Overall, I'd say this book was okay. Just okay. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. It was kind of just eh. It didn't keep me wanting to pick it up to read and see what happened next. I didn't really care about the "conspiracy" going on. I just didn't really care. I'm sure there will be those who really enjoy the story but it just wasn't for me. I probably won't continue with future books. I gave this book three stars.

Hood Academy is not like any other werewolf book I've read the main female role and the alpha male do not end up becoming mates, and there are few twists and turns in the book but I wished there was more of thrill and action. While this is a decent book I would put it in the category of "one and done" will probably on read this book once in my life. Don't let this review discourage you it is a decent book and a quick read.

I decided I wanted to read this book after reading the BHC Press sampler 2019. It had the first few chapters this book among quite a collection of other titles too. This is the one book from the sampler that really stood out to me and made me want to read it. In fact, after reading the sample chapters it made this book a “must read”!

The book has quite a shocking beginning with the main character of Mia Roberts witnessing the murder of her father by a werewolf! With her mother being killed in a car accident years before Mia is in a desperate state as she has no contact details for her brother Zak. Then just as it seems that Mia will have to be placed in social care, her Uncle Dr Sebastian Roberts arrives to take her back to his home and school the Hood Academy For Gifted Young Girls. Mia accepts she has to go with her Uncle and thinks it can’t be as bad as the daily abuse she has suffered at the hands of her father over the years. Also she has every intention of finding her brother Zak. When Zak had left all those years before he had promised to return for her, and she wanted to know where he was now and why he hadn’t kept his promise.

Upon arrival at Hood Academy Mia thinks she is being dumped at some boarding school however her Uncle explains he is the headmaster and the school will train her to be a hunter. Apparently to be a hunter you have to have seen a werewolf which Mia has. There is an old legend which says for every werewolf born there is a hunter born. Mia’s Uncle Sebastian says if she really hates the school, he can sort it out for her to go to the local school in Ravenshood. The book continues with Mia being taught the origins of the school and the history between the hunters and werewolves. Things don’t sit right with Mia and she runs off into the woods and comes across a cliff area where she sits looking at the view. It’s in this beautiful, relaxing place where she meets a young boy around her age who has the most startling blue eyes she has ever seen. Mia ends up becoming quite close to Cody. Mia also becomes surrounded by werewolves at one point too, though they show no signs at all of attacking her like she has been led to believe they would by what she is being taught at the Academy. Of course, like at most schools, there’s a mean girl and her side kicks. In this book it is Felicity Parker and her friends that take an instant dislike to Mia, and enjoy making her life difficult at every opportunity. It does seem at times that Sebastian favours Felicity if there is any sort of disagreement. Though it is revealed why, later in the book when her father is revealed to have been “calling the shots” for some time.

My favourite character relationships in the book were of course Mia and Elizabeth/Lizzie who become instant friends and support each other whenever possible even if it means going against all you have been taught on a few occasions for Lizzie. The next character relationship I liked was Lizzie and Adam. Adam is the grounds man at the Academy and their relationship has to be kept low key as if revealed it could mean Adam losing his job and/or Lizzie being dismissed from the Academy.

I also loved the tutor/pupil relationship that Miss Ross has with Mia and Lizzie. When it is revealed that Miss Ross knew Mia’s mum it brings them even closer. There were other character relationships, between Mia & her boyfriend that were really sweet. They start of with secrets and then all is revealed and no matter what they have to fight for each other they will. I am not revealing Mia’s boyfriend name as I think it could be a bit of a spoiler. I could go on as there really were some great character relationships within this book. Favourite characters were Mia, Lizzie, Adam, Cody, Zak, and Miss Ross. Mia has some seriously difficult decisions to make in this book. From who to trust, to what to do with information she finds out in files in Sebastian's office. Mia also has to get used to her big brother being back in her life, telling her what to do. Zak has changed a lot since he left his home and Mia. He is now the Alpha of the Ravenshood pack. Mia does realise eventually that though Zak was not physically present, he was always thinking about her and did have contact with people checking on her every now and then. IT takes a while of Zak to get used to the fact his little sister is no longer the timid little girl he left behind all those years ago. Mia soon puts her brother in his place when he expresses his dislike over her choice of boyfriend. I also immediately loved the character of Ari, a youngster who has been given an illegal, unproven injection that could kill her. I thought the friendship between her and Mia was brilliant. Though Ari is very young she is a great help to Mia in the book. Characters I loved to hate were Felicity, her sidekicks and her father, and on some occasions in the book Sebastian.

I absolutely adored reading this book, it was action packed from the beginning to the end! I also loved all the background and history of the Academy and the Werewolves. The serum development and its possible affects were also interesting. I thought the change of Oath was a great touch in the book and it would be great if this book was the beginning of a series, although I don’t know what would come next. I love shifter books and this one is up there with some of the best I have read. I would compare it to the Knight Academy by Emerald Barnes. Though Knights Academy is not just hunters & shifters, as it has other supernatural beings in it.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that it was an Amazing, I have to say I loved every word from beginning to end. I just really, really hope that there's going to be more from the Hood Academy, and the Ravenshood pack.

So, to sum up, Hood Academy is a great shifter book, and I would love more of it! I have not just discovered a possibly fantastic series but an author that is new to me too.

Wow!!!! I was NOT expecting this book. Sure, there are werewolves and hunters, but this was so much more than that.

You will be 100% pulled in to this book within the first few pages read. By the end of the first act, you’ll be completely compelled, turning the pages, and bitting your nails.

Mia has been living a nightmare for years and it all comes to a screeching halt in a matter of minutes. Or has one nightmare ended and another begun?

When Mia’s uncle took her to his school, there were a lot of questions that needed answering. It only takes a few days to realize that the school isn’t exactly what it appears and secrets run deeper than she originally thought. Add in the fact that the individuals she’s supposed to NOT trust are making the most sense and her life couldn’t be more confusing. Thankfully she’s made a couple of amazing friends who help her sort out right from wrong.

This book was GREAT! Between the drama, love interest and paranormal elements, I was hooked. I was a bit surprised to see that this was originally released last year. So I’m not sure if this is a re-write, different publisher or gearing up for a second book, making it a series. But if it’s becoming a series, sign me up!!!! I need more!!!!

This is unlike any werewolf book I've read before (in a good way). The narration and setting are on point.

I started out really liking this book. It was fun, full of intrigue and werewolves, and other magical things. But, I got to the point about 3/4 of the way through the book that I couldn't listen to Mia's self absorbed, whiny self anymore. It reminded me of why I gave up on the Twilight books early on. too much selfish teen age girl angst. Perhaps, I just don't enjoy first person books, because I longed for another point of view. But, if you don't mind hearing that type of voice, you should really enjoy this book, the premise is great.

This wasn’t a book I would normally pick up, but it made me want to broaden my reading genres. I felt like it was easy to figure out, but it was a fun quick read and I enjoyed it. Wolves of any type fascinate me.

Wow, that was quite dark if you ask a personal opinion. But I enjoyed it more than I actually thought!

Hood Academy is an addictive, atmospheric story that grabs that reader from the first page and doesn’t let go. I was pulled into this seaming dreary story of a girl who survives an unbelievable tragedy only to get trust into a new and different world. Our heroine finds herself at an academy where she will learn all there is to know about fighting, surviving and… supernatural creatures. I enjoyed how the story evolved and the characters developed. I really enjoyed this journey of life and self-discovery.

I liked the way the author built the story and how I learned things at the same time as the character. The story has both an amazing plot (with a lot of conflicts and passion) but also solid and well-built characters. I enjoyed the world this author created. Her versions of werewolves are awesome and complete. The author was detailed in the story (at times to a fault) but it made the story that much more rich and I loved how I could feel the transition from human to wolf. I will be reading more from this author and I hope that she continues this world for more adventures. I received an ARC vis NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review.

#NetGalley #HoodAcademy

Hood Academy is one of the few books where I think the author got Werewolves right.

I loved everything, how Shelley Wilson wrote about the wolves, about their interactions and - most importantly - she doesn't shy away from describing their turn. And she doesn't just scratch the surface and just mentions that it hurts, no I think Wilson captures the pain as well as the power and how exhausting and painful it must be when a body changes that extremely.

But besides loving this book for it's depiction of great Werewolves, I liked it for the story of a young girl finding her way from an abusive father to new friends and family under often terrifying circumstances and growing and finding herself and what she truly wants.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this great eARC!

I did not finish this book, I just could not get into it. The story jumped all over the place and it just didn't flow at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blink for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hood Academy gets us in right in the action, it opens up with Mia's father getting murdered by a large wolf. Her uncle Sebastian - who Mia did not even know existed until now offers to be her guardian. He takes her to Hood Academy where chosen werewolf hunters are trained.

Lets start with good stuff. The story was very fast paced and I liked Mia's room mate, Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Adam.

I love a good shifter urban fantasy, but this one felt very juvenile. Here are some things I didn't like

- I did not enjoy the insta-love between Mia and Cody. They literally kissed the 3nd time they met and the whole "I felt drawn to him" thing made me roll my eyes.
- The whole new girl gets bullied by the popular girls thing is so overdone these days.
- Mia is very immature even for a 16 year old