The first book in the Foothills Fea Academy series reads like a middle-grade book. The characters are around the age of 13 and starting their schooling at a magical academy. As the series progresses, they will continue to age. While the writing style and structure is middle-grade, there is dating and such and making out, mostly of the older characters. 

 

The book is a dual POV written in the first person. There are a lot of different POVs ranging from the core characters and, at times, other characters that are not part of this core group. While the characters were well-developed, it was hard at times to understand who was narrating. 

 

I’m not entirely sure I liked the characters all that much. A lot of them seemed to be very horrible. I really did not like how Amber was continually talked down to because she did not dress feminine and attractive. As a trans-mast kid, I found this problematic and kind of offensive. Even then, a lot of the kids’ behaviors were just not very nice. That is supposed to be the culture of the Fea world, and there was mention of it being addressed in book two, and to some degree, it was addressed in this book. But specifically for Amber, it was a lot of I hope she doesn’t change herself to fit other people’s expectations, but she also better because who she is is gross. 

 

I enjoyed the writing style overall. It could have benefited from more sensory detail, but it built up the visuals of the book well. The world-building was a lot. Often it was just laid out, but then was told again multiple times. Sometimes just in the next sentence. It made it hard to stay connected to the story. The book is also nearly 500 pages and could benefit in a good reduction in at least 100 of those pages that would make the story tighter, the plot stronger, and the reader more engaged. 

 

I think there is a lot to really enjoy about the Foothills Fea Academy and it has the potential to be really great.