Supposedly, witches can’t kill. But Madison accidentally killed her boyfriend, and now a girl at her witch academy is dead, too.Madison spent her life avoiding her magical abilities, but when she’s forced to use them to save her best friend from a deadly storm and accidentally kills her boyfriend as a result, she decides she needs to enroll at La Voisin School for Young Witches after all.She … Young Witches after all.
She knew starting a year later than her peers would come with its own struggles; she just never expected one of those struggles would be the impossible murder of a classmate. The school is spelled for safety, and witches can’t kill…so how did Giselle end up dead?
Only Giselle and her killer know, and only Madison can find out. Because now, the dead witch is haunting her. Crazy thing is, Giselle’s murder isn’t even the biggest secret this school has.
Just ask the statues.
Fans of Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight and Bella Forrest’s Harley Merlin series will devour Curse of Stone, book one of Veronica Shade’s Academy of the Damned.
Scroll up and one-click to starting reading this haunting, slow burn paranormal academy romance today.more
One of the authors I had read before but not the other two. The collaboration of the three made for one dynamic of a read especially for the first in a series. Madison starts us off in this with her events causing her to go to school for her craft. Other strange things happen also with this getting us to hone in on it. She does get friends also with the characters rounding this out. Then another death brings even more to haunt her but also it starts a reaction I do believe of the why’s and as a solver I have to be right in the thick. There are also other mysteries that catch us also, oh so delightful if you adore mysteries. This is a refreshing original basis that will have you wanting the next one soon.
Madison is an air witch. She didn’t enter La Voisin School for Young Witches at age 15, her mother advised against it. But when she tries to save her friend using her powers, she accidentally kills her boyfriend. At to that her mother lying to her yet again about getting clean, and Madison decides to attend the school to learn how to control her powers so that she never accidentally hurts or kills anyone again. When her bullying roommate dies, Madison knows something is off and sets out to prove it, with the help of her three friends. Full of fast paced action and twists, with great characters and storyline make this a witchy must read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madison is a great character. It’s great seeing her grow and change while she discovers who she is and what she can do. Can’t wait to see what the next book offers and the adventures that Madison and her friends get into.
This is such a good book. In the beginning it’s so heartbreaking but then all the action happens. I love Madison. I like how strong she is and how she fought to be there. I like all the mystery and you never know what was going to happen next. I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I had not read anything from this author but she was suggested to me and I was very excited to get my first ARC. This book is amazing!! I was a little hesitant with it being YA, but there was no need. The main character Madison is very real and I really liked her emotional journey. I also LOVE that there is still the main mystery to solve!! I cannot wait for the next one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madison grows up in a small town in Oklahoma, where everyone is mundane except her. She has powers that she keeps hidden from her friends and boyfriend. But that is going to change, when a tornado takes away the person, she loves the most. With her mother being an addict and after the trauma of the tornado killing her boyfriend, Madison flees to the witches academy La Voisin. After all she supposed to have enrolled ages ago, but because of family circumstances, she never applied to go there.
On the first day Giselle makes her life miserable and then the unthinkable happens when Giselle’s get murdered. All the suspicion fall onto Madison, but with a few unexpected friends in her corner, they look for the killer. But there is more going on in the academy then anyone thinks. What about all those weird statues strewn across the academy grounds?
I really love the beginning, like a start of an ordinary day that ends sour. Madison’s character battles with feeling worthy and wishes herself away to take care of her mom that is on drugs. I love the way it is written, like it is no different in a witch school then in a normal school. You have bullies and you have people being bullied. She is not sure of herself if she is going to make it, if she doesn’t make it, she is out.
But her powers are getting stronger even though everyone dismissed her as a weak mundane witch. I love the interactions between her friends even though Jaxon is predictable as he tries to hit onto Madison. I like the mystery and the journey Madison is going through as she gets this unexpected phenomenon going around her. Is she visited by a demon or is it just Giselle trying to tell her something? And who is them?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The mystery and intrigue of this book makes it impossible to put down! Questions of Madison’s capabilities, along with everything else going on at the school, keep you on your toes from page one. This is an excellent beginning to the series, and I cannot wait for the next book!
Amazing!! A real page turner that hooked me from the start. You will find yourself pulling for Madison. Can Madison learn to use/control her witch powers and solve the mystery of the statues? Mystery, suspense, great world building, action packed, wonderful characters. I Loved this book and can’t wait for book two!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love it, great start of a new series!!!
This book is amazing!!! … Wonderful characters, great world building and story line … Elemental witches, mysterious statues, dark secrets, new awesome friends … If Madison thought going to La Voisin would resolve all of her problems, she got it wrong … Now her life is an entire new mess, full of unknow things, secrets, mysteries, magic, all while trying to survive her new school and learn to use and control her powers… Thank God she found new friends to have her back!!! … Would they be able to solve the murder of her former roommate and the mystery of the statues??? … Can’t wait for the next book, need to know what will happen next!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I wasn’t sure if a book about a high school for witches would be too tame for an older reader. Turns out it is a real page turner. It has twists and turns and even made me gasp once or twice! I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has given us characters that are typical high school students, if you can imagine witches being anything typical . The story is fast paced and with the twists and turns, it keeps you interested.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madison ‘s world came to a halt when she uses her powers to save her friend’s life but loses the boy she loves. She feels she is responsible for Beau’s death, if she was a stronger witch, she could have handle everything better. She is at the hospital with her friend, the police wanting a statement. She has no idea where her mother is. Her friend’s mom takes her home to see to her mom and get rest. Her mom never made it to the game, as she was as is always is.
Maddie speaks to her mom in the morning, she decides she must go to the school. She needs to learn to control and learn about her powers.
With the guilt that she feels about Beau’s death, she goes to the La Voisin. She hopes they will be able to help her.
Madison will get hazed by the popular girl at school, she won’t let her in unless finds her way in. She does all she can to get in but Madison is struggling. Another student named Jaxon comes out to help her. He shows her around.
She becomes friends with Jaxon, Krista and Ivy, they help her as much as they can with her schooling. She has a huge amount to do if she wants to stay in school. Giselle is a popular girl that keeps giving Madison a hard time at every turn.
Madison finds Giselle dead on the stairs, she can’t believe she found another dead person. It brings to many memories back for her. Madison feels that Giselle is haunting her, she doesn’t know. She finds Giselle’s notebook, that starts a quest to find what happened and why.
Madison is going to have a lot on her plate as she tries to find out who killed Giselle, keep up with her school work. They also have to work on getting ingredients for the spell that the head master going at school. She is also stressing over her mother’s on going problems. She will have to decide what she wants to do with her life.
Will take all of them to find out who killed Giselle. Try to figure out the notebook and the mystery of the statues.
This is a really good, original story to read. The author keeps the read wondering who committed the crime but also wondering what is going on with the statues. Love the friendship, possible relationship between Madison and Jaxon.
I can’t wait for more in this series to see what is going with Madison and everything else.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The mystery really sucks you into the story and holds your attention. I can’t wait to read more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Is Madison just a weak witch or does she have more powers than she knows? After a traumatic event at her high school and the loss of her boyfriend, Madison decides to finally enroll in the La Voisin Academy for witches. She believes her inability to control her powers murdered her boyfriend, and she is grieving and full of guilt. She also wants to escape a difficult home life with an addict for a mother. A mother who is never there for her and who won’t seek help. On her first day Madison makes several friends but gains an enemy in her roommate Giselle. But then Giselle is murdered and her ghost haunts Madison, seeking her help. Giselle has left clues about her murderer, and the secret project she was working on, but Madison and her friends have to figure it out. And what does it have to do with the statues all around the grounds of the academy. Statues that look so lifelike, and are in poses as if they were in agony or pain, and trying to escape something terrible? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE!!!
Welp, times up! This talented trio is kicking up dust, directing the blow and lowering boom, racking up the shenanigans, powering through chaos and roping all the mayhem blowing this baby wide open. Disbursing well rounded scenario’s that punch dead center, ramping up the anticipation and adrenaline with such intensity and precision, thrusting this gem to life spectacularly. Progressing through the trials and tribulations, adding slick twists and sleek turns, grounding in it’s strength and awe inspiring in it’s depth. Sparks fly as distress, turmoil, drama, danger, treachery and suspense surges as tension spirals. The personalities are well matched and balanced with enough flaws for diversity. The scenes are strikingly sharp with such colorful descriptions it gives you a full understanding and realism that flow smoothly. Remarkable job guys, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
I absolutely devoured this story. It’s a common premise, don’t get me wrong, but the writing and the characters pull you in and you get invested in the story almost immediately.
Madison Whittaker is your normal high school cheerleader, well almost. She’s been hiding a secret from everyone but her drug addicted mother. You see, she’s a witch. When she was 15, she was invited to a special school, but she and her mom decided that she wouldn’t go, that she would just hide that side of herself. They did this because of something that went on when her great-grandmother went there. Since then, there hasn’t been a witch in the family, and since her mother married a mortal, it was easy for them to pass off that Madison had no powers. But that all changed when she was 17. While protecting her best friend during a tornado, her boyfriend was accidentally killed.
Reeling from the grief, Madison decides that it’s time to learn her craft before someone else gets killed. With that in mind, she heads to La Voisin Academy. While there, she unfortunately becomes the target of the mean girl, Giselle. Not only that, but since she’s so far behind in her training, the head of the school informs her that she only has the rest of this semester to prove herself or she will be kicked out of the school.
Then, something happens at the school and Madison is now having to solve the crime and protect herself at the same time. With help from new friends Krista, Ivy, and Jaxon, Madison sets out to do just that, while at the same time staying on top of her classes and competing to create the potion that Ms. Brewster has challenged all the students to make.
There is so much going on in this book, but in a great way. It’s all the world building needed to start out the series, and let me tell you, I can’t wait to read the next story. This has me hooked and I need more now. What a wonderful mix of characters, the story line moves you right along, the world building is amazing, and the story itself is haunting. What a great job!
*I received an ARC of this story and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I LOVED this book! Major book hangover while I wait for book 2!! I got so hooked I finished it in two days. I love the layers of tension and conflict Madison faces, and how her own choices affect the problems that beset her. The plot moves along at the perfect pace, including plot threads that will definitely show up in the next book. I can’t wait for the next installment!
Absolutely stunning world! Enjoyed every twist and turn! I could not stop reading! Hamilton delivers a knock out. The description covers the need to know info, I cannot add another word without spoiling it. This is a must read series! I cannot wait for the next one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book is a good teen and young adult paranormal romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good. The story is an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the first book that I have read by this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
It’s fast paced and keeps you gripped and wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoy the dynamics between the friends that Madison makes when she starts at La Voisin. Although I don’t like bullies and Giselle is like any typical bully, and for some reason takes a disliking to Madison from the very start of her turning up at La Voisin
This book is filled with lot’s of twists and turns, and has a few different things happening to Madison, I’m not surprised that the poor girls head hasn’t exploded
I’d definitely recommend this book for its fast paced story that will keep you gripped