This was a fantastic debut novel and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. It does have a bit of the Zodiac Academy and a bit of Crescent City feel but it's also unique in it's own way. I think the worldbuilding is done well and without huge amounts of info-dumping. It was very easy to read and get into right away. I love Godric and he is now my book husband. Wen is snarky and silly and at times a bit annoying but overall I really ended up liking her. This book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger but it is tied up enough to satisfy you until the next book comes out. 4 stars and .5 chili peppers because there is sexual talk and innuendo but no actual sex.

Overall well done and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

This story was really enjoyable with a really unique storyline. Wen gets caught dealing a drug that only she can produce. And Unfortunately she gets caught by Godric, heavens‘s most ruthless soldier and assassin for the Celestial Courts. Godric is forced to be her mentor, and figure out how she can produce this drug. Tension is high, as these two don’t get along. When Wen is sentenced to Celestial Academy, under Godric supervision, the slow burn begins. And she is tested, pushed beyond physical training limits. Will Wen survive her supernatural roommates. The Imperium Trials? Will Godric be able to protect her from all sides, including his family and keep his emotions in check? Time will tell. Excited for Book 2! This book felt similar to zodiac academy, which just a very different storyline and writing style. So if you enjoy magical schools, you’ll love this!

I wanted so badly to like this book—the description was right up my alley and I couldn’t wait to dive in. I read some reviews stating that the author rewrote portions based on feedback and I appreciated the commitment—who doesn’t love a come back? Unfortunately, it still fell a little flat for me.

The second half of the book is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the first half. However, the first half was hard to get through. Every time Wen opens her mouth, it sounds like a 10 year old trying to insult someone. She is really immature, and it is even more jarring when compared to the large vocabulary used in the narrative of the book.

The reader is treated as though they have 0 intelligence, given that every piece of subtext is painfully explained after it has already been implied. You do not have to draw a single conclusion for yourself, because Wen will say it 8 different ways for you. That combined with Wen’s stream of consciousness consisting of 1000 questions and often rambling on without lending anything to the plot… it was rough.

About 55% of the way through, the dialogue and plot in general improved greatly, and we got into the action. It was the slowest burn I’ve ever read, but I did enjoy the last 45%.

This was a great debut novel, as well as starter to a series. It was very fast paced, made you want to just keep reading. Celestial Academy: Essence, follows Wen a demon owned human in a post-apocalyptic world, doing what she needs to in order to attain her freedom. Her unorthodox methods get her caught up, and conscripted into an academy for supernatural beings. Where she has to face a variety of trials. This does have a subplot of romance in it, enemies to lovers, and its a slow burn. I definitely would not call it the worst cliffhanger of an ending, but also am ready to find out more with the info we were given at the end. So definitely cannot wait for book 2 to release and continue the story.

I had such a great time reading this! I was not expecting this to hook me as quickly and thoroughly as it did. I usually enjoy a good academy romance, but this one is definitely top of my recommendations. I found myself picking this up every spare moment I got, and found it so difficult to put down.

When Heaven and Hell brought their battle to Earth, they brought about the Apocalypse. When it was over, the angels and demons stayed and created a new hierarchy, placing themselves at the top. Wen is a young woman struggling to survive in this new world. Her actions draw the attention of the angels, and she ends up being sent to Celestial Academy. There she must discover what it is about herself that intrigues the angels, as well as survive in an academy meant for supernatural beings. Oh, and did I mention the big, brooding male that keeps her leashed to him, literally!

If you like fantasy romance with a strong, snarky heroine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, and a page-turning plot, I highly recommend you give this one a try. Cannot wait for the next book!

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This is my honest review and I am leaving it voluntarily. Oh my gosh this is so good! This is a long one and I STILL wanted more! What do you mean this is only book one? Where is the rest??? It has amazing world building and great characters. I need a time line on book two please!

"Orphan. Slave. Drug dealer. In an Afterworld that literally 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 for.”

Made to stand trial for her crimes committed against Angel Kind, Wen White is told death is the best outcome she can hope for…. her sentence…forced proximity, education, surviving a hidden war and memories that don’t make sense.

I devoured this book. The wit, the sarcasm, the SMUT, it was such a fun book to read.

Wen White is a brilliant main character. Stuck to her characters values and morals, witty and sarcastic without it feeling overdone, had weaknesses and grew as a character.

All the characters you get to meet are so well structured and interesting, that my only complaint has to be that I needed more!! They were perfectly designed, growing on the reader as they grow on Wen and allowing snippets into who they are.

Likewise, the worldbuilding was *chefs kiss*, we get to learn alongside Wen, so it never feels like information overload. Once again, I find myself wishing the book was longer, more insight into the classes just because I wanted to see more into this beautifully crafted world.

Now let us discuss…. the romance, do you like forced proximity, enemies to lover’s slow burn?? Cause oh LORD it is done so well. The tension is THICK!!!

The relationships in this book are deep and realistic, not everyone is mates, people don’t become instant besties, and the romance doesn’t overwhelm the plot…. but I wouldn’t have complained if it did.

This book sets you up, so you know you NEED to read the next book. If you like smut, fantasy, supernatural you will LOVE this. Super digestible and easy to read. It should be noted this book is aimed at an older audience, the descriptions of violence and the smut doesn’t lend itself to younger readers.

5 Stars!

Wow, as I sit here trying to string together my thoughts on this book all I can think about is how I NEED book 2! This book as been on my radar for about a year and I finally decided now would be the percent time to start it. My first thoughts while reading immediately jumped to “Why did I wait so long to start this?!”

I LOVE Wen’s snarky and constant sarcastic responses to everyone around her and saw myself in her witty replies. Whether in a protective and defensive manner or in a loving friendly manner sarcasm is always an immediate go-to for me. Each of the characters had some quality that made them lovable to me, and I found myself anxiety reading about their trials wanting each and every member of their Unit to make it out alive.

The humor from Lorcan and almost defiant swagger from Gideon were perfect additions to the mix of heightened emotions brooding between Wen and Godric at any given time. The epilogue from Godric’s point of view was the cherry on top of an already amazing story, and I really hope in future books we get to see more from Godric’s POV!

I saw a lot of reviews and people online comparing this story to Zodiac Academy, Crescent City, and other well known stories, and while I can see similarities between the books I really think this series is in a league all its own. I haven’t read anything like it recently and cannot wait to continue reading the series!

Wen is a slave forced into dealing drugs. She is captured by Godric, the most ruthless nephilim. He is forced to be her mentor at the Celestial Academy. They hate each other obviously in the beginning but become something more as time goes by....

Love Godric and Wen. I like their tension and chemistry. Interesting universe building and terrific plot.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Based on the comps, I really wanted to like Celestial Academy. It sounded like all things I would enjoy. And it was, to an extent, because it was essentially a mash up of Zodiac Academy and Crescent City. And by mash up I mean just that, it didn't read like very many original plot points or characters at all. The plot moved really slowly and the characters sounded much too young given their ages (early 20s and, um, immortal angel being.) Over all, it was much too long! Even knowing it's a Zodiac Academy inspired book, it's STILL too long and there was so much info dumping and dialogue that was repetitive and didn't move the plot along. The amount of time it took to actually get to the namesake of the book almost made me DNF it. Looking back, I should have. There's an underlying story there that has potential, but it was just too rough an edit for me.