3 stars seems under fair, but 4 stars seems to high?

My experience with this book has been decidedly mixed. The narrator's ability to bring the characters to life is commendable; her distinct tone and delivery enhance the humor embedded in the narrative, making it more engaging. The story presents a unique blend of beings—humans, angels, demons, fae, and vampires—interwoven within an intricate hierarchy that adds depth to its world-building. However, despite these strengths, I found myself grappling with significant character inconsistencies. The protagonist, Wen, epitomizes the "Mary Sue" archetype. Her background—a history of enslavement and abuse—seems at odds with her astonishing success in running a drug business despite limited education or resources. Overall, while there are compelling elements present in the book, it ultimately feels incomplete and rushed.

This was a fun read. There are angles and deamons, a magical school, and trials. There are found friendships and some sassy banter. I feel like the ages didn't reflect some of the behaviors of the characters. They acted younger, but that's my only complaint. The story got really interesting towards the end, and the ending left me needing to know what happens next!

This book masterfully weaves together found family, forced proximity, hidden heritage, and celestial beings in a way that made it impossible to put down. From the moment I entered Wen's world, I was captivated by her fierce determination to survive for her best friend and sister-at-heart, Sarah. Wen's relentless drive to secure their future—whether by producing a rare drug only she can make or risking everything to sell it—kept me glued to the page. Her sass, wit, fear when she's captured, and disbelief at her sentence set the stage for an enthralling story. Add in a brooding protector tasked with uncovering her secrets, and you've got the perfect recipe for a truly addictive read!

I was hooked from start to finish and can't wait to dive into book 2—and eagerly anticipate book 3!

Overall I did enjoy this book! I did not love the voice actor, but this was a good read for anyone who liked Zodiac Academy!

READ THIS BOOK! I listened to the audiobook version, and it was so good! I feel like I am really picky when it comes to Romantasy books, but this one impressed me. I was immediately drawn to Wen. Her personality is magnetic, and I enjoyed following her journey. The narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb, did a fantastic job bringing these dynamic characters to life! I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Pharos for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Narrator: 5/5
Story: 2/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC! Amanda Leigh Cobb did an absolutely amazing job capturing each character's personality and voice. Her pacing and emotions really added a whole level to the experience, and I hope to listen to more audiobooks done by her.

Celestial Academy: Essence takes place in a post-Apocalyptic LA where angels and demons live amongst humans. Wen, a 19 year old girl who is a servant to the demons, sells the essence from angels (works like a drug), and is early on arrested by Godric, a high ranking angel who is (of course) the most handsome being Wen has even seen. Godric brings Wen to meet with many angels and is decided she is to attend an angel academy.

Wen is written as if the author read Crescent City, and picked only the worst parts of Bryce. Wen's sarcasm became so unbearably obnoxious I debated DNFing so many times. There was so much unnecessary curing and bitterness that took away from the story line. Godric started out likable; there was that slow burn, enemies to lovers feel, but I couldn't stop cringing at all the talk of his bulge, and maybe I missed parts, but Wen's attraction was way too all over the place and never made sense in whatever moment they were in. Sarah (I had to look up her name because she was so forgettable) was loved by absolutely every character, and I could not figure out why. The world building also was a little confusing (future LA, but apocolyptic, with angels and demons, but also trying to be a fantasy setting) --- I normally enjoy some world building but this one was a little too slow and confusing for my taste.
By 80% through the audiobook, I could not figure out how it was going to end, because it felt like nothing happened. Amanda Leigh Cobb's way of story telling was the only reason I ended up finishing.

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos is a gripping and immersive entry into the world of dark fantasy. With its blend of celestial politics, forbidden romance, and high-stakes action, this novel hooks you from the first page and never lets go.

The protagonist, an orphan and indentured slave, offers a refreshing and gritty perspective in a genre often dominated by more conventional characters. The concept of Angelescence—a drug that only she can produce—adds an intriguing layer to the plot, driving much of the tension. Her struggles to escape her circumstances, her daring venture into the dangerous trade, and her complex relationships make her an exceptionally well-drawn character.

Pharos has created a vividly imagined Afterworld where Heaven and Hell coexist on Earth, and the power dynamics feel tangible. The worldbuilding is meticulous, and you quickly become invested in its hierarchy, rules, and the dangerous balancing act of its celestial beings. The introduction of the Celestial Academy—a high-stakes, perilous institution—adds an element of danger, as lethal trials and apocalyptic threats keep the pacing fast and intense.

The antagonistic chemistry between the protagonist and Godric, her tormentor-turned-mentor, is a major highlight. Their fiery, forbidden attraction is written with great tension, but it doesn't fall into cliché territory. Instead, their relationship is layered with power struggles, resentment, and an almost inevitable pull, which keeps the reader intrigued about how it will evolve. Godric, as Heaven's most ruthless enforcer, is equally fascinating—a dark, brooding character with depth beyond his seemingly cold exterior.

Overall, Celestial Academy: Essence blends romance, fantasy, and action in a way that feels fresh and exciting. Fans of dark academies, celestial politics, and complicated, slow-burn romances will find themselves captivated by this book. The novel sets up a larger arc, leaving you eager to see how the protagonist's journey unfolds as she faces greater mysteries, internal wars, and potentially the end of the world.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy that doesn't shy away from darkness, this book is a must-read.

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos

Book 3/5
Narration 4/5

My first audiobook ARC so this was exciting! I was initially unsure of the narration, but by the end I really enjoyed her. Well done to Amanda Leigh Cobb!

☆ forced proximity
★ enemies to lovers
☆ slow burn

This book is very colloquial with lots of inner monologue which can be frustrating at times, but I appreciate this is a preferred style for other readers. Lots of YA name calling and snide comments. Godric's nickname of God-awful was funny the first time but personally, it should have just been the once, not every chapter.

That said, the plot itself was such an interesting premise, I enjoyed seeing a world where heaven and hell existed on earth. A world full of humans, angels and demons. The slow burn was good. My feeling is this book was inspired by Sarah J Maas Crescent City, Zodiac Academy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but for now I am rating this a 3 star and I couldn't put them on the same level. For me, it needs less sarcasm and more lore and world building to give it that edge, but you can see the inspiration!

Enjoyed the alternative POV at the end too!

Thank you to Olivia Pharos and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m sorry, I just could not get into this story! The only thing I thought was cool was the Angelessence. There were just too many things going on at once. Way too much world building packed into one book. Also, it is hard when the real world exists (like living in LA and being human) but Heaven and Hell exist ON EARTH too so then you have Angels and Demons interacting with human real world lives. It just was too much for me. Also the swearing and name calling and rude comments and belittling of each other was like WAY WAY over the top that it became distracting.

Celestial Academy: Essence by Olivia Pharos. Afterworlds #1. Angels and demons working together in a post apocalyptic world. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, slow burn.

Concept and storyline is interesting, but the execution had missed opportunities. Pacing seemed all over the place and plot seemed to stall halfway through. World building felt a little incomplete. Despite these issues the narration was good and was what kept me on track to finish.

I was provided with a review copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion. I gave this book 3 stars. I am unsure if I will continue this series at this time. Thank you again NetGalley and Olivia Pharos.

Wen and Godric were fun characters in an expansive world that is interesting and has the potential to be exciting. As with all first books in the series, this book has a lot going on and in some areas dragged a bit. The banter, though, between Wen and Godric was often hilarious and Wen is a strong character that I enjoyed following. The narration of this audiobook by Amanda Leigh Cobbs was good- she did a great job with the whole story but I wish there was a bit more variance and maybe even a male narrator. I'll be borrowing more books from the series to get deeper into the world and hopefully, to see these characters get their HEA!

Story: 4/5
Narrator: 4.5/5

This book draws you in and gives you all the feels along the way. If you are a person to yell at characters, you'll love this book. If you are a person who loves to be shocked by twists, this book is for you. I did NOT see that one coming. Wen's sassiness no matter what she's going through will have you rooting for her from the beginning until the end. I cannot wait for the next audiobook.

The story itself was unique, fast paced & so fun. I found myself loving the characters and wishing I could dive into this world and be BFF’s with the main character. The way I was rooting from her from page one & couldn’t get enough of the plot and friendships/relationships.

I devoured every second of this book and cannot wait to get into the next one. Highly recommend this to all of my morally grey + fantasy lovers!

The audiobook itself was also done very well!

This is the type of book that reminds me of just why I love fantasy books so much. Well. Done. 👏

What a fun book. I listened to the audio and once started couldn’t stop till it was finished, then immediately looked for the next book in the series. I loved the snarky attitude of the main character and can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

This was my first angels and demons books I’ve read. The storyline was great and I looked forward to reading more books like this.
The beginning of the book didn’t really pull me in at first, I wish there had been more to the world building. There were times where a lot of information was thrown out at once and it was a lot to take in at once.
I loved the slow burn, the name calling, the plot, I loved listening to the audiobook.
The ending was really great, it left me wanting more. I can’t wait for the next book, I hope to get to know the characters much more and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Wen and Godric!

I think I just found one of my new favorite narrators! Amanda Leigh Cobb did such an amazing job! I think this book could have benefitted from dual/duet narration, but I think Amanda did a great job and really channelled the snarky FMC.

This book had a really interesting premise, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. Wen gets conscripted to the Celestial Academy where Godric, a powerful nephilim, is to be her shadow and trainer while she hones her skills and discovers and develops her abilities. This was a good slow burn, the annoyance and attraction a constant simmer between these two.

I love a good sarcastic FMC, but at times I felt like it was a little much, especially when dragging out life-threatening situations. And the nicknames were fun, but again, felt a bit overdone. It made her feel a bit one-dimensional. I wish there would have been a little less sarcasm and a bit more world building/lore development. There were a lot of names and classifications thrown about, and at times it was a bit much to keep up with.

The story concept as a whole was good, and I definitely think listening to the audio enhanced the experience. Overall, it was a fun listen, and I am definitely curious to see what happens next.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the advance listener's copy!

This was very surprising in a good way! I am huge zodiac academy fan and this was reminiscent of that, but not a copy of the concept of course. I loved the overall plot and world building. Super unique and I will definitely be reading the second book!

I love this genre and while I think some of the book was really good - the world building, the slow burn romance, and the strong female lead - I really didn't like the overall tone.

The heroine was very sarcastic, and the narrator reflected that well - but it was too annoying for me. Some of her phrases or the narrators tone of voice really rubbed me the wrong way. I did appreciate her internal struggle with falling for the "enemy" but I thought her other interpersonal relationships were strange. For example, she had a good friend - Sarah - who she almost seemed in love with as well. She obsessively guarded her to the point that it was weird. Other characters did too. The book didn't really explain why either - I felt like Sarah was some poor puppy they were trying to protect but deep down I think Sarah has some supreme power or something because some of the people in charge also seemed intrigued by her. It was a weird power struggle.

I also initially thought this world building was good until one of the angels used his "member" as a blade to attack the heroine. What? It was so weird it was laughable. Such a strange scene in the book for me I couldn't take it seriously. It really turned me off from the book.

I unfortunately will not be reading the rest of the series when it comes out.

I really enjoyed listening to this audio book and the demons/angels angle was a new trope to me and one I'll be looking for more books with this kind of theme in the future.

I loved Wen, she was so feisty and fierce throughout the book and her nicknames for the other characters were brilliant. I can't wait for more from Wen and 'God-awful'.

The only real gripes I had were at first the accents of the narrator seemed so far fetched I couldn't get into the book but these soon grew on me. However, I did feel that no matter what was happening to Wen she did feel one dimensional with the voice always seeming to have the sarcastic undertone.

All in all I enjoyed this audiobook and will listen to the rest of the series

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book via Netgalley

Wen is a demon-slave turned Celestial Academy recruit. She navigates her new role in life and her sexy Angle-spawn mentor.

Celestial Academy is a post apocalyptic Heaven vs. Hell romance that can be compared to the Zodiac Academy series. The writing of Olivia Pharos leaves the reader anxiously waiting the conclusion to Wen's struggles.

Her slow-burn reluctant love interest Godrick "God-awful" is a sexy and cunning influence on Wen. He is invested in developing Wen's skills, and despite his obligations, will do anything to keep her alive and within his grasps.

As a new to audiobook listener, I can't wait to hear how the rest of the story unfolds!