“The Umbrella Academy meets the Hunger Games in this bold twist on a classic magical young adult adventure.” Jaymin Eve, Bestselling Author of Supernatural Academy You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You. I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already… Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a … man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.
In an invitation.
My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive.
If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed.
It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died.
The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another.
I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother’s place.
Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What’s a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? That’s right—beat the academy at its own game.
Or die trying.
Shadowspell Academy Book 1 and Shadowspell Academy Book 2 end with a cliffhanger
Book 2 will release May 14, 2019
Book 3 will release June 11, 2019
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Great start of a new series!!!
Love Wild, the FMC, she is strong, determined, fierce and she will do antyhing for her family, no matter the cost!!!… She is thrown, under a fake identity, into a magical world she didn’t know about, to race in the trials, along a bunch of others kids with strange abilities, whom soon became her teammates and, together, they face dangerous challenges all the way up till the finished line… Will she be able to keep her secret from her friends?, will they survive the next trial??? … Great world building, amazing story line, wonderful characters, magic, action – packed, you will keep reading till the last page!!!
A friend recommended this book to me and I’m so glad they did! As a huge Y.A. reader, this first book in the Shadowspell Academy is a definite page-turner. I read the first book so fast that I went straight into the second book in the series without missing a beat.
It’s Harry Potter meets The Maze Runner with a splash of True Blood. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for a world to escape into for a few moments, you’ll love this series.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a short read but definitely worth it. It flowed well and you couldn’t tell that it was written by dual authors. The characters were great and I’m anxious to see what they all bring to the table. Great start to what could be an amazing series. I look forward to more from these brilliant ladies!
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading book 2.
I bought this expecting a novel. I got a novel. The story is great, characters are amazing and intriuging, but just as the story really picked up and sucked me in, the book ended. The next two are even shorter and they’re overcharging for those too. It’s frustrating.
3.5 Stars. If you rolled Harry Potter, Divergent and Hunger Games into one series, it’d be very close to Shadowspell Academy. It drew me in right away with lots of action and I am really interested to see how it all pans out in the next 2 books. I loved the comedic relief from Wally and enjoyed Wild’s character. I do wish Wild was slightly less perfect, but at least she knows her stuff! I also wish there had been some romance, but I know that’s to come with the next books. My biggest complaint is that it was so incredibly short, so I’m glad there’s not a long wait for the next in the series.
A mysterious man. A mysterious invitation. It’s happened before and it’s happening again. The first time, it took Wild’s older brother away. Now…they are coming for Wild’s younger brother, Billy. Wild makes a snap decision to take his place and to take on the challenges that lay ahead for herself. But honestly…it’s not like she has a choice. The “invitation” was clear…come…or the entire family dies.
Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials is book one in Shannon Mayer and K.F. Breene’s series. This story, for me, has a bit of slow start. I was probably too busy trying to figure out the specifics…what is the world like? What has happened? How much has changed? But while the story does start out slowly it does begin to pick up speed and becomes truly engaging. Wild is in for some serious trials ahead of her and it’s not going to be easy! She’s pretending to be a boy and for those who have read stories with similar situations, we all know how THAT goes. I applaud Wild for her resilience and fortitude. I love how she handles things. The variety of characters that the author gives us is well done.
There is not much that I don’t like about this story. The only complaint I might have would be that I didn’t quite know the situation of the world for this series. Other than that…if you don’t like insane cliffhangers…settle in! LOL! Because this book throws one right at you. My jaw literally dropped.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more about Wild and her friends. I already know that the next book is really going to start off with a bang!
Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials is the first book in a trilogy and I recommend this fantastic read.
Meet Wild. She’s a young woman and to prevent her brother from being sucked into a dark world, she takes his place. She’s up for the adventure of a lifetime and I was her companion on her breathtaking journey.
Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials is a excellent written pageturner that kept me on the edge of my seat from start til the end. I greatly enjoyed the beautiful story and the characters I easily could connect with. It’s a fast paced emotional read, ends in a major cliffie and I really can’t wait for the next installment in this fantastic trilogy. I highly recommend this book and give 5+ stars.
Shadowspell Academy is amazing.. written by 2 awesome authors .. this book will have you at the edge of your seats and is a serious page turner. The main character is Wind… She has skills like no other.. but she has a secret…
In this story you find courageous characters and pleanty of action as the characters go through there paces..
If you want to find what the secret is… You need to read the book.. I did and loved it..
This book right away was different than other Academy books I’ve read. She’s going in blind and as someone else! Also, the getting there is half the journey and a fun deviation from the norm. Once there, Shannon and KF continue to make you giggle and gasp, begging for more!
Wow, was this story fantastic. I stayed up until 5 am just so I could finish it. Fast paced, well written with unique and interesting characters. Honey Badger shifter, oh my god, I cackled. The book is so cleverly written and I could see Shannon and K.F. humor throughout the book. I really loved this one and hope they continue with this world after the first three books are released.
This book was amazing from the first page! It is a book anyone can read from teens to adults, both male and female. I love both author’s books individually but together they’re an amazing team! You won’t regret taking the time to read this!
Wow!! This book was amazing! I loved how the story kept me on my toes and wanting to just keep reading. I can’t wait for more!
Shadowspell Academy is an interesting twist on an academy. Wild works on her family farm and never expected that in a blink of an eye, she would take her brother’s place in the Culling Trials. All the information she has to go on lies with her Dad and the mysterious envelope that appears on her kitchen table.
Wild ends up with an unlikely group, one who sounds like Walter Cronkite and is good with numbers, and then there is Freckles.
The storyline in amazingly thought out with unique characters. I love Wild’s personality and her guts. Excellent way to start a new series. You just want to keep reading so you know how book ends and who else Wild will pick up on her way through each trail.
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.
Really enjoyed this book. I loved all the farm slang, really brings out the farm girl in me. Love Wilds character so much and the truck maneuvering was just awesome. Shes so sassy and cant wait for more
2 of my favorite authors work together and truly prove magic is out there! Hard to even tell where one author ends and the other picks up.
Life in Texas is a bit slow, as the characters and the world are building, but once Wild leaves no where Texas it’s a whirlwind of a ride! You follow Wild as she decides the best way to save her family from a ,ay e deadly set of trials to get into a magical college is to go in place of her younger more naive brother. Yes that means she’s got to crop her hair and dress like a boy…and keep the disguise up while fighting for her life in a world where she feels vastly inept! She bands a group of misfit magical together to rush the first trial and prove they are meant to be there too
The book ends on such a cliffhanger I am SO glad I only have to wait a month for the next boo
I LOVED this book. What an awesome collaboration between two great authors. I can’t wait for the second book to come out! I have already got it pre-ordered!!
An exciting story from start to finish. Our girl ‘Wild’ is rough and tough, but protecting her family and friends is a high priority. So she pretends to be her younger brother Billy when he’s recruited to attend Shadowspell Academy. Wild and teens from all over the country are taken to the Academy where they must overcome some grueling and deadly physical tests to win a coveted spot. This is the first book in the series and it starts off with a bang making you long for more. Kudos to K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer on a great collaberation.
Leslie Frohberg
I absolutely loved this book! So disappointed it’s over already! I can’t wait for the next one…seriously can’t wait. Boobies… bahaha I loved this. Sideburns is a favorite character as is Wild and Orin!