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School of Magic Survival #2
Unveiling Magic
Everybody lies. All the time. About everything.
Her mom lied to her about magic. Her best friend lied to her about not being a spy. Her dad... Well, that's too much lie to put into a single accusation.
And Valerie is about to discover that she hasn't seen anything yet.
Welcome back to second semester at The School of Magic Survival. Valerie survived first semester - barely - and everyone is slowly adapting to who she is and what she's capable of. Understandably, Valerie has trust issues with everyone around her - save loyal roommate Sasha - but she's going to have to figure out who she does trust and who she doesn't trust, and fast, because in a world where nothing is ever what it seems, she's about to discover that she's still wrong about all of it.
Get your gear and get back to class. Click now to buy Unveiling Magic.
Her mom lied to her about magic. Her best friend lied to her about not being a spy. Her dad... Well, that's too much lie to put into a single accusation.
And Valerie is about to discover that she hasn't seen anything yet.
Welcome back to second semester at The School of Magic Survival. Valerie survived first semester - barely - and everyone is slowly adapting to who she is and what she's capable of. Understandably, Valerie has trust issues with everyone around her - save loyal roommate Sasha - but she's going to have to figure out who she does trust and who she doesn't trust, and fast, because in a world where nothing is ever what it seems, she's about to discover that she's still wrong about all of it.
Get your gear and get back to class. Click now to buy Unveiling Magic.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2019
516 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 23, 2020
More like 3.5 really. Nice series, good take on magic, but really drags in the middle with the politics of it all, quite boring at times. But when Valerie gets to using her natural magic, the story soars, and with her supporting cast of Sasha, Ethan, Shack and others, including some useful adults.
On to book three then.
On to book three then.
July 24, 2024
Series review
Harry Potter move over. Valerie is in the house.
Seriously guys. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you're gonna love this series here:
School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner.
Book 1 - Surviving Magic - 408 pages
Book 2 - Unveiling Magic - 319 pages
Book 3 - Real Magic - 306 pages
Book 4 - Shadow Magic - 258 pages
Book 5 - Battle Magic - 306 pages
Book 6 - Magic Unleashed - 264 pages
Book 7 - Blood Magic - 380 pages
This is a fast paced, action packed, magic filled story starring a 'normal girl' who suddenly finds herself at a magic school, surrounded by people in awe of her parents, teachers with high expectations and colleagues who resent her. She's suddenly supposed to not only know that magic exists, but also know how to practice it.
And, with the help of a couple of kind teachers, and a great dorm roommate/BFF, Valerie jumps head first into a dangerous world of magic where demons may not be the worst threat, the slightest spells can kill if not properly mastered, and friends may need to be watched more careful than foes. And she does it all flying in by the seat of her pants, winging it with more sheer luck than style.
"I didn't ask for this,"...
"No, you didn't choose any of this, but this is where you are and it's what you are, and now you have to do the best you can."
Valerie is a character any reader will cheer for. And I stayed in her corner up to the very end. But she is not the only thing that turns this series into an addictive page turner.
That's a combination of edge of the seat action, a solid plot full of unpredictable twists, really cool magic and a larger cast of supporting characters that grow before your eyes.
The stakes deepen with each book and just when you think everything will be wrapped up nicely by the end of book 3, the 4th installment comes along, setting the stage for an even larger conflict, raising the stakes higher and sharper than before.
It is impossible to review each book in turn without giving any spoilers, so I'm not even going to try. Because it's best you go into it blind and hang on to your hats for the ride.
The books may not be perfect and the pace may be a tad too slow at times, and yet...
Any series that has you ditch your entire carefully planned TBR to binge-read its SEVEN books one after another from cover to cover until you reach the very end, deserves big fat 5 stars.
That's what School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner did for me.
So here I am giving you all a little nudge/shove to go ahead and read it too.
Yep. I'm pretty shameless like that when books are involved.
"Own it, wear it."
Harry Potter move over. Valerie is in the house.
Seriously guys. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you're gonna love this series here:
School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner.
Book 1 - Surviving Magic - 408 pages
Book 2 - Unveiling Magic - 319 pages
Book 3 - Real Magic - 306 pages
Book 4 - Shadow Magic - 258 pages
Book 5 - Battle Magic - 306 pages
Book 6 - Magic Unleashed - 264 pages
Book 7 - Blood Magic - 380 pages
This is a fast paced, action packed, magic filled story starring a 'normal girl' who suddenly finds herself at a magic school, surrounded by people in awe of her parents, teachers with high expectations and colleagues who resent her. She's suddenly supposed to not only know that magic exists, but also know how to practice it.
And, with the help of a couple of kind teachers, and a great dorm roommate/BFF, Valerie jumps head first into a dangerous world of magic where demons may not be the worst threat, the slightest spells can kill if not properly mastered, and friends may need to be watched more careful than foes. And she does it all flying in by the seat of her pants, winging it with more sheer luck than style.
"I didn't ask for this,"...
"No, you didn't choose any of this, but this is where you are and it's what you are, and now you have to do the best you can."
Valerie is a character any reader will cheer for. And I stayed in her corner up to the very end. But she is not the only thing that turns this series into an addictive page turner.
That's a combination of edge of the seat action, a solid plot full of unpredictable twists, really cool magic and a larger cast of supporting characters that grow before your eyes.
The stakes deepen with each book and just when you think everything will be wrapped up nicely by the end of book 3, the 4th installment comes along, setting the stage for an even larger conflict, raising the stakes higher and sharper than before.
It is impossible to review each book in turn without giving any spoilers, so I'm not even going to try. Because it's best you go into it blind and hang on to your hats for the ride.
The books may not be perfect and the pace may be a tad too slow at times, and yet...
Any series that has you ditch your entire carefully planned TBR to binge-read its SEVEN books one after another from cover to cover until you reach the very end, deserves big fat 5 stars.
That's what School of Magic Survival by Chloe Garner did for me.
So here I am giving you all a little nudge/shove to go ahead and read it too.
Yep. I'm pretty shameless like that when books are involved.
"Own it, wear it."
January 14, 2020
The unveiling of secrets begins in earnest
So the 1st book was good, but felt a little boggy at times as the details were constructed & filled in. Book 2 both adds to the mix & relieves it. BUT it's built on the framework of the first, so it's easy to follow now.
There's a dystopian feel to this series. The kids' now, as well as their future, often looks rather bleak. The forces against them are substantial & they have almost nothing by comparison. Yet somehow they always have enough.
So, yes, one could also argue that Valerie's wildcard natural magic ability gives her outcomes a deus ex machina flavor, but I'll admit that I find it one of the most entertaining aspects of the story. Particularly her sort of sweep of the sweepers at one point.
Even though the initial relationship development between Valerie & Ethan was not well supported, it's handled much better in book 2. The secondary characters are fleshed out & really enhance the story line. The supernaturally organic formation of their group is another one of my favorite aspects of the story.
So on to book 3!
*Clean romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
So the 1st book was good, but felt a little boggy at times as the details were constructed & filled in. Book 2 both adds to the mix & relieves it. BUT it's built on the framework of the first, so it's easy to follow now.
There's a dystopian feel to this series. The kids' now, as well as their future, often looks rather bleak. The forces against them are substantial & they have almost nothing by comparison. Yet somehow they always have enough.
So, yes, one could also argue that Valerie's wildcard natural magic ability gives her outcomes a deus ex machina flavor, but I'll admit that I find it one of the most entertaining aspects of the story. Particularly her sort of sweep of the sweepers at one point.
Even though the initial relationship development between Valerie & Ethan was not well supported, it's handled much better in book 2. The secondary characters are fleshed out & really enhance the story line. The supernaturally organic formation of their group is another one of my favorite aspects of the story.
So on to book 3!
*Clean romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
August 15, 2024
School is difficult when your friends are spying on you, the other kids despise you, and everyone's parents hate everyone else's parents. Add into the mix that Valerie is being pursued by two opposing factions - genocidal nutjobs who want to torture her and the ruling council, who want to indoctrinate, oh sorry, *safeguard* her, and it seems that it's safer for her to not be there at all.
Despite being an academy story, this series continues to develop serious and complex themes, dealing out the political intrigue with an engaging and informal touch. The characters develop critical thinking along with their magic skills, and are coming to terms with the fact that both sides of the war have major ideological problems.
There is combat mixed in with the politics, and enough threat to keep me on the edge of my seat. Loving this series.
January 23, 2020
This was a brilliant sequel in this amazing magical series. Without wishing or meaning to upset anyone, it’s far better than The boy with the scar on his head who must not be named. Valerie is the main character and she doesn’t need a wand, just her hands .
Once again, this was a roller coaster ride for her. But this time she has her newly made friends with her.
I don’t like to use spoilers so I’ll just say it’s all action in a Magic user way and Valerie discovers that she is natural at it. Others struggle but with her she just has to trust in herself.
As in all good series there are equal shares of goodies and baddies and family. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference but it’s certainly not boring.
In my humble opinion, one of the best Magic School series I have read.
Once again, this was a roller coaster ride for her. But this time she has her newly made friends with her.
I don’t like to use spoilers so I’ll just say it’s all action in a Magic user way and Valerie discovers that she is natural at it. Others struggle but with her she just has to trust in herself.
As in all good series there are equal shares of goodies and baddies and family. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference but it’s certainly not boring.
In my humble opinion, one of the best Magic School series I have read.
August 3, 2023
In this book, Valerie and Sasha go with Valerie's parents to see what the"real world" politics are like, they get separated, and the girls are left outside on their own. The"Chosen 5" club is formed as a set of invincible teenagers who will take on the whole world.
The action, world building, and friendships are amazing, but I think just like the Sam and Sam series, our heroes are just too powerful and the opposition - although well thought out - just doesn't seem to be equal to a bunch of teenagers and a pair of adults! It's like, you stop fearing for them because Valerie is just going to make magic out of seaweed and her parents will get there when all else fails.
Logic wise - 3
Interesting flow - 4
Basically a 3.5
The action, world building, and friendships are amazing, but I think just like the Sam and Sam series, our heroes are just too powerful and the opposition - although well thought out - just doesn't seem to be equal to a bunch of teenagers and a pair of adults! It's like, you stop fearing for them because Valerie is just going to make magic out of seaweed and her parents will get there when all else fails.
Logic wise - 3
Interesting flow - 4
Basically a 3.5
March 30, 2020
So excited that Valerie learned more about herself and her magic. And that she is not as useless as she thought she might be. The dynamic among all of the groups in the book is kind of hard to understand. But it seems like everyone hates the council and the council does not want people to know a different way than what they tell them and that they do not want the war to end. If the war ends and people move on then they will not be under the rule of the council.
December 7, 2024
Unveiling Magic (School of Magic Survival Book 2)
Unveiling Magic (School of Magic Survival Book 2) 😂💝 Absolutely enjoyed this book….. Wow I could not put this book down. I love reading this book I do not want to spoil anything…Cannot wait for more......Definitely recommend this series…..
Unveiling Magic (School of Magic Survival Book 2) 😂💝 Absolutely enjoyed this book….. Wow I could not put this book down. I love reading this book I do not want to spoil anything…Cannot wait for more......Definitely recommend this series…..
December 27, 2021
Unveiling Magic, the second book of the School of Magic Survival series, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). This second installment of the series had plenty of surprises. Non-stop action and intriguing tension in the relationship between characters.
February 5, 2024
As always…
I’m amazed at how authors figure out the plot, mystery, abilities, challenges, hurdles, and so on…
I’m entertained and intrigued at the same time. Some might not give this book 5 stars but for me entertainment with a message always deserves it.
I’m amazed at how authors figure out the plot, mystery, abilities, challenges, hurdles, and so on…
I’m entertained and intrigued at the same time. Some might not give this book 5 stars but for me entertainment with a message always deserves it.
March 1, 2020
Awesome
Great book. I hope the 5 of them stay together and defeat the war and show that all magic is independant of each other.
Great book. I hope the 5 of them stay together and defeat the war and show that all magic is independant of each other.
April 16, 2020
Great
This is a great well written series except for a few obvious editing errors. I think the main characters are strong and interesting.
This is a great well written series except for a few obvious editing errors. I think the main characters are strong and interesting.
May 26, 2020
Magical read!
I highly recommend this fantastic book and the amazing series in which it is. It is entertaining and cerebral intrigue at its best. Enjoy!
I highly recommend this fantastic book and the amazing series in which it is. It is entertaining and cerebral intrigue at its best. Enjoy!
May 14, 2022
What a snooze fest. I really do not care what happens to these people any more. End of the line for me.
January 6, 2023
keep it coming
This was an excellent second book and kept me guessing the whole time. Can’t wait to see what happens in book 3
This was an excellent second book and kept me guessing the whole time. Can’t wait to see what happens in book 3
January 6, 2024
Enjoy able series. Very quick reads but the story line is compelling.
May 5, 2024
great series
I enjoyed this very much. The continuing story through the series is very well done. The characters are very interesting
I enjoyed this very much. The continuing story through the series is very well done. The characters are very interesting
July 19, 2024
Looks like was to generous with *'s for the 1st book as this one was better.
December 25, 2024
I basically read this series back to back.
It's a rampaging adventure, and I enjoyed the arcs and world building and problem solving as the books power along. More is made clear as the stories proceed. I really enjoyed the character development.
You really do need to start with book 1 and read the books in order. The story starts when Valerie is 16 and finish when she's around 20.
It's a rampaging adventure, and I enjoyed the arcs and world building and problem solving as the books power along. More is made clear as the stories proceed. I really enjoyed the character development.
You really do need to start with book 1 and read the books in order. The story starts when Valerie is 16 and finish when she's around 20.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews