layawaydragon
Written on Dec 5, 2016
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School of Second Chances is a magical boarding school where only a few kids are picked each year. It starts when they’re 16 so they have a solid core education and are integrated into society well.
These kids are chosen for talent and destiny. It’s not so much the Big Bad Vs. The Chosen One, but more contemporary issues while being magical. It’s internal and intrapersonal conflicts and setting things up for more down the line.
It’s a multiple POV book that starts by switching through all the kids to get them introduced. It feels slow to get going because of this. There's the standard paranormal creatures a few rarely seen like banshees and kelpies. There's even more in the other grades at Evander's and I hoping to see more of them as well. Especially the dragon. :D
Once they’re at the school and settled in, there’s a few plot threads set up and the focus becomes Payson, Riley, and Spike.
I loved all the cast and was completely absorbed in their relationships and drama. I flew through it once the first “OMFG” moment happened. Some kids pair off quickly while others are working on everyday relationships and some are just single.
I love the representation so far in School of Second Chances and I’m looking forward to seeing more in the next books as well as finding out what happens. The ending is a raging cliffhanger but luckily I had the companion novella to read right away. It doesn’t leave off where this book ends, but has a wrapped up ARC and gives the warm and fuzzy.
I do have a few questions about why the “bad kid” is going the route they are as it doesn’t make to me. However, I’m an old fart who says that often now so I’m letting it go to see how it unfurls in the next book.
While I wouldn’t say School of Second Chances is religious, there is soul mates and the vampires are at risk of losing their souls. The soul mates part is done well, but the latter is the part I had a problem swallowing. So, if that's no issue for you, you'll probably love the series with no problems. It ties into the “bad kid” issue but I do love how it centers consent and communication.
The only other non-spoiler thing I can think of to mention is that it does read like younger YA at times and it should be fine for newly teen crowd as well.