A big thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the first in a new series. This was a bit convoluted and had a lot of different world building. Probably more for young adults/teens. There was no true conclusion. It did have good characters. I did like Laurel-Leah and the book. I would recommend, and I would read the 2nd. 3.5 stars

Thank you for giving me a chance to reading the title, Alius Academy. Good book YA romance with supernatural fiction.

Hmmm.. this was an interesting one. I really like the concept and storyline, but the book feels unfinished. I’ve read a lot of books in this genre, and I would expect the first book to cover the complete initial trials, it doesn’t feel enough of the story to justify a whole book. There was also no big final conclusion/event or promise of more to make you want to read the next one. It felt like it was just cut off. I would have wanted the rest of the trial, and to finish with finding out it she got to stay at the academy or not. It’s a natural end.

I enjoyed this book. Good storyline and subject. Characters are interesting and relatable. I did feel like the ending left you wanting a little more story. Will be waiting for the next one. Thanks #netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

I enjoyed this although it felt rather too much like Hunger Games in part. But the feel of being an outsider was well described, and the descriptions of the different kinds of magic really well done.
The end was awfully constructed though. No end to the arc of the book, not even a proper cliff hanger. It just stopped, as if the writer ran out of words.
Overall, I'd recommend this, but I might also suggest getting the follow up first, and reading them together as one book

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me an ARC of this book!

An enjoyable YA fantasy! Our FMC, Lori, is suddenly taken to a mysterious school to learn about powers and magic users that she never knew about. She needs to learn quickly to secure a spot in the school during their annual trials. All while also navigating mean girls, trying to make new friends, and learning her past may not be what she thought it was.

Whenever there is a main character dropped into a new fantasy world, there is the danger of just dumping a ton of new information at once! I was pleasantly surprised with the pacing of this information and really only ever felt overwhelmed during the first "trial". Luckily, some of that information was repeated later and explained more when it was relevant. I hope the author continues to do that with the upcoming books because there is a lot of different magic types and users in this world!

I love a good romance and while there isn't a ton in this book, I feel like some groundwork was laid out for it in the series. But really, secretly, I am hoping for a why choose :)

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I cannot wait for the next one. The story was easy to follow for the most part and had good pacing, but sometimes I would get a few of the more minor side character mixed up. This was because some of the more unique names would almost be similar to each other in the book, or I would forget their magic type/power. However, that is really only my biggest issue with this book.

I really enjoyed this first book in this new series. I love books featuring magic and schools and this one was perfect. I love meeting all the different kind of magics and species featured in this book.
The main character Laurel-Leah Fields has just found out about being a magical being after being attacked. Now faced with the decision of passing the school trials or going to a detention centre Laurel- Leah chooses to face the trials.
I enjoyed all the characters we met in this series and found them well rounded. I enjoyed the plot but did feel that the ending was kind of cut a little short.
I really enjoyed this authors writing style too.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC book in exchange for my honest reviewZ

A good start to a new magic school series, but this first book feels unfinished. Like it’s missing at least a few more chapters the way there are some unfinished sentences. Awkward.

I do look forward to reading what comes next though.

This was an advanced copy via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this magical school, meets hunger games meets paranormal romance.

Fun, pacy, decent plot, the magic is interesting and a lot of the characters are great.

Few criticisms. There were so many new characters it was a bit hard to keep track. I get it’s a series, but it just sort of seemed to end half (a third? Part?) way, rather than feeling like a finished book. Would have been nice to have a bit of resolution and a complete story leading into the next one, rather than it being one long novel split into several. Also - I found the writing a bit immature in places.

All that being said. I liked to world, I love the creatures, I’m into the story. I’ll definitely read the next (whenever it’s out).

Although it’s a bit slow in the beginning, it definitely ends up sucking you in to Lori’s new thrilling world. I would definitely reread this book and look forward to future books in the series as it ends on a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting more. However, the ending does feel a bit rushed and wished it was a little bit more detailed when it comes to Lori’s love interests.

This surprised me in a good way. Lara Wray is a new-to-me author and she created a world different than I expected. I am a big fan of plots where the mc doesn’t know they have power, comes to find out they’re rare and really powerful, and then has to master said power. That was this story to a T. Add in the interesting friends and allies Lori began to make during her time at the school, multiple possible love interests, and the trials she was thrust into which made for an entertaining read.

Lori discovered early on in the book that she had powers, was an unregistered immigrant with tampered memories and had no recollection of where she came from/who her parents were. There’s a lot of potential to where this story will go and I’m excited for it!

This is the first book in a series, which meant it ended before the story really began and I was really sad to when I was all of the sudden at the “about the author” bit. All in all, I’d read the rest of the series when they come out, especially since they’re easy reads and I love the covers!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lori is under the impression that she's a normal 18-year-old human, just planning her future and enjoying the fact that her parents really love and get her. And then she finds out — from a voice in her head! — that she's actually an Alius living on earth with altered-memories. An assassin is trying to root her out and kill her; her only option for survival is to join the Alius Academy, a magic school full of other people like her. Triwizard Tournament-style hijinks ensue, only the stakes feel much higher.

Lara Wray's first entry into the Elemental Mage series is full of charm, with an engaging voice, an exciting magical world, and some important social commentary. It reminded me less of Harry Potter and more of Divergent, even though there's a magical school. It's a fast read that drops you right into the action and never looks back, and I found the protagonist compelling and easy to root for, including the cringey things that make teenagers, well, teenagers.

The real thrill was meeting all the magical creatures, and getting to the end and realizing how much story Wray still has to tell.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Picture this - you’re 18, thinking about your future, and working every waking moment of your life to help support your doting parents, and suddenly you hear a voice in your head and an other-worldly assassin is hunting you. This is where Lori finds herself before being whisked away by members of the Alius Academy.

Lori is not who she thinks she is thanks to memory-altering magic, her parents are not who she thinks they are, and her true identity may just get her killed. She is an unregistered Alius living on Earth which leaves her with two options: complete the Alius Academy trials to secure a spot at the most prestigious magical combat school on the planet (or die trying), or be sent to a detention centre to await her fate.

I cannot tell you how much I LOVED this book!! I read this in one sitting and I will definitely pick it up again. Anything with a magic school premise, I’m there, but Alius Academy is head and shoulders above others in the genre in my opinion. This is the start of very promising YA series with a simple magic system (I mean that in the best way), high stakes and INCREDIBLE social commentary. Lara Wray put a lot of nods into this book around human issues such as racism (or as we see in AA, speciesism) and the hatred towards undocumented immigrants. I can’t praise this book enough!

I see this series being huge, and there are so many directions Wray can take us in. I will be (im)patiently awaiting the next instalment.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Alius Academy follows Lori, who unbeknownst to her possesses magical powers. She is whisked away from the life she knows and brought to Alius Academy, where she learns she is Alius. She’s told that she has 2 choices: compete and pass the trials, or go somewhere a lot less glamorous. The story is perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Divergent, with the set-up of the trials that need to be passed in order to gain entrance into Alius Academy. That’s where the similarities end, however. I haven’t read any books with elemental magic before, and this certainly will not be my last.

Overall, I really enjoyed Alius Academy. The book started off fast and mysterious, raising a fair amount of questions in the first 2 chapters alone. After the first 2 chapters, the pace slowed down, but the story and world being built are interesting so the slowing pace is not a detriment. It helped me to have some time to digest all the information coming at me while I was reading. Alius Academy was a comfortable, quick, and enjoyable read, with an ending setting up for sequels. The ending leaves many unanswered questions, and I for one can’t wait to find out what Alius Academy has in store for us next! I’d definitely recommend Alius Academy to lovers of magic, trials, and YA novels.

A magical school ya fantasy. The world built in this book was fun and creative. The story was compelling to read and kept the reader engaged. The different types of magic are introduced but not fully explained. I really enjoyed this book, but I wish they would have gone further with the plot as it doesn't feel like a book ending but the end of a chapter. Also, a lot of the character names are alliteration, which seems to read a bit strange for me when there are so many. The writing and characters are very ya but likeable even with a few teenage cringe moments. I recommend this book to magical school and fantasy readers. I will definitely continue to read this series to see what happens next!

3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
Thank you Net galley for a copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the twist on the i have no idea who am or why I have magic but now I’m at a really specific and special school for it. I wish we could have gotten a little bit farther in the story, at least to see where the second book would take place. I feel like where we left out when book 2 is published it will be more of at part 2 to book 1.
I enjoyed the writing style and the world she built, I feel like we have a pretty good world without the book feeling like just world building. I enjoy our main character and the friends she has made and I’m excited to see how everything connects in future books.

A tale of fantasy and magic to rival any young wizard academy. Lori finds herself facing trials like none before. She must learn about herself and her new magic to protect her family from danger. Allies, boys, hormones all in collision and this serious combat academy. Will Lori pull through, succeed and escape the hidden darkness and secrets that lurk, will she escape with her life. I enjoyed reading this and I guess it is aimed at a young, teen audience of witches and magicians.

When I started reading this story, I could not put it down. I read the book in one day. This author is an awesome writer. I cannot wait to read more of their books. Keep up the great work. You should definitely read this book.

Thrust into a world of magic, monsters, aliens and secrets, Lori’s in way over her head. And now she must pass a series of treacherous trials… or die trying.

Think Tri-Wizards Tournament but with more meaning. If you lose you're out. Our heroine Lori is making a strong case for a mixed breed. I love her character and her unique cast of allies she's picked up along the way. Also, who will be her romantic counterpart? I guess it's too early to tell. This first installment in the Elemental Mage Series will leave you wanting for more. I need six books please. It's just a really fun read with lots of fun magical creatures. How can you go wrong? Strongly recommend for fantasy readers who love mythical creatures and trials of aptitude.

Thank you @netgalley and #larawray for allowing me to read this delightful book.

This was a quick, fun read. I'm always a sucker for stories about magical schools. All in all, I enjoyed the story. The writing was a bit simplistic and honestly, the magic system was pretty confusing at times. Way too much going on with all the different species and it was difficult to keep straight. But the storyline was engaging enough I'll probably read the rest of the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.