Author: Hannah Haze

Series: The Firestone Academy

First Published: 01 March 2025

“By trial and truth, the Quarter calls!”   

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Hannah for sending a copy my way!

Nine years ago, my sister died at Firestone Academy.

At least, that’s what they claim. I don’t believe their lies about a tragic accident.

Now I’ve come to face the trials myself – tests that will determine which Quarter I’ll serve for the rest of my days. But I have other plans.

Behind these ancient walls, dark magic pulses through every stone, and three elite shadow weavers rule absolute – The Princes:

Beaufort Lincoln commands shadows like breathing, his charm masking deadly intent.

Dray Eros weaves darkness into deadly art, violence wrapped in seductive smiles.

Thorne Cadieux’s silent power makes even teachers tremble.

They’ve marked me as theirs, offering protection through the brutal trials in exchange for complete submission. Students break here, crushed by the trials. Most return changed. Others never return at all.

The Princes may control these halls, but they don’t know one thing: I’m not here to find my Quarter, play their games, or surrender to their seduction.

I’m here to expose the academy’s secrets.

I’m here for my sister.

And I’ll burn their empire to the ground to find the truth.

I love paranormal romances set in magical academies, so when I came across the promotion for Storm of Shadows, I knew I had to sign up for an ARC. I’m so glad I did, as I flew through the book. Seriously, I couldn’t put it down! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a magical school in their paranormal romance.

Briony is sent to Firestone Academy to participate in the trials that will determine her assigned quarter. This society is divided into four quarters, each with its own rules and roles that serve the realm and protect it from darkness. The original shadow weavers used fire stones and dragons — both now extinct — to safeguard the realm. The Onyx Quarter is home to the magic users known as shadow weavers, the highest-ranked group that employs their magic to keep the darkness at bay. The Iron Quarter consists of athletes and soldiers, while scholars and healers belong to the Granite Quarter. Lastly, the Slate Quarter houses the labourers, where Briony resides. Her life has been difficult since the death of her sister, who passed away at Firestone Academy years earlier. Briony looked up to her sister and questioned the Academy’s explanation regarding her death; she is determined to uncover the truth herself. However, her plan takes an unexpected turn when she catches the attention of the Princes, a bonded group of the most powerful shadow weavers. They embody everything she detests, and they choose her as their thrall.

Briony has no interest in being at Firestone Academy. However, like all the other eligible students, she is conscripted to attend as they will get sorted into quarters. To put it bluntly, Briony does not give a fuck about the trials she has to go through. She wants to blend into the background and discover what truly happened to her sister. Briony has lost all sense of hope or spark in the world. She’s disenchanted and filled with rage at the injustices she’s faced just because she was born into the Slate Quarter. We get to see her softer side as she finds a fast friendship with fellow struggling student, Fly. Also, there is a truly beautiful care-taking scene — which you know I’m a simp for — where Briony lets down her walls. I need more of this in the squeal.

Beaufort, Dray, and Thorne are childhood friends and have formed a bond akin to a pack. They are from the most powerful shadow-weavers and, frankly, are used to getting their way. Beaufort is the leader of the group. He’s driven and intense. Beaufort first catches sight of Briony on their trip to the school and has been locked on her from that moment. He defies the social norm and selects Briony, currently ranked at the bottom of the cohort, as their thrall. Dray is a shifter and is the playful one. Don’t get me wrong, he can still be cruel, but he seems to enjoy testing Briony’s limits and seeing what sets off her rage. He’s even found a cheeky way to get close to her without her knowing. And then we have Throne, our broody, silent, shadow daddy. He doesn’t seem to trust himself around Briony but makes sure to casually follow *cough* stalk *cough* her around the school to make sure she’s safe. I’m looking forward to learning more about him.

I generally don’t enjoy a bully romance, but it seems when you add it in a paranormal romance and a school setting, I eat that up. And here is no expectation. As Briony has no interest in being at the academy, she’s not super familiar with the rituals of the school, including the top group of shadow weavers getting to pick a thrall. A thrall is someone who’s essentially a slave — in a BDSM way, not a slavery kind of way. I enjoyed seeing Briony constantly refuse the Princes. She doesn’t want their attention, even if it would make her life easier. Beaufort, Dray and Thorne are all captivated by her. Yes, they get frustrated that she keeps ignoring and refuting their orders, but it also turns them on. There are a handful of steamy scenes as the lust is there between Briony and the guys right away. I feel the romance will be a slow burn. Briony hates shadow weaves for what she believes they’ve done to her sister. She doesn’t trust them. Their relationship development is something I’m excited to watch. I’m expecting drama, a touch of chaos and some grovelling. I can’t wait.

Overall, I loved every second of Storm of Shadows. I am dying for the sequel, Sparks of Shadows, because I am hooked! I need to see if Briony can uncover the secrets of what happened to her sister. Also, I get the vibe that not everything is what it seems in this world and that Briony — with the help of Beaufort, Dray and Thorne — might bring this system to its knees. I thoroughly enjoyed Hannah Haze’s writing. I’m tempted to dive into her back catalogue to help cope with this pending book hangover.