First, I received an Audiobook ARC from NetGalley!

Wow! I didn’t know what to expect from this audiobook when I started. I found it to be amazing by my standards. It’s a fun take on Angels and Demons. As a student of religion, I appreciate the work that the author did when it comes to who and what the angels are. Keep in mind that it’s fiction so don’t get all picky with details people. Simply enjoy the book for what it is, a very fun ride with a foul mouth FMC.

The narrator did an excellent jobs with all the voice changes. She kept me engaged from start to finish.

Olivia Pharos just filled the romantasy void that the Emperyan Series, Acotar, FBBA, and TOG left, and it was a debut novel, so I see this series and the writing developing and getting better as the books come out. I will most likely be listening to this one again!

I was surprised to see that this was Mrs. Pharos's debut novel! The story was well-developed, and the characters were easy to identify and follow. Additionally, the narrator did a fantastic job!

I will definitely be pre-ordering the subsequent books as they are released.

Thank you to Olivia Pharos via Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos.

Celestial Academy: Essence is an absolute masterpiece! Olivia Pharos has woven a spellbinding tapestry of dark fantasy and fiesty romance. The world-building is breathtaking, drawing readers into a realm of angels, demons, and forbidden magic. The characters are complex and captivating, with Wen's journey from enslaved to extraordinary being a heart-pounding rollercoaster which kept me on the edge of my seat for the majority of this story. The slow-burn tension between her and Godric is pure agony and ecstasy.

After listening to the audio book on NetGalley, I'm running to get my hands on the second book Celestial Academy: Null. The immersive experience of listening to the audiobook transported me directly into the world of Celestial Academy, making it even harder to put down. The narrator's performance brought the characters to life in a way that reading the book alone couldn't have matched. Their voice perfectly captured the emotions of the story.

This book is a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and unforgettable storytelling! Prepare to be captivated by a dystopian world filled with thrilling tension, compelling characters, and heartwarming friendships.

3.5 STARS. An interesting romantasy that will appeal to fans of Sarah J Maas or Zodiac Academy. It did feel like this has been over done and it was in need of a bit more editing but overall a good start to a new series.

Celestial Academy: Essence follows Wen as she is forced to attend a magical school full of angels and demons. I really enjoyed the main characters and the majority of the secondary characters! I always love a magical school setting, but I wanted slightly more. This book definitely reminds me of Zodiac Academy with different types of magic and without the hardcore bullying. I will be continuing the series and hope to see more world-building and character development.

I received an ALC from Olivia Pharos | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one just didn't work for me. It started out and I was like oh, it's got angels I see we are going towards a dark Crescent City. But, like Crescent City, I found this one too busy. I was forcing myself to read at every turn and I really wanted to like it, it just didn't hit home.

This was a really good read and listen. I loved the audiobook reader and how they kept my attention throughout the entire story. It was easy for me to follow along and keep an idea of where the story was without losing any of the essence or feeling like I missed important information. As for the story itself: I loved the mystique of not knowing how things were going to work out between the main characters and how the academy itself would work. I look forward to reading and/or listening to more of this series in the future!

This book is for all the fans of Rebecca Yarros, Cassandra Clare, Sarah J Maas, and Ali Hazelwood's bride. Such a fun book to fall and get lost in. I cannot wait to read book 2 and see what comes from the last chapter. Way to leave me at the edge of my seat.

A snarky protagonist, an all powerful mentor, and a best friend worth saving. Some fun side characters as well within an academic trials atmosphere.

At times Wen, the female main character, was overly snarky. The story line kept moving but this was a definite slow burn on the romance side.

Overall it was an enjoyable book to listen to. The voices were distinguishable and seemed fitting for each character.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

This was an addicting book. Gwen has the ability to collect angel essences and the arch angels do now know how she is able to do this. She is put though so many test to figure out how she can do such a thing. Godric is in charge of her and to keep her safe. Him hating her and Gewn hating him. Through all the training they start to form a bond. A bond that wants to keep her safe no matter what even if it forfeits his own being. In her last trial she finds out she is Samuel's sole mate and she hates this and is scared. But when she is out she has no memory of what happened. But Godric seems to know something and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out and find out.

Celestial
This book had some potential, but to compare it to Zodiac Academy or Crescent City (how it was advertised to me) is like saying Skipper is the next Barbie. The FMC had way too many internal monologues and did not understand the art of sarcasm. She just came off as bratty and unlikeable. I can normally mentally bypass the logistics of the mythical-human millennial age gap but in this case it felt gross and implausible.
The narrator is decent for the most part, with the glaring exceptions of some mispronunciations and that the FMC has a Valley Girl accent straight from the intro to Baby Got Back. (OMG Becky!) With the aforementioned languishing diatribes, it was brutal to be subjected to so much angst. In all likelihood I would have rated this higher if I had consumed the material in a different format, but even that couldn't have made it measure up to its forbears.

This book drops you right in the action, it wasn't my favourite but I am intrigued to read the next book in the series.

My next fantasy binge series! What a fabulous surprise! Amanda Leigh Cobb's audiobook narration performance was an undeniable success. Amanda was able to bring the main character Wren alive with consistent energy, passion, intonation, and overall excitement. I felt like she became the character. In the book, there are numerous other female characters, and the narrator was able to give each a unique accent or tone to separate them from one another. The biggest pleasure, was that the narrator was able to voice the MMC Godric's voice in a different octave, to the point I questioned if someone else stepped in. The narrator kept a clear & steady pace throughout the book. There was a significant pause between the chapters (~5 seconds) which felt a little long for me personally but overall, it did not deter me from listening. I will admit I listen to my books faster than 1x but I started off that way because of the quick-moving world setting the author provided. Once I had a feel for the world, I was able to listen to a faster pace and felt the audio progress perfectly,

The story itself kicks off immediately and I just held on for the ride. The book starts off with the lead character Wren, trying to survive in the post-apocalyptic world where humans are at the bottom of the hierarchy. Angels and Demons finally came to a clash during a great war and humans did not come out unscathed. Wren, along with her BFF Sarah, have been conscripted into slavery by demons and are barely surviving day to day. In order to do so, Wren resorts to 'drug dealing' with Angelescence, which essentially gives the user a brief feeling of eternal power/enlightenment, and she is the only one who can capture it. The first part of the book builds in what she goes through on a daily basis, the suffering and sacrifice, until she is caught in the act.

After she is captured, she is brought to angel tribunal and sentenced to the Celestial Academy, a military-like school for multi-races to be trained for a future in the Army of Heaven, with her captor Godric assigned to be her mentor. It is here that Wren is thrust into a world full of Nephilim (children of Archangels & humans), demons and humans that are 'angel graced.' During this time, Godric starts training and testing Wren for what the future may hold. The longer this goes on, the clearer it is that the future holds nothing but unknowns, including another looming apocalypse. Wren is not afraid to speak her mind and in doing so, she may just unlock the key to her future. There is an instant resentment between the Godric & Wren, at being thrust together, and you watch their very slow burning enemies to lovers.

The book did end on a bit of cliffhanger of "What's Next" topped with the Epilogue from Godric's POV and now I don't know which way book 2 will go! I cannot wait to hopefully listen to book 2 with Amanda Leigh Cobb reprising her narrator role and seeing what is next for these two & their world.

This book included great world building, relatable characters, quirky banter at times and had me actively engaged throughout. The storyline, in combination with the narration, had me finish this 15hour book in mere days. I did find having the glossary from the book helpful to clarify terms & places repeatedly mentioned in the book, but I don't think would be necessary for all. Overall, I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys world-building, Angels vs demons, a morally grey MMC and a very vocal and salty heroine, this book is for you! A big TY to NetGalley for my free audiobook copy!

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos

Celestial Academy : Essence is a post apocalyptic fantasy novel loaded with supernatural elements, angels, and demons. When White is caught selling angel essence like it’s a drug, she gets taken to the archangels where they decide to place her in a school to train her for the ultimate test. Wen only cares about one person other than herself, her best friend Sarah, so when she turns up as well, her fear for Sarah’s safety grows. I love Wen and her snarky personality. She is extremely loyal to those she cares about, and doesn’t believe in giving up. The other characters are interesting, and as the story develops, you begin to like even the characters you at first hated. I found myself enjoying the banter and snarky humor throughout the story.

This dystopian story is interesting. The beginning drags a bit, but when it picks up, it becomes way more enjoyable. The narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb is great, drawing you in with her melodic voice. She quickly drew me in with her different voices. I’m intrigued to see where this story will go in the future. I can definitely see the similarities to Zodiac Academy, and believe fans of that series will enjoy this one as well. Be ready for an action packed adventure where anything is possible when angels and demons are present.

Thanks, NetGalley, for letting me review the audiobook version of this book. It was a fun read and listen. I can see why a lot of people acquaint it to Zodiac Academy but it's really just because she's in a school and he's a teacher and there's magic. The FMC is funny and witty, I enjoyed her nicknames for the MMC and her bonding with his friend and her dorm mates. The pacing was good, I didn't find myself bored or my mind wandering while listening to this but I'm also not invested in the characters. I'll look for book 2 but I won't be seeking it out. 3.5/5

I loved the snark and school setting. I really enjoyed seeing the main character develop her confidence and friendships but towards the end it got convoluted to me and rushed. That's why it dropped to a 3☆ for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I tried to listen to this but I didn't like the narration and the writing from the offset wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC

I really enjoyed this!! Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos was a really cool story. We have Wen who is a drug dealer caught dealing Angelescence and is arrested.. She is enrolled in the Celestial Academy and Godric, the dude who arrested her, is tasked with training her, in a post- apocalyptic world.

I loved the aspect of archangels, normal angels and demons that roam the afterworld!
I thought it had a great balance of plot and romance, and a good sprinkling of banter and violence and sizzling tension between our MC’s.

This was a really fun listen and I’ll certainly be looking forward to the next one! Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and Olivia Pharos for the opportunity!

I am hooked! I love the fresh take of the world. Biblical post apocalyptic world meets multiverse and throw in some fantasy beings. This book is curing my Zodiac Academy hangover. A mortal human finds herself arrested by heaven’s angels and ends up in a school for the divine and demonic. I have so many theories racing through my head that I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

I enjoyed this post apocalyptic slow burn romance (though at tikes it was a paced a little too slow for me). I adore Wen and her sarcastic, stubborn, argumentative verbal diarrhea. She is witty and funny. This enemies to lovers romance is filled with twists and turns and has left me looking forward to the next book on the series. An enjoyable read for those who enjoy books like Zodiac Academy. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book.