Shadow Magic

School of Magic Survival #4

by Chloe Garner

The students and teachers of Survival School made a decision: they were no longer on a side.

No longer willing to go along with the Council, and having struck a significant blow against the Superiors, Valerie, Ethan, Sasha, Lady Harrington and the rest are declaring independence on behalf of Survival School. They've had the summer to prepare and are now opening for business, but there's no way this is going to go easy. The Council aren't going to let them go in peace. The Superiors aren't going away any time soon, either. What's worse than either is the conflict within the halls of Survival School itself.

Survival School is now a home for both returning Council students and new Pure students, students who have sisters and brothers who are still waging a war against each other, and now there's a very real threat that fight will spill into the school.

Can Valerie and her friends find a way to bring everyone together before they hurt each other? Can they withstand attacks from both sides in the meantime? And can Valerie keep out of trouble long enough to be around to be there when it happens?

Well. Maybe, maybe not, but either way, it's going to be one heck of a semester.

Genres: Fantasy

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2021

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series review

Harry Potter move over. Valerie is in the house.

Seriously guys. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you're gonna love this series here:

School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner.

Book 1 - Surviving Magic - 408 pages
Book 2 - Unveiling Magic - 319 pages
Book 3 - Real Magic - 306 pages
Book 4 - Shadow Magic - 258 pages
Book 5 - Battle Magic - 306 pages
Book 6 - Magic Unleashed - 264 pages
Book 7 - Blood Magic - 380 pages

This is a fast paced, action packed, magic filled story starring a 'normal girl' who suddenly finds herself at a magic school, surrounded by people in awe of her parents, teachers with high expectations and colleagues who resent her. She's suddenly supposed to not only know that magic exists, but also know how to practice it.

And, with the help of a couple of kind teachers, and a great dorm roommate/BFF, Valerie jumps head first into a dangerous world of magic where demons may not be the worst threat, the slightest spells can kill if not properly mastered, and friends may need to be watched more careful than foes. And she does it all flying in by the seat of her pants, winging it with more sheer luck than style.


"I didn't ask for this,"...
"No, you didn't choose any of this, but this is where you are and it's what you are, and now you have to do the best you can."

Valerie is a character any reader will cheer for. And I stayed in her corner up to the very end. But she is not the only thing that turns this series into an addictive page turner.

That's a combination of edge of the seat action, a solid plot full of unpredictable twists, really cool magic and a larger cast of supporting characters that grow before your eyes.

The stakes deepen with each book and just when you think everything will be wrapped up nicely by the end of book 3, the 4th installment comes along, setting the stage for an even larger conflict, raising the stakes higher and sharper than before.
It is impossible to review each book in turn without giving any spoilers, so I'm not even going to try. Because it's best you go into it blind and hang on to your hats for the ride.

The books may not be perfect and the pace may be a tad too slow at times, and yet...
Any series that has you ditch your entire carefully planned TBR to binge-read its SEVEN books one after another from cover to cover until you reach the very end, deserves big fat 5 stars.

That's what School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner did for me.
So here I am giving you all a little nudge/shove to go ahead and read it too.

Yep. I'm pretty shameless like that when books are involved.

"Own it, wear it."

[Kimberli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is ok. The plot continues. While I like the plot, I was under the impression that this series was a romance novel series. It is not, unless you consider a girl and boy going steady a romance. For some reason we have skipped a whole year (or more) in this book, so our FMC is now 19 instead of 17. However, even though the couple is older, there has been nothing more than a kiss as far as romance. While it’s probably a good example that they aren’t physically intimate at their age, I find that it is not realistic in the least. I have 3 adult children and I can guarantee that they were intimate with their significant other by 19! Especially if they had been going out for a couple of years. These aren’t even religious people so they can claim it as sinful before marriage. Anyway, I must admit that the series is starting to drag a little bit for me. I expected a romance along with the plot and I’m not getting it. In my review of the first couple of books I was having a hard time with the MC’s ages because they were too young. Now they’re a little older, adults, and their relationship is still that of middle/high school age kids. I just want more than that.

[Jonathan Van Crumpet · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your school has declared independence from the council, you should be free to get on and learn, right? Except that the students don't integrate well, and now both sides of the war are gunning for them. Valerie, suspended from classes for inappropriate, if well-intentioned use of magic, ends up helping her parents cast BIG magic defenses, which just might come in pretty useful.

I love how these books encourage critical reasoning and ethics along with the story. There's so much more to them than the run-of-the-mill academy story (and so much less of the relationship angst and mean girls stuff). The magic is getting real-world now, as actions have consequences that are hard to live with.

What with all the fighting, it's almost too scary for bedtime reading, but the ending leaves the reader in a good place and excited for the future.

[Ay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I basically read this series back to back.

It's a rampaging adventure, and I enjoyed the arcs and world building and problem solving as the books power along. More is made clear as the stories proceed. I really enjoyed the character development.

You really do need to start with book 1 and read the books in order. The story starts when Valerie is 16 and finish when she's around 20.

FWIW Valerie reminds me a bit of Anastasia from the Queens Chair books but isn't using laissez faire economics to solve problems. I like that the characters are adjusting what they are doing as the situation changes and they learn more about what is going on and how things work.

[Gwynne Carosella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun read!!!!!!

I pretty much liked the whole series. I just finished the last book,was very sad there wasn't a few more books. Sometimes I would get the groups confused. So happy there wasn't any sex in the series. Didn't need it.I want to know what happened to Valerie s mom and dad, Sashas and Hanson's wedding and life, Valerie and Ethan etc. Thank you!!!! Yours Truly, Gwynne Carosella

[LooseBoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness what a fantastic read. I was literally on the edge of my seat at some points but the whole book was engaging.
Brilliantly written as usual and you get so engrossed in Valerie’s “ natural magic”. I want some!!
Seriously, it was a most wonderful magical adventure and I loved sharing the journey.
School was never like that

[Barbara Marie Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow Magic (School of Magic Survival Book 4

Shadow Magic (School of Magic Survival Book 4) 😂💝 Absolutely enjoyed this book….. Wow I could not put this book down. I love reading this book I do not want to spoil anything…Cannot wait for more......Definitely recommend this series…..

[Asa Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

thriller

Magic, fights, magic fights, politics, teenage politics. Multiple villains,
multiple heroes. Friends, enemies, magic teenage friends, magic enemies. All mixed in a writer blender

[Vikki Rawls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Itching to start the NEXT one!

So much action! It’s sometimes hard for my brain to keep up with what I’m reading! I can’t put these books down…I have to dive into the next one IMMEDIATELY!

[Alice Gillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding series

Great characters, I felt like I knew them. The plots were so good I went these books in a week. Sad to see them end,

[Barbara Faught · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

Awesome books, I am ready to start book 5. Lovable characters, with a lot of action and magic. The books are easy to follow and hard to put down.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Loved the world created here. Was refreshing and had me laughing and entertained....excited for the main characters triumphs. Def a fave

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable series.