So much for the ball. Cendrilla has more pressing issues now.
When Cendrilla rescues the Crown Prince from abduction by trolls, she thinks taking up his invitation to the prestigious Anti-Magic Army Academy will be the perfect way to escape her betrothal to serial wife-killer, Lord Bluebeard. All she needs to do is pass her exams and wait until she’s old enough to buy her freedom. This seems … she’s old enough to buy her freedom. This seems like a simple task ,but there are several spiteful individuals determined to stand in the way of her freedom.
Worse still, Cendrilla is coming to terms with her burgeoning magical powers that if discovered, could get her executed. Needless to say, she’s very afraid.
And when a not-so-secret assassin makes Cendrilla their target, she finds herself failing the Academy and falling back into Lord Bluebeard’s clutches.
This fast-paced tale will have you hooked, as it hurtles around each twist and turn in a curious backdrop of vindictive Princesses, cunning beasts and one very handsome Prince.
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Be enchanted with fairy tales in the fantasy book “The Academy”, the second in the Perrault Chronicles, by Cordelia Castel. Your inner child will be screaming with delight!
From the first page, the fairy tales appear to come alive on the pages. As with all the “Perrault Chronicles” many fairy tales are weaved together with the focus still remaining focused on our lead lady, Cendrilla (Rilla). In “The Academy” Rilla’s journey brings her to face many evils straight on, in the never ending struggle for her independence and to be free from Lord Bluebeard and his pursuit to make her his wife. In the first series “Cendrilla”, Lord Bluebeard paid the weight of Cendrilla in gold to her step-family, and now with her escaping him on many occasions, makes Lord Bluebeard more angry and set on having Rilla as his new bride. A reprieve from running seems in sight, when the Crown Prince, after Rilla bravely saved him, offers her a place in “The Academy”. This is a distinguished place where the highly skilled fighters of the realm are trained to battle against all magic in the land. Plus it seems Rilla has no choice but to begin training. However, the honorable position in The Academy doesn’t come without risks, as the one big secret she is hiding, her new ability, that helped her save the Crown Prince, can’t be called upon. Nor can her secret weapon from the past. (Sorry no Spoilers!). It seems where ever Rilla’s journey takes her, new dangers arise. Now with Crown Prince’s public declaration as Rilla as his savior, and the realm’s new and inspiring savior against evil, Rilla is no longer able to hide in the shadows. She must now faces some even harder trials. Rilla is left at a cross road. Will she successfully graduate through The Academy on her skills without her new ability? And what happens if she doesn’t? What will be her fate? And with Lord Bluebeard always stalking her, what can she do to escape his evil clutches? Questions that will leave readers on the edge of their seat in anticipation, hoping that Rilla gets a chance to find a happy ending.
The stage of excitement is set from the very beginning! The front cover, portrays a more mature Cendrilla, in a captivating and clearly more distinguished pink ball gown, looking down. Already there is a glimpse of Rilla that the journey ahead is fraught with many challenges that seem to take away her former innocence and brightness. The title “The Academy” captures the focus of the second installment. Beautifully embossed in captured in gold and adorned by a gorgeous edging, really makes the series cover stand out. All combined, the cover page is very alluring and really does capture the essence of the book.
Cordelia Castel has true gift with writing that makes characters and their stories come alive. In this 2nd installment of “The Perrault Chronicles” she doesn’t disappoint,. As the plot continues to develop, so does the lead character of Rilla. Even though her journey seems to be full of treachery, Rilla still stands up for herself, and continues to fight for her independence. Ambition and wanting to make her own choice, make Rilla easy to invest in. It’s her imperfections that will have you crying, screaming and laughing hysterically.
The narrative being solely the voice of Rilla makes the story of her journey build with anticipation. The one character narrative suits this story and adds more depth to both character and plot. While other important characters appear on her journey, we get to see them through the eyes of Rilla, learning about how she perceives them and how they impact her. This narrative also allows for the suspense to build nicely and the adventures to seamlessly flow together. Overall the perfect choice for this series.
“The Academy” alike “Cendrilla” may be based on the fairy tale of Cinderella, and apart from some basic elements, such as Rilla’s step-family, the story is very different. Cordelia Castel’s creative and imaginative writing breathes light into many fairy tale classics, cleverly blending them to make it seem that the stories are all happening at once. The length of this installment allows the story to be told with added description and attention to the finer details. The plot filled with magic and mayhem makes the fantasy of a new realm more appealing and a great fictional place to escape to.
With all elements combined, the “The Perrault Chronicles” is a series that will resonate with readers far beyond the final page.
Without any doubt, “The Academy” is another 5-star excellent read by Cordelia Castel. I recommend this book for readers of any age who love the magic of fairy tales and fantasy. To get the most out of the series, and to be truly captivated Rilla’s journey, it is best to read the series in order. The cliff-hanging ending in “The Academy” paves the way for a third installment to the series. I can’t wait to see where Cordelia Castel’s imagination will next take me. I wait with anticipation to find out the next stage for Rilla, and if she will ever find her prince charming or her own happily ever after!The Academy (Perrault Chronicles Book 2)
Another superb book in the Cendrilla Perrault series! I had so much fun reading this that the real world around me completely vanished and I was a part of The Seven Kingdoms!
The second book in the series is even better than the first. I love the growth in Rilla. I’m not sure about the redemption of Blubeard, but I am intrigued to see what this character does next. Book three, here I come!
“I am here to confirm that she saved my life and that I am indebted to her. In fact, we all are. She rescued me not knowing my true identity.” Prince Armin turned to the public gallery. “It could have been any of you. Such a brave and kind-hearted individual should be treated with respect.”
Cendrilla is on her way to the Academy to learn how to be part of the Anti Magic Army- and with Prince Armin’s help, hopefully not have to marry Bluebeard. However, the personalities and idiosyncrasies of her fellow classmates are enough to drive her away. If it wasn’t for Bluebeard, I believe she would have gone home and taken her chances with Mother and the twins.
She works harder than she thought she could, turning lemons into lemonade when things start piling up against her, mostly to her detriment. When at last she feels she might actually finish, the Universe seems to be really working against her. What will happen next?….
This series is so good, I can’t stand it when I finish a book, and can hardly wait for the next one. Highly recommended 5/5
(I received this book as a gift from the author and chose to voluntarily review it)
I loved this book! It really held my attention to the very end and I still want more. This is a great story