I thought I could survive anything—until I met actual demons.Ever since my mother disappeared, I’d been fending for myself on the streets of New York by running scams—anything to get a dollar.So when I almost lightning-blast my latest victim (WTF), and some guy in a slick suit saves me from the cops by telling me I’m half-demon (double WTF) and I belong at a place literally called Hades Academy? … at a place literally called Hades Academy? I figured I was the one getting scammed.
But no.
My name is Nova Donovan, and I’m half-demon.
Next thing I know, I’m flying in a horse-drawn carriage on my way to a place I didn’t even know existed until twenty minutes before. Hades Academy is 100% real: a school for demons to learn the magic that will keep the forces of Chaos at bay.
But if I thought survival at Hades Academy was going to be any easier, I could not have been more wrong. Now I have to deal with tough new classes, a bitchy mean girl who hates my half-human guts, and the attention of several hot but dangerous dudes.
Oh, and did I mention that someone’s trying to destroy the school?
Yeah—survival’s going to take more than I thought.
Hades Academy: First Semester is a magic academy NA paranormal fantasy novel with a slow-burn romance and a kickass heroine. Although there are love triangles, this is NOT a reverse harem. Rated 18+ for strong language.
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Overall rather good reading. Nova is a particularly interesting character as are her sidekicks Morgan and Teddy. The love interests, Raine and Wilder, as well as the nemesis, Camilla, not so much. I feel that adequate clues for solving the mystery were presented in such a manner as to appropriately obscure the solution. The end was unsatisfying.
Part of “Hades Academy: The Complete Series: A Paranormal Demon Romance”
I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author. This is my honest review.
This was a series that I read back-to-back-to-back. It was a great twist on the Academy trope with the main character attending a school for demons. The classes were really interesting and the mix of characters was great!
An awesome start to a new series! In a crowded sub-genre, Hade Academy would be easy to overlook. Only you shouldn’t. Because while it’s everything you expect from a YA paranormal academy book, this one takes those tropes and not just runs but sprints with them. Think sarcastic American Harry Potter lite.
Nova Donovan is a snarky, sweary teenage hustler. Oh, and also a half-demon. Pity her mom didn’t mention anything like that before she vanished and left her kid to the foster system. Our heroine is picked up when she accidentally does something magical and whisked away to Hades Academy where she’ll learn what being a demon (or at least half-demon) is all about. Far from inflicting chaos on the world, it turns out they’re all part of the supernatural balance that protects the world from Chaos (a primal force with a capital C). She just has to discover her demon abilities, make friends, ignore the mean girls, side-eye the handsome aloof boys, learn all she can – even if one of her tutors is distractedly attractive – and prevent Chaos from destroying the world. What could possibly go wrong?
First things first: Nova. Her snarky, aware asides are brilliant. She knows how ridiculous all this seems, but hey, she’ll roll with it. Girl got sass. As per the genre, everyone comes in trios: she gets two BFFs in Morgan and Teddy who fulfill the nerdy/comic relief roles, Camilla and her two cronies are the resident demonic Mean Girls (yup, Nova actually references the film), and Raines with his Infernal Three act as the mysterious bad boy gang. Their chemistry between everyone, be they friend or foe, is on point. Romance is a thing, but it’s a bit more grown up rather than the mushy kind. Not to mention Wilder and the important members of staff actually get decent air time to give them character.
I love me an original setup, and the idea of two opposing schools who aren’t at war with each other is a great one. Of course, the Elysium kids come across as way too naive compared to their Hades counterparts, but it’s their twee-ness that is needed to keep balance with the snark. I really liked that Chaos is an independent thing rather than a desired outcome. They might seem good v evil, but it’s more subtle than that.
Now my two issues. For one, it’s very trope-filled. Everything from the “you’re a wizard Harry!” to the bitchy privileged girl-gang and the pointless arguments to illustrate love/hate dynamics – if you’ve read a YA/NA academy story you’ll recognise a lot. It’s not going to be as deep or slow to develop as Harry Potter (on the flip side of that, it’s intentionally more mainstream and humourous than the aforementioned boy wizard dramatics). The second issue only really came towards the end. A big plot point gets presented as if it’s obvious when… Well, it is and it isn’t, which was frustrating considering just how well everything else was plotted.
Trope-filled or not, it’s a fun read which does work those ideas really well with a couple of surprises along the way. I loved that ending; with characters like these it’s nigh on impossible not to care for them and what’s coming for them next semester.
Nova Donovan is 19 and lives on the streets and was raised in foster homes after her mother mysteriously disappeared. She has no clue about her father either. She was playing a game to win some money in an alley, when all of a sudden, an amber light appeared and she passes out. When she awakens, a strange man is there who lets her know she is part demon and is wanted to attend school at Hades Academy. She captures the eyes of Raines and his half-brother, and Raines’ two brothers, the other parts of The Infernal Three. She makes two great friends and a couple enemies within days of each other. She discovers more about herself, some about her past, and others’ secrets. A huge threat lies over the school and that is Chaos! It can destroy EVERYTHING with the correct Relic if gotten too! So much to learn, so much to do, and so little time to protect everyone around~ On top of it all…she gets to meet the Elysium…more to the point…Tavi! Nova and Raines share something very weird, which neither seem too happy about. There is so much jampacked into just semester one, I could not begin to cover it all! This Academy series is definitely going to be much different than others you will read…it promises to be better! I received this book as an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
It has a Harry Potter feel only with adults so there’s room for more mischief and mayhem. I really enjoyed reading this book and I will be paying for the next two books in the series. Nothing like going from three card Monti and not knowing where your next meal is coming from to attending a prestigious school even if it it’s only for Demons.
This was a great start to a new series! I really enjoyed Abbie’s take on demons and guardians to where their jobs are to maintain balance in the world instead of wreaking utter havoc or extreme goodness in the world. Nova has been living in the streets of New York scamming poor souls just to scrape by life ever since her mom disappeared and she stopped hopping between foster homes. One night during her usual three card monte trick, something goes horribly wrong when she almost blasts her newest victim with lightning. She wakes up to the smell of a meatball sub and a well dressed man who tells her she’s half demon, offers to take her to Hades Academy, a school for demons, or to get caught by the cops. Nova obviously takes a chance and goes with him, signs a contract in blood to stay, and her whole world gets turned upside down for better and for worse. Things aren’t as easy as she thought they would be, but at least she has a place to stay, food in her stomach, and clothes on her back even if she has to put up with a mean demon purist and three mysterious guys, The Infernal Three. I really enjoyed the friendship that she had with Morgan and Teddy and loved that even though they were all completely different they were so comfortable and always there for one another. The tension between Raines, part of The Infernal Three, and Wilder, her theories of demonological philosophy professor, was intriguing and mysterious to say the least. The characters were believable and realistic and I liked that the demons and guardians still lived pretty normal lives even if their pop culture was hit and miss for Nova’s tastes. I honestly can’t wait to see what happens next at Hades Academy!
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A great series beginner with an awesome storyline. The author has done a great job with building this world and its characters. Nova is a feisty, tough, scam artist, and half-demon who has been invited to attend Hades Academy, a school of demons learning to battle the big C, Chaos. As she stumbles her way through the academy she makes some crazy nerdy friends, enemies and attracts some sexy hunks along the way. Unfortunately, Chaos is not far behind. Not only must she find a way to stay at the academy but now she must battle Chaos to save her new home, Hades Academy. This tale provides plenty of action, danger, adventure, mystery with a touch of romance and with its many turns and twist, I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. This book is definitely worth giving a read and I looked forward to reading more from this author.
I requested a free review copy of this book through StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.