor that she could use for her political aspirations. She has him spying on Maeve and intends to take the needle away from her. When Maeve's parents are brought back and just after a Kicryian attack on Spellcrest in which the headmistress had unleashed a plaque of vampires . . . . she tries to take Maeve's needle and Maeve's mother kills her. That had to be kept hidden from the new Headmaster who is investigating Meredith Christi's disappearance. Maeve was chosen to rush Skulls and Spells and she thinks the Alumni liason, Dawn who is a vampire and was her mother's old roommate has ulterior motives when she is targeted several times and barely makes it out alive. Devon is trying to help Maeve although she is not quite sure she can trust him. She admits the truth to him and says she will help him bring back his mother's body. While in Kicryia, Devon is captured and Maeve enlists her family to help. Her father is taken back into the Kicryian army as the General's assistant and her mother is arrested for Headmistress Christie's death, but the worst thing is that the plaque of vampires have been unleashed on the Earth and the devastation will be complete unless there is some way of stopping them. Chrysalis (Book 6) is due to be released in July.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts right after last book ended. And right from the beginning, this book grabs and holds your attention. And, unlike the previous book, Devon makes more appearances. No spoiler alerts. There is also more family time with Maeve and her parents. And the secretive S&S group. And so much more. I am exhausted because I just finished reading/listening to the book.

The whole magic existence is really fascinating. It makes me want to be there, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world. And the different relationships that Maeve has at Spellcrest Academy seem so real, I would like to be friends with them, too. So far no one has found out about what happened to Headmistress Chryisti. But the news Headmaster seems to be getting closer to the truth. And Maeve, being the good person that she is, has a lot of guilt and fear relating to her part in it. Especially Devon finding out her part in his mother's death.

Marie's fellow candidates for S&S prove to be a bunch of jerks, only caring about themselves getting to the initiation. And the main jerk is Garrett. And then there is Dawn. The way everyone acts like she is beyond suspicion for her part in the attempted murder of Maeve and Razielle is frustrating. Even her own mother has doubts. But the various plots keep you wanting to read this entire book in one setting. Then you come to the inevitable cliffhanger of the book and you have to wait, patiently, for the next book to come out. Luckily, you can read the previous books all over again while you are "patiently" waiting for the end of year two at Spellcrest Academy. Heavy sigh.😁

I received an ARC of this e-book to read and write an honest review. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series.

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My extreme patience awaiting the publication of this the fifth novel of Michael Pierce’s Spellcrest Academy series finally paid off. This book follows Maeve thru many conundrums. First, her back and forth feelings for Devon, then her determination to solve the mystery of Headmistress Christi’s disappearance; also, what happened to her soul crystal, how did it get hexed? Then, what happened to her during the Skulls and Spells game and what happened to Headmaster Bronze; how did the plague of Spellcrest get released? (Almost uncannily apropos during this time of COVID19 outbreaks.) These and a few more issues are addressed in this book. Mr. Pierce masterfully wove these issues at just the right times, solved some of them and created others for his characters. The many surprises he created blindsided me at times and at other times reinforced my suspicions. I love Maeve as a character. I recognize her in many people I have known throughout my own life. Also, I appreciated his comparison of some of the cities in this book to Los Angeles and San Francisco, two cities I have visited many times. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. It was not only captivating but increased my appetite for more. I shall be starving for more until the next book in this series reaches my palate.

[Holly Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I’m volunteering to review this arc ***

OMG! I volunteered to read the story. But before I could read the story I had to start from the beginning of the series. This series was so hard to put down. The main character is Maeve. She is a smart and strong women. Trouble always seems to find Maeve or she may find it. Maeve is a seamstress. Everyone seems to want her needle. She starts her second year with her friends and her family that is hole again. In the last book and in Catacombs Maeve continues being tapped to join Skulls & Spells , which is elite club in the Academy. She was sent on mission to find her soul crystal which was located in the catacombs. But what she finds is not what she was looking for, but instead the Plague. After escaping the catacombs. She find somebody is trying to get her and her needle. She ends up telling Devon about his mom and then has to rescue him. On top of that now her parents are gone and finds that what is never to be let free is now out in Spellcrest. Will Maeve be able to save Spellcrest, her friends and family? Will Devon forgive her? Will she find out who is after her and why? But not all is what it seems. Can’t wait for the next book.

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

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death lurks in the catacombs…
After a narrow escape from the catacombs, Maeve now knows what she’s up against. She’s seen the plague firsthand, and it personifies her worst nightmares.
But how did she end up there?
She was intentionally sent into the hidden subterranean level of Spellcrest Academy, where the plague has been safely locked away for generations. However, someone intends to release it—them—and Maeve’s needle just so happens to be the key.
Maeve must discover who hexed her soul crystal before she finds herself in the catacombs again. Next time, she may not be so lucky…

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

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

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, as addicting as this series is, this book felt a little like filler. I still highly enjoyed it. I've got about a thousand more questions with no answers yet. Who the heck knows who the real villain is anymore. Certainly not me. Catacombs picks right back up from the ending of the last book. Conveniently, in the Catacombs. Maeve and Devon play a lot of chase... with their relationship, through secret societies, through soul crystals, through different worlds; you know, typical high school stuff. It was nice to finally see some of Maeve's dad's background. Michael knows how to leave you an a crazy cliffhanger. I'm exhausted from all the drama. And ready to pick up the next book for even more I'm sure is yet to come.

[Buttercup1201 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After barely escaping the latest S&S challenge, Maeve is on a mission. She wants to know who is after her and why. It’s only half way into her second year and her troubles are getting worst.

Felt this book was more about Maeve and how she copes with what life has given her. I see her struggle and the decisions she makes, not always the best ones, and how they effect the people around her. But they always come with a price.

I was able to lose myself in this magical world. Michael does a great job of describing Kicryria and how different it is from the modern Earth world. Love the series.

[Marie Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent and continues seamlessly from the previous book. It is well written and the story and characters are well developed. I love watching the relationship dynamics change and evolve through the books. The story was action packed and full of twists and turns. It had suspense, betrayal, intrigue, emotion, hot chemistry and romance. I look forward to the next book in this amazing series!! I’d highly recommend this book!!

I received an arc for a voluntary review.

[Wendy Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave us even more info into Maeve’s background which I enjoyed. I was happy to see that Devon was back in this story. There were numerous plot twists and I was not expecting the ending at all. Now unfortunately I have to wait for the next book in the series to be completed to find out what’s next!

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read that from the moment that I picked it up, I was hooked. It has amazing characters that seem so real that you feel like you have known them forever and no matter what you want to be there to help them. The story will keep you turning pages from the very beginning all the way till the very last word. This book has to be read, you will not be sorry that you did.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catacombs by Michael Pierce is an awesome story that I have read. This is book number five out of six in this awesome series that I have loved reading and can not wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy in their stories.

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

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 5 for the Spellcrest Academy series. I loved this book. I love the storyline and the characters. Both are well written and hold your interest. This is a hard book to put down and a really great series. I’m looking forward to the next book and recommend reading.

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

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. I love the characters and am happy with how the author gives us not only a well developed and engaging characters but a storyline you can sink your teeth into.

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

[Diane Werning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catacombs

Maeve and her friends are in big trouble and I don't know how they are going to get out of this mess.I hope the next book is as good as these last 5 have been.

[Sharmane Mazyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Just when you think maves story can't get any better you go and get something better like I can't put this book down I need to know what happens next

[Kathy Zuercher Diveley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve

Someone in the secret society is trying to kill Maeve. There are Vampires in the Catacombs that can release the plague.