I was expecting this book to be like Zodiac Academy (I mean, that cover was no accident)- maybe not the most well written, but a damn good time.

Unfortunately, this book was so poorly written and riddled with grammatical errors that it was almost unreadable. The amount of incomplete sentences was astounding- it felt like nearly half of the sentences in this book started with “and”, “but” or “so”. When sentences weren’t incomplete, they were run-ons that *technically* made sense but needed a double take to understand. It also felt as though this author made great use of a thesaurus while writing this, switching out words with synonyms that felt out of place and clunky. Overall the writing style was not for me and made this book a struggle to read.

Writing aside, the pacing of the plot seemed to drag. It took 30% of the book to get to the school, and until nearly 50% for the plot to start rolling, when it felt like that same information could have been conveyed in a much more edited timeline. I’m sure this book is for some people, but it was not for me.

I can’t wait enough for the next instalment already. I had a very enjoyable and pleasant time reading and finishing this. The angst, the elements, the romance, and the word building was top notch! Would highly recommend to almost every fantasy-romance reader

First of all, I want to preface this review by saying how much I loved the world building and the overall story arc of this book. My main gripes, unfortunately, come from the execution on the page.

Cut to a world, where an *almost* apocalypse killed billions, and now angels and demons walk amongst humans on Earth.

Wen has been a demon-owned slave since the time she was 2 or 4 years old (yeah, no one really knows, least of all Wen herself). She’s been producing and selling a mysterious drug in order to raise money she hopes will buy her and her best friend, Sarah, their freedom.

Cue angel enforcement, who come to capture her, and dole out her punishment: she will become a student at Celestial Academy. She will also have the 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘯, Godric, as her personal tutor, and let’s just say, there are definitely more than a few sparks between the two of them.

This book is marketed to “fans of of Crescent City, Guild Hunter, and Zodiac Academy.” Having only read CC, I can only make the comparison to that one, and I will say it did have similar vibes, especially the heavy world building at the start of the book, which I felt was very similar to start of HOEAB.

Wen is a sassy FMC that never knows when to shut up. I understand that part of her personality is that she asks a lot of questions, but I found that this was a bit overdone throughout the book; I swear there was a chapter in the midst of the climax that was just her asking herself questions within her inner monologue. I think the book could have been better with a bit less inner monologue/questions.

Also, there were several places where I had to read, read, and re-read sentences because their structure was a little off to me, for example:

𝘐, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

A bit of polishing with an editor/beta reader could maybe help with that?

This is a VERY slow burn romance. So slow, in fact, that there is just a tease of romance in this one. But I have a feeling things will start to heat up in Book 2.

Again, I did really enjoy the story and world building, I just found some of the sentences difficult to read, and could have done with way less inner monologue/questions, and more action; I always appreciate when I can be shown, and not just told throughout a book. I am definitely interested in trying out the next installment, and hope I can enjoy it even more than this one.

Rating:

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ½ / 5

What this book is giving:
✅ Enemies to maybe someday lovers
✅ Sassy FMC
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Fun World Building

Once the world building was established this story really picked up! It was a fantastic adventure- I loved it! The main characters are such a good mix- the wit and angst are hot! Can’t wait to see where book 2 goes.

This sadly took me entirely too long to read. Not because it wasn't good. It was! I'm mad I took it as slow as I did. Until today. Today I had more than half the book left and I could not put this down.

I love the sassiness of our main character, Wen. She's the type of friend you want, if you're not her. The love she has for her friend Sarah and putting her safety first was beautiful. The jealousy to Jinny after her and Sarah hit it off hits the nail on the head when you see your bestie being hoarded by a new friend.

And Godric? At first I was like no way is this guy going to be the one. But he is. And I'd love to know more about him and his connection to Wen.

This was an interesting plot and I'm very interested to see where the next books follow.

Firstly I’d like to say thank you for the ARC copy! I got sick so it took me longer to finish but once I felt better I couldn’t put this book down! It made me late to a concert 😂

Wen is a sassy, stubborn and hilarious character! The fact she back talks literally everyone? Drew me in faster than anything! This book really has it all, enemies to lovers, crazy villains, magic and multiple twists and turns that will keep you on your feet! I can’t wait for the next book!

blurb was promising and the cover was eye-catching and pretty. the contents just weren't my cup of tea, unfortunately. there was too much insta-love for my tastes; i was hopeful given that i saw feedback about this being an enemies to lovers book, but the heroine was thirsting for the main love interest almost immediately. the shower scene was just too much for me, and the side characters/her roommates were all walking cliches.

Wonderful start to a great series! This book had so many twists and turns. If you’re looking for your next fantasy academy book look no further. I am so excited to read the next one and see where all the tension goes with Godric.

When I first picked this up, I expected some sort of angel centered academy plot similar to Zodiac Academy. But honestly, the academy part of the plot is really not important or the main driving focus of the story, so that was quite surprising. I liked the banter between the main character. Wen, and her love interest a lot. There is so much smoldering chemistry between them, though the insta-lust at all times got overplayed and tiring. Especially in life or death scenarios where lusting over this dude was by far the last thing that would be on her mind.

But, many of the characters were enjoyable and I liked the morally grey world of demons and angels and everything in between. However, I found that many of the side characters were not well-developed and just kind of there for a plot device when we are supposed to care for them. Overall, if you like the idea of slowburn "enemies"-to-lovers romance in an angel/demon post-apocalyptic world, then you'll likely really enjoy this book. I had fun even though it felt like it was unnecessarily long at points. I'll be watching out for the next book to see if I get answers to my many questions about the world and plot.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharo.
Orphan. Slave. Drug dealer.
As a Demon-Owned human, in an Afterworld that has Hell and Heaven on Earth, Wen White is the lowest a being can be. Her life is one of drudgery, degradation—and mortal danger. And that's before she started dealing Angelescence. Unlike anything in existence, it's a drug 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. Her sentence? Conscription to Celestial Academy. As the most powerful nephilim in history, Godric is Heaven’s most ruthless soldier and assassin. And he’s been assigned with discovering the root of her unprecedented ability to capture Angel Essence. Both hate their enforced proximity—and each other. Especially when the other provokes explosive emotions and cravings they never thought they can experience. But being embroiled in their private war becomes the least of their worries as he unearths even more disturbing mysteries within her. Meanwhile, a devastating internal war as well as another Apocalypse are brewing—and Wen is at the center of it all. And the semester isn't over yet...
Really good read. I did enjoy this book. 4*.

Gripping, no punches hold and definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Living on earth that is a dangerous hellhole in the aftermath of a celestial war, our Wen is a survivor. And that means there isn't anything she won't do to secure and buy freedom for her and her closest friend Sarah. Demon-Owned and a drug dealer of a dangerous essence only she can acquire, she gets in the radars of the Archangels. Not only that, but they've sent after her the most powerful nephilim ever to be born.
Now that she was brought before the tribunal of the mighty Archangels, she was judged and sentenced to enroll in the Celestial Academy.
At first, it sounds too good to be true….but soon she realizes that there are much more dangerous fates than death sentence and every misstep could lead her and Sarah to their death.
No filter on her mouth and too sassy for her own good, Wen is infuriating and at the same time the most kind and loyal friend you can get.
As for her powerful nephilim captor/tutor Godric….after the bits and pieces that I gathered through the story, he remains a curious enigma that I can't wait to learn more about in book two!
And I can honestly say that I'm with him with his annoyance towards Wen's constant assault with questions and rambling.
Classical for me my favorite character is Jinny and I loved her interaction with Wen and how she's the only one who succeeds to get on her nerves properly.
So many questions and curiosities after THAT end for all the characters, and I'm curious for all the answers to come.

For those who dig SJM and the enemies to lovers trope, this is for you. Lead character with a ton of snark? Unfound potential? You see where I'm going (although I kept thinking of the silver city from Lucifer).

Anyway, it wasn't my favorite but that's probably bc in tapped out on SJM and some of this genre. But those who aren't and are looking for a new author with good world building and slow burn buildups will enjoy it.

2 stars.

DNFd. The beginning didn't grab my attention. The further I went to read on I felt I was missing something.

4.75

"White."
Come back to me-always.


I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Y'ALL. THIS BOOK IS LITERALLY IT.


Celestial Academy: Essence is the debut novel in Olivia Pharos new series Afterworld. And good lord this book is so action packed I feel like I can't even sit down and fully compress the amount of amazing things that happened within this book to lead us to such an amazing and ground breaking Epilogue... Think of this book as like ZA mixed with a slight blend of mystery and a whole lot more of greek mythology and that is this book. Honestly from the beginning I was entranced with each and every single character that we met. The more you thought you knew about any of them the more that you were proved wrong.. This book is just the right amount of everything to get you grabbing for the next in the series and hoping to god that your predictions are correct!


Alright lets break down our MCs:

Wen White:
A drug dealer, demon owned human.. the lowest of the low. From the ripe age of four she was set upon a path that only she could prove her destiny. Being demon owned a majority of her life left her finding ways to make ends meet but when a drug deal of her new substance goes wrong and she ends up in Celestial Academy, will Wen be able to put her grievances aside and work to trust or will she damn herself and everyone close to her?
Wen is a strong female lead that is a take no shit type of girl, even though she can't always defend herself she knows how to run her mouth which ends up getting her into a lot more trouble than any of us expect. I can't wait to see where her story goes to and how everything connects!

Sarah:
A lowly demon owned human, she has been friends with Wen since the beginning of time, when Wen is sentenced to her time in Celestial Academy, Sarah's left between a rock and a hard place. Will she make the right decision or will Wen be the one to save her yet again?
I think Sarah's character is absolutely great! She is more of the side kick type of friend until she isn't. Her growth with the book is freaking amazing and I know that she has so much potential!

Godric:
The entire time all I could think about was this:

I absolutely loved his character and I can't wait to see where it goes and how he progresses!

Tropes:
-Forced Proximity
-Enemies to Lovers
-Greek Mythology
-Paranormal Romance
-Antiheros

Smut Rating:
45%


Tension Rating:
100%

Smack my ass and call me Sally...I was pleasantly surprised by this little book of exceeds expectations!! You could have blown me over with a feather when I finished this Cinderella story.
Thank you Olivia Pharos & NetGalley for the eARC copy!!!!

If you are someone who is beyond tired of the "academy" backgrounds, and adversity through "trials" type of fantasy story, you are not alone. I almost passed this gem over because it sounded like every story I've read in paranormal romance lately. I am so glad I gave it the benefit of the doubt because.–WOW! Thank you, MS. Pharos!!!!

The paranormal romance check list:
- I love the snarky, quirky, & borderline bitchy leading lady (Wen White)! ... ✅
- A "Godaweful", powerful and steamy, hands off angelic heartthrob (Godric)! ... ✅
- Brave, affectionate, beloved best friend who the leading lady has to protect at all costs. ... ✅
- Killer best friend to leading aforementioned heartthrob with abs like 12 pack of beer and a list of bedding partners a mile long, but is also relatable and funny, and loves to hear the leading lady make fun of aforementioned heartthrob. ... ✅
- Leading lady who wasn't aware she had powers at all and stumbles upon them, who then slowly realizes through extensive training and a magical connection to an all powerful being, realizes she has exponential and limitless power ... ✅
- Leading lady who is potentially the catalyst of the world's destruction ... ✅

Sounding a bit like you want to pass? DON'T
While I can admit to reading on auto pilot at points, I do believe this is worth the read. Add to that list of story points that Wen White is an orphan who grows up enslaved to a demon and turns into an unexpected (and moral) drug dealer of angel essence (a drug only she can produce) If you want a less a story like Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series with far less commitment, then this is your next read. You won't be disappointed. If you are hoping the romance is going to be a quick jump into bed, then keep it in your pants and read "Celestial Academy: Essence" anyway. I love a good slow burn & I know you will too!

Now, be a good little paranormal romance reader with guilty little pleasures that aren't sated without hitting all the above checks, and download/purchase this quick, fast-paced read by Olivia Pharos. No regrets!

Celestial Academy by Olivia Pharos is an absolutely captivating story of courage and resilience.

Wen, the main character, is one of a kind. She’s brave in the face of danger, loyal to her friends, and determined to prove herself. The way she stands tall against angels and demons alike made me root for her at every turn. The slow-burning romance between her and Godric, aka Angelhole, is passionate and intense. It’s a beautiful balance of tenderness and ferocity.

The world-building in this book is exceptional. Olivia Pharos does a wonderful job of creating an immersive and detailed world.

The premise of this novel is unique. As Wen navigates the school and discovers secrets, she must battle inner turmoil and external forces. The book's second half was especially thrilling, with suspense-filled twists and mysterious reveals.

I loved how this novel blended fantasy and science fiction elements for a truly one-of-a-kind story. There are still so many questions left unanswered, which kept me hooked, and I'm already looking forward to the rest of the series.

Celestial Academy: Essence is a promising debut that has all the makings of an epic paranormal romance series. And it delivers in the last half. I have a feeling the next book in the series will be even better. I will definitely be continuing.

This book sounds promising and I have hope it will be a book I enjoy reading.
However, the execution is lacking and it's not what I exactly hope for at the start.

What makes this book doesn't work out for me is the writing style, some parts are too descriptive which makes me skim a lot of times just to get the plot to progress. It does a lot of telling instead of showing.
The slow pacing and long chapters also make this book feel longer than it should. It causes me to lose interest in the plot easily.

The world building concept is actually fascinating but the info dumping causes me to struggle to understand it as the plot goes deeper.
I actually like the sarcastic FMC of the story but after a while I grow bored with the FMC's monologue especially when she talks about her love interest, Godric.

The last few chapters with the trial is the only part where I found it's not confusing and I could follow the plot easily.

This book really has a lot of potential to be a good one, the plot idea and world building is great but still needs a lot more development and editing.
Moreover, it would have been better if it had multiple POV instead of single POV to give insight to other characters other than the FMC.

If you like slow burn romance, sassy FMC, paranormal creatures, post-apocalyptic, descriptive narrative and detailed information then you can certainly give this one a try, this one might work out for you.

I received this advanced review copy through Netgalley and I’m leaving this honest review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher.

This book was a slow burn and maybe could have done with a little more editing. For me it was a little choppy in places. Having said that once it got going it was just an OK story. If you like Sarah J Mass then I think this will be a great read for you. Thank you #netgalley and publishers for my eArch.

Celestial Academy: Essence is the first book in the Afterworld series, a romance supernatural series by author Olivia Pharos.

Perfect for fans of Zodiac Academy and Crescent City by Sarah J Maas.

• Slow burn romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Epic fantasy world
• Angels and demons
• Plenty of angst and sexual tension

You will love this post-apocalyptic slow burn fantasy romance set at the magical and dangerous celestial academy. The book is told from the POV of Wen, a demon-owned human who has a bit of an attitude and a real problem. Conscripted to celestial academy and placed under the care of Godric (Godawful), Wen must survive while uncovering the truth about who and what she is.

Firstly, this is a long book, I’ve seen other reviews judge the length but for me I found it was all needed and it didn’t drag at all. The world building and complex characters backstories were 100% needed and what made this book really great. I loved the concept of heaven and hell on earth and angels, demons and other supernaturals felt exciting and fresh.

I was really surprised to find this was the authors debut novel. It was exceptionally well written and completely engaging. I felt myself getting hooked very early into the story. The plot was well paced, and the first book didn’t just feel like a introduction or set up book, the storyline was interesting and the characters interesting and unique. The ending leaves enough questions that you really really want to read book two.
The romance is slow burn but not so much that it drags out. Personally, I’m not a fan of insta-love, and I liked that their relationship had depth and growth. I am looking forward to seeing how this develops in the next books. The romance in this one is PG with no steamy scenes at all. Normally this would put me off, but the sexual tension and angst was off the charts and making us wait for more doesn’t put me off at all.
I am really looking forward to reading book 2 and hope it won’t be too far away.