"A school for the dead where rival students compete to win a future."
School stories have been a popular genre ever since Blyton’s Chalet School, via Harry Potter to what is known in YA fantasy circles as Dark Academia and this is a prime example of everything that fans require.
It has rivalries, alliances, romantic relationships and a difficult challenge to win an ultimate prize, where all the main characters must compete against each other. But Blackwood Academy has a unique setting – a boarding school where all the pupils are dead! It is located on the fringes of the afterlife and students are learning magical skills to enable them to fulfil their role in guiding lost souls to The Other Side. Nobody knows how or why they ended up here, but there is no escape other than to be selected for the Decennial Challenge, which grants the winner the choice to Ascend into the elite of Blackwood or pass to The Other Side. All other students over time will gradually fade into the Ether.
The six main characters each have their own narrative, and each have their own reasons for needing to win. The story is told through the multiple points of view of each of these diverse characters, which is a difficult feat for a writer to pull off, but the reader definitely becomes engaged with all of them. The interactions between them are fascinating, with bitter rivals, a girl haunted by past love, a ruthless strategist, and a flirt with surprising depth and, of course, the always enjoyable enemies to lovers trope.
The plot is full of twists and turns and thrills. The world building is very well thought through, but we are left in anticipation of further revelations to come.
Atmospheric, mystical and gripping, this is a cracking start to a very possibly addictive new series.
New for 2025, the thrilling dark academia debut novel for young adult readers, set at a magical boarding school in purgatory. For fans of Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House Olivie Blake's The Atlas Six and Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education.
Welcome to Blackwood Academy: a boarding school located on the fringes of the afterlife.
No one knows why they end up at Blackwood; but when they enter the school's arched gates the only way out is to be chosen for the Decennial - a series of magical trials held once a decade. The chosen pupil is offered a choice: graduate and join Blackwood's magical elite, or venture into the unknown and cross over to the Other Side.
Wren knows she has what it takes to win-unless, that is, her arch-rival (and subject of her tortured dreams) Augustine steals her spot.
Irene has never cared about playing by the rules and will break whatever (and whoever) stands in her way, including her only friend, Masika.
Olivier has given up securing the nomination. But he'll stop at nothing to keep Emilio, from crossing over to the Other Side.
All are determined to be Blackwood's chosen candidate. All are determined to win. But this Decennial will be unlike any before.
Six nominees.
Four trials.
One victor.
The competitors are about to learn that there are some fates worse than death.
Immortal Consequences features in the following genres: Debut Books of the Month, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Dark fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Romance and love stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Horror and ghost stories, chillers, Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories
Immortal Consequences is available in Paperback, Hardback
Immortal Consequences was written by I. V. Marie and published by Electric Monkey an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Immortal Consequences has 445 pages
Yes it is part of The Souls of Blackwood Academy series
£15.29
