Review: Academy Arcanist by Shami Stovall
Blurb:
Hopes. Dreams. And literal nightmares out to kill a young boy.
Gray Lexly, son of a candlemaker, wants to escape his life of old-world technologies and study at the prestigious Astra Academy, a school for arcanists-those who can wield magic. But Gray has a major problem. Every night, as he sleeps, he's visited by monsters. When they injure Gray in his dreams, he wakes with the same wounds in real life...
On the night Gray might finally die in his nightmares, he is saved by the kind and mysterious Professor Helmith, a powerful arcanist. She offers to protect Gray and invites him to attend Astra Academy.
Before that can happen, Gray must bond with a mystical creature to become an arcanist himself. Will he bond with a unicorn? A pegasus? A kitsune? Whatever he bonds with will determine his magical abilities, so he must choose wisely.
And when trouble finds Professor Helmith, Gray must become powerful enough to help her and fend off the terrible nightmares, before it's too late...
Review:
Following how much I have enjoyed the Adair Finch series from the wonderful author of Shami Stovall, I delved into the wonderful world of Audible and Goodreads to find out what else she had available. Lo and behold, I discovered a large list of potential reads for me. Out of that great list I picked up Academy Arcanist as it seemed like a cool looking one. This happened to be an interesting and unexpected read. The first person narrative reads as more of a young adult novel to me (there is a lot that adults will enjoy as well), but it was intriguing and with a lot of cool elements. Gray is a character that a lot of people can relate with, but is plagued by nightmares that are all too real. I discovered that the author is a pro at writing characters that seem to become embedded into a reader's mind and that refuse to let go. I am impressed at the consistency that these characters come to life and recommend this author to anyone who loves character driven narratives.
I already mentioned the characters above which are memorable all on their own, with strange quirks and other memorable ideas that make them relatable. That being said, the strength of the novel is the creatures who become animal companions to the young characters in the novel. The academy does have professors who have their own companions as well. They are unique and individual with their own identities. There are some of these creatures who are not as common in fantasy novels that really steal the show with the showcasing of their powers. In a lot of ways it does feel like a Pokemon version set in a high fantasy world. It is a lot of fun and enjoyable, with an underlying mystery that will keep readers engrossed in the story. The setting is mainly at the academy for the arcanists and this could be a drawback for a lot of readers. It does tend to have a slower pace because of this setting before the up tick in pace leading up to the climax of the novel. Learning about the different creatures and the powers that they can bestow upon the arcanists is fascinating and really becomes an item that will drive the narrative forward.
I was excited to read this one and was able to really see this as a great novel for teenage readers as it has a lot of comparisons to a lot of similar programs and shows. It is also a wild ride for any reader who decides to pick it up and see what creature will pair with them. I often would reflect on what creature and power would be best for me to try and pair with. I highly encourage readers who want a different flavor but love the animal companions to pick this up as it will definitely be one that will become a quick favorite. Arcanists are the type of character that readers will strive to become one day as it is something that is easily pictured and imagined. Count me in the ranks of those who want to be included in these ranks with my own special companion that can give me powers. Join me in figuring out which one is best!!
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
