Trying to remember this book, bit like Fourth Wing but not.

[PodMom]

ChatGPT isn’t helping and is now suggesting I’m muddling numerous books up as one which is possible.

Teen girl protagonist — her father dies and she’s controlled by an evil stepmother who sends her away.
She’s sent to a boarding school for supernatural beings (students include different classes/species — there are dragons outside the school I think..
As punishment she’s made to work in the kitchen, and a boy cook (student) falls in love with her.
Another boy is from a dog-clan (can turn into dogs / descended from dog-people).
girl is “promised” to a boy from a good family who’s in the army but she doesn’t want him.
girl is interested in herbs and plants.
Some girls at the school have wings — almost like harpies.
The school is attacked; the students flee and the heroine and friends end up in a magical forest inhabited by a women-only sanctuary/tribe that excludes men.
Tone/age: YA (not middle-grade). Read around 2022–2023.
theres a sequel where they leave the school and flee to a safe city. There are mythical water horses in the river here.

I think the supernatural realm is awesome.

Watching with interest!

Some of this is ringing vague bells but it sounds like a mash-up of The Grishaverse, Priory of the Orange Tree and Throne of Glass with some bits of The Remnant Chronicles sprinkled over 😂 Clearly I am reading way too much fantasy lately.

i remembered a few more bits and then ChatGPT got it. It’s The Black Witch by Laurie Forest. I’m going to buy the next one in the series now.

Ah, thanks. I've had the whole series on my Amazon list for years but there was always one not available so I never bought any. I'll have another look at them now.

I did enjoy the first two, the first more than the second. I think it’s definitely worth trying the first and see what you think.

Thanks. I'll give it a go. It still seems to be difficult to get the full set though, unfortunately.