╰►2.75/5 ⭐️ 1/5🌶️

First off, thank you Net Galley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for an ARC of Fallen Academy. I feel like Leia Stone has a way with creating worlds I want to be invested in, and it was no different this time around.

Although, I will note, I didn’t realise this book had already been out for some time. I'm pretty sure it came out in 2017. So that did make me change the way I rated it, and the way I consumed it. Considering this was one of Leia's stories from years ago, and I can tell Leia's writing style and world building has improved so much over the years, therefore I read it knowing this is just her earlier writing style.

In saying that, a lot of the emotional stuff just wasn't hitting or impacting me because it was over as quickly as it begun. Some of the dialogue was awkward cause it felt like the conversations were just cut off, and emotions lines just suddenly snapped into joking or teasing which pulled me out of the story. The parts I wanted expanded was for some reason shortened. Was the world created fun and entertaining? Absolutely. Will I read book 2? I've not decided yet. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships and that is what is leaving me on the edge. I ultimately decided to rate this three stars because I had a lot of fun. In the end, I have enjoyed so many others books Leia's released that I don’t mind.

My rating system:

⭐️: Not my vibe at all.
⭐️⭐️: I finished it, but I didn't have a good time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed myself. I probably won't reread it, but it was fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I loved it and want to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Perfect, amazing, everything I love in a novel!

Leia Stone has created yet another addictive series!

Fallen Academy takes place in a universe where angels and demons have waged war on Earth and, in the process, gifted many humans powers. Brielle Atwater has spent most of her life in Demon City and signed her life away to be a demon slave to help her family. But when her powers emerge, Brielle is unexpectedly an angel blessed Celestial. Soon, Brielle realizes her role in the fight between good and evil is a lot bigger than she could have even imagined.


I loved the world-building in the first half of this book. I was so hooked; it reminded me of Zodiac Academy, but with angels and demons in a YA setting. I was so interested in the magical system and how the war was brought to Earth. I literally can’t wait to learn more and more about what the war entails, as the book mainly focuses on world-building and the relationship between Lincoln and Brielle.

When it comes to romance, I’m such a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and a trainer-student relationship. The tension between these two was off the charts! I do wish there had been more of a buildup towards their relationship, but who knows what will happen in the next books! I just want more and more tension and more training scenes between the two.

I’m a massive fan of urban fantasy, and Leia Stone has become a must-read author for me. Within the first chapter I was already hooked. It was fast-paced yet digestible. That cliffhanger left me in utter shock, and I can't wait to pick up the next book. I’m so delighted that she is finally receiving recognition, with several of her books being traditionally published!

Fallen Academy: Year One is a fast-paced, action-packed blend of dark academia, celestial magic, and slow-burn romance. Brielle is a compelling heroine, caught between angelic blessings and a dark secret that makes her an outcast. Her chemistry with the brooding Lincoln Grey adds plenty of tension, while the apocalyptic war between angels and demons raises the stakes.

The world-building is engaging, though some tropes feel familiar. Still, the gripping plot twists and Brielle’s journey of self-discovery make this a binge-worthy read for fans of supernatural academies and forbidden attraction. A strong start to an exciting series!

This series hooks you in and keeps you satisfied for the whole ride. Quick read. Great characters, slow burn, found family, 1 non explicit spice scene. Overall a great book I’d recommend to any academy fantasy lover.

🪽 ✦ 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒚: 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑶𝒏𝒆 ✦ 🪽

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Leia Stone
sᴇʀɪᴇs: Fallen Academy book #1
ᴘᴀɢᴇs: 352
ɢᴇɴʀᴇs: YA paranormal, fantasy romance, urban fantasy

𝓥𝓘𝓑𝓔𝓢
✦ Magical academy
✦ Angels vs. demons
✦ Ride or die bestie
✦ Reluctant hero
✦ Hilarious banter
✦ Prophecy

𝓣𝓗𝓞𝓤𝓖𝓗𝓣𝓢
The first in the captivating Fallen Academy series with romantasy, paranormal, and dark academia vibes and a raging war between angels and demons. I think I have a new obsession. Yes, this book was very YA to me, but I was hooked. I enjoy Leia Stone’s writing style and was able to relate to the main and side characters. Leia writes the best sassy bad*ss heroines and irresistible love interests. I loved the reluctant hero, coming into powers, brave, yet kind FMC, 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦. At her awakening ceremony, Bri, sprouts black wings instead of white and realizes she is not like the others. Pair our FMC with the slightly older, grumpy, powerful, handsome teacher MMC, 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘯 and it was a magical and fun read. I love the protective vibes he gives off and the banter between them is irresistible. Learning about the prophecy and her powers was interesting and I loved the soul-bound weapons. Sera, Bri’s weapon, is so quirky and bad*ss.

I read this in one day. It’s a quick, fun read and that will have your laughing out loud and swooning. I look forward to Fallen Academy: Year Two.

𝓠𝓤𝓞𝓣𝓔𝓢
“𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

“𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝.” 😂

✦ Thank you Sourcebooks Bloom Books (@read_bloom), @netgalley and @leiastoneauthor for providing a #gifted eARC of Fallen Academy: Year One in the leadup to its rerelease! ✦

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Fallen Academy Year One is the first book in a series by Leia Stone that follows our FMC Brielle Atwater as her life is flipped after discovering she is not demon-bound but a celestial with demon magic and attributes i.e. her black wings. When she leaves to be trained we meet Lincoln Grey her teacher and impossibly brutish love interest.
The book itself was paced well enough there was a bit too much happening at the end and lots of secrets were kept from her but that makes sense because it is a series. I will say I loved the side characters in this book they were compelling without overtaking the main story and offered humor when needed. The book takes place in a university so there is the ever-so-typical mean girl and bullying antics but nothing too major.
The romance aspect I really enjoyed but I will say it won’t be for everyone. It’s kinda like when you find love so you’re able to give the reins away and be the one protected and that’s not everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed it, that being said the dynamic might change as the series goes along but I enjoyed the protective aspects of Lincoln and Brielle’s relationship. I am really excited to see where this series goes and the continuation of their relationship it definitely was a 4.5/5 stars.

4 stars

Fallen Academy: Year One, I really enjoyed this book. The story is fast-paced and full of action, with a strong fmc Brielle. She is tough, funny, and easy to root for. The world is exciting, with angels, demons, and a unique magic system that kept me interested.

The romance and friendships in the book are also really good, and i liked seeing Brielle grow as she learns about her powers.
I really like Leia's writing style, it is easy to follow and it makes it quick and fun to read.

The reason I chose to give this book 4 stars is because some parts felt a little predictable, and I wished there was a bit more world-building. But overall, it is a great book for fans of fantasy and supernatural stories! I'm definitely interested in reading the next book in this series!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Review of Fallen Academy by Leia Stone
* * * * *
The only thing about this book I am bummed about...is the fact that I did not read it sooner! Your fantasy romance with a ton of tension between our FMC and her love interest, with amazing besties, and evil that will give you the chills.

Bri knew her destiny was following a dark path, and that she had no say in it...that was until she surprised everyone and herself with a set of black angelic wings that indicate the possibility of her being part of a prophecy.
A prophecy that will further intensify a war between heaven and hell.
Honestly, Bri's problems range from dealing with horrid slave masters, grumpy teachers, family secrets and nasty teenage girls.
Plus, this is only the beginning.

Loved it! I want to read the whole series!
Bri has amazing family and friends, and you are sucked into the side stories as well for who will find love and who will face danger. Then there is a hotness between Bri and Lincoln. I cannot wait to see what else is in story for them. They are so hot and cold. SAUCY!

˗ˏˋ 4 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

oh my. i was HOOKED. i was able to finish this book is one sitting. needless to say, i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was so fast paced and easy to read. the world and magic system was so unique, it definitely gave off hunger games and divergent vibes.

i loved bri's little friend group, definitely gave off found family vibes. i liked how they were so supportive of each other regardless of their differences. it was nice seeing them interact with each other.

although the plot is somewhat predictable, the fast pacing of the book definitely ensures that there's never a dull moment. i was thoroughly enjoying it.

cant wait to see what brielle and lincoln are into in year two!! onto the next one...

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it was fast paced and kept you on your toes. Bri is sarcastic and funny and the rest of the cast of characters are dimensional. The world is unique as you are thrown into a war between Angels and Demons where the power you have unlocked on your 18th birthday decides your fate. It is a fun urban romantasy that I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance e-book.

Fallen Academy: Year One is great for those looking to read…
🖤 New/Young Adult Romance
🖤 Paranormal Academy Setting
🖤 Dark Academia
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Angel x Demon

This gave me Vampire Academy meets Divergent vibes. It has an interesting concept where I wanted to keep reading, but it does read more like young adult from a decade ago. I think with some revamping, this could be really great. I felt like I was watching a teen show & I was quite curious how it was going to end up.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Bloom Books for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

This book gave me Divergent/Hunger Games era nostalgia. It’s dystopian fantasy where humans with magic powers are separated into “good” and “bad” groups. The characters were likable, but the relationships felt rushed. The writing was also very repetitive at times. It left on a cliffhanger that I didn’t see coming and was fairly fast-paced. That being said, I don’t think I’d continue the series.

Leia's books have a distinct style, but unfortunately, they all start to feel quite similar after a while. The YA writing tone works at first, but it becomes a bit overwhelming with repetition. After enjoying some of the *Wolf Girl* series, I was hoping for something fresh and different with this new release. The concept of an angel/demon academy with magical elements had so much potential, but the world-building felt chaotic and hard to follow. There was so much information being thrown at the reader that it was tough to grasp the core of the story. The main character (FMC) had the same traits as the FMC from *Wolf Girl*, both in personality and appearance, which felt unoriginal. The place names, like Angel City, were also a bit cringeworthy—especially when you compare them to the similarly named Wolf City from her previous series. Ultimately, the story lacked depth in its characters, originality, and structure, making it hard for me to fully invest in the narrative.

Fallen Academy: Year One by Leia Stone is a perfect mix of thrilling, angsty and magical! This new adult academia romance was beautifully and smartly crafted. The constant twists and turns kept me glued to the pages. It was packed with adventure and action but it has some amazing witty and entertaining moments. Brielle's life has been thrown into full chaos but she is a fighter. Lincoln and Brielle's journey started as enemies and then to unlikely allies and finally to lovers..all while fighting against evil.

* academia romance
* angel vs demon
* Enemies-to-lovers
* paranormal/ fantasy
* new adult romance
* slow burn

The war of angels and demons was brought to the earth and their powers infected the humanity. Now they are either demon blessed or angel blessed and at 18 years age, they are sorted and sent to either Fallen Angel Academy or Tainted Academy. Brielle lives in demon city & she thought she will go to Tainted Academy as her mother sold her soul to save her father. But during the ceremony, it's found that she is angel blessed. Not only that, she is one of the most powerful angel blessed. Celestial. But she also got dark wings and she cannot let her mother to be tortured so she received the devil mark roo. Lincoln Grey is one of the best in Fallen Army and he was given the charge of training her in Fallen Academy. As days pass, Brielle finds new powers and she is someone very special. And that's why she is in danger.

What I loved about the book is the amazing amalgamation of a normal 18 year old's life and the supernatural components. Brielle might have powers but she is still some young girl. With her fears, dreams and beliefs. She is so sassy and witty and I love how she never backs down from any challenge. I don't want to give spoilers about why her powers are special but those are pretty spectacular. She is confused about the new developments. She is scared that the demon blessed side of her will drag her into darkness. She is facing immense judgement for having a devil part and still studying in Fallen Academy. Lincoln didn't like her at first for obvious reasons. He was doubtful about her powers and if she will misuse them. Then Brielle made it a point to go against his orders. But slowly he fell for her stubborn bada&* side. She triggers the protective side in him and sometimes he felt helpless because he couldn't always save her from the dangers. He might be the alpha but Brielle is no less intense.I love the combination of sweet and sassy in Brielle. I loved their banter. And I thoroughly enjoyed how the author incorporated various myths and elements of angels and demons in this story. It ends with a happy for now but the war is far from over. It has just started.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

📖 Title: Fallen Academy-Year One, Book# 1-5

✍🏾 Author: Leia Stone-new to me author

📅Publication date: 3-18- 25 | Read 3-15-25

📃 Format: eBook 352 pgs.

Genre:
*Paranormal Romance
*Fantasy
*YA

Tropes:
*enemies to lovers
*demons/angels
*age gap-18/22
* teacher/college student relationship
*dark academia
*prophecy

👆🏾POV: 1st person single, Brielle

⚠️TW: slavery, kidnapping

🌎 Setting: Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA

Summary: As the apocalyptic, thirteen-year-old war between angels and demons carries on, Brielle has her Awakening ceremony. She will be assigned as demon or angel blessed and is surprised when she sprouts black wings to go along with her demon slave tattoo. She is enrolled into the Fallen Academy-an elite school for those who live in Angel City. Her BFF Shea is also a demon-blessed slave but is assigned to the Tainted Academy as a dark mage. Lincoln, a Celestial, is assigned to teach and protect Bri as he knows she's special.


👩🏾 Heroine: Brielle "Bri" Atwater-18, demon gifted Celestial with powers from all the archangels

👨🏾 Hero: Lincoln "Linc" Grey-22, a Celestial with the powers of 2 archangels Michael and Raphael

🎭 Other Characters:
*Bri's mother and younger brother Mikey. Her father is deceased
*Shea-Bri's BFF
*Raphael-guardian of the school/teacher of the angel blessed, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel-Archangels
*Blake, Noah, and Darren-Celestial master guides
*Master Grim- Shea's boss/forced Shea to take on her drug-addicted mother's debt.
*Master Burdock- Bri and her mother's boss
*Luke-a Beast shifter, Chloe-a Nightblood(think vampire)-Bri's friends at the academy
*Tiffany-the opposition, hates Bri
*Sera-Bri's talking Seraph blade

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the world building as this reminded me of the show Preacher. The sexual tension between Bri and Linc was palpable from their first meeting. I applauded Linc for practicing restraint with Bri even though he was head over heels for her. Shea was a troublesome "bad b" that toed the line of evil. Bri and her friends were a supportive group that accepted each other's differences. I can't wait to read more in this series!

Rating: 4.5/5 ✨
Spice level 5/5 🌶️open door, not explicit

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks |Bloom Books, and Leia Stone for this ARC❤️️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out so well, but I ended up kind of disappointed by the end.

Brielle was such an interesting character, but as the story progressed she go kind of annoying. Especially the ridiculous internal monologues she had. The way she talked made the book feel much more YA than NA. I also didn’t feel any chemistry between her and Lincoln and I think that was because the time jumps in the book made it feel like I was missing big chunks of their relationship development.

I love this paranormal fallen angel romance! Can’t wait to read the rest. Lincoln and Brielle had a fantastic enemies to lovers romance and Lincoln’s cabal of warriors are exactly in like with my favorite trope!

Fallen Academy is a great YA book. Brielle will be forced to be a slave in the demon world to repay her mothers debt, unless she can find a way out of it. She will either be demon gifted or angel blessed. When her black wings appear she knows she is not normal and will have to prove herself to fit in.

Fallen Academy : Year One by Leia Stone 📕

In a world split by Angels and Demons, Brielle joins Fallen Academy to train to join the army that fights the demons. However, soon after finding out she’s a celestial, black wings sprout from her back in the awakening ceremony and now Brielle knows something is wrong. Lincoln, her broody and handsome teacher, seems to dislike her from day one and they continuously clash. Together, they must fight demons and come to terms with Brielle’s secret whilst trying not to fall for one another.

My review: 📖
Strong start: the descriptions made the world-building very clear and I completely understood the different angel and demon characters.
It’s very clear early on where the storyline is going to go with the MFC and MMC.

However, the world-building starts to deteriorate later on and explanations and descriptions are not really given for things that could really improve the overall storyline. For example, Lincoln’s trailer - why does he have one? It’s at the edge of the wood but what’s around it? Are there any other ones around it? Does anyone else get a trailer because otherwise it’s very random…

The fact that Brielle cannot fly but then suddenly in the space of a chapter she can is really difficult to accept. All Lincoln had to do was drop her from a height and she’s flying - totally unrealistic. There needs to be a build up.

The sudden introduction of Fred - Brielle’s love interest to make Lincoln jealous- was super jarring. Where did he come from? There needed to be a build up there also.

The first few fighting scenes - where Brielle and Lincoln fight demons - are very basic but get the job done. However my main problem with them is that Brielle saves him every time with something simple. He’s meant to be one of the best fighters they have and yet she’s saving him so easily?

The big three-month jump just as the romance starts *internally screams*! I really dislike time jumps because I feel like it takes away the build up from the storyline. Having said that, I understand why it’s done a few times in this book because otherwise everything would be repetitive. Jumping just as the MFC and MMC get together is frustrating though!

Overall, an interesting storyline. I’m intrigued where the story is going to go so will probably pick up the second book personally.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for access to the book.

My rating: 3 ⭐️

Fallen Academy: Year One is an entertaining read with a solid mix of humor, romance, and action. While it doesn't break new ground in the fantasy genre, its fast-paced plot and witty characters make it enjoyable, especially for YA readers.

The story itself leans into familiar tropes—special schools, forbidden romance, and an underdog protagonist with rare abilities. While that makes the plot somewhat predictable, the pacing ensures there’s never a dull moment. However, the writing does feel a bit young at times, reinforcing its YA appeal.

Overall, if you’re looking for a light, fun fantasy with humor and romance, Fallen Academy: Year One is worth a read. Just don’t expect anything too groundbreaking.