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Rule 9 Academy #1
Fire Born Dragon
I ran up Shephard's Mountain to escape the Monsters that were chasing me...
...and the Demons that were haunting my memories.
Instead, I fell into a world where Magic is the New Black and the Challenges I face have nothing to do with curling irons and study groups.
Drae Hallow is the home of Rule 9 Academy where nobody is normal and we're all a little bit of strange.
They've invited me to attend their School for Magicals. Apparently, there's something inside of me and it wants to come out to play. But I need to learn to control it before it controls me.
I'm game...
After all, I might be my Momma's trouble; but I've always been my Daddy's stubborn.
I'll need every bit of it too, because something else roams the woods after dark, and it doesn't have anything to do with Shifting 101.
Together, with the help of others just like me, we'll have to uncover the lies before it's too late. The Magical world depends on us to find out the truth...or its Lights Out, Dark Ages and Witch Hunts all over again.
If I'm not careful, my first semester might just be my last.
...and the Demons that were haunting my memories.
Instead, I fell into a world where Magic is the New Black and the Challenges I face have nothing to do with curling irons and study groups.
Drae Hallow is the home of Rule 9 Academy where nobody is normal and we're all a little bit of strange.
They've invited me to attend their School for Magicals. Apparently, there's something inside of me and it wants to come out to play. But I need to learn to control it before it controls me.
I'm game...
After all, I might be my Momma's trouble; but I've always been my Daddy's stubborn.
I'll need every bit of it too, because something else roams the woods after dark, and it doesn't have anything to do with Shifting 101.
Together, with the help of others just like me, we'll have to uncover the lies before it's too late. The Magical world depends on us to find out the truth...or its Lights Out, Dark Ages and Witch Hunts all over again.
If I'm not careful, my first semester might just be my last.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2020
234 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Rain
50 books38 followersWhen I was a child I wanted two things. To Write a Novel and to be Wonder Woman and save the world.
Somewhere past 40, I realized the tights were never going to fit, and the only flying I was ever going to do was in a plane.
So instead, I write my Strong and Sassy Heroes/Heroines into the novels I pen…
I build doorways into contemporary worlds filled with magic, that allow all of us to be a hero to our own fantastical imaginations.
To me, every character is real. I walk alongside them as they discover that fear is the flip side of courage, that survival may just be a badge of honor, and that our flaws are an opportunity to emerge stronger, and discover our own personal brand of superpowers—at any age.
Somewhere past 40, I realized the tights were never going to fit, and the only flying I was ever going to do was in a plane.
So instead, I write my Strong and Sassy Heroes/Heroines into the novels I pen…
I build doorways into contemporary worlds filled with magic, that allow all of us to be a hero to our own fantastical imaginations.
To me, every character is real. I walk alongside them as they discover that fear is the flip side of courage, that survival may just be a badge of honor, and that our flaws are an opportunity to emerge stronger, and discover our own personal brand of superpowers—at any age.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 19, 2025
Intriguing Story
It starts a little slow. The mystery draws you in and grabs you. I actually started reading the second book first. After the first few chapters, I found the first book. Now, what I read in the second book makes so much more sense. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
It starts a little slow. The mystery draws you in and grabs you. I actually started reading the second book first. After the first few chapters, I found the first book. Now, what I read in the second book makes so much more sense. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 24, 2022
Ran out of patience
This book started out reasonably well, but went quickly downhill. It's in great need of a proof reader and editor. It's a shame because the story is good.If I tried to list all the things that are wrong with the writing I'd still be here by Christmas! I gave up. Life's too short to spend it reading such rubbish.
This book started out reasonably well, but went quickly downhill. It's in great need of a proof reader and editor. It's a shame because the story is good.If I tried to list all the things that are wrong with the writing I'd still be here by Christmas! I gave up. Life's too short to spend it reading such rubbish.
June 28, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excitement the whole way though. Great meeting the characters and how they interact
March 26, 2021
I absolutely love this book! I love the characters, they are fun and interesting. The book is full of action - had me reading late into the night! Magic, secret academy, and a mystery too! Great story! Can't wait to read more in the series!!!
August 27, 2021
Fireborn Dragon is Book 1 of a series titled “Rule 9 Academy”. Since it’s an “academy” you might think it is one of those uppity schools where kids’ parents have money and privilege. It’s true as in all schools there are a few kids like that, but there are others like Sadie, and Thomas, and Sirrus. Kids fortunate to be there, not because they came from wealthy families, but because they have special talents. In fact, many of the students from small towns and families all over the mountain have special talents of some kind. Rule 9 is where they learn to use them and hone their skills.
While Fire Born Dragon has a little bit of magic in its tale, it has a little bit of magic in its writing too. Whether Sadie and her pals were gabbing in the cafeteria, or they were in the forest hunting for what might lurk there, you could see every scene. Like watching a play or a movie. Elizabeth Rain definitely has descriptive writing skills, but she also has the imagination to write a wonderful tale.
This series is listed as YA, 12 to 18. It does have a few quite colorful words, but it would never keep me from letting a young adult read it. Much as I wish it wasn’t true...I don’t think there is a word in this book that all young adults haven’t already heard. There is also some action between the big ugly monster “thingys” and the students, but I don’t know any age that doesn’t see that now.
With such a good story, I think what may be most important is moving on to Book 2 ASAP.
While Fire Born Dragon has a little bit of magic in its tale, it has a little bit of magic in its writing too. Whether Sadie and her pals were gabbing in the cafeteria, or they were in the forest hunting for what might lurk there, you could see every scene. Like watching a play or a movie. Elizabeth Rain definitely has descriptive writing skills, but she also has the imagination to write a wonderful tale.
This series is listed as YA, 12 to 18. It does have a few quite colorful words, but it would never keep me from letting a young adult read it. Much as I wish it wasn’t true...I don’t think there is a word in this book that all young adults haven’t already heard. There is also some action between the big ugly monster “thingys” and the students, but I don’t know any age that doesn’t see that now.
With such a good story, I think what may be most important is moving on to Book 2 ASAP.
July 7, 2021
Really good writing, even though I usually like fast-paced mostly conversational escapades. But the long descriptive monologues from Sadie kept my interest, especially since she started out as such an unrelenting mean teenager toward her mom. I loved the way the author managed to slowly uncover her unknown skills, as she started to make friends and didn't feel so much like an outsider. A good current account of the paranormal schools many authors are addressing these days.
September 26, 2021
Magic and adventure galore
With a broken family and moving somewhere new, Sadie's life is upended and not in a good way. Making new friends and discovering monsters begins an unexpected adventure and she discovers she may not be only human. Great paced story, although a few bits seemed to skip chunks...but still an addictive read (not recommend for late readers ;-)!!)...you will want to continue the journey!!
With a broken family and moving somewhere new, Sadie's life is upended and not in a good way. Making new friends and discovering monsters begins an unexpected adventure and she discovers she may not be only human. Great paced story, although a few bits seemed to skip chunks...but still an addictive read (not recommend for late readers ;-)!!)...you will want to continue the journey!!
October 28, 2023
I loved it!
Enemies to lovers, friendships, family dynamics, secrets, powers, magic, betrayal, battles, loss, lies, fear, paranormal, and so much more embodies this amazing story. It has you so engrossed from the from the beginning straight to the end. It keeps you turning pages eager to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next in this story.
Enemies to lovers, friendships, family dynamics, secrets, powers, magic, betrayal, battles, loss, lies, fear, paranormal, and so much more embodies this amazing story. It has you so engrossed from the from the beginning straight to the end. It keeps you turning pages eager to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next in this story.
December 31, 2020
Good gracious, learn grammar and punctuation!
This is a run of the mill academy story. It's rife with poor grammar and bad punctuation ...especially possessives. Omg . I found it really basic, common tropes that were heavy handed. I am halfway through and strugvling to keep going, because it's a bit Mary Sue-ish and boring. Nothing is really awful, but not really great, either. Ymmv, but don't expect Harry Potter.
This is a run of the mill academy story. It's rife with poor grammar and bad punctuation ...especially possessives. Omg . I found it really basic, common tropes that were heavy handed. I am halfway through and strugvling to keep going, because it's a bit Mary Sue-ish and boring. Nothing is really awful, but not really great, either. Ymmv, but don't expect Harry Potter.
September 26, 2024
A promising start to an interesting story that is, unfortunately, so poorly written in places as to be unreadable.
Whether it's the grammar, punctuation, sentence fragments, inconsistencies, or something else there's an, usually minor, error every few pages to trip you up and interrupt reading flow.
Stuck it out for seven chapters but just couldn't go on.
Whether it's the grammar, punctuation, sentence fragments, inconsistencies, or something else there's an, usually minor, error every few pages to trip you up and interrupt reading flow.
Stuck it out for seven chapters but just couldn't go on.
August 14, 2020
Really good story!
This was a really good story about how they became friends when they entered the academy. They eventually have several tangles with Others before settling down for a time. Recommend
This was a really good story about how they became friends when they entered the academy. They eventually have several tangles with Others before settling down for a time. Recommend
September 20, 2021
Good tale
Sure cross and her friend were all a but different. Things are being seen that shouldn't exist. And the tale moves. My only problem was how often miss croft thought she 'was missing something. '
Sure cross and her friend were all a but different. Things are being seen that shouldn't exist. And the tale moves. My only problem was how often miss croft thought she 'was missing something. '
February 11, 2022
This looks like it will be a good series
Take an angsty teenage girl, combine that with magic and a crossbow, and you have the makings of an excellent story. There are a wide variety of unusual characters, some of which are still unknowns at the end of the first book.
Take an angsty teenage girl, combine that with magic and a crossbow, and you have the makings of an excellent story. There are a wide variety of unusual characters, some of which are still unknowns at the end of the first book.
December 4, 2021
Interesting twist
Compelling story for the most part, though it drags in areas. The editing is awful, though, and makes it difficult to stay involved.
Compelling story for the most part, though it drags in areas. The editing is awful, though, and makes it difficult to stay involved.
March 5, 2022
urban
Secrets, secrets and more secrets. Almost as if straight forward honesty didn't exist. There is attraction but no real romance.
Secrets, secrets and more secrets. Almost as if straight forward honesty didn't exist. There is attraction but no real romance.
August 7, 2022
Ok YA WEREWOLVES, MAGIC AND THINGS. Ok story, YA - WEREWOLVES, MAGIC AND THINGS
January 7, 2021
Amazing, must read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews