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Elmwood College Tales #1
Offerings
Elmwood College is full of traditions and secrets. Everything is run by the Elmwood Trinity, three secret societies that shape the The Cavalry, the Castle, and the Magistrates.Every Devil's Night, the Cavalry holds a Hunt - offerings chosen from within it's ranks who get chased across campus. If they survive until morning on Halloween, they win. If they get caught, they face punishment.Elise finds herself caught up in the chase when she goes to Colin, her best friend's older brother and her forever crush, for help on the very night he's been chosen as an Offering. Elise offers to help Colin survive in return for a favor.Over the course of a night of running, hiding, and revelations, both of them find they might be offering up their hearts instead.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
9 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 31, 2024
Can we get a full length book of them 🙏
October 23, 2022
Set in an academic setting, this fun little Halloween treat kicks off the Elmwood College Tale series. I was so excited when the author had a surprise announcement for this novella because I know she works in academia and I was interested to see what secrets and tidbits she brought to this story.
I think what made this work for me was the history that already existed between the couple. This Best Friend's Brother romance is already teed up and ready to go off in a splash of spicy experimenting on a wild night. There is already tension between them and the scenario of this hunt across the campus made for heightened adrenaline and lowered inhibitions.
There were fun confessions and revealing of secrets and just the right amount of spice for this tale. I really look forward to what comes next at Elmwood College!
5 Stars
2 on the spice scale.
CW: attempted SA, character in peril
I think what made this work for me was the history that already existed between the couple. This Best Friend's Brother romance is already teed up and ready to go off in a splash of spicy experimenting on a wild night. There is already tension between them and the scenario of this hunt across the campus made for heightened adrenaline and lowered inhibitions.
There were fun confessions and revealing of secrets and just the right amount of spice for this tale. I really look forward to what comes next at Elmwood College!
5 Stars
2 on the spice scale.
CW: attempted SA, character in peril
November 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this it a nice easy introduction to the series and it was done really well with coping and Elise’s story and gives enough insight and mystery around the college to keep you intrigued about what it’s hiding and the societies
November 25, 2022
This novella is an underrated gem that deserves more love. Colin and Elise have fabulous tension, the story’s pacing is great and it still feels like a complete story!
Best friends brother is a trope I love and I adored that they both had feelings they were harboring for years but didn’t do anything about until they were a little older. Colin is so sweet to Elise and worships the ground she walks on. There very little angst or drama, and the spice is a bit slowburn (is it really a slowburn if it’s a novella??) but what’s there is plenty hot!
TWs are listed on the copyright page!
Best friends brother is a trope I love and I adored that they both had feelings they were harboring for years but didn’t do anything about until they were a little older. Colin is so sweet to Elise and worships the ground she walks on. There very little angst or drama, and the spice is a bit slowburn (is it really a slowburn if it’s a novella??) but what’s there is plenty hot!
TWs are listed on the copyright page!
January 30, 2023
good fast read. read this in 1 hour at the gym
November 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! It had a really charming feel around how Elmwood is described. The story between Elise and Colin also feels really sweet and innocent. I love books with a little mystery and anything with secret passages is always a win for me - so really enjoyed the scenes with 'the hunt' in.
A nice, brief story with a happy ending!
A nice, brief story with a happy ending!
November 4, 2023
Things I liked:
🦇 The history between the mcs (bff's brother)
🦇 The gloomy atmosphere
🦇 The pet name is unique and fits the story
Why this is a 1 star:
SA is used as a character device for the mmc. SA that was done to the fmc. Her trauma is used as a plot device to bring the two together rather than a serious topic handled with care. The latter half of the book consists of the fmc being threatened and (nearly) assaulted by the mmc's nemesis. (Don't worry, her knight in shining armour is there!) The past SA of the fmc is only referenced in the mmc's pov and we don't get any internal monologue from her on the topic. Why is sexual assault a plot device and why are we making the victim's trauma about men? As far as I know, this isn't even a dark romance. (Also, the rapist is getting his own book because therapy fixes everything, apparently.)
🦇 The history between the mcs (bff's brother)
🦇 The gloomy atmosphere
🦇 The pet name is unique and fits the story
Why this is a 1 star:
SA is used as a character device for the mmc. SA that was done to the fmc. Her trauma is used as a plot device to bring the two together rather than a serious topic handled with care. The latter half of the book consists of the fmc being threatened and (nearly) assaulted by the mmc's nemesis. (Don't worry, her knight in shining armour is there!) The past SA of the fmc is only referenced in the mmc's pov and we don't get any internal monologue from her on the topic. Why is sexual assault a plot device and why are we making the victim's trauma about men? As far as I know, this isn't even a dark romance. (Also, the rapist is getting his own book because therapy fixes everything, apparently.)
November 1, 2022
this was good, but some of the things the fmc would do kinda confused me. like if he says he is in love with you, and that’s all you’ve wanted your entire life, why do you doubt him?
October 23, 2022
Maybe 4.5 stars? This was such a fun, sweet, and sexy dark academia romance! Gotta love a best friend’s brother romance with all the mutual pining, an endlessly devoted hero with a filthy mouth, and a dash of suspense thrown in. Definitely the perfect novella to read during spooky season.
CW: past SA, on page attempted SA
CW: past SA, on page attempted SA
November 19, 2022
Characters: Elise and Colin
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5
⚠️ Trigger warning at the bottom of review ⚠️
This was a cute Halloween novella of two childhood friends who finally confess their feelings while hiding out at their college.
I loved how Colin called Elise mouse and that he had a pet mouse he named after her. So cute.
Trigger warning: there was talk of attempted rape in this novella and that the fact that the guy who attempted to rape her in high school tried doing it again in college.
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5
⚠️ Trigger warning at the bottom of review ⚠️
This was a cute Halloween novella of two childhood friends who finally confess their feelings while hiding out at their college.
I loved how Colin called Elise mouse and that he had a pet mouse he named after her. So cute.
Trigger warning: there was talk of attempted rape in this novella and that the fact that the guy who attempted to rape her in high school tried doing it again in college.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2022
The Hunt, The Chase and The Win
This is a novella, and it is so good. It's about a girl who learns who she is, and a guy who figures out what is important in life. They are always meant to be together. They just need their moment, so they can reveal their true feelings. It's a friends to lovers with close proximity. The spice is romantic and a bit steamy. I love the flow and plot of this story along with the characters. It's a great start to a university series. Enjoy.
This is a novella, and it is so good. It's about a girl who learns who she is, and a guy who figures out what is important in life. They are always meant to be together. They just need their moment, so they can reveal their true feelings. It's a friends to lovers with close proximity. The spice is romantic and a bit steamy. I love the flow and plot of this story along with the characters. It's a great start to a university series. Enjoy.
December 30, 2022
Really a can't-miss author for me...Even the short novellas are not to be missed from Ashley Mack!
I thoroughly enjoyed the academic society setting and traditions. It made for a creative storyline that had some dark undercurrents, but the story itself wasn't dark, which is so often the case with a setting or scenario similar to this. The characters were interesting and had cute banter and I loved rooting for them to be together and make it to through the night!
I thoroughly enjoyed the academic society setting and traditions. It made for a creative storyline that had some dark undercurrents, but the story itself wasn't dark, which is so often the case with a setting or scenario similar to this. The characters were interesting and had cute banter and I loved rooting for them to be together and make it to through the night!
November 26, 2022
Short, best friends older brother, college novella. Not a ton of spice (first around 60%), but what you do get is good. I also found the plot a little bit lacking and confusing. Probably won’t continue the series.
TW:attempted rape
TW:attempted rape
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
Everybody needs a Collin in their life. This man was SO obsessed that he named his pet mouse after her and literally pinned away for years wanting to wait for the right time to make his move
5/5 stars
5/5 stars
January 7, 2023
Why was I like crying not even 10 pages in? Like, this book made me feel every single emotion throughout the whole book. I loved the characters, romance, and spice. But the setting is honestly what captivated me the most.
November 13, 2022
An enjoyable novella and makes me intrigued to read more in this series
4*
4*
January 10, 2023
3.5 stars
October 14, 2023
Quick little read. Enjoyable setting, perfect for Halloween. The only thing is, I wish it would’ve been darker. Darker everything.
October 17, 2023
Well, that was a spicy good time!
October 16, 2024
The writing wasn't the best but the story was fun! I'm thinking about picking up book two but we shall see!
October 16, 2024
4.5+ stars
November 3, 2023
This was fun and very interesting, had a lot of potential, I just wish it was longer so I could feel more invested in the characters.
October 30, 2022
💙💙💙💙💘
Tw attempted rape, assault
This was really cute and I loved the spooky mystery that the campus had
Tw attempted rape, assault
This was really cute and I loved the spooky mystery that the campus had
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews