Witchling Academy: Semester Five by Avery Song

What happens when you die? Do you simply disappear? Or does some part of you live on forever, perhaps in the hearts and minds of those who cherished you?

I, Brianne Marie Harlow, never thought much about death. Sure, I had a few close calls here and there, but the thought of actually dying at age eighteen wasn’t something I considered — does any healthy person think about death before they turn twenty?

Nevertheless, I’m trapped in a dark place and unsure how to get out of it. A powerful and familiar voice tells me to keep hanging on because my existence has a far greater purpose than I could begin to fathom. However, the clock is ticking, and I don’t think I have much time left to figure things out.

When the power in the dark finally reveals itself, I discover that I’m not some average student with a few extra gifts. Not at all. What is revealed cannot be undone, which makes me question if fighting the pull to sleep forever is worth it.

The only things stopping me from letting go completely are my family, my adorable familiar, and my Notorious Four. In the depths of the darkness, I hear their voices, and in moments of despair, I can see exactly what they’re going through while I wait.

For me, Semester Five is up in the air, but one thing is certain: if I get the chance to live again, there won’t be any innocence left in me. I’ll be reborn into something stronger, braver, and wiser.

And I’ll take on Semester Five with everything I’ve got — because it’s time for payback.