This book hit all my fav tropes: paranormal, academy, secret powers/lineage, fated mates (maybe??), post apocalypse… I could go on), this was a very enjoyable listen! I absolutely recommend this audio!

Synopsis: FMC is a 20ish year old who has a PhD in the Real World, which is set after the war of Angels versus Demons. Wen has been indentured to a demon since she finished 6th grade and lives with her best friend who has had a similar fate. To buy their freedom, she begins a one-woman business with an elite drug, Essence, that only she seems to be able to farm/produce from the Angels roaming the Earth. After a drug deal gone wrong, she finds herself under the attention of the archangels and sent to Celestial Academy until they figure out what to do with her for her crimes.

Celestial Academy: Essence is a solid entry in the magical academy genre. This YA fantasy follows a group of teens as they navigate their newfound powers at a school for the supernaturally gifted.

The magic system is intriguing, centered around the idea of "essence" - a unique energy each student must learn to harness. Pharos does a great job of world-building, creating a vivid and immersive academy setting.

Characters are relatable, if sometimes predictable. The main protagonist's journey of self-discovery is particularly well-crafted, though some side characters could use more depth.

While the plot hits familiar beats, Pharos throws in enough twists to keep things interesting. The pacing is spot-on, balancing classroom drama with more high-stakes magical conflicts.

Celestial Academy: Essence is a fun, engaging read that sets up what could be a promising series. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a solid choice for fans of magical school stories.

If you are a fan of Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments, and Zodiac Academy then you will EAT THIS UP!

Right away we are introduced to what has become of the Afterworld - the aftermath of the apocalypse of Hell and Heaven. Who is left to clean up the mess, humans, are at the bottom of the food chain.

We meet Wen, a human, who is demon-owned and a complete underdog FMC with one goal in life to get her best friend (Sarah) and her out of indenture before it is too late. Wen has a talent for stealing and dealing angel-essence - which is a drug she can only make. That is when our story starts to unfold as to why which is what the Archangels want to know. Right away she is thrown under the mentorship of our MMC Godric. The tension between the two is fun throughout the whole book as they both explore answers that lead them to the Celestial Academy.

The side characters are so interesting and have their complexities. Tropes I loved that I found:
🪽 Enemies to lovers
🪽 Grumpy/Sunshine Pairing
🪽 Slow-burn romance
🪽 Friendship/Loyalty
🪽 Forced Proximity
🪽 Chosen One
🪽 Magical Academy

A huge kudos to narrator Amanda Leigh Cobb who has narrated for ACOWAR, ACOSF, and the Crowns of Nyaxia series. They made this so fun to listen to while I was reading.

BIG THANK YOU to NetGalley and of course Olivia Pharos (indie author) for the ARC audio. 💖

The introduction to the characters was amazing and the action has be hooked from the start.
The world building with the Angels, the family tree and the idea of the academy seemed really cool. Once they start training the pace It felt really slow compared to beginning, with not a lot happening, but definitely a lot of world building, making it seemed like this book is the set up for the next one and not necessarily it's own story.
The romance and the sexual tension felt a little out of left field and not really earn but that could just be me.
Over all the problems presented in the last third definitely left me intrigued for the next one. I would just prefer more action and a more earned romance

Mini Review: Celestial Academy: Essence

If you’re searching for your next book addiction, Celestial Academy: Essence is it. I loved it so much!!

This dark academia, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance plunges you into a vivid post-apocalyptic world where angels, demons, and morally grey characters navigate the treacherous halls of a military academy for supernaturals. The slow-burn romance will have you hooked as the protagonists Wen White battles not just this new and dangerous world but her undeniable attraction to the angel that is likely to be the death of her. With a found family dynamic and apocalyptic stakes, this new-adult fantasy is brimming with suspense, mystery, and soul-searing, swoon-worthy passion. You won’t want to put it down—or leave its world behind.

Cant wait for book 2

NB: The audiobook is brilliant. I loved the narrator.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book I really enjoyed it! Really reminded be of Zodiac Academy with a very strong Female main character. Was amazing and need more!

Surprisingly good. Started off fine, but kept getting more and more interesting. Though it was awful when she got hit by a certain body part (you'll understand when you get there). Some of the twists were a bit obvious, but I still enjoyed it and now want to read the next book!

Also had Cresent city / harry potter-ish vibes and I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. Though the slow burn nearly killed me! Another reason to read the sequel 😂

I really enjoyed this book. Alot of the fantasy books have been about dragons lately. It was nice to change it up to haven/hell/angels. Wen, the FMC, is my favorite, her inter dialog was hilarious. I will say the enemy to lovers is a slow burn and only seems one sided for most of the book. Totally worth the read and can't wait to get the next book in the series.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. This book is unexpectedly humorous, and I'm here for the banter between the main female character, Wen, and the main male character, Godric. Specifically, the nicknames Wen comes up for for the other characters in the story! The TENSION between Wen & Godric is INSANE. Just kiss already! One aspect of this book I find interesting is the use of technology in a magical world. This is hard to do & I feel the author was very successful in doing it! I NEED the next book NOW!

I absolutely ate this book up! I'm a sucker for powers and trials! Looking forward to book 2!

Publisher's summary
In an Afterworld with Hell and Heaven on Earth, I'm the lowest a being can be. My life is one of drudgery, degradation—and danger. And that's before I started dealing Angelescence, a drug only I can produce, and everyone would kill for. Then I make one single mistake, and it gets me arrested, and my terrifying captor drags me to the Celestial Court—on a leash—to stand trial. My sentence?
Conscription to Celestial Academy—with Godric, the most powerful nephilim in history and Heaven's assassin as my mentor. He's been assigned with discovering the root of my unprecedented ability to capture Angel Essence.
We hate our forced proximity—and each other. But our private war takes a backseat as he unearths even more terrible mysteries within me. Meanwhile, lethal trials loom at mid-term, and a devastating internal war as well as another Apocalypse are brewing. And I'm at the center of it all.

Thanks to NetGaley & Olivia Pharos for the ALC of this book!

Celestial Academy: Essence
By: Olivia Pharos
Narrated by: Amanda Leigh Cobb
Publisher: Olivia Pharos
Series: Afterworld, Book 1
Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
Release date: 05-30-24

I am addicted. I LOVED this book and the narration was perfect in my humble opinion! Paranormal, post-apocalyptic, urban fantasy, dark academia, slow burn angst, mystery, high stakes...it was all of my favorites wrapped into one!

Gwen is a strong FMC. She is witty, snarky, hard-headed, brave and fiercely loyal to her chosen family. While she may not have the best self preservation skills, I LOVED her sass! I was chuckled and giggling throughout the story and I thought the narrator captured her personality beautifully.

Godric is our dark, mysterious, dangerous and no-nonsense MMC. He is broody and the polar opposite of Gwen. There is still so much to learn about him in the future books and I can not wait! The instant distain between the pair was glorious (pun intended).

On the storyline side you have an Angel and Demon run dystopian world following Armageddon. Most humans are slaves to one side or the other. As a demon-owed, Gwen is just trying to do whatever it takes to buy her families freedom. She ends up in the crosshairs of the Angels and is soon swept into a world much larger than she imagined. Worse, she is in the middle of a Millenia old conflict with no real understanding of the stakes or her role in it. Several strong side characters made for a really well rounded story.

On the romance side you have enemies-to-tolerate, forced proximity, opposites attract, slow burn, and all the angst. I have seen other reviews mentioning the FMC is a teenager - that was not my impression at all. From my listening, I had her aged early 20s. I wouldn't say there was any "spice" in this book but the internal thoughts and dialogue is very much NA/adult maturity level. I suspect some toe curling in future books!

Overall, the storyline was captivating and unique. The characters were well-developed and entertaining. The pacing was great and I never lost interest. The narration was fantastic and I pray Amanda Leigh Cobb narrates the future books, maybe adding in a male narrator for a more duet style production. My biggest struggle right now is that I want to tear into book 2 BUT I want to wait for the audio format to continue the experience....decisions, decisions. Either way, this will likely become a bookshelf trophy series because I LOVED IT!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Gripping, Dark, and Witty Slow Burn that Fans of Jasmine Mas and Eva Chase Will Devour!

If you’re on the hunt for a series that masterfully combines the gritty intensity of The Mortal Instruments with the fierce, action-packed energy of Fourth Wing, Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos is your next must-read.

Pharos weaves a complex and enthralling world that echoes the depth of Crescent City, but with the vibrant cast and biting humor reminiscent of Zodiac Academy. The story is packed with tension, steam, and an intricate slow-burn romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Wen’s journey from an orphaned slave to a key player in the celestial conflict is nothing short of mesmerizing. The push and pull between Wen and Godric, her ruthless mentor, is electric, filled with seething desire and forbidden cravings that threaten to explode at any moment. The chemistry between them is off the charts, but it’s the slow build that makes it all the more satisfying.

The world-building is top-notch, creating a dark and dangerous Afterworld where Heaven and Hell literally walk the Earth. Pharos doesn't hold back on the stakes—there's mystery, suspense, and a looming apocalypse that puts Wen right at the center of it all.

For those who love their fantasy with a dose of danger, a side of wit, and a whole lot of steam, Celestial Academy: Essence is a perfect fit. This book is not just a read; it's an experience that will leave you craving more. I can't wait to dive into the next installment and see where Wen's journey takes her next!

Ok this was actually SO GOOD. I loved the audio because it kept me engaged through the beginning as the world was being set. It definitely gave Zodiac Academy vibes, which I loved!! I highly recommend to those who love magical worlds like ZA. The romance was a slow burn and I loved it! 🥰

Really enjoyed Olivia Pharos's debut novel, Celestial Academy: Essense. It's a well-crafted training academy novel, focusing on angels and demons, with a heavy dose of romantic tension. I'm a big fan of fantasy, but can often get bogged down with too much world building that focuses on a large amount of made-up references. It's a fine line to navigate - providing enough detail that the reader gets fully immersed, without making them feel like they're taking an advanced level course on a subject they'd never heard of before cracking the spine. Pharos does a great job of using enough elements from our modern world, and references to beings common in our folklore and religious traditions, that we can we can follow along without feeling taxed. I listened to the audio version of the book, and Amanda Leigh Cobb did a great job with inflection and pacing. I often listen to books at 1.5 or 1.75 speed, but I start out getting a feel for the narrator at standard speed so that I can get an accurate feel for the narrator's character voices and their animation. Often times this short stint at 1.0 speed can feel like such a slog - with narrators drawing out every syllable and pause. But Cobb keeps things at a good conversation speed - so much so that I wouldn't have had any issues listening to the entire book at 1.0 speed. I also appreciated the pauses in between chapters and transitions. So much easier to follow along with an audio book that provides distinctions that are visible only on the page. All in all I'm hooked in the storyline. Can't wait to see where our characters lead in the next installment.

I was provided a free copy of this audiobook by NetGalley for my review. (My first NetGalley review!) All opinions expressed are my own.

This book just wasn't for me. Maybe it was the narrator or the book itself. I was not a fan. I did not finish.

This book was very good. Sometimes, it was difficult for me to imagine what was going on because of the angels' power. I see mostly black when I read, so this may not be a problem with other readers.

I loved Wen's relationship with Sarah. That is Found Family at its best. I was surprised at how quickly Jenny became obsessed with Sarah.

I can't wait to read book 2 and find out more of what's going on. So many questions!

This book is entertaining from the first chapter, Wen, the FMC is so funny, I couldn’t help laughing out loud at all of her snaps and remarks throughout the book.

This book was everything I love about romance fantasy: an alternate universe, sizzling tension, feisty female heroine with a lot of wit and foul mouth, brooding and extremely attractive hero, mystery and intrigue.
It was addictive and I couldn’t stop listening.

Now I must own this book as part of my collection. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I have found a new author to love and I am excited for more.

The narrator did such an amazing job, I was fully immersed in the story. I have listened to a few other books narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb and I’ve got to say she does very well with her interpretation of the male voice, sometimes you forget the same narrator is doing all the voices.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The world-building is amazing, blending post-apocalyptic vibes with celestial drama. Wen, the main character, is fierce, snarky, and has a no-nonsense attitude, which makes her interactions with Godric, a powerful nephilim, even more enjoyable. Their slow-burn romance is both frustrating and intriguing, adding a lot of tension to the story.

Amanda Leigh Cobb's narration brings Wen's personality to life perfectly, capturing her sass and determination. If you're into enemies-to-lovers with a supernatural twist, this audiobook is definitely worth a listen!

I almost put this book down. The first twenty percent was too manic and unfocused, and then boom something happened. That is where I found the rhythm since this book comes in waves. Slow sections have you trudging to get through, then a race to the next peak, all while watching the battle of good and evil playing out without truly knowing who is good and who is evil.

The age difference within this enemies to friends (they aren’t at the lover’s stage, yet) theme was a bit cringy. Wen is a mouthy sixteen full of insults and questions, Godric, all scowls, and growls, is somewhere between 30 and 30 thousand. For being an “inexperienced” teen girl, her thoughts are spicy with descriptions way beyond her years.

So many characters. There is a glossary at the end, but you might need to keep notes with both names and how they are related to the hierarchy. Lorcan and Gideon, cousins of Godric, bring humor and lighthearted parts that the book needs. Sarah, Wen’s only friend, is reminiscent of Enid Sinclair from the show Wednesday. Yet, there is more to her story, way more, and the reader is just getting to the tell me more parts with her. And the twenty or so others at the academy all vying for a place without dying first.

What carries this book is the banter. You will find yourself laughing and smirking. As far as I can tell, the plan is 7 books, but with the “oh, that’s interesting”, that carries the reader from one chapter to another, there is no telling how far this series can go.

I’m assuming Olivia Pharos is a pseudonym since the writer comes across as someone with more experience than the usual first-time indie author. Be careful while searching out this book, it appears there are a couple of different authors using the same book title.

With Wen’s spicy thoughts, the Celestial Academy falls firmly into the new adult fantasy realm.

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos is a book that had the potential to be a captivating tale of magic, intrigue, and academy life, but unfortunately, it falls short due to its overly complex narrative and scattered plot.

From the start, the audiobook presents a myriad of characters, settings, and plot threads that make it difficult to grasp the central storyline. The author introduces numerous elements without giving the listener enough time to connect with any of them. This results in a confusing experience, where it’s hard to see where the story is heading or to care about the characters and their journeys.

The pacing of the narrative feels uneven, with some parts dragging on while others rush through crucial moments. The overwhelming amount of detail and the constant introduction of new concepts can leave listeners feeling lost, struggling to keep up with what’s happening. The audiobook format only amplifies these issues, as it’s harder to revisit sections that might need a second listen to fully understand.

The narration itself is competent, but it can’t compensate for the convoluted plot. The narrator tries to bring the characters and world to life, but the disjointed story makes it hard to maintain engagement. Despite the narrator’s efforts, the overall experience feels more like a chore than an enjoyable escape into a magical world.

In conclusion, Celestial Academy: Essence might appeal to those who enjoy highly detailed and complex fantasy worlds, but for many, it will be a struggle to stay engaged. The audiobook is particularly challenging due to the dense and confusing storyline, making it difficult to recommend to those looking for a more straightforward and immersive fantasy experience.