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Royals of Villain Academy #5
Corrupt Alchemy
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07WVZXLGX
I was starting to think I knew what I was dealing with here at the university best known as Villain Academy. Not so much. But can I really trust a shocking revelation from someone who's proven to be my enemy?
There's no way to answer that without diving in. If my mother is still out there alive, I have to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting myself back in the hands of the mages who've betrayed me before.
The other scions have my back now, with all the trouble that's brought them. How much more will they have to sacrifice before we can find some kind of peace? I'm ready to fight for my newfound life, my family, and the guys I'm falling for... but this battle may bring more casualties than I can bear.
*Corrupt Alchemy is the fifth book in a university-age paranormal academy series. Expect magical villainy, a tough heroine who bends to no one’s will, a dollop of steam, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance where there'll be no choosing required.*
I was starting to think I knew what I was dealing with here at the university best known as Villain Academy. Not so much. But can I really trust a shocking revelation from someone who's proven to be my enemy?
There's no way to answer that without diving in. If my mother is still out there alive, I have to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting myself back in the hands of the mages who've betrayed me before.
The other scions have my back now, with all the trouble that's brought them. How much more will they have to sacrifice before we can find some kind of peace? I'm ready to fight for my newfound life, my family, and the guys I'm falling for... but this battle may bring more casualties than I can bear.
*Corrupt Alchemy is the fifth book in a university-age paranormal academy series. Expect magical villainy, a tough heroine who bends to no one’s will, a dollop of steam, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance where there'll be no choosing required.*
286 pages, ebook
First published October 6, 2019
1142 people are currently reading
1300 people want to read
About the author
Eva Chase
124 books3,793 followersEva Chase lives in Canada with her family. She loves stories both swoony and supernatural, and strong women and the men who appreciate them. You can visit her online at www.evachase.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
February 11, 2020
Ok, I'm getting a little tired of Rory's naivete. Also her flat out refusal to believe anything negative about the Joymancers. Nothing is black and white! Time to grow up and face the music. Also, my thoughts on Deborah may have been misplaced...
When Rory finds out that her birth mother may be alive, she works with the blackcoats to try to find her. This leads her back to California and also to some secrets being revealed about her beloved Joymancers. In case you couldn't tell, I'm really tired of her and her Joymancers blind faith. For someone who thinks she's smart, she's very blinded by her own self.
I did like that we got more Malcolm and Rory time because I feel like Chase needs to explore their dynamic a little more. With so many boys, it can be hard to really focus on each one and I feel like Malcolm gets the less because he took the longest to get with Rory.
I think this was my least favorite of the series so far though. But now I think things will really pick up regarding what happened at the end of this book.
When Rory finds out that her birth mother may be alive, she works with the blackcoats to try to find her. This leads her back to California and also to some secrets being revealed about her beloved Joymancers. In case you couldn't tell, I'm really tired of her and her Joymancers blind faith. For someone who thinks she's smart, she's very blinded by her own self.
I did like that we got more Malcolm and Rory time because I feel like Chase needs to explore their dynamic a little more. With so many boys, it can be hard to really focus on each one and I feel like Malcolm gets the less because he took the longest to get with Rory.
I think this was my least favorite of the series so far though. But now I think things will really pick up regarding what happened at the end of this book.
November 6, 2019
I feel like this series really lost it's momentum. I was really excited, but it's book five and I'm just waiting for the secrets and drama to be over. I won't lie, I only continued reading because I wanted to see Malcom get his time to shine.
I won't say I won't finish the series. However, I won't be waiting for new releases anymore.
I won't say I won't finish the series. However, I won't be waiting for new releases anymore.
December 23, 2019
The blacksuits believe Rory's mother is still alive and convince Rory to help them locate her deep in joymancer territory. Rory agrees with the stipulation that when it comes time to extract her, that Rory is allowed to join the mission (in the hopes that she can reduce needless bloodshed).
This continues to be a fun RH series. Things with the non-romantic plot didn't quite go as I expected, which is good. I was highly suspicious of the spells that the blacksuits were doing, but it turned out that for once, things were as they appeared. I think it will be interesting going forward now that I look forward to the next one.
This continues to be a fun RH series. Things with the non-romantic plot didn't quite go as I expected, which is good. I was highly suspicious of the spells that the blacksuits were doing, but it turned out that for once, things were as they appeared. I think it will be interesting going forward now that I look forward to the next one.
March 28, 2020
The thing with reading so many series is that after some time it starts to feel weird to write a review of the next book. This is book five in the series, if I didn't like the previous four books I wouldn't be reading it and it would have been quite a surprise if this book would be incredibly different from the previous ones. But, let's give it another try then.
Ever since I discovered Eva Chase I fell in love with her writing style and world building and she's proving why once again in this book. For the first time we get to see a glimpse of the joymancer community and I love how thought out this all is, how detailed and realistic it feels and how she implemented this entire world into our own. I also love how we get to see more and more of the struggle between the two worlds and how slowly the joymancer world is getting a say in the matter too.
Although this book also has a one book arc, like the previous books, I also get the feeling that the bigger arc is playing a bigger role. Not everything that happens in this book serves the arc of this installment. Chase is very clearly also building towards something epic, which is slowly seeping into the story and becoming more and more visible. It's interesting and it feels like getting pieces of a puzzle without knowing what the end result is gonna look like.
And although the story is getting bigger and bigger, the characters still steal the show. I love how we see Rory grow and holding onto the core of who she is and who she will always be. I love even more how we see her guys growing because of her. We see how they love her, see how strong she is, despite her kindness and understanding of people unlike her. And we witness how they change because of her and for her, in a good way, in a better way. Where in the first book the harem felt a mile away it's now coming closer and closer.
I can't wait to read the next book next week!
Ever since I discovered Eva Chase I fell in love with her writing style and world building and she's proving why once again in this book. For the first time we get to see a glimpse of the joymancer community and I love how thought out this all is, how detailed and realistic it feels and how she implemented this entire world into our own. I also love how we get to see more and more of the struggle between the two worlds and how slowly the joymancer world is getting a say in the matter too.
Although this book also has a one book arc, like the previous books, I also get the feeling that the bigger arc is playing a bigger role. Not everything that happens in this book serves the arc of this installment. Chase is very clearly also building towards something epic, which is slowly seeping into the story and becoming more and more visible. It's interesting and it feels like getting pieces of a puzzle without knowing what the end result is gonna look like.
And although the story is getting bigger and bigger, the characters still steal the show. I love how we see Rory grow and holding onto the core of who she is and who she will always be. I love even more how we see her guys growing because of her. We see how they love her, see how strong she is, despite her kindness and understanding of people unlike her. And we witness how they change because of her and for her, in a good way, in a better way. Where in the first book the harem felt a mile away it's now coming closer and closer.
I can't wait to read the next book next week!
June 15, 2020
Awesome read!
Rory is too nice for her own good. I love her, but when she made that decision to go and see the Conclave, I couldn't help but shake my head, slap some sense into her. But that's how she is, positive, optimistic and hopeful, wanting the best for everybody. And poor girl, she lost Deborah while escaping them (btw, I apologize for saying in one of my previous reviews that I thought Deborah was shady. The little mouse didn't hesitate to save Rory's life...).
Malcolm is growing on me. Even through his POVs we can see he's thinking differently, even acknowledging that he was an a**hole.
Jude is my favorite. Love him, he's adorable.
And FINALLY Declan declared his love to Rory, I couldn't be happier even though we don't know how it's going to work out in the long term.
As for Connar... I'm just so f*cking scared that now he's back from wherever his mother took him, he's going to break up with Rory. I have a bad feeling but I hope everything will be okay.
Cannot wait to read book Foul Conjuring!
Rory is too nice for her own good. I love her, but when she made that decision to go and see the Conclave, I couldn't help but shake my head, slap some sense into her. But that's how she is, positive, optimistic and hopeful, wanting the best for everybody. And poor girl, she lost Deborah while escaping them (btw, I apologize for saying in one of my previous reviews that I thought Deborah was shady. The little mouse didn't hesitate to save Rory's life...).
Malcolm is growing on me. Even through his POVs we can see he's thinking differently, even acknowledging that he was an a**hole.
Jude is my favorite. Love him, he's adorable.
And FINALLY Declan declared his love to Rory, I couldn't be happier even though we don't know how it's going to work out in the long term.
As for Connar... I'm just so f*cking scared that now he's back from wherever his mother took him, he's going to break up with Rory. I have a bad feeling but I hope everything will be okay.
Cannot wait to read book Foul Conjuring!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2019
So many feels!!! Mainly, wanting to scream and cry how could you, at Ms. Chase!! I did not foresee two huge events happening in this edition. I literally cried!! What a huge testament to how powerfully these scenes were executed! I'm on pins waiting for the crew's reunion, I'm having some anxiety as they each just seem to keep taking hits. Things are ramping up and uncertainty is a huge cloud overshadowing their actions. Rory is such a positive being, that I have to wonder if something terrible is coming which will fully challenge her ideals and her place amidst the two factions. I am overjoyed to see her depend upon each of her fellow scions! They've all been tested and judged. It's almost time to take down the barons! Will the new character be an ally or a foe! So much angst!!! And I'm utterly addicted to this unforgettable saga! Huge thank yous to Eva Chase for keeping the plot fast flowing and fresh! I love this universe!
November 28, 2020
Looks like Rory is not getting any smarter. This getting tedious.
November 16, 2020
Danger!!!
The danger and intrigue, not to mention heat, is rising. Rory is trying to navigate this strange new world, stand her ground and find her place / if only people would let her.
The danger and intrigue, not to mention heat, is rising. Rory is trying to navigate this strange new world, stand her ground and find her place / if only people would let her.
September 3, 2023
Still enjoying this series, though I don't think it really needs to be eight volumes... Rory goes back to Cali and learns first hand the joymancers are just as paranoid and suspicious as the fearmancers. Declan's little bro returns from France and we learn that there isn't as pronounced of a rivalry between the two kinds of mages over there. So what happened in North America? Harem is now fully formed, but can it withstand all the pressure from the barons?
And
And
December 31, 2019
Loved it!
In this book we get to follow along with Rory and her guys after the much awaited trial. Anxieties are still high when Rory finds out the possibility of her mother being alive and we are thrown through even more as they try their best to find her. We also get to see even more into her budding relationship with Malcolm. What will happen after they find the missing bloodstone and what happened to Connor after he was taken by his mother? Can't wait to find out lol
In this book we get to follow along with Rory and her guys after the much awaited trial. Anxieties are still high when Rory finds out the possibility of her mother being alive and we are thrown through even more as they try their best to find her. We also get to see even more into her budding relationship with Malcolm. What will happen after they find the missing bloodstone and what happened to Connor after he was taken by his mother? Can't wait to find out lol
December 30, 2020
This picks up without missing a beat from the other book. I just love the interaction between all of the Heirs. While some questions are answered, even more are brought to light. This series just keeps getting more and more intense. I can't wait for the next installment.
I read and did the audiobook for this.
And I absolutely love the different narrators, they do such an amazing job with all the different characters.
I read and did the audiobook for this.
And I absolutely love the different narrators, they do such an amazing job with all the different characters.
April 3, 2020
Damn, poor Rory....
She's gone through a lot in such a short time in coming to this school and mastering her powers and then losing her familiar while trying to save her mom without so much bloodshed. The guys all finding a way into her life/heart, while dealing with major parental issues that are literally life/death to be an heir to their pentacle. On to the next book, hoping all comes to some kind of semi-full circle where everyone can catch their breath and enjoy! #HappyReading ❤
She's gone through a lot in such a short time in coming to this school and mastering her powers and then losing her familiar while trying to save her mom without so much bloodshed. The guys all finding a way into her life/heart, while dealing with major parental issues that are literally life/death to be an heir to their pentacle. On to the next book, hoping all comes to some kind of semi-full circle where everyone can catch their breath and enjoy! #HappyReading ❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2020
I'm really enjoying this whole series! I can't wait to see what's to come!
September 4, 2020
4.5 stars
August 11, 2025
it’s getting better?
It’s still slow going but finally there’s a bit more action? I’m really worried Connar’s mom did something bad to him with magic and now he’s going to go back to being a jerk butt again and hurting Rory! And I’m worried Rory’s birth mom will be just as bad as the other barrons! Guess we’ll find out!
It’s still slow going but finally there’s a bit more action? I’m really worried Connar’s mom did something bad to him with magic and now he’s going to go back to being a jerk butt again and hurting Rory! And I’m worried Rory’s birth mom will be just as bad as the other barrons! Guess we’ll find out!
November 5, 2021
This series just keep on getting better. Love the world and the characters just keep getting better and more developed as the story goes on. You have everything from light to heart wrenching moments, a must read.
July 4, 2021
So honestly, this wasn't my favorite book so far of the Royals of Villain Academy series by Eva Chase. Don't get me wrong. I still enjoyed it, but it had some slow sections for me so I wasn't gripped like I have been with the other books in this series. I did enjoy the narration of the audiobook, that was still stellar ❤️
In terms of the story, the main focus of this book was finding and recovering Rory's mother from the joymancers. We get to experience the inner conflict that Rory has with what will happen once they find her mother (for her role with the Barons, how the fearmancers will react to the joymancers, if innocent people will die with the battle, etc.). I thought they were very valid feelings and I would have been apprehensive too. I think the assistant is definitely hiding/up to something (I am super suspicious of her btw haha).
I thought Malcolm rose up the ladder in my eyes as one of Rory's men, with him being there for her while onsite. I loved their date in the arcade, brought me back to my childhood memories (especially DDR haha) and made me smile and giggle, it was a nice change of pace with this sometimes darker themed series. I was totally wrong about Debra and I won't give things away, but I didnt see that coming and hope Rory can find strength to overcome that. I wasn't shocked with how Rory was treated while captured by the joymancers. Eva teed it up nicely with making the joymancers more of the bad guys than the actual bad guys (if that made sense haha).
So overall, I thought this book was integral to the plot, but because of how it had to happen was slower for me and somewhat repeating, so I wasn't as enthralled as I had been with the others. Solid 4 stars from me. Oh, I think the new developments with Connar are going to ABSOLUTELY DESTROY ME and I am dreading listening to book 6 hahaha. I kinda want to skip over it and start with book 7 which hopefully has them all back together and not hurt or whatever.
In terms of narration, great job by Meg and Stephen again! I heart was crushed when the devastation started, I laughed/giggled with the date night, and was anxious and dreading what's going on with Connar. I thought the performances were on point, no complaints from me! 5/5 stars on the narration ❤️ Can't wait to dive into Book 6 (even if its going to break my heart and give me heart palpitations 🤣
In terms of the story, the main focus of this book was finding and recovering Rory's mother from the joymancers. We get to experience the inner conflict that Rory has with what will happen once they find her mother (for her role with the Barons, how the fearmancers will react to the joymancers, if innocent people will die with the battle, etc.). I thought they were very valid feelings and I would have been apprehensive too. I think the assistant is definitely hiding/up to something (I am super suspicious of her btw haha).
I thought Malcolm rose up the ladder in my eyes as one of Rory's men, with him being there for her while onsite. I loved their date in the arcade, brought me back to my childhood memories (especially DDR haha) and made me smile and giggle, it was a nice change of pace with this sometimes darker themed series. I was totally wrong about Debra and I won't give things away, but I didnt see that coming and hope Rory can find strength to overcome that. I wasn't shocked with how Rory was treated while captured by the joymancers. Eva teed it up nicely with making the joymancers more of the bad guys than the actual bad guys (if that made sense haha).
So overall, I thought this book was integral to the plot, but because of how it had to happen was slower for me and somewhat repeating, so I wasn't as enthralled as I had been with the others. Solid 4 stars from me. Oh, I think the new developments with Connar are going to ABSOLUTELY DESTROY ME and I am dreading listening to book 6 hahaha. I kinda want to skip over it and start with book 7 which hopefully has them all back together and not hurt or whatever.
In terms of narration, great job by Meg and Stephen again! I heart was crushed when the devastation started, I laughed/giggled with the date night, and was anxious and dreading what's going on with Connar. I thought the performances were on point, no complaints from me! 5/5 stars on the narration ❤️ Can't wait to dive into Book 6 (even if its going to break my heart and give me heart palpitations 🤣
November 22, 2023
DEBORAH NOOO!!!! WHHHYYYYYY!?!?! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I am crushed. Absolutely destroyed. Deborah was everything, and now she's gone!
I'll get over it in a few years, I'm sure.
Now! Every time Maggie is in a scene, she acts so sketchy, and we are not getting any answers about that yet. It's driving me crazy! Also, if Lillian and Rorys mom are actually besties? Why the heck is Lillian so okay with trying to limit or control Rory?! Seriously, what is her motivation, and why is she being such a villain?
Connor was kidnapped by his mom, and if I didn't have to sleep right now, I'd be tearing open the next book to find out what happened to him! Because that ending, with the jinxing statement from Malcolm about the scions being all united, is making me think something terrible has happened to him! I hope it's fixable. At least until they have to deal with all the parents targeting their kids. Like why even have kids or heirs if all they're going to do is manipulate them and try to kill them over and over again. Do they think they're going to live forever and control the world forever?! Stupid heads.
On that note, this whole book has got me fearing what Rory's mom is going to be like. I still want her to have just 1 ally with some real power, so it'd be really convenient if she turned out to be a nice lady hiding among the evil barons. That one picture showed her being all buddy buddy with Malcolm's dad, and I'm hoping that was naivety from the time or some complicated ploy to earn trust and then sneak around unsuspecting as Baron.
Also, the joymancers, suck! There's so much conflict between the groups that definitely seems like acting in violence based on nothing but fear and imagined slights from the opposing groups. They need to open communications with people who will actually listen to each other and see the other point of view. This feels very close to home with the younger generation seeing the stupid old people stuck in their ways, making a big mess of a messy situation. They all need to take a step back and realize they actually want the same thing, and they can be adults about it if they take their heads out of their butts.
Oops, I'm getting too heated about this.
Back to this book. The smut. Yes. Very good. Their relationships are progressing nicely. I love it.
My only thoughts now are predictions. So time for book 6.
I am crushed. Absolutely destroyed. Deborah was everything, and now she's gone!
I'll get over it in a few years, I'm sure.
Now! Every time Maggie is in a scene, she acts so sketchy, and we are not getting any answers about that yet. It's driving me crazy! Also, if Lillian and Rorys mom are actually besties? Why the heck is Lillian so okay with trying to limit or control Rory?! Seriously, what is her motivation, and why is she being such a villain?
Connor was kidnapped by his mom, and if I didn't have to sleep right now, I'd be tearing open the next book to find out what happened to him! Because that ending, with the jinxing statement from Malcolm about the scions being all united, is making me think something terrible has happened to him! I hope it's fixable. At least until they have to deal with all the parents targeting their kids. Like why even have kids or heirs if all they're going to do is manipulate them and try to kill them over and over again. Do they think they're going to live forever and control the world forever?! Stupid heads.
On that note, this whole book has got me fearing what Rory's mom is going to be like. I still want her to have just 1 ally with some real power, so it'd be really convenient if she turned out to be a nice lady hiding among the evil barons. That one picture showed her being all buddy buddy with Malcolm's dad, and I'm hoping that was naivety from the time or some complicated ploy to earn trust and then sneak around unsuspecting as Baron.
Also, the joymancers, suck! There's so much conflict between the groups that definitely seems like acting in violence based on nothing but fear and imagined slights from the opposing groups. They need to open communications with people who will actually listen to each other and see the other point of view. This feels very close to home with the younger generation seeing the stupid old people stuck in their ways, making a big mess of a messy situation. They all need to take a step back and realize they actually want the same thing, and they can be adults about it if they take their heads out of their butts.
Oops, I'm getting too heated about this.
Back to this book. The smut. Yes. Very good. Their relationships are progressing nicely. I love it.
My only thoughts now are predictions. So time for book 6.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
Book: Corrupt Alchemy
Author: Eva Chase
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️
Age recommendation: 16-30+ Years
Plot:
Rory has found herself in some trouble again. The main blacksuit has told her that her mother is still alive and she needs her to find her. Rory isn’t sure she can trust this lady.
Malcom overhears them planning to undermine Rory, but before he can tell her, his father takes him away from he courthouse and breaks all the bones in his body. Rory sneaks into his house to find him and see if he is ok. She finds him in bed unable to move. Now all of the royals know what Malcoms father dose to him for punishment. Jude has left his family and bought a unit in New York City, Conner is missing from school cause he said no to his mother and Rory is unable to function cause her familiar gets killed.
My feelings:
We got alot of malcom time in this book. We got to see his much softer side, the one he doesn’t show many people. It was really nice to see.
I started to love the guy more knowing what his father puts him though when he dose things against him. And he did it to save Rory.
He is actually a really sweet guy, he just has different views on things cause of how he was raised, and that fact that he is trying to change it for Rory is just beautiful.
Then spicy chapters are very love on the chilli scale, but not horrible. Just simple spice which would be fine for anyone from age 16 onwards.
Now that Rory mum is back im interested to see if she is as horrible as the rest of the Barons, or if she is in fact on Rory side.
We shall see.
“He glanced over at me, his hazel eyes so intent I couldn’t have looked away if I’d wanted to. “I love you, Rory. I’ve been falling for you since you first stood up to Malcolm and refused to take his shit, and every time we talk, every stand I watch you take, I just fall harder.”
Author: Eva Chase
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️
Age recommendation: 16-30+ Years
Plot:
Rory has found herself in some trouble again. The main blacksuit has told her that her mother is still alive and she needs her to find her. Rory isn’t sure she can trust this lady.
Malcom overhears them planning to undermine Rory, but before he can tell her, his father takes him away from he courthouse and breaks all the bones in his body. Rory sneaks into his house to find him and see if he is ok. She finds him in bed unable to move. Now all of the royals know what Malcoms father dose to him for punishment. Jude has left his family and bought a unit in New York City, Conner is missing from school cause he said no to his mother and Rory is unable to function cause her familiar gets killed.
My feelings:
We got alot of malcom time in this book. We got to see his much softer side, the one he doesn’t show many people. It was really nice to see.
I started to love the guy more knowing what his father puts him though when he dose things against him. And he did it to save Rory.
He is actually a really sweet guy, he just has different views on things cause of how he was raised, and that fact that he is trying to change it for Rory is just beautiful.
Then spicy chapters are very love on the chilli scale, but not horrible. Just simple spice which would be fine for anyone from age 16 onwards.
Now that Rory mum is back im interested to see if she is as horrible as the rest of the Barons, or if she is in fact on Rory side.
We shall see.
“He glanced over at me, his hazel eyes so intent I couldn’t have looked away if I’d wanted to. “I love you, Rory. I’ve been falling for you since you first stood up to Malcolm and refused to take his shit, and every time we talk, every stand I watch you take, I just fall harder.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
3.5 stars? 4? I'm not really sure. I think i got maybe 75% through this installment and then a tiny book slump hit me. Dealing with the stress of face to face school and upcoming exams does not lend itself to reading apparently.
I feel like Corrupt Alchemy was definitely one of the slower paced books in this series so far. It's a bit more character driven which I don't mind. All of the guys have officially warmed up to Rory which is definitely good considering the series is halfway over. The bullying is over and done with, so now it seems the rest of the series is mostly going to be about parental drama.
I do really like the worldbuilding so far, I just wish there was more diversity. I also feel like the pace of the plot is going to pick up so I think no more reading slumps for me. I'm still looking forward to seeing how Rory is going to Unite the fear manner and joymancer societies. Especially with her interaction with the joymancers in the last 25%, it seems like she'll never get the joymancers to come around but we'll see. I also like the message that this book is giving which is don't judge people based on group stereotypes.
Downsides were unfortunately that
1) this was kind of forgettable for me? Definitely enjoyable, but I probably wouldn't think of it without a prompt. It's been what a week since I started and I genuinely can't remember anything that happened in the first 50% that wasn't like a MAJOR plot point.
2) Diversity who? This book has never heard of her. I'm really starting to think that it's not just me missing something but there genuinely being no BIPOC, neurodivergent, queer, etc people in this series and that's definitely something that needs to change.
3)This was a filler book. Sorry.
I feel like Corrupt Alchemy was definitely one of the slower paced books in this series so far. It's a bit more character driven which I don't mind. All of the guys have officially warmed up to Rory which is definitely good considering the series is halfway over. The bullying is over and done with, so now it seems the rest of the series is mostly going to be about parental drama.
I do really like the worldbuilding so far, I just wish there was more diversity. I also feel like the pace of the plot is going to pick up so I think no more reading slumps for me. I'm still looking forward to seeing how Rory is going to Unite the fear manner and joymancer societies. Especially with her interaction with the joymancers in the last 25%, it seems like she'll never get the joymancers to come around but we'll see. I also like the message that this book is giving which is don't judge people based on group stereotypes.
Downsides were unfortunately that
1) this was kind of forgettable for me? Definitely enjoyable, but I probably wouldn't think of it without a prompt. It's been what a week since I started and I genuinely can't remember anything that happened in the first 50% that wasn't like a MAJOR plot point.
2) Diversity who? This book has never heard of her. I'm really starting to think that it's not just me missing something but there genuinely being no BIPOC, neurodivergent, queer, etc people in this series and that's definitely something that needs to change.
3)This was a filler book. Sorry.
September 9, 2021
Go Read It!
Rory gets shell shocking news and she doesn’t know how to feel. Should she trust the word from someone who has proved untrustworthy before, or risks the chance and do nothing?
This is the fifth book in the Royals of Villain Academy. This book was a little different than the rest I felt like. With the whole mission going on, we didn’t get to witness as much bullying with the other students. We got to finally witness the interaction between joymancers and fearmancers. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Rory deserves a break after carrying everyone on her back from the very first book. Every time she thinks everything is okay, BOOM! She can’t catch a break. I applaud her. I wish her magic powers would finally become superior as everyone has hinted at from the very beginning. I wish she would put the other parents in their place.
I adore the guys especially since their true feelings are showing. I just really want to hug Jude and just tell him everything’s going to be okay. Connar has been through so much and it makes me so sad. Declan has so much weight on his shoulders. This book put pressure on him, especially with his brother. Malcolm at the beginning with his dad. They all just need to be loved and cared for. Rory is doing exactly that. She is perfect for them.
On to the next one!
Rory gets shell shocking news and she doesn’t know how to feel. Should she trust the word from someone who has proved untrustworthy before, or risks the chance and do nothing?
This is the fifth book in the Royals of Villain Academy. This book was a little different than the rest I felt like. With the whole mission going on, we didn’t get to witness as much bullying with the other students. We got to finally witness the interaction between joymancers and fearmancers. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Rory deserves a break after carrying everyone on her back from the very first book. Every time she thinks everything is okay, BOOM! She can’t catch a break. I applaud her. I wish her magic powers would finally become superior as everyone has hinted at from the very beginning. I wish she would put the other parents in their place.
I adore the guys especially since their true feelings are showing. I just really want to hug Jude and just tell him everything’s going to be okay. Connar has been through so much and it makes me so sad. Declan has so much weight on his shoulders. This book put pressure on him, especially with his brother. Malcolm at the beginning with his dad. They all just need to be loved and cared for. Rory is doing exactly that. She is perfect for them.
On to the next one!
March 23, 2020
Okay, I distrusted the mouse for the first four books... I really thought SHE was the woman casting illusion spells when Imogen was murdered. I was convinced she had more magic than she led on... or may it is a twist in another installment? I didn't really LOVE love it, I skipped through the most part, except for the pieces with Malcolm. The series started out great with a lot of promise, but I am so tired of Rory and her magical vagina. She's naive, supposedly THE most talented mage in the school, but we're in book 5 and she hasn't done anything AWE-mazing. I think these five books could have been cropped into three, because most of the chapters don't drive the plot forward. They're just there to meet a certain word count/chapter amount. But, I will continue reading, because I really want to know what will happen between her and Malcolm. I am curious as to how that will unfold... and how the rest of the Quintet will deal with it, especially Jude. I'm invested, so I'll be reading book six now.
June 19, 2022
It's happening again! Death always revolves around Rory. One by one, her connection to her past life disappears. But, in return, she got her birth mother back, and life may not be the same anymore for Rory. I can't wait to find out which faction mama Rory would support and her captivity story, and I'm hoping there's a twist in this.
Besides Mama Rory's story, I'm also interested in discovering what happened to Connar. Will he become a changed person? The story gets tense and interesting the closer we get to the finishing line!
Anyway, talking about familiar, I know Malcolm has Shadow, the wolf, Jude has a ferret named Mischief and Connar with Python named Rex. What about Declan? Does anyone know?
Besides Mama Rory's story, I'm also interested in discovering what happened to Connar. Will he become a changed person? The story gets tense and interesting the closer we get to the finishing line!
Anyway, talking about familiar, I know Malcolm has Shadow, the wolf, Jude has a ferret named Mischief and Connar with Python named Rex. What about Declan? Does anyone know?
July 3, 2021
Proof Rory's mother IS alive... seriously at the 3/4 mark on book 4 I genuienly wanted Eva Chase to end the series there. Rory has a chance at a HEA.
Why oh why keep torturing the poor girl? I prsume because it shows she IS a Bloodstone, has enormous power and potential to change the society and world around her, but this causes so much friction and heartbreak with her newly found mother I really felt for her throughout this book.
Steam has fully arrived though, so that break up the serious stuff somewhat.
Liked the series so much, I read through the 8 books in a week... then bought it all on audible too!
Why oh why keep torturing the poor girl? I prsume because it shows she IS a Bloodstone, has enormous power and potential to change the society and world around her, but this causes so much friction and heartbreak with her newly found mother I really felt for her throughout this book.
Steam has fully arrived though, so that break up the serious stuff somewhat.
Liked the series so much, I read through the 8 books in a week... then bought it all on audible too!
September 8, 2020
Still going good.
The storyline is still a good one but I seem to be losing ground. It's a complicated but exciting story of Rory and her guys but at the same time I'm desperately want it to come to a conclusion. I want to know if Rory and the guys are going to survive the Barons or are they going to be ripped apart by their circumstance. Some every nice steamy scenes with lots of betrayal and heartbreak and joy, its a rollacoster.
The storyline is still a good one but I seem to be losing ground. It's a complicated but exciting story of Rory and her guys but at the same time I'm desperately want it to come to a conclusion. I want to know if Rory and the guys are going to survive the Barons or are they going to be ripped apart by their circumstance. Some every nice steamy scenes with lots of betrayal and heartbreak and joy, its a rollacoster.
May 2, 2020
I enjoyed this series but feel it should have been 3 books. It’s a bunch of filler that’s not needed and I just didn’t finish this book and I’m done with the series. I like the relationship and mystery but there was more dumb drama then actual story continuation.
April 25, 2025
I think I anticipated this book to be slower and longer. We had three books of Malcom being an absolute cockroach, so I imagined we’d have equally as long a battle between the Fearmancers and Joymancers in the mission Rory had sent herself on.
But actually, it all happened in the space of this one book. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; I know that Eva Chase is good with stringing something out as well as she is as making something short and snappy. It just wasn’t how I expected the plot in this book to unfold.
There is much about the way the pentacle and the barons that I do not understand and part of that is the mysterious vagueness of the plot. It’s not that I want to uncover the mystery but more that I want to understand what made the Baron’s so ruthless and so likely to kill their own family members in order to gain more power. There is a difference – at least to me – between being a Fearmancer and being a god-awful Baron.
I suppose it’s the psychology behind those actions that I am curious about. I have always found the brain fascinating, even within fictional characters.
In this book we see Rory leaving Blood U and travelling to the mission site. It takes her away from Declan, Jude, and Connar. It puts her firmly with Malcom, Lillian, and Maggie.
I’ll start with Maggie – she rubs me the wrong way. There is something so obviously wrong with her character, I just can’t figure out what exactly it is and it is driving me crazy. I can’t tell whether she generally dislikes Rory, whether she is a Joymancer spy, whether she’s a Fearmancer working for the Baron’s. I just don’t know but I don’t like her.
I have been on the fence with Lillian because on the one hand she was a close friend of Rory’s birth month but on the other hand she seems to be in cahoots with Malcom’s father. I have been unable to place her in any one space in my brain. She hasn’t done anything inherently awful to Rory, but she walks a thin line in my mind.
Malcom…. I knew this was coming. I said in my last review that the plot was set up for him to become part of the inner circle and have some kind of relationship with Rory. I was ready to accept that, and yes, his character is changing. Here is my issue – it’s happening too fast. I had three books in which to LOATHE him but in less than 2 books, Rory is ready to let everything go and find some balance with him.
It's not a bad reflection on her character either, she clearly has a great capacity for forgiveness, and it has served her well over the series, but I was not ready for her to be so accepting of Malcom. I needed some of the push pull tug between the characters. Because in my mind, it just feels like she gave in too easily.
There was also a sidebar with Connar, and I know where it’s going, and I know I’m not going to like it. Have I mentioned how much I want to spear the current Barons? Because I would like to see them die slowly.
The one sad moment that has the ability to tear up the reader, didn’t affect me as much as it was perhaps intended to. I think because I had lingering feelings involved and hadn’t perhaps accepted that element into my mind as a positive thought. Honestly, I saw it as more of a relief.
I have no doubt that the result of this book will have implications for the rest of the series. I doubt it will be an easy fix; I am more than prepared for more chaos and idiocy.
I think going into the series at the beginning, I was just getting used to the world and the characters, reading as a reader should and just enjoying the ride. Now, I have this overwhelming desire to see Rory free of all those who wish to control or manipulate her, sitting on a throne with her men around her and ruling with her power and fairmindedness. A far reach sure, but one I will hold on to until the end of the series.
But actually, it all happened in the space of this one book. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; I know that Eva Chase is good with stringing something out as well as she is as making something short and snappy. It just wasn’t how I expected the plot in this book to unfold.
There is much about the way the pentacle and the barons that I do not understand and part of that is the mysterious vagueness of the plot. It’s not that I want to uncover the mystery but more that I want to understand what made the Baron’s so ruthless and so likely to kill their own family members in order to gain more power. There is a difference – at least to me – between being a Fearmancer and being a god-awful Baron.
I suppose it’s the psychology behind those actions that I am curious about. I have always found the brain fascinating, even within fictional characters.
In this book we see Rory leaving Blood U and travelling to the mission site. It takes her away from Declan, Jude, and Connar. It puts her firmly with Malcom, Lillian, and Maggie.
I’ll start with Maggie – she rubs me the wrong way. There is something so obviously wrong with her character, I just can’t figure out what exactly it is and it is driving me crazy. I can’t tell whether she generally dislikes Rory, whether she is a Joymancer spy, whether she’s a Fearmancer working for the Baron’s. I just don’t know but I don’t like her.
I have been on the fence with Lillian because on the one hand she was a close friend of Rory’s birth month but on the other hand she seems to be in cahoots with Malcom’s father. I have been unable to place her in any one space in my brain. She hasn’t done anything inherently awful to Rory, but she walks a thin line in my mind.
Malcom…. I knew this was coming. I said in my last review that the plot was set up for him to become part of the inner circle and have some kind of relationship with Rory. I was ready to accept that, and yes, his character is changing. Here is my issue – it’s happening too fast. I had three books in which to LOATHE him but in less than 2 books, Rory is ready to let everything go and find some balance with him.
It's not a bad reflection on her character either, she clearly has a great capacity for forgiveness, and it has served her well over the series, but I was not ready for her to be so accepting of Malcom. I needed some of the push pull tug between the characters. Because in my mind, it just feels like she gave in too easily.
There was also a sidebar with Connar, and I know where it’s going, and I know I’m not going to like it. Have I mentioned how much I want to spear the current Barons? Because I would like to see them die slowly.
The one sad moment that has the ability to tear up the reader, didn’t affect me as much as it was perhaps intended to. I think because I had lingering feelings involved and hadn’t perhaps accepted that element into my mind as a positive thought. Honestly, I saw it as more of a relief.
I have no doubt that the result of this book will have implications for the rest of the series. I doubt it will be an easy fix; I am more than prepared for more chaos and idiocy.
I think going into the series at the beginning, I was just getting used to the world and the characters, reading as a reader should and just enjoying the ride. Now, I have this overwhelming desire to see Rory free of all those who wish to control or manipulate her, sitting on a throne with her men around her and ruling with her power and fairmindedness. A far reach sure, but one I will hold on to until the end of the series.
June 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this series... until this book. When you have a story to tell, you go from point A to point B in the best way possible. This just seems to go from A to K to D, then back to A. Rory's familiar told her "Lillian is the one who killed your friend," and Malcolm overheard a conversation that makes it crystal clear that Lillian is working with the old barons to cause damage to Rory. In spite of those facts, Rory goes off with Lillian and allows her to cast spells on her. Hello, stupid much? Jude knows his father no longer needs him, knows it's likely that he'll try to kill him, knows someone has been following him... but instead of keeping his new apartment a secret, he leads his father's spies right to it. I'll finish this series because I'm invested now, but I hope the level of stupid goes down to a bearable level.
July 27, 2020
Book 5 of 8 and we never really spent much time at the academy this time round.
This book takes place mostly out and about as Rory follows upon the bombshell dropped at the end of book 4, we get to meet more than the 3 joymancers who have featured up till now and boy they do not make a good first impression making me re-think my earlier scapegoat theory.
It will be interesting to see how actions taken will create battle lines as the Scions are making bigger and bolder moves against the Barons to support Rory but the Barons are playing chess with friends and family members to try and keep the pentacle in line with their own beliefs.
This book takes place mostly out and about as Rory follows upon the bombshell dropped at the end of book 4, we get to meet more than the 3 joymancers who have featured up till now and boy they do not make a good first impression making me re-think my earlier scapegoat theory.
It will be interesting to see how actions taken will create battle lines as the Scions are making bigger and bolder moves against the Barons to support Rory but the Barons are playing chess with friends and family members to try and keep the pentacle in line with their own beliefs.
February 22, 2023
the amount of times during this book that i was literally squealing, crying and just sitting there in shock is insane. this book was yet another banger and i enjoyed it just as much as i enjoyed the first books, despite this being the 5th in the series already. i thought i’d get bored of it for sure, but chase has a way of engaging you with every scene. i loved every moment of this book, perhaps not so much when connar had a pov lol since i find his character quite boring but every other scene was a 10/10, especially the jude scenes😭😭😭🙏🏻
this is one of my favourite series of all time and it holds such a special place in my heart❤️
this is one of my favourite series of all time and it holds such a special place in my heart❤️
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