Drake and Danger: Nocturne Academy Book 4

Being a teenager is tough. Being a magical being teenager ... brutal! But the love and friendship between these characters definitely gives you the warm fuzzies!

Nocturne Academy, a series of four novels by Evangeline Anderson, is a high school for magical students. As a high school teacher, I was amazed at how well Ms. Anderson described high school problems and teen angst as well as those parents who refuse to accept a child as he is. The close friendships and the hateful bullies that those who are different in any way have around them are realistically described. Four students form a single group of close friends and allies. This novel is about the last one, Avery, a gay witch who believes he will never find a mate as the other three have done. Avery has been an exceptional friend to his close companions, but has had to endure the wall of hate from other students, especially the drakes, only because he is gay. Saint, a gay drake, is new to the Academy. Before he was born, an evil witch put a curse on him because his father killed her husband. Saint has trouble fitting in not only because he’s gay, but also because his drake is crazy from the curse. The drake loves Avery and only wants to protect him, making Saint’s struggle to control the drake impossibly hard. LGBTQ teens and adults often have a difficult life in modern society. In a high school setting those problems are overwhelming. Although we don’t have the steam Ms. Anderson is famous for, we do have the angst. Situations are magnified because of the setting and the strength of the characters. I have been waiting for Avery’s story for a long time. I enjoyed it just as…

The final book in the Nocturne Academy series did not disappoint. This is Avery and Saint’s story and is full of teenage boy angst, curses, and family drama. Drake and Danger is a YA story and does not contain explicit content but does cover mature themes. Evangeline Anderson does a wonderful job of bringing to light the difficulties facing the LGBTQ+ community not only from their own family but society. If you have read the other three previous books, then you will understand that they have a “found and made” family from the coven they have all formed. Everyone needs support through life and this story is a good example. All the original characters play a role in Avery and Saint’s story. Both the characters and readers get a closer look at both boy’s living situations at home. The story has non-stop action and is quite the page-turner. In the final author notes, Evangeline Anderson, states that this will probably be the last story. She makes sure that we know they will all support one another going forward as a family. The ending is both a HEA and HFN. I really enjoyed this final story.

I enjoyed reading this book. I will give it a 4/5. The main characters are Saint, a drake, and Avery a human warlock. Avery is gay and out and Saint is straight but his drake likes Avery. Drakes tend to be very homophobic so it is a surprise when the drake is kind to Avery. Saint has no choice but to go along with his drake. Saint is cursed never to know the love of a woman. Avery questions if Saint likes him or is reacting to the curse. So the two men set out to break the curse. Both of their fathers are against them being together. So the two men have a lot to work through to be together.

This was another fantastic book! Magical if I'm telling the truth and being cheeky. What a wonderful concept to have magical beings from all different groups come together in one school. They formed friendships, fell in love, fought evil that disguised itself as family...fathers to be exact in this book. Sadly as in reality, there is homophobia and bullying in this story. Keeping truth to telling always helps people to see, even in the magic realm there are people who are truly ignorant and think only one way is right. I loved how the group of friends accepted each others differences, supported them and help bring back what was taken. To sum it all up in this book we have hatred, bullying, true mates, love, sacrifice and cool people who just get each other, protect and support each other at all costs. Sometimes the only family you need/have is the family you make. Most importantly Love Is Love!