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Wings and Blades Academy #1
Spire of Shadows
Hidden high above the mortal world, Domus Academy is a secret sanctuary for cambions—the half-human, half-demon children despised by every realm. For Cassia, the academy has always been her home…and her prison.
Born with wings and a past shrouded in secrecy, Cassia has spent her life under the protection of the Elders, isolated from other students and haunted by dreams she can’t explain. When she’s finally thrust into her final year among her peers, she’s determined to prove she belongs—even if that means facing the academy’s fiercest students and their dangerous magic.
But when an intruder breaches Domus and her caretaker is murdered, Cassia’s world shatters. A sacred book containing the names and powers of every cambion is stolen—and the killer may be closer than anyone dares to admit.
To uncover the truth, Cassia must navigate deadly rivalries, forbidden alliances, and a mystery that reaches across realms. Every secret she unearths pulls her deeper into a web of betrayal, revealing that the shadows surrounding her birth may hold the key to saving—or destroying—the academy itself.
Wings. Blades. Secrets. Betrayal.
At Domus Academy, the greatest danger isn’t the monsters outside the walls—it’s the ones hiding within.
Perfect for readers who love:
✨ Academy fantasy and supernatural intrigue
🔥 Enemies-to-allies tension and found-family dynamics
🌙 Fierce heroines with hidden power
💀 Dark secrets, celestial politics, and slow-burning rebellion
*Please note that this book was previously published in 2019 as Demonspawn Academy: Trial One.
Born with wings and a past shrouded in secrecy, Cassia has spent her life under the protection of the Elders, isolated from other students and haunted by dreams she can’t explain. When she’s finally thrust into her final year among her peers, she’s determined to prove she belongs—even if that means facing the academy’s fiercest students and their dangerous magic.
But when an intruder breaches Domus and her caretaker is murdered, Cassia’s world shatters. A sacred book containing the names and powers of every cambion is stolen—and the killer may be closer than anyone dares to admit.
To uncover the truth, Cassia must navigate deadly rivalries, forbidden alliances, and a mystery that reaches across realms. Every secret she unearths pulls her deeper into a web of betrayal, revealing that the shadows surrounding her birth may hold the key to saving—or destroying—the academy itself.
Wings. Blades. Secrets. Betrayal.
At Domus Academy, the greatest danger isn’t the monsters outside the walls—it’s the ones hiding within.
Perfect for readers who love:
✨ Academy fantasy and supernatural intrigue
🔥 Enemies-to-allies tension and found-family dynamics
🌙 Fierce heroines with hidden power
💀 Dark secrets, celestial politics, and slow-burning rebellion
*Please note that this book was previously published in 2019 as Demonspawn Academy: Trial One.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Annabel Chase
179 books1,536 followersAnnabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 5, 2019
This rating is for the whole trilogy.
Cassia is a cambion or half-demon half-something who was found as an orphan and reared at the Domus Academy for half-demon children. She has a prophecy on her head and people after her head. The series see her growing up from a trainee to a graduate of the academy while facing huge challenges that came upon her due to her birth rights.
Pros: All the characters and their interactions are quite enjoyable.
Though Cassia is bold and courageous and is not afraid to speak her mind, she is not offensive like some of the other YA heroines (Rose from VA for e.g.).
One of the best and the most likeable thing about this whole book, and let me shout this one out - NO CLICHE VAMPY GIRLS in this book!
Can you believe it?
This book got a star just for that one thing.
There are mean girls in this book - but they are mean for their ends, not cos they are 'ho's trying to grab attention from the uninterested male leads.
Finally the fantasy elements were likeable if a bit tame.
The plot and story lines are very well rounded and cohesive enough that you dont see any glaring holes.
Cons: The one and only one crappy thing about this book is the male lead and the romance bit.
Cassia dominates the book and its good but her match should have been someone equally bright.
When Annabel introduced Zadkiel towards teh end, I felt like he would be a great fit.
But no, Rafe is a the hero and he is a very tame hero.
The romantic bits between the couple are very clean and not too intense.
So you might be disappointed if you picked this up expecting an intense angel-demon romance.
Overall - I liked the whole series and I liked the way Annabel added the interactions between the characters. All the humor was quite enjoyable and makes this series a good light read.
Cassia is a cambion or half-demon half-something who was found as an orphan and reared at the Domus Academy for half-demon children. She has a prophecy on her head and people after her head. The series see her growing up from a trainee to a graduate of the academy while facing huge challenges that came upon her due to her birth rights.
Pros: All the characters and their interactions are quite enjoyable.
Though Cassia is bold and courageous and is not afraid to speak her mind, she is not offensive like some of the other YA heroines (Rose from VA for e.g.).
One of the best and the most likeable thing about this whole book, and let me shout this one out - NO CLICHE VAMPY GIRLS in this book!
Can you believe it?
This book got a star just for that one thing.
There are mean girls in this book - but they are mean for their ends, not cos they are 'ho's trying to grab attention from the uninterested male leads.
Finally the fantasy elements were likeable if a bit tame.
The plot and story lines are very well rounded and cohesive enough that you dont see any glaring holes.
Cons: The one and only one crappy thing about this book is the male lead and the romance bit.
Cassia dominates the book and its good but her match should have been someone equally bright.
When Annabel introduced Zadkiel towards teh end, I felt like he would be a great fit.
But no, Rafe is a the hero and he is a very tame hero.
The romantic bits between the couple are very clean and not too intense.
So you might be disappointed if you picked this up expecting an intense angel-demon romance.
Overall - I liked the whole series and I liked the way Annabel added the interactions between the characters. All the humor was quite enjoyable and makes this series a good light read.
October 4, 2019
I have read EVERY SINGLE ONE of Annabel Chase's cozy mystery series. I mean over 30 books and LOVED every one!
Demonspawn Academy: Trial One is the first Urban Fantasy Book I have read of hers and I absolutely LOVED it.
This was an action packed adventure that I did not what to end. I loved the characters and the story and the adventure. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Demonspawn Academy: Trial One is the first Urban Fantasy Book I have read of hers and I absolutely LOVED it.
This was an action packed adventure that I did not what to end. I loved the characters and the story and the adventure. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
February 11, 2024
This book needs more character descriptions, as I've just finished the book and can't say what the other characters looked like.
The MC comes across as rash and childish. This book has potential though. However, I found myself skipping scenes.
The MC comes across as rash and childish. This book has potential though. However, I found myself skipping scenes.
May 30, 2023
DNF.
I adored the book, Dead to the World, of this writer, so even though I don't like Academy books, I gave it a try. What a disappointment.
The first few chapters seems to play off in one day, but then suddenly she describes it as "days", but then again it still was her first night there. I hate inconsistencies like that.
And who spoils and loves a child so much, and then expect her to go to school when she just lost who was basically her mother? How heartless! No crying. No sobbing. No counselling. No time needed to adjust after the shock. Nah... just go back to class and everything was just fine. Wth?!?!?!?
Then the way she screamed and yelled at everyone was bizarre and weird and out of place. She's suppose to respect, love and adore these "Elders", but she treated them as her minions.
The characters were immature, the setting boring, the situations contrived, the book were about teenage idiocy with a high school mean girl just for the sake of it, that seems so prevalent in American culture. I thus stopped reading after 4 or 5 chapters.
I adored the book, Dead to the World, of this writer, so even though I don't like Academy books, I gave it a try. What a disappointment.
The first few chapters seems to play off in one day, but then suddenly she describes it as "days", but then again it still was her first night there. I hate inconsistencies like that.
And who spoils and loves a child so much, and then expect her to go to school when she just lost who was basically her mother? How heartless! No crying. No sobbing. No counselling. No time needed to adjust after the shock. Nah... just go back to class and everything was just fine. Wth?!?!?!?
Then the way she screamed and yelled at everyone was bizarre and weird and out of place. She's suppose to respect, love and adore these "Elders", but she treated them as her minions.
The characters were immature, the setting boring, the situations contrived, the book were about teenage idiocy with a high school mean girl just for the sake of it, that seems so prevalent in American culture. I thus stopped reading after 4 or 5 chapters.
May 6, 2026
Spire of Shadows
Ms. Chase always writes fantastic books and the start of this series, shows this one will be too.
We enter the world of the Spires and the cambions that live in them and our protagonist Cassia, who is permitted to move to a Spire after growing up with the Elders, who found her as a child.
She is a special foundling because no one knows what kind of cambion she is.
The story takes a turn when someone special to her is murdered and she decides to find that killer, leading her to make some decisions that alters life as she knows it. She does meet some wonderful people along the way and learns some hard lessons too.
Ms. Chase always writes fantastic books and the start of this series, shows this one will be too.
We enter the world of the Spires and the cambions that live in them and our protagonist Cassia, who is permitted to move to a Spire after growing up with the Elders, who found her as a child.
She is a special foundling because no one knows what kind of cambion she is.
The story takes a turn when someone special to her is murdered and she decides to find that killer, leading her to make some decisions that alters life as she knows it. She does meet some wonderful people along the way and learns some hard lessons too.
July 5, 2021
A teen fantasy with plenty of suspense and some teen drama. Although there’s a lot of mayhem I felt the action scenes were lacking a bit along with some of the character development.
Overall, an entertaining read with an interesting plot line and a decent start to a series.
Overall, an entertaining read with an interesting plot line and a decent start to a series.
May 23, 2020
Great hook
I love how she ended the book, plan on getting the second book! It was an easy read with a great adventure.
I love how she ended the book, plan on getting the second book! It was an easy read with a great adventure.
June 19, 2020
Really good urban fantasy. I enjoy the characters and hope to see more interactions in the future. Slow-burn romance and lots more friendship.
couldn-t-finish
August 7, 2020I couldn't finish this, I've never read this author before so I'm not sure if all books are like this but I felt like I was reading a book for middle school kids. Not for me.
October 26, 2020
i enjoyed the book but probably won’t move on to the next one
July 15, 2021
Love!
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in less than one day! Couldn’t put it down! Don’t want to risk any spoilers!
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in less than one day! Couldn’t put it down! Don’t want to risk any spoilers!
March 16, 2023
I had a hard time getting through this one.
May 11, 2024
Now by a different title (May 2024) Spire of Shadows: Wings and Blades Academy
May 13, 2024
Seriously Good Read
This book grabs you right from the beginning and it doesn’t slow down, it just keeps getting better and better. Love the World and the characters.
This book grabs you right from the beginning and it doesn’t slow down, it just keeps getting better and better. Love the World and the characters.
January 26, 2020
great book
great book only thing i can say is harry potter if hogwortts cattered to half demons a great book with with even better charavter in it.
great book only thing i can say is harry potter if hogwortts cattered to half demons a great book with with even better charavter in it.
June 4, 2024
This was an ok start to a new YA urban fantasy trilogy. I've read a lot of other works by this author, and this one was my least enjoyable. I felt the characters acted very immaturely, even allowing for the fact that they are 17-year-olds, and I couldn't really connect with the story. The first half was the weakest, but when Cassia was able to go out on her own and investigate, things picked up and I have some theories about her background and parentage that I'm looking forward to finding out more about in the next books. Cassia and her half-demon peers live in a spire high above the "bounders" or Earth-bound (i.e. humans). They have to worry about being destroyed by Whistlers, and sometimes by other celestial beings, because of their half-demon side. Although as we see, they are not all evil and they are not worthy of being destroyed. It's an interesting series starter, and I will be continuing on to find out some of the secrets that have been teased at so far.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited and used T2S text-to-speech for audio.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited and used T2S text-to-speech for audio.
October 3, 2019
Different but good different 😊
It took me a lot longer than normal to get into this book and it isn’t for bad reasons. This book is just very different to all of her other books especially going straight in to the final year before graduation but it worked. I especially liked how cassia makes friends with her group as I have to admit I thought it was going to a complete different way than it went. I also like the watchers and the budding romance with Rafe and friendship with the girl that I can’t spell her name without going back into the book lol! Def looking forward to book 2!
It took me a lot longer than normal to get into this book and it isn’t for bad reasons. This book is just very different to all of her other books especially going straight in to the final year before graduation but it worked. I especially liked how cassia makes friends with her group as I have to admit I thought it was going to a complete different way than it went. I also like the watchers and the budding romance with Rafe and friendship with the girl that I can’t spell her name without going back into the book lol! Def looking forward to book 2!
November 10, 2019
Brilliant academy book full of magic, mystery and mayhem.
Demonspawn Academy tracks Cassia's adventures as she tries to find and catch the murderer of a loved one. It is an exciting adventure that introduces you many magical creatures. Cassia is a strong, resourceful and resilient character that is loyal and fights for what she believes. She befriends Rafe to help her on a quest, but she gets more than she bargains for. This is a wonderful journey of discovery and excitement you don't want to miss.
Demonspawn Academy tracks Cassia's adventures as she tries to find and catch the murderer of a loved one. It is an exciting adventure that introduces you many magical creatures. Cassia is a strong, resourceful and resilient character that is loyal and fights for what she believes. She befriends Rafe to help her on a quest, but she gets more than she bargains for. This is a wonderful journey of discovery and excitement you don't want to miss.
October 4, 2019
Entertaining new series
Entertaining new urban fantasy series. Do you have earth and other realms with supernatural beings. There are Nephilim and vampires and witches and fairies and half demons all bouncing around on earth and in the other realms. This one has a great cast of characters and an extraordinary storyline that you have to read to believe. It is very detailed with plenty of action and entertainment. Check it out
Entertaining new urban fantasy series. Do you have earth and other realms with supernatural beings. There are Nephilim and vampires and witches and fairies and half demons all bouncing around on earth and in the other realms. This one has a great cast of characters and an extraordinary storyline that you have to read to believe. It is very detailed with plenty of action and entertainment. Check it out
November 16, 2019
A good, gritty read with an interesting world full of a wide variety of creatures. It was intriguing to see the politics and interplay amongst the groups. I'm curious to see where the next book takes us. I did not intentionally time my reading of this to end close to when the second one came out, but I'm sure not complaining that I did!
October 4, 2019
Promising new series
Annabel Chase lives up to her usual high standards with this first volume in a new series, introducing a host of new paranormals. I look forward to Cassia's further adventures as she learns more about her heritage, her powers, and the worlds around her.
Annabel Chase lives up to her usual high standards with this first volume in a new series, introducing a host of new paranormals. I look forward to Cassia's further adventures as she learns more about her heritage, her powers, and the worlds around her.
October 2, 2019
Awesome!!!
Excellent, another new series for me to get my teeth into, (& no I'm not a Demon!!!)
I flipping loved it and I cannot wait for the next installment!!!
Excellent, another new series for me to get my teeth into, (& no I'm not a Demon!!!)
I flipping loved it and I cannot wait for the next installment!!!
November 2, 2019
This was just not my cup of tea. I’ve loved all of Anabel Chase’s books but this one just didn’t peak my interest.
November 8, 2019
Great book
This book was good. Less "academy" since it was mainly on earth searching for the antagonist. I'm excited go learn more about Cassia and get heritage.
This book was good. Less "academy" since it was mainly on earth searching for the antagonist. I'm excited go learn more about Cassia and get heritage.
April 29, 2020
Great New series
Love this new series. Great New characters and multi dimensional world's. The storyline is amazing with lots of surprises and adventure.
Love this new series. Great New characters and multi dimensional world's. The storyline is amazing with lots of surprises and adventure.
November 29, 2019
Very good story.
December 31, 2024
Interesting world building with humans, angels, demons and the like. You can tell it's leading up to one young girl who will eventually save them all but I want to see how the story gets there.
February 20, 2026
Quick audio book - nothing too crazy so easy to follow!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews