I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Noella Rose is a human school counselor who unwittingly enters into a binding contract, thrusting her into a mystical boarding school filled with Primordials—beings who view emotions as weaknesses and humans as inferior.

Kellen, a Primordial, has made countless sacrifices to protect his younger siblings. He’s learned to distrust humans and sees Noella as a threat to everything he’s worked for.

What I loved most about this book is how it shifted the focus from the typical student perspective to that of the adults at a magical school. It felt like such a refreshing and unique take on the genre!

The enemies-to-lovers trope is always one of my favorites, and Noella and Kellen’s evolving relationship was absolutely compelling.

I can't wait to see what happens next in book two!

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers or bully romances, this book is a must-read!

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

3.75/4 - Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC ebook!

This was a VERY solid read. Did I think the lore and worldbuilding was particularly mindblowing? No. BUT the origionality and execution of this story REALLY helped make up for it. I liked the characters, I liked their intelligence. I liked the chemistry. And the groveling was TOP. TIER. THIS is what I want from an MMC when he done some stupid stuff. The writing was also very solid, so I wasn't being ripped from the fantasy with errors or things that I thought were out of place in the story. I loved the origionality of the MFC being a school counselor and being able to "see" her work. I always appreciate when an author gives an MC a profession and are able to back up what they do in the story with knowledge and intuition. I like that she didn't just gloss over areas where Noella actually worked and that the author wrote about that work.

Now, the reason I'm at a 3.75 and not a full 4 is for a very specific reason. There was one larger problem I had with this book, and it had more so to do with a writing technique error than an actual story error. The plot twists, each one of them, were HANDED to us in the "foreshadowings." I think there were meant to be 4 major plot twists (that I can think of) all revealed at the end, and I knew what each one was at easily 50% of the way through. This caused there to be a lack of mystery and an excess of frustration whilst waiting for things (I knew were coming) to happen at the tail end of this decently long book.

The whole school field day thing came off as a delaying tactic for these "reveals" since it was never mentioned until close to the end, and then that along with the battle took up almost ONE-HUNDRED PAGES. That's a chunk,
friend. This, reasonably was super frustrating for me because I couldn't enjoy the point of those events because I knew what was coming and was tired of it not happening. And seeing these intelligent characters being so dumb about these revelations was just so out of character and added to my frustration.

Also, I think I would have liked to see some of Kelley's healing process, because I was missing that bridge between him showing emotions when stuff was going down but returning right back to normal once it was over. But that is very preferential and the lack of that didn't impact the story itself much.

Spice was maybe a 2/5. Probably closer to a 1/5, but I'm feeling generous.

At the end of the day, I REALLY enjoyed this book up to the aforementioned points. I have never read a book like it and LOVED that a school counselor was the main character. Origionality always gets beaucoup brownie points from me. And I will take free therapy any day! Will definitely be reading the next one.

This was a fun refreshing read. While the fantasy romance genre has a lot of books, I think the author was really smart here by adding some new "touches" that made it still a refreshing read. First off, our main characters here are fully adults, in fact our main character is staff at a school (rather than being a student like in many other books). Of course, this is a fantasy book so it's a "magical" school but the MC is weak and human and everyone hates her for it. I will admit, the hate in the beginning was a bit much for me and could be frustrating to read but it does allow us to see the MC grow a spine and stand up for herself and she does eventually gain some friends/allies and the bullying gets more manageable and less of a focus in the story.

I really liked the MCs job in the story. She is a counselor basically at the school. In this world, the different species/beings are always so focused on strength that the students are really suffering so the MC is brought in to be a counselor and help the students. This was the main "twist" to the typical fantasy romance story that made it refreshing for me. The book really focuses a lot on her job and her interactions with her students and I really enjoyed those parts. I'm glad it wasn't just her job title but that we actually "watched" her interact with the students and that these interactions pushed the plot of the story. I also thought she was a pretty good counselor (I'm not an expert on this field though) and I really liked a lot of the almost like "advice" I read in the story: I highlighted a lot of different quotes that I loved.

Now onto the romance. This part is more typical of a fantasy romance. It's enemies to lovers (and yes they are actually enemies, the ML honestly sucks a lot at first lol). I hated the ML at first and while I still don't forgive him for everything, the author did do a good job slowly exploring and showing his perspective and you get some reasons for why he feels the way he does and why he did the things he did (not fully excusable but at least explained). And he honestly is pretty hot too so overall I like him as an ML but it was a journey to get there since he started out so awful.

I think overall it was a really fun read that felt fresh but could be frustrating sometimes. But overall I loved the main character and her job and that made it really fun and I'm glad I read it.

I think that fans of the genre will find that this book ticks loads of boxes for them! Great worldbuilding, academic setting, enemies to lovers, a strong, resilient FMC, a very broody MMC (and his personal journey and growth throughout the book is so amazing!), great banter, mental health rep and overall a great way to escape reality for a bit!

The world building was easy to follow, ther map and pronunciation guide in the beginning of the book always a welcome touch. But I think what stands out the most is how much the readers feels invested in the two main characters getting together, they are so good for each other!

The plot twist I will admit I kind of predicted around half way through the book but that's not too take away the cliffhanger ending and my excitement to read the next book when it's out! I feel there is so much more to unpack!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Bleeding Rose by Kyla Shinder offers a unique premise, blending school counseling with fantasy elements in a world where emotions are seen as weakness. Noella Rose, the protagonist, starts as a typical counselor who thinks she’s signing up for a job at a boarding school in upstate New York—until she’s magically bound to Delmarth Academy in another dimension, the kingdom of Cavale. It’s here that the book’s true conflict unfolds, as Noella, a human, must navigate her role among powerful beings who despise humans and emotions alike.

The concept is intriguing. Noella’s role as a school counselor in a world where emotional expression is shunned creates an interesting contrast that Shinder explores with some thoughtfulness. Her struggle to do her job, advocate for the students’ well-being, and survive among her colleagues—particularly Kellen Kilic, the brooding department head determined to make her life difficult—is what drives the plot forward. Kellen’s own emotional battle, torn between protecting his siblings and his unexpected attraction to Noella, adds layers to the story that are enjoyable to follow.

However, while the premise has potential, the execution feels a bit uneven. The world-building of Cavale, with its Primordials and strange magical systems, is only partially developed, leaving the reader wanting more clarity and depth. It’s hard to fully grasp the nuances of this dimension, and some of the fantastical elements feel underexplained. This makes it difficult to become fully immersed in the setting.

The romance between Noella and Kellen, though predictable, has its moments of tension, particularly as Kellen wrestles with his ingrained hatred of humans and growing attraction to Noella. Their dynamic, while interesting, leans heavily on familiar enemies-to-lovers tropes. As a result, their relationship, while sweet at times, can feel formulaic, especially when compared to the more complex emotional battles that are hinted at but never fully explored.

One of the novel’s stronger points is its focus on emotions as a form of power. Noella’s mission to teach the students (and Kellen) that feelings are not weaknesses but sources of strength brings some heart to the story. The scenes in which she interacts with the students, offering them guidance and helping them open up, are some of the book’s most compelling moments. It’s here where Noella shines, and where the theme of emotional resilience takes center stage.

However, the pacing is a bit slow in places, with long stretches where not much happens beyond internal musings and back-and-forth tension between characters. Some sections of the book feel bogged down by repetition, and the plot doesn’t always progress as quickly as it should, which may leave readers feeling restless.

Overall, Bleeding Rose has the ingredients for a strong fantasy-romance, but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. It’s an enjoyable read, especially for those who love stories about unlikely connections and emotional growth, but it’s also a story that could benefit from more focused world-building and a tighter narrative. If you’re in the mood for a light enemies-to-lovers romance set in a magical world with emotional themes, this book will offer some enjoyable moments, but it might leave you wanting a bit more depth.

I was really excited for this book and loved the premise of it where I also work in mental health in school settings and found the FMCs struggles relatable. I did struggle to get through some of it though where I felt like some of the dialogue wasn’t needed as well as some other things, or characters conversations and actions were just childish.. it was almost a dnf but I did want to know what happened at the end.

I have mixed feelings about this book. For me, as I have seen some other people say, this book is marketed as a fantasy book with romance but should probably be marketed as a romance book with fantasy as the storyline I would say is a lot more focused on the romance with the plot being assisted by the fantasy aspects rather than the other way around.

The plot started off at a snails pace, the slow-burn romance was incredibly slow. There was a point around the two-thirds to three quarters mark where they could have gotten together and it would have been just the right length of time, but something happens to make one of the characters pull away which kind of tipped me over the edge from anticipation to frustration. It is something that, in my opinion, didn’t even need to happen it was just shoved in to make the slow burn last longer. Ella (the FMC) goes from super lovey to completely shut off, and while there is some explanation as to why, it just doesn’t feel realistic that she would react the way she does. And then, when the relationship reaches the peak we have all waited for… it’s on the very last page and the book ends with a “to be continued…”

I really enjoyed a lot of the characters, but sometimes they felt very two dimensional and not completely fleshed out, I would have liked to see more depth to them, played out realistically (or as realistically as possible in a world of shapeshifters and elemental wielders). Kellen (the MMC) was very moody and broody for the first third of the book… and then just seemed to become a bit of a wet wipe? Yes, I know, love softens us all, but it feels like we lost the character we actually started to fall in love with along side Ella and he becomes a completely different person. In my opinion, the only characters that actually showed any realistic character growth were the twins Jarion and Layla, and they are the most adorable (they almost made me cry several times). At times Ella was very annoying, honestly I’m not even sure why, she just seemed to grate on me at times.

When it came to plot progression and twists and turns in the story, they were all very obvious. I saw them coming several chapters ahead and was consistently correct. Does this make them bad? No, but sometimes it’s nice when something (good or bad) comes completely out of left field and leaves you wondering how you didn’t see it before. And this story did not give me that at all I’m afraid.

Overall I did enjoy this story and I would read the next one. 3.25 ⭐️

For full disclosure I was provided an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this story through NetGalley in return for my honest review.

Noella Rose thought she had signed a contract to become the school counsellor at an upstate New York boarding school. Little did she know that she had committed herself to one complete year not in New York State but in an entirely different dimension and at a school where the students and teachers have immense power. Despite this Ella is determined to do her job regardless of the distrust the staff and pupils show towards her. It is not just sparks that are sure to fly.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the story writing had plenty of sass and humour. It was an enemies to lovers tale but surrounding that had a world of characters that were interesting, adding fabulous depth to the story.
I have added this author to my watch list as I really want tot read the next instalment of this series.

It's kind of like a mix between a dark romance and a rom-com, a fantasy and a contenporay romance, so I guess a romantasy?

This is so good! The FMC was awesome!
And that endig?! Wow...

It's like "Magic Schoole" from the teachers point of view. A human woman trapped in af parallel magical world, with all kind of creatures, trying to be the a emotional school counselor.
Beautiful mental health repressentation, dark academy, romantasy, spice, action, dragon shifters and a eminmes/hate to lovers kind of troupe.
I defently need the next one!

4,5 fantastic stars

post on IG Tuesday the 15 of oct (on_fairy_tale_at_the_time)

Whilst I enjoyed this one a lot, it's not without its flaws.

The positives...

The majority of the characters were pretty strong. I loved Noella/Ella and the twins! I loved their resilience and the character development. I loved the counselling sessions. I thought they were pretty well done.

The worldbuilding was pretty decent, as well, and we get snippets of it throughout the book instead of info dumping all at once, so we kind of learn as Ella does. I love the different types of Primordials and their powers. I would like to know more about the true origins of the war.

The plot was pretty good, albeit predictable.

The pacing was decent, although, at times, this got bogged down in Kellen's declarations of love and worship of Ella.

And this leads me to my main problem with the book. Kellen goes from literally trying to kill Ella to worshiping her in about two seconds flat. Fine, enemies to lovers trope. No big deal. However, the overly done tears, sobbing, declarations of love (but not the actual "l" word because that's what everyone is pushing for) is just overly done and comes off as ridiculous. Honestly, it comes off more pathetic than loving and drew me out of the story.

That said, this book is not without merit, and I do look forward to the next one and hopefully getting some answers to some lingering questions.

Girlllll!!! I adore this author. I follow her on tiktok and she’s just a ray of sunshine and this book was brilliant. I adored it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝖎𝖋 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝕷𝖎𝖐𝖊:
🥀 Magical Academy
🥀 Counselor x Teacher
🥀 Hate to Love
🥀 Forbidden Love
🥀 Only Human
🥀 Slow Burn
🥀 Sliiiight Bully Romance

I was so intrigued to read this book and it did not disappoint! I always love a magic school setting and I haven’t read a counselor x teacher dynamic yet! This was a fun, sassy, beautiful story with easy world-building, dragon-shifters, magic, and delicious tension!
Poor Ella wants to do her job as a counselor but everyone, including the students, views her with ingrained hostility. She’s such a mentally strong FMC and I love how she’s so focused on the wellbeing of the students despite it all. Kellen is the sexy, vindictive dragon-shifter teacher who despises Ella and is determined to make her life hell and remove her from the school. I fell in love with their characters and the side characters, Jarion, Laya, Josefyn, and Akio 🥹 the characters are what captured my attention but then a sneaky little plot line creeps up to keep you reeled in! I’m not super big on bully romances but it’s only in the beginning and Kellen more than makes up for it 🤭 this was low on the spice scale for me but the story didn’t need it!
That twist was unexpected - once it’s hinted at, you can guess but until that first hint, I didn’t see it coming!
This book was like therapy, even though they were children, they still had such relatable issues. I truly wish I had a counselor like Ella Rose growing up, every child needs someone like her on their side. I found myself tearing up a lot of times purely for that reason. The writing was so beautiful and captured the importance and struggle of mental health. I absolutely loved this story and the journey the characters went on. It was so much fun and I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you Net Galley and Kyla for this ARC!

I feel like I was kicking my legs like a giddy school girl for Noella and Kellen...
I really enjoyed Ella's role in the school and her growth throughout the story, as well as Kellen's softening heart cause that man was STONE COLD in the beginning 😂
I honestly didn't know what to expect initially in regards to the fantasy aspect but learning all the Primordials (also bonus points for that name...I loved it) and the twist ending was *chefs kiss*

So excited for the next book, and if you are a fan of Zodiac Academy then you will LOVE this for its similar vibe, just from the professors POV

Thank you to NetGalley and Kyla Shinder for the ARC ❤️

Really enjoyed this story it has magic. Powers. Cool creatures. Some shifters. A magic school and more. I love how all the main characters have their own traumas that they are working on healing and that they are all powerful in their own way. The only thing is I guessed the ending. I really did enjoy the found family. The romance and her dog

This book was absolutely fantastic!
I ATEEEEE this up.
The tropes and topics of this book was spot on amazing.
And hello?!? Shifters?!? Yessss please!
I can’t wait for the next one!

Magically bound to a contract that keeps her in another realm Noella must do her best to make her own way in a strange world of magic and mystery... all while everyone there hates her for her very existence. But no one seems to hate her more than Kellen, whose obsession walks the line between love and loathing. Is Noella destined to be more than just a school counselor? Can Kellen be more than just an angry dragon shifter? Perhaps...

I look forward to reading the next book. Absolutely exceptional story telling.

This was an AMAZING book. It teaches you so much. You learn how to set boundaries and to stick to them, how to express yourself in a healthy way. And the list goes on. I think this is also a good book for people who loved Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy. Strong and resilient FMC, dragon daddy MMC, and amazing children with so many different personalities and abilities.

It talks about setting boundaries for the kids and to let them come to terms with talking through their feelings and frustrations.

I’ve never read a book that has allowed such acceptance and expression of feelings for children for young adults for adults being taught by adults written for adults.

It’s about a woman who was tricked into leaving the earth plane to another dimension (fantasy very ZA) to be a counselor for children after a tragic death at the school. Everyone hates her and belittles her but she stands resilient against them and starts dishing it back (very Tory) (ALSO NOT SPOILERS FOR ZA BECAUSE THIS IS TALKED ABOUT IN BLURBS) she puts the kids first and finds ways to help them. Help them cope help them find ways to exist in a world that nothing but cruel. Shows them the love and compassion they were never offered in life by their peers by their parents. It’s an emotional ride and is a Romantasy but I think you’ll love it.

Bleeding Rose | Kyla Shinder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

It’s RELEASE DAY! And just as importantly Kyla’s birthday! As far as birthday gifts go, I think this book is absolutely one of the best things 🫶🏼

This story was the perfect mix of fantasy and romance! It was a great twist on what’s usually a POV from a student in a magic school. We were able to see everything from the teachers perspective. And the mental health rep? Chefs kiss 💋 because MAGICAL CREATURES HAVE FEELINGS TOO.

Book two is already in the works. And yes I checked immediately once I’d finished reading book one because I couldn’t help but know 😅

Thank you NetGalley and Azala Press for this ARC!