SASSY'S REVIEW
❖Books Covered: Fortune Academy: Year One, Fortune Academy: Year Two, Fortune Academy: Year Three, Fortune Academy: Underworld Books 4–10.
J.R. Thorn’s Fortune Academy series has so many of the things I enjoy in paranormal fantasy romance. Supernatural academies, angels, demons, powerful magical abilities, fated mates, political intrigue, and a why-choose romance with plenty of complicated relationships. What starts as Lily’s experience at a supernatural academy gradually becomes a much larger story involving Heaven, Hell, powerful enemies, and the fate of multiple realms.
Lily was one of the main reasons I enjoyed this series. She’s stubborn, outspoken, fiercely protective, and not particularly interested in following rules simply because someone tells her to. I appreciated that she questioned authority and refused to accept the expectations placed on her. However, she’s also impulsive and sometimes makes decisions based on her emotions without considering the consequences. There were moments when I admired her determination and others when I wished she’d slow down and think things through. I liked that she wasn’t perfect, though, because her mistakes gave her room to grow.
Her relationships with her Virtues are a major part of the story, and I enjoyed the different personalities and supernatural abilities each brought to the group. They have their own histories, loyalties, insecurities, and struggles, which made their relationships with Lily more interesting. There is plenty of jealousy, possessiveness, protective behavior, and romantic tension throughout the series. I particularly enjoyed the moments when they showed their more vulnerable sides and began building genuine trust. Those interactions meant more to me than the physical attraction alone.
I also appreciated the relationships developing between the men themselves. Their connections add another dimension to the group, especially as they learn to navigate their individual feelings, responsibilities, and loyalty to one another. With so many personalities involved, disagreements are inevitable, but I enjoyed seeing their relationships evolve beyond simply competing for Lily’s attention.
The supernatural worldbuilding was another highlight for me. I enjoyed learning about the different species, their abilities, and the rules governing their societies. The involvement of angels, demons, Lucifer, and other powerful beings added interesting conflicts involving authority, loyalty, and control. I especially liked that the story expanded beyond Fortune Academy rather than keeping the characters in the same setting throughout all ten books.
As Lily discovers more about her abilities and the forces working against her, the stakes become increasingly dangerous. The conflicts involving Heaven, Hell, and the other realms introduce betrayals, shifting alliances, and difficult choices. I enjoyed watching Lily become more aware of her responsibilities and the consequences of her decisions. Her determination to protect the people she loves remains an important part of her character, even when she doesn’t always make the best choices.
The supporting characters also helped make the story more interesting. I enjoy a good found family, particularly when those relationships develop through shared experiences, loyalty, and trust. Not every character is immediately likable, and some have questionable motives, but I appreciated that the story gave them individual personalities and roles within the larger conflict.
There’s certainly plenty of spice throughout the series. The romantic relationships involve multiple partners, supernatural bonds, jealousy, possessiveness, and complicated emotional connections. I enjoy why-choose romance, especially when the relationships have substance beyond the bedroom. While I liked the chemistry between Lily and her Virtues, I was more interested in the moments when they worked through their differences and demonstrated how much they genuinely cared about one another.
One of my biggest frustrations was the repetition surrounding certain relationship conflicts. Jealousy, possessiveness, trust issues, and misunderstandings came up frequently, sometimes long after I felt those problems should have been addressed. I understood that the characters were dealing with complicated emotions, but there were times when I wanted them to communicate instead of repeatedly questioning one another’s feelings and intentions. More meaningful conversations and less internal conflict would have made some of those relationships more satisfying for me.
The pacing was also inconsistent in places. Some books moved quickly with action, revelations, and supernatural conflicts, while others spent more time revisiting relationship problems. I don’t mind slower moments when they contribute to character development, but there were sections that could have been tightened without losing anything important. I would have preferred a little more balance between the romance, character development, and larger supernatural conflicts.
What I appreciated most was that Lily’s journey didn’t remain focused entirely on academy drama and romantic relationships. The story continued expanding, introducing greater responsibilities, dangerous enemies, and consequences that affected more than just her personal life. I enjoyed seeing how much her circumstances changed and how those experiences challenged her understanding of herself, her relationships, and the supernatural world.
Overall, I enjoyed following Lily and her Virtues throughout the Fortune Academy series. The supernatural world, different magical abilities, complicated relationships, and conflicts involving Heaven and Hell kept me interested. I especially appreciated Lily’s determination to challenge authority and protect the people she loved. Although her impulsiveness occasionally frustrated me, I enjoyed seeing her develop as the story progressed.
Would I recommend the Fortune Academy series? Absolutely. If you enjoy paranormal academy romance, why-choose relationships, fated mates, protective and possessive supernatural love interests, angels, demons, magical powers, found family, and plenty of spice, this series is worth checking out. I’d especially recommend it to readers who enjoy strong-willed heroines, complicated relationships, and stories that expand beyond their original academy setting. Just be prepared for a fair amount of relationship drama and some slower sections along the way.
My Final Verdict: I found Fortune Academy to be an entertaining paranormal fantasy romance series with interesting supernatural worldbuilding, memorable characters, and a storyline that grows considerably beyond its academy beginnings. I enjoyed Lily’s determination, her relationships with her Virtues, and the conflicts involving the different supernatural realms. The repeated relationship struggles and occasional pacing issues kept it from being everything I wanted, but there was still plenty I enjoyed. More meaningful communication and tighter pacing would have made the overall experience stronger for me.
Final Rating: ⭐5/5 Stars | 🌶️ 5/5 Peppers
"But if there was anything I’d learned about my destiny, it was that sometimes it took a little failure to get things right."