Supposedly, witches can’t kill. But Madison accidentally killed her boyfriend, and now a girl at her witch academy is dead, too.

Madison spent her life avoiding her magical abilities, but when she’s forced to use them to save her best friend from a deadly storm and accidentally kills her boyfriend as a result, she decides she needs to enroll at La Voisin School for Young Witches after all.

She knew starting a year later than her peers would come with its own struggles; she just never expected one of those struggles would be the impossible murder of a classmate. The school is spelled for safety, and witches can’t kill…so how did Giselle end up dead?
Only Giselle and her killer know, and only Madison can find out. Because now, the dead witch is haunting her. Crazy thing is, Giselle’s murder isn’t even the biggest secret this school has.
Just ask the statues.

My Review

This story leans into classic YA academy tropes. New girl at a magical school, witches, mysteries, and a lot of teenage figuring-things-out energy.

Madison is an air witch trying to understand her abilities while still wanting a normal life. Early on something happens that completely changes her path and pushes her toward La Voisin Academy. Her home life is messy and complicated, so moving from Oklahoma to New England feels like both escape and reset.

I really liked how the book opens because it pulls you right in. Madison is resilient and determined even when she’s overwhelmed by learning magic and catching up in classes. The gothic mansion setting works well, especially for a spooky season vibe.

There are creepy statues, ghosts, demons, and plenty of supernatural mystery. Madison forms a small group of friends and together they start digging into problems bigger than they expected. The mystery slowly unfolds while she balances school life and her powers.

For me the pacing felt a bit repetitive at times, like circling the same clues before moving forward, but the atmosphere and setting kept it interesting. The ending gives some answers while still pointing toward more to come.

If you would like to read Curse of Stone by Veronica Shade, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases. 

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories:Academy, Elemental and Magic.