My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Thornwood Academy: Never Say Die #1
Author: L.J. Swallow
Format: ebook (KU)
Pages: 212
Publication Date: 2/8/23
Categories: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Prep Academy, Mystery, Supernatural
I’m a vampire-witch hybrid with a fondness for necromancy.
Excuse me if I’m a little dead inside.
I tried to attend a human school, but they didn’t appreciate my behavior. Personally, I found biology class more interesting when the dissected animals fought back. The school didn’t.
My parents searched for somewhere new to send their deviant daughter, and doors open when your father is Dorian Blackwood. Then they close firmly behind once he dumps you inside an exclusive supernatural academy, along with instructions to become ‘a touch more amiable’.
Says the guy who spent his teen years tearing throats out. Luckily, I’ve inherited my father’s sociopathic tendencies and my mother’s magical skills, a lethal yet useful combination when navigating academy life.
Thornwood Academy. Home to the elite who strive to excel—and now me, who strives to leave. Since the supernaturals revealed themselves to the world, the unluckiest human kids join the vampires and witches at Thornwood. Hopefully, the humans aren’t dissected in this biology class.
I don’t care that nobody trusts me, but when the headmaster’s son is found unalived, fingers point at Dorian’s darkling daughter. Ridiculous. I would’ve reanimated the bullying asshole and demanded he perform tricks. Such a wasted opportunity.
If I want help clearing my name, I need to become ‘a touch more amiable’ to the three guys who seem oddly fascinated by me. Somebody doesn’t want the accords between humans and supes to last, and I’m not taking the blame just because I’m a Blackwood.
Looking for an academy read with Wednesday vibes? Meet Violet Blackwood: half-vampire, half-witch, smart, sarcastic, and slightly unhinged.
Never Say Die is the first in a new supernatural academy series from LJ Swallow,author of the Nightworld Academy books. The Thornwood Academy series features a girl who isn’t afraid to use her dark side, a magic school where humans mix with vampires and witches, and three guys with secrets in a town stalked by a serial killer.
Thornwood Academy is also a slow-burn romance… almost as glacial as our slightly psychotic heroine.
Content Warning: bullying, violence, death
I was in the mood for a prep school, bingeable book and picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited and this is what I thought:
+ I was reading the story and realized right away that Violet, our MC, is a dead ringer for Wednesday Adams from the show Wednesday on Netflix. And I LOVE that show. So I was enjoying Violet also since they are basically the same person, even though they look different. Violet has blue eyes I believe. Anyway so this reads like a Wednesday fanfic.
+ This is a SUPER short book, at only 212 pages – so it’s definitely bingeable, and clearly it’s a series but yeah I read this one quick.
+ I like the mystery and investigation – it keeps the story moving and once again, reminiscent of Wednesday.
~ I don’t mind Wednesday being an inspiration because I am obsessed with that show but there are too many similar things to the show. Violet investigates a murder and she sees a therapist in town – sound familiar? She even goes to the morgue just like Wednesday did and then the love triangles with the boys. Violet has a few more boys on her list but it still felt so similar to Wednesday. Violet’s whole personality is Wednesday Adams. Even her roommate – okay she’s not a werewolf, she’s a bubbly, optimistic personality though which is also reminiscent of Wednesday’s roommate in the show.
~ This is a spin-off to another series, I believe because I’m pretty sure Violet’s parents had their own series. I never read it though and I don’t think you need to read it to be able to read this one.
Why you should read it:
- you love Wednesday (on Netflix) because basically this is the book version with very few differences
- it’s quick and bingeable, entertaining
Why you might not want to read it:
- its too similar to Wednesday
My Thoughts:
Am I going to continue the series? Yes because I need more of Wednesday and can’t get any more until they release Season 2 lol…so this series will have to suffice. Do I feel like the story could have been inspired and used less of what was in the show? Definitely yes. I love a character like Wednesday, but maybe not copy the scenes from the show and the secondary characters? I’m giving it a three because I still read it in one sitting and will definitely see how this reverse harem will work out. I mean, will it? She doesn’t even like being touched! So I’m curious to see what happens in book two and I hope it’s a little more original and not follow the Wednesday show.
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 
The synopsis reads so much like Wednesday! The sarcasm and downright morbid things said in such a serious tone. I loved the show as well and can’t wait for season 2.
The book looks really interesting, but it does sound like it’s too much like Wednesday.
It’s basically Wednesday with reverse harem lol. Yeah I was bummed after I read it only because there were many chances this could have been fun and original, even though inspired by Wednesday. I’m excited for season 2 also!