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An Arcane Inheritance
A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.
Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.
Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.
Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.
Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.
Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.
Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published December 30, 2025
336 people are currently reading
56770 people want to read
About the author
Kamilah Cole
6 books992 followersKamilah Cole is a national bestselling author who has been nominated for a Lodestar Award, a Lambda Award, and a Dragon Award. Jamaican-born and American-raised, she works in publishing by day and by night she writes like she’s running out of time. In the past, she’s also worked as a journalist and at a hotel, two jobs that give you amazing stories to tell at parties. You know, if she went to parties.
A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is currently based in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early Spongebob Squarepants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is currently based in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early Spongebob Squarepants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
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January 1, 2026
Anyone who offers me a dark academia, twisty mystery laced with paranormal events and my all-time favorite romance trope—enemies to lovers—has my full attention and immediate celebration mode activated!
This one is a heady mix: think A Deadly Education meets Katabasis, draped in Tim Burton’s Wednesday aesthetic (minus the outsiders, plus the wealthy elite), with a dash of a certain famous Christopher Nolan film’s energy. I can’t tell you which Nolan movie—it’s tied to the book’s biggest twist—but trust me, when you hit that final third, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The atmosphere is dark, tense, and deliciously intriguing, the storytelling a slow burn that still manages to pull you under almost immediately.
At first, we follow Ellory Morgan—a scholarship student, mostly solitary except for her loyal friends Tai and Cody—returning to Warren Academy after three years away caring for her ailing aunt. She’s immediately confronted by her academic arch-nemesis, Hudson Graves: rich, intimidating, maddeningly smart, and infuriating from their very first encounter. Life on campus unfolds with vivid details—her run-ins with her selfish roommate Stasie, her ambition to join the school newspaper (against her aunt’s wishes), and eerie flashes of déjà vu that make her question reality. She remembers places, events, even Hudson’s exact coffee order, despite never having learned it.
The turning point comes when she attends an exclusive dinner party as Hudson’s plus one—a chance to mingle with academic power players. But a strange reflection in the mirror and an unsettling handwriting discovery in a book confirm her suspicions: the bizarre events aren’t in her imagination. They’re real. And the only person who can help her? Hudson Graves.
Reluctant alliances form, complicated by her dating his ex-roommate Liam, and the mystery deepens. Eight student deaths have haunted Warren Academy over the years, and Ellory begins to suspect the anomalies she’s facing are connected. Solving this puzzle might be the only way to save herself—and those she loves—from a deadly fate.
I’ll be honest—the first half is a slow build, with the real fireworks arriving in the second half. But once the pace kicks in, the story takes wild, unexpected turns that hit you in the face and pull the rug out from under you. It’s twisty, surprising, and brilliantly wrapped up in a finale that left me both satisfied and impressed. I’m glad I kept reading—because when it finally takes off, it’s mind-blowing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this smart and gripping dark academia fantasy’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This one is a heady mix: think A Deadly Education meets Katabasis, draped in Tim Burton’s Wednesday aesthetic (minus the outsiders, plus the wealthy elite), with a dash of a certain famous Christopher Nolan film’s energy. I can’t tell you which Nolan movie—it’s tied to the book’s biggest twist—but trust me, when you hit that final third, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The atmosphere is dark, tense, and deliciously intriguing, the storytelling a slow burn that still manages to pull you under almost immediately.
At first, we follow Ellory Morgan—a scholarship student, mostly solitary except for her loyal friends Tai and Cody—returning to Warren Academy after three years away caring for her ailing aunt. She’s immediately confronted by her academic arch-nemesis, Hudson Graves: rich, intimidating, maddeningly smart, and infuriating from their very first encounter. Life on campus unfolds with vivid details—her run-ins with her selfish roommate Stasie, her ambition to join the school newspaper (against her aunt’s wishes), and eerie flashes of déjà vu that make her question reality. She remembers places, events, even Hudson’s exact coffee order, despite never having learned it.
The turning point comes when she attends an exclusive dinner party as Hudson’s plus one—a chance to mingle with academic power players. But a strange reflection in the mirror and an unsettling handwriting discovery in a book confirm her suspicions: the bizarre events aren’t in her imagination. They’re real. And the only person who can help her? Hudson Graves.
Reluctant alliances form, complicated by her dating his ex-roommate Liam, and the mystery deepens. Eight student deaths have haunted Warren Academy over the years, and Ellory begins to suspect the anomalies she’s facing are connected. Solving this puzzle might be the only way to save herself—and those she loves—from a deadly fate.
I’ll be honest—the first half is a slow build, with the real fireworks arriving in the second half. But once the pace kicks in, the story takes wild, unexpected turns that hit you in the face and pull the rug out from under you. It’s twisty, surprising, and brilliantly wrapped up in a finale that left me both satisfied and impressed. I’m glad I kept reading—because when it finally takes off, it’s mind-blowing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this smart and gripping dark academia fantasy’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Currently reading
December 23, 2025Closing out 2025 by answering the call of a fictional evil ivy elite institution that would probably try to kill me if it could, lol.
September 18, 2025
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
An Arcane Inheritance is a dark academia novel about Ellory and Hudson as they dive into the hidden world of secret societies at Warren University. The book is full of paranormal elements, like eerie rituals and conversations with ghosts, all wrapped up in the study of witchcraft and dark magic. With classes in occult studies, alchemy, and dark arts, the university is a place where forbidden knowledge comes at a price. As Ellory and Hudson dig deeper into the school’s secrets, a romance begins to bloom and the truth about Warren University might be even darker than they ever imagined.
The Review
• Doesn't feel original
> nothing new to the dark academia genre
> tone, themes and overall impression was that it was like any other dark academia book with nothing new to add like a new perspective, theme or idea
• Focused way too much on the romance
> all the mysterious tone from the blurb was barely there as the story was much more focused on the romance than it was advertised to be
> the romance felt extremely boring and like nothing special. It read like any other enemies to lovers romance (it was quite a cliché). I felt that this one felt a bit out of place sometimes though
Example 1: (since it's an unpublished copy of the book I will just state the scene than actually quoting it)
Ellory walks into the library (which by the way was named after the male lead) and Hudson tells her to study. Ellory then asks him why he would tell her as he wouldn't have something to gloat about and he simply just replies that he doesn't want to be better than her 'cause he is obviously better than her.
Example 2: The nickname for Hudson given by Ellory is ‘Encyclopedia Brown’.
• Pacing lacked a lot
> Took way longer than needed to actually get into the story
> there was no build-up or the like, so there wasn't really a reason to make the start so slow, which made it tiresome
> way too repetitive instead of focusing on new aspects to make the plot advance
> the ending didn't feel redeeming to the slow start
> story picks up at 33% (or 62%, depending on what one considers exciting enough to keep reading)
• Characters were all flat and read like most characters in other books
> I couldn't connect to any of them as they either acted cocky (Hudson Graves), were just a stereotypical female protagonist (Ellory Morgan) or anything else that felt like I wasn't able to love them as they had nothing unique to offer
• Advertised as new adult but reads like young adult
> These characters never behaved like they were starting to work in the work force in a couple of years, they acted like they were still in highschool
• The magic was never real magic
> while this book was supposed to have fantasy element like magic it was never really explained how it works. There was no system behind it, it just simply existed for the sake of it.
> 'cause of this, the atmosphere I usually love when reading or watching dark academia was failing too. The atmosphere might felt like dark academia at the start but left pretty soon as the focus was way too much on the romance than anything else
> it's paranormal magic. At first it sounds like something new to the dark academia genre, but there are in facts books and even a couple of tv shows that feature this. I definitely liked Sabrina and Wednesday more than Ellory as they had a real personality unlike Ellory who read like the standard female lead in a romance story
Final thoughts
I expected to read something new and fresh of the dark academia genre but instead it was a let-down. Not even a single aspect felt original which was really disappointing as I craved another dark academia read but not one that felt like a different one I already read where the characters had more personality and the beginning didn't start so slow.
If you never or just barely consumed anything by the dark academia genre you might like this one, especially if you like it if romance is in the focus as well as paranormal magic.
I personally wouldn't recommend this to anyone who already read and/or watched lots of dark academia like me as An Arcane Inheritance has nothing new to offer to the genre. It reads like a mash-up of many other media that has the dark academia atmosphere as well as themes centering around it. Unless, you aren't looking for something new, but just want to read something that is dark academia you might like this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy of An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole.
StoryGraph review
Started the book: 18. September 2025
Finished the book: 18. September 2025
Wrote the review: 18. September 2025
An Arcane Inheritance is a dark academia novel about Ellory and Hudson as they dive into the hidden world of secret societies at Warren University. The book is full of paranormal elements, like eerie rituals and conversations with ghosts, all wrapped up in the study of witchcraft and dark magic. With classes in occult studies, alchemy, and dark arts, the university is a place where forbidden knowledge comes at a price. As Ellory and Hudson dig deeper into the school’s secrets, a romance begins to bloom and the truth about Warren University might be even darker than they ever imagined.
The Review
• Doesn't feel original
> nothing new to the dark academia genre
> tone, themes and overall impression was that it was like any other dark academia book with nothing new to add like a new perspective, theme or idea
• Focused way too much on the romance
> all the mysterious tone from the blurb was barely there as the story was much more focused on the romance than it was advertised to be
> the romance felt extremely boring and like nothing special. It read like any other enemies to lovers romance (it was quite a cliché). I felt that this one felt a bit out of place sometimes though
Example 1: (since it's an unpublished copy of the book I will just state the scene than actually quoting it)
Ellory walks into the library (which by the way was named after the male lead) and Hudson tells her to study. Ellory then asks him why he would tell her as he wouldn't have something to gloat about and he simply just replies that he doesn't want to be better than her 'cause he is obviously better than her.
Example 2: The nickname for Hudson given by Ellory is ‘Encyclopedia Brown’.
• Pacing lacked a lot
> Took way longer than needed to actually get into the story
> there was no build-up or the like, so there wasn't really a reason to make the start so slow, which made it tiresome
> way too repetitive instead of focusing on new aspects to make the plot advance
> the ending didn't feel redeeming to the slow start
> story picks up at 33% (or 62%, depending on what one considers exciting enough to keep reading)
• Characters were all flat and read like most characters in other books
> I couldn't connect to any of them as they either acted cocky (Hudson Graves), were just a stereotypical female protagonist (Ellory Morgan) or anything else that felt like I wasn't able to love them as they had nothing unique to offer
• Advertised as new adult but reads like young adult
> These characters never behaved like they were starting to work in the work force in a couple of years, they acted like they were still in highschool
• The magic was never real magic
> while this book was supposed to have fantasy element like magic it was never really explained how it works. There was no system behind it, it just simply existed for the sake of it.
> 'cause of this, the atmosphere I usually love when reading or watching dark academia was failing too. The atmosphere might felt like dark academia at the start but left pretty soon as the focus was way too much on the romance than anything else
> it's paranormal magic. At first it sounds like something new to the dark academia genre, but there are in facts books and even a couple of tv shows that feature this. I definitely liked Sabrina and Wednesday more than Ellory as they had a real personality unlike Ellory who read like the standard female lead in a romance story
Final thoughts
I expected to read something new and fresh of the dark academia genre but instead it was a let-down. Not even a single aspect felt original which was really disappointing as I craved another dark academia read but not one that felt like a different one I already read where the characters had more personality and the beginning didn't start so slow.
If you never or just barely consumed anything by the dark academia genre you might like this one, especially if you like it if romance is in the focus as well as paranormal magic.
I personally wouldn't recommend this to anyone who already read and/or watched lots of dark academia like me as An Arcane Inheritance has nothing new to offer to the genre. It reads like a mash-up of many other media that has the dark academia atmosphere as well as themes centering around it. Unless, you aren't looking for something new, but just want to read something that is dark academia you might like this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy of An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole.
StoryGraph review
Started the book: 18. September 2025
Finished the book: 18. September 2025
Wrote the review: 18. September 2025
June 30, 2025
Hi everyone! An Arcane Inheritance is my Adult debut, and, as always, I am very proud of it. As early copies begin to make their way into the world, I hope you resonate with the story of Ellory Morgan, Hudson Graves, and the dangers and mysteries that unfold around them at Warren University.
This is a dark academia fantasy with horror, thriller, and romance elements, and it tackles the subject of the American Dream and higher education from the perspective of a first generation Jamaican-American immigrant. It also has college shenanigans, steamy kisses, and a queer cast.
All of that said, please read responsibly. You can find the content warnings below.
-racism, classicism, elitism (all challenged)
-allusions to death, corpses, burials
-anxiety and panic attacks (POV)
-closed-door sexual content
-violence
-attempted murder
-body horror
Thank you for your interest in my book <3
This is a dark academia fantasy with horror, thriller, and romance elements, and it tackles the subject of the American Dream and higher education from the perspective of a first generation Jamaican-American immigrant. It also has college shenanigans, steamy kisses, and a queer cast.
All of that said, please read responsibly. You can find the content warnings below.
-racism, classicism, elitism (all challenged)
-allusions to death, corpses, burials
-anxiety and panic attacks (POV)
-closed-door sexual content
-violence
-attempted murder
-body horror
Thank you for your interest in my book <3
July 27, 2025
I'm giving it 3.5 stars but that will change I'm almost sure, just give me the time to reread and I will bump it up to 5. I'll explain, don't worry.
It began a little slower than what I expected, the fact that I was confused for most of the first 20% didn't help. Then until I wanna say 50-55% I wasn't on board for it, a lot of it flew over my head I was truly not interested, I believe most of it is because this has magic and I didn't know what to do with that information. So before you start it maybe read the blurb? Or a review? Just don't go in blind but with high expectations for something this isn't(I'm an idiot, I know). But then it got GREAT, I'm talking new favorite book levels of great, a new level of dark academia great(and if you know me you know I don't joke about dark academia, it's my favorite thing). And then those last 15%? I couldn't look away, I'm out even sure I blinked.
This was genre defying, it has great writing and lovable(and hateable too!) characters. The plot is wild, and that's why I'm desperate to reread and fully grasp it.
We follow Ellory as she is admitted to this really exclusive, strange school and weird things start to happen. The ending will leave you shocked, just trust me.
This is one of those books you will remember your reaction, even if you forget the plot. I know I'm not explaining it at all but that's just because I need everyone to read it.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss for the ARC.
It began a little slower than what I expected, the fact that I was confused for most of the first 20% didn't help. Then until I wanna say 50-55% I wasn't on board for it, a lot of it flew over my head I was truly not interested, I believe most of it is because this has magic and I didn't know what to do with that information. So before you start it maybe read the blurb? Or a review? Just don't go in blind but with high expectations for something this isn't(I'm an idiot, I know). But then it got GREAT, I'm talking new favorite book levels of great, a new level of dark academia great(and if you know me you know I don't joke about dark academia, it's my favorite thing). And then those last 15%? I couldn't look away, I'm out even sure I blinked.
This was genre defying, it has great writing and lovable(and hateable too!) characters. The plot is wild, and that's why I'm desperate to reread and fully grasp it.
We follow Ellory as she is admitted to this really exclusive, strange school and weird things start to happen. The ending will leave you shocked, just trust me.
This is one of those books you will remember your reaction, even if you forget the plot. I know I'm not explaining it at all but that's just because I need everyone to read it.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss for the ARC.
November 27, 2025
Thank you netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this Earc in exchange for an honest review ♥️🎀.
I was kinda skeptical while reading this book because the reviews were not that great. Then I remembered that people have different opinions.💁🏾♀️
Maybe it's because I haven't read a lot of dark academia but this was veryyy enjoyable to me and the cover was also a plus.
Yes the start was a bit slow but I loved the way it gradually got better and better. The plot twist was unbelievable 😲. I was genuinely shocked I had to stare at the ceiling for a minute and that made me love this book even more.
I loved the mystery concept of this mixed with paranormal,the dark gothic vibes, the secret societies and the growing bond between Hudson and Ellory. The way the author built the suspense until the very ending where everything just clicks into place.🙌🏾
I think this would be good for people who are new to the dark academia genre,like me, because I have nothing to compare it to.🤷🏾♀️
I was kinda skeptical while reading this book because the reviews were not that great. Then I remembered that people have different opinions.💁🏾♀️
Maybe it's because I haven't read a lot of dark academia but this was veryyy enjoyable to me and the cover was also a plus.
Yes the start was a bit slow but I loved the way it gradually got better and better. The plot twist was unbelievable 😲. I was genuinely shocked I had to stare at the ceiling for a minute and that made me love this book even more.
I loved the mystery concept of this mixed with paranormal,the dark gothic vibes, the secret societies and the growing bond between Hudson and Ellory. The way the author built the suspense until the very ending where everything just clicks into place.🙌🏾
I think this would be good for people who are new to the dark academia genre,like me, because I have nothing to compare it to.🤷🏾♀️
December 6, 2025
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
╰› (⭐3.5)
⋆｡°✩ 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
okayyy this one had so much potential to be so cool, and it did end up meeting some of that potential...! right at the very end...! BUT, i really did like the main character and the vibes.
ALSO, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE POC AND LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION? I LOOOOVE IT ✨🤍
⋆｡°✩ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
the pacing of this book was pretty slow. i found it really difficult to stay engaged in the story, as the whole mystery didn't really hook me. the dark academia vibes were all there - the atmosphere and setting were great, but the plot had a bit of trouble delivering.
that 20% at the end was really enjoyable! it was action-packed and engaging, and it was what i expected the entire book to be like. unfortunately i found the other 80% was a bit slow - and while perfect for the vibes, it was a little jarring when everything just exploded into action.
⋆｡°✩ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯 ⭑.ᐟ ✨
THIS GIRL NEEDS A BREAK OMG 😭🙏 my poor girl ellory omg? she was just trying to live her life omg
i really did enjoy ellory's character. she was so dedicated to solving this mystery and bringing justice to the missing people. i loved how mature she was, especially regarding liam - especially at the end, i loved how she was so eager to continue to help out the people who had suffered before her. i also loved her dedication to her auntie's wellbeing and health. i really did admire her 🥹
𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 ⭑.ᐟ 🕯️
i was a little irritated by hudson a couple of times, and the push-and-pull bothered me a bit, with how hot-and-cold hudson tended to be. BUT, i did understand WHY he was like that towards the end.
SPEAKING OF THE END. omg. the way i wanna cry because WHYYY does it remind me of you've found oliver by dustin thao. I WANNA CRYYY HUDSONNN WHYYY 😭😭😭
⋆｡°✩ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
the writing style in this whole book was SO GOOD. it was descriptive and gorgeous and fit the dark academia vibe SOOOO well. it flowed very well, and i was consistently surprised by how well a sentence was structured, or by how amazingly a metaphor fit, or by how beautiful the writing was. 🥹💗
⋆｡°✩ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
overall, i'm happy i read this - i absolutely recommend it to people who enjoy dark academia! the last 20% of the book was my favourite part, and definitely worth reading for! the vibes were immaculate, and while the mystery was a little boring at first, the end was honestly really satisfying! 💌🤍
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ pre-read:
WOOOO i just got accepted for this one on Netgalley!! thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks, Inc for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
An Arcane Inheritance releases on December 30th!
╰› (⭐3.5)
⋆｡°✩ 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
okayyy this one had so much potential to be so cool, and it did end up meeting some of that potential...! right at the very end...! BUT, i really did like the main character and the vibes.
ALSO, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE POC AND LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION? I LOOOOVE IT ✨🤍
⋆｡°✩ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
the pacing of this book was pretty slow. i found it really difficult to stay engaged in the story, as the whole mystery didn't really hook me. the dark academia vibes were all there - the atmosphere and setting were great, but the plot had a bit of trouble delivering.
that 20% at the end was really enjoyable! it was action-packed and engaging, and it was what i expected the entire book to be like. unfortunately i found the other 80% was a bit slow - and while perfect for the vibes, it was a little jarring when everything just exploded into action.
⋆｡°✩ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯 ⭑.ᐟ ✨
THIS GIRL NEEDS A BREAK OMG 😭🙏 my poor girl ellory omg? she was just trying to live her life omg
i really did enjoy ellory's character. she was so dedicated to solving this mystery and bringing justice to the missing people. i loved how mature she was, especially regarding liam - especially at the end, i loved how she was so eager to continue to help out the people who had suffered before her. i also loved her dedication to her auntie's wellbeing and health. i really did admire her 🥹
𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 ⭑.ᐟ 🕯️
i was a little irritated by hudson a couple of times, and the push-and-pull bothered me a bit, with how hot-and-cold hudson tended to be. BUT, i did understand WHY he was like that towards the end.
SPEAKING OF THE END. omg. the way i wanna cry because WHYYY does it remind me of you've found oliver by dustin thao. I WANNA CRYYY HUDSONNN WHYYY 😭😭😭
⋆｡°✩ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
the writing style in this whole book was SO GOOD. it was descriptive and gorgeous and fit the dark academia vibe SOOOO well. it flowed very well, and i was consistently surprised by how well a sentence was structured, or by how amazingly a metaphor fit, or by how beautiful the writing was. 🥹💗
⋆｡°✩ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
overall, i'm happy i read this - i absolutely recommend it to people who enjoy dark academia! the last 20% of the book was my favourite part, and definitely worth reading for! the vibes were immaculate, and while the mystery was a little boring at first, the end was honestly really satisfying! 💌🤍
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ pre-read:
WOOOO i just got accepted for this one on Netgalley!! thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks, Inc for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
An Arcane Inheritance releases on December 30th!
August 14, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up to 4
An Arcane Inheritance is the kind of slow-burn, paranormal mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The writing is atmospheric and gripping, with lovely prose, perfectly suiting the modern, dark academia setting.
The story follows Ellory Morgan, our 21 year old freshman in her first year at Warren University, a mysterious and haunted Ivy League school. Even though it’s Ellory’s first year on campus, she’s overwhelmed by an intense sense of déjà vu and the feeling that she’s been here before. When Ellory suspects that magic may be at play, she partners with her academic rival, Hudson Graves, to uncover the truth; but to understand the present, they must first unravel secrets of the past. As the story progresses and the suspense builds, Ellory discovers the deception goes deeper than she could have ever imagined, making it impossible to know who to trust.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for dark academia lovers and those looking for BIPOC representation in the fantasy genre. While I found the plot and mystery to be interesting, it was slow-moving and began to drag a bit in the middle. The story doesn’t fully take off until around the 80% mark, but when it does, it’s unputdownable.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
An Arcane Inheritance is the kind of slow-burn, paranormal mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The writing is atmospheric and gripping, with lovely prose, perfectly suiting the modern, dark academia setting.
The story follows Ellory Morgan, our 21 year old freshman in her first year at Warren University, a mysterious and haunted Ivy League school. Even though it’s Ellory’s first year on campus, she’s overwhelmed by an intense sense of déjà vu and the feeling that she’s been here before. When Ellory suspects that magic may be at play, she partners with her academic rival, Hudson Graves, to uncover the truth; but to understand the present, they must first unravel secrets of the past. As the story progresses and the suspense builds, Ellory discovers the deception goes deeper than she could have ever imagined, making it impossible to know who to trust.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for dark academia lovers and those looking for BIPOC representation in the fantasy genre. While I found the plot and mystery to be interesting, it was slow-moving and began to drag a bit in the middle. The story doesn’t fully take off until around the 80% mark, but when it does, it’s unputdownable.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 / 5 Stars
This one is kind of a vibe rating – I enjoyed reading this even though it was slower than I usually like and the ending was a bit rushed and confusing. But you know, what? I still liked it a lot. I feel like the synopsis kind of reveals some of the plot twists so here is mine: Ellory has always had to work twice as hard to get half as far: having moved to Jamaica at a young age, she has lived with her aunt and has always been a great student. But no universities offered her financial aid, so she took time off to work. One day, she gets a mysterious acceptance letter from Warren University (the ninth Ivy League) telling her that she has received a prestigious scholarship. As she starts her Freshman year, she butts heads with Hudson Graves, a legacy student (the library is named after his family), but he is hot (of course) so there are some feelings there. As she works hard to fit in and succeed, weird stuff keeps happening to her – she’s seeing things that aren’t there, is able to do things that can’t be explained, and has deja vu for things that haven’t happened. Ellory has to rely on Hudson and herself to solve the mystery.
You will probably like this book if you like:
📕 Dark academia mixed with fantasy and romance
📓 Ivy league gothic setting with secret societies
📕 Exploration of being Black in exclusive spaces
📓 Academic rivals to lovers
📕 Bisexual FMC and MMC (and lots of LBGTQ+ rep throughout)
📓 A love triangle
📕 Low spice and not graphic
I really loved Ellory. Kamilah Cole wrote about Elllory’s experience as an immigrant student in such a detailed and layered way. Ellory was balancing not fitting in, different cultural experiences, different expectations in what was allowed (a career in journalism is a no), and familial expectations. Ellory also experienced racism in all of its aspects as a Black student in a predominantly white university. There were microaggressions, casual racism, overt racism, bullying, and how BIPOC students have to navigate all of this. It wasn’t done in a didactic way but it wasn’t shied away from either.
This has two of my favorite romance tropes: academic rivals to lovers and a love triangle. I love academic rivals because at the base of their feelings, they really respect each other no matter how much they antagonize each other. It is just chef’s kiss. And the love triangle isn’t super prominent but it was there and I love it. The development of Hudson and Ellory’s relationship was very slow (this is in fact a slow, slow burn) but that made it more satisfying. Also if you are looking for a book with low spice that is not fade to black but is not graphic, this will be your jam. It reads new adult to me, sometimes leaning into young adult, but I didn’t mind.
Everything in the book was kind of a slow burn. The world building was a slow simmer. The reveals were done slowly. The fantasy elements were revealed slowly. Usually, I am the most impatient person in the world but I kind of liked it here. Don’t ask - I don’t recognize myself either. But know going in that it will be slow for a while.
Because the first 85% was on the slower side, the ending moved quickly and because of that, I found it a tad confusing. When everything was revealed, I felt a little like a dummy who needed everything repeated to me at least three times. How exactly does the magic work? Where are we in time and space? Doing X causes Y how? I usually think I am pretty good at picking things up but it felt like a bit of an info dump at the end and I would have liked to have time to breathe to really process everything that was happening.
Even still, the vibes were generally good with this one and I enjoyed getting to dive into dark academia for the first time!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: December 30, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I think I’ve never actually read dark academia. I’m not sure how that’s possible but we’re doing it now.
This one is kind of a vibe rating – I enjoyed reading this even though it was slower than I usually like and the ending was a bit rushed and confusing. But you know, what? I still liked it a lot. I feel like the synopsis kind of reveals some of the plot twists so here is mine: Ellory has always had to work twice as hard to get half as far: having moved to Jamaica at a young age, she has lived with her aunt and has always been a great student. But no universities offered her financial aid, so she took time off to work. One day, she gets a mysterious acceptance letter from Warren University (the ninth Ivy League) telling her that she has received a prestigious scholarship. As she starts her Freshman year, she butts heads with Hudson Graves, a legacy student (the library is named after his family), but he is hot (of course) so there are some feelings there. As she works hard to fit in and succeed, weird stuff keeps happening to her – she’s seeing things that aren’t there, is able to do things that can’t be explained, and has deja vu for things that haven’t happened. Ellory has to rely on Hudson and herself to solve the mystery.
You will probably like this book if you like:
📕 Dark academia mixed with fantasy and romance
📓 Ivy league gothic setting with secret societies
📕 Exploration of being Black in exclusive spaces
📓 Academic rivals to lovers
📕 Bisexual FMC and MMC (and lots of LBGTQ+ rep throughout)
📓 A love triangle
📕 Low spice and not graphic
I really loved Ellory. Kamilah Cole wrote about Elllory’s experience as an immigrant student in such a detailed and layered way. Ellory was balancing not fitting in, different cultural experiences, different expectations in what was allowed (a career in journalism is a no), and familial expectations. Ellory also experienced racism in all of its aspects as a Black student in a predominantly white university. There were microaggressions, casual racism, overt racism, bullying, and how BIPOC students have to navigate all of this. It wasn’t done in a didactic way but it wasn’t shied away from either.
This has two of my favorite romance tropes: academic rivals to lovers and a love triangle. I love academic rivals because at the base of their feelings, they really respect each other no matter how much they antagonize each other. It is just chef’s kiss. And the love triangle isn’t super prominent but it was there and I love it. The development of Hudson and Ellory’s relationship was very slow (this is in fact a slow, slow burn) but that made it more satisfying. Also if you are looking for a book with low spice that is not fade to black but is not graphic, this will be your jam. It reads new adult to me, sometimes leaning into young adult, but I didn’t mind.
Everything in the book was kind of a slow burn. The world building was a slow simmer. The reveals were done slowly. The fantasy elements were revealed slowly. Usually, I am the most impatient person in the world but I kind of liked it here. Don’t ask - I don’t recognize myself either. But know going in that it will be slow for a while.
Because the first 85% was on the slower side, the ending moved quickly and because of that, I found it a tad confusing. When everything was revealed, I felt a little like a dummy who needed everything repeated to me at least three times. How exactly does the magic work? Where are we in time and space? Doing X causes Y how? I usually think I am pretty good at picking things up but it felt like a bit of an info dump at the end and I would have liked to have time to breathe to really process everything that was happening.
Even still, the vibes were generally good with this one and I enjoyed getting to dive into dark academia for the first time!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: December 30, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I think I’ve never actually read dark academia. I’m not sure how that’s possible but we’re doing it now.
October 7, 2025
thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an arc in exchange for a honest review.
this was... something else honestly. maybe better words for it at some point as i'm always going back and changing my reviews the longer i think about a book — especially if it sticks with me.
i was struggling through this book at certain points, the writing was hard along with the world-building — but that's the point of this novel. you do not understand the entire plot until the end. you have bits and pieces to tie it together, but you do not have the full story until you finish.
i did consider dnf'ing at different times due to the choices that were made by the fmc and how chaotic and erratic she was, to then some parts felt like they dragged or certain chapters did not even make sense. i at first thought Liam was such a pointless character and could not understand his placement until it JUST MADE SENSE.
i definitely will tell anyone — it's good, it's a rough read but it's good.
this was... something else honestly. maybe better words for it at some point as i'm always going back and changing my reviews the longer i think about a book — especially if it sticks with me.
i was struggling through this book at certain points, the writing was hard along with the world-building — but that's the point of this novel. you do not understand the entire plot until the end. you have bits and pieces to tie it together, but you do not have the full story until you finish.
i did consider dnf'ing at different times due to the choices that were made by the fmc and how chaotic and erratic she was, to then some parts felt like they dragged or certain chapters did not even make sense. i at first thought Liam was such a pointless character and could not understand his placement until it JUST MADE SENSE.
i definitely will tell anyone — it's good, it's a rough read but it's good.
December 24, 2025
A long, long buildup to a familiar plot twist. Kamilah Cole can write a good romance, and I appreciate how even Ellory’s allies aren’t safe from the consequences of their actions, but An Arcane Inheritance has its weaknesses.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
October 4, 2023
REMEMBER to read this book because it will change ur life
January 6, 2026
4.0 ★— I had a really good time with this!
An Arcane Inheritance does a great job building an intriguing atmosphere and planting small hints of mystery right from the beginning that had me theorizing as I followed Ellory Morgan settling into college life.
A lot of the story centers on the pressure Ellory feels as a Jamaican woman who’s been sent to America for her education. I thought the author did an amazing job portraying the weight of duty she feels toward her family, especially the expectation to study something “useful” that will lead to financial stability, contrasted with her actual passions and hopes for the future.
The book’s MMC, Hudson Graves, works as a perfect foil to her. Like Ellory, he’s Black, but as he comes from a wealthy legacy family, the kind with money donated to the college and buildings named after them, there’s a natural imbalance between them. An imbalance that makes sure that the only real even playing field between them is academics, where they regularly compete.
I enjoyed how the author managed to naturally grow trust between them, and that their relationship truly felt like it stood on a bedrock of shared moments and them actually slowly opening up to each other and communicating.
Both Ellory and Hudson are queer, and along with other queer supporting characters present in the story, I truly appreciated how queer-normative it all felt, showing up organically through exes and past relationships rather than being treated as something that needs extra explanation or spotlighting.
Where the book lost me a bit was in how the story wrapped up. So much intrigue and anticipation is built around Ellory’s strange visions and the unsettling things she encounters that the conclusion of it all felt very abruptly delivered. It shattered some of the lovely momentum that had been built and took me out of the mysterious atmosphere that had been so carefully set up. I would’ve loved a more drawn-out ending, more time with the twists that are introduced, and generally more space to sit with the many characters the book brings in.
I almost think that this story might have benefited from being a duology. With more breathing room to fully establish the world and its rules, the very interesting ending could have been fleshed out more and landed with greater impact.
Though I do have to say that this was still a really solid story for me overall! And as someone for whom dark academia is absolute catnip, I really appreciated getting to read one with a Black heroine and love interest at the center!
_______________
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
An Arcane Inheritance does a great job building an intriguing atmosphere and planting small hints of mystery right from the beginning that had me theorizing as I followed Ellory Morgan settling into college life.
A lot of the story centers on the pressure Ellory feels as a Jamaican woman who’s been sent to America for her education. I thought the author did an amazing job portraying the weight of duty she feels toward her family, especially the expectation to study something “useful” that will lead to financial stability, contrasted with her actual passions and hopes for the future.
The book’s MMC, Hudson Graves, works as a perfect foil to her. Like Ellory, he’s Black, but as he comes from a wealthy legacy family, the kind with money donated to the college and buildings named after them, there’s a natural imbalance between them. An imbalance that makes sure that the only real even playing field between them is academics, where they regularly compete.
I enjoyed how the author managed to naturally grow trust between them, and that their relationship truly felt like it stood on a bedrock of shared moments and them actually slowly opening up to each other and communicating.
Both Ellory and Hudson are queer, and along with other queer supporting characters present in the story, I truly appreciated how queer-normative it all felt, showing up organically through exes and past relationships rather than being treated as something that needs extra explanation or spotlighting.
Where the book lost me a bit was in how the story wrapped up. So much intrigue and anticipation is built around Ellory’s strange visions and the unsettling things she encounters that the conclusion of it all felt very abruptly delivered. It shattered some of the lovely momentum that had been built and took me out of the mysterious atmosphere that had been so carefully set up. I would’ve loved a more drawn-out ending, more time with the twists that are introduced, and generally more space to sit with the many characters the book brings in.
I almost think that this story might have benefited from being a duology. With more breathing room to fully establish the world and its rules, the very interesting ending could have been fleshed out more and landed with greater impact.
Though I do have to say that this was still a really solid story for me overall! And as someone for whom dark academia is absolute catnip, I really appreciated getting to read one with a Black heroine and love interest at the center!
_______________
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
October 19, 2025
Right now, the top review for my personal favorite romance of 2025 is a miserly two lines for two stars. I hope this review doesn’t get anywhere close to the top of the book page (feel free to skip the like)—but the point is, different people like different books. And honestly, the fact that I made it to the end at all, despite immediate misgivings, is a point in this book’s favor.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a sentence like: “He smelled like bergamot and shea butter, sharp citrus and smoky earth, like the cinnamon of his drink and the dew of the early morning,” (subject to change, since I read an arc, but honestly I had my pick of examples here). Sure, I might roll my eyes, but I’m not going to let a couple dewy metaphors slow me down, and clearly plenty of readers enjoy this kind of thing. For me, the problem isn’t what this kind of language does, but what it doesn’t do. Smelling like earl grey isn’t a character trait, and in the end, no one in this novel but Ellory felt at all real to me.
In much the same way, beneath its unnerving surface, Warren University didn’t feel like a real college, enchanted or otherwise. The pieces didn’t add up. To take one very minor example, Warren was founded in 1954—it comes up multiple times—but the novel doesn’t seem to have any particular idea about why that might matter, what it might actually mean for an institution to have been founded in the mid-20th century, as opposed to, say, 1760, or 1890. I never really bought into Warren as an elite American university, just as I never really bought into Stasie as the naive, entitled roommate, or Hudson as an actual sexy asshole.
There’s a solid story here—the last third really does pick up—along with some genuinely atmospheric writing and undeniably powerful themes. But at least for me, there were too many little moments, details, observations, lines, reactions that either rang false, or else didn’t really ring at all.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a sentence like: “He smelled like bergamot and shea butter, sharp citrus and smoky earth, like the cinnamon of his drink and the dew of the early morning,” (subject to change, since I read an arc, but honestly I had my pick of examples here). Sure, I might roll my eyes, but I’m not going to let a couple dewy metaphors slow me down, and clearly plenty of readers enjoy this kind of thing. For me, the problem isn’t what this kind of language does, but what it doesn’t do. Smelling like earl grey isn’t a character trait, and in the end, no one in this novel but Ellory felt at all real to me.
In much the same way, beneath its unnerving surface, Warren University didn’t feel like a real college, enchanted or otherwise. The pieces didn’t add up. To take one very minor example, Warren was founded in 1954—it comes up multiple times—but the novel doesn’t seem to have any particular idea about why that might matter, what it might actually mean for an institution to have been founded in the mid-20th century, as opposed to, say, 1760, or 1890. I never really bought into Warren as an elite American university, just as I never really bought into Stasie as the naive, entitled roommate, or Hudson as an actual sexy asshole.
There’s a solid story here—the last third really does pick up—along with some genuinely atmospheric writing and undeniably powerful themes. But at least for me, there were too many little moments, details, observations, lines, reactions that either rang false, or else didn’t really ring at all.
Currently reading
November 4, 2025I GOT THE ARC AND IVE READ A LITTLE AND ITS SOOOO GOOD SO FAR
September 15, 2025
I loved the writing and the overall storytelling.
But here comes the “but”:
The story felt more like YA than New Adult to me, which I usually don’t enjoy. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially the MFC.
The slow plot didn’t help either, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the mysteries of a fantasy world rather than the details of a college curriculum.
Overall, I truly think this book will find its place among YA readers and those who enjoy a well-written slow burn.
But here comes the “but”:
The story felt more like YA than New Adult to me, which I usually don’t enjoy. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially the MFC.
The slow plot didn’t help either, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the mysteries of a fantasy world rather than the details of a college curriculum.
Overall, I truly think this book will find its place among YA readers and those who enjoy a well-written slow burn.
January 5, 2026
An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
Book Blurb: Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.
Rating: *****
Feels: Mystery, Curiosity, Tension, Intrigue
Style: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Adult, Fiction
First published December 30, 2025: 432 pages
I was more than pleasantly surprised by how this story pulled me in and enthralled me with its dark whimsical academia mystery vibes. Ellory at times expressed so much tension or feeling on the page that it transcended vividly in the reading. I loved the sense of wonder, exploration and mystery throughout the story. There was definitely some high stakes moments that had me at the edge of my seat while reading and I loved the dark vibes from some of those moments. I don’t like to do spoilers so will just say also that some truly sweet moments are sprinkled throughout and I did tear up at one point. Over all I think I may have gotten emotionally attached to these characters and loved this story.
Favorite Quote: Hudson Graves was rude and superior. He ran lava hot and tundra cold. His mind and tongue were weapons, and he often made her feel incensed that she wanted to throttle him. And none of it, not one substantial personality flaw, mattered when she was with him. All she wanted was to be the focus of his severe attention.
This book has:
Dark Academia
Memory Magic
Bi FMC X BI MMC
Ivy League Gothic
Lower Spice
Secret Societies
Found Family
Book Blurb: Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.
Rating: *****
Feels: Mystery, Curiosity, Tension, Intrigue
Style: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Adult, Fiction
First published December 30, 2025: 432 pages
I was more than pleasantly surprised by how this story pulled me in and enthralled me with its dark whimsical academia mystery vibes. Ellory at times expressed so much tension or feeling on the page that it transcended vividly in the reading. I loved the sense of wonder, exploration and mystery throughout the story. There was definitely some high stakes moments that had me at the edge of my seat while reading and I loved the dark vibes from some of those moments. I don’t like to do spoilers so will just say also that some truly sweet moments are sprinkled throughout and I did tear up at one point. Over all I think I may have gotten emotionally attached to these characters and loved this story.
Favorite Quote: Hudson Graves was rude and superior. He ran lava hot and tundra cold. His mind and tongue were weapons, and he often made her feel incensed that she wanted to throttle him. And none of it, not one substantial personality flaw, mattered when she was with him. All she wanted was to be the focus of his severe attention.
This book has:
Dark Academia
Memory Magic
Bi FMC X BI MMC
Ivy League Gothic
Lower Spice
Secret Societies
Found Family
November 17, 2025
So much happened, and also somehow not much at all.
An Arcane Inheritance promised all my favorite things - dark academia, secret societies, magic. And it delivered on all these things too, but really late, and each one was kind of weak. By the time the plot picked up in the back half, I was struggling to stay invested. It also sometimes reads like a fanfiction - no hate on that, just an observation.
Overall, this was fine and a good fall read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. 3/5
An Arcane Inheritance promised all my favorite things - dark academia, secret societies, magic. And it delivered on all these things too, but really late, and each one was kind of weak. By the time the plot picked up in the back half, I was struggling to stay invested. It also sometimes reads like a fanfiction - no hate on that, just an observation.
Overall, this was fine and a good fall read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. 3/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*⋆ 🎀 Arcane Inheritance 🎀 ⋆* ~ 4.5 out of 5 ★!
Release Date: December 30th, 2025!!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to give a review for this ARC, and thank you, Kamilah Cole, for bringing this dark academia piece to life!!
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Genres ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Dark Academia
╚»★ Horror
╚»★ Fantasy
╚»★ Mystery
╚»★ A splash of romance
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Plot ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Two academic weapon loners meet each other and become academic rivals at an Ivy League. Magical ain’t it teehee? And the main crew of the story are all mainly down-to-earth, despite the fact that most of them come from old money (aka generational wealth.)
╚»★ Both of the main characters are unbearably stubborn in their ways, but they both deeply care and look out for one another, so kudos to their “secret” ahem affection.
╚»★ The mystery element was quite well executed - we were not sure where the story would take place in some portions of the book. Also there were some personal surprises for me, as I expected some characters to have more lore or motivations, but that did not come to fruition. Like I was expecting more from Liam, as well as from Stasie. But in the end, it might be in good spirits that there was nothing else to these two in the story, though there definitely was potential.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Thoughts ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Amazing LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation!! The author included diversity effortlessly, which was quite refreshing, as diversity did NOT seem like it was included as an afterthought.
╚»★ With consideration to the main lead couple, I wish their romance was a bit further explored in the story. Yes romance is not one of the main genres for this book, but I feel like we could have got more content with them actually being in love instead of one chasing the other.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Characters ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Ellory Morgan ~ this bisexual diva was a lovely fmc! Yes, she was stubborn to the point that you wanted to throw a book at her head, but that being said, she was determined and driven in her ways. She was skeptical towards others, rightfully so, given the genre. She did not hesitate much when it came to showing or telling people how she felt (well maybe not Auntie Carol… but shh). Overall - a badass diva who had quite the strife to succeed in her and did not shy away from any challenges, and that is commendable. (DID I FORGET TO SAY THAT SHE IS GORGEOUS)
╚»★ Hudson Graves ~ an educated bisexual man, who loves sarcasm and keeps to himself. Lowkey, both him and Ellory, were loners in their own right, but they were loners who found each other (which is really cutesy teehee). He was a fashionable king.
╚»★ Liam Blackwood ~ he was a sweetie pie cutie. Another bisexual king right here. He was more of the popular kid type, but he was not a snob about it. He knew his charm and used it, but was gentle and kind towards others while doing so. Also gave lovelorn vibes… Golden retriever puppy, not my type per se, but had a lot of charm!
╚»★ Boone Priestley ~ holy hotness…. A sarcastic doberman man with tattoos. So where do I..? Ahem.. find them? Buy one? Get one? Oh! Uhm you know in legal ways.. And he knows how to write!! Rahhh come here. So, we did not get to see much of him in the book, but he seemed really cool and someone I would totally talk to irl.
╚»★ Tai & Cody ~ Ellory’s best friends! These two are in a healthy relationship, which was adorable to see in the midst of the uncertainty throughout the plot of this book. Both of them were approachable, understanding on a whole other level, and supported our fmc diva, regardless of what antics she got herself into.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Music ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ The Night We Met by Lord Huron
╚»★ Infinity by Jaymes Young
╚»★ Если сгорим by NЮ
╚»★ Play with Fire by Sam Tinnesz
╚»★ Horizon of Memories by Eternal Eclipse
╚»★ Money, Money, Money by ABBA
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Final Thoughts ★·.·´¯`·.·★
This book most certainly held up to its comparisons with other literary works such as Babel by R.F. Kuang. Both of these pieces were immaculate in their ability to bring out the theme of dark academia, so I totally recommend the read to anyone who likes dark academia, mystery, the paranormal, and some horror elements!
Release Date: December 30th, 2025!!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to give a review for this ARC, and thank you, Kamilah Cole, for bringing this dark academia piece to life!!
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Genres ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Dark Academia
╚»★ Horror
╚»★ Fantasy
╚»★ Mystery
╚»★ A splash of romance
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Plot ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Two academic weapon loners meet each other and become academic rivals at an Ivy League. Magical ain’t it teehee? And the main crew of the story are all mainly down-to-earth, despite the fact that most of them come from old money (aka generational wealth.)
╚»★ Both of the main characters are unbearably stubborn in their ways, but they both deeply care and look out for one another, so kudos to their “secret” ahem affection.
╚»★ The mystery element was quite well executed - we were not sure where the story would take place in some portions of the book. Also there were some personal surprises for me, as I expected some characters to have more lore or motivations, but that did not come to fruition. Like I was expecting more from Liam, as well as from Stasie. But in the end, it might be in good spirits that there was nothing else to these two in the story, though there definitely was potential.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Thoughts ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Amazing LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation!! The author included diversity effortlessly, which was quite refreshing, as diversity did NOT seem like it was included as an afterthought.
╚»★ With consideration to the main lead couple, I wish their romance was a bit further explored in the story. Yes romance is not one of the main genres for this book, but I feel like we could have got more content with them actually being in love instead of one chasing the other.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Characters ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ Ellory Morgan ~ this bisexual diva was a lovely fmc! Yes, she was stubborn to the point that you wanted to throw a book at her head, but that being said, she was determined and driven in her ways. She was skeptical towards others, rightfully so, given the genre. She did not hesitate much when it came to showing or telling people how she felt (well maybe not Auntie Carol… but shh). Overall - a badass diva who had quite the strife to succeed in her and did not shy away from any challenges, and that is commendable. (DID I FORGET TO SAY THAT SHE IS GORGEOUS)
╚»★ Hudson Graves ~ an educated bisexual man, who loves sarcasm and keeps to himself. Lowkey, both him and Ellory, were loners in their own right, but they were loners who found each other (which is really cutesy teehee). He was a fashionable king.
╚»★ Liam Blackwood ~ he was a sweetie pie cutie. Another bisexual king right here. He was more of the popular kid type, but he was not a snob about it. He knew his charm and used it, but was gentle and kind towards others while doing so. Also gave lovelorn vibes… Golden retriever puppy, not my type per se, but had a lot of charm!
╚»★ Boone Priestley ~ holy hotness…. A sarcastic doberman man with tattoos. So where do I..? Ahem.. find them? Buy one? Get one? Oh! Uhm you know in legal ways.. And he knows how to write!! Rahhh come here. So, we did not get to see much of him in the book, but he seemed really cool and someone I would totally talk to irl.
╚»★ Tai & Cody ~ Ellory’s best friends! These two are in a healthy relationship, which was adorable to see in the midst of the uncertainty throughout the plot of this book. Both of them were approachable, understanding on a whole other level, and supported our fmc diva, regardless of what antics she got herself into.
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Music ★·.·´¯`·.·★
╚»★ The Night We Met by Lord Huron
╚»★ Infinity by Jaymes Young
╚»★ Если сгорим by NЮ
╚»★ Play with Fire by Sam Tinnesz
╚»★ Horizon of Memories by Eternal Eclipse
╚»★ Money, Money, Money by ABBA
★·.·´¯`·.·★ Final Thoughts ★·.·´¯`·.·★
This book most certainly held up to its comparisons with other literary works such as Babel by R.F. Kuang. Both of these pieces were immaculate in their ability to bring out the theme of dark academia, so I totally recommend the read to anyone who likes dark academia, mystery, the paranormal, and some horror elements!
May 11, 2025
A stunning meditation about what it means to belong within institutions built on foundations of exclusion. An Arcane Inheritance blends the occult and dark academia in a riveting narrative while also questioning what it means to be remembered—and who is or isn’t given that privilege.
January 6, 2026
A paranormal mystery and slow burn romance in a delicious dark academia setting 🖤
I almost devoured this book 🤣
The tone and aesthetics were reminiscent of Ninth House but with themes closer to Babel and Blood over Bright Haven.
It was delightful to read about black characters written by a black author. In this case our main character is a Jamaican immigrant in the US, and I thought the author did an excellent job presenting the world through her eyes and immersing the reader in that experience. In particular since not unlike Babel, the themes of inequality and race are very much ingrained into the plot.
The plot itself appears to advance very slowly, with more emphasis in the back and forth of the relationship drama than the mystery, but I actually really enjoyed the pace and as the story begins to wrap up everything gradually made sense.
There are narrative choices that at first seemed a bit odd to me, but there’s a reason for those that becomes clear as the story progresses
Personally the explanation of the mystery wasn’t my favorite trope, but I can’t deny it was really well done and I applaud the author for getting away with it.
The rivals to reluctant allies to something else 🤭 had me head over heels!! it made me feel the same way the beginning of Divine Rivals did 😍
I was a bit confused about the hot and cold nature of the main characters relationship and I think that’s the only aspect that dragged a bit for my taste.
Overall this was a compelling read that I couldn’t put down. I'm very interested in reading more of this author's work!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing an eARC
I almost devoured this book 🤣
The tone and aesthetics were reminiscent of Ninth House but with themes closer to Babel and Blood over Bright Haven.
It was delightful to read about black characters written by a black author. In this case our main character is a Jamaican immigrant in the US, and I thought the author did an excellent job presenting the world through her eyes and immersing the reader in that experience. In particular since not unlike Babel, the themes of inequality and race are very much ingrained into the plot.
The plot itself appears to advance very slowly, with more emphasis in the back and forth of the relationship drama than the mystery, but I actually really enjoyed the pace and as the story begins to wrap up everything gradually made sense.
There are narrative choices that at first seemed a bit odd to me, but there’s a reason for those that becomes clear as the story progresses
Personally the explanation of the mystery wasn’t my favorite trope, but I can’t deny it was really well done and I applaud the author for getting away with it.
The rivals to reluctant allies to something else 🤭 had me head over heels!! it made me feel the same way the beginning of Divine Rivals did 😍
I was a bit confused about the hot and cold nature of the main characters relationship and I think that’s the only aspect that dragged a bit for my taste.
Overall this was a compelling read that I couldn’t put down. I'm very interested in reading more of this author's work!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing an eARC
November 22, 2025
This felt more lite romantasy than fantasy with romance, but despite that, I didn't really hate it?
It was a lot more older YA or NA than I thought it'd be. I was hoping for something more mature, but then again, the characters were all undergrads. And they definitely acted like it.
The first half of the book was weirdly Dramione coded (he even has dyed blond hair AND comes from a rich and established family) and I wasn't a huge fan at all. The FMC absolutely hated him and it made all of their interactions feel so cringe and juvenile. They had an academic rivalry going on which made absolutely no sense because it was one-sided.
But unlike Dramione, at least he wasn't racist. It's the little things.
I did like the slightly older college student rep and the FMC's experiences with being Black at an elite university. This was the one big reason why I didn't give this a lower rating. I felt seen as a former late bloomer in undergrad and a brown woman who went to a PWI.
The climax and ending leaned so heavily on Marvel vibes and I think this could be a love it or hate it situation. It was like a Dr. Strange/Scarlet Witch/Loki comic book or movie/TV series. And as corny as it sounds, I didn't outright hate it. I love that cheesy magic shit. It was all so extra.
This entire novel was too silly for me to take its themes seriously (racism, elitism, nepotism, etc.), but it was a quick read and I had fun with how ridiculous it was.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this arc.
It was a lot more older YA or NA than I thought it'd be. I was hoping for something more mature, but then again, the characters were all undergrads. And they definitely acted like it.
The first half of the book was weirdly Dramione coded (he even has dyed blond hair AND comes from a rich and established family) and I wasn't a huge fan at all. The FMC absolutely hated him and it made all of their interactions feel so cringe and juvenile. They had an academic rivalry going on which made absolutely no sense because it was one-sided.
But unlike Dramione, at least he wasn't racist. It's the little things.
I did like the slightly older college student rep and the FMC's experiences with being Black at an elite university. This was the one big reason why I didn't give this a lower rating. I felt seen as a former late bloomer in undergrad and a brown woman who went to a PWI.
The climax and ending leaned so heavily on Marvel vibes and I think this could be a love it or hate it situation. It was like a Dr. Strange/Scarlet Witch/Loki comic book or movie/TV series. And as corny as it sounds, I didn't outright hate it. I love that cheesy magic shit. It was all so extra.
This entire novel was too silly for me to take its themes seriously (racism, elitism, nepotism, etc.), but it was a quick read and I had fun with how ridiculous it was.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this arc.
November 28, 2025
I am such a sucker for paranormal plots. Add magic, mystery, and dark academia and a rabid herd of dinosaurs could not tear me away. This book delivered on so many points, I am just stunned.
Warren University was the last school to be admitted to the Ivy League back in the 50s. But it didn’t start out as an Ivy hopefully. Warren University was named for Lorraine and Ed Warren, of the famed New England Society of Psychic Research and its purpose wasn’t just higher education, it was arcane education, the School for the Unseen Arts. I love the way Kamilah Cole borrowed from the real legacy of the Warrens to build this world. The magic system was familiar yet completely new. The idea of magic at the cost of memory was profound, especially if that memory is longer than your lifetime
This book is riddled with ghosts, alchemy, magic, and paranormal mystery. Our protagonist Ellory (took me forever to stop calling her Elroy in my head, but I got there) feels the undercurrent of wrongness that’s built on top of this now prestigious institution and is determined to understand why she’s been drawn to it. What she finds will change her entire worldview.
There’s clues and strangeness everywhere, and the pace is breakneck. Non-stop action that you can’t help but be drawn in and want to follow the trail to the end. Kamilah Cole does an incredible job weaving in the paranormal with the societal pressures that come from being surrounded by privilege and being the only one like you in the room. Cole is a gifted author and frankly I’m surprised this hasn’t been rated higher than it is. (I am starting to wonder if we read the same book, because pacing and romance was not an issue. But you do you, boo.)
An Arcane Inheritance is available on Dec 30. If you need a little spooky to start your new year, I highly recommend picking up this one.
Huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
Warren University was the last school to be admitted to the Ivy League back in the 50s. But it didn’t start out as an Ivy hopefully. Warren University was named for Lorraine and Ed Warren, of the famed New England Society of Psychic Research and its purpose wasn’t just higher education, it was arcane education, the School for the Unseen Arts. I love the way Kamilah Cole borrowed from the real legacy of the Warrens to build this world. The magic system was familiar yet completely new. The idea of magic at the cost of memory was profound, especially if that memory is longer than your lifetime
This book is riddled with ghosts, alchemy, magic, and paranormal mystery. Our protagonist Ellory (took me forever to stop calling her Elroy in my head, but I got there) feels the undercurrent of wrongness that’s built on top of this now prestigious institution and is determined to understand why she’s been drawn to it. What she finds will change her entire worldview.
There’s clues and strangeness everywhere, and the pace is breakneck. Non-stop action that you can’t help but be drawn in and want to follow the trail to the end. Kamilah Cole does an incredible job weaving in the paranormal with the societal pressures that come from being surrounded by privilege and being the only one like you in the room. Cole is a gifted author and frankly I’m surprised this hasn’t been rated higher than it is. (I am starting to wonder if we read the same book, because pacing and romance was not an issue. But you do you, boo.)
An Arcane Inheritance is available on Dec 30. If you need a little spooky to start your new year, I highly recommend picking up this one.
Huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press for the arc!
„The color brown has been associated with so many things that people would never call beautiful: Dirt. Mud. Shit. But we're copper and amber, tiger’s-eye and smoky quartz. We're tawny and sepia, umber and russet. We're forest wood and fresh soil, warm coffee and sweet gingerbread, a spill of ink, a starless sky, a damn good glass of brandy. A person who sees that sees you.“
📜strange déjà-vus
🪦academic rivals
📜secret magic society
🪦missing students
📜magical incidents
What I liked:
- How the story blends dark academia with occult elements! The setting at Warren University with a long history, hidden magic, and deeply rooted secrets is right up my alley. The story felt especially interesting and realistic because it explores themes of belonging and exclusion: who is entitled to power and who isn’t, who gets to be remembered and who is erased within the elite institution. The tension surrounding the secret society and its desperate attempts to maintain power kept the narrative gripping. Overall, the mix of mystery, social commentary and supernatural incidents was so good!
- The author’s sense of humor! The dry comments and the characters’ bickering, often in tense situations, subtly woven into a sentence or two, often made me smile.
What I didn’t like:
- The romance between the protagonist and Liam didn’t work for me, I couldn’t feel any sparks between them at all. They work much better as friends. I have to say, though, that I’m usually not into even hints of a love triangle, but Liam didn’t bother me; he’s just so likable!
- At around 50% it started to drag a bit. I got the feeling that the story wasn’t really progressing and that the protagonists were stuck in a loop of working together, then losing trust in each other, and then working alone again. I mean how often does the main character run headfirst into danger only to be saved or accompanied by the male main character later? I started to get slightly annoyed.
Writing style 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Story & Plot: 3,5/5
Vibes: 5/5
Will I buy a physical copy: yes
Will I read more books by the author: yes
Where would I place it on my bookshelf: near Night House by Holly Black and Babel by R.F. Kuang
„These days, magic is like a mist … It is in the hands of too many and too few. It is a dwindling resource in a century of dwindling resources, and you never know where it might find you.“
„The color brown has been associated with so many things that people would never call beautiful: Dirt. Mud. Shit. But we're copper and amber, tiger’s-eye and smoky quartz. We're tawny and sepia, umber and russet. We're forest wood and fresh soil, warm coffee and sweet gingerbread, a spill of ink, a starless sky, a damn good glass of brandy. A person who sees that sees you.“
📜strange déjà-vus
🪦academic rivals
📜secret magic society
🪦missing students
📜magical incidents
What I liked:
- How the story blends dark academia with occult elements! The setting at Warren University with a long history, hidden magic, and deeply rooted secrets is right up my alley. The story felt especially interesting and realistic because it explores themes of belonging and exclusion: who is entitled to power and who isn’t, who gets to be remembered and who is erased within the elite institution. The tension surrounding the secret society and its desperate attempts to maintain power kept the narrative gripping. Overall, the mix of mystery, social commentary and supernatural incidents was so good!
- The author’s sense of humor! The dry comments and the characters’ bickering, often in tense situations, subtly woven into a sentence or two, often made me smile.
What I didn’t like:
- The romance between the protagonist and Liam didn’t work for me, I couldn’t feel any sparks between them at all. They work much better as friends. I have to say, though, that I’m usually not into even hints of a love triangle, but Liam didn’t bother me; he’s just so likable!
- At around 50% it started to drag a bit. I got the feeling that the story wasn’t really progressing and that the protagonists were stuck in a loop of working together, then losing trust in each other, and then working alone again. I mean how often does the main character run headfirst into danger only to be saved or accompanied by the male main character later? I started to get slightly annoyed.
Writing style 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Story & Plot: 3,5/5
Vibes: 5/5
Will I buy a physical copy: yes
Will I read more books by the author: yes
Where would I place it on my bookshelf: near Night House by Holly Black and Babel by R.F. Kuang
„These days, magic is like a mist … It is in the hands of too many and too few. It is a dwindling resource in a century of dwindling resources, and you never know where it might find you.“
Want to read
January 29, 2024"a dark academia thriller, where a college freshman is haunted by a sense of dejá vu that turns deadly when she finds a message scrawled on her skin written in her own hand that simply says REMEMBER."
HELLO?? THAT SOUNDS SO COOL??!!!?!
HELLO?? THAT SOUNDS SO COOL??!!!?!
Want to read
June 29, 2023adding a speculative dark academia thriller with a Black protagonist on the day the supreme court overturns affirmative action programs at UNC and harvard? you better believe it
November 29, 2025
3.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
I don’t know if there’s much I can say that others have not at this point, but I’ll succinctly give my thoughts anyways!
The pacing of this book is a killer. Truly it gets excruciatingly slow at the 60% mark and it’s maybe a personal thing but I just think that there was no reason to slow the story down at any point? The ending does not justify the slow pacing in my opinion.
The ending likewise really lost me. With how soft the magic system is, I did not really understand *how* Ellory did what she did. I also was reading this and was confused why we were discussing how it may be better if fewer people know of magic as most seek to exploit it - because we’re watching this story play out in one small section of the States. Surely many other people in this world are aware of magic? Why would we even suggest the idea of magic dying off or fading if there are billions of other people in the world, some of whom will have magic and likely pass it on?
I did like ellory as a main character, I only wished we’d seen more of her research and less of her talking about doing it. Hudson was okay, I understand why he was the way he was for the narrative purpose but he never really hooked me. I think this situs may have benefited from a structure like Alchemised, with a section dedicated to flashbacks, just for us to see more of Ellory and Hudson.
The plot is really interesting but it doesn’t really do anything new for the genre, which is of course totally fine, but I was just wishing we’d dug deeper into certain elements that I think would have made this truly unique.
For a story so focused on missing students, I sure learned nothing about them. I obviously have sympathy and empathy for anyone killed unjustly, but I feel like the lost eight were more of a representation of a theme rather than eight fully fleshed out people.
I adored the circular nature of the romance and I love the trope introduced at the end, but again, I wish we’d seen had flashbacks to really understand how deep their connection ran.
The horror tinged elements of this book were so well done. The orchard scene and the opening rain scenes are genuinely creepy in such a well done way. I feel this book may have worked a lot better as a horror novel.
The side characters were interesting, but other than Liam I felt they were either just too one note (like the annoying roommate) or unexplored (Boone. I feel he ends up being so important but we never get to actually know him).
The final plot twist was a bit confusing. I would have liked to seen a better explanation of everything, which I do once more feel flashbacks could have done! I would have honestly replaced the interludes with flashbacks and had the interludes done as little quotes before every chapter.
I will say, if anything, the writing style of this book is gorgeous. It can lean a bit too flowery at times, but it’s just so so gorgeous. I could read so many more pages of Kamilah’s writing!!
Overall, while not a huge hit with me, I think this book largely does do what it sets out to do! Anyone looking to get into dark academia as a sub genre should 100% pick this one up. I will for sure pick up Kamilah’s future novel Heir Undying :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
I don’t know if there’s much I can say that others have not at this point, but I’ll succinctly give my thoughts anyways!
The pacing of this book is a killer. Truly it gets excruciatingly slow at the 60% mark and it’s maybe a personal thing but I just think that there was no reason to slow the story down at any point? The ending does not justify the slow pacing in my opinion.
The ending likewise really lost me. With how soft the magic system is, I did not really understand *how* Ellory did what she did. I also was reading this and was confused why we were discussing how it may be better if fewer people know of magic as most seek to exploit it - because we’re watching this story play out in one small section of the States. Surely many other people in this world are aware of magic? Why would we even suggest the idea of magic dying off or fading if there are billions of other people in the world, some of whom will have magic and likely pass it on?
I did like ellory as a main character, I only wished we’d seen more of her research and less of her talking about doing it. Hudson was okay, I understand why he was the way he was for the narrative purpose but he never really hooked me. I think this situs may have benefited from a structure like Alchemised, with a section dedicated to flashbacks, just for us to see more of Ellory and Hudson.
The plot is really interesting but it doesn’t really do anything new for the genre, which is of course totally fine, but I was just wishing we’d dug deeper into certain elements that I think would have made this truly unique.
For a story so focused on missing students, I sure learned nothing about them. I obviously have sympathy and empathy for anyone killed unjustly, but I feel like the lost eight were more of a representation of a theme rather than eight fully fleshed out people.
I adored the circular nature of the romance and I love the trope introduced at the end, but again, I wish we’d seen had flashbacks to really understand how deep their connection ran.
The horror tinged elements of this book were so well done. The orchard scene and the opening rain scenes are genuinely creepy in such a well done way. I feel this book may have worked a lot better as a horror novel.
The side characters were interesting, but other than Liam I felt they were either just too one note (like the annoying roommate) or unexplored (Boone. I feel he ends up being so important but we never get to actually know him).
The final plot twist was a bit confusing. I would have liked to seen a better explanation of everything, which I do once more feel flashbacks could have done! I would have honestly replaced the interludes with flashbacks and had the interludes done as little quotes before every chapter.
I will say, if anything, the writing style of this book is gorgeous. It can lean a bit too flowery at times, but it’s just so so gorgeous. I could read so many more pages of Kamilah’s writing!!
Overall, while not a huge hit with me, I think this book largely does do what it sets out to do! Anyone looking to get into dark academia as a sub genre should 100% pick this one up. I will for sure pick up Kamilah’s future novel Heir Undying :)
November 24, 2025
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review!
An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole was such a perfect seasonal read. It blends everything I love in speculative fiction: dark academia vibes, a twisty mystery, and a thread of magic that feels both eerie and enchanting. The atmosphere pulled me in right away. Warren University is exactly the kind of gothic, secret filled campus I love getting lost in, and the tension that builds as Ellory tries to recover her memories kept me turning the pages.
I really enjoyed experiencing the story through Ellory’s perspective. Following her as she uncovers the truth behind her missing memories added so much suspense, and the slow reveal of what actually happened was one of my favorite parts of the book. The slow burn, enemies to rivals dynamic between her and the MMC was another highlight, just the right amount of tension without taking over the main plot.
I also have to give credit to the representation in this book. The portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks felt thoughtful and realistic, and the inclusion of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters never felt forced. It’s refreshing to read a book that feels both inclusive and genuinely character driven.
My only complaint, and why this is a four star instead of five, is the pacing. It took me a while to feel fully pulled in, and the middle dragged a bit for me. But the ending definitely made up for it.
Overall, this is a strong, atmospheric debut with great vibes and an intriguing mystery. If you love your dark academia with a side of magic and character depth, this one is absolutely worth checking out.
An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole was such a perfect seasonal read. It blends everything I love in speculative fiction: dark academia vibes, a twisty mystery, and a thread of magic that feels both eerie and enchanting. The atmosphere pulled me in right away. Warren University is exactly the kind of gothic, secret filled campus I love getting lost in, and the tension that builds as Ellory tries to recover her memories kept me turning the pages.
I really enjoyed experiencing the story through Ellory’s perspective. Following her as she uncovers the truth behind her missing memories added so much suspense, and the slow reveal of what actually happened was one of my favorite parts of the book. The slow burn, enemies to rivals dynamic between her and the MMC was another highlight, just the right amount of tension without taking over the main plot.
I also have to give credit to the representation in this book. The portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks felt thoughtful and realistic, and the inclusion of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters never felt forced. It’s refreshing to read a book that feels both inclusive and genuinely character driven.
My only complaint, and why this is a four star instead of five, is the pacing. It took me a while to feel fully pulled in, and the middle dragged a bit for me. But the ending definitely made up for it.
Overall, this is a strong, atmospheric debut with great vibes and an intriguing mystery. If you love your dark academia with a side of magic and character depth, this one is absolutely worth checking out.
October 1, 2025
Hearing dark academia I was already hooked, but for me it was when somebody compared the aesthetic to tim burtons Wednesday.. you can BET I’m gonna read it 😂😂
I definitely enjoyed the mystery and the intrigue. It was fun to slip into this world and get lost in the heavy vibes.
The pacing could have been quicker in the first half however I was enjoying the main character and didn’t mind too much. The second half packs a punch so when you arrive there, expect not to want to put the book down until you reach the end.
This one is for the exclusive, the elite and the dark side of their world. I thoroughly enjoyed the read!
Thank you to poisoned pen press for the gifted copy!
Publishes: Dec 30th
I definitely enjoyed the mystery and the intrigue. It was fun to slip into this world and get lost in the heavy vibes.
The pacing could have been quicker in the first half however I was enjoying the main character and didn’t mind too much. The second half packs a punch so when you arrive there, expect not to want to put the book down until you reach the end.
This one is for the exclusive, the elite and the dark side of their world. I thoroughly enjoyed the read!
Thank you to poisoned pen press for the gifted copy!
Publishes: Dec 30th
December 31, 2025
An Arcane Inheritance
by Kamilah Cole
Paranormal Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Dec 30, 2025
Poisoned Pen Press
Ages: 18+
Doing what she can to take classes at community college, Ellory Morgan never thought she would receive a full scholarship to Warren University, an Ivy League school. Older than her fellow freshmen, she is determined to prove that she belongs there even though she isn't cut from the same 'cloth' as the other students.
One of those students she feels she has to prove herself to is Hudson Graves, but as the days go by, she starts to experience déjà vu, and it grows stronger and more threatening, and those feelings also include Hudson. But are those feelings of déjà vu just feelings, or are they memories?
Investigating the history of the university, Ellory finds that the founders were also curious about the occult.
This did have an interesting concept, but I quickly got bored, especially when there were more descriptions about clothes, their colors, shapes, styles, and types than other details. I would much rather know more about what was on the bulletin board than the in-depth details of clothes.
Other than the MC, most of the other characters were lacking personality. Sure, Hudson and Liam(?) were focused on, but I didn't get the 'attraction' because they seemed typical. (The roommate, who was a minor character, had more personality than those two.) Also, Ellory's best friend was also lacking depth, but she did have a touch of personality.
I did skim this to finish because it wasn't clicking with me, and I did skip the adult content because it had to be included, and that is why I don't think this book is suitable for readers under eighteen.
Just made...
2 Stars
by Kamilah Cole
Paranormal Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Dec 30, 2025
Poisoned Pen Press
Ages: 18+
Doing what she can to take classes at community college, Ellory Morgan never thought she would receive a full scholarship to Warren University, an Ivy League school. Older than her fellow freshmen, she is determined to prove that she belongs there even though she isn't cut from the same 'cloth' as the other students.
One of those students she feels she has to prove herself to is Hudson Graves, but as the days go by, she starts to experience déjà vu, and it grows stronger and more threatening, and those feelings also include Hudson. But are those feelings of déjà vu just feelings, or are they memories?
Investigating the history of the university, Ellory finds that the founders were also curious about the occult.
This did have an interesting concept, but I quickly got bored, especially when there were more descriptions about clothes, their colors, shapes, styles, and types than other details. I would much rather know more about what was on the bulletin board than the in-depth details of clothes.
Other than the MC, most of the other characters were lacking personality. Sure, Hudson and Liam(?) were focused on, but I didn't get the 'attraction' because they seemed typical. (The roommate, who was a minor character, had more personality than those two.) Also, Ellory's best friend was also lacking depth, but she did have a touch of personality.
I did skim this to finish because it wasn't clicking with me, and I did skip the adult content because it had to be included, and that is why I don't think this book is suitable for readers under eighteen.
Just made...
2 Stars
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