It gives strong zodiac academy vibes but without the intense bullying. This is more of a well structured enemies to lovers trope (my favourite!). There’s a really good character development in the FMC. She doesn’t start as this perfect well rounded character, she builds and grows as the book progresses which I love.

Reading "Celestial Academy: Essence" by Olivia Pharos was a wild ride from start to finish. The story of Wen White, a Demon-Owned human struggling to survive in a world where danger lurks around every corner, kept me glued to the pages.

Wen's journey from a life of hardship as an orphan, slave, and drug dealer to her conscription into the Celestial Academy was both harrowing and inspiring. Her resilience in the face of adversity, coupled with her complex relationship with Godric, Heaven's most powerful nephilim, made for a compelling read.

Pharos's writing drew me into a vividly imagined world filled with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense. The mysteries surrounding Wen's abilities and the looming threat of another Apocalypse kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the truth.

Overall, "Celestial Academy: Essence" is a thrilling blend of fantasy, romance, and suspense that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you're looking for a book that will keep you hooked from beginning to end, this is it.

Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Amazingly well crafted with fabulous world building. This is one of my favourite books and I was hooked from the very start. Excellent first book of a series.

Enjoyed this - didn't love! The title really drew me in and I knew it was the type of book I would get into if I gave it a chance. So I did. It took me a while, but it was worth the time I gave it. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes the concept outlined in the summary.

If you are a paranormal fan then you will like this series. A human owned by demons who is being forced near an angel they want nothing to do with. The best stories come from enemies

a little hesitant to start with but as the story progressed, i was pleasantly surprised to be engrossed into this apocalyptic world. i loved the idea that hell and heaven, good and evil are all there at the same place.

The book is the first in the Afterworld series and is set in an Afterworld with Hell and Heaven on Earth. The protagonist, Wen White, is a Demon-Owned human who is an orphan, slave, and drug dealer. She is the lowest being in the Afterworld, and her life is drudgery, degradation, and mortal danger. She deals in Angelescence, a drug that only she can produce and everyone would kill or die for. With decommission and execution closing in, she’s desperate to buy out her and her best friend’s Indentures. But upping her operations only gets her arrested, and her terrifying captor drags her to the Celestial Court to stand trial and be conscripted to Celestial Academy where Apocalypse appears to be on the horizon.

The book blends dystopian, paranormal, and all the good things in one great story that hits the ground running. The world-building and characters are wonderful. The character’s voice draws you in and grips you. There is plenty of wit and humor throughout.

I liked this book. I definitely felt like it was a bit too long, but overall an enjoyable read.

The premise was very interesting and I have not read anything similar before which I enjoyed.

There is not one aspect of this book that doesn’t draw me in.

Supernatural School
Grumpy…not sunshine…but she talks a lot
Enemies to Lovers

I’m easy to please, what can I say?

Wen, aka Gwendolyn White, aka Walter White, is a fantastic main character.
Something not so deep inside of me relates to a main character that just doesn’t know when to shut her mouth. She is strong, she’s witty, and I want to be her when I grow up.

Godric “Godawful” the Great is the epitome of grumpy enemy. He’s brooding, full of himself, and and closes everyone out.

You know where this is going. 😉

I swear there is so much more to this story than the pull of Wen & Godric, but it’s what I’m living for right now!

The setting of the entire story is a post apocalyptic world where angels and demons roam the earth, running the earth. When a demon owned human gets caught dealing in her own angel based drug she finds herself whirled into the world of archangels and attending an academy for the angel army in training. She’s there against her will, and quite literally on the leash of a giant “archangelspawn”. The world building is fantastic and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

This is pitched as being similar to Zodiac Academy and Crescent City and while I haven't read ZA, I can definitely see the SJM influence.

I feel a bit conflicted with this one as the plot is promising but I ultimately had some issues with how it was delivered. My main feeling is that often things were told rather than shown, particularly with Wen's thoughts and feelings which were often over-clarified. I also could have done with a lot less snarkiness from her as after a while I felt it became too repetitive and clichéd.
And maybe it was just me but I felt some elements towards the end were a bit vague, verging on confusing, in relation to Essence and Energy and Wen's actual abilities.

The epilogue from Godric's POV has definitely intrigued me for the next book, although he didn't come across as favourably in it as I would have expected. But nevertheless I'm curious to see what happens next and hopefully get some more answers.

Celestial Academy follows Wen White, a young woman living in a post-apocalyptic world where Angels and Demons share earth in a somewhat agreeable state. Wen is demon owned, which in this world puts you lower than low in the social hierarchy. Wen lives with her best friend and fellow demon owned, Sarah, and they long to earn enough money to pay off their indenture and be free. So when Wen discovers a popular drug, angelessence, that dream starts to become a reality. Until she's caught by none other than Heaven's Sword, Godric the nephilim. What then ensues is Wen being admitted into Celestial Academy as Godric's charge. They do not like each other, and there is plenty of banter to have you laughing the whole way through. There are some twists and turns as you learn that there is something very different about Wen and will need to find out if she's salvation or the cause of the next apocalypse.

While the banter between Godric and Wen is a 10 out of 10, this book gets a 3 from me mainly due to how long it took me to get into this book. The world building is detailed and almost too much at some points and not enough at others. The bulk of the book is very enjoyable but becomes a little repetitive with the day to day goings on with not a lot of forward movement. The climax is thrilling and exciting as some of the characters navigate their differences to survive their trials, but then it takes a hard left turn right at the end that leaves you questioning what just happened.

I will be adding the next installment to be TBR as I do want to see how the relationship between Godric and Wen progresses. I hope that the pace will be a little quicker then.

I’m a big zodiac academy fan and was looking for something with a similar aesthetic and this is it. It has anders, demons, magic and action.
It takes place after the apocalypse when angels and demons took over the world and wren manufactures a new drug only she can creat.
The writing starts out a little chaotic but soon enough it will all make sense.

Okay so I have read any of the books this says its like (Zodiac Academy, Guild Hunter and Crescent City) and now I feel I shouldnt since I didnt care for this book. I picked this book up and put it back down for 6 months and it just never got any better for me. For me the book dragged on about nothing for so long. I truly didnt even know what gender our main character was for a long time and not for lack of trying. They just didnt stay present for me for me to want to understand them. I think the concept is really cool about heaven and hell on earth but for salmost half the book nothing happens or not enough to stay interesting . Overall the main character killed the book for me by being too annoying, dramatic and obsessive. If you re more into YA/NA this probably lands better for you!

What made me pick up this book was the recommendation that it was a lot like Zodiac Academy and SJM books. In my opinion it was more like the book was actively trying to recreate what made those books great rather than making it something special on its own. This series certainly has potential, I hope there are some bigger changes going forward.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building was good, the characters engaging and the premise compelling. Definitely worth the read!

I have been reading like a madwoman and falling behind in reviews. I was very happy to take part in this story. Angels aren’t usually a trope I gravitate towards but I had been hearing buzz about this book. I thought at times it was a bit confusing but then found the author always had a way to make it come around.

This review is going to be short, because the book was soooooooo long and I don't know how to really get all of my thoughts together on this.

I really enjoyed Celestial Academy: Essence.

I can definitely see where it could develop into a fun series.

The only complaint I have is the length.

I'm not opposed to reading big books. I love them! This one just seemed like it probably should have been split up, or shortened. It was pretty wordy.

Overall, enjoyable!!!!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of celestial academy: essence. this was a pretty good sci-fi and romance, I didn't love it as much as i wanted to but it was not bad.

Celestial Academy: Essence has an interesting and unique magical system that I’m interested in watching develop. I always enjoy reading strong FMCs, but this one seemed a bit on the insufferable side. The strength and independence seemed forcibly pushed on the reader, instead of letting the reader infer for themselves.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was faced paced and the action kept me wanting more. The characters have great chemistry and the FMC is the perfect amount of sassy!
Definitely a must read for fantasy fans out there and I can't wait to dive into book 2!