It's was a so good to return to the world of Adam Binder, especially with Vran, one of the intriguing characters! This time the story revolves around Issac, who stumbles upon a captive elf. However, his rescue attempt does not go as planned - it turns out that Vran was not out to get rescue, but was pursuing his own larger plan, which Issac unwittingly bombed.
The story is fast-paced, captivating, full of humor and mixes suspense with a feeling of comforting familiarity of the earlier books. As with the other books in the world, the writing style was totally mine and drew me straight into the story. It was a bit like coming home. The characters and the plot were also very convincing. I couldn't put the book down - an absolute must-read!

I am a big fan of David Slayton's Adam Binder books, and it was a pleasure to dive back into that world with Rogue Community College. The novel builds on the Binder books, introducing a school for burgeoning Guardians with odd abilities. Isaac Frost, an assasin and kinda-vampire called a Phage, is there for...well, let's say less than noble reasons. But he has mysteries to solve.

The world-building is, as usual with Slayton's books, excellent. And the characters are fun and focused. I am struck at how visual Slayton's imagination is and how he does a good job of conveying the imagery of the world.

It's not quite a perfect book- there are a few plot points that are tied up a little too quickly- but the story is full of emotion and quite interesting. I look forward to more of this series.

Rogue Community College was a fun, wild romp with some academia, orphan assassins, magical x-men, a touch of intrigue and a soft bit of romance that i would have loved more of ngl. The characters were all awesome, the narrative was energetic, and overall it was a dynamic, lightweight read that i enjoyed on my flight back from London!

And though this was a different vibe than Dark Moon, Shallow Sea, which i also enjoyed, i thought David Slayton's creative first installment in The Liberty House Series was pretty amazing! i had a great time, even though i wanted just a bit more of the love story, but i get why everything went the way it did! But still, hopefully the rest of the series will deliver an HEA for Vran and Isaac that would add another facet of emotional dimension to everything awesome happening here already, which i know David has in his wheelhouse BECAUSE SAMUEL!!! Lots of tears for my best boy 😭💔😭💔😭💔😭 i've not read the Adam Binder series yet, but as RCC is set in the same world i'm definitely excited to give that a go some time in the future!

This was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed, but I wish it had been a little longer and had a little more depth.

I loved the characters, both main and side, and all of their interactions. I wanted them to get their happy endings and all be friends. As I said earlier, I wish there was more. I wanted to see more everyday interactions, more missions, and more of them using their powers. This book could have had more training sequences of them honing their skills. The same goes for the angst. I could have used more, with more angsty backstories and the class coming together despite it all.

The writing and setting felt a little YA and I kept thinking they were in high school, not college. That did not take away a lot of enjoyment, but it took me out of the story a little. The characters felt very young and I got a bit jump-scared when one of them mentioned graduate school.

Overall I had a fun time reading this book and will definitely read more of this series when it comes out.

A lovely new addition to the Adam Binder universe. The plot might be a bit predictable, but the characters are fun.

Absolutely loved this spin off to the adam binder series!
I loved Isaac the train assassin with 0 kills

Now he has to enroll in a school and find and eliminate his target.. does it do it?

If you lived white trash warlock and the following books you need to read this!

In Rogue Community College Book one of the Liberty House series, David R. Slayton captures community and friendship. The world that Isaac Frost lives in is a dangerous and difficult one but Isaac is a survivor. What is most interesting is how through undertaking his mission, Isaac slowly opens up and grows closer to those around him.
I liked that from the start both Vran and Isaac are intriguing characters. You want to know more about each of them and through their time together, we learn more about the world but also discover more about each of them and the other students at the school. Much like a real community college, spending time there forces Isaac to make friends and develop other skills than the ones he was raised in. It broadens his world but also deepens his sense of community. And the novel does an excellent job of demonstrating found family, giving those who are different a place of belonging and a world where the weird characters get a chance to shine. And while the ending is not what you expect, it is a revelation.
If you like David R. Slayton, urban fantasy or stories about found family, I think you’ll love this story about an assassin who learns about community and friendship. His dilemma is choosing between two different families, not an easy choice which makes the narrative that much more intense and complex. I loved how the author resolved that dilemma and I loved both Isaac and Vran. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Isaac Frost is one of The Undertaker’s boys, a group of unmatched trained assassins; his latest mission involves ingratiating himself into the newly-formed Rogue Community College and killing it. Things are complicated by the feelings he develops for a sea elf named Vran as well as making friends with his group of misfits classmates.

This book is set in the world of the Adam Binder novels which I really enjoyed so I was excited to get a chance to return. Isaac is such an interesting and unusual character being something called a Phage who has the ability to take on the powers of whoever’s blood he drinks. He spends a large portion of the book figuring out his place and realises that he might actually have somewhere where he belongs in Rogue Community College. He is an engaging character and it was really good to see Vran again as well as to see the romance blossom between the two.

I am intrigued to see where future books in this series go and am just so glad to be back!

Rogue Community College by David R Slayton
The Liberty House series #1. Urban fantasy magic college. Minor romance. Spin off and in the same world as the Adam Binder series.
Isaac Frost is an assassin and although he’s been trained, he has no kills yet. The profession was not his choice. The Undertaker owns him and he must accept his assignments or suffer the consequences. His current assignment is to infiltrate the school, enroll undercover, and kill a specific target. Isaac is a Phage. With a taste of a person’s blood, he can find out all their secrets and memories.
Rogue Community College is a magic school for unique and wayward students. The school changes its paths and doors, protecting the heart until the student is trusted. As Isaac learns the secrets of the school and the students, he finds unexpected friendships and acceptance. Things he’s never had before. He knows his mission and that he truly has no options, but he also starts to wonder if there is a chance for himself. There’s not. But….

A wonderful cast of unique and personable students. And, of course, Argent, who made herself known if he Adam Binder series. The other students acceptance of Isaac is sweet and endearing. They become friends.

Spoiler follows***********
The ending is heartbreaking. Not what I expected. It’s clearly going to be a series so maybe there is a reason. In the meantime, I’m so sad.

4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I’ve purchased a copy as well to reread.

This is urban fantasy at its finest. I loved the White Trash Warlock trilogy and Rogue Community College sets the tone for another great book series. While it's not necessary. I do recommend reading the White Trash Warlock series first, as most characters in the book are introduced there.

David R. Slayton revisits the world Adam Binder helped build in the White Trash Warlock series, focusing his attention, this time, on Argent, Silver, Vran, and Isaac—a new student at Rogue Community College. But Isaac’s purpose there is far more than a simple education. Isaac is a useful tool, though it takes time for him to suss out how and why. Oh, and he falls in love with Vran, a Lost One, in the process. Complications abound in this superlative addition to this -verse.

This beautiful, exceptional heartbreaker of a book. If reading through tears is a favorite pastime, Rogue Community College is the perfect trigger for it. Everything, up to and including the point of the anguish of love, sacrifice, and loss, is so worth the journey and the aftermath. There is intrigue and danger, to be sure, but the payoff for all the suspense is watching Isaac find love, family, and a place where he belongs, a place and people who choose him. He finds truths and perhaps some closure on his journey, and he discovers a certain peace in knowing where he came from. It’s not happiness, not even close, but rather more the need to absorb those truths of his beginning in order to start from scratch and make a new present and future. He won’t do it alone. But he will do it with a heavy heart. I hope that’s only a short-term affliction, for both Isaac and me.

The building of empathy is foundational to Isaac and his connection to the people who matter to him. His world wasn’t made smaller by leaving the only home and brotherhood he’d ever know. His world expanded to include the people he was meant to betray. Of course, that betrayal is thwarted not by Isaac’s weakness but by the unbreakable bonds of connection. There may be no I in team, as the old saying goes, but there is an I in friendship, and Isaac both befriends and becomes a friend to his schoolmates in ways he could never have imagined when his assignment began.

One of the many hallmarks of David R. Slayton’s work is his full-throated investment in both his characters and the worldbuilding. Neither suffers under attention to the other; they only complement to build a stronger platform to secure his readers’ connection to what’s happening along the way, as well as in the outcome of the story.

Isaac’s journey isn’t anywhere near complete yet. In fact, he has even more impetus to fight, to go where others may fear to tread, and to find what he might not yet be aware he’s seeking. I’m all in for the adventure.

Very happy to read this book early! The first scene introducting Isaac and Vran was fun. I feel like the story was developing pretty well, introducing us to the school and its changing landscape, getting us involved in a mystery. I was enjoying getting to know the students and professors, making a visit to Alfheim. There's even a visit to Vran's home kingdom while investigating a broadening mystery. I feel like I missed a chunk of the story because it jumped from there into a key fight, and then straight into a big battle, so I'm hoping there is more of a complete story thread as the series progresses. I like the new additions to the Adam Binder universe and am looking forward to seeing how the mystery evolves.

While this book is set I;the same world as the White Trash Warlock books I don’t think you need to have read that series to enjoy this one. There’s minimal overlap of characters and plot lines so the mentions in this book are plenty for this story. I’d also highly recommend this author’s other series if you like urban fantasy but with the caveat that the child abuse that main character had endured is described in enough grim detail that it could be too much for some folks. He’s a really entertaining writer and I look forward to his future books.

Isaac Frost has ulterior motives when he gets into the Rogue Community College for magical beings. But a cute boy, possible answers about his past, and actual friends might be the world changing shift he needs to break from the group of assassins that took him in.

I knew Slayton wouldn’t steer me wrong! I have been a huge fan of the White Trash Warlock series for years now, and I was absolutely delighted to see this new but separate installation in that universe.

Set in the Adam Binder universe, this nicely balanced everything it had to offer. We got further intriguing world-building through the introduction of the Undertakers and their pocket plane & further interactions with the Sea Elves. There is also some really powerful character development in Isaac as he begins to process his abusive upbringing. And there’s also a fast paced mystery that kept me intrigued through to the end.

I definitely feel like I should have reread at least Deadbeat Druid before reading this, as I had almost completely forgotten about Vran’s situation. Overall a satisfying ending, but open ended enough for a sequel! And making me hope for more in this universe, no matter where it comes from.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this arc!

This was a really solid story, set in the world of Adam Binder. It's told from the POV of someone completely new, Isaac Frost, who is supposed to be infiltrating the Rogue Community College in order to bring it down, as a mission from the Undertaker. Things don't quite go to plan, when he ends up enrolled in the college and actually liking his fellow classmates.

This also has Bran in it, whom I think everyone loves! I'm so glad that we get to see more of him in this book, and I hope that he will be in future Liberty House books as well. Despite getting to know him a lot more in this book, I feel like he still has so many secrets and I want to know everything about him!

Enjoyed this one and will definitely be on the lookout for more in the series.

I enjoyed this book. Frost is a great addition to Adam Binder's universe.
I like the introduction of new lore, magics, magic races, tech magic, dinosaurs because of temporal plane things. Lots of fun world building stuff going on.

I do think there were some misses though. Like it's very difficult to tell how much time is passing. One chapter that happens like three days(? it seems) into Frost's classes something is mentioned and it gets a quippy reply that they won't learn about that until next semester. Then the next chapter they're in that next semester class but also still working on essays for last semester?
And I don't really feel like the relationships were established enough.

I think more focus would've made this a 5 star for me. There was a little too much going on to get enough details and characterization in and get all the plot in.

I will absolutely be reading the next book. I can't leave my boy where he is at the end of this. I know David R Slayton has a plan and I just have to let him get there.

Rogue Community College by David Slayton was an absolute delight from the very first page. I was immediately drawn to Isaac as a character—his story grabs you right away, and I found myself rooting for him throughout. The side characters were just as engaging, each bringing their own charm and quirks to the mix.

The book gave me major The Librarians vibes, with a dash of Doctor Who and a good dose of irreverence thrown in. It’s fast-paced, witty, and full of surprises. Once it hooks you, it doesn’t let go until the very end. The snark, action, and heart all come together in a way that makes this a truly fun and satisfying read. Honestly, it was such a joy—I couldn’t put it down!

4.5* rounded up.

Rogue Community College follows Issac Frost as he joins a college for magical misfits with a secret mission to bring it down. As a fan of the Adam Binder series, I was really excited to see that world expanded upon and this book didn't disappoint. While this had enough elements of the previous series to please fans of that, I don't think having read them is necessary to enjoy this one. Any plot points or characters from the previous series are explained in this one and the main character is new to this book, so gets many things explained to him along with the reader. The extended cast of characters are all interesting, if a little shallow, but I expect them to get developed in future books. The school is an interesting setting with a personality of its own. Overall, this is a fun introduction to a new setting and set of characters and I'm excited to see where it goes. For fans of the Adam Binder series, it's a must read, but I'd also recommend it for anyone looking for a magic school series.

As a fan of the Adam Binder series, I’ve been excited to jump back into the universe since Rogue Community College was first announced. Although set in the same universe as the Adam Binder novels, we explore a different part of that world in RCC. Billed as a school for misfits and found families, I found RCC to be exactly that - a place where people who don’t belong anywhere else can come together and do good in their own way. While there are a few familiar faces that make appearances from time to time, we mainly follow a new cast of lovable characters as seen from the POV of the new MC, Isaac Frost. Originally sent to infiltrate and take down RCC, Isaac quickly finds himself meant for more as he unravels mysteries about himself and the true nature of the mission he’s been given.

From start to finish, RCC was an exciting romp. There was lots of humor and the chapter titles made me smile. The pacing was great and I was never bored. The new cast of characters was entertaining and I’m looking forward to getting to know them more as the series progresses. I’m not going to lie though, my favorite bits were the ones with Vran. He might be a chaos monkey, but he’s a lovable one. There’s just something about him that makes him incredibly endearing. I wanted more page time with him most of all.

There was so much to love about RCC, but at the same time, I found myself surprised with the YA feel of it. Despite the college setting, I felt the story had a high-school vibe. It wasn’t bad. It was just different than I had expected. Beyond that, I found a few things confusing, primarily the transitions into the dream-like sequences. Every time one occurred, I found myself confused. I didn’t realize what was happening and had to go back and re-read those sections. I’m unsure if that was the point or if it was just a “me” issue. Overall, Rogue Community College was a fun read and one I would highly recommend to fans of the Adam Binder series!

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love that this is for both the people who loved and wanted more from the Adam Binder world and those new to it. It's got all the immediate charm and draw of the original trilogy, with enough cameos and nods to previous events that returning readers will enjoy the shout-outs but nothing that is essential is unexplained (and even better, explained in such a way that returning readers feel like the explanation is redundant or clearly there for new readers).

As usual, we're following a group of misfits, magic users who otherwise would have either been dealt with poorly or fallen through the cracks, complete with a semi-sentient college building and plenty of mysteries, topped with a heaping dash of found family and finding your place in a world that's tried to put you in a specific box.