This book is too fast paced that I can't even begin to wrap my head around Autumn and Wade's relationship. You met someone. In less than 24 hours, you let them kiss you. Then a week or two, tops? You're in a relationship.
Talking about reality, I guess I kind of understand her, since well I have been young once! But then I also have to remind myself that this book is under the Fantasy genre, so I guess pretty much anything is fair game. I just feel like it could've been better if the pace was veered towards introducing their world. I just had to say this because the big reveal about Autumn's powers is totally amazeballs and I sure want to know more about it!

Secret legacy is about a girl named Autumn who got acceptance letter of world’s elitist magical school and its all paid for ? i mean i would totally want this free ride? But every free things comes with price. To find out more about what this secret legacy of Autumn is about ? Read it.

IF you love paranormal stuff with some romance then this book is for you.

This book had ?

madical vibe

witches

magical school

powers

ghosts

hot guy

and much more dark secrets

i totally enjoyed it loved the characters and story plot ,i am always a sucker for Academy book and this one is really good. ★★★★Stars from my side.

This is the first book in what will be a four part series, with all parts coming out this year (thank the heavens!)  This book was a great read!  I am a sucker for supernatural stories and this was no different.  Autumn is a typically 20 year old who's life is turned upside down in more ways than one.  Windhaven Academy is home to many characters who are a great addition to the story of Autumn and her hunky guy Wade.  Moving in with her dad into Blackwood Manor because a new mystery all in itself.  When she finally finds out about her mysterious past and her family's legacy it's only the beginning.  The reveals are sprinkled all throughout this book and it seems like there's a new one around every corner just as intriguing as the last, with an ending that left me screaming for more!  Luckily this whole series will be releasing these last few months of the year and I'm so glad because I don't think I could wait any longer.  This was definitely a five star read and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Xpresso Tours, NetGalley, and Carissa Andrews for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a review.  

This review can be found on my blog as well as Instagram and Goodreads.

Let's just start by saying that Secret Legacy was such a pleasant surprise for me! I rarely read books about witches, or paranormal in general, so I decided to pick up this review opportunity to range over my reading preferences. And I was not disappointed!
Of course, this book has its flaws, but it was entertaining enough to read in just a couple of days and to make me wonder about how the story might continue. Autumn is a funny narrator: young but mature, a little unconventional and appearently, supernaturally gifted. I found her voice to be extremely enjoyable and easy to follow, so much that I was a little bit disappointed when I realised that the book ended. I really would have loved to live a little bit more in that world and experience a little bit more paranormal events. For being such a pleasant world, I though that the author should have payed more attention to its characteristics, and dedicate more space to answer some major questions that inevitably raise: how did supernaturals and mundanes coexist? How do those powers work? I'm sure that some of these doubts will be answered in the following books, but still, I felt like some basic world setting should have been given at the beginning. This said, I particularly liked the development of the Blackwood's "micro-world", which was much more structured than the general setting: their history, their legacy and all the mystery that surrounds them was driving me crazy with curiosity and a little fear - you definitely get some horror vibes there! 
Speaking of the characters, they were all quite enjoyable but I didn't get the chance to get attached to them. The story is so fast-paced that there is not really a particular focus on any of them, so when you finish reading the book, they don't really stick with you. I would love to get to know them better and explore the relationship they had and will hopefully rebuild. If there is one thing I must reproach the author is the love at first sight clichè - or maybe I should reproach Autumn for being so naive? I mean, wouldn't you get suspicious if you magically encounter your big love at night, in a cemetery? I have to say, though, that despite the unreliable beginning, the love story does continue with a much slower pace, gaining more credibility that I hope they will demonstrate in the following books.
So I'm giving this book a 3.5 stars, mainly because of its vaguety. It has all the good premises: a nice story, a good, creepy atmosphere, interesting characters - but not enough space is payed to any of them, due also to the lenght of the book: just 289 pages! But I will definitely take a look at the rest of this series because I'm sure that the best is yet to come!

This book was just okay for me.  I found myself really not wanting to finish it.  I did push through and finish it.  

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

DNF @30%. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it through this one. My first, and largest, gripe is the writing. The verbose descriptions and superfluous adjectives led me to believe someone received a thesaurus and was challenged to use it at least once per sentence. It was especially annoying in the dialogue, as our 20 year old heroine sounded ridiculous. Moving on to our MC, she is supposed to be 20, but swings between acting like a tween and talking like an old lady.  I just couldn’t read any more.

The synopsis promises mystery and magic, set in a paranormal school… But although the story start with the main character, Autumn Blackwood, receiving an acceptance letter from the Windhaven Academy magical school she didn't even apply to; it’s not until almost the middle of the book that she actually goes to the Academy. 
This story has a lot of potential: family secrets, magic, supernatural kids, unknow powers, some kids missing… so why did I feel like nothing happens in the first 30% of the book? Well, something happened in that part: Wade. I really didn’t buy that insta-loved, it was kinda forced —they didn’t know each other that much and she was thinking about leave everything for him?—, but also I have to say that I didn’t hate it at the end, it was better developed later in the book. 
It took too long for anything to really happen, but when the action took place and the mystery appeared, it was better… a LOT better. I really liked the mystery, and I really LOVED how it unfolded. More than once I was like “wtf”. Unexpected. 
I can say I was really surprised with the revelation of the mystery surrounding Autumn’s past and I had no clue about what her power could be. There were a few things more that were unexpected, but spoiler! So, not saying a word. I’m usually complaining about things being predictable, so this was great! 
Yeah, the plot was great. But the characters? Not the main character —Autumn was acceptable—, the other ones, the side characters… I had this feeling like they were only there for Autumn’s benefit, they only had an appearance when needed. 
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The story it’s slow in action as this is the first book in a series and, as all the first books, it served as an introduction to this magic world. I can’t wait to read the next book, Soul Legacy (The Windhaven Witches #2).

I had some issues with the main character and the language, but the fascinating plot kept me going.

Secret Legacy starts like many similar books of the genre. Young girl is suddenly confronted by her own specialness; magical school awaits; she meets another special boy and they fall in love... only these things happen in the first two chapters or so. Which I'm guessing is why many other reviews of this book I've seen are complaining about tropes and insta-love. I personally didn't mind it so much (although in my book, Wade is way too pushy and needy). The story developed really fast and there were interesting questions emerging (the more I read the more I was wondering what's going on) which resulted in a very immersive read. And if that's not a successful series starter, then what is? I'm definitely intrigued to find out what happens next with Autumn and her friends. I was particularly intrigued by her connection with Colt and by Dominic's character. 

However, I had some issues with Autumn and with how she is portrayed. She is supposedly 20 years old, but very often both her internal dialogue and her behavior are more reminiscent of a young teenager. She's temperamental, childish, storms off a lot and seems unable to use basic deductive reasoning. This is weirdly juxtaposed by a vocabulary that would be more suitable for a 20 year old... living during the 1800s. Having this character say things like "Alas" and "why are you so glib about this endeavor" (while talking to her boyfriend, mind you) is certainly a weird choice and one that felt a bit jarring at times. Overall, I do believe the book could benefit from a second round of line-editing and proofreading. The world building could be strengthened a bit as well, although I do understand this is a series starter and perhaps things will be revealed later on. 

Having said all that: Secret Legacy kept me reading. I turned page after page, curious to see what happens next and wondering what the next book will bring. When you have a solid plot like that, it feels unfair to focus on small mistakes and editing snafus — hence my 4-star rating. 

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for offering me an ARC of this book. As always, opinions expressed as 100% my own.

Nestled in the woods of Windhaven, Blackwood Manor waits to unleash a dark and deadly legacy…

When Autumn Blackwood shows up at Windhaven Academy for the Witching Stick Orientation, she hopes to find out what dormant powers she could possibly possess to have been accepted to the elite supernatural school. Instead, the academy is in chaos as everyone frantically hunts for two missing girls.

But as school begins with Autumn no closer to figuring out her powers, strange occurrences start to follow her everywhere. Even at home, Blackwood Manor keeps many secrets, and Autumn can’t escape its haunting past.

New friends urge her to learn more about her family’s history in order to unlock her powers and make sense of what’s happening at Blackwood Manor, but Autumn’s not so sure. Once an accident brings Autumn face-to-face with death, however, she realizes her gifts are tied to a legacy that can either save or doom them all…

I hate to say this but I did not finish this book. I have seen some rave reviews on this book, but I did not feel the same.
I’m normally ok with insta love if it’s done properly but in this book it just did not feel right and made no sense.
I did not like the characters. To me they were immature for there age. I thought I was reading about a 12 year old instead of a women of 20.
I didn’t like the dialogue between the characters, if the author was aiming for witty banter she fell short. As most of the time I was confused by the conversation and did not understand what was going on.
I only read to chapter 6 and  could not read on.

*3.5 stars

This is a refreshing, modern take on magic and witchcraft. Under 300 pages, this was a quick and engaging read that left me ready for book two! 

I believe readers of Shirley Jackson, Joe Hill, & J.K. Rowling will be interested in this series and finding themselves enjoying the plot!

Book Review

Title: Secret Legacy (The Windhaven Witches #1)

Author: Carissa Andrews

Genre: Occult/Horror

Rating: ****

Review: I didn’t much about Secret Legacy going into it purely because it was tagged on Amazon as horror and I prefer going into those books knowing nothing about them. We are introduced to Autumn Blackwood who has been accepted into Windhaven Academy even though she is adamant that she didn’t apply to the school. Windhaven is a university for the supernatural, the acceptance confuses Autumn since she is completely mundane but her mother’s reactions to the letter and the fact someone has fully paid for Autumn’s education there makes me think she isn’t mundane. The letter also mentions her lineage and a legacy which intrigues Autumn to the point where we know she is going to be attending Windhaven Academy whether she wants to or not. Shortly, after the argument with her mother she meets Wade in the cemetery although she doesn’t learn his real name for a little while. It turns out he is going to Windhaven Academy too as he has some physic abilities but not this year since he has to care for his dying grandfather, but he offers to attend the initiation with Autumn which is known as the Witching Stick. So far, Secret Legacy is interesting, I am not usual into paranormal books, but the occult and horror tags have me interested to see where the author goes with this set up.

As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, we get some development on the friendship between Autumn and Wade, although I wasn’t thrilled with how quickly they became more than friends, but he seems like a nice guy. However, in these kinds of books the nice guys always seems to have a hidden agenda of some sort. Autumn has made the decision to attend Windhaven but she needs somewhere to stay so she decides to contact her father and see if she can stay in their ancestral home, Blackwood Manor but she is having trouble getting hold of him so she decides to pay him a visit. The family dynamic here is interesting as Autumn’s parents are separated but I feel there is more going on there than Autumn knows. When we meet her father and he mentions the Manor is his legacy and he is has been waiting to tell/show her a lot of things, I am convinced that Autumn is supernatural and whatever abilities she has will have come from her father. As Autumn prepares to leave for Blackwood Manor, Wade was beginning to grow on me as he is super sweet and more than a little dorky but the insta-love kind of grated on me a little. However, soon after arriving she begins to notice strange things around the Manor like cold pockets but the strangest thing is a woman’s voice welcoming her home but there isn’t another soul in the Manor other than her father and the housekeeper that are both male. Autumn mentions this to Wade and he believes there might be a ghost there, but I have a feeling it is more than that and Autumn’s time at Windhaven might help her unravel the mysteries of her family.

As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, nothing much has happened so far, but the slightly creepy atmosphere keeps the reader hooked for something more substantial. We do get more substance to the novel as Wade and Autumn attend the Witching Stick only to learn it has been cancelled because two children have gone missing. Originally, I thought Windhaven was a university, but it seems to be more like Doctor X’s school as the two children who disappeared are only ten. In the aftermath, Wade and Autumn see someone vandalising her car and he scratches the truth shall set you free into it, but Autumn doesn’t understand why this was done. She and Wade have the house to themselves and are doing what normally 20+ people do when a vase breaks by itself and we get a small glimpse of Autumn’s power her as she restores a rose which was damaged when the vase breaks but she thinks nothing of it at the time. When she starts school properly she realises how little she knows about the supernatural world that to Cat and her twin brother Colt, Cat seems utterly freaked out when she realises that Autumn lives at Blackwood Manor and the writing on her car and warns her not to wander around by herself especially near the pond, which happens to be the same place the children went missing. Autumn is beginning to believe all these events are connected, the strange things at the Manor, the writing on her car and the children going missing but she doesn’t seem to be doing much investigating beyond discovering a hidden door in her room, which is missing its handle.

As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Autumn learns that it was a boy called Dominic that scratched her car, but Cat warns her to stay away from him because of who his family is, but Autumn isn’t going to let it slide. After confronting Dominic, he agrees to tell her why he did it but when Cat refuses to say something that Dominic felt was important, she leaves without learning anything. As she can’t get a straight answer out of Cat or Dominic, Autumn decides to ask Colt what he knows, and he tells her everything will become a lot clearer once she knows the history of Windhaven and the Blackwood family. The trio head to the library where Autumn learns her ancestors were one of the founding families that created Windhaven but her so many greats grandmother died in the house, seemingly of suicide and Autumn is freaked out because she saw her die when she held onto the banister but she doesn’t say anything about it. As the mystery deepens, I was hoping something big was going to happen soon as we have only seen small things, but Autumn doesn’t seem particularly motivated about figuring out what is going on. I also wish Wade was around more often as both Colt and Dominic are being presented as possible love interests but honestly, I prefer Wade.

As we cross into the second half of the novel, things are getting interesting. Autumn is learning more and more about her family history and her powers are emerging. She is not only seeing and hearing Abigail but when she touched the rug where her body lay, flames erupt from her hands, the same way they did when Colt touched her hand. Abigail leads her to the door handle for the door in her room but her father turns up so she can’t take it and see what is behind the door. However, later that night an ominous glow appear from behind the door and Autumn is beginning to think that her father might be in league with the creature many believe took those two children. When she discusses this with Cat and Colt, they tell her that someone has blocked her memory which is why she remembers being locked her in room in the Manor as a child when she actually locked herself in there and only came out to eat. It also explains why she doesn’t remember Cat and Colt who were her friends when she was only little. Her father does explain a little saying that he and her mother thought it was best for her to grow up away from Blackwood Manor and the supernatural, but he didn’t believe she would be completely ignorant of her world. This isn’t the end of it as Colt informs Autumn that one of the psychics at the school told him to warn of her about Wade. When she asks Wade about this, she sees an angry side to him she hasn’t seen before but honestly, she hasn’t known him that long, but she decides that if no one is going to be honest with her, she needs to find the information herself.

As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, things were really getting tense as the creepy atmosphere intensifies. Things begin to get serious when Wade unexpectedly comes to visit and Dominic takes an immediately disliking to him telling him that he needs to tell Autumn the truth about what he is and he does begin to before he is called away as his grandfather has taken a turn for the worst. In between this we see Autumn showing Cat and Colt the basement alter she found which is the same one she saw Abigail using in her vision and as Abigail was a necromancer, we know that this is what Autumn’s power is. However, things get really strange as Dominic rushes over interrupting the conversation Autumn was having with her father about her disappearance as a children where the creature took her away and killed her but she resurrected herself to tell her that Cat has been involved in a car accident and they need her help. Obviously, Autumn is distressed not only because her friend could possibly be dying but because she doesn’t really know how to use her powers.

As we cross into the final section of the novel, Autumn rushes to Cat’s aid but her power isn’t working before they group can do anything the creature appears wanting to take Cat’s soul because she is what it calls a Gemini twin. After temporarily getting rid of it, the group head to her house for the basement alter she needs to save Cat’s life. Abigail surprisingly is the one to help Autumn find and use her powers to save her friend and her father is also there to lend support as Cat is going to need a lot of time to heal. However, there is still something to come as the creature warned Autumn her time was running out and she suddenly gets a phone call from Wade telling her his grandfather has died and he wants her to return home so he doesn’t have to be alone but I have a feeling he wants her to use her powers to bring him back which she isn’t going to be able to do without help. 
read more at forthenovellovers.wordpress.com

It doesnt support or open after I download the pdf version of it. It's also not showing in my shelf in netgalley and I cant open it to read Please look into the issue and if you can send me the pdf in my mail ID- taniagungunsarkar@gmail.com I cant read the book from here. Please look into the issue

This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley. 

I’ll be honest this book was a struggle to get through in the beginning.  I found the relationship between Wade and Autumn cringey at times.  But, that could be because I’m no longer 20 years old dating in this new era of social media and FaceTime.  The writing again was a little too immature for me, but once I got into the meat of the book I was happy with the plot and character development. 

I wanted to know what was going to happen next which kept me turning the pages.  The Secret Legacy can be quite spooky at times, I was creeped out enough that I had to turn on my bedroom lights in order to keep reading without getting nervous.  I really enjoyed delving into the history of the Blackwood family enough that I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see what else Blackwood Manor has in store for Autumn and her friends.

{I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review}

I had pretty high hopes for this book. The minute I saw that gorgeous cover and the description, I was immediately intrigued to read it. However, it was a pretty big let down. While it was not the worst book I have ever read, it could have been better. 

Characters: The main one, Autumn, does not seem to have a personality except going against what she should do. She’s kind of boring and flavorless and seems to be the copy of most YA fantasy female leads without the execution. She was a solid character that needed a bit more development to be a good protagonist. Now we meet this random love interest in like the second chapter called Wade/Angel. He, in combination with Autumn, also lacks a personality, but seems more human as he cares for his family. Frankly, the only character that made sense was the mom. Also, another reviewer mentioned this but I also wanted to talk about it. The side characters were only there for the convenience of Autumn. They were not a main part of the story, nor were they talked about all that much. They only showed up when needed. 

Plot: This lovely 20 year old then gets invited to a random school for people with superpowers and seeing as she’s human and basic, it would be dumb to go. But no, she went anyways to the school she did not even apply for. But I’ll excuse that part cause its a fantasy so its okay. Moving along, the plot kind of lose its place. By chapter 18, I already forgot where this was going. This book was not all bad, I do have to give it its props. While the plot could have been better and it was pretty predictable, it was still an interesting plot line. There were a few scenes I particularly enjoyed, which is why this book does not have that low of a rating. 

Writing Style: I actually quite enjoyed her style of writing. She was fond of throwing in irrelevant detail that only adds to the setting of a place, but she did it in an enjoyable way. 

Love development:
I should call this lack of love development. We met the love interest in chapter 2 I believe. How do I know he is the love interest? By chapter 7-8 they are already trying to eat each other. Now, If this love story was going to be so quickly developed and straight to the point, I would have loved if the book would start at an earlier time, because this love story left me confused. It was so awkward and weird, its like they were dared to date each other and see how long each person lasted. 

It seems this book either is loved by people or hated by people. I would have loved this book a lot more if instead of adding irrelevant details to how cabinets look, she focused a bit more on developing the world, and I have seen many other reviews that feel the same way.

Overall, I would give this book a 3.24 out of 5 stars.

I requested 'Secret Legacy' via NetGalley by accident long after it was published. (I didn't realize clicking 'Read now' on an already-published book meant I was requesting it.) After some consideration, I decided to go ahead and read this title anyway. 

The book is about a girl named Autumn who receives her acceptance to Windhaven Academy one day in the mail. Windhaven is a Hogwarts-like academy for sorcerers, except it is not a boarding school, so she has to go live with her dad (a previous student at Windhaven who she has been long estranged from). Autumn ends up meeting a cute boy at a cemetery the same day she receives her acceptance, which is enough to make her seriously question attending the school. That, and she's not sure she wants to leave her mom or have to speak to her dad. After some deliberation,  Autumn decides to attend Windhaven after all. Once Autumn arrives at Windhaven, it doesn't take her long to figure out that something fishy is going on.

I decided to give this book a shot because the magic school concept did intrigue me - admittedly, I am a sucker for those kinds of stories. Overall, this work was okay story-wise though it doesn't really stand out from other like-minded YA fantasy titles about magic schools. The romance felt really rushed between Autumn and Wade. They literally just met, and she already considers not attending Windhaven for him, and just like that, he makes plans to visit her at school and even agrees to accompany her to her orientation. Overall, the story wasn't bad for a light read, cliches aside. However, the book as a whole felt underdeveloped and ran short for a YA fantasy. The story felt rushed in terms of its plot and characters and there were times I felt the dialogue was a little cheesy.

Secret Legacy is a paranormal mystery that follows Autumn as she begins to discover things about her family and her own past while attending a school for people with supernatural powers, something she didn't believe she had before mysteriously being accepted to the school. 

It starts off a little slow, but the pacing picks up nicely once Autumn leaves for school, and the world-building is excellent. There was just enough of a creepy vibe to make me keep the lights on while I read, but not enough to scare me completely. 

There's a cliffhanger at the end that I hated, which, honestly, is a compliment because I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on.

If you're looking for an atmospheric and eerie paranormal mystery, I would recommend this one. It's not too dark, and there's enough mystery to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

This book was so so good. My only complaint is why can’t I read the next series NOW. I need to know what happens!! This is like a grown up Harry Potter series for the YA audience. A young girl finds out she has been accepted with a full ride into a school of witches. But she didn’t apply. She would need to move in with her dad. Of whom she never talks to. And the house she would live in is haunted and has quite a history according to the locals. August finds out quite a bit about herself, her family, and who her friends truly are in this page turner.  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The blurb was what caught my attention and while I didn’t dislike the book, I felt like there was a lot left to be desired. It all felt so rushed and a little too convenient for my liking, but also I had far too many questions every time there was a twist or a turn.

Autumn is a ‘regular’ girl (usage of the word ‘mundane’ makes me think of the Shadowhunters, which was odd in itself in this book) and she’s just been accepted to the famed Windhaven Academy - a college for witches and other supernatural beings. For Autumn, this comes as a strange but exciting surprise. For her mother, it comes as a moment of rage. But Autumn decides that it is what she must do and while trying to make up her mind and find the right choice, she meets Wade. And thus begins the story of Autumn. And Autumn and Wade.

I felt like the love between Autumn and Wade was too forced and too fast. Yes, handsome boy you cross paths with in the cemetery you hide out in is a seductive thought, but also a little strange. Autumn and Wade make all kinds of promises after only a few weeks of dating and it’s just...it didn’t feel right. Then there are all the unanswered questions about Autumn’s dad and this mansion that he lives in. Right from the start, I’ve decided that her dad is a ghost, there’s no other explanation for his lack of contact and constant vanishing when Autumn needs him.

Like I mentioned before, it was all a little rushed. A lot of bases were covered too fast and it felt like we weren’t getting enough time to adjust to one revelation before another was dropped in our laps. Sure, the big twist was pretty awesome and I am curious to see where all of this goes, but I wasn’t attached to any of the characters. Everyone’s got secrets (the title alone tells you that much), but some of these secrets felt a little unnecessary and a little strange.

But let me break down things I did and didn’t like:
What worked for me:
- I love stories with all these family histories that are complicated and confusing and the Blackwood family is a whole lot of that and more
- The magical world, so to speak. I like the idea of a magical school or college and learning more about that

What didn’t work:
- So I like the magical school idea, but we got nothing about this school. We learn about the subjects they teach and the classes Autumn and her friends attend, but...then what?
- We also know nothing about the world that has a magical school in it, which makes this even odder.
- The insta-love. Everything about the main relationship just felt weird to me. It didn’t feel real and that was upsetting
- This is a bit of a spoiler, so don’t click unless you really want to know it all. Autumn learns about her powers so fast and knows how to use them!
- All the supporting characters (including her mysterious father) were so intriguing, but we were just not getting enough about any of them to make me more curious. 
- The writing style didn’t work for me and this isn’t the first time this style hasn’t worked. I had a lot of eye-roll worthy moments too.

All in all, not a bad book, just not one I enjoyed that much. I like supernatural and paranormal stories as much as the next person, but I would rather not sift through lots of non-magical drama to find the truth.

An interesting read. It sometimes took a while to push through, but overall I did find it entertaining. Basically, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.

Pretty good story!  The characters were good and the storyline was interesting and sometimes intense.  I had a lot of fun with this!