Akarnae - Lynette Noni

Akarnae – Lynette Noni

I first stumbled across this book when watching a book haul vlog on YouTube and i immediately wanted it in my possession so i could read it. The only downside was that this book is not yet accessible in the UK. So i scoured, and i mean really scoured the internet looking for sites where i could purchase this book and international delivery not be too crazy. All that searching finally paid off! The official Akarnae website had this book available to purchase, with FREE international shipping...it was clearly meant to be!

Akarnae is book one in the Meodran chronicles by Lynette Noni and it brings us a brilliantly creative world filled with magic and mystery. My review is quite limited as i like to keep them as spoiler free as possible.

With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings's world changes--literally.

Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her... but he's missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora's boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own, but strange things are happening at Akarnae, and Alex can't ignore her fear that something unexpected... something sinister... is looming.

An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex's shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race's survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home?

Will Alex risk her entire world--and maybe even her life--to save Medora?

Firstly i will like to get this little point out the way. Yes the main location is that of a boarding school/castle, yes it has magical elements, and yes the main character has two best friends. But that in no means makes this a comparative book to the likes of Harry Potter, as it is a completely different world, completely different kind of magic and completely different narrative and direction.

Right from the start of this book we are thrown into the thick of it all, we don’t really know much other than Alex’s parents going away, meaning Alex has to up sticks and attend a boarding school away from home. We are instantly thrown into this whole alternative world, and straight into the action. 

I loved the pacing of this book, i felt like there were no moments where i got bored or willed the book along, as there was so much to learn and understand about the world of Akarnae, that i just wanted to take it all in and build this picture in my head. I do have to say i am a bit jealous of just how advanced this world is with technology and medicine. I really wish we could have a food replicator machine. Imagine that, what in my head i almost imagined as an Ipad on a table, selecting the food you want and it appearing before you.....Genius! When can we get one of those?

I adored the characters in this book. Alex was a brilliant main character, she had the humor, sarcasm as well as the bad ass vibe every leading lady needs. My favorite moment with her was when she was drugged up on meds, as well as drunk of a drink. Her friendship with Bear and Jordan was brilliant and they had a great banter between them. I also enjoyed that this first book was so focused on friendships. Especially enjoying the relationship she had with DC her roommate, even though this was not a friendly at times relationships, i loved the fact that Alex still considered her, even during the holidays. I really admired that trait about Alex.

I found the magic and history in this book amazing, each of the classes sounded fun...well maybe some of the classes, the idea of being battered and bruised whilst doing the same obstacle course over and over is not on the top of my list of things to experience.

Everything in this book drew me in, i loved where the story took me, i loved the mystery and magic to the world, especially the trippy library! I was absorbed into this magical world and i just could not put the book down. The ending was insane! It all just happened, everything kicked off and it has left me eager for book two in the series.

I would say if you enjoy a magical fantasy book, with great characters, and friendships, with the hint of humour too, then this is the book for you as i thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.