I really enjoyed this! It was like Fallen/Twilight/Mortal Instruments/Zodiac Academy. I really enjoyed the story and narration and absolutely loved all the characters. I'm so glad there is more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is fun and the narrator did a great job in bringing this story to life. I have been enjoying romance in academic setting.

I don't know what I want to rate this book, it is between and 4 and a 4.5 for me. I enjoyed the heck out of it, it was funny, there was danger, and the FMC was strong, vulnerable, sassy, and awkward. The dialogue was on point, it was easy to follow because the writing seemed like it was written just thought on a page instead of overthinking and making things "more" just for the sparkle. I like that type of writing, it seems like you get a story that flows better and it just feels different. I don't know the author's process of course these are just the feelings I had when reading/listening. Yes, the audio version was amazing, the narrator did a beautiful job. This story is being compared to the Zodiac Academy...I still haven't read that one. I need to add it to my never-ending TBR, also Cresent City...which I haven't read, and Mortal Instruments. I have read that one at least the first 4. This is an adult "dark" academia book. I don't really feel there is much academia in this but it is set in a school. The vast majority is Wen coming into herself. Learning about her roommates, becoming stronger, and daydreaming about her hot Angel Mentor Godric. Who Wen Loves to hate. There is so much witty banter it is easy to feel like you are a part of the group. Though there is implied future romance, this one is more about lusting and daydreaming and there isn't romance involved. I can not wait to read the next one of this series, and if it is as entertaining it may shoot up to one of my recent favs.

Enemies to lovers
Supernatural post apocalyptic
Angels & Demons
Training / School setting
Lots of banter & wit
Strong female character
Look up triggers

3.5 stars
I am so glad this book got an audiobook. I keep seeing this book / a friend recommended this book to me. Overall I liked the story as a whole but found it was slow in places and too fast in others. Wish we could see more of the training and the romance. The beginning was fun but after that a year went by and didn't feel like I learned anything new about the characters or see how the romance developed over that time. It felt kinda like insta love or maybe just lust vs romance. I think maybe having his pov in places would have helped since I don't understand why he did the things he did. That might be the point is to not understand but I really wish we saw more so I could get on board with everything. I will still get to the other books in the series eventually.

This book was SO fun! I liked the main characters thought process and the way that she sees the world. The banter was amazing, I love a good tumultuous and verbal enemy relationship. The world building was great, I could totally picture the state of the world and then the layout of the place they travel to. The magic system was unique and not crazy. There were some goo twists throughout and I look forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of Olivia Pharos debut novel. If you loved Zodiac Academy this book might be right up your alley.

There is good world building and character development, I just wish were a little more deep or kept you invested more. Godric was the best part of the book. I wish that Wen’s could have been emotionally deeper, rather than so snarky all the time.

I think this book is worth picking up to see if it’s for you.

Loved it - it was witty, clever and fast paced - Wen is very likable all around. And story line just kept giving.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this book!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me and I DNFed pretty early on. The main obstacle for me was the language. I do not enjoy listening to swear words. Mild language is fine, but I would categorize this as a notch or two more than mild.

The fantasy plot is set in a post-apocalyptic world where angels and demons live alongside humans. It’s interesting if fantasy and post-apocalyptic settings are your thing. Just wasn’t for me.

This book seemed to drag on a bit and felt like a lot happened but I have no idea what it was. The FMC was hilarious with no filter, giving people sass wherever she saw fit and I appreciated that about her. I'll still read the next one, though. I'm invested enough to want to know what's going on. #MF #angels #demons #supernaturalschool #supernaturalagegap (is he 30 or 3000, who knows?)

This book is interesting in a subject I don't usually read. I rarely pick up a book with Angels and Demons as characters. However, this book was delightfully entertaining. The FMC is very protective of those she loves and the relationship she has with others continues to develop. I enjoyed the banter between her and all others she interacts with, however, it does seem somewhat tiresome that the only response she tends to have to others is sarcasm. The enemies to lovers storyline is extremely slow to develop and the story does not end with them officially getting together, but you can see the relationship development. The narrator is enjoyable and able to keep my attention. Overall, this is a good book that ends in a cliffhanger that I am excited for the next book.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances I was unable to download and review this book on time. That said, I have since purchased this book and have read it, there fore would still love to complete this review.

I read the kindle version of this book, so I unable to comment on the narration but have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am glad that I made the decision to purchase the second book as well!

Ive seen comments where people have said this gives a cross between ACOTAR and Forth Wing vibes and have to agree and I have also seem comments where people have said that it also gives Zodiac Academy vibes and maybe my BFF is onto something with her telling me I have to read that series!

This book though, had so many great elements and I couldnt put it down!

I'd give this one 3.5 stars—it was an entertaining book to listen to. If you enjoy ACOTAR, the main character gives Nesta vibes. The author tries to relay the importance of understanding and practicing consent throughout the story. I would describe the main character’s inner thoughts as "thirsty" at unexpected and inappropriate times. I am not overly committed to the plot- I may or may not continue the series.

I really enjoyed this book! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this! I loved the humor and the banter. And I will always be a fan of a sassy FMC and a moody MMC. This is a unique take on the Angels and Demons trope and putting them all together in a school setting is usually going to mean a good time for this reader. One of my favorite parts of the story is the fact that it's basically a post-apocalyptic world but the basic elements of life haven't really changed. We're not without electricity and hunting for food. Instead, the angels are in charge and the humans are struggling to survive a little lower on the food chain. I'm excited to see where the next book in the series goes! I listened to the audiobook version and absolutely loved the narrator!
Thank you to NetGalley for the Audiobook version in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting book with great dynamic between characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the main character and her crazy humor. Her sass was top notch entertainment.

3.5 Stars! I wish I could give a half star but I am sticking with rounding down to 3 stars in this instance because of a few difficulties I had with the book. I experienced some difficulty adjusting to the narration for this audiobook; there were several moments when I would double check if I had accidentally set the speed of the playback higher than normal speed. The narrator reads a bit too fast for my preferences, but ultimately aside from this one detail, they did a splendid job. I really felt like the narration brought the FMC to life, as she has quite a spunky personality that comes across better in audio than it would in print.

That being said, once I adjusted to the fast pace of the narration, and to the 'new world' the author was presenting, I found myself enjoying this book very much! As I mentioned, the FMC is very spunky, she has a big and sarcastic personality and I ended up really loving that. Especially her nicknames for the MMC - Godawful, Angelhole, etc. I also enjoyed FMC's little daydreams, which give a hint of spice but allow the actual romantic burn to be slow. The plot was unique and interesting enough to keep me on my toes and waiting to find out what would happen next, and the angelic and demonic lore aspects were very fun, and I was glad there was no heavy religious themes.

Though I was initially frustrated with this read, I found myself completely charmed by it and wanting to hear more. I saw the author comment on Goodreads that this will be a five book series and that left me simultaneously excited for more and dreading having to wait! I need Book 2 now, but I find that I am willing to wait until the second one is released in audio because it really does bring the story to life for me.

Overall: Narration a bit too quick, but energetic and lively, really bringing life to the characters. The story kind of throws you in at the beginning and leaves you out of sorts, but once you adjust and get into the story it is overall fun, and enjoyable. Will continue the series as the books are released on audio!

2.25 ⭐️

This book was super meh. It was a lot longer than it needed to be, there was so much teenage drama and pining, the FMC was incredibly whiny and dumb despite being really smart, I couldn’t keep track of the characters and what kind of beings they were, and in general I had to force myself to keep going with it. That is, until the last 15-20%, when it finally got interesting and exciting and we actually got a few answers that we had been waiting for the entire book. I probably won’t continue the series, but who really knows what my TBR will look like in the future (not me).

The audiobook narration was 4 ⭐️ Amanda Leigh Cobb is good, but the few screaming parts were like nails on a chalkboard to my ears, and some of the female voices ran together for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Pharos, and Independent Book Publishers Association for the free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in Audiobook form and the narrator was fairly okay in narration in my opinion. If we go into the sorry telling this book obviously felt like setting up to a big book series.
It has celestial beings from angels, demons, half-gods, nephiliams...etc. within a dystopian setting. Our main character is a thief who lives with her best friend or in her perspective, her only family member surviving with all the chaos related to gods and demons. The story is basically romantasy I guess with little spice. You may describe it as little to no spice as well since the scenes were not that 'hot' I think. I wasn't that interested in the romance part as always but it was a slow burn for the male character even though the main girl is somewhat stereotypical. I was more interested in the world with all these famous god characters and demons and their generations and backgrounds and interaction and the rules and rituals...etc.

The story was not that compelling though the world-building was a bit intriguing to me. I'm not that eager to grab the second book of this series. But I would interested in seeing where the story goes from here for all the characters since the side characters were more interesting. This was more of a 2.75 starts read rounding up to 3 starts which I would recommend to anyone who likes YA, slow burn romantasy books with fewer books to expect in the future

Angels, demons and all powerful celestial beings make for a captivating story. Wen’s story from being demon owned to ending up in Celestial Academy and being trained by the very sexy Godric is a fun story. I like the idea of angels having secrets and not having answers to everything.

everyone is saying this is very Zodiac Academy Vibes, and now I wanna read it too.

Going to search other books of OP for sure.

A great surprise this one!

Book One of Celestial Acadamy introduces us to a fascinating world where angels and demons coexist. The story centres around Wen, a young woman struggling to survive in a society dominated by the powerful Nephilim. Wen uses her unique ability to capture Angel Essence and sell it as a drug to save enough money for her and her friend to escape servitude and start a new life. However, she attracts the attention of Godric, the most ruthless Nephilim, sending her life spinning in an entirely new direction.
The Academy swirls with ancient magic and supernatural creatures both good and evil. I found the pace of the novel to be quite slow. But, the world-building is impressive and detailed.
Much of the story at the Academy involved a lot of training and getting to know the characters so there were good chunks where not a lot happened. The slow-burn romance added to this feeling. However, once it came time for Wen and her friends to face the gruelling challenges together the story took an exciting and suspenseful turn. The twist at the end I didn't see coming left me needing to read the next book in the series.
The narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb, transports listeners to this fantasy world of celestial beings, magic and forbidden romance. Her impressive performance captures the diverse range of characters and emotions. It was just great to listen to and will be a perfect treat for fans of dark academia and enemies-to-lovers stories.