Mouse Bones: Revenant Academy Book I

by Kinsey Presley-Hornung

After her untimely death, Agnes wakes up on a college campus… in purgatory.

She's been selected for admittance to Revenant Academy- the leading institution in posthumous education. While Revenant Academy might look like a picturesque college campus at first glance, it’s crawling with extinct animals and a labyrinthian archive of the dead.

When Agnes’s sorting goes awry, she finds herself with more questions than answers, but the school makes it clear that if she can't leave her mortal secrets buried, she'll be "expelled". But it’s not just the past that puts her at risk. After she’s attacked by one of the mysterious creatures that lurk in the dark wood surrounding campus, her devilishly attractive Transparency professor is tasked with teaching her how to defend herself before the beast has the opportunity to strike again.

As their attraction grows and Agnes's curiosity about her death deepens, she soon realizes that Revenant Academy is not entirely what it seems. Someone in purgatory has an agenda, and she's a part of their plan, whether she likes it or not.




*This new adult cozy horror romance novel features gore and adult romantic situations... and also a really big snake.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Romance, Gothic, Paranormal, Academia, Romantasy

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2024

About the author

Kinsey lives in the middle of godforsaken nowhere, and don't worry, she's not quitting her day job.
She enjoys peeing in the shower and long walks away from the beach because beaches are gross.
With little to no charisma, she is hoping that her writing will charm you because her personality sure can't.

Reviews

[annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVED this book so much, but i kind of want to gatekeep it

[Jess • justpeachyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I heard this described as "Beetlejuice meets dark academia" and *immediately* downloaded it... Absolutely no regrets. It 100% lived up to that description. I devouredddd this! Truly could not put it down.

Here's what you can expect:
🖤 horror/dark fantasy-ish/paranormal romance
🖤 disability rep and mobility aids
🖤 ghosts in purgatory learning how to haunt humans (very Beetlejuice)
🖤 occasional gore and violence and a lot of creepy whimsical monsters
🖤 dark academia/college-like setting
🖤 soft slow burn professor x student romance
🖤 delightfully weird and quirky world-building (also very Beetlejuice)
🖤 laugh out loud banter

This was like the perfect culmination of all my dark weird bookish interests and I'm so excited that there will be more books in this series to look forward to!

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like going into books I've heard nothing about and sometimes it can go like this: it was not bad, but it went into a direction I tend to be bored by.
I might have gone into it with a bit too much on the expectations department because the set up was really interesting and I actually laughed out loud like three times in the first two chapters.

There's ambiance and a good setting but it spent a bit too much time just hanging around instead of getting to the plot. By 50% it felt like we were just now about to see what the story was about.

I think if you're interested in the synopsis, you could really like it but only if you go into it knowing this too:
-The first half of the book is spent going to Ghost Classes (like, if this were a video game, you'd be going on random side things to learn about a bit of the lore instead of actually doing the quest)
Also!
-It's tagged as romance but it's not a ''romance novel'', don't go into it expecting it to be a huge part of the plot
-The writing isn't bad a all but it's not going to be the get-a-pen-and-annotate-this kind

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met this author at a local event where she was selling her books and I decided to give it a try and let me tell you, I absolutely ate this book up. The world is fascinating and it has perfect dark academia vibes for Fall. I’m soooo excited for the next book

[Ellie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dam book!! The cover & tropes had me sold.

Beetlejuice x dark academy x paranormal - SOLD. It’s giving Tim Burton & gosh, I just loved it & need more now!🖤

This was giving Harry Potter vibes throughout the beginning. The casket scene & being placed into their houses?! What type of ghost they will become? I was OBSESSED with this. I was hooked. It just gives all the dark spooky vibes for October!

I loved this so much🫶🏽🫶🏽

🖤Dark Academia vibes
👻College setting
🖤Forbidden romance
👻Cosy Paranormal
🖤Slow burn
👻Professor x student romance
🖤Hot headless professor
👻Cosy Horror
🖤Purgatory University
👻Mortal world

This was a massive slow burn but I was kicking my feet & giggling at moments. Did I want more?! Hell yeah but that did not stop me loving it as much as I did.

I loved the whole world & characters. It was easy to follow & the story did flow well, I could have 100% wanted more in this but with book 2 being released I know we will get the answers.

& why do I weirdly now want to add our headless professor to my book boyfriend list? I really hope to see more character development for him - some parts did give ‘YA’ vibes but I kinda vibed this?

Gosh just send me to this academy right now👻👻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Anabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf @ 54%

if u know anything abt me, you’d know how connected, spiritually and physically, i am to the paranormal and the immortal. with that said, literally 50% through this seemed to plateau for me and i realized i could be reading a much better book. this was really good for the first half. i was BINGING and loving it but i don’t want to constantly read about this girl being so dumb she almost gets expelled a billion times. and professor faun was just ignorant and dry

[witchy_book_babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse Bones: Revenant Academy Book I landed on my radar from a trusted recommendation and I am very happy to have discovered this book as well as discovering Author Kinsey Presley-Hornung!

This book was absolutely so original and interesting! I actually love this little tagline: *This new adult cozy horror romance novel features gore and adult romantic situations... and also a really big snake. If I were asked to categorize this, I would say I consider it to be Paranormal Fiction. And it resembles the world of Harry Potter's Hogwarts with the aesthetic of Beetlejuice and the drama of Gossip Girl...but with a couple of good ol' 80's Slasher movie scenes.Even though there was slight Romantic elements, I personally wouldn't consider this book to be categorized as a Romance.

I did think that there was a lot going on and many subplots that were being opened, so I really hope to get some answers with the following book(s). Finishing Mouse Bones: Revenant Academy Book I with a ton of questions isn't the worst thing, it' obviously what's going to keep me interested in pushing for answers. But, I would have liked getting a few extra breadcrumbs to tie me over until I start Book 2.

Agnes (FMC), I felt that she was quite likable and I was dying to get answers of her past life.

Rigel, (side character), I do feel like he was sort of being pitched as the Draco Malfoy of this book...but, I really liked him and felt he had the best platonic relationship with Agnes. To the point that I even could accept if he was a future love interest.

Arlie (side character), she was sort of Agnes' best friend, but I felt that her presence was a little too unreliable. I would love to see her have more of a solid role in future books.

Professor Faun, (MMC?), it's a little hard to classify him because I personally didn't get enough from him. I wanted a bit more chemistry between him and Agnes. And I wish I had more in-depth explanations from him to understand his actions.

Overall, I enjoyed reading something so new and creative. However, I do think there were small rooms for improvement to tighten up the plot. And I am looking forward to continuing this series with the next installment: Dogtooth: Revenant Academy Book II!

[Ivana :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED EVERYONE TO GET ON THIS ASAP AND ALSO NOBODY BC I WANT TO GATEKEEP!

This is giving major wednesday netflix tv show vibes but like adult and creepy and i love the whole plot and twists and characters and the whole world i need more!!1!1!

[naz;༘⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC for free and am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Thank you to the author!

Firstly, the writing was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and world building. Even though I was confused often. The lore of this world feels very familiar but still fresh. However, I failed to really fall in love or even like most of the characters. I found one character to be slightly inconsistent as well. I think that although the trope for the romance in this book is not my cup of tea. I definitely could have enjoyed it had I actually felt any tension or chemistry between them. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I wasn’t invested in the characters or finding out the mystery on their behalf. I think that the romance could have been made into a really good slow burn, across the series and more of the plot should have been focused on the development of the various unknowns of this world. I also think that the characters were almost too tropey, but I really saw a lot of potential in them I just never got to the point where I was ENTHRALLED by them, which is what it takes to get my five stars. Overall, it was a fun read, and I liked the premise.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ✨ I LOVED this!

It gave me so many vibes from other stories such as beetlejuice, Harry Potter, zodiac academy! I’m really starting to realise that I LOVE dark academia books! 🤩

The only thing I’d love to have seen more of was about the different houses, as they get introduced at the very beginning but there doesn’t seem to be much around them throughout the book, and I found that this book was very romance-focused at one point, causing the main plot of the book to be pushed into the background.

The pacing of this book is super quick, almost too quick at times where I had to go back and re-read because the scene jumps, but it also meant that I flew through this without any issues!

Overall I absolutely adored this, and I will definitely be jumping straight into the next one! The ending confirmed my need to continue with the series 😍

[Jaye Winkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediate 5⭐️!!!

I LOVED this book, absolutely devoured it and I need more asap🤩 (the relief when I seen Dog Tooth comes out 29/10!!!)

It is giving Tim Burton vibes in a Hogwarts setting.. academy for the recently deceased?! OBSESSED

I was hooked straight from the get go, everyone getting sorted into their houses through their funeral to decide which type of ghost they will become?! such a cool concept!!! and for a 300 page book there is so much packed in there - the cliffhanger with 1000% leave you screaming for book 2🤭

If you like the sound of a slow burn, dark academia forbidden romance with beetlejuice vibes - you need to read this book!!!🖤

[Coral Loriguillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was twisty. Spice level 1… people compared it a little to Harry Potter but being the PotterHead that I am it’s far from the truth.

The story line is great and nothing which I’ve come across before - if you’re spiritual and into the unknown and love abit of mystery and magic this book is for you. If you’re a skeptic turn away now. It was an easy read and I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Georgia McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Rhianah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with this story

[༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆ 𝘓𝘪𝘢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚ ࣪ *·˚ ˖ ᯓᝰ ⋆｡˚⋆ "𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖓, 𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖐 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖔𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝖎𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖉𝖔𝖓’𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖆𝖓𝖞𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖇𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖊 𝕴 𝖋𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖞 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖞𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖎𝖋 𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔."​ ᯓ *·˚ᝰ ࣪˖⋆｡˚⋆

5★

☽｡⋆𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 ☽｡⋆
ᝰ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲
ᝰ 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
ᝰ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆
ᝰ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘅 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁
ᝰ 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽
ᝰ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
ᝰ 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮
ᝰ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
ᝰ 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆/𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁
ᝰ 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻
ᝰ 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆

︵‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿︵

જ⁀ 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖
𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴—𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥.𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺, 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮, 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦, 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵, 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘴. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘶𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘴 𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴—𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩.

︵‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿︵

જ⁀ 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖ 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖
𓂃 ࣪˖ ⋆.˚ 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙖𝙪𝙣 : 𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴'𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

𓂃 ࣪˖ ⋆.˚ 𝘼𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙨 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺

︵‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿︵

જ⁀ 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖ 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🗝️⋆ ࣪˖
𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying I did enjoy the book. My actual rating is 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

When I read the summary, I immediately pushed this to the top spot in my tbr. Cozy horror? Professor/student relationship? Wisps of mystery? Yes, please. The cover art (of the headless Professor and the main character, not the current Goodreads cover) was really pretty, and fit in with the cozy horror vibe this book is built on.

Some of my gripes about the ebook, however, is that the cover title does not appear centered, as well as the playlist and map titles. The chapter images take up way too much space and would look 100x better if they were smaller.

Getting on to the actual story, we are dropped into this world with Agnes, who discovers that she is dead and has no memory of her life in the mortal world, and will not get those memories back until she obtains a higher education in (basically) haunting. Agnes is not a very introspective character throughout the entirety of the book, and she has barely even a blip of curiosity about this. Did they also take her personality when they took her memories? She is surrounded by this super intriguing world, and gives none of it a passing thought. Mammoths in the dining hall? Merely gets a raised eyebrow (actually she simply glances at it for a split second in a single line, but I digress). If she knows about ink pens, I would have thought she would also know about mammoths and their extinction, which had I been in her shoes I would have been freaking out over. These creatures haven’t been seen by humans in years, and for some of them never been seen, and there’s no wonder in that? Her almost apathy makes it hard as a reader to also find wonder in this world.

The people are sorted into their respective houses, but I didn’t really see much focus on this separation. Maybe their differences will be focused on in a later book, but in this first year they all seem mostly the same (except of course the ones who seem to be most like a certain grouping of snakes from a certain series of wizarding books—of course those guys are a bit mean-spirited and a little over-the-top whenever mentioned. They’re also the only house I actually remember in this book, but I feel that’s because they’re the only ones who were really given anything to stand out with.)

On to the characters…I found it hard to picture them because of the way they were described. One girl was mentioned as being beautiful, then described as having eyes so wide set that they seemed to want to slide off of her cheekbones, which brings to mind less a beautiful girl and more…Sid the Sloth from Ice Age. I feel like the characters are meant to be more Beetlejuice-esque or even Tim Burton-esque, but it didn’t really hit the mark because, again, Agnes doesn’t give it much of a passing thought. Did we even get a reaction to what she looks like? Did she even look into a mirror in this world? I was very confused by her just accepting this newness with not much of a reaction (except, of course, when she meets her professor…)

Most of the professors/other people who work at this school speak very flippantly for seemingly no reason, which I found to really take away from the story.

Speaking of characters, I really, really, really do not like Arlie, the girl who is supposed to be Agnes’ first friend in this new world. Agnes meets her in the sorting chamber, then again when Arlie is getting bullied? Hazed? In the bonfire maze. Agnes, of course, steps in to help her by punching Rigel (another character who can almost be called an acquaintance or friend later on). Immediately, Arlie transforms from cowering, grieving young woman to a potty-mouthed, spunky extra who grabs the nearest bottle and smashes it over his head. She feels more caricature than character, especially with the way she speaks. There was a point they went to the dining hall for the first time and Arlie says something along the lines of “that bread smells so good I could shit my pants.” Yeah. Okay. I pushed through, and she did not redeem herself to me at all. She and Agnes barely have any riveting conversations or bonding moments, and it feels as if I’m being forced to believe they’re friends. Made worse when Arlie’s boyfriend’s friend, Tom, leaves Agnes at a cemetery in the mortal world when a beast shows up, then eventually gets nabbed himself by the beast later on and tries to lure Agnes away for the beast to eat because it likes what little life is still clinging to her. Arlie does leave her boyfriend for defending Tom leaving her at the graveyard, but gets back together with him when Tom is taken and completely abandons Agnes even though SHE is the one who is being hunted and probably actually needs a good friend’s shoulder to lean on. So, yeah. Sure they helped each other with their projects towards the very very end of the book, but it’s so small of a footnote that it feels like nothing to me at this point.

Rigel, though, I’m on the fence about. He’s an interesting character, and honestly I could see him as a romantic interest simply because of the way he acts with her. There’s this push-pull, hate-to-tolerate thing between them and he’s saved her and she’s saved him before, and he’s oh so curious about why she’s different and why his girlfriend(?) is also different, which is why he ropes Agnes into his little plots of researching the two of them. This actually feels like it would be a more natural romantic progression than what happens between her and the professor’s almost insta-love imo.

I love Professor/student tropes. The tension the trope brings, the will they/won’t they, the “This-shouldn’t happen”s, all of that gets my attention. It’s what drew me to this book. We were off to a good start when he throws down his jacket from his position hidden on the balcony when Agnes runs from the sorting chamber naked after seeing she’s a Jane Doe. Then she gets to class and she recognizes the jacket the professor who walks in is wearing because it was just covering her not too long ago. Their first meeting goes awry when he takes his head off to startle the students and she runs screeching from the classroom, and lo-and-behold we readers get an actual look at emotion from her in the form of a bit of fear and embarrassment. She returns, and then immediately gets a crush when he places a piece of paper into her palm. Their relationship develops at a break-neck speed imo, and leaves much to be desired. There was very little spice, because they kept getting interrupted or stopped themselves, but it has the potential to be really good.

Overall, I felt that this book was written in a very immature tone. It has wayyy more telling than showing, and it feels more YA than anything. Some of the lines feel more like attempted one-liners than conversation and make it feel awkward/clunky. The mysteries that sort of weave through the romance are interesting, which makes me give this a higher rating. I will be reading the second book to see if these issues continue or if it stays mostly the same.

[Emily Stiffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Teetering on giving this 4.5 stars

A huge thank you to the author, Kinsey Presley-Hornung, and Book Sirens for the ability to read this arc! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was instantly hooked on this novel the moment I saw the cover— headless man.. holding his head.. in front of a blackboard with a young woman in a school uniform?! Yes… sign me right up! It screameddddd dark academia.

^Note: the cover on Goodreads is different then the arc copy I received.

What I got was a book that had me invested right from the beginning. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, the premise and the characters. The book had dark academia, purgatory, and adventure all in one. AND the best news?! It is only part 1! I am so incredibly excited to read the rest of this series, because I am hooked. Quite frankly, I am sad that I have to wait!

The one critique that I would say about this book was that, at times, the writing seemed a little young adulty. Perhaps this was intended but my impression was that this was more of an adult novel. I also didn’t particular like the nickname Agnes was given, and how Rigel constantly called her “tits.” It particularly threw me a little off guard because of how Agnes wound up at the academy. Idk.. I suppose it is was minor thing I noticed, but I did notice it. I will say.. these things didn’t make or break the story for me but just thought it was important to point out.

[Karleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need the next one immediately

[Rachel Tork · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!! It was honestly unlike anything I’ve read before in the romance genre. I am a sucker for the forbidden attraction trope and it was done so well in this book—the tension and angst were on point. I also enjoyed all the quirky, strange aspects of this world and it’s characters and found the general concept to be interesting and unique. All in all, great read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily! :)

[KZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆(3.5/5)

I buddy read this book with my bookish friend Emma and it was so fun to read together. In Mouse Bones is an atmospheric, slow-burning fantasy that left me both intrigued and a little unsatisfied. The concept is easy to grasp—nothing overly complex or dense—and the writing has a lyrical, haunting quality that really suits the tone of the story. However, the pacing in the first 70 pages felt unnecessarily sluggish for such a straightforward setup. I appreciate world-building when the concept is heavy, but in this case, it felt like it took too long for anything significant to happen. That said, the quiet, immersive atmosphere definitely helped carry me through the slower start.

One of my biggest struggles early on was connecting with the main character. We don’t really get a sense of who she is, just what she’s showing us, which made it hard to root for her initially. But the emotional undercurrent in Presley-Hornung’s writing becomes more apparent as the story progresses, and I found myself growing attached to her subtle strength and quiet resilience. By the end, I genuinely cared about her, and that’s a testament to how well her character was developed over time. The side characters, though, were hit-or-miss—the boys especially had their moments of being complete fools, but there’s room for growth, and I think we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of their potential.

The story itself was enjoyable and had several moments of tension and intrigue that pulled me in, especially once the magical elements started to shine. The magic system—centered around small, quiet powers like invisibility and object-holding—isn’t flashy, but it made sense and is full of potential. Still, the ending left me disappointed. It felt like the entire book was building toward a reveal or purpose, and then… nothing. What we learn could honestly be summed up in a few pages, which made the conclusion feel a bit empty. I hoped for more revelations, more payoff. It was frustrating because the emotional groundwork was there, and the author clearly has more to give.

That said, I’m still looking forward to the next book. Presley-Hornung has created a world and characters I want to know more about, even if this installment didn’t fully deliver. There’s a lot of room for deeper exploration, especially with the themes of found family, hidden powers, and institutional mystery. I think the next book could really build on the strong foundation this one laid—and finally give us the answers we’re waiting for.

Tropes:
✅Found family (just starting to take root)
✅Hidden powers
✅Boarding school / institutional mystery
✅Slow-burn emotional growth
✅Mentor figure with secrets
✅Professor X Student Relationship

[Kelsey Zukowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beetlejuice meets a ghostly Hogwarts with ample cozy spooky vibes, monsters, introspection, and a dash of forbidden academic romance on the side. Plenty to love here.

The setting itself was incredibly captivating, exciting, and soothing, I felt swept away in to the paranormal classes and immaculate grounds including a forbidden catacombs library?! *Swoon* If it wasn't for the magical mice swarming the castle Revenant Academy would sound like a wonderful way to begin one's afterlife.

Also, reminiscent to Hogwarts I loved the built in lore of the houses the students are placed in being tied to their potential role in the afterlife in relationship to navigating the dead from a calming presence, to vengeance, to judging morality, to being a reaper, guiding the dead. Also, the quiz at the end of the book so you could sort yourself was a fun addition.

The angle of each spirit completing forgetting everything about who they were in life and having to re-discover themselves a new in death was a wonderful, engaging focus, especially for our character who was a Jane Doe, it offers a fitting come of age, introspective path. Of course the magic-adjacent classes (like transparency) and even monstrous threats among this seemingly safe, enchanting school felt reminiscent of Hogwarts as well.

The romance is a definite slow burn with heavy existential threats making it harder for them to give in. I appreciated it took its time to develop the relationship and actually had near zero spice level. Sometimes spice works really well, but it isn't always needed and sometimes takes away from the bigger story and personal journey. It also implied the connection was more than sexual, which was kind of nice. It may leave many wanting more as it's not the focus or completely explored and we still don't know that much about the male lead, but I imagine these are things that will be touched upon more in the next book.

Our lead heroine, Agnes, is definitely the strongest character and who we feel the most connected to. She is looking to find herself, but she still had many traits that are likable, she has a determined, curious spirit and isn't afraid to take chances when it feels right. Faun was definitely interesting, but I felt like we were just getting to to surface of who he truly was, understandably since he keeps himself guarded and more occasionally let his true self peak out through the cracks. Most of the other students were decent characters, but didn't have the most depth. They worked fine, but they just didn't intrigue me all that much.

Overall, a very enjoyable journey and left me eager for more. Ideal for dark academia/ cozy haunting fans.

[Reads smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mouse Bones" by Kinsey Presley-Hornung introduces readers to the captivating world of Revenant Academy, a unique afterlife institution that blends the eerie with the academic. Agnes, the protagonist, finds herself thrust into this mysterious realm after her untimely demise, and what follows is a tale of discovery, danger, and unexpected romance.

Presley-Hornung's storytelling is a delightful mix of the supernatural and the mundane, as Agnes navigates the complexities of an otherworldly college campus teeming with extinct animals and a cryptic archive of the departed. The author's vivid descriptions bring this peculiar purgatory to life, creating an immersive experience for the reader.

The plot is fueled by Agnes's quest for answers about her death and the challenges she faces within the academy. The element of mystery is skillfully maintained, keeping readers engaged and eager to unravel the secrets concealed within the labyrinthine archive. The stakes are raised when Agnes's personal secrets threaten her standing in the academy, adding a layer of suspense to the narrative.

The character dynamics, particularly the burgeoning romance between Agnes and her Transparency professor, add an intriguing layer to the story. The author handles the delicate balance between attraction and the darker elements of the plot, creating a well-rounded narrative that caters to both romance and horror enthusiasts.

The incorporation of gore and adult romantic situations, as warned, adds a mature edge to the story, making it suitable for readers who appreciate a blend of horror and romance. The quirky touch of a "really big snake" promises unexpected thrills and contributes to the overall charm of the novel.

At 309 pages, "Mouse Bones" maintains a brisk pace, ensuring that the plot unfolds without unnecessary delays. However, there are moments where the narrative could benefit from a bit more exploration, particularly in delving deeper into certain aspects of the academy's intriguing setting.

In conclusion, "Mouse Bones: Revenant Academy Book I" is a promising start to a new adult cozy horror romance series. Kinsey Presley-Hornung's imaginative world-building, engaging characters, and a perfect blend of suspense and romance make this novel a compelling read for those seeking a paranormal adventure with a darkly enchanting twist.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why is NO ONE talking about this series?!

Revenant Academy is the kind of story that sinks its claws into you and refuses to let go. Horror? Yes. Romance? Absolutely. Emotional damage? Relentless—in the best way.

From the moment Agnes wakes up dead (already iconic) and enrolled in a purgatory-based academy crawling with extinct creatures and secrets, I was hooked. The atmosphere is chef’s kiss: eerie, unsettling, and strangely beautiful. This isn’t just a spooky school—this is a place where the dead are expected to behave, not ask questions, and definitely not dig up their past… which of course Agnes does anyway.

Book one delivers slow-burn, forbidden tension that had me internally screaming. The professor/student dynamic is dark, dangerous, and handled with intention—layered with power, guilt, and longing rather than cheap shock value. Professor Faun is devilishly compelling, and every interaction crackles with tension while still keeping the stakes terrifyingly real.
Then book two comes in and says, “Oh, you thought you were emotionally safe?” Absolutely not.

The mystery deepens, the losses hit harder, and the world grows darker. Every answer opens a new wound, and the grief, anger, and desperation feel raw and human—even in purgatory. Agnes isn’t just trying to survive her afterlife; she’s fighting for the people she loves, living and dead, and the cost of that fight is brutal.

And let’s talk about the horror elements—because they do NOT pull punches. There is genuine dread here. Violence has weight. Death matters. The academy feels alive in the worst possible way, and the sense that someone is always watching never lets up.

This series is haunting, romantic, unsettling, and deeply emotional. If you love:
🖤 dark academia
🖤 horror with purpose
🖤 forbidden romance
🖤 morally gray characters
🖤 mysteries that hurt your feelings
…stop sleeping on this series. I am fully obsessed, emotionally wrecked, and counting the seconds until the next book.
Underrated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

[Carissa with a C =⁠^⁠･⁠ｪ⁠･⁠^⁠= · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, but I couldn't.

Some things I loved about this story are Agnes' absolutely wicked relatability. Hearing her speak her self-depracating cuts were relatable, and funny. And I was impatient for Faun to stop being such a pain in the booty, and just kiss Agnes.

In concept, this story had a lot of promise. I really liked the idea of a purgatory setting where those who have passed on get to train in an academy to learn how to haunt the mortal world. The writing suffered a lack of depth and maturity, as well as logic and sense. There were a lot of times that I lost my bearings while reading, and I had to go back a few pages to understand...and it still didn't help much, because the writing was chaotic and jilted. One paragraph started with Agnes talking with Rigel, and the next paragraph would have Agnes in an office with Professor Ephraim, with Rigel nowhere in sight (this was literally in the last chapter, and it had me confused!).

My other qualms with the story are that I just didn't feel like the ending made a lot of sense. There are lots of little bits I can nitpick, like how Arlie was the one who called Agnes the name "Tits" at first, and then Rigel started doing it and Arlie forgot all about it. But the whole ending with Tom, and the little girl in the forest that is also Agnes' daughter(?) - first of all, after she defeats both the monster who wants to eat her and Tom, she is suddenly back Purgatory, out of the Mortal World. And she tells Stacy that she didn't remove the heads of both Tom and the monster, but the giant snake did. But, she did remove Tom's head.

I just think this book could use some serious polishing before it's truly remarkable. I do think that it's possible to get there, and I will look forward to seeing more from this author because I really think this idea is super unique and interesting.

[Bookish Dragon NMY18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ✨

Mouse Bones—the title was interesting, and so was the cover; however, when I read the synopsis, it got me more interested. Basically the premise of this book is that when someone dies, they either move through the afterlife or get stuck in purgatory. Where there's a school called Revenant Academy where they teach you how to be, well, a ghost.

That alone was interesting for me; it was somewhat fun and interesting to read. Like, you'd think being a ghost was easy, but no, in this you really need to learn how to do it; it's like a professional job. Then they're sorted out in different roles, which made the book even more interesting. I had fun reading this; the story basically is interesting in itself, and the characters are actually fun and can be very annoying, but you find yourself connecting to them and looking forward to seeing them every time.

The concept itself was the selling point for me; it's interesting to see a story like this. The writing style wasn't so bad; I like how it's not heavy. Even though the plot was dark, the author was able to lighten it up and tell her story slowly to the readers. It's not dragging; it's interesting and fun and also very immersive. It feels like I'm also a student myself and just a bystander watching our characters go through everything. I was shocked to like this; I don't have many expectations. I was merely trying it out, but I'm glad I liked it.

[Alyson Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes has just died and instead of going to the Afterlife, she's sent to Revenant Academy, a college to teach you how to be a ghost in purgatory. Things get interesting as Agnes finds dangers to ghosts that are worse than death and secrets of her past kept far away from her. She's having a hard time leaving her past in the past even if it means putting herself in more dangerous situations. Secrets heat up as she tries to keep her feelings toward her professor quiet and look for the information the school is keeping far away from her.

I absolutely loved the tone of this book! The start of it was a little slow at first and when the 4 houses were introduced, I thought it would be something like a ghost Harry Potter world, but the sorting ceremony was the last comparison to HP in there. The different classes and skills ghosts needed to know was so intriguing. Not to mention the unique monsters in here.

I felt so much chemistry between Agnes and Faun and I absolutely loved how she could make Faun fumbled and blush. I was laughing out loud, giggling, and kicking my feet with this one. I seriously can't wait to read more as it was left on an illegal cliffhanger

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 5⭐️ read of 2024!

Mouse Bones had caught my attention for weeks before I finally picked it up, and I regret not reading it sooner. While it isn’t my usual type of book, it turned out to be exactly what I was craving—a cozy, dark academia romance with a twist. Imagine a Hogwarts-style academy in purgatory where ghosts are taught about how to exist in their new afterlife, more hands-on learning that being given a handbook for the recently deceased. That’s the eerie and enchanting vibe that Mouse Bones delivers.

Agnes comes to Revenant Academy with no recollection of what her life was before her death. From the first chapter you're sucked into the thrilling mystery of her memories that are out of her reach despite students of Revenant Academy being promised that their lives would be revealed to the upon the completion of their first academic year. As the story progresses you have the slow burn forbidden romance unravelling between Agnes and the seemingly cold Professor Faun.

Expect a blend of dark academia and paranormal, verging on horror, with macabre, chilling monsters lurking in the shadows. The book also offers great disability representation, featuring a protagonist who uses a mobility aid, along with witty banter that adds charm to the otherwise haunting atmosphere.

[Squibs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse Bones by Kinsey Presley-Hornung

Wow!

This story was interesting from start to finish. With dark academia vibes, ghost students, and a world full of monsters and mysteries, what's not to like?

We pop into the story following Agnes, a ghost being recruited into an academy for the recently deceased in purgatory. As the journey progresses we notice more things aren't quite adding up.

I'm at a bit of a loss whit how to best describe this read. It was so enjoyable yet so unique compared to every else I've read this year.

There are dark academia vibes a la Harry Potter or Wednesday Addams. Ghosts, mysteries, monsters, and betrayals. There is an underlying forbidden romance and reluctant friendships who's goals align. A mystery seeks an answer and our FMC with no memories of her past has to decide where the future lies.

Mouse Bones is a super fun, unique read. I can't recommend it enough.

I'm kicking myself for finishing it two weeks before book two releases, because now I'm waiting in purgatory seeking my own answers!

[Kristen Weidner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. What do you get when you mix a little Harry Potter with a little Beetlejuice and sprinkle in a little cozy, creepy, romantic tension? Mouse Bones, by Kinsey Presley-Hornung.

Being a mood reader, I'm always fairly cautious when I start an arc read, as they can be so hit or miss sometimes, especially if I am unfamiliar with the author. This book was fabulous!!! I love the author's writing style. The word choice and imagery were top shelf. This is a great start to a dark academia series without it being pitch black. It has some really stellar cozy vibes without being too cutesy. Just dark enough and spicy enough to be considered NA (I'm hoping that the spice ramps up a little in the next book!), but with enough romantic tension and banter to keep the spicy girlies coming back for the rest of the series.

This book is really well written and has a great story line that is interesting and engaging. There are plenty of twists and turns, unanswered questions, fabulous side characters, and more than enough mystery to have me chomping at the bit for the next book.

As a heads up, this is book one, so I would expect a series, and it does leave on quite a hefty cliffhanger. The only other thing that I wanted out of this book (beyond answers to the questions and mystery) would have been a map of the school grounds.

All in all, It was a very pleasant, quick read.
5 ******
2 for spice

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren Fit · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride!!!! This has been an interesting read. I now understand what people mean by Beetlejuice meets Dark Academia. It definitely has a gothic feel to it but I absolutely loved the dark Academia it brought. I am on a hunt for Academia books right now and tis the season and all. It is scratching my itch I’m currently having and can’t wait to read book 2! I am so curious about the mystery of why the MFC is where she is and I want answers! This is a pretty solid read with new and interesting ideas of a story. I love the slight Harry Potter vibes it has to it as well but with the very dark, adult, and mature themes it has. The only negative thing I can say about this is I sometimes have a hard time following or a hard time picturing what the author is trying to get out. I sometimes have to reread what I read a couple times to understand. Other than that it was a fun read!