Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
When evil demons need something, blood is thicker than water. 


I thought getting Xavier back was the solution to all of our problems, but it turns out that the demon from Hell, Rafael, has other plans. Oh yeah, and Rafael? He’s claiming to be my father. Which explains some things—like how he’s able to torment me in my dreams.

When a visit to my real dad leaves me with more questions than answers, I find myself reeling because I can’t tell what’s true anymore. I’m hanging on by my fingernails. Without Carrick, Mikhail, Devin and Xavier—my rocks—I might just lose it. They’re the only sure things in my life right now. Maybe with them, I have a chance to get out of this alive.

I still don’t know what Rafael wants the damn stone for. My mom is the one who stole it from him in the first place and it cost her everything. If I don’t get it back to him, I risk the same fate.

FML.

Reverse harem fans will want to one-click the exciting sequel in this steamy paranormal academy romance series.

Release Dates for Academy of the Underworld:
Waking Darkness January 6, 2020

Claiming Darkness February 5, 2020
Ruling Darkness March 11, 2020

Publisher's Note: Academy of the Underworld is a college-aged reverse harem paranormal fantasy series about a badass siren and the four hot men who adore her. Scroll up and one-click your adventure into the Underworld!

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2020

255 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

Laney Powell

47 books331 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
188 (41%)
4 stars
156 (34%)
3 stars
88 (19%)
2 stars
12 (2%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
1,514 reviews11 followers
March 13, 2020
Fabulous read

This was an amazing addition and conclusion to the series. A unique plot and fantastic series. I can't wait to read the new series coming from this world.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews71 followers
March 18, 2020
ONE EXTREMELY ENTICING RIDE!!!
Holy hell! Laney nails the bullseye, busting through kicking ass and taking names, laying it out with such perfection, fervor, immense talent and a unique insight for detail, welding this gem together sleek, shiny and tight. One non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, pulse racing, heart pounding, page flipping bombshell, blasting this jewel to life spectacularly. A tumultuous wild ride full of fevrent events and surprising circumstances, blow this little fella wide open. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this gem into a tempest, bursting it into a frenzy with a mind-blowing culmination. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and delivering one block busting delight. Add drama, misgivings, intrigue, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and precarious situations, along with a boatload of sinister intentions while dodging calamity, you have one compelling masterpiece. The dynamics and countenance in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. Cognizant of the instant awareness and charged atmosphere, along with a slew of unexpected twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow smoothly transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Remarkable job Laney, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,784 reviews71 followers
April 5, 2020
When evil demons need something, blood is thicker than water. 

I thought getting Xavier back was the solution to all of our problems, but it turns out that the demon from Hell, Rafael, has other plans. Oh yeah, and Rafael? He’s claiming to be my father. Which explains some things—like how he’s able to torment me in my dreams.
When a visit to my real dad leaves me with more questions than answers, I find myself reeling because I can’t tell what’s true anymore. I’m hanging on by my fingernails. Without Carrick, Mikhail, Devin and Xavier—my rocks—I might just lose it. They’re the only sure things in my life right now. Maybe with them, I have a chance to get out of this alive.
I still don’t know what Rafael wants the damn stone for. My mom is the one who stole it from him in the first place and it cost her everything. If I don’t get it back to him, I risk the same fate.

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 that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
Recommend reading.

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

1,190 reviews9 followers
March 13, 2020
Raven is looking forward to when finals are over so she can go home. She plans on taking her men with her to her father and tell him the truth about everything. Raven is happy over the way things went and promises to tell her father anything she learns. Raven and her men finally admit their true feelings for each other. Raven's time home is over before she is ready.
When she gets back to school, Madame informs her her mother's parents are there. Things do not go as planned. They leave Raven extremely angry, which is already is over the Rafael situation. Raven goes back to the beach and talks to her mom. Things happen she wasn't expecting.

Things really turn up on Raven, there will be a lot that happen and things that will be explained. The story moves at a fast pace the author closes Raven's story nicely, there are some twist and turns as the story closes out. I am hoping to see more of these characters in the future. I found this series to very enjoyable and am sorry to see it end so soon.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.8k reviews361 followers
March 17, 2020
Raven is a siren who was sent to Darklight Academy, also known as the Academy of the Underworld, where the “bad” supernaturals go to learn how to control their power and magic. She had been taken to Hell by a demon named Rafael. He later grabbed Xavier, so Raven, Mikhail, Devin, and Carrick went after him, bringing him back along with more information: Rafael wants a stone called the Ocean’s Light that gives the bearer lots of power; and Rafael, whose real name is Marbys, claims he is Raven’s father. Despite her research, she can’t find out where the stone may be, and her life is at stake if she can’t get it for the jerk.

The story moves at a fast pace as questions are answered and things are explained. Her men stay by her, protecting her, as she tries to figure out where this stone might be. Will they all survive? Will they be able to stop Rafael or will he get what he wants?

This was a good story with wonderful characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader happy. Grab your copy and find out how all the loose ends are resolved.
6,029 reviews40 followers
March 19, 2020
Our heroine is pulled in multiple directions, trying to protect the ones she loves and escape the clutches of the bad guy. But what if she can only accomplish one of these?

This is book three (and the conclusion) of this paranormal academy series. While this story is mostly self-contained, you would be missing out on all the background, so I recommend starting at the beginning.

The story is well written and easy to read, while the plot produces several twists and unexpected circumstances which keep things interesting. The characters are also well developed and likable. This book brings many of the threads together as it races to the conclusion. Overall, an excellent ending to this fun and exciting series.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
Profile Image for Aimee Dennis.
309 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2020
Gosh I love this series! This is the 3rd book in the series and has not lost its momentum. Raven and her men (Xavier, Carrick, Mikhail & Devin) are chasing down the bad guy (Rafael) who may be her father (what?), trying to stay safe and dealing with new obstacles along the way. This series has kept my attention and left me wondering what will happen next. From trying to figure out what happened to her mom to meeting long lost grandparents who give you the heebie jeebies – good grief this fast paced story was full of CRAZY! After this amazing ride, I am really looking forward to seeing what else Laney comes up with in the future!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,291 reviews
April 13, 2020
Liked this trilogy, but...

I definitely has issues with how it ended. Not gonna lie, this final instalment of the trilogy was working for me. The betrayals, the twists and turns as the author threw in a few curveballs, all good. But the ending just felt like an excuse for a lot of final exposition to wrap up information Raven has been putting together over the last few months. Add to this, Sorcha became a non entity this time round. The world narrowed and focused on one aspect of the narrative, and all the interactions and clashes faded into nothing (including a resolution with the Greek family connections).

Plus, it sets up Olivia’s story at the end which means a new trilogy, and a final one after that 🤨

3 stars ⭐️
Profile Image for Monica.
2,079 reviews
August 2, 2020
Well...this was an interesting turn of events. I think by far this was the best written out of all 3. I am interested in reading about Olivia. She's definitely an interesting character if not a little grumpy haha. Time to meet dear old Dad and tell him the truth! Oooh that was fun and honestly not that bad and I'm pretty sure they all breathed in a silent relief. Its hilarious that she got sooo fed up with everything that she took charge and went off on her own to get answers. Although she should have gotten a spanking for her trouble. I thought it was really sweet at the end when she finally found out about her Mom and no I am not giving it away because if I do then I'd be spoiling it for someone else. I recommend the series although a little rough in parts.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
202 reviews
December 26, 2024
What a ride. Amazing read.

Well now that Raven knows about her heritage, she has to learn to control her powers. Together with her friends and her 4 men, she braves the underwood and fights the demon. Will she regain control of her life or will the demon win? What will happen to her dad, her boyfriends? Will she find what she needs on time and will she ever find out about her mom?
With all the ups and downs, this is an amazing journey. Raven finds out so much more than Sirens are supposed to, magic from the other underworld races, and masters them all. And much more about her life, as well as that of her friends. Definitely not the ending I was expecting, can't wait to see what's next for them all.
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,866 reviews21 followers
January 4, 2023
Good

Raven and her men have the final showdown with Marbys.

In this book we get the romantic happy ending, but also get most of the questions we’ve been asking answered. There were some surprising moments, some feel-good moments, and a satisfactory moment.
I was pleasantly surprised with the answers about Raven’s mother, and a little disappointed in the way that Marbys was handled (I personally would have liked a harsher ending!)
The book also set up the subsequent Nobledark series, which will further this story a little.

All in all a satisfying end to the trilogy, and an excellent read for RH/Academy romance fans.
Profile Image for Sue Crosby.
194 reviews3 followers
April 5, 2024
YA/NA RH

I'm not entirely sure if this is rated as a YA but the spice is relatively tame. The storyline is engaging and the variety of characters good. Siren, Demon, Necromancer, Reaper and Vampire make up the harem. A daughter of a motorcycle club, a Gorgon headmistress, typical school mean girls, and a big bad complete the characters. The 3 books only cover the first 3/4 months of Ravens start at the Dark light Academy. Tbh I think it needed to complete the time of her enrollment and I felt a little cheated that we only got the 3/4 months. Ok so we have the spin off about Olivia to continue the world build but it feels massively incomplete.
Profile Image for Syd Springer.
4,038 reviews6 followers
March 12, 2020
Laney did exceptional job with this book as well as this whole series! Raven is back again with her 4 men and boy do they have a lot going on in this book! A lot of questions have been answered but Ms. Laney has left me wanting more with that whopper of an ending! I can't wait to see what she does with Olivia's book.
I think Ms. Laney did a wonderful job with her first try at a PN and I can't wait to see her grow with the next series. I HIGHLY recommend this book, series and author wholeheartedly!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,174 reviews
March 14, 2020
A heart stopping read!

A heart stopping ending for Raven and her four men. The mystery, drama and action continues as Raven moves forward to investigate the mystery that surrounds her heritage which only leads to more unanswered questions. I loved the continuous mystery that surrounds this storyline with all the great characters that only add fuel to an already entertaining read. If your invested in this series like I am, than you don’t want to stop now! Can wait to read the next part of this enjoyable series that doesn’t disappoint.
795 reviews4 followers
March 17, 2020
Interesting read

I enjoyed the author's take on the muses and the hierarchy of the supernatural world. I have not read much books about Sirens, but I like that it did not revolve around the ocean with the siren signing to lure men to her. The singing was a by product of being a siren, not the totality, which I found to be unique. It was fast paced and could have slowed down some and provided more depth to the series, but I believe the author meant for this series to be a simple read and it was that.
150 reviews4 followers
March 17, 2020
I found this book to be an exciting edition to the Academy of the Underworld. We get to meet new and exciting characters and find out more about existing ones.

I do feel that the story is a bit rushed though. More time could have been put into development of the overall plot as it fell a little flat.

If you are looking for a nice finish to a great trilogy this is it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
10.7k reviews28 followers
March 21, 2020
Ruling Darkness is book three and a great conclusion to the Academy of the Underworld series. This is a fast paced read filled with action, drama, danger, mystery, suspense and twists the kept me reading. A vampire, a demon, a reaper and a siren are some of the intriguing characters that make this a page turner. I look forward to reading the next great Laney Powell book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
5,937 reviews30 followers
March 25, 2020
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. Once I started I could not put the book down from start to finish you just could not get enough with twists and turns hot and steamy like a rollercoaster ride of emotions that makes you want more without her men can she survive.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Siren.
47 reviews
February 21, 2021
I liked the usage of different languages in the incantations like Arabic, Latin, Greek.
I know I'll definitely be reading Nobledark Academy next and the (presumably last) series featuring Violet.

Please turn these into audiobooks ASAP! But make sure you have narrators who sound age-appropriate thanks! I recommend Rebekah Nemethy, Celestine Wolf, or Lessa Lamb and Adam Gold, Michael Gallagher, Gregory Salinas, or Kale Williams.
6,485 reviews22 followers
March 17, 2020
This is a thrilling read with all the drama and mystery along with the action. Ruling Darkness is a very entertaining conclusion to this series. I liked that this had a unique plot and amazing characters. The ending for me was a bit rushed but overall a fantastic ending to a wonderful series.

I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased, honest review.
Profile Image for Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog).
7,751 reviews169 followers
March 19, 2020
Great ending to this reverse harem trilogy. There's more mystery and suspense but with the sexiness we expect from Raven and her guys. They're on a race against time and I had moment when I held my breath, just waiting to see what would happen.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,817 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2020
First let me state that I received an Advance Reader Copy, (ARC), but this in no way influences my review. I always leave an honest review.

Holy shiznet!!! What a gr8 way to end a series. Everyone got thier HEA. Raven had some troubles, but she got through them with the help of her men. I am looking forward to Olivia's story. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews52 followers
March 20, 2020
Ruling Darkness by Laney Powell is a wonderful story to read. This is book number three in this wonderful series writen by a brand new author for me to read and can not wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about paranormal romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,147 reviews13 followers
March 23, 2020
Raven is a siren and is considered a bad supernatural who attends the academy to learn to control her powers. She was taken to hell against her wishes along with one of her men. This was definitely and ending I did not expect. Spectacular!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Christina Luberts.
2,778 reviews7 followers
March 23, 2020
We have a little suspense and attitude. Raven finally gets to visit her dad. What will he do when he meets her four men? Who is this person she seen in Rafael';s mind? Can she help? Can she learn everything? What will happen at the end? Will she find out what and why Rafael want this stone?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jessica.
886 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2020
Nice and sweet!

I really liked how easily this series flowed. There wasn't a million things going on at once and the characters just merged so effortlessly. I loved it. There's was just enough naughty and badassery( probably not a real word but but me some slack)! And the surprise at then end, let's just say it's tear inducing! I definitely recommend this series!
Profile Image for Samantha F.
353 reviews11 followers
March 12, 2020
This book was good, however I felt the ending was kind of rushed. It was a good series just fell asleep little flat in the final book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10 reviews
April 1, 2020
Love this book

I love this book. I said when it ended, I need book 3 ASAP. I love how her guys are always there for every step of the way and let her make own decisions. I like that she got some answers and some what if happen ending. I NEED BOOK 3 NOW
404 reviews3 followers
April 2, 2020
Book 3 in the acadamy of the underworld series, paranormal romance, could not put it down, am loving this series, highly reccommend

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cheryl Sedman.
1,159 reviews11 followers
April 10, 2020
This book was another great read and addition to the series. With a wicked story Line that pulls you in fast, and some amazing characters who you will fall in love with. Totally love this series and can't wait for more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.