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Montrose Paranormal Academy #1
The Nexis Secret
Three power-hungry secret societies desperately want the strange girl who sees angels. For what? Beats me. Hi, I’m Lucy and I just discovered I’m not normal.
After my brother’s disappearance, I enrolled in the super-elite academy where he was last seen on U.S. soil. Now two totally gorgeous secret society guys are fighting over which club I get to join. Seriously? As if I want anything to do with the people who banished my brother.
But I need to play nice to get anyone from the Three Societies to talk to me. One problem. I’m too good at my job. When the Nexis Society president accidently spills a little-known family secret, I’m left scrambling to figure out who I really am.
I’ve always known my family was special, but now I’m about to find out why.
Not everyone’s happy I’m at Montrose Paranormal academy. The resident mean girls don’t appreciate my snarky attitude. The Three Societies all want me to join up. Plus, I have to figure out how to use my newfound powers without obliterating an entire city block. Oh yeah, and there’s some kind of crazy prophecy about me.
It’s tough staying under the radar when you’re a Chosen One. Well, I prefer badass heroine. Take your pick.
Montrose Paranormal Academy, The Nexis Secret is book 1 in the Montrose Paranormal Academy series for teens. It’s a Clean Academy Paranormal YA series full of slow burn romance, snarky dialogue, and urban fantasy adventure set in New York City. Think Shadow Hunters meets Shatter Me with a dash of Bloodline Academy.
After my brother’s disappearance, I enrolled in the super-elite academy where he was last seen on U.S. soil. Now two totally gorgeous secret society guys are fighting over which club I get to join. Seriously? As if I want anything to do with the people who banished my brother.
But I need to play nice to get anyone from the Three Societies to talk to me. One problem. I’m too good at my job. When the Nexis Society president accidently spills a little-known family secret, I’m left scrambling to figure out who I really am.
I’ve always known my family was special, but now I’m about to find out why.
Not everyone’s happy I’m at Montrose Paranormal academy. The resident mean girls don’t appreciate my snarky attitude. The Three Societies all want me to join up. Plus, I have to figure out how to use my newfound powers without obliterating an entire city block. Oh yeah, and there’s some kind of crazy prophecy about me.
It’s tough staying under the radar when you’re a Chosen One. Well, I prefer badass heroine. Take your pick.
Montrose Paranormal Academy, The Nexis Secret is book 1 in the Montrose Paranormal Academy series for teens. It’s a Clean Academy Paranormal YA series full of slow burn romance, snarky dialogue, and urban fantasy adventure set in New York City. Think Shadow Hunters meets Shatter Me with a dash of Bloodline Academy.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2015
893 people are currently reading
1004 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hartzler
29 books78 followersBarbara Hartzler is an Urban Fantasy Academy author writing about Seers, Chosen Ones, sacred stones, and secret societies ... oh my!
Her stories are full of snarky heroines, supernatural shenanigans, dreamy guys, and normal teens taking on larger-than-life quests to save the world.
As a former barista and graphic designer, she loves all things sparkly and purple and is always jonesing for a good cup of joe.
So grab a cup of coffee and peruse her website at www.barbarahartzler.com. You can read her blog, explore all the behind-the-scenes extras in The Seer’s Vault, or learn more about her writing journey, fun facts, and The BARBARA awards for best fiction (mostly YA).
Or look for Barbara on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Her stories are full of snarky heroines, supernatural shenanigans, dreamy guys, and normal teens taking on larger-than-life quests to save the world.
As a former barista and graphic designer, she loves all things sparkly and purple and is always jonesing for a good cup of joe.
So grab a cup of coffee and peruse her website at www.barbarahartzler.com. You can read her blog, explore all the behind-the-scenes extras in The Seer’s Vault, or learn more about her writing journey, fun facts, and The BARBARA awards for best fiction (mostly YA).
Or look for Barbara on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 30, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Barbara Hartzler.)
“Nexis is not what you think they are.”
This was a YA paranormal/fantasy story, with a bit of romance, and a secret society.
Lucy was an okay character, and it wasn’t nice what she’d been through with her boyfriend, it was however extremely bad judgement to drive the way she did after her discovery, as she could have easily ended up dead.
The storyline in this confused me a bit, and I found parts of it a little hard to believe, I did like the more contemporary themes a bit more though, although Lucy and her ex-boyfriend Jake annoyed me a bit.
This story did have an ending, but it was clear that Lucy’s story wasn’t finished yet.
6 out of 10
“Nexis is not what you think they are.”
This was a YA paranormal/fantasy story, with a bit of romance, and a secret society.
Lucy was an okay character, and it wasn’t nice what she’d been through with her boyfriend, it was however extremely bad judgement to drive the way she did after her discovery, as she could have easily ended up dead.
The storyline in this confused me a bit, and I found parts of it a little hard to believe, I did like the more contemporary themes a bit more though, although Lucy and her ex-boyfriend Jake annoyed me a bit.
This story did have an ending, but it was clear that Lucy’s story wasn’t finished yet.
6 out of 10
July 7, 2015
This debut novel earns a solid four out of five stars from me.
I found the premise to be interesting from the very first page. The teenage characters act, react and talk like teenagers most of the time. Was there a little more emotional melodrama than necessary? Probably, but if you've been around some teenagers, you'll realize this is pretty standard.
Although there is a strong Christian theme in this book, it doesn't read like Christian fiction. I was impressed by the finesse exhibited by such a new author in maintaining a compelling story without becoming preachy or "too Bible-centered." While some elements of the school and some choices made by the characters stretched the realm of believability, it didn't keep me from wanting to find out what would happen next.
I strongly recommend this book to all the adults who like paranormal stories told from a teenage perspective. There is definitely enough meaty stuff here to keep an adult engaged while the teen readers are entertained.
I found the premise to be interesting from the very first page. The teenage characters act, react and talk like teenagers most of the time. Was there a little more emotional melodrama than necessary? Probably, but if you've been around some teenagers, you'll realize this is pretty standard.
Although there is a strong Christian theme in this book, it doesn't read like Christian fiction. I was impressed by the finesse exhibited by such a new author in maintaining a compelling story without becoming preachy or "too Bible-centered." While some elements of the school and some choices made by the characters stretched the realm of believability, it didn't keep me from wanting to find out what would happen next.
I strongly recommend this book to all the adults who like paranormal stories told from a teenage perspective. There is definitely enough meaty stuff here to keep an adult engaged while the teen readers are entertained.
December 7, 2019
Review from Stephanie, age 15
It has all the things I like in books--love, talking about God, and it also has mystery. Plus I liked how she had two guys she was into, one from each side. It keeps you turning pages and asking yourself what's going to happen next? Is she going to find her brother? Which side will she choose? It keeps you guessing. At first she didn't believe, but as she started seeing things she started to believe. Towards the end, the story goes a different way than you thought it would.
It isn't predictable. Things that you think are going to happen don't. I rated this book 5/5 because it keeps you wanting more as you near the end.
It has all the things I like in books--love, talking about God, and it also has mystery. Plus I liked how she had two guys she was into, one from each side. It keeps you turning pages and asking yourself what's going to happen next? Is she going to find her brother? Which side will she choose? It keeps you guessing. At first she didn't believe, but as she started seeing things she started to believe. Towards the end, the story goes a different way than you thought it would.
It isn't predictable. Things that you think are going to happen don't. I rated this book 5/5 because it keeps you wanting more as you near the end.
August 6, 2015
The Nexis Secret is the great first novel by the author Barbara Hartzler! When you strip it down to it's basics, it's like most Young Adult novels and I include Harry Potter in that. By that I mean the plot where a painfully ordinary young adult is taken to a new place where they discover they are extremely important and where they realize they have powers they never knew they had in the first place. They are surrounded by people and friends who know more about them then they know about themselves.
Of course each novel is different and this one is no exception. This one deals with the power to see angels and demons and the Bible book of Genesis, chapter Six is important to the plot. I'm agnostic and not really up with the Bible but I do have one as a reference guide and several times Mrs. Hartzler had me looking through it and highlighting passages important to the plot. A book that encourages you to learn further is not one to sneeze at. It's not too heavy with Christianity but even if it was it wouldn't have bothered me, as I'm interested in learning about religions anyway. Hartzler also seems to have a great grasp with characters. It's not often I want to go through the pages to strangle a character (the only other time being Ms. Umbridge from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) but I sure did with Will. But I get the feeling there's more to Will than we are shown; perhaps the mystery will be explained in the sequels. But as Will is presented in this book, well, he can jump off a cliff.
I would have given the book five stars but I feel it could have been a bit better edited in certain spots. By that I mean the author uses certain phrases or actions a lot, sometimes twice on one page.
I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series, the second one which will hopefully be published in November. I wish Mrs. Hartzler all the best with her writing and hope the Nexis Series goes beyond Indie and into mainstream. To see this series propped up with it's own set-up while browsing Barnes and Noble would be incredible!
We need more Nexis in bookstores and less Twilights or Shades of Grey.
Of course each novel is different and this one is no exception. This one deals with the power to see angels and demons and the Bible book of Genesis, chapter Six is important to the plot. I'm agnostic and not really up with the Bible but I do have one as a reference guide and several times Mrs. Hartzler had me looking through it and highlighting passages important to the plot. A book that encourages you to learn further is not one to sneeze at. It's not too heavy with Christianity but even if it was it wouldn't have bothered me, as I'm interested in learning about religions anyway. Hartzler also seems to have a great grasp with characters. It's not often I want to go through the pages to strangle a character (the only other time being Ms. Umbridge from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) but I sure did with Will. But I get the feeling there's more to Will than we are shown; perhaps the mystery will be explained in the sequels. But as Will is presented in this book, well, he can jump off a cliff.
I would have given the book five stars but I feel it could have been a bit better edited in certain spots. By that I mean the author uses certain phrases or actions a lot, sometimes twice on one page.
I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series, the second one which will hopefully be published in November. I wish Mrs. Hartzler all the best with her writing and hope the Nexis Series goes beyond Indie and into mainstream. To see this series propped up with it's own set-up while browsing Barnes and Noble would be incredible!
We need more Nexis in bookstores and less Twilights or Shades of Grey.
August 12, 2019
I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thank you to author Barbara Hartzler.
This book has the potential to be a 5 star rating. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting and the plot. I found myself confused in the beginning because the scenes seemed to jump around and sometimes I felt like I had missed something, like I had skipped pages. I found myself going back to make sure I didn't actually skip around. There were also many instances of grammatical errors that distracted me.
After getting through the first couple of chapters I began to fall into the rhythm of the book. I would second guess Bryan and Will's motives. I found it strange that Will "cared" so much for her the same day he met her. Bryan was fiercely protective immediately. Lucy was as confused as me but at 16 found herself crushed between two insufferably cute guys (because come on, what is more important at that age) and then discovers she is part of a larger destiny. She handles it better than I would have expected but finally develops her sense of self and where she will belong in the world and how important she will be. I could sense the "Nexis personality" in her mom and wondered how that was hidden from Lucy's childhood.
The reader was drawn into the world of good and evil with the idea that Lucy would get to choose after being "Switzerland." I didn't sense any suggestion that she might choose the side of Nexis from the beginning. Even without being guided throughout her childhood or appearing to have a religious background her stance was determinedly grounded on the side of right versus wrong.
It will be interesting to see if she can or will be swayed by Nexi since she saw the angel standing resolutely at Bryan's side.I get the feeling that the next book will have more action and this one was in essence a prologue of the rest to come. I appreciate Mrs. Hartzler's take on good and evil and her faith shows prominently in the development of Lucy. I am actually looking forward to the next installment to see how the characters will grow in their abilities to fight the war that is inevitably coming.
This book has the potential to be a 5 star rating. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting and the plot. I found myself confused in the beginning because the scenes seemed to jump around and sometimes I felt like I had missed something, like I had skipped pages. I found myself going back to make sure I didn't actually skip around. There were also many instances of grammatical errors that distracted me.
After getting through the first couple of chapters I began to fall into the rhythm of the book. I would second guess Bryan and Will's motives. I found it strange that Will "cared" so much for her the same day he met her. Bryan was fiercely protective immediately. Lucy was as confused as me but at 16 found herself crushed between two insufferably cute guys (because come on, what is more important at that age) and then discovers she is part of a larger destiny. She handles it better than I would have expected but finally develops her sense of self and where she will belong in the world and how important she will be. I could sense the "Nexis personality" in her mom and wondered how that was hidden from Lucy's childhood.
The reader was drawn into the world of good and evil with the idea that Lucy would get to choose after being "Switzerland." I didn't sense any suggestion that she might choose the side of Nexis from the beginning. Even without being guided throughout her childhood or appearing to have a religious background her stance was determinedly grounded on the side of right versus wrong.
It will be interesting to see if she can or will be swayed by Nexi since she saw the angel standing resolutely at Bryan's side.I get the feeling that the next book will have more action and this one was in essence a prologue of the rest to come. I appreciate Mrs. Hartzler's take on good and evil and her faith shows prominently in the development of Lucy. I am actually looking forward to the next installment to see how the characters will grow in their abilities to fight the war that is inevitably coming.
August 30, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
I didn't love Lucy, as she annoyed me a few times throughout the book. She was okay though.
I didn't enjoy this one very much unfortunately. It just couldn't keep my interest, and at times I found it rather confusing.
Overall, Not a very enjoyable read for me unfortunately.
Actual rating - 2.5
I didn't love Lucy, as she annoyed me a few times throughout the book. She was okay though.
I didn't enjoy this one very much unfortunately. It just couldn't keep my interest, and at times I found it rather confusing.
Overall, Not a very enjoyable read for me unfortunately.
September 14, 2015
I received a copy of The Nexis Secret to give an honest review and this does not affect my feedback.
Barbara Hartzler has an interesting writing style that draws you in. The beginning was a little confusing, but it cleared up. Lucy finds herself pulled, unwillingly, into a centuries old feud between Nexis and the Guardians. You have the sexy, sweet Byran on one side, and the good looking, secretive Will on the other side. Lucy discovers that they're searching for the next Seer and is shocked when she realizes it's her. Soon, she starts to worry about who's using her and who she can actually trust, especially when secrets about her brother James are exposed. I enjoyed this story overall and can't wait to read the next one.
Barbara Hartzler has an interesting writing style that draws you in. The beginning was a little confusing, but it cleared up. Lucy finds herself pulled, unwillingly, into a centuries old feud between Nexis and the Guardians. You have the sexy, sweet Byran on one side, and the good looking, secretive Will on the other side. Lucy discovers that they're searching for the next Seer and is shocked when she realizes it's her. Soon, she starts to worry about who's using her and who she can actually trust, especially when secrets about her brother James are exposed. I enjoyed this story overall and can't wait to read the next one.
October 5, 2015
I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 2.75
It was an okay read. This was a YA paranormal/ fantasy romance book. Lucy was an okay character. I did not love as much as I thought I would when I read the description of the book. She annoyed me at times in the book. I also did not like Jake that much either. I found myself losing interest through the story. Also, it was a difficult story to get into. The ending was very unclear. Overall, a confusing read.
Actual Rating: 2.75
It was an okay read. This was a YA paranormal/ fantasy romance book. Lucy was an okay character. I did not love as much as I thought I would when I read the description of the book. She annoyed me at times in the book. I also did not like Jake that much either. I found myself losing interest through the story. Also, it was a difficult story to get into. The ending was very unclear. Overall, a confusing read.
June 13, 2021
It was okay
I really wanted to like this novel, but I just couldn’t! I was in a constant state of confusion. The author’s writing style seems elementary and immature. This is the first novel I had read by this author and it might be the last. The story has potential, but it need my depth.
I really wanted to like this novel, but I just couldn’t! I was in a constant state of confusion. The author’s writing style seems elementary and immature. This is the first novel I had read by this author and it might be the last. The story has potential, but it need my depth.
July 10, 2020
Barbara Hartzler has set up a really creative world. Using sections of the Bible as a basis for the magic system was an interesting choice. I wish the overall magic system was better explained. A lot was said about the chosen ones and specifically the seer having powers and even their immediate family, but what do the other kids have? Why a paranormal academy if only a very few will actually have powers. It could have been explained by just stating the Academy was strictly for children of the secret societies. It was hinted at that that was the case, but I kept expecting the other kids to have some magic of their own.
My next problem I had was there were some continuity errors that caused me to question some things. Mostly about who knew what when. It seemed that those that knew the big secret fluctuated throughout the course of the story. That lead to big revelations later in the story feeling like they fell flat. I kept asking myself "hadn't this person already figured that out?"
Finally, I struggled with the heroine. She was very flighty and that bugs me. I know she is 16 but this seemed like some extreme mood swings. I guess I like my protagonists to be on a little more even keel.
I received this book as an epub for free in exchange for an honest review. Editing wasn't great in my file. Many misused words, missing words, and grammar mistakes. Not enough to be distracting at first but by the end it definitely was. This may just be a problem of this particular format.
Overall, this was an ok book. I really enjoyed the final confrontation. I think this story has a lot of promise if it were polished a little more. Most of my hang ups boil down to editing and proof reading.
My next problem I had was there were some continuity errors that caused me to question some things. Mostly about who knew what when. It seemed that those that knew the big secret fluctuated throughout the course of the story. That lead to big revelations later in the story feeling like they fell flat. I kept asking myself "hadn't this person already figured that out?"
Finally, I struggled with the heroine. She was very flighty and that bugs me. I know she is 16 but this seemed like some extreme mood swings. I guess I like my protagonists to be on a little more even keel.
I received this book as an epub for free in exchange for an honest review. Editing wasn't great in my file. Many misused words, missing words, and grammar mistakes. Not enough to be distracting at first but by the end it definitely was. This may just be a problem of this particular format.
Overall, this was an ok book. I really enjoyed the final confrontation. I think this story has a lot of promise if it were polished a little more. Most of my hang ups boil down to editing and proof reading.
September 24, 2015
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I love this book. It has an amazing plot and I truly felt fear for Lucy. The fct that she had two romeos after her was common, but I like it. I need to read more by barbara!!!
September 22, 2015
My review for this is a bit late on account of a busy life. I plan to post this on the blog my friend and I share. I will link to it when I do.
Let me first begin this review by saying that my overall rating is 3.5 stars, but I feel I was not the target audience for this book. As such, I am going to go ahead and round it up to four. I believe that someone who is the target audience will really enjoy it. I could not relate to the main character, but that was through no fault of neither the author nor the book. That was merely because our gender, our social class, our entire being was opposite of one another. Which made it hard for me to connect to her. I made stronger connections with some of the side characters than I did with her. In particular, Shanda. And I do wish that I had gotten to know Shanda a little better, I really enjoyed her colorful personality.
The book description made it sound like I should expect a love triangle, but that's not exactly what this book is. Not at all, really. I was pleasantly surprised to find out quickly that it wouldn't go that way at all. My biggest praise is that Lucy was so in control of her own sexuality. This is praise I often see given to Tris of Divergent, and I feel it is deserved there, too. However, Lucy outdoes even Tris on that front. She doesn't let either boy pull her in either direction, she isn't so easily manipulated, and she isn't afraid to let them know when she does or doesn't want something. I was pleased to see a love triangle done in such a fashion, as typically the female becomes a passive character in her own sexuality. That is not the case in this one.
The plot was a bit hard to follow for me in a few spots, but Hartzler knows how to keep a good mystery going. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, and when I was shown, there was another question to be asked (and later answered). The mystery of the plot is what really makes the book. The school setting was a miss for me, given that I've never attended such a place. It gives the book a kind of high school or university genre feel, while maintaining the paranormal aspect. At times, the former seemed more prominent than the latter, but the latter was what kept me - personally - hooked. I wanted to know more about the visions, about Nexis, and about the school until the very end.
As previously mentioned, I don't believe I was the target audience. However, the right demographic would love this one. I would imagine young adult, female, Christian, and middle class or higher. It might be easier for them to see themselves in the main character. That aside, I did enjoy the read. It has a Christian theme, but it is lighter in that respect than many others I have read int he past.
Let me first begin this review by saying that my overall rating is 3.5 stars, but I feel I was not the target audience for this book. As such, I am going to go ahead and round it up to four. I believe that someone who is the target audience will really enjoy it. I could not relate to the main character, but that was through no fault of neither the author nor the book. That was merely because our gender, our social class, our entire being was opposite of one another. Which made it hard for me to connect to her. I made stronger connections with some of the side characters than I did with her. In particular, Shanda. And I do wish that I had gotten to know Shanda a little better, I really enjoyed her colorful personality.
The book description made it sound like I should expect a love triangle, but that's not exactly what this book is. Not at all, really. I was pleasantly surprised to find out quickly that it wouldn't go that way at all. My biggest praise is that Lucy was so in control of her own sexuality. This is praise I often see given to Tris of Divergent, and I feel it is deserved there, too. However, Lucy outdoes even Tris on that front. She doesn't let either boy pull her in either direction, she isn't so easily manipulated, and she isn't afraid to let them know when she does or doesn't want something. I was pleased to see a love triangle done in such a fashion, as typically the female becomes a passive character in her own sexuality. That is not the case in this one.
The plot was a bit hard to follow for me in a few spots, but Hartzler knows how to keep a good mystery going. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, and when I was shown, there was another question to be asked (and later answered). The mystery of the plot is what really makes the book. The school setting was a miss for me, given that I've never attended such a place. It gives the book a kind of high school or university genre feel, while maintaining the paranormal aspect. At times, the former seemed more prominent than the latter, but the latter was what kept me - personally - hooked. I wanted to know more about the visions, about Nexis, and about the school until the very end.
As previously mentioned, I don't believe I was the target audience. However, the right demographic would love this one. I would imagine young adult, female, Christian, and middle class or higher. It might be easier for them to see themselves in the main character. That aside, I did enjoy the read. It has a Christian theme, but it is lighter in that respect than many others I have read int he past.
September 15, 2015
I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This review is not finished. I'm nearly done and wanted to get some thoughts down. Will add more later.
After having a ton of trouble getting started, I've finally managed to get down to reading this book. I realized the problem was that I bought so many new books for my birthday that I just couldn't commit to reading anything else, so I read one of my new books to appease that part of me and settled down with this.
I'm on chapter 25, and while I'm finding it petty easy to read, I'm not sure that I like it very much. For such a serious plot line, most of the characters seem so caught up in so many mundane things and playing pranks back and forth that I find it a little frustrating. Some mundane stuff is great in a book, but it feels like that's all their focused on a lot of the time. Not to mention Lucy can be quite irritating at times. She's so back and forth and for someone so recently destroyed by her ex's cruelty, she fell for a lot of One guys crap at first, then fell headlong in love with the other. And then of course it turns out that their love is forbidden. And then as soon as guy one acts like a decent person, she immediately wonders if she made the right choice. Then just a few pages later she decides she was right about guy two, that she loves him.
Now to the good stuff, the plot line is very interesting, and with a little more work could be fantastic. The descriptions, of places, people, Angels, demons, were vivid and beautiful. And the ex boyfriends behavior, wow. I did like that twist. It was very interesting and well written. I'd like to find out why he was surrounded by the shadows, and where in the world Will disappeared to. I still can't get a clear idea of who is good and who is evil... It's all shrouded in shades of grey. One minute will acts like a crazy person, the next he seems perfectly normal. One minute Bryan seems perfect, the next he is unfeeling and cold. It's so hard to tell. I will admit I don't particularly like either of them for Lucy at this point... But we'll see.
The author can most certainly write well! I think that I might check out the next book, if there is one, simply because the story is interesting. I want to see if it gets more polished, more intriguing, maybe with a bit less melodrama.
This review is not finished. I'm nearly done and wanted to get some thoughts down. Will add more later.
After having a ton of trouble getting started, I've finally managed to get down to reading this book. I realized the problem was that I bought so many new books for my birthday that I just couldn't commit to reading anything else, so I read one of my new books to appease that part of me and settled down with this.
I'm on chapter 25, and while I'm finding it petty easy to read, I'm not sure that I like it very much. For such a serious plot line, most of the characters seem so caught up in so many mundane things and playing pranks back and forth that I find it a little frustrating. Some mundane stuff is great in a book, but it feels like that's all their focused on a lot of the time. Not to mention Lucy can be quite irritating at times. She's so back and forth and for someone so recently destroyed by her ex's cruelty, she fell for a lot of One guys crap at first, then fell headlong in love with the other. And then of course it turns out that their love is forbidden. And then as soon as guy one acts like a decent person, she immediately wonders if she made the right choice. Then just a few pages later she decides she was right about guy two, that she loves him.
Now to the good stuff, the plot line is very interesting, and with a little more work could be fantastic. The descriptions, of places, people, Angels, demons, were vivid and beautiful. And the ex boyfriends behavior, wow. I did like that twist. It was very interesting and well written. I'd like to find out why he was surrounded by the shadows, and where in the world Will disappeared to. I still can't get a clear idea of who is good and who is evil... It's all shrouded in shades of grey. One minute will acts like a crazy person, the next he seems perfectly normal. One minute Bryan seems perfect, the next he is unfeeling and cold. It's so hard to tell. I will admit I don't particularly like either of them for Lucy at this point... But we'll see.
The author can most certainly write well! I think that I might check out the next book, if there is one, simply because the story is interesting. I want to see if it gets more polished, more intriguing, maybe with a bit less melodrama.
September 23, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will be 100% honest this took a little getting into, I found I had to re-go over a few things I.E which character was which and what side they were on, It took me to 24% progress before it finally all clicked for me, and I can honestly say once all clicked into place I found it enjoyable.
I did find parts confusing, along with the way Barbara writes, I found her writing style quite interesting and sometimes I lost what what was going on, due to the way she writes, so in places i got lost and found my attention wavering.
The Nexis Secret is a story about two groups 'The Nexis' & 'The Gaurdians' Which have gone back generations, Nexis wants to take over the world.! And in order to succeed they need the Seer on their side.
I found Lucy very annoying at times i found she is like a whirlwind going round and round in those infamous circles, i also found her character very young & annoying, but then again she is meant to be only 16, i think i just find that coming into her seer position i thought she should have pulled up those big girl panties, and grow up a little, but i also found other sides to her that appealed to me,
Bryan I liked, will put a smile on my face with all that smarmy charm.
I liked this story as a whole, and I will certainly be getting my grabby mitts on book#2 this November...! Plus 3&4 in 2016.!
I hope Lucy comes back in #book2 that much stronger and less whiny, with a good dose of action. :) all in all I did like this story and I gradually got used to barbaras writing style, so all good and I did find it an enjoyable read, so thank you. :)
I will be 100% honest this took a little getting into, I found I had to re-go over a few things I.E which character was which and what side they were on, It took me to 24% progress before it finally all clicked for me, and I can honestly say once all clicked into place I found it enjoyable.
I did find parts confusing, along with the way Barbara writes, I found her writing style quite interesting and sometimes I lost what what was going on, due to the way she writes, so in places i got lost and found my attention wavering.
The Nexis Secret is a story about two groups 'The Nexis' & 'The Gaurdians' Which have gone back generations, Nexis wants to take over the world.! And in order to succeed they need the Seer on their side.
I found Lucy very annoying at times i found she is like a whirlwind going round and round in those infamous circles, i also found her character very young & annoying, but then again she is meant to be only 16, i think i just find that coming into her seer position i thought she should have pulled up those big girl panties, and grow up a little, but i also found other sides to her that appealed to me,
Bryan I liked, will put a smile on my face with all that smarmy charm.
I liked this story as a whole, and I will certainly be getting my grabby mitts on book#2 this November...! Plus 3&4 in 2016.!
I hope Lucy comes back in #book2 that much stronger and less whiny, with a good dose of action. :) all in all I did like this story and I gradually got used to barbaras writing style, so all good and I did find it an enjoyable read, so thank you. :)
October 25, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I was instantly excited to read it. It had a unique premise and had me hooked before even starting the book. The Nexis Secret has some of the typical aspects of a YA paranormal book, a love triangle, discovering powers etc, but as you look past that it delves into very different areas from most YA books, there is a religious aspect which was refreshing to see, it didn’t force it upon you but it was in the forefront of the subtexts. Despite being an atheist, I grew up with the majority of my family being Christian and so I understood the references and enjoyed seeing them in such a rare form. I’m not a fan of love triangles, and usually they annoy the crap out of me but in this book there was more of a reason for the triangle which made it slightly easier to read about. However, that being said, I did get increasingly frustrated with a few of the characters which made the book harder to get into and immerse myself fully. I loved the descriptions in this novel and feel like Hartzler’s writing style has become one of my favourites in the way she gives a mental image of the places and people we encounter. Overall, I’d say this book deserves a 3.5 out of 5 stars, I enjoyed it but there were too many aspects that brought it down for me.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I was instantly excited to read it. It had a unique premise and had me hooked before even starting the book. The Nexis Secret has some of the typical aspects of a YA paranormal book, a love triangle, discovering powers etc, but as you look past that it delves into very different areas from most YA books, there is a religious aspect which was refreshing to see, it didn’t force it upon you but it was in the forefront of the subtexts. Despite being an atheist, I grew up with the majority of my family being Christian and so I understood the references and enjoyed seeing them in such a rare form. I’m not a fan of love triangles, and usually they annoy the crap out of me but in this book there was more of a reason for the triangle which made it slightly easier to read about. However, that being said, I did get increasingly frustrated with a few of the characters which made the book harder to get into and immerse myself fully. I loved the descriptions in this novel and feel like Hartzler’s writing style has become one of my favourites in the way she gives a mental image of the places and people we encounter. Overall, I’d say this book deserves a 3.5 out of 5 stars, I enjoyed it but there were too many aspects that brought it down for me.
September 16, 2015
Free copy of the book received from the We ♥ YA Books! group and/or the author in exchange for a honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I received my copy of the Nexis Secret. I love YA with paranormal elements, but I was worried this would be another take on a recurrent theme in YA. I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.
I found the beginning to be confusing (but that could be the recurrent migraine attacks talking), but once I got into the flow of writing, I enjoyed the story. Hartzler has a unique writer's voice that makes the story an easy read. Although the characters are flawed and annoying at times, I've yet to meet a character, both in life and in fiction, who aren't annoying (even the ones that I've written personally). Some of the elements were a bit unbelievable, but we're talking about the paranormal here :) Hartzler is able to weave the paranormal in with a plot line that will keep you guessing.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I received my copy of the Nexis Secret. I love YA with paranormal elements, but I was worried this would be another take on a recurrent theme in YA. I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.
I found the beginning to be confusing (but that could be the recurrent migraine attacks talking), but once I got into the flow of writing, I enjoyed the story. Hartzler has a unique writer's voice that makes the story an easy read. Although the characters are flawed and annoying at times, I've yet to meet a character, both in life and in fiction, who aren't annoying (even the ones that I've written personally). Some of the elements were a bit unbelievable, but we're talking about the paranormal here :) Hartzler is able to weave the paranormal in with a plot line that will keep you guessing.
September 17, 2015
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:
The author completely captured my attention with this book. A story of good vs evil with humans in the middle. Sounds familiar right? Not so in this book. The author has completely changed it by putting humans as the deciding factor who could win the war.
Lucy is a normal teenage girl until a life altering event, sends her away to the prestige boarding school of Montrose. To her surprise on her first day she meets not one but two cute boys and her new bestfriend.
While at Montrose, Lucy must decide who to trust. Is she going crazy? What is really going on in the shadows? So much for homecoming and Halloween. Lucy has bigger problems. Is she really the one that people think she is?
This book is one of the most captivating books of the fight between heaven and earth that I have read since the Embrace series. I cannot wait to read the next in the series
The author completely captured my attention with this book. A story of good vs evil with humans in the middle. Sounds familiar right? Not so in this book. The author has completely changed it by putting humans as the deciding factor who could win the war.
Lucy is a normal teenage girl until a life altering event, sends her away to the prestige boarding school of Montrose. To her surprise on her first day she meets not one but two cute boys and her new bestfriend.
While at Montrose, Lucy must decide who to trust. Is she going crazy? What is really going on in the shadows? So much for homecoming and Halloween. Lucy has bigger problems. Is she really the one that people think she is?
This book is one of the most captivating books of the fight between heaven and earth that I have read since the Embrace series. I cannot wait to read the next in the series
November 24, 2015
Both my daughters loved "The Nexis Secret" and gave it to their friends to read.
February 22, 2018
DNF. Too slow for me. Boring... to me. Young girl quick to anger and making rush decisions.
November 24, 2024
I’m about 50 pages in, and I don’t know if I can keep going. Lucy, the FMC, is insufferable, and her inner dialogue is even worse. The first red flag is when her best friend said that Lucy boyfriend likes girls who stand up for them selves already setting the tone to how Lucy is.
Then Lucy declares her sole mission is finding out what happened to her brother and promises no boys will distract her. Cue her first day at Monrose Academy, where she sees Will, gets handed a flyer, and is too stunned by his beauty to speak. Moments later, some other guy with dark hair snatches the flyer, gives her a paper cut, and now she’s lost in his eyes. The inconsistencies here are unbearable. She’s timid and shy, yet suddenly snarky, telling him not to tell her what to do.
It doesn’t stop there. When Lucy sees Will again during his speech, she zones out entirely because she’s too busy gushing internally about his looks. Her roommate calls her out, and Lucy’s like, “No, I’m not into him,” while obviously following him around like a lost puppy. It’s painfully obvious, and her behavior is so grating. She’s officially the most annoying FMC I’ve ever encountered.
Let’s not even get into the writing—it’s one-dimensional and over-the-top. Every time she’s near a boy, she becomes a stammering mess, forgetting why she’s even at the school.
Then there’s that scene where she has a vision, trips on a nail, and surprise, Will catches her. Of course, his hand “slides over her waist” as he says, “You’re fine. I got you.” Her reply? “Thanks, I’m so glad you caught me.” His response? “Me too, I kinda wanna keep you around.” I almost threw the book across the room. What is this nonsense? The clichés, the cringe-worthy dialogue, and Lucy’s inability to function around boys make this book unbearable.
March 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. It kept me up past my bedtime, because I just didn't want to stop reading. I'm a fairly voracious reader, and there aren't many stories that I'll stay awake to read beyond 3 a.m. Barbara is GOOD at story, that's certain. This book added the Nexis series and Barbara Hartzler to my own personal pantheon of favorites, and I'm really looking forward to book 2.
There were times that I had trouble believing that these were teenagers/high school students, but every time that feeling surfaced, it drowned in the river of the story, because the story is THAT good.
I was disappointed that the editing didn't seem up to the par of a professional. I wished better for this story than that. But since this is only the first book in the series, I'm sure future books will be better and better. I hope that either the editor steps up her game to give these books the level of professionalism that they deserve, or that a new editor is selected for the future installments.
I'm really interested to see the payoff for some of the running imagery and how the puzzle will come together and develop as the series progresses. I wanted to know more about how Lucy and James were raised and what kind of education they had going into Montrose. I think some of that will be revealed as we go forward. Book 1.5 did actually answer several questions I had reading this book. Can't wait for Crossing Nexis to come out!
There were times that I had trouble believing that these were teenagers/high school students, but every time that feeling surfaced, it drowned in the river of the story, because the story is THAT good.
I was disappointed that the editing didn't seem up to the par of a professional. I wished better for this story than that. But since this is only the first book in the series, I'm sure future books will be better and better. I hope that either the editor steps up her game to give these books the level of professionalism that they deserve, or that a new editor is selected for the future installments.
I'm really interested to see the payoff for some of the running imagery and how the puzzle will come together and develop as the series progresses. I wanted to know more about how Lucy and James were raised and what kind of education they had going into Montrose. I think some of that will be revealed as we go forward. Book 1.5 did actually answer several questions I had reading this book. Can't wait for Crossing Nexis to come out!
September 26, 2021
🤦🏻♀️ Y’all… I don’t know how to make my status updates about this book* show up where anyone can see them, but this book gave me a run for my money.
This author clearly had no editor. Either that or she had one as inexperienced as she is as a writer. There were soooo many things. SOOOO many. To make me aggravated and roll my eyes and be confused and have to do double-takes and have to throw up my hands.
I think this book got such a strong reaction out of me because I really wanted to like it. I thought the plot and storyline were interesting and definitely not something you’d normally see as Christian fiction. Completely common in regular YA, of course, but I really looked forward to reading a Christian spin to it. Unfortunately, it fell flat on so many levels.
I’d hoped to get a decent fantasy, some biblical history, maybe some speculative interpretation … and definitely a good dose of biblical truth. But I didn’t get any of that. Instead, it feels like maybe a Christian author who enjoys YA fantasy was trying to merge the two worlds all on her own and not really knowing where to start… and definitely not how to finish. (Hint: it’s with editors and proofreaders and beta readers. And lots and lots of editing and re-writes!!!)
*I read this book as part of the complete series here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
This author clearly had no editor. Either that or she had one as inexperienced as she is as a writer. There were soooo many things. SOOOO many. To make me aggravated and roll my eyes and be confused and have to do double-takes and have to throw up my hands.
I think this book got such a strong reaction out of me because I really wanted to like it. I thought the plot and storyline were interesting and definitely not something you’d normally see as Christian fiction. Completely common in regular YA, of course, but I really looked forward to reading a Christian spin to it. Unfortunately, it fell flat on so many levels.
I’d hoped to get a decent fantasy, some biblical history, maybe some speculative interpretation … and definitely a good dose of biblical truth. But I didn’t get any of that. Instead, it feels like maybe a Christian author who enjoys YA fantasy was trying to merge the two worlds all on her own and not really knowing where to start… and definitely not how to finish. (Hint: it’s with editors and proofreaders and beta readers. And lots and lots of editing and re-writes!!!)
*I read this book as part of the complete series here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
September 28, 2023
Quotes from the book that make the book suck even more than it already did.
“The August heat suctioned my long hair to the back of my neck like a wet mop.”
“His mouth pressed into a hard scowl.”
“Night wind whipped my hair into my eyes,”
“Butterflies on caffeine flocked to my stomach.”
“The cleft in his chin waved at me as he looked around the room.”
“she glided like a swan to the enormous telescope.”
These are a few of the many quotes that make me cringe and it’s only from the first two chapters. Also it seems like she just arrived and is boy crazy after a breakup from her last boyfriend which made her move to a different state. She already found three hot guys to obsess over and it’s just her first day on school grounds. Already it feels like the author is trying to be different than all the other authors by trying to describe things in a different way. Which to me makes it cringey. There are also unnecessary descriptions of action the characters are doing like when you have to write a thousand page essay and try to just add words to make it to your word count goal. I have read one of her other books before and this book sounds almost like that one. I also didn’t like it.
“The August heat suctioned my long hair to the back of my neck like a wet mop.”
“His mouth pressed into a hard scowl.”
“Night wind whipped my hair into my eyes,”
“Butterflies on caffeine flocked to my stomach.”
“The cleft in his chin waved at me as he looked around the room.”
“she glided like a swan to the enormous telescope.”
These are a few of the many quotes that make me cringe and it’s only from the first two chapters. Also it seems like she just arrived and is boy crazy after a breakup from her last boyfriend which made her move to a different state. She already found three hot guys to obsess over and it’s just her first day on school grounds. Already it feels like the author is trying to be different than all the other authors by trying to describe things in a different way. Which to me makes it cringey. There are also unnecessary descriptions of action the characters are doing like when you have to write a thousand page essay and try to just add words to make it to your word count goal. I have read one of her other books before and this book sounds almost like that one. I also didn’t like it.
December 15, 2024
I really hate to be cruel but this book is clearly not intended for people who expect some level of higher reasoning.
If you can't write a story without unrealistic and outlandish plot holes and drama devices then maybe you should rethink your future choices.
I know you've written quite a few books but I feel it worth mentioning that anyone who's actually lived life would find it kind of insulting.
I quit reading the book when the Lucy discovers that her very much loved and missing brother is only a half brother establishing that her mother had an affair or was pregnant when she entered into the marriage. She believed her brother was the family seer, nope, that would be her and no one bothered to tell her. She starts this boarding school thinking she's going to figure out what happened to her brother only to discover she's going to be the next on The chopping block. Her father's response to this? Don't worry about it baby and get a good night's sleep. No thanks. Listen to the bad reviews about the lack of continuity. I didn't make it through the first quarter of the book.
If you can't write a story without unrealistic and outlandish plot holes and drama devices then maybe you should rethink your future choices.
I know you've written quite a few books but I feel it worth mentioning that anyone who's actually lived life would find it kind of insulting.
I quit reading the book when the Lucy discovers that her very much loved and missing brother is only a half brother establishing that her mother had an affair or was pregnant when she entered into the marriage. She believed her brother was the family seer, nope, that would be her and no one bothered to tell her. She starts this boarding school thinking she's going to figure out what happened to her brother only to discover she's going to be the next on The chopping block. Her father's response to this? Don't worry about it baby and get a good night's sleep. No thanks. Listen to the bad reviews about the lack of continuity. I didn't make it through the first quarter of the book.
July 16, 2020
A vibrant paranormal academy adventure.
If you enjoy a well written young adult paranormal adventure with reams of romance, then this is the book for you.
I loved the tone and vibrant energy of this book. Really made me feel like I was inside the head of the sixteen year old main protagonist, Lucy.
She sets out to discover why her brother disappeared to Europe three years earlier. The answer seems to be tied up with the mysterious happenings at the Montrose Academy, a finishing school with a difference. Think Hogwarts for the paranormal, upwardly mobile, social elite of society.
Lucy is determined to find out what really happened at the Academy to cause her brother, a former student there, to drop out of sight. With help from best friend, the zany irrepressible Shanda, Lucy discovers a world of secret societies and dark dealings.
A fun, energetic read, perfect for the long lazy days of summer.
If you enjoy a well written young adult paranormal adventure with reams of romance, then this is the book for you.
I loved the tone and vibrant energy of this book. Really made me feel like I was inside the head of the sixteen year old main protagonist, Lucy.
She sets out to discover why her brother disappeared to Europe three years earlier. The answer seems to be tied up with the mysterious happenings at the Montrose Academy, a finishing school with a difference. Think Hogwarts for the paranormal, upwardly mobile, social elite of society.
Lucy is determined to find out what really happened at the Academy to cause her brother, a former student there, to drop out of sight. With help from best friend, the zany irrepressible Shanda, Lucy discovers a world of secret societies and dark dealings.
A fun, energetic read, perfect for the long lazy days of summer.
December 31, 2021
My Last Book of 2021.
The Premise was interesting with alright characters, Lucy was a meh main character who definitely did some dumb things, the characters are teenagers and they are actually written as teenagers.
There is a strong Christian theme in this book that may annoy people, I don't practice the religion but it doesn't feel like a Christian Fiction novel.
The storyline was sometimes confusing and I found myself confused at some times.
However, it's a book you can skim or not focus too much on so that was good.
The book also isn't very predictable and it has some tropes like 2 love interests on 2 sides, who will she choose????
Its clear the story isn't over for awhile so looking forward to the next book
Peace out 2021
The Premise was interesting with alright characters, Lucy was a meh main character who definitely did some dumb things, the characters are teenagers and they are actually written as teenagers.
There is a strong Christian theme in this book that may annoy people, I don't practice the religion but it doesn't feel like a Christian Fiction novel.
The storyline was sometimes confusing and I found myself confused at some times.
However, it's a book you can skim or not focus too much on so that was good.
The book also isn't very predictable and it has some tropes like 2 love interests on 2 sides, who will she choose????
Its clear the story isn't over for awhile so looking forward to the next book
Peace out 2021
November 10, 2019
Want to read something new? Try "The Nexis Secret." This wonderful story is about a girl named Lucy. She is caught up in matters far beyond which boyfriend to choose. Heaven and Hell have been opened right before her eyes. Lucy will have a choice to make that could affect life as she knows it. You will never expect where this adventure is leading you. I can't wait until the next book hits the shelf. It is about time someone got Christion fiction right.
July 17, 2025
I barely hung on with this one. It’s very juvenile. Sometimes academy books are done in a way that everyone can like and relate, this one was not it. I’ve been out of high school for over 20 years and the teen drama was appallingly dull. I listened to this one and I’m tired of middle aged chain smokers being hired to narrate. I’d rather they just read it as opposed to trying different voices. Natasha Soudek shouldn’t be touching any books with characters younger than 40.
August 10, 2017
It was an amazing book!!!! Cant wait to read the next book to see what happens!!!!!
I liked so much because of the moments where you don't want to set down the book and your heart is racing along with hers. I would recommend this to people who like a little bit of action, heartbreak, and romance.
I liked so much because of the moments where you don't want to set down the book and your heart is racing along with hers. I would recommend this to people who like a little bit of action, heartbreak, and romance.
August 12, 2017
Interesting take on the Nephilim....
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a great mix of the spiritual fight going on around us and suspenseful storytelling. I'm usually good at guessing twists, but this one has me hanging on to see what's next. Who can Lucy really trust? I can't wait to see!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a great mix of the spiritual fight going on around us and suspenseful storytelling. I'm usually good at guessing twists, but this one has me hanging on to see what's next. Who can Lucy really trust? I can't wait to see!
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