Monster Academy: Semester One

Monster Academy, Book 1

By: Holly Hook

Narrated by: Mary Lake

Enter a world where it's Halloween every day and where the monsters are normal, and the normal are monsters...

I'm Ali Welson, and I'm the most normal, goody-two-shoes girl you'll meet. It's how I survive a strict home, far from the mysterious Dark Corruption that converts people into B-movie monsters on contact.

But after a close call, Monstreuse, the monster academy, sends an obnoxious sorcerer to claim an unwilling new student--me. Only it's a mistake, I swear. I never touched the Corruption, as much as Byron insists otherwise. But when my family disowns me, I have no choice but to go.

Thrust into a new, forbidden world, I'm sure I won't survive my classes, my classmates, or my new rival. But even that pales in comparison to the biggest horror of all. I might be the least normal Monstreuse student in history, and my family is right to fear me.

Why else would someone be trying to do me in?

Monster Academy is a young adult, paranormal academy series that takes place in the same universe as the Cursed Academy series, occurring ten years after the conclusion of Cursed Academy: Year Four. However, it can be enjoyed on its own. If you love Halloween, B-movie monsters, slow-burn romance, and danger at every turn, you'll love the Monster Academy series!

©2024 Holly Hook (P)2025 Holly Hook

Interesting story, but could be better.

Overall, the narration was quite good.

Story-wise, I think there are parts that could have been improved. Otherwise it was still very interesting and the world building has a lot of promise.

Super cute.

This is a short, cute read if you like magical schools and kid stuff. It is a little juvenile, but not in a bad way.


Emotionally manipulative parent.
Academy setting.
Magic / magical training.
Monsters (obvi).
Light suspense.
Sorcery.
Banter.
World-building.

Overall:
3.5 stars.

🎧 Audio:
This is an odd one … it’s mostly decent. Better than decent, actually. But there are many times that suddenly the narrator sounds … under water? Or sort of tin-y. It’s jarring when it goes from good quality to that. Then it goes back & it’s smooth for a bit again … until it isn’t. Narration was pretty good, smooth voice. A little robotic, but not too much. 3 stars overall on this front.

enjoyed

this first in series will draw you in. Ali's life gets turned upside down because of dark corruption.

Delightful

This was my first experience with this author's work, and I was entertained. I enjoyed the creativity which developed an academy filled with monsters and soon-to-be monsters. I liked Ali and her friends. I understood Ali's need to try and help her friends. I appreciated that control of one's powers needed to be developed and wasn't instantaneous. I thought Mary Lake's narration was good, and her performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

monster academy

I did enjoy this book. it was different from my normal type of books. I was able to follow the storyline with no problem.