Series: The Secret World of Maggie Grey, Book 1
Author: Granger
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Page Count: 330 pages (2026 paperback)
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Fantasy / Dark Academia
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ 2/5
Mystery & Intrigue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3/5
SPOILER WARNING!
This is my Cover to Cover review, which means we're discussing the entire book! There will be major spoilers about Maggie's family, the Underground, the relationships, the supernatural politics, and the ending.
If you haven't finished The Secret World of Maggie Grey, check out my Spoiler-Free Review first!
My Overall Thoughts
Okay, first of all, can we talk about Drew Collins University? Because for a school that's supposed to be a safe place for supernatural beings, these students were in danger almost from the moment they arrived!
I really enjoyed The Secret World of Maggie Grey. I loved the idea of a magical HBCU hidden beneath Atlanta, the different supernatural groups, the multiple points of view, and the mysteries surrounding Maggie's family.
But there were so many moments when I wanted to grab these young women by the shoulders and ask, "Girl, what are you doing?!" And don't even get me started on the professors and staff who were supposed to be guiding them. I gave this book a 4/5 because, despite my frustrations, I was entertained, invested in the characters, and curious enough about the mysteries that I'm already waiting for book two. Now, let's get into everything that happened!
Characters & Relationships
We meet Maggie in class, giving a presentation about a story her grandmother told her during the Civil Rights Era. Now, girl, you know you would still get an F! You didn't do the assignment, and you're up there telling your grandma's secrets! But that family story is what gets everything started.
Her grandmother witnessed a gathering of Black supernatural beings who were trying to find a way to protect themselves and their loved ones from racial violence. Their decision to create a safe community underground eventually connects to the world Maggie discovers. What immediately bothered me was how determined her professor was to get her to Drew Collins University. He even helped pay for her to go.
Sir, why are you so invested?
Once we learn about Maggie's connection to the First Family and Professor Hawkins' relationship to Namir's werewolf family, that invitation becomes even more suspicious. Maggie wasn't simply being offered an opportunity to learn about her heritage. Other people already had plans for her. And that's what frustrated me. Maggie is trying to understand who she is while everybody else seems to know something about her that they aren't willing to share.
Souxie
Souxie caught my attention almost immediately. First, the way her father Jean talks to her! I understand that he was trying to prepare her for a world that could be cruel, but damn! Encouragement, appreciation, and a few kind words can also help build confidence, courage, and independence.
You don't have to insult somebody constantly to make them strong. As we get to know Souxie, we learn more about her abilities, her connection to spirits, and her interest in necromancy. She's clearly powerful, but she's also keeping secrets. And then there's Professor Akeem. I did not like the way he interacted with Souxie. His attitude, the things he said, and the way he looked her up and down made me uncomfortable.
Quan even warns her about him. Then, toward the end of the book, they have sex. And I'm sorry, but I didn't find that romantic or reassuring. This man is her professor. There's already a power imbalance, and his behavior throughout the story didn't make me trust him any more. Souxie keeps talking about being an adult and making her own decisions, but being an adult doesn't automatically make every decision a good one. I'm interested in seeing how her powers develop, but I also want to know what Professor Akeem is hiding and how that relationship will affect her.
Asha
Asha deserved a much better introduction to Drew Collins. From the beginning, people were making comments about her appearance, staring at her, and treating her like she didn't belong. These are supposed to be grown adults! Yes, they're in their twenties, but what happened to "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"?
I would have had an attitude too! Then we learn more about Asha being a siren and the complicated situation surrounding her origins. And Solomon King, or Solo? Sir!
The way he insulted her, called her names, and treated her was ridiculous. Their situation becomes even more complicated when Asha tries to get him off her back, and eventually he comes to apologize. But an apology doesn't erase everything that happened. I was glad Isis wanted to help Asha learn more about herself. That's the kind of support these women needed from the beginning.
Namir
Listen, I love a hot werewolf. But damn, Coach, put on a shirt!
Namir was one of the characters I found interesting because he was dealing with so much family pressure. His uncle Hawkins and brother Tyee wanted him to get close to Maggie because of her connection to the First Family. And his family wasn't exactly subtle about pushing things along.
I was surprised by how quickly certain characters believed the stories being spread about Maggie and Namir. But the biggest mystery for me was his inability to smell her. For a werewolf, that's clearly a problem, and it makes him nervous. Their encounters were sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes downright strange.
Especially that scene upstairs when he finally picks up on her scent and tells her he can smell her period coming! Excuse me?! He nearly loses control before calming himself, and I was sitting there wondering what exactly was happening between these two. I like their chemistry, but I don't trust the circumstances bringing them together. Namir has his own feelings and family obligations to work through, and Maggie deserves to know when someone is approaching her with an agenda.
The Misfits
One of my favorite parts of this book was watching this group come together. They all have different backgrounds, personalities, and supernatural abilities. Isis brings her own perspective as a water nymph, Hillary is more sheltered and eager to experience university life, and Quan is a talking cat with plenty of opinions.
And honestly, Quan had me laughing. He's sarcastic, outspoken, and seems to know more about what's going on than some of the people running the school. But even he has his own problems and reasons for staying close to Souxie. The friendships aren't perfect. The women make mistakes, argue, and sometimes put themselves in situations that had me wanting to slap them upside the head. Still, I liked seeing them find people they could turn to in a place where so many others treated them like outsiders.
World-Building & Setting
I loved the history behind the Underground. The idea that Black supernatural beings created a hidden community to escape persecution and protect their families was one of the most interesting parts of the story.
And Drew Collins isn't just a school. It's part of an entire supernatural ecosystem with its own history, communities, power struggles, and rules. But here's my problem. Why bring these students into a completely different world without giving them proper guidance? Maggie barely knows how to navigate MARTA!
And I understood that part because I'm a country gal. I've lived in places where I walked everywhere, and learning to use buses and other public transportation was confusing. People would laugh because I didn't understand how everything worked.
So I could relate to Maggie trying to navigate an unfamiliar transit system. But let me tell you something. If I get lost too many times trying to find a new place, I'm turning my black ass around because apparently it wasn't meant for me to find it! They could have given her better directions. And once the women finally arrive, things don't get much better.
They don't receive the kind of orientation, guidance, or freedom you'd expect from a university. Their classes are chosen for them, the rules aren't properly explained, and leaving isn't simple. If they get expelled, they lose their memories of the Underground. So what exactly are their choices? For people who have spent years living among humans, I found that unnecessarily harsh. It sometimes felt less like these women had enrolled in a university and more like they'd been trapped somewhere they couldn't leave.
The Staff and Students
This was probably my biggest frustration with the entire book. The students were rude, disrespectful, and childish at times. Clementine and her obsession with pretty girls, legacies, and social status got on my nerves immediately. And the way people treated Asha was horrible. But what bothered me even more was the behavior of the adults who should have known better. The orientation situation is a perfect example. People were talking about a welcome party, and there were no warning signs, yet these newcomers ended up in a dangerous situation involving drugged drinks.
Now, as grown women, they should have known not to accept drinks from strangers. Just because a place is magical doesn't mean it's safe! But that doesn't excuse the people who were responsible for protecting them. Maggie and Asha could have died on their first day. Namir has to intervene, and Souxie calls Jean for help. And I'm already sitting there pissed off.
Then we have the classroom situation, where Maggie threatens Namir and he frightens her. Maggie shouldn't have threatened him, but he also knew she was new and didn't understand what she was dealing with. These students needed guidance, not more reasons to be terrified. And Professor Akeem's relationship with Souxie only added to my concerns about the boundaries between staff and students. For a university that's supposed to help these young people learn and grow, there was very little accountability.
Themes & Ideas
One of the strongest themes is discovering where you come from and how your family's history affects your future. Maggie grows up believing her grandmother's stories are just stories, only to discover that they connect to a supernatural world and a powerful bloodline.
The First Family's history carries a lot of fear and influence. And Maggie has barely begun to understand what that means before other people start trying to use her connection for their own purposes. The séance adds even more questions, especially the warnings about a curse and Maggie's grandmother having good reason to fear the First Family. I liked how the book connected family history, Black identity, supernatural power, and the struggle to belong. But I also kept wondering why Maggie was expected to navigate all of this with so little information.
Power, Control & Belonging
Nearly every major group at Drew Collins seems concerned with power. The First Family, the werewolves, the sirens, and even the social groups on campus have their own expectations about who belongs and who doesn't.
Namir is pressured by his family. Maggie is being watched because of her bloodline. Asha is judged because of her appearance and background. Souxie has to navigate her abilities while dealing with a professor whose intentions I question. These women are trying to figure out who they are, but other people are already trying to decide that for them.
That's what made the found-family element so important. They needed each other because the people in charge weren't always looking out for them.
What Worked for Me
The multiple POVs. I enjoyed being able to see events from different perspectives. It helped me understand the characters and the supernatural politics beyond what Maggie knew.
The world-building. The Underground, its connection to Black history, the magical HBCU, and the different supernatural groups made the setting interesting. The character development. I liked that the women had different personalities and weren't always easy to get along with. Their flaws gave me plenty to react to.
The mysteries. Maggie's ancestry, Namir's inability to smell her, Souxie's abilities, Professor Akeem's secrets, and the politics surrounding the First Family kept me curious. The humor. Between Quan's attitude, Namir's lack of shirts, and some of the ridiculous situations these characters found themselves in, I definitely laughed.
What Didn't Work for Me
The lack of guidance and safety. I couldn't get past how little support the university offered students who were entering a completely unfamiliar supernatural world. The attitudes and bullying. Some of these characters were unnecessarily cruel, especially toward Asha.
The questionable relationships. Professor Akeem and Souxie's relationship bothered me because of the power imbalance and his behavior toward her. Some of the sexual situations. The book contains open-door sexual content, but I didn't feel every sexual encounter added much to the story.
The dialogue. I adjusted to the Atlanta-influenced dialect pretty quickly, but at times the characters' attitudes and similar ways of speaking made certain interactions frustrating. The placement of Hillary's death. This was my biggest issue with the ending, and I'll explain why.
Favorite Moments & Biggest Reactions
The Séance and the Warning
I liked the séance because it gave us another glimpse into Souxie's abilities while adding more mystery to Maggie's family history. The warning about the curse and the First Family made me even more curious about what Maggie's grandmother knew.
The Doors and the Dangerous Trip
When the women decided to sneak out, I already knew it was going to be trouble. Not knowing where or when you'd end up coming back sounds terrifying. Especially when you're somewhere unfamiliar and don't know who or what might be waiting for you. I was nervous and mad because they were throwing caution to the wind.
And Quan leaving them?
I would have been pissed too! At that point, I would have been like Maggie and stayed upstairs after hurting my ankle and that complete mess.
Clementine's Hex
The party was another example of things getting completely out of hand. Everybody is having fun, Clementine is jealous because the party is competing with her sorority, and then she decides to hex the house.
Girl, seriously?!
And my question was, if Souxie saw the doll, why didn't she stop Clementine before she cast the hex? Of course, everything turns into chaos. Because apparently nobody at this university can just have a normal party!
Hillary's Death
And then we get to Hillary. Unfortunately, she becomes the victim at the end of the book. We don't know who killed her or why, and we're left with another major mystery.
Now, I understand why Granger chose to end the story this way. It's a cliffhanger, and it definitely gives readers a reason to pick up the next book. But personally, I think Hillary's death would have worked better a little past the midpoint. I would have liked to see who discovered her, how the other women reacted, and what happened in the immediate aftermath.
Hillary was part of this group, and I wanted more time to experience what losing her meant to the characters. Instead, the book ends just as that mystery begins. And while I would have preferred a different placement, I can't deny that I'm curious about what happens next.
Who killed Hillary? Why? And what does it mean for Maggie and everyone at Drew Collins? Those are questions I'm hoping book two answers.
Romance, Chemistry & Spice — 2/5
There is sex in this book, and the scenes are open-door, but romance isn't the main focus. Maggie and Namir have chemistry, and I enjoyed some of their interactions, even when they were strange or uncomfortable.
But his family's involvement makes me question how genuine their developing relationship can be when so many people are trying to influence it. Souxie and Professor Akeem were a different story for me. I didn't find that relationship reassuring, especially given his position as her professor. Overall, the spice is present, but the supernatural mysteries and character relationships were much more interesting to me.
Emotional Impact — 3/5
I laughed, I got nervous, and there were plenty of times when I wanted to scold these characters. I cared about what happened to the women and wanted them to make it through their experiences. But the book didn't hit me emotionally to the point where I cried or needed to put it down and take a break. Even Hillary's death left me wanting more of the characters' reactions rather than giving me the emotional payoff I was hoping for. For me, this book was more about suspense, curiosity, and frustration than overwhelming emotional moments.
Who Should Read This Book?
I'd recommend The Secret World of Maggie Grey to readers who enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal stories, magical universities, supernatural politics, multiple POVs, found-family dynamics, and mysteries that continue across a series.
If you enjoy stories centered on Black characters, complicated family histories, werewolves, vampires, sirens, and characters trying to discover their identities, there's plenty here to explore. Just be aware that the book includes sexual content, bullying, dangerous situations, and questionable relationships involving people in positions of authority.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed The Secret World of Maggie Grey.
I got past the urban dialect pretty quickly, but the attitudes and situations these young women found themselves in were sometimes insane. There were moments when I wanted to slap them upside the head, but I also wanted to scold the professors and everyone else who should have been helping them.
I liked the world-building, character development, supernatural politics, and mysteries surrounding Maggie's family. I just wish Drew Collins had done a better job protecting and preparing its students, and that we'd had more time to experience the consequences of Hillary's death.
But the story kept me interested, and I have plenty of questions about what's coming next. Sometimes that's exactly what a good mystery does. And now I'm waiting for book two!
SJR Final Rating
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ 2/5
Mystery & Intrigue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3/5
Would I Recommend It? Yes!
Would I Read It Again? Yes, especially before continuing the series.
Am I Reading Book Two? Absolutely! My copy is already on the way!
Want to Read the Books I'm Reviewing?
Check out all the books I'm reading on Bookshop.org, including possible discounts.
Until the next chapter,
Happy Reading,
S. J. Robinson
