Demigods Academy: Year 1

Demigods Academy, Book 1

De: Elisa S. Amore, Kiera Legend

Narrado por: Stephen Dexter, Vanessa Moyen

Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson.

On their 18th birthday, everyone in the world receives a Shadowbox - a magic box that is a gift like no other...because, it’s a gift from the gods. For the majority of people, there’s only a birthday message inside their Shadowbox. For a few chosen, though, there’s something more. Nobody knows what those special guys receive. What’s known is that they disappear and never come back.

Rumors say they are invited to join the gods’ army. I think it’s just a load of crap.

My name is Melany Richmond, and for my entire life, I’ve been an outcast - an orphan tossed around like a ship in a storm. I don’t think that gods really exist. I never even received my Shadowbox when I turned 18. Maybe, because nobody knows my true birth date or because not even the gods care about me. After all, I'm a blue-haired rebel and a troublemaker with tattoos all over my arms.

I’m not like Callie Demos, the beautiful blondie living in the huge estate my adopted mother takes care of. She is the perfect specimen of Greek devotion, and nobody doubts she will get “the call”. She has everything in her life and doesn’t appreciate any of it. Her birthday party is the biggest event in town, and everyone wants to be there when she receives her blessing. To me, it’s just another ridiculous parade. But when I secretly open her Shadowbox and feel its magic on my skin, all my beliefs vanish.

Gods do exist. And if the scroll in my hands says the truth, they have a secret academy where their recruits train to become demigods. I’ve done really bad things in my life but stealing Callie’s opportunity to attend the god’s academy? It’s got to be the worst. If gods find out I’m a faker, what was supposed to be someone else’s gift may turn into my personal curse.

This is a young adult urban fantasy for listeners featuring magic, adventures, and friendship.

©2019 Amore Publishing (P)2019 Amore Publishing

Demigod Academy

Such a great book. Melany lives in a community where the wealthy train their children to hopefully be selected to go to the Demigod Academy. Melany was orphaned when she was young, until her aunt takes her in. They are the help, they work for the wealthy. The daughter of the family that they work for is turning 18 years old. On the 18th birthdays they receive a box from the Gods. Melany steals the box after the daughter of the rich family was denied entry. Melany gets a scroll from the box with acceptance into the Demigod Academy. She has to pass the finals of the Gods to continue to year two. The ending was a huge twist. Can't wait to see where book two take me.

from beginning to end

you get sucked in from beginning to end, I can't wait for the next book

Interesting take on the Greek pantheon.

The plot moved along at a good pace, but I would have liked more description on the layout of the academy campus. I was also curious about the inner workings and care-taking of the facilities and creatures. It isn't necessary for the plot, but when I'm immersed in a new fantasy, I tend to wonder about those things. Overall, a good read. Looking forward to the next one.

Excellent Greek Storyline!!!

Demigods Academy: Year 1 by Elisa S. Amore and Kiera Legend and narrated by Stephen Dexter and Vanessa Moyen has been one of a few highlights of 2020. First, the narrators each get a high 5 for the correct pronunciation of the various Greek Gods and Heroes. I also want to applaud the writers for getting it right and not Americanizing them.
We meet Melanie, our FMC, at some ritzy birthday party. It's the girls' 18th and EVERYONE gets a shadowbox delivered from the gods on that day. Melanie never did. One unique thing about these boxes is the possibility of getting an invitation to the Academy. Melanie takes the girls, and takes off for the academy. She becomes a Recruit.
We meet Lucien, one of the MMCs, who starts off treating our FMC badly, but comes to see there is something different about her.
Many things happen over the next few months, besides meeting Zeus, Poseidon and YES even Hades.
Jump into this book to see just how much the world has changed and in which direction. Some of my favorite things are the use of modern English and slang, the use of the correct names of the various gods and their children, and the 12 trials every student must complete, just like Heracles.
Would I listen to this story again? ABSOLUTELY YES
Would I recommend this book to others? YES
Just so you know, there's a cliffhanger and its a doozy.

Great read

Look looking for the next book. Hope it comes out soon
I loved the twist at the end.

Loved it!

This was a very enjoyable book. The narrators were fantastic. It was very easy for me to get into Melany’s story. I felt like I was right there along side her as she embarked upon the journey that would change her life forever. I admired her strength, determination and loyalty. The author did a wonderful job building the world of the Demigod Academy and developing the characters. I can’t wait to find out where the big surprise at the end is going to lead Melany in the next book.

Very Engaging!

There were plenty of ups and downs, twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Can't wait to listen to the next one!!

A Twist on the Boarding School cliche

Technically, Melany is moving onto a college type situation instead of just a boarding school, but at the base there is that same struggle as this teens learn their new world, their new situation, and their new colleges. Instead of a normal college,, Melaney, an orphan who never fits in, attends by forces beyond her own the God's Academy. The Greek Gods have stopped biding their time and have decided they must face the world as we know it. On of the steps in the God's Academy where they will train soldiers with demigod powers.
While there is echoes of the Percy Jackson novels, this is it's own story and stands on its own. The world set up is totally different; in fact, I wish I could have seen more of how the outside world was with the knowledge of the reemergence of eh gods.
I saw the twist coming, but that doesn't mean it's not a good twist. It will take this series in a new direction I haven
t seen in many others with similar ideals. I think this will be great for the character and distinguishing this series from all the YA in the market.
That being said, I had issues with the alternating view points. Lucian has several chapters and they seemed to be random and didn't really add more to the story that Melaney's wouldn't have. I also didn't like the narrator for those sections; he didn't sound like the character at all.
Over all, The Demigod Academy: Year 1 is entertaining and sets itself apart from other books of the same nature.

I received a copy of this book from the author; all opinions are my own.

Love this!!!

I loved this book so much! Melany was such a fun character. Her views and how she felt about this world was great. I really enjoyed this book and the way the myths and gods were portrayed. There is a lot of intrigue along with secrets each god is keeping. There are plots within plots but Melany has her friends and she doesn’t really play by the rules. I enjoyed how much she cared about her friends and the love interest is a lot of fun. The story had a good pace to it and kept me wanting to know more. The narrator did a really good job with the different voices and the emotions. This year ends on such a cliffhanger and I want to know what’s going to happen in the next book so badly! I can’t wait to see what will happen next and what Melany and her friends are going to do.

Amazing story

This story captures your heart and you attention from the beginning. You cannot stop listening, you will have to see what happens next...cannot wait for book 2!