This fantasy debut by I V Marie is, to use the parlance of the youth, a lot.
Blackwood Academy is the setting, a purgatory of sorts, known as the ‘Afterlife’. Those that died on Earth with unresolved issues land there before potentially crossing over to their final resting place.
As the title suggests, living there can have many consequences. One way students can leave the Afterlife comes in the form of the Decennial Festival. Held every 10 years, those nominated to participate undertake four trials testing their magical abilities. If successful, they can then choose to move into the Academy’s realm for the Ascended or put their souls to rest in the Other Side. The rules for this year’s Decennial unexpectedly change, making it a competition, where 12 participants must out-do each other in the trials to be the sole victor.
The world-building in this novel is complex, and the opening chapters are exposition-dense, filled with backstories of the six main characters and the world they now inhabit. Young adult fantasy readers will recognise many tropes of the genre: school setting, a ball, dark magic, and of course, high stakes quests and challenges. Romance and good vs evil also play very important parts, as do betrayals. Themes include friendship, family, fitting in, resilience and trust.
The detailed descriptions of the diverse cast, their motivations and secrets, magic systems, objects, landscapes, and action sequences give this book a cinematic feel; it was no surprise to read a sequel set-up in the final chapters.
ReBook review by Alida Galati
Age Guide 14+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I V Marie was born and raised in Miami to a Peruvian mother and Chilean father, where she acquired a penchant for afternoon cafecitos and developed an all-consuming obsession with books. Her writing ambitions began behind her grandparent’s computer, where she spent her childhood crafting spooky and fantastical short stories.
When she is not writing, you can find her rock climbing or watching atmospheric YouTube videos with her dog, Mr Darcy.
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