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mbethel24's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
allyreadsromance's review
4.0
Action Filled Demon Academy with a Steamy Reverse Harem
I’m rather new to the Academy and Reverse Harem tropes but I really enjoyed this one! I couldn’t get over the emotions and problems each new student (aka mostly newly turned demons) faced and I liked how “her guys” struggled and some are still struggling with the bond and refuse to give in! The moments when one of the guys lets her in or when they all have moments of need and protection it is oh so steam
I’m rather new to the Academy and Reverse Harem tropes but I really enjoyed this one! I couldn’t get over the emotions and problems each new student (aka mostly newly turned demons) faced and I liked how “her guys” struggled and some are still struggling with the bond and refuse to give in! The moments when one of the guys lets her in or when they all have moments of need and protection it is oh so steam
chelsea2020's review
1.0
There was a lot to really dislike about this book, but probably the most infuriating part about it was the fact that probably 95% of the character and plot development happened OFF-page. FAR too much off-page plot and character development with absolutely NO explanation or insight for the readers ON the page. The relationships between Piper and her men happened almost entirely off-page, which left the readers questioning whether they’d missed a chapter or more explaining how they suddenly became such a close-knit unit, and also how their abilities developed at such astronomical rates. One second Piper was dying from lack of sexual activity, and the next she was shifting into whole-ass other people and beings with NO suspicion or surprise from ANYONE else on-page. In one chapter half her guys were debating whether they wanted anything to do with Piper, and then 10 pages later they’re madly in love or something??? Honestly we don’t even know, but the emotional whiplash was almost enough for me to put the book down SEVERAL times throughout my reading it. But I don’t like leaving things unfinished and was constantly hoping it’d get better since the beginning was SO INTERESTING that I nearly was willing to brush off all the ridiculously-spontaneous plot points that the author was asking me to swallow.
It took more than a third of the way through the book for before you even knew what any of the characters’ demonic forms were, and considering how critically important that factor was for Piper, considering she nearly DIED from lack of sex, I would’ve assumed that factor would have been more important to the school when assimilating the students to their new reality in a demon-reformation-academy. Why did the teacher just leave them all to figure out what kind of demon they were on their own? Why did they not have some kind of testing or SOMETHING to help the students figure it out? That clearly wasn’t a safe thing to do for either the students OR the friggin school! Why was more care not taken into helping them figure that stuff out?! Seems like laziness to me. And honestly seemed like the author was just making random abilities up as they went, throwing in whatever sounded good/useful for them in the moment. Piper needs to eavesdrop on her nemesis without being caught? Shape-shifting. Piper needs to calm people down from their hysteria? Persuasion (but isn’t that more of a Siren ability??? Ah fck it, IT’S FOR THE PLOT!).
We NEVER get to actually witness Piper’s progress in her classes. All we know is she is somehow a prodigy with her abilities (the entirety of which we have NO knowledge of), though how we determined this fact, only Rose knows. And at the beginning she could’ve fcked anyone in order to survive, but then towards the middle-end we found out that only lasts her an undetermined amount of time before only the magic peens of HER men will save her, but like what happens if they all fckn DIE, HUH?! And what about the Succubi who only have one or two mates, cause apparently Piper is Über Special for having four mates, lucky her or else the rejection of half her men in the beginning might’ve killed her sooner, amiright? Or amiwrong, cause I genuinely have NO IDEA how ANY of that sheet works. *Big eye rolls*
I feel like the book really sacrificed plot and character development for the sake of fitting as much seggs into the story as possible. And that sheet was NOT enough for me. Seggs is fine when it makes sense, but when you take a character (Kingston) who is ADAMANTLY against the idea of being with Piper and then just randomly throw him into a seggs scene with her cause apparently off-page they got ‘close’ (Or did they even, question mark?), and then in the next page make him all closed-off and sheet again, then it’s CLEAR to me that this wasn’t for the storyline and it didn’t matter whether that sheet actually made sense to your readers. It was all to fill some basic-a$$ fantasy of the author. I really hope those 5 minutes were worth it, cause that sheet was NOT satisfying at all and made for a tragically weak and wishywashy story. Same with most of those scenes with her men TBH. They all really left a lot to be desired.
I was incredibly disappointed with the progression of this book, and that is SO unfortunate because I was really excited to read this book and I was very into Piper’s personality from the beginning. She could’ve been a much better-developed character if it wasn’t for her men causing her to revert back to an obnoxious and angsty school-girl persona, erasing every bit of her fire and take-no-Bshit spirit. I will NOT be giving that second book any of my time if I only have more of the same nauseating storyline and characters to look forward to. Would not recommend this to anyone. It wasn’t worth the read.
It took more than a third of the way through the book for before you even knew what any of the characters’ demonic forms were, and considering how critically important that factor was for Piper, considering she nearly DIED from lack of sex, I would’ve assumed that factor would have been more important to the school when assimilating the students to their new reality in a demon-reformation-academy. Why did the teacher just leave them all to figure out what kind of demon they were on their own? Why did they not have some kind of testing or SOMETHING to help the students figure it out? That clearly wasn’t a safe thing to do for either the students OR the friggin school! Why was more care not taken into helping them figure that stuff out?! Seems like laziness to me. And honestly seemed like the author was just making random abilities up as they went, throwing in whatever sounded good/useful for them in the moment. Piper needs to eavesdrop on her nemesis without being caught? Shape-shifting. Piper needs to calm people down from their hysteria? Persuasion (but isn’t that more of a Siren ability??? Ah fck it, IT’S FOR THE PLOT!).
We NEVER get to actually witness Piper’s progress in her classes. All we know is she is somehow a prodigy with her abilities (the entirety of which we have NO knowledge of), though how we determined this fact, only Rose knows. And at the beginning she could’ve fcked anyone in order to survive, but then towards the middle-end we found out that only lasts her an undetermined amount of time before only the magic peens of HER men will save her, but like what happens if they all fckn DIE, HUH?! And what about the Succubi who only have one or two mates, cause apparently Piper is Über Special for having four mates, lucky her or else the rejection of half her men in the beginning might’ve killed her sooner, amiright? Or amiwrong, cause I genuinely have NO IDEA how ANY of that sheet works. *Big eye rolls*
I feel like the book really sacrificed plot and character development for the sake of fitting as much seggs into the story as possible. And that sheet was NOT enough for me. Seggs is fine when it makes sense, but when you take a character (Kingston) who is ADAMANTLY against the idea of being with Piper and then just randomly throw him into a seggs scene with her cause apparently off-page they got ‘close’ (Or did they even, question mark?), and then in the next page make him all closed-off and sheet again, then it’s CLEAR to me that this wasn’t for the storyline and it didn’t matter whether that sheet actually made sense to your readers. It was all to fill some basic-a$$ fantasy of the author. I really hope those 5 minutes were worth it, cause that sheet was NOT satisfying at all and made for a tragically weak and wishywashy story. Same with most of those scenes with her men TBH. They all really left a lot to be desired.
I was incredibly disappointed with the progression of this book, and that is SO unfortunate because I was really excited to read this book and I was very into Piper’s personality from the beginning. She could’ve been a much better-developed character if it wasn’t for her men causing her to revert back to an obnoxious and angsty school-girl persona, erasing every bit of her fire and take-no-Bshit spirit. I will NOT be giving that second book any of my time if I only have more of the same nauseating storyline and characters to look forward to. Would not recommend this to anyone. It wasn’t worth the read.
tamscorner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
crottink's review against another edition
4.0
I am intrigued friends. Between the spice and the action I was so invested in this one. The audio is fantastic!
Piper is also a baddie of a FMC. I loved that she is constantly standing her ground and fighting for her men and friends. The guys all intrigue me in different ways.
I'm excited for this series to develop, and more action!
Piper is also a baddie of a FMC. I loved that she is constantly standing her ground and fighting for her men and friends. The guys all intrigue me in different ways.
I'm excited for this series to develop, and more action!
redentrapy's review
4.0
Absolutely loved the characterization in this book. The characters were fun and snarky and each had a different personality.
The story starts with a bang this poor woman's car breaks down, she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, then gets stalked and attacked and wakes up after the attack no longer human. She deals with all this with a slough of snark and humor of course it doesn't hurt that she now has powers and a harem of 4 incredibly gorgeous men.
The sex scenes in this book were so hot!! *fanning self* I love the way the relationships and dynamic between each character is written.
The story starts with a bang this poor woman's car breaks down, she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, then gets stalked and attacked and wakes up after the attack no longer human. She deals with all this with a slough of snark and humor of course it doesn't hurt that she now has powers and a harem of 4 incredibly gorgeous men.
The sex scenes in this book were so hot!! *fanning self* I love the way the relationships and dynamic between each character is written.
avessy's review
5.0
Keep reading
The start was a little rough/rushed but then a few chapters in it was soo amazing and I loved it
The start was a little rough/rushed but then a few chapters in it was soo amazing and I loved it
shedevilreads's review against another edition
5.0
Fallen University: Year One by Callie Rose is a reverse harem paranormal romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Lia Holland.
I absolutely love Callie’s books! They always leave me begging for more. I loved the chemistry between Piper, Kingston, Jayce, Xero, and Kai. I really enjoyed the fact it wasn’t insta-love between the characters and that they had to work at the connection between them all.
The book does end on a cliffhanger but that wasn’t a surprise since it’s the first book in the series. I can’t wait to dive into the next book.
Lia did a great job on the narration. I loved that she used different voices/tones for each character. It really brought the story to life.
I would recommend this book if you like reverse harems or paranormal romances.
AudiobookObsession
AudiobookObsessionReviewer
I absolutely love Callie’s books! They always leave me begging for more. I loved the chemistry between Piper, Kingston, Jayce, Xero, and Kai. I really enjoyed the fact it wasn’t insta-love between the characters and that they had to work at the connection between them all.
The book does end on a cliffhanger but that wasn’t a surprise since it’s the first book in the series. I can’t wait to dive into the next book.
Lia did a great job on the narration. I loved that she used different voices/tones for each character. It really brought the story to life.
I would recommend this book if you like reverse harems or paranormal romances.
AudiobookObsession
AudiobookObsessionReviewer