Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials: Book 1

Shadowspell Academy by K.F. Breene and Shannon MayerReviewed by AngiThis is one of those books I auto download because I follow the author. This can be good or bad. I've been disappointed and I've been super thrilled with my choices. Now if you have read my previous reviews you see I tend to get pulled in more by the author than the book. That's only to start with. A person's name can only pull me all ng so far.Well this book ok took me to the end! And I've already downloaded the second.We first meet Wild on her farm innocent and niave in her understanding of the world outside her farm l. Though I say niave that's only in her understanding of the magic in her world. She is very well versed and hardened to how unfair life can be. She's smart and strong. But is she smart and strong enough to handle the culling?Taking the place of her brother she soon forms a ragtag group friends and allies. By being both protective and a quick thinker she leads them through the first trial. Her group is made up of a quarky doomsday statistic qouter, a shape shifting honey badger,and a goblin who shouldn't have made it past the 1st challenge, a secretive vampire, and a snobby pretty boy who's scared if there vamp. I love the depth of the character Wild, but I really hope to learn more about Wally the death statistics spouting girl.This has mystery and adventure galore! The trials are very deadly an anything goes. Will they make it through alive? If they do will they be changed into something they don't recognize?Warning it does end as a cliffhanger so you'll be downloading book 2 soon also!Definitely a five 🌟 read.

This first book is well written, albeit very slow to start. It seemed almost like the first half of the book was being told about Wild and back stories of her family.I've given four starts for the quality of the prose, and the development of the main character ,Wild, and her teammates, Pete, Wally, Gregory and Orin. I would love to know more about Sideburns😀. Once the trial started, the second half of the book I sped through, it was really interesting. Lots of potential, and will definitely be reading the next installment.A downside, I personally wouldn't call this a full length book. Its very short and barely more than a novella... But its still worth a read. This is almost like an installment story. Thankfully I am able to read it in Kindle Unlimited. I would still recommend giving it a try.

I love Wild! She is such a strong character! I love that she doesn't even hesitate, just makes the decision to take her brothers place when the 'invitation' comes to attend the Culling Trials. I laughed my butt off reading about her wrestling with the cow, I've been there and that's such a pain in the backside! Wild is so fierce and determined. She's such a mama bear with her siblings and then later with Wally, Gregory and Pete. Orin and Ethan haven't really come under the mama bear protection umbrella yet, but I'm sure they'll get there. There is so much happening in this book, so many interesting characters have been introduced and I'm overjoyed that this is just the beginning! Wally's commentary killed me, I love that she's so funny without meaning to be. Gregory tries to be grumpy, but I know he actually likes the group...well, most of them. Pete is adorable, I love his shifter form! Orin is mysterious, and I can't wait to read more about him. And Ethan...I don't think Ethan is going to be as big of a pain as he's seeming, I feel like there's something there that he hasn't brought to the table. But that could be said for all of them. Also, I'm not gonna lie, I think I have a crush on the Sandman/Sideburns/Sunshine, LOL. The backstory of her family and childhood is so sad. I am practically salivating waiting for the confrontation with Rory, I have a feeling its going to be emotional and intense and I am on tenterhooks! I can't wait to see where they take Wild and her cohorts. I have a feeling the magical world isn't ready for Wild, and she's going to turn it on its head.

The first trial had my adrenaline pumping and I was there along for the ride. The characters are interesting and different from anything I've read before. Can't wait for the next book. Onwards....

Its really hard to rate this, given that it's too short to really develop much more than an introduction to characters and world.I knew going into it that it is more serial than a series. Meaning it's more like a serial published in a magazine, for example. You get just enough to tempt you so that you have to buy the next volume of the magazine in order to get the next instalment of the story. That wouldn't bother me, but publishing BOOKS this way is a bit uncool for me. Lost a full star for that. I don't even like full-length novels that end without the story being resolved.Take Harry Potter, for example. The overall storyline throughout the series is Harry being the chosen one who must destroy the evil Voldemort. But each individual book has its own plot. Book one is learning he's a wizard and becoming acquainted with Voldemort. Harry must defeat him while he possesses a professor. That plot is wrapped up at the end of the first book, even though we know Voldemort still lives. This can be read as a standalone, but we know t will be a series. That's how a series should be done. Not ending with a story barely begun and without a real sense of what the story arc is.Enough about that. I think the story is off to a good start, and I certainly would be continuing the book if the end were merely another chapter break. I find Wild to be an interesting character and her crew-mates are equally likeable (or unlikeable, as the case may require). I'm interested in seeing where the story goes. I wish I could say with more accuracy what these books are about on the whole, but I'm impressed enough to find out on my own.

Can't wait for the next book! Definitely going to continue reading these beautiful books Greene is such a wonderful experience to read and if his books, also I have read a few Mayer's books in the past she is a formidable writer as well. The story so far is brilliant the characters are slowly coming together through pain and suffering which is giving them a chance to make good friendships, to build a strong team. Fantastic suspense and I will recommend these books to everyone!

Every slippery twist and gripping turn had me reading this in one sitting. To be honest, this is more a novella than a novel which is frustrating but the four installments that follow are available and are proving to be just as enthralling. Can’t wait to continue the adventure with Wild.

Wooh! I like it! Even if it does feel like it ended too soon for a full book. More like an episode instead of an entire season if you get what I mean. But yes, I definitely liked it. It's innovative, mysterious and full of action. Can't wait to read the next one.

a promising start of an action packed adventurewhat will happen next? it feels like you get to know the key characters a little and the kind of setting the story plays in but the real story hasn't yet begunexcited for part 2

Loved the story, simple but with nice dialogue. Could guess what would happen but still enjoyed reading it. Easy to read