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The Windhaven Witches #1
Secret Legacy
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES meets LOCKE & KEY in this completed new adult series!
I always wanted supernatural powers.
The day I got my acceptance letter from the Windhaven Academy, I knew my life was about to change - BIG TIME. I expected to find out I could phase through walls or control people with my mind. But what I became was far more complicated than I ever imagined.
You see, I come from a long line of witches with incredible power that spans centuries.
I just didn’t know it.
But unleashing my powers is just the beginning. There are forces bigger than anything I ever imagined… and they’re coming for me.
Sure, Windhaven Academy is a school for supernaturals.
But what I am will provoke an ancient curse that will pit me against fate.
And now, no one is safe.
*PLEASE BE ADVISED: This is a YA+ Academy series with a fast-paced romance featuring a resourceful, but flawed heroine. It’s labeled YA(+) for stronger language and some mature situations. As the heroine ages and grows, so does the content of the stories.*
I always wanted supernatural powers.
The day I got my acceptance letter from the Windhaven Academy, I knew my life was about to change - BIG TIME. I expected to find out I could phase through walls or control people with my mind. But what I became was far more complicated than I ever imagined.
You see, I come from a long line of witches with incredible power that spans centuries.
I just didn’t know it.
But unleashing my powers is just the beginning. There are forces bigger than anything I ever imagined… and they’re coming for me.
Sure, Windhaven Academy is a school for supernaturals.
But what I am will provoke an ancient curse that will pit me against fate.
And now, no one is safe.
*PLEASE BE ADVISED: This is a YA+ Academy series with a fast-paced romance featuring a resourceful, but flawed heroine. It’s labeled YA(+) for stronger language and some mature situations. As the heroine ages and grows, so does the content of the stories.*
289 pages, ebook
First published September 8, 2020
490 people are currently reading
1696 people want to read
About the author
Carissa Andrews
43 books732 followers"An author emerges from the depths of Minnesotan waters. Sci-fi/Fantasy is my pen of choice."
Carissa Andrews is an internationally bestselling author from central Minnesota who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, supernatural thriller, and dystopia.
She keeps sane by chilling with her husband and five kids, playing with art in its various forms, seeking out mysteries, and being an occasional meditation and reiki badass.
You can learn more about Carissa and her upcoming books by visiting her website: www.carissaandrews.com
Carissa Andrews is an internationally bestselling author from central Minnesota who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, supernatural thriller, and dystopia.
She keeps sane by chilling with her husband and five kids, playing with art in its various forms, seeking out mysteries, and being an occasional meditation and reiki badass.
You can learn more about Carissa and her upcoming books by visiting her website: www.carissaandrews.com
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September 16, 2020
Edit 9/15/2020: Happy publishing day!
--actually, it was a few days ago, but I suck so here we are.
My TBR Shelf:
Secret Legacy: Hey.
My TBR Shelf:
Secret Legacy: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
My TBR Shelf: (ಥ﹏ಥ)
Me: ...fuck.
My TBR shelf at this point is pretty useless since I keep reading books that aren’t on it but if I actually followed it, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon this gem!
Secret Legacy is your typical fantasy story. Girl finds out she has powers, everyone is keeping secrets from her, girl has to figure out who she is and hone her powers, and then somehow everyone’s fate is left in the hands of said girl.
And despite the clicheness of it, Secret Legacy was such a delight to read.
We start by being introduced to Autumn Blackwood, a seemingly mundane, 20 year old girl who lives in Mistwood with her mother. Upon receiving an acceptance letter from Windhaven Academy, an elite school for the supernatural, Autumn finds out that she might not be as mundane as she seems.
Sounds familiar? City of Bones, Ninth House, Harry Potter--actually, I’ve never read Harry Potter (sue me), but that’s what my friends tell me it’s about so eh.
Honestly, within 10 minutes starting the book, I was ready to type out a full blown rant about it. The first part of this book was a solid 2 stars and that’s because of...
BRACE YOURSELVES.
Insta-Love
🤭
I apologize for mentioning it. I’ll give you all a moment.
Second chapter. Autumn meets her love interest, Wade/Angel, in a graveyard and they fall in love.
Everyone (at least, this should be how y’all are reacting rn): Hey, Isabelle! Shouldn’t there be some like, I don’t know, something more in the middle of those two points? Like, shouldn’t they have gotten to know each other better?
Yes, yes there should be.
Between the obviously awkward and forced dynamic between Autumn and Wade, there was absolutely NO DEVELOPMENT for our two lovebirds. Which was such a shame, as their relationship actually gets good the deeper into the book I went. But unfortunately, I can’t let insta-love just slide without consequence.
And speaking of awkward things: the dialogue. The conversations that Autumn has with everyone in the first half of the book just feel so unnatural as if they were reading from some sort of script that was like, sitting right on their lap. And they were reading right off of it. And like it was the first time they’ve ever seen that script.
The characters themselves were perfectly fine, but not the best. Autumn makes for a solid protagonist, but definitely could be development a LOT more--hoping for that in the sequel! She was fun to read about and follow along her journey, and as we got to know her better, I actually started to like her. Autumn is an honest character, but she’s also smart. She knows what information she holds that is important and that could be used either against her or to her advantage; she won’t allow herself to be a victim, and I liked seeing that in her.
The side characters however, and by side I mean literally everyone else, only showed themselves when it was convenient for Autumn. She needs info on her past? The Gilbert twins. Autumn gets horny or needs someone to geek out with? Wade. She needs someone to guide her the right way? Dominic (I LOVED him though... wished we could’ve seen more of him). It just felt quite off in that regard.
And now that we’ve got that all out of the way, time to tear apart the plot mwhaha!
Unexpectedly, the plot was good. Like, REALLY good. Like “what the hell just happened I need to know more” kind of good. A far cry from what the first half of the book made me expect.
Sure, it’s full of fantasy tropes and is quite predictable, but at the heart of it is a still enjoyable plot line. I liked watching Autumn go through this journey of self discovery while also finding out more than what she bargained for. The little hints we get about her character are just enough that we’re satisfied but still are left wondering. The climax of the novel was also action packed and full of exciting scenes that I devoured.
Bottom line: Plot is basic, but still fun to read about.
Now, I don’t usually talk about this since every author has their own writing style since I can typically tolerate most of their “artistic liberties” or whatever it is, but I just felt like this needs to be said.
Throughout reading, I noticed that Andrews is extremely fond of writing certain things. I mean, she somehow is able to describe the same light in 4 different scenes all uniquely. While I praise her for that ability, it gets boring. Surely there are better ways to describe a room other than it’s light.
Oh, and also the classic trap authors fall into:
“She loosened a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.”
Not an exact quote from the book, but you get the point. Carissa Andrews really likes to stick to her safe bank of things to write about and phrases to use. My personal favourite being every time a character exits a car they go all:
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Carissa Andrews falls into quite a few of these writer traps that I’ve noticed not just in books, but in my own and my friend’s writing. She describes the environment yes, but in all the wrong ways. We want to see Windhaven, how the houses are like, the streets, the people. We don’t want to see the same four colours of leaves described over and over again. It’s Fall (or Autumn haha), we get it.
I wish instead of writing about these superficial aspects of her world, she’d focus more on world-building. How does the magic work here? What decides who has abilities and who is mundane? Do mundanes and supernaturals coexist peacefully alongside one another? Do supernaturals have to hide their true natures around mundanes? These are the things I want to see expanded on, not how the light seems to seep through the tree branches everytime the characters are outside.
I struggled with whether to give this book 3 stars or 4, but ultimately decided on the specific 3.8. I think that Secret Legacy is a solid first book in a series, but it could definitely benefit from some development and editing.
Edit: After a few weeks of thinking on it, I've lowered my rating to three stars flat. I completely forgot this book existed, so maybe the plot wasn't as good as I thought :/
Overall, if you’re a fantasy fan I recommend you give Secret Legacy a read! You might not enjoy it’s tropes, but I hope you enjoy the plot as much as I did:)
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
--actually, it was a few days ago, but I suck so here we are.
My TBR Shelf:
Secret Legacy: Hey.
My TBR Shelf:
Secret Legacy: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
My TBR Shelf: (ಥ﹏ಥ)
Me: ...fuck.
My TBR shelf at this point is pretty useless since I keep reading books that aren’t on it but if I actually followed it, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon this gem!
Secret Legacy is your typical fantasy story. Girl finds out she has powers, everyone is keeping secrets from her, girl has to figure out who she is and hone her powers, and then somehow everyone’s fate is left in the hands of said girl.
And despite the clicheness of it, Secret Legacy was such a delight to read.
We start by being introduced to Autumn Blackwood, a seemingly mundane, 20 year old girl who lives in Mistwood with her mother. Upon receiving an acceptance letter from Windhaven Academy, an elite school for the supernatural, Autumn finds out that she might not be as mundane as she seems.
Sounds familiar? City of Bones, Ninth House, Harry Potter--actually, I’ve never read Harry Potter (sue me), but that’s what my friends tell me it’s about so eh.
Honestly, within 10 minutes starting the book, I was ready to type out a full blown rant about it. The first part of this book was a solid 2 stars and that’s because of...
BRACE YOURSELVES.
Insta-Love
🤭
I apologize for mentioning it. I’ll give you all a moment.
Second chapter. Autumn meets her love interest, Wade/Angel, in a graveyard and they fall in love.
Everyone (at least, this should be how y’all are reacting rn): Hey, Isabelle! Shouldn’t there be some like, I don’t know, something more in the middle of those two points? Like, shouldn’t they have gotten to know each other better?
Yes, yes there should be.
Between the obviously awkward and forced dynamic between Autumn and Wade, there was absolutely NO DEVELOPMENT for our two lovebirds. Which was such a shame, as their relationship actually gets good the deeper into the book I went. But unfortunately, I can’t let insta-love just slide without consequence.
And speaking of awkward things: the dialogue. The conversations that Autumn has with everyone in the first half of the book just feel so unnatural as if they were reading from some sort of script that was like, sitting right on their lap. And they were reading right off of it. And like it was the first time they’ve ever seen that script.
The characters themselves were perfectly fine, but not the best. Autumn makes for a solid protagonist, but definitely could be development a LOT more--hoping for that in the sequel! She was fun to read about and follow along her journey, and as we got to know her better, I actually started to like her. Autumn is an honest character, but she’s also smart. She knows what information she holds that is important and that could be used either against her or to her advantage; she won’t allow herself to be a victim, and I liked seeing that in her.
The side characters however, and by side I mean literally everyone else, only showed themselves when it was convenient for Autumn. She needs info on her past? The Gilbert twins. Autumn gets horny or needs someone to geek out with? Wade. She needs someone to guide her the right way? Dominic (I LOVED him though... wished we could’ve seen more of him). It just felt quite off in that regard.
And now that we’ve got that all out of the way, time to tear apart the plot mwhaha!
Unexpectedly, the plot was good. Like, REALLY good. Like “what the hell just happened I need to know more” kind of good. A far cry from what the first half of the book made me expect.
Sure, it’s full of fantasy tropes and is quite predictable, but at the heart of it is a still enjoyable plot line. I liked watching Autumn go through this journey of self discovery while also finding out more than what she bargained for. The little hints we get about her character are just enough that we’re satisfied but still are left wondering. The climax of the novel was also action packed and full of exciting scenes that I devoured.
Bottom line: Plot is basic, but still fun to read about.
Now, I don’t usually talk about this since every author has their own writing style since I can typically tolerate most of their “artistic liberties” or whatever it is, but I just felt like this needs to be said.
Throughout reading, I noticed that Andrews is extremely fond of writing certain things. I mean, she somehow is able to describe the same light in 4 different scenes all uniquely. While I praise her for that ability, it gets boring. Surely there are better ways to describe a room other than it’s light.
Oh, and also the classic trap authors fall into:
“She loosened a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.”
Not an exact quote from the book, but you get the point. Carissa Andrews really likes to stick to her safe bank of things to write about and phrases to use. My personal favourite being every time a character exits a car they go all:
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Carissa Andrews falls into quite a few of these writer traps that I’ve noticed not just in books, but in my own and my friend’s writing. She describes the environment yes, but in all the wrong ways. We want to see Windhaven, how the houses are like, the streets, the people. We don’t want to see the same four colours of leaves described over and over again. It’s Fall (or Autumn haha), we get it.
I wish instead of writing about these superficial aspects of her world, she’d focus more on world-building. How does the magic work here? What decides who has abilities and who is mundane? Do mundanes and supernaturals coexist peacefully alongside one another? Do supernaturals have to hide their true natures around mundanes? These are the things I want to see expanded on, not how the light seems to seep through the tree branches everytime the characters are outside.
I struggled with whether to give this book 3 stars or 4, but ultimately decided on the specific 3.8. I think that Secret Legacy is a solid first book in a series, but it could definitely benefit from some development and editing.
Edit: After a few weeks of thinking on it, I've lowered my rating to three stars flat. I completely forgot this book existed, so maybe the plot wasn't as good as I thought :/
Overall, if you’re a fantasy fan I recommend you give Secret Legacy a read! You might not enjoy it’s tropes, but I hope you enjoy the plot as much as I did:)
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2020
DNF
•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley. In this review all thoughts and opinions are my own. •
The premise was intriguing. Magic academy? Sign me up for it.
But then the plot was just messy, too rushed and basic. It was nothing new.
I didn’t really like the writing as well.
I don’t think I can manage to give a proper review due to the DNF.
•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley. In this review all thoughts and opinions are my own. •
The premise was intriguing. Magic academy? Sign me up for it.
But then the plot was just messy, too rushed and basic. It was nothing new.
I didn’t really like the writing as well.
I don’t think I can manage to give a proper review due to the DNF.
April 27, 2025
[this ARC was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
DNF at 36%.
This was so bad it was hilarious. From the little details - the words like resuscitation (to do so with eggs is quite ridiculous), monolithic (which was used every 5% or so), doofus (a Scottish curse word, as I found out after opening the dictionary), numpty and more - to the ridiculous phrases - morbid curiosity (about a letter), a seductive grin illuminating his features - to absolutely absurd sentences - "Why are you so glib about this endeavour?". (No, this isn't a grandma peaking - our MC is 20 years old.)
Speaking of our MC, she talks to herself, gives herself nods of approval in the mirror after (and this was written from her POV) "pulling [her] auburn locks into a haphazard ponytail", talks to tombstones, chuckles to herself, she cries sticky tears, her hands spark electricity when touching a boy she's just met on a cemetery in the middle of the night, and the list goes on.
There are many more things I'd like to discuss, but this isn't worth my time, unfortunately.
→1 star
DNF at 36%.
This was so bad it was hilarious. From the little details - the words like resuscitation (to do so with eggs is quite ridiculous), monolithic (which was used every 5% or so), doofus (a Scottish curse word, as I found out after opening the dictionary), numpty and more - to the ridiculous phrases - morbid curiosity (about a letter), a seductive grin illuminating his features - to absolutely absurd sentences - "Why are you so glib about this endeavour?". (No, this isn't a grandma peaking - our MC is 20 years old.)
Speaking of our MC, she talks to herself, gives herself nods of approval in the mirror after (and this was written from her POV) "pulling [her] auburn locks into a haphazard ponytail", talks to tombstones, chuckles to herself, she cries sticky tears, her hands spark electricity when touching a boy she's just met on a cemetery in the middle of the night, and the list goes on.
There are many more things I'd like to discuss, but this isn't worth my time, unfortunately.
→1 star
October 19, 2020
For obvious reasons, I have read, read, and re-read this book. ;)
This book has been one in the making since I was 14 years old. I awoke from a vivid dream (that actually felt more like a past-life memory). I sat down at my parent's computer and hammered out my first full-length book ever. While that version will never see the light of day, it is the inspiration for Secret Legacy and the Windhaven Witches series. I cannot wait to share Autumn Blackwood's journey with you! You're gonna love it. <3
This book has been one in the making since I was 14 years old. I awoke from a vivid dream (that actually felt more like a past-life memory). I sat down at my parent's computer and hammered out my first full-length book ever. While that version will never see the light of day, it is the inspiration for Secret Legacy and the Windhaven Witches series. I cannot wait to share Autumn Blackwood's journey with you! You're gonna love it. <3
June 5, 2020
Yet again, I seem to be reading a completely different book to some of the reviews I have seen on here. I saw the cover for this book and was instantly drawn to it. But I started reading this last night and although I forced myself to finish it, I struggled. I think if this wasn't an ARC and I understand the author needs reviews, I would have DNF this book on 10%.
I think my first issue was the writing. I have mentioned this in a few of my reviews and I genuinely hate when the writing tells you what is happening rather than describes it. Are we reading an interview transcript???
I am not a fan of overly flowery language but this writing was borderline the same as my eleven year old brotherswhen he is not trying.
I didn't like Autumn at all. I found her boring, not well developed and to be honest, whiny. Any of the other secondary characters were basically as dry. And Wade?? Someone pass me a bucket.
The plotting was...well, predictable if anything else. I couldn't help but roll my eyes the few times something was "revealed" and if I'm honest, I feel like I've read this book a million times.
Overall, I didn't like this at all which is a shame because the cover is beautiful! I think the only thing that made this a 2 stars rather than a 1 star was that I didn't mind the ending.
2 stars.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think my first issue was the writing. I have mentioned this in a few of my reviews and I genuinely hate when the writing tells you what is happening rather than describes it. Are we reading an interview transcript???
I am not a fan of overly flowery language but this writing was borderline the same as my eleven year old brothers
I didn't like Autumn at all. I found her boring, not well developed and to be honest, whiny. Any of the other secondary characters were basically as dry. And Wade?? Someone pass me a bucket.
The plotting was...well, predictable if anything else. I couldn't help but roll my eyes the few times something was "revealed" and if I'm honest, I feel like I've read this book a million times.
Overall, I didn't like this at all which is a shame because the cover is beautiful! I think the only thing that made this a 2 stars rather than a 1 star was that I didn't mind the ending.
2 stars.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
I liked this. I felt compelled to continue reading and find out more. It was also a really easy read. That being said...
I didn’t like the overuse of ellipsis, and the amount of people that ‘trailed off’ when speaking. It really frustrates me and was just unnatural speech.
The insta-love... I was like NOPE. And some of the conversations/ relationships felt forced.
I wish I learnt more about supernatural abilities, but I suppose that because this is only the first book then more will be revealed later :)
I didn’t like the overuse of ellipsis, and the amount of people that ‘trailed off’ when speaking. It really frustrates me and was just unnatural speech.
The insta-love... I was like NOPE. And some of the conversations/ relationships felt forced.
I wish I learnt more about supernatural abilities, but I suppose that because this is only the first book then more will be revealed later :)
October 4, 2020
This book was really great! I am a huge fan of stories that involve any kind of witches!
This story was fun and adventurous. I loved following Autumn’s harrowing journey, and I can’t wait to read more!
This story was fun and adventurous. I loved following Autumn’s harrowing journey, and I can’t wait to read more!
September 5, 2020
3 Stars honestly feels a little generous here, however I truly did enjoy the book. I received this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way impacts what I have to say - Now to the good stuff!
If you're looking for a masterpiece that will glue your eyes to the page and make you never want to put it down, look elsewhere. HOWEVER, if you're looking for a fun read that I truly believe will get better as the series progresses, this might be the book for you. While it may be a book about adults, steered toward adults, outside of a couple hot and heavy scenes, for now most of the material feels quite juvenile.
Autumn is our heroine, living with her divorced, anxiety-filled mother, in a modest house, in the middle of essentially nowhere. She is 20 years old and dreams of going to college and making a life for herself in forensic science, working at the pharmacy to make it happen and spending all her spare time in the cemetery, a place she feels more comfortable in than anywhere, like the pilot of The Vampire Diaries. After receiving a letter saying she has received a full ride to this big-shot college for the supernaturally gifted, she runs off to decide on if she should go (her mother is very unsupportive of this and Autumn herself always believed she was not gifted with powers). While in the cemetery thinking everything over, a man comes out of nowhere and for some reason not only does she start talking to this potential serial killer like an old friend, she drinks from his (thankfully) water-filled flask cause he's a hottie with a body or whatever. CUE INSTA-LOVE!
CONS:
- The flippin flappin gosh darn insta-love. WAY worse than any I've ever seen before. Homegirl is with cemetery boi all of a couple days and talking about not being able to picture a life without him, maybe even giving up school for a year to stay with this total stranger she learned the name of like yesterday! You thought Anna and Hans were bad? They ain't got nothin on these two.
- The constant references to pop culture. I could live with the Buffy references, the Ghost Whisperer, even the one about Harry Styles, but a lot of them felt forced and were centered on the '90s era, which works for me but maybe not for the audience I think this author is going to find.
- It feels like they're in high school. It's not treated like a college. Everyone shows up and leaves at the same time? Everyone goes to the cafeteria for lunch? And that's not to mention the general juvenile feel/undertones I mentioned earlier.
- The book didn't pop off until about halfway through. The beginning was both rushed (in the sense that I was NOT buying that relationship so forcefully pushed onto me as the reader), and too slow (because God I needed SOMETHING to grab onto to get me invested in the underlying mystery).
- Most of the plot was predictable. I never had a "Wow, never saw that coming!" moment.
- There were a couple spelling errors, but that's just me being picky. I'm sure they'll catch those.
- The climax/ending felt sorta rushed/out of place? I think the author may have been going for shock value, but the build could have been better.
PROS!!
- Outside of the insta-love, there is a slow-burn romance in the works here and I am FOR IT!
- While a lot was expected, some things did (and do) have me guessing!
- I looooove that a lot of the mystery is rooted in the past (18th/19th century). I'm living for those flashbacks!
- This author can write steam!! It just feels misplaced for the time being. Looking forward to when we get a little R-rated.
- That ending certainly left me anxious for the next installment of the series! I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2!
- I loved how sweet and supportive the dad was, there were a lot of moments with him that were really well done.
- The mystery of those candles and what happens if they blow out - I need to know.
- The friendships are beautifully written. I love that they have all that history together and can't wait for that to be explored!
Overall, I'm giving this 3 stars because while the beginning felt more like *maybe* 2 stars, the second half of the novel delivered much better than anticipated. If the author grew that much in the span of a couple hundred pages, I look forward to observing her growth through the sequels!! I will say that I had a feeling the end would be worth the beginning and I devoured the book in a matter of hours. Worth checking out!!
If you're looking for a masterpiece that will glue your eyes to the page and make you never want to put it down, look elsewhere. HOWEVER, if you're looking for a fun read that I truly believe will get better as the series progresses, this might be the book for you. While it may be a book about adults, steered toward adults, outside of a couple hot and heavy scenes, for now most of the material feels quite juvenile.
Autumn is our heroine, living with her divorced, anxiety-filled mother, in a modest house, in the middle of essentially nowhere. She is 20 years old and dreams of going to college and making a life for herself in forensic science, working at the pharmacy to make it happen and spending all her spare time in the cemetery, a place she feels more comfortable in than anywhere, like the pilot of The Vampire Diaries. After receiving a letter saying she has received a full ride to this big-shot college for the supernaturally gifted, she runs off to decide on if she should go (her mother is very unsupportive of this and Autumn herself always believed she was not gifted with powers). While in the cemetery thinking everything over, a man comes out of nowhere and for some reason not only does she start talking to this potential serial killer like an old friend, she drinks from his (thankfully) water-filled flask cause he's a hottie with a body or whatever. CUE INSTA-LOVE!
CONS:
- The flippin flappin gosh darn insta-love. WAY worse than any I've ever seen before. Homegirl is with cemetery boi all of a couple days and talking about not being able to picture a life without him, maybe even giving up school for a year to stay with this total stranger she learned the name of like yesterday! You thought Anna and Hans were bad? They ain't got nothin on these two.
- The constant references to pop culture. I could live with the Buffy references, the Ghost Whisperer, even the one about Harry Styles, but a lot of them felt forced and were centered on the '90s era, which works for me but maybe not for the audience I think this author is going to find.
- It feels like they're in high school. It's not treated like a college. Everyone shows up and leaves at the same time? Everyone goes to the cafeteria for lunch? And that's not to mention the general juvenile feel/undertones I mentioned earlier.
- The book didn't pop off until about halfway through. The beginning was both rushed (in the sense that I was NOT buying that relationship so forcefully pushed onto me as the reader), and too slow (because God I needed SOMETHING to grab onto to get me invested in the underlying mystery).
- Most of the plot was predictable. I never had a "Wow, never saw that coming!" moment.
- There were a couple spelling errors, but that's just me being picky. I'm sure they'll catch those.
- The climax/ending felt sorta rushed/out of place? I think the author may have been going for shock value, but the build could have been better.
PROS!!
- Outside of the insta-love, there is a slow-burn romance in the works here and I am FOR IT!
- While a lot was expected, some things did (and do) have me guessing!
- I looooove that a lot of the mystery is rooted in the past (18th/19th century). I'm living for those flashbacks!
- This author can write steam!! It just feels misplaced for the time being. Looking forward to when we get a little R-rated.
- That ending certainly left me anxious for the next installment of the series! I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2!
- I loved how sweet and supportive the dad was, there were a lot of moments with him that were really well done.
- The mystery of those candles and what happens if they blow out - I need to know.
- The friendships are beautifully written. I love that they have all that history together and can't wait for that to be explored!
Overall, I'm giving this 3 stars because while the beginning felt more like *maybe* 2 stars, the second half of the novel delivered much better than anticipated. If the author grew that much in the span of a couple hundred pages, I look forward to observing her growth through the sequels!! I will say that I had a feeling the end would be worth the beginning and I devoured the book in a matter of hours. Worth checking out!!
February 20, 2021
Boring...
The story started with a 20 year old mc living with her divorced maybe mother who then received an acceptance letter to go to the W school. The mc was so annoying and acts immature. I mean the author spent every paragraph after the accept letter with the mc feeling bad since her mommy doesn't want her to go. Then it gets worst when she meets a guy at a cemetery and then instant love after 24 hours. No development, no explanation, and with weak immature mc, this a hard passed...DNF..
The story started with a 20 year old mc living with her divorced maybe mother who then received an acceptance letter to go to the W school. The mc was so annoying and acts immature. I mean the author spent every paragraph after the accept letter with the mc feeling bad since her mommy doesn't want her to go. Then it gets worst when she meets a guy at a cemetery and then instant love after 24 hours. No development, no explanation, and with weak immature mc, this a hard passed...DNF..
August 31, 2020
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Author Revolution, and the author via Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours, in conjunction with a blog tour.
Autumn is just your average 20 year old, looking forward to going off to university as soon as she can. She's resigned herself to going to the local Uni, until the day that she receives a package from the esteem Windhaven Academy - school for Supernaturals. The thing is, as far as Autumn knows, she's never shown any sign at all of having a gift of any sort. So is completely torn when she finds out she's received a full ride. Her decision is made harder when one night, she meets the mysterious Wade, though he is also going to be attending Windhaven Academy, just not yet. After taking the plunge and moving in with her Dad at his big Ancestral home, things take a turn for the weird. Disembodied voices, cold pockets around the house, her Dad always disappearing, and is that a ghost? It can't be, because Autumn doesn't believe in ghosts... Things continue to get weirder as secrets about Autumn's past begin to surface, and they're not all secrets that she's going to like. Not knowing who to trust, or how to navigate this new life she finds herself in, will Autumn survive her first year at Windhaven Academy and what the universe has in store for her?
I am honestly, pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. I wasn't holding out SUPER high hopes, but man, I was, I'll admit, blown away by the fervor at which I plowed through this story. I'm not going to lie, it's not the next winner of the most amazing literary book this year, but it was just a downright enjoyable story which had me feeling super nostalgic for shows like Buffy.
The story doesn't dive straight into the whole Windhaven Academy life style, which I loved, and the book doesn't necessarily really revolve around the Academy that much at all. It follows Autumn as she discovers that she may not be as average Joe as she believed herself to be. The mystery aspect of the story, well...aspects, as there are more than a few, were well thought out and executed. I will be honest though, I already know Wade's secret and pretty much worked it out from the beginning, though I don't know if he's a good guy or a bad guy, I do know what his power and his legacy is. The mystery surrounding Autumn though, I was pleasantly surprised at the revelation for it all. I had no idea what her power was going to be, OR the secrets that she was uncovering from her Ancestors or even the secrets from her childhood. So that was great. I really enjoyed what Andrews did with Autumn's story. I have a feeling about her Dad, but it wasn't revealed in this instalment so I'm not sure if I'm right or not. I'm being as vague as possible so as not to give anything away.
One thing that I did find a little bit weird, is how focused Andrews is on her character's gestures...particularly their eyebrows. Every single conversation or anything really, the characters eyebrows are mentioned, whether they're pinching together in worry, or tilted up at the end or raising into their hairline, or any number of other descriptors used. I found this to be a bit much, and kind of wish there was LESS emphasis on this aspect of the characters as now I find myself thinking way more about eyebrows than I probably should be. Also, Buffy is not old. I won't hear of it. Andrews obviously grew up watching Buffy, as did I, and I feel like it really shows in the dialogue and narrative of this story, which honestly, is absolutely perfect for me because Buffy will always hold a place in my heart, and I rewatch it as much as I can. Though seeing it referred to as being ancient really had me feeling old. I also love the little Dru and Angel thing that Wade and Autumn have going on. I adore it.
The characters are well written and I found they each had their own distinct voice and personality which is great and I always love to see. I saw in another review that they had a problem with Autumn talking to herself, I didn't, but I feel like it's because it IS very reminiscent of Buffy which is why I didn't mind it, because it made sense to me as someone who grew up with show writers who make their characters talk to themselves and give themselves pep talks now and then. I really like the character of Wade, but I'm not sure yet if I trust him, and I did find his and Autumn's relationship to be a bit insta-lovey, but I guess, if you feel it for someone, you feel it, and you can't help that. It just seemed a little bit full on for them having been together for such a short time. I'm really loving Cat and Colt, and I can't wait to see what becomes of the twins, especially because of that ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, it had definite creep vibes at times which was an awesome surprise as I wasn't expecting it. As said above, I enjoyed this story WAY more than I was anticipating, so much so, that I have already pre-ordered the next three books on Amazon... Even though I still have a TBR pile that is over 300 books long...it was just THAT enjoyable for me. It has an engaging storyline, intriguing characters, and I honestly just loved the voice of the author. If you like a good paranormal/supernatural/PNR story, give it a go, it might surprise you too!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Author Revolution, and the author via Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours, in conjunction with a blog tour.
Autumn is just your average 20 year old, looking forward to going off to university as soon as she can. She's resigned herself to going to the local Uni, until the day that she receives a package from the esteem Windhaven Academy - school for Supernaturals. The thing is, as far as Autumn knows, she's never shown any sign at all of having a gift of any sort. So is completely torn when she finds out she's received a full ride. Her decision is made harder when one night, she meets the mysterious Wade, though he is also going to be attending Windhaven Academy, just not yet. After taking the plunge and moving in with her Dad at his big Ancestral home, things take a turn for the weird. Disembodied voices, cold pockets around the house, her Dad always disappearing, and is that a ghost? It can't be, because Autumn doesn't believe in ghosts... Things continue to get weirder as secrets about Autumn's past begin to surface, and they're not all secrets that she's going to like. Not knowing who to trust, or how to navigate this new life she finds herself in, will Autumn survive her first year at Windhaven Academy and what the universe has in store for her?
I am honestly, pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. I wasn't holding out SUPER high hopes, but man, I was, I'll admit, blown away by the fervor at which I plowed through this story. I'm not going to lie, it's not the next winner of the most amazing literary book this year, but it was just a downright enjoyable story which had me feeling super nostalgic for shows like Buffy.
The story doesn't dive straight into the whole Windhaven Academy life style, which I loved, and the book doesn't necessarily really revolve around the Academy that much at all. It follows Autumn as she discovers that she may not be as average Joe as she believed herself to be. The mystery aspect of the story, well...aspects, as there are more than a few, were well thought out and executed. I will be honest though, I already know Wade's secret and pretty much worked it out from the beginning, though I don't know if he's a good guy or a bad guy, I do know what his power and his legacy is. The mystery surrounding Autumn though, I was pleasantly surprised at the revelation for it all. I had no idea what her power was going to be, OR the secrets that she was uncovering from her Ancestors or even the secrets from her childhood. So that was great. I really enjoyed what Andrews did with Autumn's story. I have a feeling about her Dad, but it wasn't revealed in this instalment so I'm not sure if I'm right or not. I'm being as vague as possible so as not to give anything away.
One thing that I did find a little bit weird, is how focused Andrews is on her character's gestures...particularly their eyebrows. Every single conversation or anything really, the characters eyebrows are mentioned, whether they're pinching together in worry, or tilted up at the end or raising into their hairline, or any number of other descriptors used. I found this to be a bit much, and kind of wish there was LESS emphasis on this aspect of the characters as now I find myself thinking way more about eyebrows than I probably should be. Also, Buffy is not old. I won't hear of it. Andrews obviously grew up watching Buffy, as did I, and I feel like it really shows in the dialogue and narrative of this story, which honestly, is absolutely perfect for me because Buffy will always hold a place in my heart, and I rewatch it as much as I can. Though seeing it referred to as being ancient really had me feeling old. I also love the little Dru and Angel thing that Wade and Autumn have going on. I adore it.
The characters are well written and I found they each had their own distinct voice and personality which is great and I always love to see. I saw in another review that they had a problem with Autumn talking to herself, I didn't, but I feel like it's because it IS very reminiscent of Buffy which is why I didn't mind it, because it made sense to me as someone who grew up with show writers who make their characters talk to themselves and give themselves pep talks now and then. I really like the character of Wade, but I'm not sure yet if I trust him, and I did find his and Autumn's relationship to be a bit insta-lovey, but I guess, if you feel it for someone, you feel it, and you can't help that. It just seemed a little bit full on for them having been together for such a short time. I'm really loving Cat and Colt, and I can't wait to see what becomes of the twins, especially because of that ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, it had definite creep vibes at times which was an awesome surprise as I wasn't expecting it. As said above, I enjoyed this story WAY more than I was anticipating, so much so, that I have already pre-ordered the next three books on Amazon... Even though I still have a TBR pile that is over 300 books long...it was just THAT enjoyable for me. It has an engaging storyline, intriguing characters, and I honestly just loved the voice of the author. If you like a good paranormal/supernatural/PNR story, give it a go, it might surprise you too!
September 9, 2020
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This was a fun paranormal romance, and though it has the standard tropes, the author made it very entertaining!
The book starts off with a bang where Autumn enrolls in a magical school goes to live with her father. The author immediately sets the eerie tone of the plot with the creepy mansion and mysterious voices. Additionally, there is also the mystery behind the missing children and if they are connected to Autumn in some way. Moreover, Autumn’s father also seems to keep secrets from her. And who exactly Abigail is? There are a lot of reasons why I enjoyed reading the story!
I also liked Autumn as the main character. She has a cute chemistry with Wade. I also liked all the supporting characters like Colton, Cat, Dominic and her parents. The author also adds a few twists and turns, where at a certain point, you also suspect Wade as the negative character.
However, the only thing which I was disappointed with was the instant love. Autumn falls for Wade as soon as she sees him. Although I enjoyed their conversations and their relationship, I rolled my eyes as to how quickly they fell for each other. Also, while I though the story started and ended very nicely, the plot slowed down in between. At times, it focused more on Wade and Autumn’s relationship, and the drama with Cat, Colton and Dominic. The story would have been perfect if the author evenly balanced the mystery with the love and drama among the characters.
Apart from that, this was a nice book. The story also ends in a cliff-hanger which makes you want to pick up the next book and continue reading. Overall, I enjoyed Secret Legacy and look forward to the next book!
August 25, 2020
Secret Legacy is a paranormal fantasy, and while it wasn't perfect, it was an enjoyable read. It's evident from the reviews that there are a lot of strong feelings about this book, and I felt like I needed to give it a chance when I read the description.
Our main character, Autumn, mysteriously gets accepted to a special college that only accepts witches and those with paranormal powers on full scholarship, she thinks it's a mistake. But as she moves in with her father in the old family home and starts her schooling, strange events start to happen, and it begins the mystery of who Autumn is and what she can do. Just before she moves to attend school, she meets Wade, a mysterious new guy in town, and she's instantly attracted. For those that like instant love/love at first sight type of tropes, this book might be for you!
Overall, I was intrigued with the story and wanted to keep reading, but the plot points were all familiar beats to chosen one fantasy stories. There were many times in the book that it felt like the minor characters were there to support Autumn, and I wish we would have gotten to see more of them and had them fleshed out. I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully we learn more about the other characters and get some answers to the loose ends and unanswered questions that remained at the end of the book.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our main character, Autumn, mysteriously gets accepted to a special college that only accepts witches and those with paranormal powers on full scholarship, she thinks it's a mistake. But as she moves in with her father in the old family home and starts her schooling, strange events start to happen, and it begins the mystery of who Autumn is and what she can do. Just before she moves to attend school, she meets Wade, a mysterious new guy in town, and she's instantly attracted. For those that like instant love/love at first sight type of tropes, this book might be for you!
Overall, I was intrigued with the story and wanted to keep reading, but the plot points were all familiar beats to chosen one fantasy stories. There were many times in the book that it felt like the minor characters were there to support Autumn, and I wish we would have gotten to see more of them and had them fleshed out. I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully we learn more about the other characters and get some answers to the loose ends and unanswered questions that remained at the end of the book.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
August 29, 2020DNF at 15%
I'm really sorry to dnf this as I received this as an arc from netgalley, but in the first few chapters there are so many cliche things happening and I have rolled my eyes about 10 times already.
I'm also not a fan of the insta love (or at least it feels like it's insta love). I'm not here for it.
I was considering reading this book through as some people really seem to like it and say the second half is better, but I really didn't like what I've read so far so I'm not continuing...
I'm really sorry to dnf this as I received this as an arc from netgalley, but in the first few chapters there are so many cliche things happening and I have rolled my eyes about 10 times already.
I'm also not a fan of the insta love (or at least it feels like it's insta love). I'm not here for it.
I was considering reading this book through as some people really seem to like it and say the second half is better, but I really didn't like what I've read so far so I'm not continuing...
September 20, 2020
Autumn is shocked when she receives an acceptance letter from Windhaven University, especially since she never applied. She’s also shocked because Windhaven is for people with supernatural abilities, and she has none. Eager to start at Windhaven and take advantage of her good fortune, Autumn moves in with her father in their ancestral home.
Strange things immediately start happening. Vases fall and break without provocation, ghostly images appear, and weird noises become more frequent. On top of that, two girls go missing, and their disappearance hints towards similar happenings in the past. Can Autumn figure out what is happening in her home and what happened to the missing girls?
This is an entertaining, if a bit predictable, read. Autumn is a smart, strong, and dynamic protagonist. From the moment she receives her acceptance letter, her life changes and is filled with unexpected twists and turns (not to mention a ton of supernatural occurrences!). She had a great character arc, and I was surprised at the extent of her powers. However, I do wish the characters were a bit more developed, especially some of the minor characters.
Very early in the story, Autumn meets Wade, and they feel instantly connected (Yes, we have an insta-love situation here). They quickly develop a deep bond, but it seems a bit rushed to me. They barely know each other, and Autumn is ready to change her future for him. I liked their romance as the story progressed and felt it was better developed later in the book. I’m curious to see what happens to this pair, as some revelations are sure to cause conflicts in future books.
The title of the book is so appropriate, as secrets riddle the story. This includes family secrets, secret powers, secrets from the school’s past, and mysterious boyfriends who seem to be hiding something. Autumn has many mysteries to uncover, and this makes for a suspenseful read.
A well-paced story with interesting characters and more suspense than I anticipated (but that’s a good thing!), the book ends with a cliffhanger that definitely makes me want to find out more. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Author Revolution for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Strange things immediately start happening. Vases fall and break without provocation, ghostly images appear, and weird noises become more frequent. On top of that, two girls go missing, and their disappearance hints towards similar happenings in the past. Can Autumn figure out what is happening in her home and what happened to the missing girls?
This is an entertaining, if a bit predictable, read. Autumn is a smart, strong, and dynamic protagonist. From the moment she receives her acceptance letter, her life changes and is filled with unexpected twists and turns (not to mention a ton of supernatural occurrences!). She had a great character arc, and I was surprised at the extent of her powers. However, I do wish the characters were a bit more developed, especially some of the minor characters.
Very early in the story, Autumn meets Wade, and they feel instantly connected (Yes, we have an insta-love situation here). They quickly develop a deep bond, but it seems a bit rushed to me. They barely know each other, and Autumn is ready to change her future for him. I liked their romance as the story progressed and felt it was better developed later in the book. I’m curious to see what happens to this pair, as some revelations are sure to cause conflicts in future books.
The title of the book is so appropriate, as secrets riddle the story. This includes family secrets, secret powers, secrets from the school’s past, and mysterious boyfriends who seem to be hiding something. Autumn has many mysteries to uncover, and this makes for a suspenseful read.
A well-paced story with interesting characters and more suspense than I anticipated (but that’s a good thing!), the book ends with a cliffhanger that definitely makes me want to find out more. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Author Revolution for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2023
Secret Legacy is the first book in The Windhaven Witches series and is full of quotes from Buffy, which I loved! Autumn thinks she is a 'normal' person and her mum encourages her to think that way. Her dad is supernatural, but she doesn't have much to do with him. So imagine her surprise when she receives a full scholarship to a prestigious school that she never even applied for. She decides to go for it and then is swept away by forgotten memories, unknown abilities, and mysteries.
The one thing I wasn't too keen on is the Wade situation. Not only was it insta-love, but there is seriously something off with that dude, and Autumn never seemed to notice! And please don't tell me about his silver eyes any more! I just can't cope!!
Apart from that, there was plenty here to keep me occupied and turning the pages. I would love to know more about the other main characters and the school Autumn is attending but, maybe, that is something that will follow in later books.
There are some usual tropes in this book - from normal girl with untold powers to slightly dodgy boyfriend - but it is entertaining. The world-building could do with some work, as I have questions about how the supernatural fits into everything but, on the whole, it wasn't bad.
A great start to a new series and I can't wait to find out more. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 11, 2020
The one thing I wasn't too keen on is the Wade situation. Not only was it insta-love, but there is seriously something off with that dude, and Autumn never seemed to notice! And please don't tell me about his silver eyes any more! I just can't cope!!
Apart from that, there was plenty here to keep me occupied and turning the pages. I would love to know more about the other main characters and the school Autumn is attending but, maybe, that is something that will follow in later books.
There are some usual tropes in this book - from normal girl with untold powers to slightly dodgy boyfriend - but it is entertaining. The world-building could do with some work, as I have questions about how the supernatural fits into everything but, on the whole, it wasn't bad.
A great start to a new series and I can't wait to find out more. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 11, 2020
April 6, 2023
should've judged a book by its cover. god, everything about this book was bad. i finished it out of spite because i wanted to know hot bad it really was. it was a cool premise, but execution was very poor.
list of everything i hated:
- the book felt like 90% dialog (all of which sucked)
- word choice was weird
- entire book and chapter transitions were choppy.
- hardly any of the setting or characters were described.
- wannabe witty and playful banter between every character was annoying.
- everyone was annoying and dramatic, especially the MC
- instalove (i'm going to vomit)
- main character and love interest met in a graveyard because they are both so quirky and different and make pop culture references from the 90s because theyre not like other girls and need a quiet place to escape where the normies don't go.
- its a magical world, but the thought of ghosts is shocking?
- MC is trying to get to the bottom of family history. bitch just talk to the dad that you live with.
- zero magic and world building.
- MC is 20 years old but her mom treats her like shes 12.
- big reveal at the end was boring.
- reads like bad harry potter fanfictions
things i liked:
- it was under 300 pages so i read it fast!
genuinely baffled how theres more books in this series and people actually read them.
convinced that if you like this book youre either a child or stupid.
list of everything i hated:
- the book felt like 90% dialog (all of which sucked)
- word choice was weird
- entire book and chapter transitions were choppy.
- hardly any of the setting or characters were described.
- wannabe witty and playful banter between every character was annoying.
- everyone was annoying and dramatic, especially the MC
- instalove (i'm going to vomit)
- main character and love interest met in a graveyard because they are both so quirky and different and make pop culture references from the 90s because theyre not like other girls and need a quiet place to escape where the normies don't go.
- its a magical world, but the thought of ghosts is shocking?
- MC is trying to get to the bottom of family history. bitch just talk to the dad that you live with.
- zero magic and world building.
- MC is 20 years old but her mom treats her like shes 12.
- big reveal at the end was boring.
- reads like bad harry potter fanfictions
things i liked:
- it was under 300 pages so i read it fast!
genuinely baffled how theres more books in this series and people actually read them.
convinced that if you like this book youre either a child or stupid.
June 12, 2020
This story starts as unassumingly as the life of Autumn, which I think was a clever writing device. For the first part it feels like many NA/YA para stories, though I must mention better edited and constructed. I loved the slow build into getting to the school, mysteries etc as a contrast to the fast movement in the romance department- it gave good balance. Under the surface of the girl with new powers and mysteries to figure out a compelling an original story is waiting to grab you and pull you deeper. I enjoyed that Autumn was a little older than the usual heroine in these tales. I also really like Wade and attached to him tightly and first. So, Dominick, well all I can say is, I'm waiting to find out more about Wade in the next part. I was thrilled to see the release dates on the next parts since I struggle to remember to come back to a series if there is too long of a wait.
Fans of para- academy/romance will enjoy this.
Fans of para- academy/romance will enjoy this.
September 17, 2020
YOU CAN READ MY REVIEW ALSO ON MY BLOG: https://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.c...
Let's just start by saying that Secret Legacy was such a pleasant surprise for me! I rarely read books about witches, or paranormal in general, so I decided to pick up this review opportunity to range over my reading preferences. And I was not disappointed!
Of course, this book has its flaws, but it was entertaining enough to read in just a couple of days and to make me wonder about how the story might continue. Autumn is a funny narrator: young but mature, a little unconventional and appearently, supernaturally gifted. I found her voice to be extremely enjoyable and easy to follow, so much that I was a little bit disappointed when I realised that the book ended. I really would have loved to live a little bit more in that world and experience a little bit more paranormal events. For being such a pleasant world, I though that the author should have payed more attention to its characteristics, and dedicate more space to answer some major questions that inevitably raise: how did supernaturals and mundanes coexist? How do those powers work? I'm sure that some of these doubts will be answered in the following books, but still, I felt like some basic world setting should have been given at the beginning. This said, I particularly liked the development of the Blackwood's "micro-world", which was much more structured than the general setting: their history, their legacy and all the mystery that surrounds them was driving me crazy with curiosity and a little fear - you definitely get some horror vibes there!
Speaking of the characters, they were all quite enjoyable but I didn't get the chance to get attached to them. The story is so fast-paced that there is not really a particular focus on any of them, so when you finish reading the book, they don't really stick with you. I would love to get to know them better and explore the relationship they had and will hopefully rebuild. If there is one thing I must reproach the author is the love at first sight clichè - or maybe I should reproach Autumn for being so naive? I mean, wouldn't you get suspicious if you magically encounter your big love at night, in a cemetery? I have to say, though, that despite the unreliable beginning, the love story does continue with a much slower pace, gaining more credibility that I hope they will demonstrate in the following books.
So I'm giving this book a 3.5 stars, mainly because of its vaguety. It has all the good premises: a nice story, a good, creepy atmosphere, interesting characters - but not enough space is payed to any of them, due also to the lenght of the book: just 289 pages! But I will definitely take a look at the rest of this series because I'm sure that the best is yet to come!
Let's just start by saying that Secret Legacy was such a pleasant surprise for me! I rarely read books about witches, or paranormal in general, so I decided to pick up this review opportunity to range over my reading preferences. And I was not disappointed!
Of course, this book has its flaws, but it was entertaining enough to read in just a couple of days and to make me wonder about how the story might continue. Autumn is a funny narrator: young but mature, a little unconventional and appearently, supernaturally gifted. I found her voice to be extremely enjoyable and easy to follow, so much that I was a little bit disappointed when I realised that the book ended. I really would have loved to live a little bit more in that world and experience a little bit more paranormal events. For being such a pleasant world, I though that the author should have payed more attention to its characteristics, and dedicate more space to answer some major questions that inevitably raise: how did supernaturals and mundanes coexist? How do those powers work? I'm sure that some of these doubts will be answered in the following books, but still, I felt like some basic world setting should have been given at the beginning. This said, I particularly liked the development of the Blackwood's "micro-world", which was much more structured than the general setting: their history, their legacy and all the mystery that surrounds them was driving me crazy with curiosity and a little fear - you definitely get some horror vibes there!
Speaking of the characters, they were all quite enjoyable but I didn't get the chance to get attached to them. The story is so fast-paced that there is not really a particular focus on any of them, so when you finish reading the book, they don't really stick with you. I would love to get to know them better and explore the relationship they had and will hopefully rebuild. If there is one thing I must reproach the author is the love at first sight clichè - or maybe I should reproach Autumn for being so naive? I mean, wouldn't you get suspicious if you magically encounter your big love at night, in a cemetery? I have to say, though, that despite the unreliable beginning, the love story does continue with a much slower pace, gaining more credibility that I hope they will demonstrate in the following books.
So I'm giving this book a 3.5 stars, mainly because of its vaguety. It has all the good premises: a nice story, a good, creepy atmosphere, interesting characters - but not enough space is payed to any of them, due also to the lenght of the book: just 289 pages! But I will definitely take a look at the rest of this series because I'm sure that the best is yet to come!
October 19, 2022
Secret Legacy was one of the books in my batch for SPFBO 8.
I went into Secret Legacy with an open mind. I used to read a lot of YA romances – supernatural or not – but those years are already behind me. That’s not to say I don’t pick up one or two along the way, but I don’t seek them out anymore. And so, I didn’t really mind this book falling in my lap. The first 20% went by in a breeze and I was compelled to read more – so much so, that I later came back and finished the book. Upon reflection, that first 20% seemed a bit rushed, like the author wanted to get the setting out of the way for the central plot – a mystery regarding Autumn’s ancestry – which as result made me want a bit more solid worldbuilding – about the Academy, the supernatural in this world, Autumn’s relationship with her parents. Especially her dad, and while that gets a bit explored, I felt that relationships between the characters were a bit too superficial for my tastes. Autumn and her love interest, Wade gets together super quick, though their relationship smooths out in terms of pacing, it still remained a bit too cheesy.
As for the characters themselves, I liked Autumn well enough, even if I never really connected with her. At times it felt like she was a couple of years younger than 20, but I liked that she knew what she wanted to be – a forensic scientist – and that she was tireless when it came to getting the answers that were denied to her for so long. Wade I never was sure about, and on the whole, I don’t think I liked him very much even if it seemed his feelings were genuine. We also have the obligatory school jackass, and the cool twins Autumn makes friends with.
The writing was easy to get into and I liked the school setting too – even if we really didn’t get much of the lessons (or magic for that matter) itself – as well as the way Autumn searches for answers. It was a nice mix of romance and mystery, with a bit of witchery and haunting thrown into it. Once Autumn settles in her new home, that’s where the book really starts to come together and get entertaining. Can’t say I was really surprised by some of the revelations, but I was invested enough to read it in about a day. I can definitely recommend it to those who enjoy books like this.
I went into Secret Legacy with an open mind. I used to read a lot of YA romances – supernatural or not – but those years are already behind me. That’s not to say I don’t pick up one or two along the way, but I don’t seek them out anymore. And so, I didn’t really mind this book falling in my lap. The first 20% went by in a breeze and I was compelled to read more – so much so, that I later came back and finished the book. Upon reflection, that first 20% seemed a bit rushed, like the author wanted to get the setting out of the way for the central plot – a mystery regarding Autumn’s ancestry – which as result made me want a bit more solid worldbuilding – about the Academy, the supernatural in this world, Autumn’s relationship with her parents. Especially her dad, and while that gets a bit explored, I felt that relationships between the characters were a bit too superficial for my tastes. Autumn and her love interest, Wade gets together super quick, though their relationship smooths out in terms of pacing, it still remained a bit too cheesy.
As for the characters themselves, I liked Autumn well enough, even if I never really connected with her. At times it felt like she was a couple of years younger than 20, but I liked that she knew what she wanted to be – a forensic scientist – and that she was tireless when it came to getting the answers that were denied to her for so long. Wade I never was sure about, and on the whole, I don’t think I liked him very much even if it seemed his feelings were genuine. We also have the obligatory school jackass, and the cool twins Autumn makes friends with.
The writing was easy to get into and I liked the school setting too – even if we really didn’t get much of the lessons (or magic for that matter) itself – as well as the way Autumn searches for answers. It was a nice mix of romance and mystery, with a bit of witchery and haunting thrown into it. Once Autumn settles in her new home, that’s where the book really starts to come together and get entertaining. Can’t say I was really surprised by some of the revelations, but I was invested enough to read it in about a day. I can definitely recommend it to those who enjoy books like this.
September 27, 2020
My Rating : 4.25🌟
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Kindle/ Netgalley/ September2020
#mabookyardchallengeSep20
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Okay first let's talk about that cover 😍😍
Thank you so much @netgalley for the review copy, which let's me give you my unbiased opinion.
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This book follows our main character Autumn who is thrust into the world of power and supernaturals as she tries to find herself and control the power she might possess with the help of her new found gang.
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First, I absolutely loved the concept of the story. The Elite Supernatural school kind of gave me cliche vibes, but after reading the book, it's not what it looks like. (I know.. trust me, it's still the crux of the story, but not the main course) I really liked the fact we get to learn everything through Autumn's point of view. She is sassy, doesn't take shit from anyone and is very loyal. Cat was an absolute bundle of bestie energy and I loved their relationship.
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Second, this book went in ways I didn't expect it to. I still predicted the ending (kinda) but the way it progressed surprised me. I loved all the characters introduced (Ahem ahem Colt I'm looking at you) and the relationship they had.
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Now coming to the story and character arc, I think Colt and Dominic gets the most Character arc. I really liked how things went with them wrt the power dynamics and scene wise. (I'm still looking at you Colt). When I started reading the book, I wasn't into it tbh, but once I crossed 5 chapters, I was hooked! Since we are thrust into a world with zero knowledge, I would have loved to know more about the history of the academy or atleast about the characters more. This is the first book in a quartet, so I'm keeping my hopes up to know more about the four friends and what role Wade plays in this storyline.
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Overall, I absolutely loved the Characters, the story progression, the relationship between characters and especially the uber great grandma (who is on my most favourite characters list). I can't wait for the next book to come out so that I can read more about Colt (I'm still looking at you).
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Kindle/ Netgalley/ September2020
#mabookyardchallengeSep20
.
Okay first let's talk about that cover 😍😍
Thank you so much @netgalley for the review copy, which let's me give you my unbiased opinion.
.
This book follows our main character Autumn who is thrust into the world of power and supernaturals as she tries to find herself and control the power she might possess with the help of her new found gang.
.
First, I absolutely loved the concept of the story. The Elite Supernatural school kind of gave me cliche vibes, but after reading the book, it's not what it looks like. (I know.. trust me, it's still the crux of the story, but not the main course) I really liked the fact we get to learn everything through Autumn's point of view. She is sassy, doesn't take shit from anyone and is very loyal. Cat was an absolute bundle of bestie energy and I loved their relationship.
.
Second, this book went in ways I didn't expect it to. I still predicted the ending (kinda) but the way it progressed surprised me. I loved all the characters introduced (Ahem ahem Colt I'm looking at you) and the relationship they had.
.
Now coming to the story and character arc, I think Colt and Dominic gets the most Character arc. I really liked how things went with them wrt the power dynamics and scene wise. (I'm still looking at you Colt). When I started reading the book, I wasn't into it tbh, but once I crossed 5 chapters, I was hooked! Since we are thrust into a world with zero knowledge, I would have loved to know more about the history of the academy or atleast about the characters more. This is the first book in a quartet, so I'm keeping my hopes up to know more about the four friends and what role Wade plays in this storyline.
.
Overall, I absolutely loved the Characters, the story progression, the relationship between characters and especially the uber great grandma (who is on my most favourite characters list). I can't wait for the next book to come out so that I can read more about Colt (I'm still looking at you).
September 15, 2020
This is the first book in what will be a four part series, with all parts coming out this year (thank the heavens!) This book was a great read! I am a sucker for supernatural stories and this was no different. Autumn is a typically 20 year old who's life is turned upside down in more ways than one. Windhaven Academy is home to many characters who are a great addition to the story of Autumn and her hunky guy Wade. Moving in with her dad into Blackwood Manor because a new mystery all in itself. When she finally finds out about her mysterious past and her family's legacy it's only the beginning. The reveals are sprinkled all throughout this book and it seems like there's a new one around every corner just as intriguing as the last, with an ending that left me screaming for more! Luckily this whole series will be releasing these last few months of the year and I'm so glad because I don't think I could wait any longer. This was definitely a five star read and I can't wait to read more from this author.
September 7, 2020
Secret Legacy is a paranormal mystery that follows Autumn as she begins to discover things about her family and her own past while attending a school for people with supernatural powers, something she didn't believe she had before mysteriously being accepted to the school.
It starts off a little slow, but the pacing picks up nicely once Autumn leaves for school, and the world-building is excellent. There was just enough of a creepy vibe to make me keep the lights on while I read, but not enough to scare me completely.
There's a cliffhanger at the end that I hated, which, honestly, is a compliment because I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on.
If you're looking for an atmospheric and eerie paranormal mystery, I would recommend this one. It's not too dark, and there's enough mystery to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
It starts off a little slow, but the pacing picks up nicely once Autumn leaves for school, and the world-building is excellent. There was just enough of a creepy vibe to make me keep the lights on while I read, but not enough to scare me completely.
There's a cliffhanger at the end that I hated, which, honestly, is a compliment because I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on.
If you're looking for an atmospheric and eerie paranormal mystery, I would recommend this one. It's not too dark, and there's enough mystery to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
October 14, 2020
Actual Rating 3.5 ⭐
I love a witchy novel and this did not disappoint. I was intrigued right from the get go, there are so many secrets that I was just dying to find out! I also loved the characters and the relationships in this in particular the main character/love interest.
I wasn't 100% on the writing style, the encounters and dialogue between characters sometimes felt a little unnatural and some ways in which the characters acted in more serious situations didn't always fit - which ended up making it slightly anticlimactic in the end.
Overall I'd recommend you give this one a go if you love the supernatural and an overall sense of eeriness. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next installment in this series.
I love a witchy novel and this did not disappoint. I was intrigued right from the get go, there are so many secrets that I was just dying to find out! I also loved the characters and the relationships in this in particular the main character/love interest.
I wasn't 100% on the writing style, the encounters and dialogue between characters sometimes felt a little unnatural and some ways in which the characters acted in more serious situations didn't always fit - which ended up making it slightly anticlimactic in the end.
Overall I'd recommend you give this one a go if you love the supernatural and an overall sense of eeriness. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next installment in this series.
July 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book but did not love it. I was kept interested by the family secrets and discovering more about Autumn’s family, her past and her powers. Unfortunately, the insta-love fell short for me. I did not feel a connection between Wade and Autumn. There relationship lacked any spark. Also, the possible love triangle with Colt really turned me off. I personally hate love triangles. I am not sure I will continue with the series.
Thank you Netgalley and author for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Secret Legacy will be released on September 15, 2020.
Thank you Netgalley and author for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Secret Legacy will be released on September 15, 2020.
July 29, 2020
So this book has a lot of potential. I'm not sure if it's to show a sheltered, naive young lady or the true lack of skill from the Author, but this book is written in a way that could be fantastic...however lack of vocabulary, some flat dialogue, and inconsistencies in story or facts really detract from it being as high quality as it could be. Its captured enough of my attention that I would like to read more, hopefully the prose matures with the sequels.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in return for my review.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in return for my review.
April 21, 2020
This was an amazing book (though it still needs a little editing for typographical errors). I can't wait to read more in this series!
Autumn is a regular human, or so she thinks. Until she gets a acceptance letter from Wyndhaven Academy, a school for supernaturals. She is anxious to learn what her powers are. Much to her surprise, she learns she comes from a long line of mediums and necromancers.
Autumn is a regular human, or so she thinks. Until she gets a acceptance letter from Wyndhaven Academy, a school for supernaturals. She is anxious to learn what her powers are. Much to her surprise, she learns she comes from a long line of mediums and necromancers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2020
This is a fantastic book.
The storyline is really good & keeps you engrossed from beginning to the end. The story starts as a regular girl who receives admittance to Windhaven Academy which is for supernatural & she has no idea of het actual history is & so the story carries you along learning her history as you do. This is really a good book & you should give it a try.
The storyline is really good & keeps you engrossed from beginning to the end. The story starts as a regular girl who receives admittance to Windhaven Academy which is for supernatural & she has no idea of het actual history is & so the story carries you along learning her history as you do. This is really a good book & you should give it a try.
September 17, 2020
Secret Legacy is the beginning of a great series: 4.9 stars!
Guess you can tell how much I loved this story. I couldn't even put it down until I finished. The characters are interesting but the storyline just grabs you and you forget to breathe! I just found out that the next in the series won't get published until October 6th! Not certain I can wait; the book has so much magic why can't we just jump forward?
Don't miss out on this fabulous series!
Guess you can tell how much I loved this story. I couldn't even put it down until I finished. The characters are interesting but the storyline just grabs you and you forget to breathe! I just found out that the next in the series won't get published until October 6th! Not certain I can wait; the book has so much magic why can't we just jump forward?
Don't miss out on this fabulous series!
January 4, 2024
*Source* Freebie via Amazon
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Carissa Andrews' Secret Legacy is the first installment in the authors The Windhaven Witches series which is now completed. 20-year-old Autumn Blackwood gets a very unusual surprise when a letter from Windhaven Academy arrives. Windhaven is a school for those with unique supernatural abilities. To the best of her knowledge, Autumn doesn't have any magical abilities, nor did she apply to the school. But for some reason, Autumn has received not only an acceptance letter, but a scholarship to cover the costs of her schooling thanks to an anonymous donor.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Carissa Andrews' Secret Legacy is the first installment in the authors The Windhaven Witches series which is now completed. 20-year-old Autumn Blackwood gets a very unusual surprise when a letter from Windhaven Academy arrives. Windhaven is a school for those with unique supernatural abilities. To the best of her knowledge, Autumn doesn't have any magical abilities, nor did she apply to the school. But for some reason, Autumn has received not only an acceptance letter, but a scholarship to cover the costs of her schooling thanks to an anonymous donor.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 5, 2020
Pretty good story! The characters were good and the storyline was interesting and sometimes intense. I had a lot of fun with this!
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