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Hades Academy #1
Hades Academy: First Semester
I thought I could survive anything—until I met actual demons.
Ever since my mother disappeared, I’d been fending for myself on the streets of New York by running scams—anything to get a dollar.
So when I almost lightning-blast my latest victim (WTF), and some guy in a slick suit saves me from the cops by telling me I’m half-demon (double WTF) and I belong at a place literally called Hades Academy? I figured I was the one getting scammed.
But no.
My name is Nova Donovan, and I’m half-demon.
Next thing I know, I’m flying in a horse-drawn carriage on my way to a place I didn’t even know existed until twenty minutes before. Hades Academy is 100% real: a school for demons to learn the magic that will keep the forces of Chaos at bay.
But if I thought survival at Hades Academy was going to be any easier, I could not have been more wrong. Now I have to deal with tough new classes, a bitchy mean girl who hates my half-human guts, and the attention of several hot but dangerous dudes.
Oh, and did I mention that someone’s trying to destroy the school?
Yeah—survival’s going to take more than I thought.
Hades Academy: First Semester is a magic academy NA paranormal fantasy novel with a slow-burn romance and a kickass heroine. Although there are love triangles, this is NOT a reverse harem. Rated 18+ for strong language.
256 pages, ebook
Published July 28, 2019
714 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 12, 2020
Alright I did NOT like this book all that much. I did go in with high hopes enjoying the beginning and the friendships, so let's discuss.
This is book is about Nova going to Hades Academy, which is a school for Demons. Along the way she learns what a demon's purpose is and makes new friends. While this happens something is going on with the Demon relics and causing havoc in Hades Academy and Nova tries to figure out what's happening in order to save the school.
Nova:
I really enjoy her spunk and attitude. She didn't take anyone walking all over her and her experience in the human world helped center that she came for a purpose. Her "love triangle" with Raines and Wilder was annoying and confusing. Her friendships honestly is what I enjoyed the most because it allowed her to have teen experiences like shopping, studying, and drama with a mean girl of course.
Raines:
I do not like Raines, he helps Nova but then gives her attitude and says he doesn't like her, even though from our prospective it looks like he does care for her and doesn't want her to get kicked out. They have multiple heart to heart moments where he WILLINGLY gave her information about himself and then turns around and says that she tricked him into telling her things. Nova never once approached him or forces him to say anything, he's the one that starts it and also gives her very vague and confusing warnings, mostly about his half-brother Wilder. Raines has a lot of secrets of his own and usually I love the mysterious bad boy but in my head Raines is bipolar, angry at the world, and have a deep passion to make Nova's life hard.
Wilder Frost:
I am NOT team Wilder either, he just seems like a creep. Nova is totally hot for him but even after description i just see him as a total bad guy and don't like him either. I at first thought Raines was just being annoying with the warnings but they just both sound like trouble. It seems like Wilder is keeping things from Nova, he also looked into Nova's family history without her permission, which I understand he's her professor and "wants the best for her", but everyone is told over and over again that they are all adults. So as an adult i felt that Nova should have had a say in if he could look into her family. Also at her exetasis, he says she doesn't have powers and she later finds out that it's not true confronts him and he ends up telling her that she actually might have Very powerful powers, so he's also a liar unless confronted. I hope a new bad boy comes into the picture and just bests everyone cause omgosh this family has major issues.
Teddy and Morgan:
They are such great friends! Teddy is a smarty-pants and really shy but enjoys hanging out with the girls. Morgan is
italic text: "100 % that bitch.
She tells it like it is, very talkative, outgoing and more than willing to help Nova with all her demon questions.
that's all i have to say, the romance in this book is horrible, the story is interesting but very elusive and vague. The characters are actually kind of annoying (except Teddy, Morgan, and Nova). I just don't know if i even want to continue with the rest of the series!
This is book is about Nova going to Hades Academy, which is a school for Demons. Along the way she learns what a demon's purpose is and makes new friends. While this happens something is going on with the Demon relics and causing havoc in Hades Academy and Nova tries to figure out what's happening in order to save the school.
Nova:
I really enjoy her spunk and attitude. She didn't take anyone walking all over her and her experience in the human world helped center that she came for a purpose. Her "love triangle" with Raines and Wilder was annoying and confusing. Her friendships honestly is what I enjoyed the most because it allowed her to have teen experiences like shopping, studying, and drama with a mean girl of course.
Raines:
I do not like Raines, he helps Nova but then gives her attitude and says he doesn't like her, even though from our prospective it looks like he does care for her and doesn't want her to get kicked out. They have multiple heart to heart moments where he WILLINGLY gave her information about himself and then turns around and says that she tricked him into telling her things. Nova never once approached him or forces him to say anything, he's the one that starts it and also gives her very vague and confusing warnings, mostly about his half-brother Wilder. Raines has a lot of secrets of his own and usually I love the mysterious bad boy but in my head Raines is bipolar, angry at the world, and have a deep passion to make Nova's life hard.
Wilder Frost:
I am NOT team Wilder either, he just seems like a creep. Nova is totally hot for him but even after description i just see him as a total bad guy and don't like him either. I at first thought Raines was just being annoying with the warnings but they just both sound like trouble. It seems like Wilder is keeping things from Nova, he also looked into Nova's family history without her permission, which I understand he's her professor and "wants the best for her", but everyone is told over and over again that they are all adults. So as an adult i felt that Nova should have had a say in if he could look into her family. Also at her exetasis, he says she doesn't have powers and she later finds out that it's not true confronts him and he ends up telling her that she actually might have Very powerful powers, so he's also a liar unless confronted. I hope a new bad boy comes into the picture and just bests everyone cause omgosh this family has major issues.
Teddy and Morgan:
They are such great friends! Teddy is a smarty-pants and really shy but enjoys hanging out with the girls. Morgan is
italic text: "100 % that bitch.
She tells it like it is, very talkative, outgoing and more than willing to help Nova with all her demon questions.
that's all i have to say, the romance in this book is horrible, the story is interesting but very elusive and vague. The characters are actually kind of annoying (except Teddy, Morgan, and Nova). I just don't know if i even want to continue with the rest of the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
This was a great start to a new series! I really enjoyed Abbie’s take on demons and guardians to where their jobs are to maintain balance in the world instead of wreaking utter havoc or extreme goodness in the world. Nova has been living in the streets of New York scamming poor souls just to scrape by life ever since her mom disappeared and she stopped hopping between foster homes. One night during her usual three card monte trick, something goes horribly wrong when she almost blasts her newest victim with lightning. She wakes up to the smell of a meatball sub and a well dressed man who tells her she’s half demon, offers to take her to Hades Academy, a school for demons, or to get caught by the cops. Nova obviously takes a chance and goes with him, signs a contract in blood to stay, and her whole world gets turned upside down for better and for worse. Things aren’t as easy as she thought they would be, but at least she has a place to stay, food in her stomach, and clothes on her back even if she has to put up with a mean demon purist and three mysterious guys, The Infernal Three. I really enjoyed the friendship that she had with Morgan and Teddy and loved that even though they were all completely different they were so comfortable and always there for one another. The tension between Raines, part of The Infernal Three, and Wilder, her theories of demonological philosophy professor, was intriguing and mysterious to say the least. The characters were believable and realistic and I liked that the demons and guardians still lived pretty normal lives even if their pop culture was hit and miss for Nova’s tastes. I honestly can’t wait to see what happens next at Hades Academy!
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 1, 2020
well I really enjoyed that. The ideas are unique and I love the idea that demons/Angels don't equals bad/good. It'll be interesting to see how Chaos comes out and what her powers are. This was a good start and I'm hooked.
January 8, 2021
Its ok. Not too bad for introductory book, but plot is underdeveloped and it shows.
March 21, 2021
Nova finds out she's a half-demon and is sent to Hades Academy to learn about her powers. Here she meets, her professor Wilder and her fellow student Raynes. She doesn't know what to do about the two men, and when Chaos, the enemy for both angels and demons, makes its presence known, Nova needs to fight to protect her newfound life.
It's not clear who Nova's love interest will be, but I'm excited to find out.
It's not clear who Nova's love interest will be, but I'm excited to find out.
Read
December 5, 2022Not really a masterpiece, but it's entertaining. I like the main character, but a lot of the others are very one dimensional. Some dialogs feel a bit forced and not really authentic and sometimes repetitive and the plot is a bit boring. There are quite a few logical issues u have with the story. (There is only one school for the whole world? So all of them have to speak English? If people are bad and negative on their own why is it even necessary that demons scare and induce fear? Why didn't Nova even get the opportunity in the beginning to get her stuff from wherever it may be? Even a person without a home has things they call their own... And so on. So many little things that just bother me). The love story feels so unnatural. I can't see any connection between the love interests.
It's an interesting idea and had a lot of potential, but it turned kind of cliché and from time to time very predictable.
It's an interesting idea and had a lot of potential, but it turned kind of cliché and from time to time very predictable.
September 10, 2020
Loving all the characters so far but I can’t wait to read more about them! This book is a great start to a great series and it was an easy read. Perfect for those who want to take a dip into the supernatural realm but not a nose dive. It contains drama and you can see the beginning stages of a relationship build up as well as backstabbing in a way. The best age group I would say for this book is probably upper middle grades (7&8th grade) due to the fact that there is some strong language and in some areas you have to read between the lines a little and have a good sense of sarcasm. A great project for this book would be an artsy one by having them recreate a scene from the book or what they think the characters look like.
May 14, 2020
Meh...
Decent writing and storyline but I just had a couple of problems which are annoying enough that I won’t be reading the second book. She signed the school contract in blood WITHOUT being able to read or understand it! She has no real time with any of the guys in her harem, and I cannot stand the relationship between Wilder and Reign. She also agreed to bond souls with him of a really dumb reason and it annoys me that she didn’t think such a serious action through, especially since he was nothing but rude to her.
That being said it was decent writing and I could someday possibly be persuaded to read the second book but it’s not gonna be any time soon.
Decent writing and storyline but I just had a couple of problems which are annoying enough that I won’t be reading the second book. She signed the school contract in blood WITHOUT being able to read or understand it! She has no real time with any of the guys in her harem, and I cannot stand the relationship between Wilder and Reign. She also agreed to bond souls with him of a really dumb reason and it annoys me that she didn’t think such a serious action through, especially since he was nothing but rude to her.
That being said it was decent writing and I could someday possibly be persuaded to read the second book but it’s not gonna be any time soon.
August 31, 2019
I absolutely loved Hades Academy and Nova is my spirit animal! I love her sass, wit and inner monologue!
The story itself I thought I had it all figured out, that it was predictable, but it wasn’t and kept me up into the wee hours, completely in the zen reading zone, leaving me with a cracker of a reading hangover today.
I think I’m Team Raines, I don’t trust Wilder.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment!!
The story itself I thought I had it all figured out, that it was predictable, but it wasn’t and kept me up into the wee hours, completely in the zen reading zone, leaving me with a cracker of a reading hangover today.
I think I’m Team Raines, I don’t trust Wilder.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment!!
August 14, 2019
I struggle with the writing...
The story is nice but not nothing over the top!
The story is nice but not nothing over the top!
January 25, 2020
Good start
this book is a good start to what looks to be a very enjoyable series. The world building is lovely and I look forward to more.
this book is a good start to what looks to be a very enjoyable series. The world building is lovely and I look forward to more.
April 7, 2020
The thing that interested me most about this book was how much philosophical material there is in it. In brief, Nova is a homeless young woman who has been through a nasty time in various foster homes. She gets in a really bad situation and a guy tells her she needs to go with him to an academy.
An academy for demons. Actually, she's a half-demon but she ends up at the academy anyhow. And here is where the philosophy comes in.
It turns out that yes, demons are bad, but there are limits on just how bad they can be. The demons and the angels/guardians actually play off of each other in order to maintain a balance in the universe. If things get unbalanced, though, then chaos erupts and chaos is a massively destructive force.
As someone at the academy finds out.
That philosophical approach will probably upset some people but to me it's pretty logical if a balance is to be maintained. This goes along the yin/yang idea and similar balance ideas.
So, Nova has to attend classes, find out if she actually has any power or not, deal with a female student who is a major bully, a group of three boys (one of which might hate her), a major earthquake and a program that will take a year to determine what kind of power she does have, if she has any, that is.
By the way, some of the courses she takes include Human History (in relation to demonic history), Pyromancy (starting fires), Remedial Latin and Theories of Demonological Philosophy.
This is part of a series of books.
An academy for demons. Actually, she's a half-demon but she ends up at the academy anyhow. And here is where the philosophy comes in.
It turns out that yes, demons are bad, but there are limits on just how bad they can be. The demons and the angels/guardians actually play off of each other in order to maintain a balance in the universe. If things get unbalanced, though, then chaos erupts and chaos is a massively destructive force.
As someone at the academy finds out.
That philosophical approach will probably upset some people but to me it's pretty logical if a balance is to be maintained. This goes along the yin/yang idea and similar balance ideas.
So, Nova has to attend classes, find out if she actually has any power or not, deal with a female student who is a major bully, a group of three boys (one of which might hate her), a major earthquake and a program that will take a year to determine what kind of power she does have, if she has any, that is.
By the way, some of the courses she takes include Human History (in relation to demonic history), Pyromancy (starting fires), Remedial Latin and Theories of Demonological Philosophy.
This is part of a series of books.
March 24, 2020
Nora Donovan is a high school dropout living on the streets when she gets whisked away to Hades Academy or atleast as she calls it Demon College. Everything is provided for as a halfbreed (half demon but we don't know from which half) she has a prissy fullblood that hates her guts. Her bestie/roomate Morgan is a british gossip and Teddy is just so adorable you want to cuddle him.
Nova though doesn't feel like she belongs and develops an interest in both Wilder (a teacher) and Raine (teachers half brother) and fears her powers will never come in.
Great story telling and learning that just because your a demon doesn't mean you are bad. They actually have a cordial relationship with Elysium (Guardians/angel school.)
A fun read from a girl who thought she knew a lot to finding out she knew nothing.
Nova though doesn't feel like she belongs and develops an interest in both Wilder (a teacher) and Raine (teachers half brother) and fears her powers will never come in.
Great story telling and learning that just because your a demon doesn't mean you are bad. They actually have a cordial relationship with Elysium (Guardians/angel school.)
A fun read from a girl who thought she knew a lot to finding out she knew nothing.
April 13, 2020
Omg I absolutely frickin adore this book!!!!! This is a book I have had in my kindle library for a while and now I have read it I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner!
I adored the storyline of this demon college with all the varying abilities and personalities that I think everyone can relate to in some fashion. Then add in danger and of course the character being drawn to 2 completely different men and you have an amazing storyline with a fiery and sarcastic main charachterbthat I adored and seriously relate to.
I can't wait to read ,ore of this series and this author's book because she is amazing! So well deserving of 5*, I can't wait to find out what happens next!!!
I adored the storyline of this demon college with all the varying abilities and personalities that I think everyone can relate to in some fashion. Then add in danger and of course the character being drawn to 2 completely different men and you have an amazing storyline with a fiery and sarcastic main charachterbthat I adored and seriously relate to.
I can't wait to read ,ore of this series and this author's book because she is amazing! So well deserving of 5*, I can't wait to find out what happens next!!!
November 12, 2020
Overall rather good reading. Nova is a particularly interesting character as are her sidekicks Morgan and Teddy. The love interests, Raine and Wilder, as well as the nemesis, Camilla, not so much. I feel that adequate clues for solving the mystery were presented in such a manner as to appropriately obscure the solution. The end was unsatisfying.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Part of "Hades Academy: The Complete Series: A Paranormal Demon Romance"
I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author. This is my honest review.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Part of "Hades Academy: The Complete Series: A Paranormal Demon Romance"
I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author. This is my honest review.
August 12, 2022
To be honest I was not into this book DNF at 81%. Although DFMC can be entertaining there’s things that do not make sense to me like for example, she is super skeptical about everything because of her past but sings away something that she doesn’t does not understand or doesn’t know what implies in blood?
Obviously the mean girl exist but the faculty did not fall under her pretenses but I didn’t enjoy either the love interest in this book. Its mainly about two of them and one of them is always is confusing because sometimes it feels as though he’s interested in her and the next moment he will be accusing her of something.
Obviously the mean girl exist but the faculty did not fall under her pretenses but I didn’t enjoy either the love interest in this book. Its mainly about two of them and one of them is always is confusing because sometimes it feels as though he’s interested in her and the next moment he will be accusing her of something.
November 5, 2020
They might be adults, but reads as a YA. No family, no friends, no schooling. What's a young woman to do? Accidentally set off demon powers you don't know you have and get accepted into a demon school for free. New friends, 2 possible budding romances, classes and Chaos make it an interesting first semester. Keeps you guessing chapter after chapter. Believable characters you can relate to. Excited to read the next semester.
March 1, 2022
More like 3.5 stars. The writing is pretty decent and the book started off really well but the ending was straight up dumb. Seriously, her choosing to soul bind to Raines because she could empathize with him was NOT a good reason to do something so permanent. But I guess the author needed more angst or whatever to continue on to the next book. I’ll read the next one because I do like the plot and wanna see what happens next
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
A whirlwind of an opening installment
Hades academy is certainly a YA but I'm here for the intensity of the Whole finding out you're a demon being whisked off to a new life and even though the lead (Nova ) doesn't want to admit it having the hots for the bad boy Raines. Love the sass ups and downs of all the characters in this book one of the Hades Academy series. I need to read the rest of the series soon.
Hades academy is certainly a YA but I'm here for the intensity of the Whole finding out you're a demon being whisked off to a new life and even though the lead (Nova ) doesn't want to admit it having the hots for the bad boy Raines. Love the sass ups and downs of all the characters in this book one of the Hades Academy series. I need to read the rest of the series soon.
June 4, 2020
Brilliant!
I really really enjoyed this book! Such a fun way of looking at demons and a really interesting philosophical view on their role in the cosmos. The lead is a lot of fun, without being overbearing or boring, or daft. The whole "moddy boy trope" is a bit trite, but it works. Definitely good fun.
I really really enjoyed this book! Such a fun way of looking at demons and a really interesting philosophical view on their role in the cosmos. The lead is a lot of fun, without being overbearing or boring, or daft. The whole "moddy boy trope" is a bit trite, but it works. Definitely good fun.
September 19, 2021
It was okay
It wasn’t bad ,but for me it was a bit slow and would have liked it to have a bit more action and romance in it but i can see it does have potential and thats why I’ve decided to have a read of book 2 see what that’s like. Maybe this one there will be a bit more happening in the book ,now that the main character Nova is mostly settled in at Hades Academy .
It wasn’t bad ,but for me it was a bit slow and would have liked it to have a bit more action and romance in it but i can see it does have potential and thats why I’ve decided to have a read of book 2 see what that’s like. Maybe this one there will be a bit more happening in the book ,now that the main character Nova is mostly settled in at Hades Academy .
June 14, 2021
i love this!!!
I'm still undecided on who i want to win the heart of our Nova but damn so many feels to be had!
Oh my goodness Teddy i wnat him to be wso much more than what he is! Truly a great story and so much sass !!!!
I'm still undecided on who i want to win the heart of our Nova but damn so many feels to be had!
Oh my goodness Teddy i wnat him to be wso much more than what he is! Truly a great story and so much sass !!!!
December 12, 2019
Nova Donovan is 19 and lives on the streets and was raised in foster homes after her mother mysteriously disappeared. She has no clue about her father either. She was playing a game to win some money in an alley, when all of a sudden, an amber light appeared and she passes out. When she awakens, a strange man is there who lets her know she is part demon and is wanted to attend school at Hades Academy. She captures the eyes of Raines and his half-brother, and Raines’ two brothers, the other parts of The Infernal Three. She makes two great friends and a couple enemies within days of each other. She discovers more about herself, some about her past, and others’ secrets. A huge threat lies over the school and that is Chaos! It can destroy EVERYTHING with the correct Relic if gotten too! So much to learn, so much to do, and so little time to protect everyone around~ On top of it all…she gets to meet the Elysium…more to the point…Tavi! Nova and Raines share something very weird, which neither seem too happy about. There is so much jampacked into just semester one, I could not begin to cover it all! This Academy series is definitely going to be much different than others you will read…it promises to be better! I received this book as an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
March 23, 2020
Enjoyable read
I liked the fact of the main character life was very authentic. I also Enjoyed the character development without all the usual graphic scenes.
I liked the fact of the main character life was very authentic. I also Enjoyed the character development without all the usual graphic scenes.
March 27, 2020
Amazing book
This book is great! Good and evil working together to keep balance. It is compared to Harry Potter in the ads, but it is truly it’s own thing!
This book is great! Good and evil working together to keep balance. It is compared to Harry Potter in the ads, but it is truly it’s own thing!
May 30, 2020
Fantastic read couldn't put it down on book 2 now x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2020
Good read
Enjoyable and well written. A fun read with interesting characters and a snarky, irreverent protagonist. Well worth the time investment.
Enjoyable and well written. A fun read with interesting characters and a snarky, irreverent protagonist. Well worth the time investment.
October 1, 2020
The author needs to clean up some of the mistakes but the story was good. I read it really fast.
October 24, 2020
Good
This is good. Its definitely not a favorite series so far but I am going to complete it and see where this goes.
This is good. Its definitely not a favorite series so far but I am going to complete it and see where this goes.
November 1, 2020
Entertaining and good paced.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews