Malachite

Think dark Harry Potter meets Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy, it was such a fast paced read and I genuinely struggled to put the book down and get back to reality.

The world building flows so effortlessly which had me completely immersed, without ever feeling overwhelmed by the information. While I would’ve loved to have had a little more backstory on the war I suspect this will be explored in more detail in book two. Although much of the book is based within the academy, Andersen has created a magical world that feels layered and expansive and I’m excited to see how she builds on this in the next installment.

The main character Arianell has faced many tragic things in her past and throughout the book she shows the power of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. All the characters are flawed, authentic and emotionally raw which makes their journeys quite engaging. Sebastian definitely gave me Xaden energy (minus the shadows) and it really does feel like Arianell and him have such a deep connection and would truly die for the other. I also loved the friendships that Arianell built with Tilly and Xavier, which added some warmth between the darker parts of the story.

For a debut, Andersen has created a unique magical system in an otherwise familiar setting and I am looking forward to seeing where the second book takes these characters and this world.

If you love books that have

best friends brother
Enemies (ish) to lovers
Banter
Slow burn romance
Academy setting
Magical powers

Then this is the book for you!