Witch coven disguised as a sorority! I was immediately interested.

While full of action and magic, the stereotypes threw it off a bit for me.

There is definitely more character development in this one, though some characters could stand to be more fleshed out. The romance was on the bland side.

The twist at the end is what gained its three stars.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of The Monarchs. I really appreciate it!

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pub Date: January 11, 2022
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! I usually love books about witches, and The Monarchs was the perfect conclusion to The Ravens. I thought this book was engaging, interesting, and fast-paced. I enjoyed the plot a lot, and a lot of my questions from the first book were answered in this one. I also really enjoyed the characters. I am a very character driven reader, and I really liked these characters.

I also really liked the continuity from the first book to the second. The plot picks right up where the Ravens left off, and that made the story really easy to follow. Overall, I would highly recommend this duology to a fantasy lover, especially if they want a duology they could finish quickly.

Don't read this one without first reading book one: The Ravens. This sorority-filled magical world is perfect for fans of Dark Academia and I loved that although most of the characters are indeed spoiled sorority girls they have to learn how to use Magic.

THE MONARCHS is a great example of how a sequel should be - building up upon the plot of the previous book, creating new conundrums for the characters, and overall, hooking the reader so deeply that they cannot put it down.

What a thrilling conclusion to this witchy duology! This story picks up right where we left off with The Ravens and there's a whole lot more going on in this story. Desperate not to have history repeat itself, The Ravens are trying to restore balance to the magical world. Vivi has been appointed Social Chair and is now dating Scarlett's former boyfriend. But all is not well as new rivals come forth to challenge the Ravens. This was a solid read and was quite enjoyable. This book is dark and gritty and atmospheric and the story is nicely developed, creating a wonderful conclusion to this fabulously witchy tale!

I was looking forward to this sequel because I enjoyed the first book enough to want to continue the story. This book answered some of the questions I had, but did not fulfill all the hopes I had for it.

Unfortunately this was definitely not my favorite book nor the best follow up book in my opinion. I think there could have been much more for the characters and I just wanted something more for some of them. I would still pick up other stories by these authors because I enjoyed their writing enough, but this isn’t anything I would re-read.

The Monarchs by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige
YA Fantasy, Coming in 2022 from HarperCollins, 448 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:
-Something about the storyline just emphasizes the fact that these main characters are spoiled girls. It’s a personal thing that I’m not a big fan of reading about perfect, spoiled characters living perfect, spoiled lives. Yes, arguably, the events of the first (and this) book are imperfect and downright awful for them … but that doesn’t change how they come across. Again, it’s a personal thing. I’d prefer to read about average people.
-Pacing is odd. It feels like it takes forever to get moving and bring in the intensity, then it feels like it rushes when you finally get to it.
-Romance lines didn’t work. Well, that’s not fair, they work. They happen and it’s cute. But they didn’t add anything to the plot. In fact, I enjoyed the interesting character who was brought in explicitly to give one of the romance subplots a cute twist ending. No spoilers, that character deserved better though.

What I Did Like:
-Magic. In the first book I mentioned I liked the way magic was something you had to learn, something that requires practice. In this book that’s emphasized even more. There are characters who learn the cost of doing magic in other ways and that’s a cool lesson.
-The ending was cute. The authors do a good job (again) of wrapping up enough of the major storylines to give you closure if this is it while at the same time leaving a crack in the door in case there’s room for a third book in the series.
-Some of the minor characters are great. Xavier, Rose, and even Tim are described in interesting ways and add a little something to the story just by being there.

Who Should Read This One:
-If you like magic, sororities, and tension this is the book for you.

My Rating: 3 Stars. Good for the genre but I would’ve liked to see the pacing tightened and the spoiled girl stereotypes turned down a bit.

Did not realize this was part of a series and did not understand most of the hype with the first book and then the letdown with this book. It just seemed like different/special young people considered outsiders had their own sort of cult for revenge. Was not into this at all and will not recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kass Morgan and Clarion Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 1/11/22

I had really enjoyed the Ravens: though simple, I thought it was fun and fast-paced.
The Monarchs, on the other hand, felt very "young", juvenile even. I was really frustrated to see the characters acting differently and making out-of-character poor choices all the time just so the story could go wherever the authors wanted it to go. It felt unnatural and boring. This book started pretty good, it seemed fun too but very soon, it focuses on the sorority war and the clues of what is going on is under everyone's nose (the reader's included) but no one figures it out!
As for the romance: Vivi's relationship felt so forced, I rolled my eyes a lot! I liked Scarlett's way better but it takes the whole book for things to progress!
The witchy aspect too was not as enjoyable as in the first book, Vivi is suddenly a witchling again and does mistakes all the time, they mostly use magic for trivial things and it was bratty and unnecessary. A bit of convenient magic can be fun in a book like this, but when it's the <i>only</i> magic they do, the characters seem shallow!
As a whole, I felt like nothing of importance was happening. Around the halfway mark the story takes a far-fetched turn that I didn't like at all! I'm a bit sad because it was one of my most anticipated release.
One of the things I was really looking forward to was the sense of coven that we didn't get in the first book: the sense of unity, knowing each and every witch equally. I love books about gangs of friends (Six Of Crows, the Raven Boys, etc.) and this book is a missed opportunity to read about modern witches, female friendship and strength!

I really loved The Ravens, so I was very excited to read its sequel, The Monarchs. This book picks up the following semester and follows Vivi and Scarlett as they deal with the trauma and events of the first semester. Seeing Kappa go up against a rival Greek house and dealing with the repercussions of what happened at the end of the last book, sets us up for a very fun read. I loved seeing Scarlett step up as Kappa president and her strength throughout the book, even as everything is basically falling apart. I loved her kinda relationship with Xavier and getting to know him. Vivi dealing with her trauma of nearly dying last semester and finding her place among her Kappa sisters was so intriguing, I really love the growth she goes through. Her relationship with Mason is adorable and the struggles she goes through with him in this book are so relatable, in an odd way (since keeping the secret of having magic isn't actually relatable), but I did really like how their relationship was portrayed. The relationship I truly love the most is definitely Scarlett and Vivi and seeing their relationship grow but also struggle this book was brilliant. The Monarchs is a fun and emotional story that has me very excited to read more in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Clarion Books for the eARC to read and review!

The Monarchs is the conclusion to The Ravens by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige. This installment picks up about a month after The Ravens ended. It’s the beginning of a new semester for the Kappa Rho Nu sisters and Scarlett has been named their new president after the tragedy of the previous book. The girls are all still reeling from that tragedy and make a pact to ensure that the House never falls victim again. Strange things begin happening and the sisters once again must work together to protect themselves and the Kappa Legacy. I really enjoyed The Ravens, but this follow up fell flat for me. There is so much miscommunication between the characters even though they all talk about changing things and working together in the beginning. The basic storyline was interesting and the revel of the big bad was unexpected, but the character development was nonexistent. Additional characters were added to an already bloated cast so it was difficult to keep up with everyone. The chapters alternate between Vivi and Scarlett so we only ever know their perspectives and both characters became pretty unlikeable for me. The Kappas are used to being on top and using their magic to manipulate their settings and the people around them to their liking. They are basically mean girls who are focused on throwing the best parties on campus. This book does not show them in a flattering light IMO. I feel like they sort of got what they had coming to them. You can only push others down so long before they fight back. There are a few romantic subplots that are boring and the most interesting character doesn’t make it to the end. I feel this book was really unnecessary. I have no interest in learning anymore about these Kappas. I would have preferred to keep my impressions of them from the first book. The title makes little sense considering The Monarchs are the alumnae of Kappa and they have very little to do with the story. This story was all about status, manipulation, and envy. I didn’t enjoy it, but other readers might. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. This is 2.5 stars rounded up to a 3. Thank you to NetGalley, HMH books, and the authors for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All reviews are mine and do not reflect the brands I represent.

The Monarchs was a great sequel/finale to The Ravens. I loved the drama and magic.. and the higher stakes in this book.

While we were rooting for Vivi in book one, this book had me preferring Scarlett’s characters, which I loved. She was a little bit of a mean girl in the first book and I loved that the authors gave us some character growth. Scarlett and Jackson also had a relationship I couldn’t help but root for, either, while Vivi and Mason were being fractured by secrets. It was dramatic, but also entertaining.

The Monarchs was fun and it’s the kind of story I’d love to see adapted into a TV show. I definitely recommend this series to others, especially fans of light YA stories with some darker magic. Also, the cover is gorgeous!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the Monarchs from NetGalley which I was happy to receive since I loved the Ravens. The Monarchs starts where the Ravens left off with the Ravens working on moving past and moving on the events from the first book. (If you have not read the Ravens make sure to read this one first as there are parts of the first book that are referred to in this book).

The sorority girls of Kappa Rho Nu are being tested by an unforeseen power that they never imagined they would have to confront. Their choices and actions cause results that lead up to despair and disaster. Scarlett Winter is left to fill the shoes of their present that they lost before, and needless to say some of the Ravens are not making it easy for her. She is constantly presented with situations where she has to prove that she is capable and worthy of being the president of Kappa Rho Nu.

Meanwhile, Vivi is finally feeling that she belongs when her Big Sister, Scarlett gives her the entitled position of Social Chair. Vivi has a desire to go above and beyond to prove that she is right for the position even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

Along with this, the Ravens are being targeted and some of the guys that Kappa Rho Nu know well aren't acting like themselves. Not to mention their rival sorority seems to suddenly, suspiciously have magic. Could it be possible?

The choices and the darkness that were released with the destruction of the talisman (prior event that took place in the Ravens) cause for events to unfold that could lead up to the destruction and end of the Ravens - from the dissolution of the Ravens to the loss of their powers. Does that actually happen? Well I guess you will just have to find out. Until next time, happy readers!

(As mentioned this is an Advanced Reader Copy received from NetGalley. Stay Tuned and Grab your Copy of the Monarchs when it releases in March!)

Scarlett feels like she has fulfilled her destiny. She is the Kappa Rho Nu president, just like her mother and older sister before her. She feels the added stress to watch over her sorority sisters, especially since the last president met an untimely death. Vivi is only a freshman and becoming a Kappa Rho Nu has taught her what it feels like to belong. Scarlett has just told Vivi she is to be the social chair and that added burden may be a little too much because there is a new darkness on Westerly’s campus. Will this be the end of the Kappa Rho Nu legacy?

The Monarchs is the second book in The Ravens duology. Usually, the second book in a series is a disappointment, but that is not true in this installment. I don’t know if it was because the character and world-building were already complete, but this story was spot on with everything a good escape read needs. I enjoyed all of the campus drama and loved how the storyline was finished. Sometimes it is hard to pull off a duology, but this one is worth the reading time.

The sisterhood of the first book was what convinced me to read the sequel to The Ravens, and I was interested to see where the story would go from there.

After the tragic loss of a few of their sisters last semester and everything they went through, the Kappas are still grieving and recovering, but also trying to make a fresh start with new president Scarlett. The semester starts off smoothly at first, but they’re soon faced with threats from another sorority on campus, and something is wrong with the Kappas’ magic. When Vivi discovers a new type of magic, all goes well initially, but she soon learns that young, inexperienced witches shouldn’t tamper with magic they don’t understand.

I have to say I prefer the first book to this one. From the beginning, this has a whole mean girls vibe on nearly every page that overshadows the underlying mystery. The girl hate theme grew a little tiresome. I did enjoy the Kappa alumni, the Monarchs, having a little more page time in this sequel, although I thought it would have been more given the book title. They’re not main characters or even prominent supporting characters by any means, but their influence is felt and it has an effect on the characters.

The ending felt a little rushed to me, but I think most readers will be satisfied with the conclusion, as well as Vivi’s and Scarlettt’s romantic relationships.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The thing I enjoy about this series is the witchcraft the sisters actually do – by using chants and their magic elements. It feels like the movie, The Craft which was a fun witchy movie. I also like that there was an evil power at work and we didn’t know who it could be, although there are a few suspects. The rival sorority house a good storyline too because the Kappas are pretty private.

I enjoyed the mystery part of the story as the girls try to figure out what or who is attacking them. There is a revelation near the end that I wish would lead into a book three but it seems like this is a duology? But in a sense things were wrapped up conveniently at the end.

Scarlett is now the head of the Kappas but her leadership is being tested on every front. Scarlet’s love life is a mess also, something is going on with Jackson and a new guy, Xavier comes into the picture. Vivi is now social chair and taking on more responsibilities on top of dating Mason but she is overwhelmed with trying to figure out what’s happening to the Kappas.

Random Notes~~
Content Warning: self harm

The romance storylines didn’t work for me. Jackson doesn’t want anything to do with Scarlett and she’s bummed about it but a new guy comes into the picture, but he’s a bit of a mystery. Vivi and Mason start off strong but things go south when she doesn’t have much time for him. So I didn’t feel anything on the romance front between any of these couples.

Scarlett’s leadership was tested but honestly I felt she was lacking in leading the Kappas. She didn’t have any good plans to figure out what was going on and only relied on Vivi for help. As for Vivi, she should have talked to her Kappa sisters about what she was experiencing and accepted their help but she went and did things on her own. And why is Vivi always getting possessed?! First book one and now this one? It all ended with a person sacrificing their life to save Scarlett, and pretty much everyone on campus and I didn’t like how that went down.

Would have liked to learn more about the witch hunters! Would definitely read a book three.

FINAL THOUGHTS~~
Why you should read it:

*it’s a series about witches in a sorority
*rival sororities competing with one another
*a mystery as Scarlett and Vivi try to figure out what is attacking them

Why you might not want to read it:

*not into sororities fighting over who gets to throw the spring fling event
*main characters growth wasn’t quite what I expected

My Thoughts:

It took me awhile to get into the story but once I did, I enjoyed the Kappa girls and their witchcraft. I enjoyed seeing the girls use their magic and witchcraft. I felt like Scarlett and Vivi were weak in their own ways and I wish there was more growth to each of their characters. Overall, a pretty good conclusion to a witchy duology but I still think there could be one more book after that ending.

I read the first book in this series, The Ravens, in January 2021. So I was thrilled when I saw the sequel up on NetGalley. I love the premise of these books, a legendary sorority where all the sisters are witches, hidden in the middle of a prestigious university.
Though I had a hard time remembering the names of some of the supporting characters, I was mostly able to leap right back into the world.
Following their hellish last semester, The Ravens are looking to get back to normal and blow their rival sorority out of the water by throwing some absolutely amazing parties. But not only are their rivals more put together than they used to be, some of them seem to know about the Ravens' magic. A dark force is growing on campus, worse even than last semester's, and every time something goes wrong, the rival sorority is right there.
I think this novel did a great job of picking up where the last one left off, raising the stakes, and nicely tying up the plot threads left by its predecessor.

The Monarchs, sequel to (the much loved by me) The Ravens, returns us to Westerly college and the world of carefully concealed magic and a coven masquerading as a sorority. Scarlett and Vivi return to campus after winter break ready to make the best of the new semester after the devastating betrayal by one of their sisters, which resulted in her death as well as that of the sorority president, Dhalia. However, things quickly go from bad to worse, and the Ravens are left wondering what is going on; has one of their own betrayed them again?

Scarlett, newly appointed as president of Khappa Ro Nu following Dahlia’s death, is struggling to manage her grief at losing her best friend, Tiffany, mixed with anger at her betrayal. On top of this, Scarlett is trying to make changes to her sorority, important and beneficial changes, but it is difficult when she is constantly compared to Dahlia. Worse still, just when she thought she was reforming her connection with Jackson, he completely blows her off for one of the Theta girls, Khappa’s rival sorority. Scarlett is once again the stand-out character. Strong, capable and fearless, her chapters are the highlight of the book.

Vivi, still struggling to control her newfound magic, wants nothing more than to be powerful enough to ensure that what happened last semester never happens again. As newly appointed Social Chair, Vivi sees her chance to prove herself as a witch, but when her first event ends in disaster, Vivi turns to a different type of magic, one that requires no spells, tarot cards, or help from her sisters, only blood. Vivi becomes a nearly unbearable character in this book, constantly whining about wanting to be powerful enough to protect her sisters, herself and the school, but does nothing but continually hurt others in her quest for this power. While Vivi was a bit childish and naïve in the first book (not unlikely for a Freshman in college anyway) I still enjoyed reading her chapters, but in The Monarchs I really only felt angry every time I was reading Vivi’s chapters.

While the new big bad in The Monarchs is a very interesting one, it takes the Ravens a frustratingly long time to figure out that there even is an enemy, let alone who/what it is. The spend almost the entire book blaming each other for all the things going wrong, in total denial, probably because they don’t want to admit they are going to have to face off against yet another enemy so soon after defeating Tiffany. Even when they all LOSE THEIR MAGIC the Ravens are still like “maybe someone is doing this to us?” I mean, come on! How much more obvious does it have to be?

Finally, the most disappointing part of this sequel was the title itself. Named after the group of powerful alumni, past members of Khappa Ro Nu, all former Ravens, I expected to see more of this group in the novel. They were only present for an alumni gathering on the campus, and could have been cut completely from the book without it affecting the story at all. Due to the title, I was hoping for this amazing gathering of witches young and old, working together to stop the evil that has invaded the college campus they all love, but instead when Scarlett asks for help from the Monarchs, the response is “You’re on your own.” Such a massive disappointment!

Overall, The Monarchs by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige, is an exciting sequel and satisfying end to the Ravens’ story. But it could have been so much better! Fans of the first book should definitely give the sequel a read; just prepare for a fair amount of disappointment at the execution.

The thing about this duology is that it isn't exactly...well-written? The dialogue is kinda cheesy, the characters underdeveloped, the plot melodramatic. But it's just so much fun! Like an over-the-top CW show, The Monarchs (and the first book, The Ravens) relishes its melodramatic combination of collegiate drama (sorority rivalries! Relationship woes! Friendship troubles!) and paranormal hijinks (demonic portals can REALLY interfere with your study plans). It's sometimes silly but always fun. A fast, enjoyable read, and a satisfying follow-up to The Ravens.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.

I LOVED the Ravens. The concept of it was refreshing and new, and I liked how intricate the world building was; however, the sequel really just fell flat. Yes, it built well from the first book, but it kind of felt forced into a plot. The plot also wasn't clear for the first 50% of the book. Vivi was annoying and obnoxious to read her POVs, and so were Scar's POVs. Similar to the first book, it also just DRAGGED.

Now, I would say that most of what I just said built into the book and the plot it has given that the main conflict is supposed to make the people in the book unreliable to read and untrustworthy. It was interesting to not know what the cause of the conflict was until the climax, and I enjoyed being kept guessing...but it just didn't give me the same "this is AMAZING" vibes as the first one.

I still really love the magic system and the covens and the witchery though.