Akarnae by Lynette Noni is literally everything I look for in a fantasy book. I see a lot of reviews talking about how it's a Harry Potter rip-off, and while there are similarities, I think this book has a life and spirit of its own that was so enjoyable to experience. The components that made this book a 5-star read were the 1) characters, 2) their relationships, 3) the world, and 4) the conflict. So let's break each of those down!

One thing about me is I physically cannot get through a book with boring or dull characters. In Akarnae, there wasn't a single protagonist that I didn't love. The FMC Alex was fiery but compassionate and getting to read about her growth throughout this book as she adjusted to the new world she was thrust into was such a treat. The two close friends she made instantly to help her navigation, Jordan and Bear, were also fun to meet, since they immediately made Alex feel welcome with their warm and witty personalities. The friendship between those three throughout the book was such an important part of what made the book feel alive. And we can't forget the addition to the trio, D.C., who gets off on a shaky start with Alex but then we see them grow their bond and eventually come friends. The found family was such a huge thing about this book that made me love it, and I can't wait to see what is in store for these four in the next books. I'm also intrigued about what's in store for Alex and Kaiden 👀.

Now, with every fantasy novel and every reader, the world-building can be a total make or break. I honestly don't really care about the world being insanely detailed and built—as long as it's unique, makes sense, and there's a bit of history to it, I'm set! And Medora checks all three boxes. The history we learn in this first book is detailed and mysterious, the differences between Medora and regular Earth make it so you're stepping into a whole new world, and most aspects of the world are well thought out and make perfect sense. In this first book, though, we did only stay in Akarnae Academy most of the book, so I do have hopes to explore more of Medora in the next books!!

And lastly, the plot. I may sound crazy for this, but honestly characters are so important to me that I could read the most boring, confusing plot and still eat up every word (I did it with Shadowhunters and Keeper of the Lost Cities). But in Akarnae, the plot was not boring at all! The antagonist's motivations made sense, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to unfold. I do think this book just served as an introduction to a what will hopefully be a bigger conflict, but I love how it balanced both world-building without skirting too far away from creating a conflict.

Overall, Akarnae is a fun fantasy read that I think every fantasy lover will enjoy, and I can't wait to continue reading the series!

I loved the other series by the same author, so I decided to give this one a try. This was absolutely one of the best fantasy worlds I’ve ever been in! I cannot wait to read more in the series. These characters have my whole heart.

As long time lovers of this series, my daughter and I are so excited it is being published in the USA!!

This story is the perfect intro into fantasy reading, but can also be enjoyed by long time fantasy readers, such as myself. It does read a little more middle grade, but the timeless kind like Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia. Meaning it can be enjoyed by a large range of ages.

There is a little romance, it's definitely background to the adventure of being in a new world though. The cast of characters is excellent. They are carved out well and provide further movement in the story.

I would recommend this to anyone!!!

I can barely read books if there isn't any romance present but I didn't miss it at all! Between the effortless worldbuilding and being immediately immersed in Medora, I was so distracted! Lol but I would still ask my sister who the love interest would be and she was like you already met him!
This is a true YA contemporary fantasy!

Alex, never quite fit in with the world around her and one day when a Portal opens to Medora, her life truly begins. Trials, new friendships, and discovering who she really is —all awaits beyond the doorway.

What you'll find:
Sentient Library
Magic School
Combat Training
Slowburn Romance (builds up throughout the series)
Magical Doorways
Hidden Identities
Supernatural Gifts
Found Family
Fantasy Worlds
Action & Adventure
Immortal Princes
And more!!!!

Akarnae completely swept me away from the very first chapter. It has everything I love in a fantasy novel: a magical academy, found family, unforgettable characters, mystery, adventure, and a world that I never wanted to leave. I went in expecting a fun portal fantasy, but it turned out to be so much more.

Alex is an easy protagonist to root for. She's intelligent, funny, and refreshingly relatable as she navigates a completely unfamiliar world. Watching her discover Medora alongside the reader made every new reveal feel exciting. The friendships she builds were one of my favorite parts of the story, and the cast as a whole has incredible chemistry that made me smile throughout.

The world building is imaginative without ever feeling overwhelming, and every new piece of magic or history only made me more invested. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist or revelation kept me hooked. The balance between humor, heart, and high stakes was perfect, making it impossible to put the book down.

This was one of those rare books that reminded me why I love fantasy. It captured that sense of wonder and adventure that makes you want to stay up far too late reading "just one more chapter." I immediately wanted to pick up the next book as soon as I finished.

If you love magical schools, portal fantasy, lovable characters, and stories packed with mystery and heart, Akarnae is an absolute must read. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Akarnae by Lynette Noni (Book 1 of The Medoran Chronicles)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Akarnae by Lynette Noni is a young adult, coming-of-age, fantasy. Although there aren't any wizards or witches, the story reminds me in many ways of the Harry Potter books, with a touch of Magic Kingdom For Sale...Sold! by Terry Brooks tossed in for good measure.

16 year old Alexandra Jennings, Alex to her friends, steps through a door and finds herself stranded in Medora, and quickly enrolled in Akarnae Academy, a school for gifted students. With no way to return home, she settles in with her friends' help, and becomes more comfortable in most of her ... unusual ... classes. She also uncovers some of the school's mysteries, and, perhaps most surprising, she learns she may have a larger role than just being a student.. a role that may be crucial in preserving the Medoran people against an ancient threat that has reappeared.

Akarnae is terrific tale of found family, full of adventure, secrets, surprises, hidden places and unexpected danger. The story is an intriguing, fun, fast-paced read, and I was reluctant to put it down at night. I'm really looking forward to reading Noni's second book in the series, Raelia.

Recommended especially for tweens and teens, and anyone who enjoys a fun fantasy full of adventure and intrigue!

Thanks to Astra Publishing House for providing an eARC to review via #NetGalley
The US edition of Akarnae releases on Sept 22, 2026.

#MedoranTeamUS #MedoranABFYR

This was one of the best books I have ever read and I need book 2 (and 3 and 4 and 5) immediately!

Akarnae is a YA fantasy that follows Alex, who ends up in the magical land of Medora by going through a random office door. This is portal fantasy done in an absolutely wonderful way! What truly made this book so wonderful was the characters, the magical world and its history, and the magic system itself!

When Alex falls into this fantasy world, she immediately meets a mysterious man who peaks suspense/interest from the beginning. She then runs into two boys her age, Jordan and Bear, who become her best friends and bring her back with them to Akarnae, the magical university in Medora. The friendship between the main 3 is so powerful and relatable, and often times hilarious, and really gives the story its heart. The way the characters and written, from the main characters to the barely seen side characters, shows them all experiencing growth in different ways and results in characters you will fall in love with and miss as soon as you finish the book! I truly appreciated the depth given to all characters as it made every interaction feel important, not just the central trio relationship.

Now to get into Medora and its history! Since Alex has fallen into this world, she conveniently knows nothing about it just like the reader! This allows Noni to do a fantastic job of slowly revealing details of the world in a natural progression as Alex is discovering things herself. As more is revealed, more questions arise for both Alex and the reader, and it is so fun to learn the history and features of the world alongside the characters. This also results in more small details being shared of the world in addition to the larger ones, but I never found the world or its elements confusing because of this method of storytelling. I absolutely cannot wait for the next 4 books to reveal more about the history of the magic of Medora!

And now, the actual magic system and the magical school of Akarnae! Akarnae is the school in Medora for “gifted students”, which means they have some kind of magical gift that warranted an invite to study at the institution. Students study for multiple years but participate in courses that are separated based on grade level as well as some separated based on aptitude for the taught skill. The dynamics of the school coursework, the detail put into the layout of the institution, and even the amount of information given on the dining hall builds a campus you can picture walking around alongside the characters. However, I haven’t even mentioned my favorite place in this book yet! Akarnae is home to a magical, and very mysterious and maybe a bit mischievous, library! While magical libraries often appear in fantasy novels, this one takes the cake for entertainment, suspense, and just overall wonderful magical qualities. I don’t want to say anything more so that the library’s surprises are in fact surprises for other readers, but it is a fantastically magical portion of the story and so well done!

Finally, Noni really knows how to throw in plot twists that you’ll never see coming! I thought so many times that I knew exactly where the story was going and what would be revealed and I was wrong pretty much every single time! The unpredictability made this such an enticing read, and I finished the book in two days! Honestly, this book has put me in a reading slump where all I want to read is book 2 and all I can think about is book 1, but in the best way!

I would recommend this book for any and all fantasy readers, but especially fans of the YA genre and lovers of portal fantasy specifically! Additionally, I’ve seen a lot of people compare this book to Harry Potter and while there are a few similarities I don’t entirely agree with that comparison, but fans of Harry Potter would absolutely love Akarnae as well! Please check out this wonderful book when it releases September 22, 2026!

Thank you to Astra Young Readers for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this wonderful book!

I LOVED the Prison Healer series so I gave this one a go. I am SO glad I did, the world building is SPECTACULAR. I don't think anyone could have done better to put me into it.

What a magical beginning to what I feel will be a great series! I knew that it mentioned it had Harry Potter vibes with a flare of Narnia and X-men, and it delivers! I couldn’t help being fascinated by the world and the people who live there. Lynette has a skill for found family and that is one of the things I enjoyed the most… also loved the combat scene with Kaiden. I’m excited to get into the next book to see where this series takes her next!