Welcome to Second Breath Academy, where blood is magic, murder is rampant, and the teachers are unfairly cute. All necromancer-in-training Kati wants is to learn how to cast a death magic spell, keep her head down, and get through her first term without anything out of the ordinary happening. Last year, a student was murdered in the woods behind the academy, but this year is going to be … going to be different.
But then SBA’s groundskeeper turns up dead, covered in black magic runes. And thanks to her brother’s reputation as the new dark lord, Kati becomes suspect number one. Even the staff think she’s a killer.
At least there’s the sweet, handsome guy who sees Kati as more than a dangerous black magician. The bad news is he’s off limits, and any relationship with him is a hundred percent forbidden. Because he’s her death magic teacher. And if anyone finds out, they could both be kicked out.
Second Breath Academy takes place in a university-age academy for necromancers and reapers, full of magic, mystery, and romance. SBA is SLOW BURN RH and builds with each book. This is a full-length novel at 71,000 words. All characters are adults. The series will contain F/M and F/F romance, plus a teacher/student romance.
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How To Raise The Dead: A Necromancer Academy Romance (Second Breath Academy Book 1) by Leigh Kelsey is an amazing story to read. This is book number one in this amazing start to a brand new series for me to read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about mystery, magic and romnce.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I could not put this book down. This is a very enjoy read that once you start reading you are going to be hooked on it. The story is awesome and will grab you from the moment that you start reading. It moves along at a great pace which is the perfect reading speed. It has a continuous flow to it which makes it move along really great. The characters are great and you feel as though you know them personally and no matter what you want to see them succeed.
This book is a must read. You need to add to your TBR list there is no doubt about it.
Fascinating story of necromancers and reapers I really enjoyed. I love supernatural reads and this defiantly didn’t disappoint, something different and I loved the characters and can’t wait for more and to end it how it did ! Ahhh ! It explained and then you are questioning a lot more ! Can’t wait until the next book comes out
I really enjoyed this new series by Leigh. It’s a slow burn RH but has all the build up you’d want. The characters each have a complexity to them that draws you in. The storyline builds and builds and by the end of the book you’ll be salivating for more. The world is full of suspense and excitement and the perfect blend of romance and mystery. Leigh doesn’t disappoint in this new series!
I found this book to be a new favorite. The mc is badass. There is a mystery to be solved. It’s a must read
Amazing start of a new series
OMG this book has it all: great world building and stroy line, amazing FMC, unconditional new BFF, hot teacher, magic and unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on edge!!! … Kati grows so much during all these trials, finding trust and real friendship, along with some allies and a new romance, in spite of the dark cloud that hangs over her head, she’s not alone in her fight against evil!!!! … Can’t wait for the next book, need to know who’s really behind all of these attacks and their final goal!!!
This story was great! Kati, reeling from the wake of what her brother had done, decided to go ahead and attend SBA. She knew it would be awful and she knew she would be hated. What she didn’t know, was that she would find unlikely allies.
There were many twists and turns in this book and the more Kati learned, the harder it was for her. Murders, mysterious dreams, you name it, it happened.
Kati’s character really grew throughout this book. She arrived at SBA shutoff from the world. It took her a while, but soon she learned she could count on a few people at SBA to have her back.
This story was well written and flowed perfectly. It does end in a cliffhanger, but it is so worth it!
This book was great it had a great story line, characters , bullies, and evil to fight against. It was well written and really didn’t expect this but loved it. It hooked me from the beginning, I can’t wait to read book 2!!
How to Raise the Dead: Second Breath Academy
by Leigh Kelsey
TLDR: A solid start to a story-driven, slow-burn romance academy series (with some bullying). The romance comes second to the story, though by no means absent. Characters are solid and developing as the story progresses; the overarching circumstances and people’s reactions to those circumstances are believable. I recommend this book.
ARC: I received a free Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: September 28th, 2019
Technical stuff: There is some bullying and violence which may be triggering for some, although the bullying is not by the romantic interests. There is also a “taboo”-ish relationship that develops between a student and professor. (It is clear that there is no expressly written rule being broken by this relationship, and that both parties are of age.) If these bother you, then perhaps this isn’t the book for you.
This story is a paranormal, story-driven reverse-harem romance in an Academy setting (with some bullying). The story is told in third person by Katriona (Kati) Wilson, the Female Main Character (FMC). There is a cliff-hanger ending in the overarching storyline, with several “loose ends” needing to be resolved in future books.
Backstory: We know from the first chapter that Kati has been subjected to a media circus. The apparent black magic rite where one person died, one committed suicide, and the third, the FMC’s brother who went on the run, brought about the media frenzy. (There is a solid distinction made between reaper and necromancer magic, and black magic.)
Opinions and overview of story (with minimal/no spoilers):
Kati, pondering a prophesy which might or might not involve her, finds herself both an outcast and acquiring 2 friends-whether she wants them or not-upon arriving at Second Breath Academy.
“Making friends was not part of her plan, but what the souls? It wasn’t like it could get much worse.
It got worse.”
Expect to “feel all the feels” while reading this book. The personal challenges and emotional responses of the characters (including the bullies) are not only plausible, but believable and feel authentic. I laughed, smiled, was outraged, sat on the edge of my seat with my heart racing, and even shed a few tears. I definitely enjoyed the story and the developing relationships between the characters, whether Kati’s brother, friends, enemies, professors, or headmaster.
If your looking for a High-Burn RH book then this is not for you but if your looking for a Slow-Burn, Witty, Brilliant story then read this. You wont be disappointed. Kati (MFC) has just started at The Second Breath Academy for Necromancers and Reapers. A place she has just been dreaming about attending since she was a kid. That was until her brother Theo was accused of Murder and of being a Dark Lord. So in some folks eyes they see her as guilty by association especially when dead bodies start turning up and the fingers are pointing to her. This book is not all doom and gloom though there’s plenty of laughs too. What with food that tastes the opposite of what its meant to be, talking chairs and sarcastic pugs its a great read. Bring on book 2