Book Info:
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Magic
Length: 446 Pages
Published: 23rd August 2022
SYNOPSIS
Hopes. Dreams. And literal nightmares out to kill a young boy.
Gray Lexly, son of a candlemaker, wants to escape his life of old-world technologies and study at the prestigious Astra Academy, a school for arcanists—those who can wield magic. But Gray has a major problem. Every night, as he sleeps, he’s visited by monsters. When they injure Gray in his dreams, he wakes with the same wounds in real life…
On the night Gray might finally die in his nightmares, he is saved by the kind and mysterious Professor Helmith, a powerful arcanist. She offers to protect Gray and invites him to attend Astra Academy.
Before that can happen, Gray must bond with a mystical creature to become an arcanist himself. Will he bond with a unicorn? A pegasus? A kitsune? Whatever he bonds with will determine his magical abilities, so he must choose wisely.
And when trouble finds Professor Helmith, Gray must become powerful enough to help her and fend off the terrible nightmares, before it’s too late…
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Academy-Arcanist-1-Astra/dp/1957613173
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60839624-academy-arcanist?
MY REVIEW
I’m delighted to be part of the Ultimate Blog Tour for this wonderfully addictive read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I enjoyed getting lost in the world of magic and magical creatures; eldrins and arcanists. I whizzed through it in just a few sittings.
Grey does not want to live his life on the small island where he lives nor does he want to become a candlemaker, like his dad.
He has been having nightmares where he is being attacked by monster spider puppets, and he is bringing the injuries with him when he wakes. Of course, his father and stepmother don’t believe his stories. In his dreams, he meets Professor Helmith. She protects him and tells him all about the Astra Academy where she teaches magic, and that is his decision made. He will go there but has to wait two years until he is 15.
Just after his 15th birthday he heads to the academy with his twin brother. They have not yet bonded with a magical creature, having little choice on their island, so they hope they will each find one in the menagerie, below the academy.
The menagerie section of the story with the magical animals is so very well described. I could have carried on reading more about all the animals and their individual Trials of Worth, which a human has to pass to be considered eligible to bond. Bonds are forever and make each party stronger.
Move forward a short time to lessons. Grey has been so excited to meet Professor Helmith in real life but she doesn’t recognise him. He knows her so well, even her walk, so realises this woman is an imposter.
That’s far enough into the story for my review! I think fans of Harry Potter and perhaps Percy Jackson will enjoy this book. The world is set years ago, just as steam engines and plumbing are being invented.
I enjoyed getting to know the different students and their magical animals, or once bonded they are now arcanists and eldrins.
I’m definitely going to be reading the rest of this series.
Thank you to The Write Reads for my E copy of the book and my spot on the blog tour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.
If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:
Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com
Two Heads Are Better Than One 