I’m alive. I’m out of the Hells. I've become one of the most powerful people in mage society overnight. Also, it’s summer break.
But there’s no rest for the wicked.
I witnessed dark magic and darker crimes in the Hells. Now, I stand with allies I struggle to forgive, against a mortal enemy who once held my heart in his hands.
Powerful men want to make me a pawn in their unhinged games, to be used or sacrificed at their whim. They can try. My boyfriends and I will carve our own path through mage society, whatever it takes.
I have innocent people to protect. Vengeance to take.
Teresa Hann writes tales of magic and mayhem where fierce heroines win their hard-fought happy endings. She likes her storylines twisty, her worlds complex, and her romances involving at least a little stabbing. She lives in the Midwest with her family and her excessive number of houseplants.
I really enjoyed reading this third installment. There were twists and turns and lots of action. I loved the plot and how in-depth the story has gotten over the past couple of books, giving us lots to contemplate and quests what will happen next. The characters were great, Cass is such a fierce FMC. I loved her inner monologue and how she feels is really refreshing. I would've loved a bit more details.pf the day to day events, classes and such. But still a great read. I have loved this series from the first book, and this third book blew me away!
It was a great book, untill the end. Sometimes you can't redeem a character. Even if Artcurus didn't rape Darshan, he was going to. The only reason he didn't was Darshan saying that it couldn't be rape because he's into it. But that doesn't change his intention, he intended to rape so he can't be redeemed. And i cant finish the last pages of a book who goes over that so lightly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow! The third book in the Wraithwood Academy series was beautifully done. Cassandra is such a strong character and she’s developed into a strong women who through it all has such a deep sense of empathy for those around her.
This book really filled in a lot of the mystery and questions I had for Book 1/2 and it did so effortlessly. Hann wove a story that I could not peal away from, in fact I read it all in one sitting. I was really impressed with the plot in book 3 and all of the action that went with it!
I enjoyed the dynamic of the different houses and I thought it was wonderful that we were able to see more of their relationships with each other and how alliances have formed. I was also really interested with Cassandra’s place in House Redbriar and how she navigated her new role.
With all of that said, my favorite character throughout this entire series is Acubens. I have loved to see his growth and his relationship with Cass grow stronger throughout the series. I also really fell in love with Aegis, this book shed a whole new light on his situation. If I could have reached through the pages and gave him a really big hug I definitely would have.
I’m super excited to see where the next book takes us. I was shocked at some of the choices Cassandra made at the end of the book and cannot wait for Book 4 and all of the new developments it will bring.
I loved reading about Cass and her family. Also spica is cool; I wish she would’ve succeeded in slaying the person she stabbed.
I didn’t like the ending twists as i feel that a certain character should’ve been executed as without that character so much would’ve been better for her and she still would need to stop her father etc....
That character is as evil as her father despite certain others claiming to the contrary. That is my opinion however and Cass is such a good person so hopefully she can make lemonade out of the lemons she has.....
Now cass has to deal with her demon of a father and figure out a way to best him, with even less than she had before.
I am curious to see how everything turns out and I really like the side characters and cass. Aegis is finally supporting her, but her other men are not as much.
Anyways I will pre-order the next one when it comes out
***Disclaimer: This is an ARC Giveaway, however, this opinion is entirely my own and is in no way influenced by the author.***
Writing - 4 stars
I found Hann's writing style in the third installment to fit the book's tone as it dealt with the last book's aftermath. I think she's nailed Cass's internal dialogue amidst the struggles she has to consider with the new position she's in while reconciling that with the life she had before shit hit the fan. I think she also can use her writing in a way that makes it easy to keep up with the different characters, even though we are only getting this from Cass's perspective. Nevertheless, I did find some parts a little awkward, mostly with word choice and establishing the writing's pacing. I also would've liked a little more world-building to make it an easier transition when the climax unveils itself and comes to its glorious reveal. I enjoyed the overall style and wasn't bothered by Hann's tone because I thought it was very fitting for what this book specifically was about at this point in the series.
Characters - 4 stars
Hann continues some solid characterization in this book. She paints Cass's mindset throughout this book as very resolved and determined to fuck shit up after book 2 while also showing how she's struggling to find balance with the everyday normal and find some peace with the fact that she had to make a deal with the devil that is her father. It's easy to see Acubens as he tries to cover up his struggles with his brother's decisions by trying to be more playful and flirty with Cass. We can see Darshan's conflicting loyalties to Cass and Arcturus, which is reflected in Cass herself quite often. We see Aegis as he learns what it means to have agency over himself for the first time in his life. We can see how Wraith chooses to be a little less neutral almost in the war between the Redbriars and the Nightfelds as he finds his loyalties to Arcturus tested.
One thing I wish we could've seen more of is more day to day events. You know, classes at the college and the shenanigans Cass and her boyfriends might get into along with Wraith. Moments with Aegis as he experiences the basic human respect for the first time that he wasn't given at the Redbriar house. Cass and Darshan explaining their new invention to the Tower and seeing their plan inspire the professors and come to fruition.
Still, I found the character arcs and development in this book spectacular. It was everything that I'd hoped to see when it came to how the chemistry between these characters built the tension that exploded at the climax and created aftershocks that will be felt in book 4.
Plot - 4.5 stars
I enjoyed the plot of this book. I think Hann structured it so that it was very eventful and action-packed. I think that this was really good because if you're starting this book after just finishing book 2, you're gonna want something fast-paced to build on the momentum. Cass is basically at war with Arcturus, both for their respective houses as Redbriars and Nightfelds, but also as two people who feel like they've been betrayed by the other.
Again, there were some moments when I thought Hann could've slowed down the pacing of it more. Not just for the characterization, but I was often jolted by how one chapter would start weeks after the last and skip over all their classes. Or how Cass would mention she attended a Tower meeting or going to Aegis' games, things like that, without showing. I feel like that could've been a great opportunity to show how the rest of mage society was feeling about the war going on between the Great Houses, especially those unaffiliated like Darshan, and how Cass or Acubens might have dealt with a backlash because of that. I get that maybe it wasn't as possible with this book, but I felt it was missing a little.
In the end, I thought that the plot for this book was awesome, it was filled with important events that will be on the forefront for book 4, and I can't wait to see where Hann takes us next.
Overall Rating - 4 stars
I'm thrilled with this installment of the series. I'm delighted with how Hann has been developing this story and making it into this amazing, action-packed, unique, and incredible series that I can't wait to continue. I know that this wasn't an easy book to write, especially with the shit show that has been the past year, but I'm pleased with the results, and I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to read and review this book!
So I first signed up to get an ARC last year when it was suppose to come out, but then corona hit and y’all know the rest. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get an email last week with a link! It said to leave a review before the 14th, but I saw it was released on the 9th. Couldn’t leave a review yesterday since book 28 of a different series came out and thoroughly distracted me. Moving on..... If your reading this review I’m assuming you’ve read the first 2 books. Fear not, Arcturus got the payback his betrayal and near murder of Cass deserved. I would have killed him, but protagonists choice. And we see a familiar face that featured strongly in the first half of this book. Aegis. Childhood best friend, worst enemy, and the embodiment of everything “what-could-have-been”. Crazy female actually said she trusts him! We have read the first two books! We know that’s a bad idea! I fully expect him to knife her in the back, in the books to follow. Priam Redbriar is definitely psychotic. The kind that can only be “fixed” with heavy sedatives. He of course has as little interest in helping her with House upkeep as he was with helping his wife. That’s it’s own league of problems. Arcturus is so paranoid he’s having actual delusions. Not the way your thinking. No it’s like that chick in your office who started acting really weird a couple of weeks ago and then tells everyone she just got diagnosed with schizophrenia. And her delusion is that the CIA is out to get her. Then her paranoia gets so bad your boss fires her and her husband has her committed cause he’s afraid she’s going to do something she can’t come back from. Well...... Arcturus is like that. Only people really are out to get him, cause he deserves it. Only problem is, he doesn’t care about them, he cares that Cass “is out to get him”. News flash, it doesn’t matter how many times she and everyone else says she’s not, he never believes them and just keeps escalating. Guess where that leads? You can suspect your boyfriend of cheating, you can get drunk and accuse your boyfriend of cheating, but you cannot put his clothes on the lawn and set them on fire screaming he’s a cheater and your gonna burn him next. Well, that boyfriend wasn’t a cheater. He took extra jobs just so he could buy a really nice ring he planned on asking you to marry him with. Guess whose not gonna have a boyfriend, let alone a fiancé anymore? Like the jealous girlfriend, Arcturus also chose the nuclear option. Such a helpful and yet not helpful review. So full of information, yet nothing stated is helpful. This review will only make sense and amuse you only after you’ve read book 3 and come back and re-read this before leaving your own review.
In my opinion, this series just keeps getting better. I loved the character development that we saw from Cass in this one, the way that she balances her new duties against the life she wanted to have. Her inner monologue combined with her actions (especially the way she tried to show Aegis that there is more to life that just working for the Redbriar family and even giving Cly a way out of danger), shows very clearly why she is the perfect choice to be the leader of Redbriar house. She manages to blend duty to her house along with a sense of helping others (the ones from the no name houses for example). I also loved how she reluctantly worked with her father, while still hating everything that he stood for.
I also really liked the fact that this installment didn't take place just at the school. I felt the events that led them to House Mandrake was just what this story needed to keep the pace and that feeling of war is coming and you need to choose sides now. But the way things played out? Holy heck. Now that was a roller-coaster that came with twists I did not see coming (both with Sica Nightfield and the horrible secrets that both Arcturus and Cass' father have been hiding).
Of course it all leads to an incredible showdown, and then to Cass doing something that she knows is going to alienate herself from her father, and potentially all of the other Great Houses, and yet she does it anyway. I'm not sure that I would have done the same if I had been in her place. Speaking of that, I will say there was one part of the novel that could be potentially triggering that involves Arcturus and Darshan, and its something that I personally cannot understand how it was so easily glossed over. Even if the original intent wasn't what actually happened, the fact remains of what his intentions were, and I know that is not something that I could easily forgive.
We are now at the halfway point of the series, and considering the cliff-hanger this one ended on, I can't wait to see what comes next.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. I love how it is a more fantastic version of Cinderella. This is a dark university age academy reverse harem novel with magic, mayhem, secret identities, slow burn romance, and a kick-ass heroine on a mission. A strong yet caring heroine with an interesting assortment of suitors and a demon that needs to be freed to become part of her harem. There was no drama or angst over the heroine liking and dating more than one person. She asks them out, they agree, and that's that. Then with Darshan being openly bi no one even bats an eye (other than giving him crap for his taste in men). We now understand Artucus's reasons behind all his actions. We also realise that Priam has not changed an iota. Cass fights for everyone's rights including her own. Cass has some major eye opening events when secrets unfold. She also begins to get a true understanding of just how far apart the worlds are. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. I can’t wait to continue reading the series. I highly recommend to everyone.
I liked her dad more than anyone else in this book and he was hardly even there.
1.5
The .5 is for her dad. I just dig crazy confident morally grey characters.
Meanwhile the main cast is in shambles doing everything and nothing at the same time. It’s all so needlessly dramatic.
Also thing with reverse harem there’s usually consent to the multiple partners. Here it’s like everyone just accepts Cass gets to make out with whomever she wants. There’s no discussion abt if their relationship is open or not. A polygamist relationship isn’t the same as an open one.
Cass is now the heir of House Redbriar and have to lead the war over House Nightfeld. Even if her boyfriend Acubens is from that house he understands his bother is just crazy. Later you understand why he is so obsessed with Cass father and wanting to take him down. You already know he is not a good man, he is down right evil. There are a lot of secret revealed in this book and I can’t wait for the next one.
Everyone is his enemy, at least in his own mind. Even when someone tries to help him or falls in love with him he doesn't know how to believe it. So he betrayed everyone including his brother and sister, to keep his brother and sister alive. Now one who would have been on ally is his enemy by his choice. He is this generations strongest wizard. How can anyone defeat him? Good read very gory.
Well that took a turn. The emotional investment I was expecting just didn’t happen. The angst on the page at the revelation didn’t break my heart as expected. I’m unsure at this point if I care enough to continue. It’s not that the story is bad or not told well, it’s simply that my connection with the characters has diminished. That may not be true for you so give it a go if you’re interested.
I love these characters so hard . There courage . Strength and compassion are amazing after what they have endured . The world building is fantastic and truly draws you in . The plot twist are incredible I just loved it . But read devout this story you won't be disappointed
Cass has some major eye opening events when secrets unfold. She also begins to get a true understanding of just how far apart the worlds are. This kind of feels like the teeter router (you know that up n down thing on the play ground?). Wondering how this tangled web is un-weaved. Follow on to 'Deepest and Darkest'...
Vassals and Villains, the third book of the Wraithwood Academy series, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). Mwahaahaa, sneaky writer. This was my favorite book so far. Hann has managed to maintain her momentum with a quick pace and wonderful characters, but its the plots-within-plots that add so much intensity.
This book was so worth the wait. Lots of crazy happening in this one. A few shockers and omg moments too. A great storyline and fantastic characters. I can't wait for the next book.
Cass is now designated heir for Redbriar, and struggles to take her place. Now Arturus is her enemy . How will she be able to defeat him- only with the help of her psychotic Father.
I was ready for some serious devastation. There wasn't nearly what I expected. I'm really glad too. Things are taking a wild turn and I'm excited to find out how it play out from here.
Building on the previous books, we see some twists and turns that poked up their head. Who could have guessed the Nightfeld House twists and turns, and just how despicable Denub and Qian really were in relation to their 2 children.
Well this series keeps getting better. I’m enjoying the complexity of the plot and the fact that it’s not predictable. It’s a bit darker than I expected, but it’s good.
Generally this series is a solid 2 throughout - there’s enough going on to keep me interested, but there no real depth to anything. It feels like the plot and relationships just happen to the MC.