Year One

Bloodshed Academy, Book 1

By: Jen L. Grey

Narrated by: Brittany Goodwin

Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Only the strongest survive...most of the time...

Raven may be a shifter, but she's always felt separate from her wolf. She never knew it should be different. Then, a stranger shows up in her hometown, turning her world upside down and recruiting her for the elite Bloodshed Academy.

Everything she's ever known is challenged, and Raven finds herself in impossible situations. Making matters worse is the fact that one of the strongest alphas at school catches her eye. And he makes her feel things she doesn't understand.

The school may only recruit the best of the best, the strongest in their world, but there's something more about Raven. When push comes to shove, she has to decide if she's willing to fight for what she's come to love...or run from a life she can't quite accept.

©2020 Jen L. Grey (P)2020 Jen L. Grey

An amazing start to an amazing world

The world that Jen L Grey has created in Bloodshed Academy is addictive. Bloodshed Academy is the mythical magical world of Harry Potter with hints of Divergent & The Hunger Games when they named the Academy Bloodshed they weren’t kidding! Raven is a small town girl living outside of Nashville in Clarksville Tennessee, with her parents, her next in line to be Alpha boyfriend, & their pack of werewolves. When Greg’s father gets a call that Bloodshed is sending a recruiter out for one of his pack members, he & everyone else jump to the conclusion that they must obviously mean his athletic, territorial Alpha son, but boy are they wrong. They want Raven, the girl who is having trouble connecting with her wolf, but why is she having such a hard time connecting with & controlling her wolf? When Raven bumps into Cole the handsome vampire who smells like cotton candy at the concession stand she’s sure he’s got the wrong girl for Bloodshed Academy & that it’s all just a cruel joke. But Cole promises to be back for her after graduation for the next chapter of her life to begin. At her graduation Cole brings along friend & wolf shifter Rage who has an undeniable attraction to Raven, but why can’t she keep her eyes off him, & why does he feel like home? Once whisked away to Bloodshed Academy, Raven’s whole world opens up. She has a new BFF & not just frenemies, the 3 hottest guys at the Academy have her back, & will she finally learn to sync with her wolf?! Jen L Grey takes us on a roller-coaster ride of emotions from start to finish. Raven isn’t the only one that changes throughout the book, we meet her room-mate on her first night at the Academy & Jess shows unshakable loyalty to Raven. The fiery fae’s banter with the lovable but over the top vamp that is Cole is one of my favorite parts. The world of Bloodshed Academy is my favorite of Grey’s worlds so far! I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us! I have both read the book & listened to the audiobook & I LOVE the way that Brittany Goodwin has voiced all of the different characters that we’re introduced to! Other than Raven my favorite that she has given an amazing voice to is Jess, Raven’s roommate & BFF, Brittany’s rendition of Jess & her demeanor reminded me of Luna Lovegoods voice (if she were American of course!)

Amazing

I absolutely loved this book. The voice was enticing, the characters were captivating, and the steam was just that much steamier just by listening.

Loved!!

I loved this book so much! I also loved the characters and the narrator did an amazing job with this story. Raven has a lot to learn and doesn’t understand why this academy wants her to join it. I loved getting to learn all about this with Raven and I can’t wait for the next book!

own skin

Raven is a strong person but was not comfortable in her own skin.This book was great story from page one to the last page.Raver is the kind of person that would go to the mat for her friends and beware if you cross her or her friends. I love this book and can't wait for next book. Jen L Grey is a good storyteller

Amazing

This is such an amazing story and the character where put together so well. The narrator did a great job

love this book

think this maybe my favorite book from this author yet!!! Raven has no idea why the prestigious academy has picked her, but she knows that she doesn't want to leave. I absolutely adore Jess, and I can't wait to learn more about this sassy girl. And the guys? Each and every one of them is swoon worthy in their own way. I need more please and the narrator does an amazing job

Great story told well

This is an amazing story of a girl learning to use her abilities and I loved how the narrator brought the characters to life and can’t wait to hear book two But if you love stories of wolf shifters and all kinds of paranormal creatures this is one amazing story you will love

Amazing story!!

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator was amazing and did a wonderful job with all the different voices. The story was well written and characters were amazing!!

so amazing

Jen has an amazing series on her hands here. i loved listening to Bloodshed Academy Brittany is a great narrator i cant wait to listen to book 2

Loved it!

I absolutely loved this Academy book! It was such a great listen and I can't wait for the next book!

Really good start to the series.

This book does a great job of kicking off the series. You jump right into the story, and meet the main characters relatively quickly. I must say I really enjoyed all the characters and expect to see some development of them in the next books. In particular Cole was a favourite- I really laughed at some of his scenes. I enjoyed the fact that there is a theme of strong friendships in this book. It isn't RH but Raven has a solid footing with all the guys and it's really refreshing. The romance side is fast moving and this book definitely seems like it is setting up for some interesting plots to come. Overall a really enjoyable listen.

an entertaining story

For Raven, life has already been decided. She is a woman werewolf and even if she feels inadequate in the position, she knows that she cannot change the rules of the game... or can she? All the tropes are here. I loved Jess, her best friend who is sassy and the budding love story between Raven and the guys. I enjoyed listening to this story. I want to know where the love story goes and how Raven will face and defeat her ennemies. I want to know how she will change the so outdated rules of her pack to become a female alpha.

Bloodshed Academy

Wow! This book kept me on the edge of my chair through the entire book. This a great start to the series. If you enjoy PNR RH Academy books I highly recommend this book. The cliffhanger is crazy in a good way. Just makes me want more. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

great

good story with some great twist just wish the book was a bit longer looking forward to seeing what happens next

Brilliant start.

I received this book free for an honest review. Raven is a wolf shifter but she’s never felt connected to her wolf and presumed that’s how it’s supposed to be. Her BF Greg tells her a scout from the Bloodshed Academy is attending his game and he expects he will be scouted for the elite academy for Alphas however that’s not how things turn out. Raven is at the game when she realises she’s being watched and then she sees a vampire watching her she gets quite sassy with him and he tells her he’s here to enrol her in the academy and he will be back for her in 2 weeks. When the time arrives she has forgotten about the vampires words and when he approaches her with the sexiest guy she’s ever seen she realises they are here for her although Greg throws his toys out of his pram about them not wanting him she reluctantly goes. Ravens interaction with Cole is excellent he is so funny and she gives as good as she gets then there’s the thing between her and Rage she can’t quite understand. Her first interaction with Damian doesn’t go quite as she would like it to go but they do eventually get on which is more that you can say for the haters. Ashley and her two vampire cohorts are out to get Raven but they get more than they expected . I just love Jess her room mate and they get on so well together and Cole even likes Jess and tells her she’s part of their pack. Brittany Goodwin is such a good narrator I just love listening to all her characters.

Loving the book

I enjoyed listening to the audio, easy to follow, though only had one issue, in my copy of the audio. Some sections of the audio volume got softer and then increased back to where it was volume wise But it was read well, presented in the best way. And definitely needing to know what happens and what Raven decides to do.

Downloading book 2 as I type

I had no idea what to expect from this book. I haven't read any 'academy' books before but have read more paranormal and PR books than I can count. I really enjoyed this book. The narrator was great and is very believable as the voice of the main character. I'm looking forward to starting book two.

Encouraging debut of the Bloodshed Academy series

“Bloodshed is a university like no other. There isn’t a set date for your graduation. It’s a series of trials and tribulations. You either graduate or you fail.” - Rage Raven Wright is an eighteen year old wolf shifter on the verge of graduating high school. She’s been dating Greg, the future Alpha Leader since she was sixteen and their parents have high hopes that they will marry. Raven however feels trapped and is resentful that her future has already been mapped out for her. Greg on the other hand is excited at the prospect of potentially being selected by the elite Bloodshed Academy for promising Alphas. When the recruiter from the Academy arrives however - a vampire by the name of Cole - Raven is astonished to learn that he is here for her and not Greg. Raven has always been out of sync with her wolf and doesn’t understand why the Academy would choose her - plus her parents had always told her that girls can’t be Alphas. Greg on the other hand is bitter and resentful over the fact that Raven has been chosen and not him. For reasons that Raven can’t understand, her parents are even less enthusiastic about her being chosen but they are forced to comply as no one can reject an invitation from the Academy without dire consequences. Following her graduation ceremony, Cole and a wolf shifter named Rage, arrive to take her to the Academy. Sparks fly between Raven and Rage. Her arrival at the Academy gets off to a rocky start when her wolf comes to the fore and attacks a bear shifter by the name of Damien. On the plus side she has a friend in Jess, a fae. Being taken under the wing of the Academy’s three elite however, results in growing hostilities between their previous love interests and hell has no fury like a woman scorned... Year One is the first instalment of the Bloodshed Academy series and was my first introduction to the author. The book is told solely from Raven’s point of view. Readers will instantly sympathise with Raven’s plight as her wolf struggles to free herself from her restraints. She’s expected to marry the son of the current Alpha. Unfortunately he’s a domineering egotistical jerk who only thinks of himself. The invitation from the Bloodshed Academy is a lifeline that she (understandably) grabs with both hands. We later learn that there is a more insidious reason behind Raven being out of sync with her wolf all this time. The author has done a great job of creating characters that seemingly come alive. Cole, Rage and Damian are regarded as the elite of the Academy, who assist their headmistress, Isadora from time to time. I loved the dynamics between the three. Cole with his scene stealing hijinks was my favourite overall character, followed by the silent contemplative Damian and endearing Jess. I struggled to like Rage at first due to the appalling treatment he meted out to Ashley, his ex. I thought it harsh as no woman deserved to be treated in such a callous way. I also feared at one point that this was a RH theme and was pleased that the author decided not to go down that route as I’m not generally a fan of RH. All in all, this was a fast and easy read which touched upon the world building and briefly introduced us to the characters. I’m looking forward to seeing the author expand further on the characters and their backgrounds as well as the Academy itself. For example, why was Raven’s mother reluctant to send her to the Academy? Who are the hooded figures in the forest and what do they want with Raven? I recommend this book for fans of academy books, paranormal romance, shifters, vampires, fae, secrets and mysteries. I received an advanced free audible copy of Year One: Bloodshed Academy which was narrated by Brittany Goodwin. I was impressed with her clear, concise delivery which made it easy to differentiate between the characters.

Wonderfully Enchanting

This book is enthralling, once I started listening i could not stop. Raven is a strong sassy heroine and her friends are captivating. The story is highly entertaining, exciting and ends on a wonderful unexpected cliff hanger leaving you wanting more. The narration is beautifully performed with distinctive voices for each character.

So good!

Once I started this book, I couldn't stop. If you like paranormal academy stories, you need to check this one out. Unexpectedly, Raven is recruited to Bloodshed Academy and like it's name suggests, there is danger and drama. Just when you start to think Raven is in the clear, a new twist is thrown in. I cannot wait for the next installment!