Wicked Academia: Lost Stars: 1

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Layne Fargo’s book isn’t about queer identity in any grand sense, but features characters that identify as queer, and that often feels equally like a win. They Never Learn is a delectable book about two women who team up to take down evil men. It centers on Scarlett Clark, a (bisexual) English professor who searches for the worst men at Gorman University, where she teaches, and plots their demise. But her latest target puts her in the focus of Mina Pierce, whom Scarlett sets her sights on to avoid notice. As mentioned, the book is meant to be mature adult/new adult fantasy. There are minimal spicy scenes (despite being told there were many), and honestly if you took them out, you’d have the same story but, guess what, it could be middle grade.

Wicked Academia: Lost Stars: Jenkins, Jasmine, Suliman

I really enjoyed this book. The world building was in depth, and the triplets were interesting and well rounded characters. I loved the multiple points of view (the triplets and a bonus scene from another character).The All Hallow's Eve Ball told through Khalid's point of view, including an argument with Valentine Sun. I am not a fan of a romance, love at first sight and all that, but I am lenient towards the enemies to lovers/love hate trope, like Khalid and Marion's relationship. They have me rooting for them like British lads at Wembley, and THAT ONE SCENE! I was reading it on the Underground and my face went like :-O. My first criticism, however, comes along-side the double edged sword of those well loved fantasy tropes. Our initial introductions to both characters and love interests felt very rushed and painfully predictable. It necessitates, but the level of affection between Darius and Vivian especially, feels almost unwarranted despite the insistence of Fate playing part. The end had some good action scenes, but overall it seemed a bit messy. I think trying to explore storyline’s for each triplet plus the overarching one for the group is difficult and I commend the authors for attempting it. But I do feel that it did not hit the mark. This felt like the kind of book you write as a first draft and sent to some friends and family who are doing you a favour to edit it mainly for spelling and grammar but not for actual content. Listen...the only thing I liked was their sibling dynamics and i guess the magic was also kinda cool, but everything else was very meh.

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I thought the book was going to continue past the Star Ceremony (which held me on edge till all of them swallowed their stars) and I want more: I am glad the sequel is being released soon. The whole ending definitely left me wanting more and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here! I requested an ARC for this book and was granted one by the authors - thank you so much! It comes out on April 27th of 2022. Despite the circumstances, it will be an honest review as always. From what I gather, the authors drew the art themselves? Some of which are fine, cute, but again, middle grade vibes. Then there are some art pieces that genuinely detracted me from the story that was happening because all I could think about was how this book did not look adult. Please understand that designers and artists are literally trained to receive, interpret and deliver on a brief. If you want these characters, you can bring these sketches and ideas to them and get a final product that is more worthy and succinct with the book that’s being written.) A university in the sky. Clouds that rain starlight. Students with terrible magic and worse intentions. The Academy will test not only the triplets' ability to survive, but their loyalty to each other.You could see right from the beginning, and even more so after getting to the Celestial Academy, that the triplets each have their own very different personalities and each gravitated towards a different falling star and their students at the academy. Giving them that independence from one another made them a better trio in my opinion. It also made the sow of their loyalty to one another more significant. Insta-love. Hate that trope. Insta-attraction and insta-connection, sure! Those are fine, and more realistic. Marion and Khalid’s immediate attraction and Timothée and Val’s instant hate-like connection are more realistic. But Vivian and Darius falling in love at first sight? I like them as characters and I can see them together, but to have them be in love immediately ruined their relationship for me. I can see if their instant attraction was the foundation for the development of a bond that became a relationship that had to battle through Vivian’s curse and Darius’ prejudice. But I’m a firm believer in letting love grow over time. I absolutely love the world building, along with the three houses, Morning Star, Evening Star and Dark Star 👀👀 Well executed world, well built relationships and friends, and well thought of magic. I can see the world and the society was thoroughly planned to the smallest details, and so were the characters. I was sent an ARC of this book (I read it before getting the arc, when it was online if that changes anything)

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I liked Khalid and Marion relationship, the details, the tension and their dynamic - it gave me “enemies to lovers” kind of vibes which I stan. However, despite Darius and Vivien’s romance being cute, it felt very insta lovey, which some people might not appreciate.This book has been sitting in my Goodreads TBR for too long, so when I saw the opportunity to get an ARC I jumped. I really enjoyed the story and all of the characters introduced so far. I was happy with the world building and how it was written into the story without slowing things down or stopping the narrative. If you have enjoyed following along with the web novel and reading the book as we write it, we invite you to consider subscribing to our Celestial Light tier, as we will continue to post chapter drops.