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Supernaturals of Castle Academy #2
Anchor of Secrets
Taken. Tormented. Tortured. I’ve endured a living nightmare, and the only way I’m holding on is because I know they will come for me.
My wolf. My caster. My demon. My dragons.
They’ll do anything to save me. Even if it means burning the world down around us.
But rescuing me is just the beginning. Because our enemies are circling, and sometimes, evil is closer than you could ever imagine…
Book two in a new paranormal, why choose, reverse harem romance trilogy from Amazon Top 20 author, Tessa Hale. Fated Mates, powerful supernaturals, and an evil who is out for them all…
My wolf. My caster. My demon. My dragons.
They’ll do anything to save me. Even if it means burning the world down around us.
But rescuing me is just the beginning. Because our enemies are circling, and sometimes, evil is closer than you could ever imagine…
Book two in a new paranormal, why choose, reverse harem romance trilogy from Amazon Top 20 author, Tessa Hale. Fated Mates, powerful supernaturals, and an evil who is out for them all…
270 pages, ebook
First published June 14, 2023
3145 people are currently reading
2316 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Hale
21 books3,135 followersAuthor of love stories with magic, usually with more than one love interest. Constant daydreamer.
What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA
What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 556 reviews
August 27, 2023
4.5 stars
I just loooove how fast paced and addicting Tessa Hale's books are! This one jumps right into the plot after Leighton was kidnapped at the end of book one and it definitely went to some dark places. All of the guys have their own things to work through and I loved the emotional depth we got with so many of them and their own stories. As usual, they're all very protective of Leighton and will do anything to stop anyone from hurting her as they try to figure out if she has any powers or not. I flew through the audio and loved everything about the narration! Of course, we're left on another cliffhanger, which just leaves me even more excited for the conclusion of this series!! If you haven't checked out any of Tessa's books yet, I definitely recommend you do!
I just loooove how fast paced and addicting Tessa Hale's books are! This one jumps right into the plot after Leighton was kidnapped at the end of book one and it definitely went to some dark places. All of the guys have their own things to work through and I loved the emotional depth we got with so many of them and their own stories. As usual, they're all very protective of Leighton and will do anything to stop anyone from hurting her as they try to figure out if she has any powers or not. I flew through the audio and loved everything about the narration! Of course, we're left on another cliffhanger, which just leaves me even more excited for the conclusion of this series!! If you haven't checked out any of Tessa's books yet, I definitely recommend you do!
July 6, 2023
Spoilers in the below, and my thoughts are super scattered lol.
This was a lot better than book 1, but it's still not life-changing or anything. Low key, I kind of feel like this is a worse version than the Fae Revealed series by Katie May and Quinn Arthurs (a 5-star series, for me). It's not identical, but there are a tooooon of similarities, although I thought Fae Revealed is much better.
I like the characters a lot more in this book than I did in the previous book of this series. Leighton is still immature, overreactive, and stupid...BUT she was better. It was an improvement.
The story is still pretty addicting and extremely palatable because of how short it is. The world-building is just OK, but it doesn't need to be that much more complex...it works for what this is. The writing is good.
The one thing that was really annoying is that this book felt like it was dragging out more of the same shit from book 1. Nothing has really moved forward. There still feels like there are 150 villains in this (all the same villains from book 1 who still haven't been dealt with at all + a few new villains), and it's a bit exhausting. The main characters are always 100,000 steps behind the villains--they really need a win. They keep saying they will "end" everyone, but all of their threats are empty. They don't do anything to the villains who are constantly threatening, bullying, and torturing them. The series needs to hone down the list of Big Bads. They also need to let the protagonists have a win every once in awhile because they keep losing/being outsmarted, yet they're supposed to be really powerful and smart (and fear-inducing?). It just makes every single main character look dumb and weak. It would be great to be surprised by these characters just once.
Also we are now 2 books in, can we speed some things along? The fact that Leighton still doesn't really have magic power (which...she obviously does) and we're still dealing with high school mean girls/other women (OW) drama, in the midst of the plot having actual problems with adult villains, is just really exhausting. Also, why does every parent of each member of this harem need to be a villain? Are we really saying there is not ONE decent parent out of 6 people? Everyone's high-profile parent is a villain? Once again, let's trim the villain list--it's too much. I was glad Darius doesn't seem to be a villain at least.
In terms of the male main characters, I think Trace continues to be my favorite. Dash and Ronan are kind of boring to me even though they are in this a lot. Colt used to be one of my favs but he's also losing my interest because every scene he is in is just about how obsessed he is with Leighton. The thing is...none of the guys are truly swoon-worthy to me or hot. They're all pretty average and forgettable. They also seem pretty immature--it feels like I'm reading about a bunch of 15 year olds.
I did love Ronan and Declan's back story and relationship development.
The smut is just OK. Every spicy scene feels repetitive and super rushed. The characters would be just getting started, and then it's over. It feels very basic...it feels almost like it was a chore that the author felt like they had to write. It seemed like the author had a checklist of "sexy" dialogue that people like on BookTok, and she just crammed everything into a few brief sex scenes. Nothing about the smut was surprising or different. It's all very average dirty talk. Nothing that you haven't seen before or exciting.
Anyways, all this said, I will absolutely be reading book 3. For what it's worth, the series definitely IS improving a lot. Leighton has gotten a lot better. It's also a quick fun read, for the most part.
This was a lot better than book 1, but it's still not life-changing or anything. Low key, I kind of feel like this is a worse version than the Fae Revealed series by Katie May and Quinn Arthurs (a 5-star series, for me). It's not identical, but there are a tooooon of similarities, although I thought Fae Revealed is much better.
I like the characters a lot more in this book than I did in the previous book of this series. Leighton is still immature, overreactive, and stupid...BUT she was better. It was an improvement.
The story is still pretty addicting and extremely palatable because of how short it is. The world-building is just OK, but it doesn't need to be that much more complex...it works for what this is. The writing is good.
The one thing that was really annoying is that this book felt like it was dragging out more of the same shit from book 1. Nothing has really moved forward. There still feels like there are 150 villains in this (all the same villains from book 1 who still haven't been dealt with at all + a few new villains), and it's a bit exhausting. The main characters are always 100,000 steps behind the villains--they really need a win. They keep saying they will "end" everyone, but all of their threats are empty. They don't do anything to the villains who are constantly threatening, bullying, and torturing them. The series needs to hone down the list of Big Bads. They also need to let the protagonists have a win every once in awhile because they keep losing/being outsmarted, yet they're supposed to be really powerful and smart (and fear-inducing?). It just makes every single main character look dumb and weak. It would be great to be surprised by these characters just once.
Also we are now 2 books in, can we speed some things along? The fact that Leighton still doesn't really have magic power (which...she obviously does) and we're still dealing with high school mean girls/other women (OW) drama, in the midst of the plot having actual problems with adult villains, is just really exhausting. Also, why does every parent of each member of this harem need to be a villain? Are we really saying there is not ONE decent parent out of 6 people? Everyone's high-profile parent is a villain? Once again, let's trim the villain list--it's too much. I was glad Darius doesn't seem to be a villain at least.
In terms of the male main characters, I think Trace continues to be my favorite. Dash and Ronan are kind of boring to me even though they are in this a lot. Colt used to be one of my favs but he's also losing my interest because every scene he is in is just about how obsessed he is with Leighton. The thing is...none of the guys are truly swoon-worthy to me or hot. They're all pretty average and forgettable. They also seem pretty immature--it feels like I'm reading about a bunch of 15 year olds.
I did love Ronan and Declan's back story and relationship development.
The smut is just OK. Every spicy scene feels repetitive and super rushed. The characters would be just getting started, and then it's over. It feels very basic...it feels almost like it was a chore that the author felt like they had to write. It seemed like the author had a checklist of "sexy" dialogue that people like on BookTok, and she just crammed everything into a few brief sex scenes. Nothing about the smut was surprising or different. It's all very average dirty talk. Nothing that you haven't seen before or exciting.
Anyways, all this said, I will absolutely be reading book 3. For what it's worth, the series definitely IS improving a lot. Leighton has gotten a lot better. It's also a quick fun read, for the most part.
unfinished
June 17, 2023DNF @ 17%
I really thought there’d be a grovel but one sob story from one of the guys and the fmc is already blaming herself for not even thinking of the pain of others, after everything she found out, being kidnapped and tortured for weeks. Right.
This author always has intriguing plot lines but it all starts to get a little stale for me bc it ends up being too black and white and formulaic.
I really thought there’d be a grovel but one sob story from one of the guys and the fmc is already blaming herself for not even thinking of the pain of others, after everything she found out, being kidnapped and tortured for weeks. Right.
This author always has intriguing plot lines but it all starts to get a little stale for me bc it ends up being too black and white and formulaic.
June 15, 2023
I actually have nothing to say about this… it was entertaining for the 3 hrs it took me to read it, and now it’s over and I’ve already forgotten what happened. Tessa Hale writes really fun, trashy (in a good way) RH books, and this matched the vibe of all her other ones. I’m happy!
Read
June 14, 2023🌟ANCHOR OF SECRETS IS LIVE🌟
Taken. Tormented. Tortured. I’ve endured a living nightmare, and the only way I’m holding on is because I know they will come for me.
My wolf. My caster. My demon. My dragons.
They’ll do anything to save me. Even if it means burning the world down around us.
But rescuing me is just the beginning. Because our enemies are circling, and sometimes, evil is closer than you could ever imagine…
Get the next chapter ➝
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/AnchrofScrtsAmzn
Audio: https://geni.us/AnchrofScrtsAudio
Taken. Tormented. Tortured. I’ve endured a living nightmare, and the only way I’m holding on is because I know they will come for me.
My wolf. My caster. My demon. My dragons.
They’ll do anything to save me. Even if it means burning the world down around us.
But rescuing me is just the beginning. Because our enemies are circling, and sometimes, evil is closer than you could ever imagine…
Get the next chapter ➝
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/AnchrofScrtsAmzn
Audio: https://geni.us/AnchrofScrtsAudio
January 24, 2024
4.5
I'm loving this series! So fun,so fast paced,so easy
I'm loving this series! So fun,so fast paced,so easy
June 15, 2023
Anchor of Secrets is the second book in Tessa Hale’s Supernaturals of Castle Academy series. This is a new adult, paranormal, fated mates, why choose romance (1 heroine, multiple heroes with her). I could not wait for this second book in the series after enjoying the first book!
So it’s hard to say too much about this book since it picks up right where book 1 left off on a cliffhanger! We see Leighton with her heroes: a wolf, a demon, a caster, and dragons! And let’s just say these heroes will go to whatever ends necessary to save Leighton and make sure she’s protected. This book we do dive more into some of the character’s backstories. We see some of the emotional trauma and abuse that both Leighton and some of the heroes have endured. We see Leighton deal with trauma and nightmares and how the guys are all there for her, she even gets trained to fight. I liked seeing how opening up about everything just brought this tightly bonded group closer together.
This has been a fun series that gives off all the nostalgic, new adult paranormal vibes with the added bonus of plenty of steam! Again this book left off on a cliffhanger 😅, so it just makes me that much more excited for the next installment in the series to see what happens!
Thanks so much to Forever and Always PR for an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own!
So it’s hard to say too much about this book since it picks up right where book 1 left off on a cliffhanger! We see Leighton with her heroes: a wolf, a demon, a caster, and dragons! And let’s just say these heroes will go to whatever ends necessary to save Leighton and make sure she’s protected. This book we do dive more into some of the character’s backstories. We see some of the emotional trauma and abuse that both Leighton and some of the heroes have endured. We see Leighton deal with trauma and nightmares and how the guys are all there for her, she even gets trained to fight. I liked seeing how opening up about everything just brought this tightly bonded group closer together.
This has been a fun series that gives off all the nostalgic, new adult paranormal vibes with the added bonus of plenty of steam! Again this book left off on a cliffhanger 😅, so it just makes me that much more excited for the next installment in the series to see what happens!
Thanks so much to Forever and Always PR for an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own!
August 25, 2024
Felt like a side quest a very forgettable side quest
April 3, 2024
★3/5! okay… alright so I forgive all of them… BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET! i’m still salty with them however they are lil cuties. the book was okay, mainly boringish same thing happening yet im still so invested.
Mini rant kinda why is the FMC always bullied by the queen bee in high school/college? literally ALL the time AND it’s always over the men, come on now hun they aren’t worth it. like over a man? a man??? seriously????
SPOILERS
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WHERES HER POWERS AT? TWO WHOLE BOOKS AND NOTHING!? obviously she’s gonna get them in the next one since it’s the last book but stilllll
patiently waiting for trace, again i know it’s gonna happen next book but if it’s rushed im suing! ranking in next one heheheheh
Mini rant kinda why is the FMC always bullied by the queen bee in high school/college? literally ALL the time AND it’s always over the men, come on now hun they aren’t worth it. like over a man? a man??? seriously????
SPOILERS
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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WHERES HER POWERS AT? TWO WHOLE BOOKS AND NOTHING!? obviously she’s gonna get them in the next one since it’s the last book but stilllll
patiently waiting for trace, again i know it’s gonna happen next book but if it’s rushed im suing! ranking in next one heheheheh
September 8, 2024
The way this book ended in exactly the same way as the first in the series?
June 5, 2023
Y’all this book starts out with us at the edge of our seats. It picks up right where we left off from the first book and we see Leighton really go through it but this girl is tough. I loved seeing her grow into herself more this book but as well with the books.
All the relationships develop even more which is so nice to see because they all have their struggles coming into the bond but seeing them work through it together makes my heart soooo happy. Leighton really makes this group into a family and I love seeing them cherish her and do anything for her no matter what which is what she deserves.
I don’t have a favorite yet…. Okay maybe Trace is slightly in the lead because I always fall for the slightly more broken yet obsessed male. Like how can you not love him? But forreal I love all the guys. They each bring something unique and enjoyable. Ugh this group and this series makes me so happy.
I will forever recommend Tessa’s books and this one isn’t any different. They are so easy to get lost in, I always fly through them and then get so upset when I realize I reach the end. I definitely think this series is worth the read.
All the relationships develop even more which is so nice to see because they all have their struggles coming into the bond but seeing them work through it together makes my heart soooo happy. Leighton really makes this group into a family and I love seeing them cherish her and do anything for her no matter what which is what she deserves.
I don’t have a favorite yet…. Okay maybe Trace is slightly in the lead because I always fall for the slightly more broken yet obsessed male. Like how can you not love him? But forreal I love all the guys. They each bring something unique and enjoyable. Ugh this group and this series makes me so happy.
I will forever recommend Tessa’s books and this one isn’t any different. They are so easy to get lost in, I always fly through them and then get so upset when I realize I reach the end. I definitely think this series is worth the read.
January 4, 2024
girl how many times can you pass out
December 17, 2023
this is so slay
June 15, 2023
I was a bit torn on this book, it felt like we had a really good high tension beginning followed by a kinda boring and repetitive middle and a suddenly high drama ending for the sake of getting to a cliffhanger. I’m not really a big fan of the whole ‘cliffhanger for the sake of a cliffhanger’ thing and it felt like that’s what happened here. I actually think I discontinued another series by this author after multiple kidnapping cliffhangers and now in this series we have 2 books and 2 kidnapping cliffhanger endings. Now it just feels to me like this author is using cliffhangers to get people to read the next book and not because they’re necessary for the story. One kidnapping cliffhanger per series is enough tbh.
This book definitely had more relationship progression, it was basically the bulk of the books. There were a lot of conversations mixed in with sex scenes to establish rebuilding relationships and trust. But I also wasn’t really buying the way the FMC seemed to embrace and have no hang ups or reluctance about engaging in group sex scenes. This is a high schooler who was raised outside the supernatural world and not in an environment with bond groups, the idea of this would be foreign to her and I have a hard time believing she’d have no mental hang ups with going from virgin to 4somes in the span of a couple weeks. It just seemed far fetched to me.
There’s not a lot of plot progression or world building in this story until maybe the last 10% where we start to get more insight into the leaders and factions. I would have liked to have gotten a little more plot and a little less of the more pastoral scenes of them just discussing their relationships and feelings.
Overall, this story is decent but it has me wanting more in terms of development, world-building, descriptions, and characters. Things felt a little bit flatter in this story than in the first one.
Also, I liked that book 1 was only from her POV, but I think it would have been more effective to include other perspectives in this book. I especially noticed this in relation to the FMCs panic attack because the way they’re described to us in first person made them feel less realistic. I’m specifically thinking of her saying something like “I kept rocking back and forth whispering ‘don’t want me’ over and over”. When our perspective is the inner monologue of a character in a moment of panic it doesn’t feel authentic to have their thoughts be so normal and descriptive like this. Seeing that scene from one of the guys perspectives would have had so much more of an emotional impact on the reader. I think reading it like it’s written almost detaches the reader from the experience. I don’t know if that makes sense but it’s something that really stuck out to me while reading the story.
This book definitely had more relationship progression, it was basically the bulk of the books. There were a lot of conversations mixed in with sex scenes to establish rebuilding relationships and trust. But I also wasn’t really buying the way the FMC seemed to embrace and have no hang ups or reluctance about engaging in group sex scenes. This is a high schooler who was raised outside the supernatural world and not in an environment with bond groups, the idea of this would be foreign to her and I have a hard time believing she’d have no mental hang ups with going from virgin to 4somes in the span of a couple weeks. It just seemed far fetched to me.
There’s not a lot of plot progression or world building in this story until maybe the last 10% where we start to get more insight into the leaders and factions. I would have liked to have gotten a little more plot and a little less of the more pastoral scenes of them just discussing their relationships and feelings.
Overall, this story is decent but it has me wanting more in terms of development, world-building, descriptions, and characters. Things felt a little bit flatter in this story than in the first one.
Also, I liked that book 1 was only from her POV, but I think it would have been more effective to include other perspectives in this book. I especially noticed this in relation to the FMCs panic attack because the way they’re described to us in first person made them feel less realistic. I’m specifically thinking of her saying something like “I kept rocking back and forth whispering ‘don’t want me’ over and over”. When our perspective is the inner monologue of a character in a moment of panic it doesn’t feel authentic to have their thoughts be so normal and descriptive like this. Seeing that scene from one of the guys perspectives would have had so much more of an emotional impact on the reader. I think reading it like it’s written almost detaches the reader from the experience. I don’t know if that makes sense but it’s something that really stuck out to me while reading the story.
December 1, 2025
Nibble. Chew. Bite. At this point the fmc no longer has lips.
Kidnap. Nearly killed. Blah.
I just don’t feel the flow of this story at all and the plot is ridiculous. Spice just gets tossed in randomly. One guy is pissed? Off she goes to calm him and BOOM smexy time. Over and over. Between school. And whatever tf they do.
Yes. I was sucked in but this was not the author’s best work either. Ugh.
Way too much going on. Too many villains. Holy crap can ANYONE be a decent person in this series? No. No they cannot.
I wanted to see so much more from book two but it just failed to deliver. Lots of the same shit different day repeated nonstop.
Kidnap. Nearly killed. Blah.
I just don’t feel the flow of this story at all and the plot is ridiculous. Spice just gets tossed in randomly. One guy is pissed? Off she goes to calm him and BOOM smexy time. Over and over. Between school. And whatever tf they do.
Yes. I was sucked in but this was not the author’s best work either. Ugh.
Way too much going on. Too many villains. Holy crap can ANYONE be a decent person in this series? No. No they cannot.
I wanted to see so much more from book two but it just failed to deliver. Lots of the same shit different day repeated nonstop.
March 27, 2024
4.5 having fun with this series
September 2, 2024
This one was even better even after the cliffhanger at the end of the first book. It's amazing and I need more.
July 7, 2023
Another hit
I was thoroughly swept away. Read it in like 3 hours. Tessa How never disappoints. The characters are relatable, entertaining and the FMC is coming into her own. But she really needs to stop being kidnapped. And I know its only 3 months till the next book. But dang seem way to far away right now.
I was thoroughly swept away. Read it in like 3 hours. Tessa How never disappoints. The characters are relatable, entertaining and the FMC is coming into her own. But she really needs to stop being kidnapped. And I know its only 3 months till the next book. But dang seem way to far away right now.
June 14, 2023
In book two of the supernaturals of castle academy things pick up right where they left off. Leighton has been captured and discovers who her captor is. Although we don’t get all the brutal details of what happens to her, there’s enough details that helps you imagine how she was treated.
After that the story primarily focuses on the relationship between Leighton and all her guys as well as giving us backgrounds on each of them. This is really the meat of the book, which I wasn’t super crazy about. I’m more of a “plot driven” reader vs character development.
That being said, the small amount of plot we get in this book was really enjoyable. Figuring out Leighton has powers, the process of getting those powers to manifest, the assembly agreeing to give them 30 days before casting Leighton out… all great things. But overall, it was pretty slow pace with not a lot of action.
The focus of book two is to really give us a lot of quality time with all the guys and lots of spice. Leighton connects on multiple levels with them… if you get my drift. 👀 and a lot of that time is spent inside Leighton’s head with her overthinking or worrying about a million different things. Her maturity (or lack there of) really shows in this book.
Speaking of maturity… I really wish these characters were more like college age. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel like a creep reading about high schoolers getting it on. And these guys definitely feel older based on their knowledge in the bedroom. 👀 I doubt there’s any real life 18 year olds that are as assertive and knowledgeable as these guys.
Read if you like:
Reverse harem/why choose
Fated mates
“Who did this to you”
Paranormal romance
After that the story primarily focuses on the relationship between Leighton and all her guys as well as giving us backgrounds on each of them. This is really the meat of the book, which I wasn’t super crazy about. I’m more of a “plot driven” reader vs character development.
That being said, the small amount of plot we get in this book was really enjoyable. Figuring out Leighton has powers, the process of getting those powers to manifest, the assembly agreeing to give them 30 days before casting Leighton out… all great things. But overall, it was pretty slow pace with not a lot of action.
The focus of book two is to really give us a lot of quality time with all the guys and lots of spice. Leighton connects on multiple levels with them… if you get my drift. 👀 and a lot of that time is spent inside Leighton’s head with her overthinking or worrying about a million different things. Her maturity (or lack there of) really shows in this book.
Speaking of maturity… I really wish these characters were more like college age. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel like a creep reading about high schoolers getting it on. And these guys definitely feel older based on their knowledge in the bedroom. 👀 I doubt there’s any real life 18 year olds that are as assertive and knowledgeable as these guys.
Read if you like:
Reverse harem/why choose
Fated mates
“Who did this to you”
Paranormal romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
June 16, 2023Loved book 1, but just couldn't get into two. Felt repetitive and unnecessary angsty and weak-willed.
June 17, 2023
but why is she always getting kidnapped and tortured help
dnf
June 21, 2023dnf @ 53 %
I just could not handle it anymore, especially the boys using a sedative to knock out their mate while she’s having a panic attack.
I just could not handle it anymore, especially the boys using a sedative to knock out their mate while she’s having a panic attack.
June 14, 2023
“It was never that we didn’t want you,” Colt said in a harsh whisper. “We always wanted you.”
Book Review:
Tessa has blown it out of the park once again! Book two took me by the reins and had me hooked to the end. We were left at the end of book one at a killer cliffhanger, with Leighton in the clutches of an evil entity and the boys realizing how much they screwed up in keeping secrets. Book two picked up right where it left off.
Leighton showed the depth of her strength in this book. Yes, she lacked the magic needed to protect herself in the new world she had been thrust into, but that didn’t mean she was helpless. As their mate, she was a calming balm to the guys’ turmoil.
I wanted the boys to pay, to hurt, to grovel, but Tessa surprised me and gave me something completely different, yet I was 100% satisfied by the outcome. It took Leighton some time to forgive them, as lies hurt, but sparks flew when she let them in again.
The heat is much higher in this book, shifting it from a slow burn with mild steam to Leighton and the boys finally giving in to the pull of the mating bond. Holy hotness, between the dirty talk and the actual actions, these scenes are scorching.
I honestly don’t know how I’ll make it through the next several months for the last book as, once again, Tessa culminated the book at a cliffhanger. It wrecked me, and I need more.
Genre: Paranormal Academy Romance
Tropes/Features: Fated Mates, shifters, incubus, mage, “Who Hurt You”, “Touch Her and Die”, magical society, mild OW drama (not actualized by guys), twins, hurt/comfort
Narrator: 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, Slow to medium burn, steamy to spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book two in the Supernaturals of Castle Academy series, cliffhanger ending
Audiobook Review:
Once again, audiobook veteran, Vanessa Moyen, does an excellent job bringing life into Leighton’s story in book two of the Supernaturals of Castle Academy series. I loved how she infused each character with different personalities and textures.
She remains one of my favorite narrators for this exact reason, having the ability to create multiple voices to fit each character’s unique personality and background. It is always a pleasure to listen to her narrations.
Genre: Paranormal Academy Romance
Tropes: Fated Mates, shifters, incubus, mage, “Who Hurt You”, “Touch Her and Die”, magical society, mild OW drama (not actualized by guys), twins, hurt/comfort
Narrator: 1st Person POV, Single Narrator - Vanessa Moyen
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, Slow to medium burn, steamy to spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book two in Supernaturals of Castle Academy series, cliffhanger ending
Book Review:
Tessa has blown it out of the park once again! Book two took me by the reins and had me hooked to the end. We were left at the end of book one at a killer cliffhanger, with Leighton in the clutches of an evil entity and the boys realizing how much they screwed up in keeping secrets. Book two picked up right where it left off.
Leighton showed the depth of her strength in this book. Yes, she lacked the magic needed to protect herself in the new world she had been thrust into, but that didn’t mean she was helpless. As their mate, she was a calming balm to the guys’ turmoil.
I wanted the boys to pay, to hurt, to grovel, but Tessa surprised me and gave me something completely different, yet I was 100% satisfied by the outcome. It took Leighton some time to forgive them, as lies hurt, but sparks flew when she let them in again.
The heat is much higher in this book, shifting it from a slow burn with mild steam to Leighton and the boys finally giving in to the pull of the mating bond. Holy hotness, between the dirty talk and the actual actions, these scenes are scorching.
I honestly don’t know how I’ll make it through the next several months for the last book as, once again, Tessa culminated the book at a cliffhanger. It wrecked me, and I need more.
Genre: Paranormal Academy Romance
Tropes/Features: Fated Mates, shifters, incubus, mage, “Who Hurt You”, “Touch Her and Die”, magical society, mild OW drama (not actualized by guys), twins, hurt/comfort
Narrator: 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, Slow to medium burn, steamy to spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book two in the Supernaturals of Castle Academy series, cliffhanger ending
Audiobook Review:
Once again, audiobook veteran, Vanessa Moyen, does an excellent job bringing life into Leighton’s story in book two of the Supernaturals of Castle Academy series. I loved how she infused each character with different personalities and textures.
She remains one of my favorite narrators for this exact reason, having the ability to create multiple voices to fit each character’s unique personality and background. It is always a pleasure to listen to her narrations.
Genre: Paranormal Academy Romance
Tropes: Fated Mates, shifters, incubus, mage, “Who Hurt You”, “Touch Her and Die”, magical society, mild OW drama (not actualized by guys), twins, hurt/comfort
Narrator: 1st Person POV, Single Narrator - Vanessa Moyen
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, Slow to medium burn, steamy to spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book two in Supernaturals of Castle Academy series, cliffhanger ending
June 14, 2023
For some reason it took me quite some time to buy my first Tessa Hale book. I don't know why. Her covers spoke to me, her blurbs spoke to me, I really wanted to read her stories and yet I never really got to it. Until the first book in this series. It was love at first sight. I loved the characters, the plot, the pacing, the mysteries and the world. I was therefore really looking forward to this second book. You can imagine how happy I was when I heard I could get an arc!
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and maybe even a little bit more. The previous book ended with quite a cliffhanger and this book shows us immediately what has happened. I was already prepared that it was gonna be ugly, but I loved how attached to the heroine I had clearly become. Which is something I noticed throughout the entire book. I don't think there are many heroine's I've been rooting for this much. I can't wait for her to get her happily ever after.
I also really loved that we got to know the guys a lot better in this book. We learned a lot about their backstories, the families they've grown up with, their parents, their shared history, what they've endured. And it's hard not to love all of them. They've been through so much and yet they're all wonderful people only wanting to be happy with the girl they love. I'm certain they'd make awesome leaders of their world!
Which brings me to what I might have enjoyed most in this book: The world building and the politics. Now the cat is out of the bag and our heroine knows that her guys are supernatural we're also thrown into the supernatural world and their power battles. A lot of games are being played, a lot of sides are being chosen and it's clear that a lot of people are willing to fight dirty. I really can't wait to see how far these people are willing to go in the last book in the series.
This series conclusion can't be released soon enough!
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and maybe even a little bit more. The previous book ended with quite a cliffhanger and this book shows us immediately what has happened. I was already prepared that it was gonna be ugly, but I loved how attached to the heroine I had clearly become. Which is something I noticed throughout the entire book. I don't think there are many heroine's I've been rooting for this much. I can't wait for her to get her happily ever after.
I also really loved that we got to know the guys a lot better in this book. We learned a lot about their backstories, the families they've grown up with, their parents, their shared history, what they've endured. And it's hard not to love all of them. They've been through so much and yet they're all wonderful people only wanting to be happy with the girl they love. I'm certain they'd make awesome leaders of their world!
Which brings me to what I might have enjoyed most in this book: The world building and the politics. Now the cat is out of the bag and our heroine knows that her guys are supernatural we're also thrown into the supernatural world and their power battles. A lot of games are being played, a lot of sides are being chosen and it's clear that a lot of people are willing to fight dirty. I really can't wait to see how far these people are willing to go in the last book in the series.
This series conclusion can't be released soon enough!
July 6, 2023
This series is just so fun and easy to read. The pacing is 10/10 & I’m ready for the final book!
July 17, 2024
My rating of this series all hangs on book 3
September 18, 2023
***TRIGGER WARNING: Heroine is held captive and tortured for two weeks; PTSD and nightmares follow. The torture is kept pretty vague, but the point is still made that she's suffering. One of the guys reveals that his mother was taken by an enemy, treated violently (I'm trying to keep it light), and murdered when he was a child. There might be something else I'm forgetting, but those were the two biggest things. ***
The characters got very muddied for me in this one. The heroine was already one of the most cliche, generic girls I've ever read about, but after her time being tortured, I was hoping that would give her the inner strength that the guys claim she has or...oh, I don't know, maybe finally give her some depth of character. The thing is, I didn't feel like she grew from that awful experience. It happened to her, but aside from panic attacks and nightmares, it felt like just another event in this book and the heroine was still pretty flat for me. I think the author was trying to go for quiet strength, but...this chick was just too vague and common to stand out on her own. There's also the point that since I don't view her as emotionally or mentally mature, her sexual scenes with the guys were unappealing and I felt like I was reading a different character because those maturity levels just did not match up.
As for the guys, they read like they're in their 20's instead of the 17/18 they're supposed to be, which makes a world of difference--- especially when you're pairing them all with a girl whose maturity levels are iffy in the first place. Yes, she's been through a lot, but making a character go through abuse and torture doesn't automatically make them emotionally/mentally mature; it doesn't automatically give them depth of character. I need to be shown that this girl is capable of something, ANYTHING. I need to be shown that she can be the equal of all of her mates and I was not at all convinced.
Back to the guys--- when I say that the characters got muddied, I also mean that each of the guys lost a little of their differences as I read. They were all still interesting, but they started to blend together and I had a hard time picturing each of them. Now to be fair, that could be because this all felt very generic to me from the start, so I might've missed some highlights of what they all looked like, but I feel like their descriptions weren't repeated enough to cling to my brain to help me differentiate. Even though I just finished this book, I'm struggling to remember what they each look like. Ronan has a scar on his eyebrow; I know Declan is his twin but he's lighter in coloring maybe? Colt has interesting hair. Dash has glasses. And Trace has a bunch of tattoos and a lip piercing that's only been mentioned twice so far in two books, unless I missed one. I know there are more important things going on, but I feel like if you're going to give a character a lip piercing, that should be committed to a little more. I know from experience that when you get a piercing on your face, it becomes a part of you, so I wish it had been mentioned more often because I didn't remember he even had a lip piercing until it was randomly thrown in.
And I have to say this: please please PLEASE stop ending every single chapter with something dramatic or a bomb being dropped. It happened in this author's "Shifting Fate" series but I let it go. Seeing that tactic repeated here at the end of every chapter was extremely tiresome and disappointing. Yes, it's a good way to keep the reader interested and wondering what will happen next, but it should be done in a way that's not blatantly obvious what the author is doing. Even the most oblivious person will catch on to it fairly quickly if you're doing it every fucking chapter.
After reading the preview of the next book, I don't think I'll be finishing this series, even out of sheer curiosity. The heroine is still pretty flat and I think I'll just end up frustrated if I try again. I honestly can't recommend this series, but it is entertaining at the very least.
The characters got very muddied for me in this one. The heroine was already one of the most cliche, generic girls I've ever read about, but after her time being tortured, I was hoping that would give her the inner strength that the guys claim she has or...oh, I don't know, maybe finally give her some depth of character. The thing is, I didn't feel like she grew from that awful experience. It happened to her, but aside from panic attacks and nightmares, it felt like just another event in this book and the heroine was still pretty flat for me. I think the author was trying to go for quiet strength, but...this chick was just too vague and common to stand out on her own. There's also the point that since I don't view her as emotionally or mentally mature, her sexual scenes with the guys were unappealing and I felt like I was reading a different character because those maturity levels just did not match up.
As for the guys, they read like they're in their 20's instead of the 17/18 they're supposed to be, which makes a world of difference--- especially when you're pairing them all with a girl whose maturity levels are iffy in the first place. Yes, she's been through a lot, but making a character go through abuse and torture doesn't automatically make them emotionally/mentally mature; it doesn't automatically give them depth of character. I need to be shown that this girl is capable of something, ANYTHING. I need to be shown that she can be the equal of all of her mates and I was not at all convinced.
Back to the guys--- when I say that the characters got muddied, I also mean that each of the guys lost a little of their differences as I read. They were all still interesting, but they started to blend together and I had a hard time picturing each of them. Now to be fair, that could be because this all felt very generic to me from the start, so I might've missed some highlights of what they all looked like, but I feel like their descriptions weren't repeated enough to cling to my brain to help me differentiate. Even though I just finished this book, I'm struggling to remember what they each look like. Ronan has a scar on his eyebrow; I know Declan is his twin but he's lighter in coloring maybe? Colt has interesting hair. Dash has glasses. And Trace has a bunch of tattoos and a lip piercing that's only been mentioned twice so far in two books, unless I missed one. I know there are more important things going on, but I feel like if you're going to give a character a lip piercing, that should be committed to a little more. I know from experience that when you get a piercing on your face, it becomes a part of you, so I wish it had been mentioned more often because I didn't remember he even had a lip piercing until it was randomly thrown in.
And I have to say this: please please PLEASE stop ending every single chapter with something dramatic or a bomb being dropped. It happened in this author's "Shifting Fate" series but I let it go. Seeing that tactic repeated here at the end of every chapter was extremely tiresome and disappointing. Yes, it's a good way to keep the reader interested and wondering what will happen next, but it should be done in a way that's not blatantly obvious what the author is doing. Even the most oblivious person will catch on to it fairly quickly if you're doing it every fucking chapter.
After reading the preview of the next book, I don't think I'll be finishing this series, even out of sheer curiosity. The heroine is still pretty flat and I think I'll just end up frustrated if I try again. I honestly can't recommend this series, but it is entertaining at the very least.
February 25, 2025
2.75☆
3.5 ♨︎
⚠︎[Spoilers]
↓↓↓
I don’t even know where to start. I hated this book 😭. By the 28-30 percent mark I was done.
This girl is barely ever at school. She’s basically failing EVERYTHING. Oh but she has 5 magical boyfriends so it doesn’t matter(said no one ever).
I wanted to like this but it dragged so much. The same conflicts as the first book just kept repeating.
¹ Chloe forever has a stick up her ass.
² Damian was not even in the book but somehow everything came back to him.
³ MARYFUCKINGANNE I can’t stand her. Going to court for custody of a girl when she already SIGNED over guardianship??
I’m still not over the fact that she STILL didn’t manifest into her powers. I expected it to happen towards the end.. nope. No powers from THE Anchor.
This book was SO repetitive. It was always ‘what if I can’t do it’ or ‘what if i’m going to descend yall into madness’ and then comforting her one way or another.
WHY did every ‘milestone’ get solved by sex? Ronan upset? Sex will fix it. Leighton won’t listen? Sex will fix it. COLT ALMOST DYING? Sex!
Nothing happened in this book. It was just her feeling bad for herself and ‘trying to trust’ the guys with her heart 😐. As she ever stopped trusting them. The author tried and failed to make that believable.
I hate when an author tries to make a fmc seem strong, when she’s really just lacking in every department because of bad writing.
At the end she got kidnapped AGAIN. Why is she so prone to getting kidnapped?
Anyways..
I love Declan. OH AND HE CALLED HER BABY!! Like once but it was cute.
I wanted to see her powers but it’s going to be in the next book and i’m not gonna read it. Sucks I guess.
PEACE <3
3.5 ♨︎
⚠︎[Spoilers]
↓↓↓
I don’t even know where to start. I hated this book 😭. By the 28-30 percent mark I was done.
This girl is barely ever at school. She’s basically failing EVERYTHING. Oh but she has 5 magical boyfriends so it doesn’t matter(said no one ever).
I wanted to like this but it dragged so much. The same conflicts as the first book just kept repeating.
¹ Chloe forever has a stick up her ass.
² Damian was not even in the book but somehow everything came back to him.
³ MARYFUCKINGANNE I can’t stand her. Going to court for custody of a girl when she already SIGNED over guardianship??
I’m still not over the fact that she STILL didn’t manifest into her powers. I expected it to happen towards the end.. nope. No powers from THE Anchor.
This book was SO repetitive. It was always ‘what if I can’t do it’ or ‘what if i’m going to descend yall into madness’ and then comforting her one way or another.
WHY did every ‘milestone’ get solved by sex? Ronan upset? Sex will fix it. Leighton won’t listen? Sex will fix it. COLT ALMOST DYING? Sex!
Nothing happened in this book. It was just her feeling bad for herself and ‘trying to trust’ the guys with her heart 😐. As she ever stopped trusting them. The author tried and failed to make that believable.
I hate when an author tries to make a fmc seem strong, when she’s really just lacking in every department because of bad writing.
At the end she got kidnapped AGAIN. Why is she so prone to getting kidnapped?
Anyways..
I love Declan. OH AND HE CALLED HER BABY!! Like once but it was cute.
I wanted to see her powers but it’s going to be in the next book and i’m not gonna read it. Sucks I guess.
PEACE <3
February 11, 2024
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR, TESSA!!!! This was hands down a 5/5 ⭐️’s and I loved every single second of the ride 👏🏽👏🏽 literal perfection with ZERO FLAWS 👏🏽
**Mild mild spoilers ahead that I personally don’t think take away anything from the actual plot of this book BUT if you’re wanting to go into book 2 with absolute zero idea of where it’s going to go, then I would wait to read this review until you’ve read and finished book 2 🫶🏼
We get more of Trace, Declan, Ronan, Dash, and Cole and of course our lovely FMC, Leighton. We really are seeing Leighton coming into her own in this book. Slowly, but surely, you see Leighton find her voice and her fire. And IM HERE FOR IT. There is just something about well deserved feminine rage that just gives me the giddy feelings 🥰🥰
I absolutely live for these extremely complex characters. I mean Tessa really outdid herself with this one. I was glued to my kindle from page 1 y’all. PAGE 👏🏽 ONE 👏🏽
And of course, our queen of cliffhangers has me ITCHING for book 3. I genuinely don’t know how I’m going to wait that long to know how this incredible story ends.
I’m sad that my read of this is already over, but I’m excited for the release of book 2 on Audible, because I’ll be doing a reread of this book in just 2 weeks when that comes out👏🏽
If you love paranormal reverse harems, academy setting, broody alpha males, timid FMC’s going through incredible character development to a complete and utter badass, this is hands down the series for you! 🫶🏼
**Mild mild spoilers ahead that I personally don’t think take away anything from the actual plot of this book BUT if you’re wanting to go into book 2 with absolute zero idea of where it’s going to go, then I would wait to read this review until you’ve read and finished book 2 🫶🏼
We get more of Trace, Declan, Ronan, Dash, and Cole and of course our lovely FMC, Leighton. We really are seeing Leighton coming into her own in this book. Slowly, but surely, you see Leighton find her voice and her fire. And IM HERE FOR IT. There is just something about well deserved feminine rage that just gives me the giddy feelings 🥰🥰
I absolutely live for these extremely complex characters. I mean Tessa really outdid herself with this one. I was glued to my kindle from page 1 y’all. PAGE 👏🏽 ONE 👏🏽
And of course, our queen of cliffhangers has me ITCHING for book 3. I genuinely don’t know how I’m going to wait that long to know how this incredible story ends.
I’m sad that my read of this is already over, but I’m excited for the release of book 2 on Audible, because I’ll be doing a reread of this book in just 2 weeks when that comes out👏🏽
If you love paranormal reverse harems, academy setting, broody alpha males, timid FMC’s going through incredible character development to a complete and utter badass, this is hands down the series for you! 🫶🏼
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