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NEW SCHOOL CHECKLIST: Purple hair, ripped jeans, leather jacket, scowl.
NEW SCHOOL MINDSCREW: A secret academy for 'gifted' students.
And Brynn just got a private invitation to the mysterious club.


Learning about her psychic abilities from the quirky guidance counselor was the first challenge. Keeping the strange Mystic Academy a secret within her prep school was the second. Competing against the strongest student, Dom, a stunning boy with a dark secret, was the unexpected twist.

FIRST PROJECT: Explore Hell's Gates.

Brynn must learn how to use her psychic gifts in time to uncover the mystery of a local urban legend. The town woods behind her school is where children become lost with no memory of where they'd gone, and its tales of burned witches smother the town in shame.

Can this ancient myth be debunked, while fighting the maddening distraction of Dom, in time for the project deadline? Or will the sinister truth hidden within legend awaken, creating unhinged chaos within the academy?

One-click to start the epic adventure of the Urban Mystic Academy: First Project.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2019

276 people are currently reading
111 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Rose McMahon

25 books87 followers
Jennifer Rose McMahon is a USA Today Bestselling Author who has been creating her Pirate Queen series and Irish Mystic Legends series since her college days abroad in Ireland. Her passion for Irish legends, ancient cemeteries, and medieval ghost stories has fueled her adventurous story telling, while her husband’s decadent brogue carries her imagination through the centuries. When she’s not in her own world writing about castles and curses, she can be found near Boston in the local coffee shop, yoga studio, or at the beach…most often answering to the name ‘Mom’ by her fab children four.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Starred Review for BOHERMORE:
"Excellent debut. Teen and adult readers alike will be clamoring for the sequel."

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5 stars
64 (43%)
4 stars
44 (29%)
3 stars
24 (16%)
2 stars
12 (8%)
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4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Aurialis .
141 reviews24 followers
November 7, 2019
The most annoying thing an author can do in a paranormal book is to have a heroine with an inconsistent gift. The worst part - the author probably doesn't even realize it.

The heroine is a super cool clairvoyant - she can read energy around her, read people like a pro and blur out the norms. She can figure out what her teacher thinks about her dyed hair, but when a friend tells her that her crush has taken an interest in her, it takes her totally by surprise. All the while she is clueless as to why the girl hanging from his arm is giving her looks.

Whhaattt?! It is as if this is her first time going to a high school. OH wait! Didn't she change schools so often that she is worried her mother is going to take her away from her new school before she turns eighteen in ten days?

To be fair, I think I have outgrown high school dramas. Someone younger could really like this book, but for me, I have just read too many better books with better heroines!
Profile Image for Holly Vincent.
70 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2020
*** I’m volunteering to review this arc ***

This book was hard to put down. Brynn Douglas has moved around from town to town with her mother. Brynn has never gotten to know anyone or has gotten her hopes up to actually stay in one place. But this last move she has felt like she was meant to be there. She is drawn to a couple students, which she finds that are in the same advisor class. She learns that each of them and her self are very special in there own ways. See seems to have a strong connection with Dom. Also some connection with Shane. She learns that some boys have gone missing and learns about a urban legend that’s about the woods. Her and the UMA’s as they call themselves must find out what’s going on in the woods. Will Brynn find out why she is so special? Will she be able to figure out how she feels about Dom and Shane? Will her and the UMA’s figure out what’s going on in the woods?

I can’t wait to read the second book of this series Urban Mystic Academy: Second Project

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Vibliophile.
1,594 reviews129 followers
January 19, 2020
Meh + content issues = No thanks

While the premise & book description pulled me in, the story itself didn't really grab me. I skimmed ahead & still couldn't get into it.

Add in the psychic orgasms, off-putting generous use of swearing, especially the protagonist's fondness for f-bombs, and then using God's Name as a curse, & I was done.

None of that is necessary to tell a good story - as many authors have proven - especially in one that potentially appeals to teens.
Profile Image for Miki.
1,037 reviews43 followers
October 17, 2019
Quite good Ya urban fantasy. Lots of different paranormal abilities which make it very interesting. Good characters, i like Brynn a natural leader who has no idea of her potential at first.
i would be happy to continue the series
647 reviews10 followers
August 4, 2023
Clearly an amateur writer.

So much was vague or came out of no where or made zero sense. Or all three at once. Female lead continually fails to ask critical or even reasonable questions. But if the story needs her to know something, suddenly she does, despite no show of having gathered the knowledge beforehand.

There is no academy so the author calling it 'A Supernatural Academy Series' is a straight up lie, I assume to con people who are into academy reads to buy it.

These are six students, ranging from sophomore to senior, attending a normal/non-supernatural high school who have an advisory class once a week together with a guidance counselor where they secretly learn to develop their psychic gifts, and one of the students decided to nickname their group: 'Urban Mystic Academy'.

The storytelling was dull and draggy; the characters were one-dimensional or, in the case of the 'burning' student, no personality at all; the premise ended up with so much idiocy attached to it, there was no logic, cohesion or consistency in its final form; and the plot-driven storyline had contrivances galore and was told in clumsy fits and starts

The one thing that wasn't terrible was the romantic-triangle-driven storyline. It wasn't good or even well-developed but the junior lead male/senior lead male's backstory and conflict started out engaging. Unfortunately....



I definitely do not recommend. It is just too flat and unintelligent.
1,187 reviews4 followers
March 18, 2020
Brynn Douglas and her mother move around constantly as they are always behind in the rent. She arrives in a new town and wants to just get through her final year of high school with her head down and try to be invisible. The new school is not what she expects. She develops friends, is taken under the wing of a caring guidance counsellor, invited into a secret group and discovers she has powers. The Urban Mystic Academy is born and their first assignment, explore Hell’s Gate.

This is a paranormal academy book with some great creative differences. They are a secret organization within the school rather than a full academy. They have to discover how to use their gifts without teachers. I love this twist on the popular academy template. The characters are really well developed, chalked full of personality complete with endearing qualities and foibles. The main character pulls you into the story and keeps the reader engaged. The mystery storyline is full of the unexpected, misdirection, dangers and suspense, leading up to a great climax. The characters go through emotional ups and downs as they try to group together, deal with their past experiences and their fears, all while trying to cope with changing powers and the evil blocking their way. The narrative is great, developing the scene, increasing the suspense and helping the reader understand the motivations behind the various characters. If you enjoy academy books, you will find this one refreshing and well written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
345 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2020
Brynn has been forced to change schools quite often, and senior year proves to be no different. She's determined to keep her head down & not be noticed, but she blows that out of the water the very first day of school by getting the attention of 1 boy & actually running in to a second when trying to enter the school office. When she meets with the guidance counselor, she's put in to a group of students who report to her. During the first meeting, she finds out there's something different about her small group, which happens to include the 2 boys that caught her attention that very morning. She finds out that all of them, including herself, have some kind of special power. They are tasked with a project to try to find out what is happening in their town in the surrounding woods. They have to learn to trust each other & work together as a unit in order to succeed at the project, but things aren't what they believe them to be.

I thought this was an interesting story, but the characters could have been a bit more developed. The project is successful, and the story does jump off in to a 2nd book when they are told what their 2nd project will be.
125 reviews3 followers
April 23, 2020
Urban Mystic Academy: First Project is the first book in the Supernatural Academy series. It tells the story of Brynn, a girl who goes to a new school because she and her mom move a lot. Brynn is in her last year of high school and she just wants it to be over soon. But when she arrives, things are not the way she expected them to be. She gets friends and an invitation to a mysterious club. She has to learn a lot about her gift, her physic abilities. When I saw this book, I was immediately curious because of the cover. To me, that's very important. I usually decide what I want to read based on the cover, and only then I read the summary. In this case, I already knew I would love it by seeing the cover. And I did! The plot is very interesting, with many twists and turns. I also loved the characters. I would definitely recommend this book. Especially for people who like to read about magic in a school setting. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
150 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2020
I thought this book was very interesting. It takes a protagonist that had no idea about anything paranormal and made her, almost, the leader of a group of physic's that solve the mystery of what is happening in her new town. I really enjoyed the play of the different characters and the way that they interacted with each other. There was mystery and mayhem but also more caring moments when secrets are revealed. A must read in the YA Paranormal genre.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Stacey Rankin.
468 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2020
This book was filled with action and adventure, unlikely friendship, usual school mean girl, supernatural powers and the town's mystery to solve. The story was well written and the different types of characters were well developed and had strong chemistry, looking forward to finding out how the series develops and the characters chemistry strengthens.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
908 reviews18 followers
May 30, 2020
The book starts like some run of the mill paranormal school series with a girl who has no idea of what she is moving into a new town.

The first difference from the normal, she's going to a normal school. Second difference, she gets a mentor who is gifted. And from this point the book holds interest and picks pace.

A very good book that will make you want more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,416 reviews
April 22, 2020
This is book 1 of A Supernatural Academy series. What a great start for the series. I loved it. The story had a great written plot that pulled you into the story. The story had well developed characters along with suspense and mystery. I also loved the cover. I would recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cassi Sanchez-Manning.
182 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2020
This is a story about A group of misfits with supernatural powers come together to find out what is going on in the town of Lakefield. I look forward to the next book in this series where I hope to find out much more about each of these characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ellie Scothern.
301 reviews
July 2, 2022
Exciting!

I really enjoyed this book it is well written and has real potential with a good character group and storyline, I found I got sucked into their world to the point were my partner had to throw paper at my face as I hadn't heard him and his friend speaking to me!! I can't wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for Dawn Filler.
171 reviews2 followers
November 22, 2024
Good pacing mostly with interesting characters. The psychic abilities were interesting but I wish they were explained more. Training details were not told. The main character Brynn walked into a tough situation blindly and came through for them. Hopefully next book in series helps explain characters backstory better.
214 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2022
She Moved into a New Town Will She Move Again🇨🇦

Byron moved into yet another new town.
Her mother is always moving to another town when she couldn't find what she wanted in the old town.
She meet a group of people that finally made her fit in.

22 reviews
February 17, 2022
Complete storyline

I'm an advid reader so going to be honest this for me was actually quite childish. The book itself was not a bad read but I am not racing to finish the series. If you want to try it go ahead it's neither great nor terrible.
Profile Image for Angel **Book Junkie** .
1,932 reviews9 followers
July 20, 2025
Well I finished the book.
I think the story was there but, it just wasn't for me. I felt more like I was reading a really bad High School Drama book and felt that even the substance was gooey. Just meh.
Profile Image for Dawn Milligan.
2,661 reviews16 followers
April 27, 2020
This is a great first book for me by Jennifer and won't be the last! Loved it great character dynamics and story line I look forward to the next book!!!!
Profile Image for Mandie Thompson.
Author 7 books26 followers
July 16, 2023
Odd but good

I throughly enjoyed this book, though it’s not my usual read. Once I got past the first few chapters I couldn’t put it down. A+++ on this great read!
1,532 reviews
dnf
December 4, 2024
I tried twice to read this but I believe it's for a younger audience than me. The premise was interesting but the characters were a bit too young.
Profile Image for Tash.
185 reviews20 followers
November 6, 2019
**I would like to thank the author for giving me the amazing opportunity to be able to read another great start of one of her new series**

This is the first book in the Urban Mystic Academy series. It brings us into a world that some people might not even know exists, sensitives. A sensitive is someone who can see & interact in the world that most people can't nor notice. You meet Brynn who learns she's special & has a gift, she finds out she is a sensitive.

& thanks to her new school counselor who invites her into a mysterious club of other sensitives, she helps Brynn & others like Brynn who have a gift learn how to use their gifts to their full ability. I can't go into much detail without giving away spoilers, but this is a story that sucks you in & you keep reading to find out what happens next. If you like suspense, mystery, or fantasy (or is it really fantasy?) then this is a book for you as long as you're willing to have an open mind. There are always things in this world that not all of us can understand, but there are others who can pick up on some things others cannot. I would know. Sometimes it's inherited, sometimes things happen like maybe an accident that can trigger things you didn't have the ability to do before.

Jennifer McMahon brings us into a world that you don't necessarily need to believe in it but it will still suck you in reading this story with mysteries & suspense around every corner. It also goes into things that many of us have gone through in our lives like simply trying to fit in, being bullied or intimidated by a mean spirited classmate, coming from a family that isn't "perfect" & having a rocky relationship with a parent yet still not wanting to disappoint them & instead make them proud of you somehow someway. I had a rocky relationship with my mother growing up so I truly understood what Brynn was going through. I also had loyal friends though too to help me through the hard times, having a small loyal circle is a million times better than having a hundred fake friends around you. So don't think this story is just about one thing, be open-minded & I promise you won't regret it! Sometimes our strongest gift is simply taking a chance & allowing possibilities or even others into our life. You never know what you might find ;)
Profile Image for Mary Brannian.
1,068 reviews19 followers
October 19, 2019
Urban Mystic Academy



Don't make bonds with anyone, or you get hurt. Don't get involved in something that matters, or you get hurt. Don't rely on anyone but yourself, or you get hurt. - Brynn Douglas

Brynn had spent her life dedicated to being ignored; to being part of the scenery... to just getting by in life. But all that changed once Brynn started to attend Lakeview High.

Suddenly, Brynn is no longer ignored, no longer part of the scenery. Now, Brynn actually belongs... with her new friends Shane, Dom, Poorva and Courtney, Brynn starts to learn just what she is capable of doing...

The legend of Hell’s Gate and The Dark Witch becomes the focus of Brynn’s life as she and her friends struggle to overcome the miasma of malevolence and shadowy evil that threatens the town. What sacrifices must be made to rid this place of its inherent evil?

There was something evil in Lakefield. And it had controlled the people of this town for long enough. - Brynn

Hang on tight, because you are in for a wild ride! The action doesn’t stop!
4,493 reviews21 followers
October 19, 2019
What a great story. It combines High school horror with magic, suspense and mystery to give a read that I could not put down until the end. The writing was on point and made me feel like I was right there with Brynn. I loved and hated the characters in the story. Considering this is only the first project I shutter to think what might come next. Not sure i want to go into the woods again. And I loved watching Brynn come into her own and interact with the rest of the gang. It was fun to read.
Profile Image for Monique.
907 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2019
This was an intriguing introduction to a new kind of YA urban fantasy. I liked the premise of the story, though I think the story “happened” very quickly. I get that the town is different and mysterious, and that the secret academy needs to solve the problem as part of their project, it feels a bit undeveloped and perhaps rushed. That being said, enjoyable characters and interesting concept overall.
Profile Image for Kari.
54 reviews
October 22, 2019
Oh goodness~~~Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer~~~has done it again! I could NOT put this down until the finish and immediately wanted Project 2!
Brynn, Dom, Poorva, and the rest of the UMA gang are such great characters with back stories I can't wait to delve into.
The story moves fast but smoothly. It is well written, the scenes of Hell Gate are written in such a way I don't ever want to find such a place.
As with her other books Ms. McMahon takes the reader deep into the story! Well done!!
Profile Image for Michelle VanDaley.
1,704 reviews5 followers
October 23, 2019
Brynn's journey is definitely filled with tons of thrills and suspense. Book 1 did a great job laying out the groundwork for the series. We are given an overview of the characters and their "powers" but not to in depth. There are alot of questions left unanswered but being that this is only book one and having read this author before I am positive the answers will will come eventually. I look forward to their second project and seeing this group of misfits grow together
Profile Image for Gigi.
11 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2021
No
I didn’t really enjoy it
Though there was some ok parts overall I didn’t like it
Mabel it’s just me but I’m more into ya fantasy paranormal supernatural and romance genre
This book had a little bit of it but not enough for me
I would recommend this for people just getting into reading fantasy paranormal supernatural
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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