This is a delightful story, about a young girl with a very special family background, who can see ghosts and communicate with spirits. Unfortunately for 12 year old Issa, she can't always control what happens at such moments.

And that is one of the reasons she ends up at the Siren School, a place that teaches about magic, in essence training those who must live with it. After all, going to a regular school really didn't work out so well for Issa!

The story draws on indigenous traditions of magical manifestation, and is an easy read, with a lot of humour. It will be immensely appealing to readers in the target age group. It gets 3.5 stars and is well worth checking out!

4.5 ⭐️

The Rise of Issa Igwe is the perfect blend of nostalgia and Black girl magic. When Issa's parents force her to attend The Siren School to control her conduit powers, she is not happy about it. But a loss shortly after her arrival makes her rethink her perspective, drawing her deeper into the mysteries of the school. While honing her abilities, Issa begins to uncover long-buried secrets about The Siren School, its history, and its intentions.

I loved this book from beginning to end. The fresh take on the magic school trope felt inventive and compelling, while the subtle nods to Black culture added a layer of authenticity and heart. The characters were vibrant: Lionel was so sweet, and Rachel had me laughing out loud with her humor. Shanna Miles’s writing is enchanting, and I’ll absolutely be reading more from her.

CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 9
Plot: 7.5
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 8
Enjoyment: 9

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book has my heart! I loved the history and story. Well written and thought provoking. It is delightfully creepy and a ghostly fun read

Thank you for the copy of this book. I had the opportunity to read this from the publishing company requesting on Net Galley. I am very grateful. This was super interesting and fun from the start. The story unique and the characters very likeable. I am a sucker for a good fantasy book. I believe anyone can find enjoyment in this book. I have recommended this to those I know personally but also recommend to anyone reading this review right now. I do not want to post any spoilers as my reviews talk about the feelings the books bring me. I love when a book can suck me into the story where I temporarily live there. This book did that for me.

This was different from most other magical / fantasy / witchy academy reads I’ve experienced, so that made it fun. And it took an interesting approach while packing in some fun world-building. If you like books with magic that are set in the ‘real’ world, you’ll like this one, I expect.


Academy setting.
Orphan female lead.
Magical classes / lessons.
Mythical creatures.
World-building.
Possession.
Necromancy.

4 stars.
Would read more by this author.


🎧 Audio:
Excellent performance! This narrator almost made this sound like a full-cast production. Smooth overall sound quality. 5 stars.

This made me want to read more children’s book! (Well technically middle grade)
A journey through grief and discovery for Issa, where she is able to embrace herself and her power. By accomplishing great things and making friends.

My rating system:
Narration: 4
Story: 4
Entertainment: 4
Emotions: 4
Overall: 4