Evergreen Academy (Society of Magical Botanists Book 1)

Nadine

Must Read!!!

"Okay, I need to gush about this book for a minute because WOW. I picked up Evergreen Academy on a whim after getting burned out on all the dark, gritty stuff I usually read, and honestly? Best decision ever. 📖 What's It About? It's about a college for magical botanists. Like, students learning to grow enchanted plants and work with magical flora. I've never read anything quite like it, and the concept just works so perfectly. It's cozy fantasy at its finest, but don't think that means it's boring because I literally could not put this book down. 📖 Why I Loved It The writing is really engaging and smooth. I breezed through it in like two days. The world-building around the plant magic is fascinating, and I actually learned stuff about real botany along the way, which was a fun bonus I wasn't expecting. There's also this sweet little romance thread woven throughout that doesn't take over the story but adds just the right amount of warmth. The characters feel real and likeable - you're actually rooting for them to succeed in their plant studies, which sounds nerdy but is surprisingly compelling! 📖 Perfect Comfort Read After months of reading books where everyone dies horribly, this was like a warm hug in book form. It's got that cozy, comforting vibe but still manages to keep you hooked with actual plot and character development. Sometimes you just need a book that makes you feel good, you know? 📖 Bottom Line If you're looking for something different, something that feels fresh and unique in the fantasy world, definitely give this one a shot. It's cute without being overly sweet, educational without being preachy, and just genuinely fun to read. ["

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May 31, 2025 Verified Purchase

Amazon Customer

Magically Captivating

"Evergreen Academy hooked me from page one! Briar Rose’s journey of self-discovery is the perfect blend of magic, mystery, and just the right amount of chaos. Heather Schneider brings every character to life so vividly you practically feel like you’re roaming the classes of the Academy right beside them. And honestly—who knew Magical Botany could be that cool? I’m already itching to dive into the next book. If you’re a fan of fantasy, YA adventures, enchanting fiction, or anything involving magic and plants, this book is absolutely for you! Thank you #netgalley and Heather Schneider for letting me review this wonderful story! #evergreenacademy ["

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February 25, 2026 Verified Purchase

Bookie32

Fun and unique read

"What a great fantasy book. I hesitate to call it that because it is very much set in the real world with an element of magic. Magical realism maybe? This book was a pleasant surprise as I was expecting more magic school or boarding school tropes with the MC as the misfit facing mean girls and people out to get her from the start. Thankfully, it wasn’t like this at all. I really liked the main character who had her insecurities but didn’t let herself get bogged down by them. She had a good head on her shoulders and generally thought through things without jumping to stupid conclusions. I found myself thinking I’d respond similarly in most cases. There was also a twist on the trope of the MC being some unknown suddenly thrust into the spotlight as a wonderkind. I won’t get into details without spoiling it, but I liked how she had to work for her powers and still had to study and play catch-up. I think this is an excellent example of writing a good character without making them annoying or a Mary Sue. I also think what this book did well, particularly for a first book, is to focus more on the characters and the world before bringing in major plot points that shift focus to an overriding issue. A lot of this book was focused on her, the school, her classes and friends. While plot points were brought in that you knew would be bigger later, the author never delved too deeply and let those build. I feel so many times authors skip too quickly past that. Sometimes that can work, but in a case like this, learning about the school itself is interesting enough to carry a lot of the plot and allow me to immerse myself before getting to the main obstacle. That to me is how a good book should be, one you’d still read even if they removed that obstacle. Beyond that, the setting was cool and unique from the magical settings I have read before. I loved that it is such a specific world that lives amongst the normal world making it seem almost plausible. I am looking forward to reading ["

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October 20, 2025 Verified Purchase

K. O’Neal

Cute, fun read

"A true YA story with an interesting premise and slow burn love interest. It was a bit slow and juvenile to start, but by the end, I really enjoyed this story and will read the next one. A great palette cleanser between deeper, darker reads. ["

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May 11, 2026 Verified Purchase