An Academy for Liars

by Alexis Henderson

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.

As Lennon continues in her studies her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College, and the way her mentor’s tragic and violent past intertwines with it. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns. For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption . . . and it's a test she's terrified she is going to fail.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror, Fiction, Gothic, Audiobook, Mystery

464 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2024

About the author

Alexis Henderson is a speculative fiction writer with a penchant for dark fantasy, witchcraft, and cosmic horror. She grew up in one of America’s most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, which instilled in her a life-long love of ghost stories. When she doesn’t have her nose buried in a book, you can find her painting or watching horror movies with her feline familiar.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I’ll come clean: I still haven’t cracked open Donna Tartt’s The Secret History or M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains. I know, I know—I’m a dark academia heretic. My experience has mainly been Naomi Novik’s The Scholomance and Leigh Bardugo’s paranormal version of Yale University, which are my benchmark. So, take that as you will. But let me tell you, Drayton College in Alexis Henderson’s An Academy for Liars is in a unique league of its own... and I’m here for it.

Meet Lennon Carter, our protagonist, who isn’t exactly getting a magical school acceptance letter by owl. No, she’s busy catching her fiancé red-handed with her closest friend at her own engagement party. Ouch. So, what’s a girl to do? Naturally, she steals his car, consults a mysterious stranger in a phone booth, and makes a beeline for a secret magic school that teaches cool mind powers. What fun!

With a premise like that, you’d expect An Academy for Liars to have me hooked from page one. But for the first 40%, I was all set to pop on a "It was okay but forgettable" 3-star rating. Maybe it was a “me” issue. Patience isn’t my superpower. While the world-building was atmospheric, the initial pace was also a bit slow for my tastes.

Furthermore, when I caught wind of the student-teacher relationship trope, I braced myself for disappointment, personally not really into it.

Then, around the 50% mark, things started to pick up speed. And then—bam! The story took my expectations, crumpled them up, and yeeted them out the window. What followed was a wild ride of twists, turns, violence, morals, power struggles and an emotional whirlwind that completely flipped the script and I couldn't stop compulsively turning the pages, I loved it.

So yeah, I might be stating the obvious, but don’t waltz in expecting cute elves with mismatched socks in this one. Brace yourself for adult themes, highly questionable ethics, intense horror elements, and a splash of sci-fi. There are moments that practically scream Stephen King—but I’ll keep which book title under wraps to avoid spoilers. Just know that when the horror kicks in, it’s a wild ride. Think lots of blood, gore, injuries, seizures, murder, coercion, violence and a smorgasbord of other trigger warnings.

Speaking of trigger warnings, animal lovers, take note: the big one for me was the questionable animal ethics (no deaths, but think testing on animals). Rest assured, Lennon, our FMC also questions the school’s ethics, and I was pleased with how things turned out. Had any animals met a senseless tragic end, my rating would’ve plummeted. Still, proceed with caution.

So yes, this book crawled, walked, ran, and ultimately soared for me. If you’re the type who demands plot fireworks from page one, this might not be your cup of tea. It took a while to warm up to, but the payoff was worth it.

This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable dark academia reads I’ve encountered this year and comes with my high recommendation for school-of-magic enthusiasts who don't mind their story punctuated with blood, gore and unsettling horror elements. And that student-teacher trope? Did I like it in the end? Just look at my rating.

My heartfelt thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for the e-arc.

🔹🔹🔹

Tis the season for dark academia horror fantasy and secret schools of magic in Savannah.

[Lala BooksandLala · Rating 2 out of 5]

this had so much to love thematically, but narratively it was a mess.

I have loved alexis henderson's other work, her writing is always stunning...but virtually everything else, from plot to characters, magic system to dialogue...needed more time and attention.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a die-hard fan of dark academia and an avid follower of the author’s previous works, the intriguing plot of a hidden school in the heart of Savannah, accessible only to the chosen, teaching the art of persuasion, was irresistible. I dove into this adventure without hesitation.

The journey was long, yet I wished it wouldn't end. The story's progression, pacing, characterization, backstories, tension-building, balance of horror and paranormal elements, and a forbidden teacher-student love story captivated me entirely. It felt like I was reading an entire trilogy because there was so much happening: betrayal, lies, academic politics, secrets, and backstabbing. However, despite the multitude of storylines, everything merged perfectly at the end without leaving any plot holes. I have to admit, by the conclusion, I screamed “Run” so loudly that my house nearly shook. Thankfully, no mysterious elevator appeared, but the epic ending left me exhilarated.

This is the best dark academia novel I've read this year, and I couldn’t recommend it more. I hope the author writes a sequel because some details about the main characters' pasts could further illuminate why they are the way they are and what traumas drove them to their powerful states, beyond just being born that way.

Here’s a quick summary of the plot:

Lennon Carter, recently withdrawn from school and hospitalized after enduring psychological trauma, finally found love and got engaged at 22. But when she catches her fiancé with her best friend, she leaves, driving his car. Stopping at an empty mall lot, contemplating ending her life, she hears a call from a mall phone booth. Answering the call, she realizes it's for her, summoning her to Drayton College to participate in an entrance exam. This magical school is hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Despite the incredulity of an unsolicited invitation and an eccentric phone call, she drives eight hours, rides a magical elevator to the administration, and meets the charismatic and intimidating professor Dante. In his early 30s, covered in tattoos, he exudes smart bad-boy vibes and becomes her advisor.

Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, her new classmates—who become her first real friends—and Dante’s protective, mysterious charm make her feel at home. However, as she discovers her new powers, she learns that something more sinister threatens Drayton's existence. She must use her powers to protect the school but risks being destroyed by them. Additionally, some at the school have secret agendas to thwart her control. Can she harness her abilities without falling victim to the school's power plays? Read more to find out!

I’m giving this book my highest dark academia rating and eagerly await more works from this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing dark academia thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Evie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to be perfectly honest and say that I would have DNF’d this if I hadn’t spent an audible credit on it. I am counting it as a DNF in spirit though cause I wish I had.

To be fair, there were some good things about this story and this world, the idea of persuasion/free will magic was actually pretty cool and I thought a fairly unique take. Also the dark academia/ magic school setting is always kind of fun- it was giving me a lot of the same dark vibes I got from The Magicians TV Show and the writing craft of this was actually pretty solid. The cast of side characters were okay… kind of forgettable though and I didn’t really feel like there was a heap of depth there.

A pretty significant portion of why this was such a hard read for me came from the fact that it is single POV of THE MOST INSUFFERABLE CHARACTER EVER. And if you know me, you know that I love a difficult and unlikable character but I can’t handle characters who repeatedly do dumb shit.

I think in part, the flat affect delivery of the audiobook narrator probably didn’t help heaps but Lennon just had so many of character traits that trigger me off and I just found myself yelling “oh my god, shut up” in my car on a regular basis.

To start with, she seems to have this persistent daddy issue complex where she is constantly throwing herself at men who she sees as mature and worldly but mostly they just treat her like shit, and while daddy kinks aren’t my jam I have no problem with people liking them and can normally just glance past it, but there was something about how integral it was to her character that gave me the ick. I feel like seeing her have a character arc where she learns to be independent of the men in her life would have been more enjoyable than the rotation of problematic relationships we got instead.

Lennon was also guilty of another thing I can’t stand which is where an inexperienced character forces their way into going with the experienced character into high tension situations, which are above their skill level, and then when things inevitably go wrong, instead of fucking off to safety like they’re told, they just keep asking unnecessary and stupid questions making things worse.

Also considering a forbidden romance between a professor and college student had the potential to be really fun, this had all of the chemistry of a piece of bread left in the bottom of the sink. I think I checked out when, as a woman in her mid 20s, she called her professor- Dante, throwing a tantrum because he stopped wanting to be her advisor (after she tried to initiate a kiss with him that he told her he didn’t want) and then emotionally black mailed him into taking her back as his advisee. Honestly, she just so often made stupid choices and decisions that I couldn’t deal. And some of the scenes she had with Dante, when he was trying to put in place boundaries with her, and her subsequent disregard of those boundaries also gave me the ick. Honestly, after some of the initial scenes, I just didn’t buy into this romance at all.

I’m sure this will find its audience. There is good bipoc and queer representation in this and there seems to be plenty of people who had a good time with this, unfortunately that audience was not me. I am a character girlie and it doesn’t matter how much promise the rest of the book might have if I can’t vibe with that- thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[Sydney Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* My last book of the year 🥲 and it was SO GOOOD I love Alexis Henderson so damn much

[Alexandra (Lexi) Roselyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobbing. I think Alexis Henderson might be one of my favorite authors of all time. I picked it up and literally could not put it down. Touching, horrifying, and heartbreaking.

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Dark, Captivating, and Haunting ✨
I am honestly still trying to wrap my head around this book as I write this review; so with that being said it might be a little bit of everywhere. Dark academia is not usually my go to genre but I was extremely intrigued by the title, the cover, and the synopsis of this book. When I got accepted for the arc, I was so excited that I immediately dived in. On top of that, this was my first book by Alexis Henderson. Have you ever read a book that you know you enjoyed because you can't stop thinking about it after you read it, but it is so hard to put into words why because the book itself is so complex. This is that book for me and this book is not perfect: sometimes the pacing felt slow to me and I had trouble connecting to the characters at times. However,since I finished it I have not stopped thinking about the book and the experience I went through reading it.

*:･ﾟ✧ Plot *:･ﾟ✧
Our FMC, Lennon's,life is falling apart when she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic. With nothing to keep her from saying no she goes to find out she has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion. She has the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.
Under the mentorship of her mysterious and morally grey advisor, Dante, Lennon's abilities to control her magic grows. Throughout her studies, she begins to uncover the dark and haunting past of Drayton College and how her advisor is intertwined with it. Lennon's power continues to be pushed and forced causing her to feel the darkness that comes with it. Questioning herself, can she overcome her power and at what cost?

*:･ﾟ✧ What to Expect *:･ﾟ✧
♟️Unique Magic System
♟️Rivalry
♟️Dark Academia
♟️Hint of Forbidden Romance

If you are a lover of dark academia, gothic/horror, morally grey characters, secret societies, the things people will do for power, and the costs associated with it than this book is everything you are looking for and more. Henderson's writing paints a vivid atmosphere that makes you question reality. The unique magic system of persuasion is what makes the book so complex but also riveting and compelling. I was consumed by the dark and haunting vibes of this book. At times it makes you question the darkest parts of yourself as you follow the moral dilemma's and decisions of the complex and morally grey characters. I would definitely recommend this book and the overall reading experience.

Please check your trigger warnings before reading

Thank you to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and Alexis Henderson for early access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

As someone who loves dark academia, I was really anticipating this new release. The premise sounded incredible but I was disappointed to find the actual story did not live up to those expectations.

My issue is that characters are incredibly important in these kinds of stories and I found these ones so flat. Without feeling attachment (or even interest) with the characters, I struggled to become and stay immersed in the plot.

Other fans of dark academia may enjoy this one more but it unfortunately did not work well for me.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down – seriously, I grabbed it every spare second I had! The plot? Totally unique. I’ve read plenty of "School for the Talented" type stories, but none have grabbed my attention like this one. It’s more on the adult side, which I loved—no petty high school drama or vicious betrayals.

Lennon, our main character, has a special talent. But it’s not your usual flashy power – it’s all about the mind and psyche, which makes it almost believable, yet just wild enough to feel superhuman. Enter Dante, the professor, who helps Lennon hone her skills. And yes, as expected, there’s a touch of romance, but what I liked was that it wasn’t the steamy, over-the-top kind. It felt real, simple, and sweet.

And of course, no story is complete without a solid friend group! They were perfect, playing their roles without stealing the spotlight but still making you care about them. As I raced toward the ending, I had a few moments of "Wait, what’s going on here?" But don’t worry, it all came together beautifully.

Honestly, this book is probably one of my top reads of the year. Alexis is quickly climbing my list of favorite authors. Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for letting me dive into this ARC—it was fantastic!

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It was sick, but back then she had liked the power of punishing people with her absence. Of making herself disappear only to turn up again, like some twisted little magic trick.”

alexis henderson is really out here with some of the most beautiful writing i’ve ever read in my life. every book i pick up by her just amazes me with her prose. and this story has one of the most unique premises i’ve ever read, as well.

lennon carter is at her engagement party when she realizes that maybe this is not the life she is meant to have, regardless how much she wants to be worthy of love, even with a shitty partner. one escape and payphone later, she is swept into a world of academics she never knew existed - filled with gates and shadows and a different set of expectations. and i loved it so very much.

i feel like this story might be better to go in not knowing anything more than that, but i will say that this has one of the best endings i’ve read in a very long time. just haunting and perfect and i feel like alexis really went for it, and it really paid off for me and my reading tastes.i also love how this author talks about different biracial experiences in her books, and this was no different. this book also really discusses mental health and prioritizing healing - both by yourself and with the help of others. and how that journey can be a really hard one to navigate, especially alone, or with people who will maybe not make the best choices alongside you. this was just expertly crafted and i never wanted to stop flipping these pages. and i hope that if you’re reading this, you open all the gates you want to open, regardless of anyone else’s feelings and wants, ever.

trigger + content warnings: racism, panic attacks, talk of rehab / psychiatric hospital, cheating, suicidal thoughts, student + advisor relationship (with uneven power dynamics), drug use, smoking, blood, vomit, seizures, asthma attacks, magical experimentation on rats, talk of domestic abuse in past, suicide, one sentence mention of cancer, talk of loss of sibling in past, statutory rape in past, crown crush, talk of overdose, dark compulsion thoughts / ocd, violence, grief, death of animals (fish, birds, maybe rats), magical compulsion, gore, ptsd, sex shaming (negative light), drowning, one brief scene involving a white supremist. This story can get pretty dark at times, especially with mental health and some dark thoughts that can come during hard times, so please use caution!

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♡ The Year of the Witching ★★★★

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

love that we had a little rat revolution thrown in there (gregory you will not be forgotten)

thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc!

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[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easily one of the most unique dark academia stories I’ve read. It’s hard not to become enthralled with this academy when you’re experiencing the lessons of persuasion right alongside Lennon, all while being thoroughly wrapped within messy and morally grey dynamics that you can’t look away from. The ambition, the power struggles, the yearning to be someone all proved authentic as we enter an endless grapple for the top-spot. And with gothic/horror elements to add an extra sprinkling of tension, it was hard not to avidly read this in the late hours of the night.

[Zana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The disappointing cousin of Atlas Six and Vita Nostra mixed with a pinch of Inception. Boring and written to market.

It's like going to the Build-A-Trope store: Booktok edition and asking for dark academia, BIPOC MCs, student/teacher romance, while a faceless and very interchangeable friend group brings up the rear (I couldn't tell any of them apart, nor did I care).

The ending twist could've been good, but only if you're not a regular consumer of SFF media.

If all you read/watch/listen to is SFF, then skip. But if you're a casual consumer, this might be a good start to dark academia/dark fantasy.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

edit - I can't stop thinking about this book, so gotta bump it to 5 stars.

This book has a weird and beautiful melancholy to it that’s so hard to put into words. Henderson’s expertly juggling themes of grief, depression, rejection, longing and acceptance with the dangerous power of persuasion and a frustrating cast of characters. I haven’t read her work since The Year of the Witching (which I loved), so it was awesome to see how much her writing has grown through the years. This is a somber read that’ll linger for sure

[emma]

i see dark academia, i click want to read

[elle ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this arc. And now, I’m just really disappointed.

2 Stars 🌟 🌟(This will not be a cute review since I didn’t enjoy it lol, don’t wanna take the time)

The concept was there, the idea was quite interesting, but the execution just didn’t happen for me.

An Academy for Liars follows our main character, Lennon. At the beginning of the book, Lennon experiences something that causes her to want to end her life. She reaches out, asking for a sign to make her reconsider. In an eerie parking lot, a phone booth covered in ivy starts to ring. She answers the phone, and is told to head to Ogden, Utah for her interview for Drayton College the very next morning. She goes (who on earth would drive to a stranger’s house lol) and ultimately gets accepted into Drayton College, where she will learn the art of persuasion and influencing one’s will.

This concept of persuasion was very intriguing to me, but I personally did not appreciate how it was executed. The book was very fast paced and confusing at times, and we never really stopped to explain things. I think this had potential to have excellent worldbuilding, but there wasn’t much given. I was hoping for a very atmospheric, dark academia novel.

I also didn’t necessarily find this to be “dark academia”, which is the whole reason I wanted to read this! It wasn’t moody or atmospheric; it was really weird, grotesque, and more horror-esque at times. I don’t know how to describe it, but the school did not give off dark academia.

This book definitely recycles its words often. I’d find the same unique word used multiple times within a few pages, and then there would be a new word that stuck out. This might just be me nitpicking, but it’s something that really takes me out of a story.

I am quite tired of the “I’m not good at anything” trope girl who is shocked when someone is jealous of her and her terrible life. This FMC thrives off of this feeling.

Also - I know this is an arc, so hopefully this gets fixed before publication, but the amount of hyphens splitting up words was absurd and very distracting. My review is completely based on the story, but the format was completely jacked up. The wo-rding was li-ke th-is for the entire-ty of the bo-ok.

*Spoilers Ahead*

Lennon- Our FMC is in her mid-twenties and is one of the most powerful persuasionists in awhile, due to her ability to “open gates”. I feel like Lennon made stupid decisions left and right through this book, and it just became infuriating to me. She purposefully overdoses on cocaine to see if it’ll open up gates (I felt like I was doing illegal substances side by side with our FMC with how much of a mindfuck this book was lol). And later, we discover she’s quite the murderer. Lennon is incredibly whiny and pick-me throughout the book, and I simply did not like a single thing about her.

Dante- Our mystery man. The thirty-something year old professor who says he can’t get with the younger student, but then one night he magically changes his mind (Sorry, I really hate the professorxstudent trope). Supposed to be morally gray, but not much going for him. We learn he has a dark past, but then we never get to dive into it at all. His character was incredibly one dimensional, and I also had no feelings toward his character.

I did not enjoy any characters in this story, actually.

Lennon and Dante have a weird romance in this book. I feel like it can’t even be classified as a slow burn because there are no sparks between them at all. The chemistry is not there at all - there are no elements available for chemistry to even happen. They get together in Dante’s house in South Carolina, and it was really, really awkward. Here’s a direct quote: “From then on, they did what they did in silence”. They did what they did? And silence? You’re telling me I’m supposed to believe these characters have chemistry!?

I was so disappointed by this book. I wanted the dark academia vibes with some forbidden romance, and I was left empty handed. It didn’t stand out in any way to me, and the whole story felt one dimensional. The potential for an incredible world and story was there, but was poorly executed.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc!

[patrycja ୨୧ ‧₊˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

— 1 ★

an academy for liars? more like, flavorless academy of boredom and instant reader's regrets.

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars! 🥀 OMG, this book was a ride! At first, I was like, “Dark academia? Cool, I��m intrigued, but where’s the oomph?” The first half was sloooow—like, 3.5-star slow—but then the last 20%? ABSOLUTE CHAOS. Twists, turns, and moral dilemmas hit me like a train, and that first twist? Horrifying. I was clutching my imaginary pearls. The ending? BRILLIANT. 👏 Sure, there were some unanswered questions (keeping that mysterious allure alive), but it offered enough closure to satisfy. A sequel would be everything, but honestly, it stands strong on its own.



Tropes on tropes!
✧ Dark academia vibes 🖤
✧ Secret magical school 🎓
✧ Gifted heroine 🌟
✧ Morally grey mentor 👀
✧ Forbidden student-teacher romance 💗
✧ Unique magic system ✨
✧ Gothic horror vibes 🕯️
✧ Power struggles ⚔️
✧ Slow burn suspense 💋
✧ Secret societies 🕵️

This was a slow crawl to brilliance! If you can survive the sluggish start, the payoff will knock your socks off. The writing? Atmospheric and completely immersive. The characters? Deliciously complex and morally ambiguous (looking at you, Dante). The magic system? Chilling and unlike anything I’ve read before. Just a heads-up—this is dark, messy, and unapologetically intense. No sunshine or rainbows here, folks. 🌫️

CW:
- Violence, gore, and injuries
- Blood and seizures
- Murder and coercion
- Dark themes and horror elements
- Questionable animal ethics (no deaths but testing is mentioned)

Would I recommend? Absolutely! Just buckle up, embrace the horror vibes, and let the chaos consume you. 😈



Image credits: Pinterest.

[mina reads™️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sort of shocked me with how much I loved it by the end. The beginning for me was a bit torturous as our protagonist, Lennon, finds herself enrolled in a magical school and is in a constant state of shock, awe and confusion at the things transpiring around her. I understood her confusion but the narrative tended towards info-dumpy dialogue as the main mode of exposition and I struggled to connect with the characters or register the bonds that were meant to be forming amongst the characters because of the relatively stilted and almost interview like cadence of every conversation.

Now, I won't say this issue fully went away, in fact the sort of stilted dialogue is my main gripe with the book, but eventually I truly can't say that I cared. Alexis Henderson totally won me over with this plot and the general atmosphere of this story. I loved Lennon and Dante’s whole…thing. Their dynamic really fueled the story. Dante’s mystique was exactly what a story like this needed. The third act stepped on the gas and went so crazy I was almost breathless turning the pages. I loved the way the magic worked and the intensely psychological aspect to it all. It was very trippy and unnerving, loved it!

One other gripe I have with the story was the fact that the progression of Lennon's power skills at any given time seemed sort of inconsistent but whatever. The cool, powerful, gifted girl is cool and powerful why not? It was a deeply entertaining reading journey for me. I can see it being divisive among readers, but I had fun.

3.75 stars

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy, all thoughts are my own.

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd say this is like Ninth House, but I never managed to actually finish Ninth House so you don't have to believe me.
I'd say this is like The Atlas Six, but everyone in The Atlas Six is sluttier and has already graduated, so... you don't have to believe me either.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

dark academia vibes were great, & there were some pretty intense moments, but I'm so sick of reading the word elevator, & I'm so sad it took a slightly sci-fi turn.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Title/Author: An Academy for Liars

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Ace/Penguin

Format: NetGalley (own a physical copy)

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Year of the Witching, House of Hunger

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978059363...

Release Date: September 17th, 2024

General Genre: Horromantasy, Dark Academia, Paranormal,

Sub-Genre/Themes: Light romance, paranormal abilities, diverse cast of characters

Writing Style: dark stories between horror and fantasy, balancing speculative elements with social issues and universal themes like grief, class, and questions of identity. Realistic world-building

What You Need to Know: "A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel"

My Reading Experience: Stepping into An Academy of Liars is equal parts enchanting and disorienting. Alexis Henderson crafts a world steeped in lush, magical realism. The setting is a masterpiece of dark academia, I loved the chapters describing the library, classrooms, and academy grounds.
The protagonist, Lennon, is a character who immediately intrigued me—but not always for the right reasons. Her eagerness to escape her old life and leap into the unknown world of the Academy left me questioning her motivations. This impulsiveness speaks to a desire to break free of bad circumstances and betrayal but it felt unrealistic not to have any ties to her former life. She disappears. Who can immerse themselves in a secret academy for weeks on end without a single thought to anyone or any situation back home? I kept thinking about that.; it was just so immediate and seamless. She barely hesitates, questioning nothing about this strange, foreboding school, which dulled some of the tension I craved early on. Her willingness to leave behind everything, to throw herself headfirst into a situation that practically screams danger, felt like it needed a stronger foundation in her character arc.
That said, Lennon’s enthusiasm and ambition are what draw you into the story’s emotional core. The Academy is a place of intoxicating possibility—a world she’s desperate to claim for herself.
And let’s talk about the romance, it felt unnecessary. For a story so rich in setting, the romance seemed to detract from the real allure: the Academy itself and Lennon’s evolving relationship with its many secrets. I found myself wishing for those pages to be spent diving deeper into the Academy’s motivations and the consequences of Lennon’s choices.
I think my main struggle was that I just didn't fall in love with Lennon. I think I wanted more of the Academy and a real purpose for its existence. Why the art of persuasion? Just a deeper dive into the foundations of the school and its disciplines rather than the interpersonal drama between its students. But I did enjoy myself. I love Alexis Henderson, I'm a mega-fan and will show up to everything

Final Recommendation: An Academy of Liars offers a magical experience. It’s bold and unafraid to take risks. Henderson’s storytelling has an undeniable magnetism, and though this journey left me slightly at odds, I’m glad I took it. If you’re drawn to dark academia with a side of romance this one’s worth your time. 3.5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads & NetGalley)

Comps: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas, The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
-Dark Academia
-Psychological horror
-intense world building
-Dark fantasy
-Romance
-Diverse cast of characters
-some horror elements
-Strong female protagonist
-Mystery/thriller elements

[Alexia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such a frustrating experience with the book.
Some of the issues I had with this were characters lacking depth, a meandering plot, and a romance that felt problematic rather than engaging.
The fact that Lennon, the main character, seems to revert to her initial state by the end of the story is disappointing, especially when typically you'd expect some form of growth or resolution.
Also, her relationship with Dante added to my frustration with his patronizing behavior and the unequal dynamic between them.
It would have been more satisfying if Lennon had embarked on a journey of self-discovery rather than remaining dependent on a man.
This could have provided a more empowering and meaningful conclusion to her character arc.
The side characters:
It has been really difficult to stay engaged with the story when the characters all felt so one-dimensional.
Characters lack distinct personalities, which makes the entire reading experience feel bland.
If I can't tell the characters apart, it makes it hard for me to connect with their journeys, struggles, or growth, leaving the story feeling hollow.
The lack of development across the book hurt the potential of the plot a lot.

P.S.: All the characters were so dumb.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark, atmospheric, mysterious, and wonderfully written, An Academy for Liars looks at Dark Academia. Lennon receives a bizarre and mysterious phone call inviting her to Drayton College to take her entrance exam. She has never heard of the school before, but she is looking for a fresh start, so she heads off to Drayton College for magic, where she and others will learn to hone their abilities. Things will not be easy at Drayton College, but Lennon is up to the challenge and enjoys her studies. There she has an advisor, Dante, who is equally intriguing and exciting.

This book was a slow burn, and I struggle with slow burns. I found myself wanting to move this book along to learn more about Lennon, Dante, and Drayton College. The college has a dark and secret history, and I was intrigued to learn more.

One thing that Alexis Henderson excels at is atmosphere, building unique worlds, and tension. She came on my radar when I read the gripping and beautifully written, The Year of the Witching. She continued to dazzle me with House of Hunger. She is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

There were parts of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I was fully engaged, then there were parts that I wanted to move along. Overall, this was an enjoyable read but one I did not enjoy as much as I did the other books that I read by her.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect of this when I went into it aside from dark academia vibes. It was a weird one for me - part of me was invested and sucked in especially in atmosphere . The other found that I didn't care about characters which as it took me longer to read than I'd have expected.
Overall, this book will definitely have it's audience.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to give the story a moment to really grab my attention but after a few chapters was so immersed that I could put it down!

This book is one of a kind, and the writing is amazing. Alexis Henderson's writing blends romance, scholarly language, and mystery to create a dreadful setting that captivates the reader. The dark atmosphere is convincing and expertly handled. It might be one of the best dark academic novels I've read in a long time.

Lennon was a fantastic character, and I appreciated that she struggled in school and didn't start out with extraordinary power or intelligence before finally picking up the skills and developing her abilities. The story of power and corruption is both disturbing and fascinating here. I adore good characters who undergo this metamorphosis, therefore I really enjoyed how the main character got corrupted by this power.

Though there were several different narratives, everything came together flawlessly at the conclusion, leaving no loose ends. Although there is some romance and strong sexual tension in this book, it is much more than that. A satisfying storyline that doesn't overshadow the romance throughout the novel is balanced beautifully.

I'm excited to see what this author comes up with next. If you enjoy dark academia and flawed characters, as well as a lot of action, this is the book for you.

[Liv Kaelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy pub day omg!!! So excited for everyone that is going to be diving into this one 🥳

For dark academia fans--this is an absolute must read (and coming out just in time for spooky season, mind you!!!). This was a WILD ride that I am only mildly embarrassed to admit scared the 💩 out of me at points.

First and foremost--this was my first Alexis Henderson book somehow, and it absolutely will not be the last. Her writing in this is stellar, and I am inclined to believe based on this book and everyone else's high praise of her other novels that they are all just as top tier as this one.

The world was vivid and engrossing. Everything was clearly painted and it felt like watching a magical, haunting, horror leaning fantasy film. I found myself on multiple occasions getting totally lost in this book and forgetting that I was even reading at all, which is a feeling I'm constantly chasing. If something can make me not want to pick up my phone and scroll TikTok endlessly (except for when I get scared and have to go watch cute animal videos to decompress in this book's case), we've got a winner on our hands.

The story was not MY perfect fantasy story, which legitimately is the only reason I am not rating this higher--I sometimes can tire of the magic school setting (I know I'm super in the minority there) and dark academia isn't really my preferred aesthetic. This book suffered from both of those things in my eyes--it was a fantastic story that I'm certain is going to be a BANGER for many, but just sits at really good for me due to it not being my personal cup of tea aesthetically and certain tropes feeling a bit overdone.

That said, if you are a magic school setting fan, a dark academia fan, and/or horror fan--I implore you to read this book. It's spooky, it's trippy, it's got a touch of romance (but not overdone/cheesy IMO), it's got a really interesting magic system, magic schools, secret societies, and so much more. 3.75 stars rounded up. 👻

Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading, however--it is dark in every sense of the word.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[h o l l i s · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite an intriguing start that really pulled me in with the mystery of a call out of nowhere, directions to a school that shouldn't exist, and powers that the recipients of said call didn't know they possessed, this definitely lost traction along the way. And by that I mean the atmosphere was working overtime to try and make up for a cast of characters I felt nothing for and a very thin plot that had absolutely no tension or stakes or, for me, sense.

And don't even get me started on one of the weak interpersonal conflicts that we then spend too much time agonizing over once it's done. Or the romance that had absolutely no legs to stand on. And then the big climax? I mean.. there was one small element once we got a peek behind the curtain that I did sorta like but honestly it wasn't enough to salvage this. And despite how uninvested I was, I feel like I have a whole host of unanswered questions; or rather, it feels like certain things that were dangled in front of us to add to mystique and uncertainty were never revisited and I'm annoyed by the lack of follow-through.

Ultimately, I don't know if it was the writing that failed to pay out the promised dividends or what but clearly I'm just not meant to enjoy the labour of this author's offerings because this makes for strike two and I don't think I'll be coming back for a third.

I'm really disappointed but considering all the appealing ingredients that make up this story I'm sure other readers will be satisfied by the meal it makes.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Joana’s World · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started wow, it ended meh

[nari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cannot even fathom the fact that this was published when its so poorly written. I thought this was a debut novel and was going to be sympathetic towards the author a bit. But god, no, it's not. The writing is so terrible, and it's not even the good corny type. It's just BAD. The plot and the development were so so poorly executed literally the events did not make sense. There was no substance and no build ups it was so bad. The characters have zero development and relevance if not used as bad plot devices. The MC is beyond irritating and dumb, and her "talents and skills" absolutely made no sense for whatever reason. And why are her hazel eyes and curly hair the /and I quote/ "dangerous" and "odd" factors of her features I wanted to scream. And I won't even elaborate on the romance or the empty 'friendships'. And god, the fantasy elements were so messy and had no foundation. Terrible bloody book.