Not many people get a second chance, let alone a second life.
I died. Burning in a prison cell I spent years of my life rotting away in.
I had been beaten, battered and bruised beyond repair…but not broken.
Never broken.

By whatever miracle, I’ve been brought back ten years into my past and before I was locked away…
But to a different kind of hell…Wensridge Academy. A place filled with only memories of pain and suffering.

But this time I’ll break the wheel of misfortune, and with it all the people who caused my suffering and death.
This time I’ll have the life I should have always had.

I had so many thoughts while reading this.

 “It’s full of action, revenge and five dark and damaged love interests that the FMC will not have to choose between. It contains adult themes and bad-language which some readers may find upsetting“

When I started reading it I wondered about my sanity because yes, it does deal with some trauma that I dislike. I was also feeling like the stereotype of the ‘abused MC’ has been overdone. And wouldn’t it be nice to read a why choose book with a totally sane female MC.

However, I stuck with the book and I have to say, having now completed it, I was impressed.

As humans we all overthink past mistakes or past moments wondering what would have happened if we had acted differently, or said something differently but for us, we cannot change the past. For Micai, she has a rare chance to do just that and she does not waste it.

The twist on her fate put things into perspective because without it I don’t think I would have stuck with the book. There is bullying and then there is book bullying. And without the context that Micai provides I would have gotten sick of it and thrown the book elsewhere.

I was apparently obvious to me, even without Micai’s commentary that there are certain characters in the book that are being manipulated magically. There is no other way to view the malicious intent towards Micai, when what is being said about her doesn’t appear once in her behaviour or actions at all in the book.

Of course, Micai is also realising this for the first time. In her first run through life she was meak, weak, and easy to manipulate. During this second round though, she is strong, resilient, a total badass and not willing to take things at face value.

There are a lot of stories interwoven in this book and some of the chapters change pov in the middle which was a little confusing to follow. I’ve tried to break the storylines down.

1. Seria – Micai’s half-sister – is a complete psychotic, manipulating bitch who has managed to charm the entire school against Micai and has probably ensnared Micai’s childhood friends into her grasp. Every move she makes has an ulterior motive and while Micai understand how fucked up she was in her first time around the sun, she is right not to underestimate her on this second ride around.
2. Micai – the ‘bane born without magic’ suddenly has skills, navigating around the school a second time around with all the trauma of what happened the first time but none of the physical scars. She actually cares about her life this time, knows she has worth and is done with everyone else.
3. The Infernal Four – clearly have their own agenda and are seeking answers but no idea what answers or why.
   • Ezra will never let Micai go but has yet to tell her why.
   • Annex is a trigger happy violent psychotic but the first to interact with Micai and to draw her into the group – he also won’t let her go.
   • Mal who hides a monster beneath his skin and has tried to stay away from Micai.
   • Creed who generally seems to hate everyone, especially Micai.
4. Morgan – Creed’s sister – and her partners and whatever she is hiding.
5. Gadriel – Micai’s defence teacher – who is Elven and as mysterious as they come.

I have the second book in the series already but the third isn’t out till the end of the month!

I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!

This book features shifters, warlocks, magic wielders, elves, Magical beasts, and probably a whole lot more that haven’t been introduced yet.

The ending is a cliffhanger ending so really you should feel lucky that I’ve paused to write this review before continuing on to the next book! Jokes aside, I mean it when I say this why choose is dark, it does have uncomfortable topics and scenes and if that isn’t your idea of a good time – don’t read this. There are plenty of why choose books with lighter themes to read.