COMPLETELY CAPTIVATING!!!
Title: The Test
Series: The Secret of Spellshadow Manor
Author: Bella Forrest
Designation: Part 6 of 6 Book Series, Full-Length Novel (Approx 400 pages), NOT A Standalone, NO Cliffhanger
My Rating: Five Spellbinding Stars*****
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Bella Forrest rocked my world AGAIN with The Spell, the sixth & final release in her captivating new magical fantasy series, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor! And great balls of fire, it just gets better and better! The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is a beautifully written young adult saga unlike any I’ve ever read. If you loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is definitely for you. Quite simply, it’s an irresistibly delicious all-you-can-eat buffet of magic, fantasy, action, adventure, mystery, danger, suspense, angst, & blossoming coming of age romance. But never fear, my friends, it’s also a deliciously tasty treat for us older adults who remain young at heart! The story is well crafted, imaginative, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, suspenseful, sweet, romantic & at times, also dark and mysterious. Whew, what a mouthful, but these are only a few of the words that come to mind after reading The Secret of Spellshadow Manor. The narrative is exceptionally well written in the third person with a primary perspective from seventeen-year-old high school senior Alex Webber of Middledale, Iowa. The dialogue is smart, well executed & flows effortlessly. Although the premise and storyline for this series are beyond intriguing, & the vividly depicted world of Spellshadow Manor is nothing short of extraordinary, it’s truly the cast of complex characters that truly steals the show. They are well developed, fascinating, engaging, endearing, & most importantly, memorable. They literally explode from the pages, grab your imagination, capture your heart and hold you completely enthralled from beginning to end. Forrest skillfully combines every single one of these elements to craft a beautifully written coming of age fantasy filled to the brim with magic, danger, action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, magic, loyalty, & heartbreak, lies, deceit, secrets, angst, young love, & plot twists that will blow your mind.
Book One:
Unlike his friends, seventeen-year-old Middledale, Iowa high school senior Alex Webber spends all his free time learning to write computer code and building websites. He’s becoming quite the young entrepreneur. Unfortunately, his efforts are born from necessity rather than pleasure. Since Alex’s mother was diagnosed with a debilitating long-term illness leaving her unable to work, he desperately needs to earn enough money to supplement their meager monthly income. Hosting a foreign exchange student was supposed to be just another way to add much-needed funds to their dwindling monthly budget… until Alex meets the student…a lovely young seventeen-year-old female student from France named Natalie Chevalier. Oh my! What normal red-blooded seventeen-year-old young man wouldn’t appreciate the beauty of a charming French girl, right? When the two teenagers meet, they instantly become fast friends with each looking forward to the upcoming new school year. They’re just a couple of normal teenagers who want to enjoy their senior year, right? Hmm… But Alex and Natalie may not be quite so normal after all. What happens when these two seemingly unremarkable young people, brought together by fate, realize they may not be as ordinary as they thought? In fact, they may be quite extraordinary. After seeing a strange and very frightening ghostly figure following Natalie, which apparently one no one else could see, Alex is faced with a life-altering decision that may interrupt his well-laid plans and change his life forever. But there is only one choice for the pragmatic yet sensitive young Alex – no matter the risk, he must protect his new friend Natalie. But at what cost?
The Breaker: Book 2
It’s been several months since Natalie was abducted by the ghostly phantom known as Finder, and Alex was mistaken to also be a new recruit for the magical school located within the walls of Spellshadow Manor. No matter their efforts, Alex and Natalie find themselves still imprisoned behind the ivy-covered walls of the mysterious manor. There’s only one little problem and it gets worse with each passing day. Unlike the other students at the school, including Natalie, Alex has no magical ability at all. In fact, his problem is just the opposite. Alex discovers he is a Spellbreaker and possesses an inherited genetic trait enabling him to wield a power called anti-magic, an anomalous force which counteracts magic when used correctly. But according to the limited information available, it appears Alex may be the sole surviving Spellbreaker. And why is he the last? Because the other spellbreakers have been hunted to extinction and destroyed by Finder and his predecessors, which means his unnatural new ability is very dangerous to his continued well-being at Spellshadow Manor and must be kept a secret. Of course, we all know seventeen-year-olds are never good at keeping secrets, especially not when he needs the help of his friends Natalie, Aamir, and Jari to cover for his lack of magic. Unfortunately, Aamir may no longer be an ally. Alex’s friend and former roommate, Aamir Nagi, is now Professor Nagi. To avoid the impending questionable fate of ‘graduation’, two weeks ago Aamir challenged and defeated the now missing Professor Derhin in a magical duel. Alex and his friends had hoped this would give them an advantage, possibly helping them to escape, but by all outward appearances, Aamir now seems to be controlled by a magical golden band placed around his wrist by the headmaster of the school, The Head. Yup, you read that correctly; the headmaster is named The Head and he is one scary dude! Nothing is as it seems but Alex is still determined to rescue Natalie and orchestrate their escape. Join our brave, young heroes as they continue their perilous adventure where they must learn to navigate the ever-changing hallways of the mysterious, magical, and very dangerous new world of Spellshadow Manor, where nothing is as it seems, and where one mistake could cost them their lives. For lurking in the shadows at every twist and turn, Alex discovers even more treacherous forces, laden with dark magic and murky secrets, all waiting to make an appearance. But are they friend or foe? We’ll see!
The Chain: Book 3
After almost a year of continuing the ruse as a student at Spellshadow Manor, Alex orchestrates a daring escape, unexpectedly aided by a student uprising, two of his professors, and crucial information from the strange, shadowy Elias. Our brave, young heroes travel through a magical portal in search of safe haven, but rather than the human world, they find themselves at Stillwater House, another school for magical students, which at first glance appears to be the antithesis of Spellshadow. But appearances can be deceiving and all is not what it seems. In his search for a way home to his mother and a normal teenage life, Alex finds only dark secrets leading to more questions about his abilities and heritage. With new enemies and perilous danger at every turn, Alex desperately attempts to protect his friends, but the cost is high – maybe too high. This time, the price may be his life. Not all will survive. Who will live and who will die?
The Keep: Book 4
Tricked into revealing his true identity and developing powers by Princess Alypia, Alex and his friends risk everything in another desperate escape which lands them at yet another magical haven, but there’s nothing safe about Keepstone Keep. Thankfully, they find two familiar faces who agree to help them. Alex learns more about his origins and his powers but with Alypia hot on their heels, time is of the essence and sadly, his heroic efforts may not be enough to keep them all alive. As more dark secrets are revealed, Alex meets an unexpected ally and is finally given the answers he’s sought his entire life. But is it too little too late? Will he and his friends ever find a way back home?
The Test: Book 5
After another devastating betrayal, Alex is nearly killed by Caius. Now separated from his friends and stranded at Kingstone, a desperate Alex embarks on an impossible mission of finding a way to reunite with Professor Lintz, Aamir, and Ellebelle, who traveled through the portal to Falleaf House. When all seems lost, fate once again favors our young hero with another new friend, a legendary Thunderbird possessing a strange intelligence along with the ability to travel between realms without a portal. But soon after his reunion with his friends at Falleaf, Alex receives more disappointing news. To gain access to the spell in the Book of Jupiter that will banish The Great Evil, he and his three friends must first pass a test consisting of twelve tasks, all of which must be completed successfully. Great sacrifice will be required and all rules must be adhered to strictly. But only the worthy will succeed. Failure means death for our motley crew! Oh my! Only the penitent man shall pass! Just a little Indiana Jones humor to lighten the mood! lol… Will Alex and his friends find themselves worthy? Who will live and who will die? We’ll see!
The Test: Book 6
Alex is now in possession of the Book of Jupiter but discovers only three attempts are allowed to perform the spell. To save his friends and the remaining survivors who have been captured by King Julius, our young hero must make the ultimate sacrifice to complete the spell that will banish The Great Evil once and for all. Will Alex succeed or will his efforts result only in his own death? We’ll see! All will be revealed in the riveting conclusion to The Secret of Spellshadow Manor.
By bellaforrest
COMPLETELY CAPTIVATING!!!
Title: The Test
Series: The Secret of Spellshadow Manor
Author: Bella Forrest
Designation: Part 6 of 6 Book Series, Full-Length Novel (Approx 400 pages), NOT A Standalone, NO Cliffhanger
My Rating: Five Spellbinding Stars*****
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Bella Forrest rocked my world AGAIN with The Spell, the sixth & final release in her captivating new magical fantasy series, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor! And great balls of fire, it just gets better and better! The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is a beautifully written young adult saga unlike any I’ve ever read. If you loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Secret of Spellshadow Manor is definitely for you. Quite simply, it’s an irresistibly delicious all-you-can-eat buffet of magic, fantasy, action, adventure, mystery, danger, suspense, angst, & blossoming coming of age romance. But never fear, my friends, it’s also a deliciously tasty treat for us older adults who remain young at heart! The story is well crafted, imaginative, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, suspenseful, sweet, romantic & at times, also dark and mysterious. Whew, what a mouthful, but these are only a few of the words that come to mind after reading The Secret of Spellshadow Manor. The narrative is exceptionally well written in the third person with a primary perspective from seventeen-year-old high school senior Alex Webber of Middledale, Iowa. The dialogue is smart, well executed & flows effortlessly. Although the premise and storyline for this series are beyond intriguing, & the vividly depicted world of Spellshadow Manor is nothing short of extraordinary, it’s truly the cast of complex characters that truly steals the show. They are well developed, fascinating, engaging, endearing, & most importantly, memorable. They literally explode from the pages, grab your imagination, capture your heart and hold you completely enthralled from beginning to end. Forrest skillfully combines every single one of these elements to craft a beautifully written coming of age fantasy filled to the brim with magic, danger, action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, magic, loyalty, & heartbreak, lies, deceit, secrets, angst, young love, & plot twists that will blow your mind.
Book One:
Unlike his friends, seventeen-year-old Middledale, Iowa high school senior Alex Webber spends all his free time learning to write computer code and building websites. He’s becoming quite the young entrepreneur. Unfortunately, his efforts are born from necessity rather than pleasure. Since Alex’s mother was diagnosed with a debilitating long-term illness leaving her unable to work, he desperately needs to earn enough money to supplement their meager monthly income. Hosting a foreign exchange student was supposed to be just another way to add much-needed funds to their dwindling monthly budget… until Alex meets the student…a lovely young seventeen-year-old female student from France named Natalie Chevalier. Oh my! What normal red-blooded seventeen-year-old young man wouldn’t appreciate the beauty of a charming French girl, right? When the two teenagers meet, they instantly become fast friends with each looking forward to the upcoming new school year. They’re just a couple of normal teenagers who want to enjoy their senior year, right? Hmm… But Alex and Natalie may not be quite so normal after all. What happens when these two seemingly unremarkable young people, brought together by fate, realize they may not be as ordinary as they thought? In fact, they may be quite extraordinary. After seeing a strange and very frightening ghostly figure following Natalie, which apparently one no one else could see, Alex is faced with a life-altering decision that may interrupt his well-laid plans and change his life forever. But there is only one choice for the pragmatic yet sensitive young Alex – no matter the risk, he must protect his new friend Natalie. But at what cost?
The Breaker: Book 2
It’s been several months since Natalie was abducted by the ghostly phantom known as Finder, and Alex was mistaken to also be a new recruit for the magical school located within the walls of Spellshadow Manor. No matter their efforts, Alex and Natalie find themselves still imprisoned behind the ivy-covered walls of the mysterious manor. There’s only one little problem and it gets worse with each passing day. Unlike the other students at the school, including Natalie, Alex has no magical ability at all. In fact, his problem is just the opposite. Alex discovers he is a Spellbreaker and possesses an inherited genetic trait enabling him to wield a power called anti-magic, an anomalous force which counteracts magic when used correctly. But according to the limited information available, it appears Alex may be the sole surviving Spellbreaker. And why is he the last? Because the other spellbreakers have been hunted to extinction and destroyed by Finder and his predecessors, which means his unnatural new ability is very dangerous to his continued well-being at Spellshadow Manor and must be kept a secret. Of course, we all know seventeen-year-olds are never good at keeping secrets, especially not when he needs the help of his friends Natalie, Aamir, and Jari to cover for his lack of magic. Unfortunately, Aamir may no longer be an ally. Alex’s friend and former roommate, Aamir Nagi, is now Professor Nagi. To avoid the impending questionable fate of ‘graduation’, two weeks ago Aamir challenged and defeated the now missing Professor Derhin in a magical duel. Alex and his friends had hoped this would give them an advantage, possibly helping them to escape, but by all outward appearances, Aamir now seems to be controlled by a magical golden band placed around his wrist by the headmaster of the school, The Head. Yup, you read that correctly; the headmaster is named The Head and he is one scary dude! Nothing is as it seems but Alex is still determined to rescue Natalie and orchestrate their escape. Join our brave, young heroes as they continue their perilous adventure where they must learn to navigate the ever-changing hallways of the mysterious, magical, and very dangerous new world of Spellshadow Manor, where nothing is as it seems, and where one mistake could cost them their lives. For lurking in the shadows at every twist and turn, Alex discovers even more treacherous forces, laden with dark magic and murky secrets, all waiting to make an appearance. But are they friend or foe? We’ll see!
The Chain: Book 3
After almost a year of continuing the ruse as a student at Spellshadow Manor, Alex orchestrates a daring escape, unexpectedly aided by a student uprising, two of his professors, and crucial information from the strange, shadowy Elias. Our brave, young heroes travel through a magical portal in search of safe haven, but rather than the human world, they find themselves at Stillwater House, another school for magical students, which at first glance appears to be the antithesis of Spellshadow. But appearances can be deceiving and all is not what it seems. In his search for a way home to his mother and a normal teenage life, Alex finds only dark secrets leading to more questions about his abilities and heritage. With new enemies and perilous danger at every turn, Alex desperately attempts to protect his friends, but the cost is high – maybe too high. This time, the price may be his life. Not all will survive. Who will live and who will die?
The Keep: Book 4
Tricked into revealing his true identity and developing powers by Princess Alypia, Alex and his friends risk everything in another desperate escape which lands them at yet another magical haven, but there’s nothing safe about Keepstone Keep. Thankfully, they find two familiar faces who agree to help them. Alex learns more about his origins and his powers but with Alypia hot on their heels, time is of the essence and sadly, his heroic efforts may not be enough to keep them all alive. As more dark secrets are revealed, Alex meets an unexpected ally and is finally given the answers he’s sought his entire life. But is it too little too late? Will he and his friends ever find a way back home?
The Test: Book 5
After another devastating betrayal, Alex is nearly killed by Caius. Now separated from his friends and stranded at Kingstone, a desperate Alex embarks on an impossible mission of finding a way to reunite with Professor Lintz, Aamir, and Ellebelle, who traveled through the portal to Falleaf House. When all seems lost, fate once again favors our young hero with another new friend, a legendary Thunderbird possessing a strange intelligence along with the ability to travel between realms without a portal. But soon after his reunion with his friends at Falleaf, Alex receives more disappointing news. To gain access to the spell in the Book of Jupiter that will banish The Great Evil, he and his three friends must first pass a test consisting of twelve tasks, all of which must be completed successfully. Great sacrifice will be required and all rules must be adhered to strictly. But only the worthy will succeed. Failure means death for our motley crew! Oh my! Only the penitent man shall pass! Just a little Indiana Jones humor to lighten the mood! lol… Will Alex and his friends find themselves worthy? Who will live and who will die? We’ll see!
The Test: Book 6
Alex is now in possession of the Book of Jupiter but discovers only three attempts are allowed to perform the spell. To save his friends and the remaining survivors who have been captured by King Julius, our young hero must make the ultimate sacrifice to complete the spell that will banish The Great Evil once and for all. Will Alex succeed or will his efforts result only in his own death? We’ll see! All will be revealed in the riveting conclusion to The Secret of Spellshadow Manor.