Title: Pumpkin Carving for Superstitious Witches
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #5.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Even though most of the stories that follow Laura Greenwood’s Obscure Academy follow a similar kind of pattern in that they are just cute and easy romances. I love that each couple get their own unique start and flavour. For Juniper and Emmett this is the couple that meet and are instantly crushing on each other, but take their time in finally taking the plunge and getting together. Rather, they build up a friendship before creating a relationship, and I absolutely adored that approach.

I don’t actually know much about Halloween, whilst its gaining traction and interest in Australia, it’s still not something I celebrate. Yet, I love that Greenwood uses this story to dive a little into the different traditions that surround All Hallow’s Eve. Not just the current carving of Jack ‘O Lanterns, but also some of the fruits and vegetables that were traditionally used in place of the pumpkin. I absolutely adored the idea of carving a turnip in place of a pumpkin, and the idea had me smiling and laughing while I read Juniper and Emmett’s love story.

Juniper’s history and issues around Halloween are not exactly fun, but I love how they open up the discussion of genetics and how this influences people in the Obscure world. For a series that is wonderfully sweet and innocent in its journey to love, Greenwood has done a wonderful job of layering in details which make it feel that much more realistic. I had such a blast reading about not only this couple falling for one another, but also their discussions about genetics and just how this can influence the magic of the current generation of paranormals.

Pumpkin Carving for Superstitious Witches was a great hour spent away from reality. It was a story that I’ll definitely go back to in the future, and I am glad that I had the joy of reading this. A nice, easy and fun read with just enough oomph to it that it was incredibly difficult to put down.

Image source: SmashWords

Title: Potion Making for Disastrous Witches
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

I already knew a little bit about Michaela and Owen’s story from Thalia’s tale in Blind Dates for Lonely Gorgons. So I really enjoyed reading about the same moments from this couples point of view. Plus, there were so many moments of joy in their potion making together. Honestly, they were just as cute as I was expecting, but Michaela’s inability to filter her words and thoughts just made me all that much happier and more in love with her. Plus, it made me hope all that much more for her happily ever after.

One of the reasons I so enjoyed Michaela as a character was the fact that she took her shortcomings and just dealt with them. A witch who can’t make potions is something that could be potentially seriously shameful, but she doesn’t show embarrassment and shame over it. Rather, she takes it in stride and is able to work forwards in her life. I was kind of expecting Owen to unlock the secret behind her monumental stuff ups with potion making, and I like that, ultimately, they didn’t actually solve her problems. Just continued to work with it.

Although I’ve read a few Greenwood stories, particularly the Obscure Academy tales, something about Potion Making for Disastrous Witches reminds me about falling for my partner. Wildly different circumstances, but the spending all your time together and coupling, but not being sure of where you stand. The joys of first kisses and first dates. Honestly, the feeling of this just took me back and left me smiling so happily. I’m still madly in love with my partner, so it was nice to feel all of these feelings and reflections while reading this.

There is something so damn joyful of visiting Obscure Academy. They are short little stints into a world where everything is possible. Something about them has this feeling of hope and gives such a positive and happy vibe. I absolutely adored reading this, and I look forward to reading more and more and more in the future!

Image source: Barnes & Noble

Title: Blind Dates for Lonely Gorgons
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #4.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2022

I love that this story is about a couple who meet on a blind date. And the thing that draws them together? Unique and slightly off-kilter questions that actually let them get to know one another. It, like most of the Greenwood stories I read, is short, sweet and cute. I absolutely adored reading this, and I liked that it was a story featuring a blind date in which the blind date wasn’t a terrifying flop. I mean, I’ve never really dated, but the stereotype in the media definitely makes me a little hesitant to even consider the idea of a blind date.

Unlike some of the other stories in the Obscure Academy series, most of this story is written from the point of view of one half of the couple. I like that most of this is in Thalia’s view point, it makes Evander’s eventual reveal and surprise an actual surprise. Plus, I just loved Thalia as a character in general, so I had absolutely no concerns or disappointments in reading a lot about her point of view.

I hadn’t thought of the ramifications of being a gorgon in a paranormal world. I mean, the whole turning others to stone with just a look could be incredibly restrictive on your social and sexual life. I really like how Greenwood was able to treat this and found it a really unique approach. The way in which Obscure Academy combines multiple paranormal creatures and brings them into a university setting. The idea of enchanted glasses to stop the whole turning to stone thing was really adorable, and it bought about the whole idea of what its actually like to be someone who wears glasses all the time, and the level of comfort that that can bring.

Blind Dates for Lonely Gorgons is a great and positive romance. One that investigates what its like to be different and how that can actually be a little bit dangerous. Sure, in this instance, we’re talking a bout gorgons. But it is a challenge and something that needs to be recognised – sometimes people keep the different part of themselves a secret so that they won’t be a victim of hatred.

Image source: Kobo

Title: Flipping Tails for Seasick Mermaids
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

I never thought of the idea of having a mermaid which had been turned. Rather, I always thought of them as a paranormal creature which was born. I absolutely loved how Fiona was actually turned. Which, of course, made it a somewhat traumatic experience. Which, of course, informed the story brilliantly well and lead to a whole lot of mystery and conflict that I honestly wasn’t actually expecting.

Wade is kind of cute, and I love that he spends his whole time just wanting to help Fiona get over her fear, rather than mocking her for it. And lets face it, a mermaid afraid of the water? That is total mocking territory. Plus, he’s incredibly subtle about it. Rather than outright stating his intentions, he is constantly trying to give Fiona the confidence she needs to move past her fear and be her own self.

I seriously enjoy how the Obscure Academy series is built around a group of paranormal university flatmates (and then branches out), who each have some unique and unexpected challenges. Each of them have difficulties which you entirely do not expect for their species. I love how they’re kind of misfits among their own kind, and each find their own happily ever afters with someone who accepts them as they are.

Flipping Tails for Seasick Mermaids was a fun and pleasant read. I loved he imagery throughout and the support that Wade shows Fiona as she finally deals with the consequences of her turning. I absolutely adored this story, and can’t wait for more Obscure Academy books in my near future.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Drinking Blood for Squeamish Vampires
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Bernie and Shane are a good insight into the world of vampires that Greenwood has created. I mean, there’s obviously a whole heap of series that feed into this one, but for me, this is my first introduction to Greenwood’s version of vampires. The fact that they are both turned, not born makes it all the more interesting. And then, there’s the fact that Bernie can’t actually drink blood. I mean, I loved the characters anyway, but I’m loving that in the Obscure Academy series there’s always one character that doesn’t conform to the expected. In this case, it’s Bernie and her blood aversion.

As someone who absolutely loves cooking, I’ve never actually taken a cooking class, and, after reading about Bernie’s awesome experiences, I kind of really, really want to. I mean, the fact that she gets with the super hot student teacher does help. But, I also love the idea of cooking with someone else and learning some new tricks – a bit like Home Ec when I was in high school I suppose. It was fun to think about the different paranormals that want to learn to cook and just why they want to. Particularly since this cooking class is vegetarian!

As much as I enjoyed the romance of Shane and Bernie, I really inhaled this book so quickly because I wanted to know the cause of her blood squeamishness. I mean, you get introduced to the idea in Shifting Forms for Clumsy Felines when Bernie and Krissi become friends. Then you get to actually find out just what is going on. And how Bernie is going to live the rest of her very long supernatural life with this issue. I can’t imagine not being able to enjoy some of the foods that you have to eat!

This was yet another quick and rewarding venture in the Obscure Academy world. I mean, it’s two made vampires falling in love over food. I’m pretty much sold as soon as there is food to be totally honest. Add in the fact that both characters are learning to come into their own and figuring out their new lives. It’s definitely a fun little journey.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Shifting Forms for Clumsy Felines
Author: Laura Greenwood
Series: Obscure Academy #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

This was yet another great book by Greenwood that was just an easy and pleasant read. One that was a really great diversion. A really sweet story. But with almost no angst – which I kind of needed when I read this. I’m actually loving this style of writing at the moment, where there is enough action to keep you engaged, but not enough that you are even remotely worried about how the happily ever after will pan out. There is a whole lot less stress than some of the other romances that I sometimes read.

I like that this is a couple that start off as really good friends, and there are the questions of how and when to transition into a couple. I know that when I met my SO, he was a great friend, and it was a pretty big leap to take that plunge. Bigger than any other, because his friendship met a whole lot to me. And, like Jeremy and Krissi, I was pretty damn young. I love how Greenwood is able to write about a couple taking that plunge and being scared to do so! I think that for everyone who meets someone extra special that young… it’s a bit of a concern.

The cliché of two ‘jocks’ ending up together works really well in this novel – they both understand each other’s dedication to their chosen sports. I also love that, even though both Jeremy and Krissi start out not understanding much about each other’s sports, they both make the attempts to get to know more. It’s such a beautiful concept – that you try to get to know more about each other’s passions, not to join in, but to just appreciate each other all that much more. Plus, there is something fun about fitting into the expected cliches, but in a really cute and sweet way.

When we think of sporty types, there is always an assumption that the sporty individual is actually really coordinated. It was fantastic to have a storyline in which the sporty person is not graceful. That (in this case) in their shifted form, they are the clumsiest and most terrifyingly uncoordinated individual to be found. It kind of made me feel better to read about someone who is just that damn uncoordinated, and yet thrives in a physical way as well, it’s a great reminder that none of us can fit into just one box.

Image source: Dymocks