You know that dream where you look down and find you’re naked in a very public place?It actually happened to me on my last day of high school.One second, clothes. The next—boom—naked.The moment that my gift of invisibility showed itself, everything changed. Whether it was for the better, I can’t say.First, the men in black whisked me away to the Secret Academy, a special college for magic folk … special college for magic folk hidden in plain sight amidst the plains of rural Georgia. Then, I got to meet my new classmates. They, of course, had all been brought up in the magical world.
I never knew it existed.
In fact, my only true ally might be the captive white tiger who has decided to make me her pet.
As it turns out the Secret Academy isn’t just hiding itself from humans. It’s hiding even more sinister mysteries within these crumbling ancient walls. And the more I discover, the more I’m starting to realize that I might be at the heart of these deadly secrets…
But who can I trust when I don’t know if I can trust myself?
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Understand it’s a new series and intros to characters & some background on story, etc. But Zoey especially was normal high school senior, then not, everything changes, so confusing, Not knowing who she could trust, things coming at her from all sides. Hopefully as the series continues, we can understand more and more of who what where when and why.
Ever since Harry Potter first appeared on the scene 25 years ago, series about mundane, misfit teens who suddenly find themselves deemed “special” and sent off to schools for the magically enabled have been a dime a dozen. It seems every teenage high school senior has fantasies of discovering previously unknown magical talents while discovering their soon-to-be adult selves. The White Tiger falls solidly into that very common YA trope, but as magic school stories go, this one’s a pretty good one.
I actually like Zoey, the heroine and her roommate and Owen, the probable love interest is hunky and smart, though not yet to be trusted. The story is interesting and there’s enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages and hunting for clues.
This is a series, so there are, not surprisingly, some loose ends left dangling to set up the next book, but the book is relatively self-contained and doesn’t leave any big cliffhangers that will leave you biting your nails and watching the calendar for that next release date although there is a big reveal in the very last line of the book that will definitely bring me back to find out how this new information fits into the bigger story.
In all, this one’s a worthwhile read if you’re at all interested in that paranormal YA genre that’s so popular with so many these days.
I have a couple of things to say first before I dive into this review: YA is generally not for me, and I’ve never read this author before. That being said, while I didn’t think this book was perfect and don’t really enjoy young characters, I enjoyed every single moment as I was reading this. Zoey and her friends were acting just like late teens but weren’t immature which is one of the reasons I’m not fond of YA. This was well-written, fun, and entertaining what I generally want in a book. No, Zoey didn’t get the answers she wanted and frankly needed, and it was frustrating. But again, fun and entertaining. Now that the first book is done, I’m looking forward to reading the next. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
I want to say I haven’t read anything like this book before, but I can’t say that this concept is completely new to me. What I can say is that the treatment is fresh and exciting. As frustrating as I found it living in Zoey’s head and not having a clue what was going on, I was also compelled to keep reading in order to find out the answers to all the questions that were piling up in my anxious brain. The story is a slow build as we’re introduced to Darnborn and the start to learn the shape of some of the secrets it hides. However, once it gets going it’s like an avalanche moving fast to the finish. I think I’m hooked. I desperately want to know even more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
I have been provided with a copy of Curse of the White Tiger from Arcane City for an impartial review. This is the first book in the brand-new The Secret Academy series and this was just a fantastic way to start off a new series. I just had so much fun entering this new world. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Highly enjoyable new series filled with magic, mystery, intriguing and a hint of romance. Zoey life hasn’t been the same since her parents died. Stuck with Aunt and Uncle that treat her as nothing. She takes a chance and at a new special school after accidentally turning herself invisible. Evil however lurks in the shadows and newbie Zoey maybe the only one able to save them
Curse of the White Tiger by Mila Riggs has Zoey Harper nervous about the presentation she must give in speech class. The next thing she knows, Zoey is naked in front of the class. Zoey is in the office when two people tell her that a mistake has been made and whisk her away. She soon arrives at Darnborn Academy (aka Secret Academy) which is a school for magical individuals in Winding Creek, Georgia. Unfortunately, Zoey arrives late for classes (for a school she did not know about) and her punishment is taking care of a large white tiger named Zia. Zoey soon notices something odd about the school and she works to unmask the secrets. Curse of the White Tiger is the debut of The Secret Academy series. This story has an interesting premise with a girl who has no idea about magic or that she has special abilities. The main thing I found frustrating was the lack of answers. Zoey arrives at the Secret Academy full of questions. She does not receive answers so neither do we. There is unique mystery happening that Zoey sets out to unravel and she ends up with a special familiar. I believe this story will appeal to the young adult audience. I am still curious about the school and I want to know more about it. I hope more information is provided in the next book in The Secret Academy series.
The Curse of the White Tiger by Mika Riggs is the first book in a new series called the Secret Academy.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Note: this review contains spoilers!
Zoey Olivia Harper is not having a good day or a good life. Orphaned at an early age, Zoey has been living with her aunt and uncle who have made it abundantly clean they don’t want her. She’s 2 weeks away from graduation when the strangest thing in the world happens to her. At the beginning of her last speech in speech class, she disappears! And even worse, when she reappears, she doesn’t have any clothes!!! Right in the middle of being yelled at by her aunt while in the principal’s office, 2 people dressed all in black show up. Yep. Just like. Only these dudes are looking for strange earthlings not aliens. And disappearing in class definitely qualifies!
Zoey certainly didn’t have a secret academy in her future plans where it seems that nothing is what you think it is. The Void is trying to pull the good witches and wizards to the Dark side, but with glamor and compulsion on their side, how can you tell the players apart?
Then there’s this humongous white tiger. But I’m not going to tell you about him: you’re going to have to read the book!
Adventure, friendship, trust, belief in yourself all make this a great read! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
A Magical Mystery For An Unassuming Teen!
A 3.5 Star Read
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Curse of the White Tiger: The Secret Academy, #1
Zoey Harper is one week away from graduating High School when she manages, some how, to disappear in front of her entire class during an oral presentation. Worse still, when she re-materialises she’s stark naked! She’s grown up with low self worth & tries to stick to the background in all situations, to appease her hate filled Aunt & Uncle that raised her after her parents died in car accident when she was 5 years old. This is not sticking to the background, she’ll be in big trouble!
Before being called into the Principles office with them, two people in black suits wearing dark sunglasses arrive. She’s informed she’s been in the wrong place all along & now she’s going to attend Darnborn or Secret Academy to learn about her magic. No-one took any notice of them or stopped them from whisking her away. She’s then thrown into the deep end at her new school.
She meets her new roommate, her boyfriend & a few others. Ophelia gives her the skinny on a few things about her new world but mostly she’s left floundering. Her ‘invisibility’ isn’t explained to her, how she got magic or what she’s supposed to do with it. Everyone agrees on one thing though, don’t give into it or you’ll be taken by the void!
Zoey’s timidity was rather annoying, I didn’t like how she allowed herself to be pushed around so much. I did sympathise with her greatly though.
Zia, the Tiger, and the curse this book is titled for, wasn’t explained at all. I’m hoping that rectified in the next book. Actually hardly anything was explained & I found that frustrating. However I’m still weirdly & annoyingly intrigued by this world & what it’s hiding from us all so I’ll most definitely be reading book #2.
Debbie, 1970, UK
I really enjoyed Curse of the White Tiger. This book captured my attention right from the beginning. It is intriguing and suspenseful. I like the setting of the magical school and the characters. This is a great start to a new series and I look forward to more books in the future.
Zoey is in the last week of her senior year in high school. She was given to her aunt and uncle at five when her parents were killed. They treated her horribly. When she was going to give a presentation, she literally disappeared on the spot and no one could even hear her. She reappeared with no clothes on! In her principal’s office, her guardians in a tizzy, two people show up and teleport her out with no explanations. They took her to the Secret Academy in Georgia. They say she is special, unique! She makes friends with her roommate, Phia. Two times someone or something attempts to murder Phia. Both times, she saved her life. She has also inherited a white tiger, Zia, as a familiar. When things do not make any more sense…she discovers somewhat what is really transpiring and a shocking revelation about who is after her…I received this book as an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
Mila Riggs brings us Curse of the Tiger with a combination of intrigue and laughter.
When you find yourself doing something you are so fearful for that some secret power you didn’t even know you had come out what do you do? That’s what happened to Zooey when she was about to give a speech…she was so scared, that she became invisible. Only when she became visible, she had no clothes on. And then to make it worse (or better, depending on how you look at it) these two strange looking strangers whisked her away to some place she didn’t know about and not sure she wanted to stay, the Secret Academy. At Secret Academy you find some interesting things that can happen and the adventures in getting out of them. And Zooey and the connection between her and the white tiger.
This is a story that kept my interest and I wanted to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this book and made me wonder if maybe things aren’t always as they seem.