Life at the academy just got… messy. I’ve always dreamed of getting into a top college, but after a stint in juvie, my school prospects went sideways fast. Now I work at a magic academy…as a janitor. Ironic, right? Okay, so maybe I get a kick out of secretly solving the arcane equations the professors leave on the board for the rich, entitled student wizards. I’m broke, not stupid. Except then I … broke, not stupid.
Except then I get caught by the hottest mage on campus…who ropes me into helping him and his three equally gorgeous friends win a decidedly screwed-up magic competition.
Easy enough, I think—until I start setting things on fire and getting chased by smoke-faced monsters and fighting side by side with four of the sexiest, most powerful wizards ever…and find myself—just maybe—falling in love…
With all of them.
Whoops.
Note: This is a medium burn, New Adult Why Choose paranormal academy romance, and book 1 of 4 in the Twyst Academy series.
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This series is f****ng awesome.
I love Maddigan and how she got her name is priceless.
Condor is simply the sweetest and i can’t wait for the next book to read her connection with number 2 of her harem Luke.
He’s going to be the biggest softy of them all I think.
Get ready for a terrific new mystical series….
The book starts with Madigan, 23, a smart girl in a bad situation trying to survive to get where she is going. For everyone with that feeling of not being understood and some times not even tolerated but deep down you know you are more, you will identify with Madigan.
Magic is all around her and she doesn’t even realize she is a part of it all.
Lots of cute, smart, intriguing boys, adults with secrets complicated relationships, and a mysterious challenge none of them truly understand.
An engaging and start for a new series. I can’t wait for the next one!
I enjoyed this introduction to this new series. It looks like it will be a lot of fun to continue reading the series.
I really liked her determination to make a better life for her. She has made mistakes but is working hard and not expecting any handouts.
When she is discovered to have magical abilities, everything changes. She is introduced to some very attractive men who all appeal to her. The Mage Trials adds a lot of adventure to the story as it tests their abilities.
It is a well written story that gets better and better and I am ready for the second book. I am looking forward to learning more about the characters and seeing the relationships grow.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Academy books have become the craze all across the literary landscape, and it’s been hard to come by anything new and exciting. But, I did! I mean, a janitor? LOL I love Maddigan, just love her. What a position to be put in. From cleaning up after them to working with them. Who? The elites of the Academy of course.
And who are the elites? A group of unlikely friends, bonded by magic, and personalities so different that the diversity alone is fun to watch. Take Connor. Heartthrob of the girls with his wholesome good looks, not to mention his self assured personality. He’s not just talented as a wizard, he’s also a sweetheart.
Then there’s Luke, our hulking, yet sweet-natured, protective wizard who isn’t lacking in the looks department either. But, scary as his size is, he’s a teddy bear when it comes to protecting those who he considers his.
And let’s not forget Marcus, upstanding, sure of himself, academic and magical genius, not to mention a bit aloof, which made getting to know him a little more difficult than the others. It’s hard to tell if he’s a nice guy or not, but he’s not a bad guy, just not likely to be the most affable in the bunch.
And, last but certainly not the least, Rafe Twyst. Yes, that Twyst. Now, here’s a typical silver spoon guy, hot when not frowning, and, of course, the best of the best of the wizards. And he knows it.
That’s our boys. No point in trying to separate them out, as they’re as much a bonded bunch as you can possibly get and what they can do as a group so outclasses what they can do individually that there’s no point in trying to separate them out. So, our boys, package deal, friends with one, friends with all.
Or so Maddigan found out. Our janitor, Maddigan. Cleaning up after these entitled kids for 6 years, finding out she can solve equations left on blackboards and using that as her favorite pastime whenever she can. What a character! While finding out things about herself that she was completely unaware of until now, she fights the belief that she’s anything special. All she wants from this world is a chance to go to a decent school, like Harvard or MIT. Boy, do her dreams get turned upside down!
DD Chance has created a crazy group of characters that are caught up in what they believe to be tests the school administer, and determined to win the final test, find they need Maddigan to help with their goals. But, they need her for so much more than that. And that’s where the fun begins.
Between the dangers at the school, and the dangers Maddigan faces on the streets, there is apparently good reason these wizards are being trained so hard. And those reasons are what draw you in and won’t let go. I can’t wait to see were it all leads in book 2! And it’s coming fast so I’m already going to pre-order that!
DD Chance, this was such a great beginning to a new and exciting Academy series. And I can tell it’s going to go much farther than just an Academy novel, so hang on tight and get ready for an amazing ride. What a first crack at this! I’m completely caught!
So Very Well Done, lovely lady! So Very Well Done indeed! Can’t wait for book 2, Blood of the Mage!
I received this as an ARC, and as such am giving this review in my own words and of my own volition. As always.
This series is awesome. It is not complete yet, but I am in love. The main character is relatable and likable. The world building is on point. I think everyone can relate to being underestimated or overlooked at some point. While the main character, Maddigan, is used to being overlooked and generally prefers it that way, it is heartwarming to get to know her beyond her predetermined station in life. The interplay and relationship development is well done. I definitely recommend this series for anyone looking for something different.
Book 1 in the Twyst Academy Series. If you are new to Jenn AKA D.D. Chance, jump in and enjoy!
A fun new Series to read that will leave you hanging on for more.
This is a fantastic first book for the new series. Maddi (Maddigan) is a janitor for Twyst Academy. A “magic” academy. She is working towards either Harvard or MIT and while she is cleaning she is also solving the metaphysical problems in various classrooms. Getting caught turns her world into something she never imagined. Maddi has been alone for a long time and now is forced to face the fact that she also has magic and is quite powerful. She teams up with a group of men that have bonded since their first year at the academy and while they are all very different, she finds herself attracted to all of them. I enjoyed reading this book and it definitely left me wanting the next. Definitely recommend
i liked this book, it’s the first in a series so there is of course some time focused on world building and characters, but it’s interesting.. i was a little on the fence about this since it’s hinted that the lead female is in love with 4 men, and that’s not really my thing, but in the book it turns out a little different.. i don’t know what the next books will be, but i hope it keeps with what the author started in this one.. one thing that i didn’t like is the “f word” being used quite a bit, maybe the next books will be less, but this is still a good start to the series and i can’t wait to see what happens to the team..
A Twysted tale to be sure. Discovery, knowledge, power, magic, camaraderie, jealousy and a touch of erotica woven into an haunting world. Tension starts and builds from beginning to end. This is not your magic high school but a place of higher learning with great characters, banter and by play throughout. Some very steamy scenes interwoven masterfully! I look forward to the next release.
I really enjoyed this new series from D.D. Chance. I have followed this particular author through several of her series, and have always enjoyed the stories that she brings to life.
In this story, we have a heroine who has been exposed to magic but believes she has none. She has always seen paranormal things, and even though she can’t explain it she has always had an explosive temper!
Maddigan is trying to find her place – she finally has a well-paying albeit menial job, she’s saving all her pennies to get her application to a prestigious college accepted, and she’s finally beginning to have some fun. What could possibly go wrong?
Ms Chance has crafted some wonderful characters, and is having fun with the reverse harem theme – even if Maddigan doesn’t know what is in store for her yet! This is a light hearted read with heat, so be aware that there is some saucy scenes ahead.
Great new world created, waiting for the next book to continue developing the characters and learning more. It will be interesting to see the final outcome. Quick read.
This book by DD Chance is a brilliant first book in a series that proves to be very promising. The characters re bold and so realistic that they could jump off the pages. The storyline is unique and this was simply a very good book. I’m looking forward to future installments in this series.
I was drawn into each of the characters immediately as I was introduced into the world of Tryst Academy. The Mage Trials our five mages are fighting to win has gone badly awry, is fraught with danger, mystery and threatens not only the academy but the “real world” in ways that were not believed possible. Much is at stake.
Maddigan Pierce, a janitor at the academy is discovered by one of the team of five male mage students to be a (rare) war mage with no awareness of her true identity or power. Each student attending the academy has specific magical talents that are in the process of developing into their true power. DD Chance has a true knack for creating a world of intrigue, mystery as well as layers to each character to whom we become attached. The characters grow as individuals, as well as, discovering their mage power right before our eyes. I can’t wait for the second installment in this series.
Touch of the Mage, by author D.D. Chance, is the first installment in a brand new series called Twyst Academy. What you should know: The protagonist of the series is 23-year old Maddigan Pierce. Maddie has been working for the Academy, a sort of Elite School of Magecraft, for 6 years as a janitorial services specialist. At night, she sneaks answers to difficult mage problems. At this school, you either pass, or you are washed out. There are no second chances. For years, Maddie has been trying hard to get into Harvard, or MIT, only to be rejected over and over again.
When Maddie is caught by one of the hottest guys in the Academy, Connor Warin, solving an extremely difficult metaphysical equation, she soon finds that her world has gotten much, much bigger. She meets Connor’s friends Luke Broadham, Marcus Winters, and Rafe Twyst who are equally hot. Including Connor, who she crushes on hard, she also finds out that she’s attracted to the other 3 as well. I stated that this reminds me of a reverse harem novel where the female has 4 hunky men in her orbit who she falls in love with. My point remains.
Maddie is something never seen outside of something called the Mage Trials which Connor and his friends are trying to win this year. She’s told that she’s a war mage which would explain previous issues she’s had with spontaneous combustion and seeing supernatural boogeyman as well as her past. Winning the trials gives the winners a boost to their abilities. With Maddie, who is incredibly powerful, on their side, there’s a chance that they can actually win this year. But, danger crops up in the form of a female bully, and a revelation that could thwart Team Mage Runners in their epic quest to win.
I voluntarily choose to read this book because I have read and reviewed the authors previous series. I think this story is a really good beginning to what I hope is an exciting foray in the world of the Mage Trials as well as Maddie learning about her abilities as well as learning how to protect herself from what is surely to come next. The most action in this story comes from the Mage Trials which is fantastic. I’m not usually a fan of reverse harem stories, but was surprised that the author chose to stick to one particular relationship and not have the protagonist jump from bed to bed to bed in order to satiate her hormones.
Recommendation: Yes, read the book! The sequel to Touch of the Mage, Blood of the Mage, is up on Amazon for pre-order if you are interested.
A very interesting book…a combination of Good Will Hunting, Harry Potter, and Hunger Games makes a wonderful read. I recommend it 100%.
Maddigan is witty,charming,and comical. Shes been dealt a rough hand but still perseveres. The four boys are easy for her to fall in love with and they ALL have such a great connection. I cant wait until book 2! To see what’s in store for them and the red team.
Welcome to Twyst Academy… enroll at your own risk!!!
“Touch of the Mage”, the first installment in the brand-new “Twyst Academy” checks all the boxes to become a new favourite. The story features Maddigan Pierce, a young girl with a tough past, abandoned almost at birth, gone through the system and stock at Twyst Academy working as janitor for the last six years. But do not let your preconceptions cloud your expectations. Maddigan is a very unusual janitor, using her job for two purposes, first and foremost to spare enough money to go into MIT (yeap, she is so bright) and secondly to get some extracurricular education, as Twyst Academy is in fact a school for Magicians, that graduate by participating in the Mage Trials. Interested? As you should be, the book has everything you want in a good UF story: a heroine you love at first sight, four very handsome boys and a couple of twists that keep you wondering… “what’s next?”
There is adventure in spades, romance, very carefully done steamy moments, and above all very good drafted characters. Maddigan is a young woman with rough angles, cynicism is just “survival mode”, and very soft moments, and witnessing her inner dialog is everything. The four boys have very distinct personalities, this first book focuses on Connor, but Rafe, Luke and Marcus will get your attention nevertheless. I’m already looking forward to getting to know Luke a little better in the next book
The book is very well written, the story interesting, the setting unusual, the characters likeable, with funny moments, a veritable must read!