Whispers Most Foul

by Emma MacDonald

Rose Thenlif, the only student unable to cast spells at the elite Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft, prefers keeping her nose in books and away from the sneers of her classmates, or the critical eyes of her headmistress mother. But when her fellow classmates begin to go missing, she finds that she alone can see their ghosts.

Worse yet, Rose’s latest ghostly vision is her greatest academic rival, her talented and recently vanished classmate Sylvie. Now the reluctant pair must team up to uncover the deadly secret at the heart of Dunhollow. But neither of them are prepared to uncover their feelings for one another, a love that will take them to the edge of life and death . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Romance, Dark Academia, LGBT, Young Adult, Mystery

380 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Emma MacDonald currently resides outside of Washington, DC, living out her dreams as a witch in the woods.

When she’s not writing, she can be found gardening, brewing potions, or chasing after her small menagerie of pets. Emma loves to write fantasy with a big splash of magic and romance.

Her debut Adult Fantasy dark academia novel, WHISPERS MOST FOUL, was published by Penguin Michael Joseph in October 2024, with its sequel WHISPERS MOST DEADLY soon to follow in Fall of 2025.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, the author fed a few Harry Potter scenes into the YA Dark Academia generator and the AI formulated this overwritten jest. Yes?

[Johanna Van]

I got to blurb this book!

"A deeply gothic story full of romance, magic, mystery, and a dash of horror, Whispers Most Foul is a true treat."

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

TLDR for this one: I stuck with it to the end, but it was one of those books where I wish I hadn’t bothered. *Stares longingly at all the other books I want to read*

I promised myself that if a book doesn’t grab me in the first few chapters then I was going to move on. I gave this one longer than I usually would, and it was so slow to get going. I was about 40% into the book (according to GoodReads) before it felt like the ‘main plot’ actually started.

The story could have been good. It was the pacing and writing that let it down. I can see the author was trying to create a gothic atmosphere and the dark academia vibe, however, the description was distracting and awkward, especially at the beginning. It broke the immersion into the world. The pacing got better in the middle, however, by the end I was back to feeling bored by the unnecessary details and I felt no connection to the characters and their ending.

Speaking of the characters…Rose, the protagonist is annoying, she irritated me. Her constant battle of, ‘should I tell someone I can see ghosts or shouldn’t I?’ held the story back and stopped the much needed plot progression. I was fed up of waiting for her to reveal, to her supposedly best friend, that she was seeing the ghost of a girl that had disappeared. If it was meant to be a plot device to build tension it didn’t work.

And the best friend…Fen, is a caricature of the ‘popular guy who everyone lusts after, but he has depth that only she sees’. This would have been fine if it wasn’t mentioned everytime he appeared in a scene. Although, by the end it seems everyone had forgotten about him anyway.

The only character I actually liked was Rose’s rival, Sylvie – she’s snarky and provides some comedic relief.

One of the things that originally appealed to me about the book was the dark academia setting. Despite all the description you don’t really get a vivid picture of the academic buildings and campus. The gothic vibes are missing. To me, it came across as being more like a high school or boarding school rather than a University campus. I’d say the University setting was used so they could market it towards an adult audience, however it felt childlike and cringe with, for example, the teacher’s having alliterative names; Briony Burroak, Delia Droosberil and Soren Sylverfir.

Even though the blurb calls the University, The Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft, it’s not referred to as that in the book. Nor is there any mention of Witchcraft, other than to say the students don’t like to be called witches. They are casters. When it comes to the magic system it’s not explained very well, if at all. As a reader we have more understanding of the magic that is considered illegal: dreams, divining and necromancy.

By the end I felt like there was no where else to go with the story, and I had developed no connection to the characters. There is going to be another book. It doesn’t need another book, and I won’t be reading it.

I want to end this review by saying I hate writing bad reviews because someone has written this story and that takes a lot. I wish I could do it, and the reason I don’t is because I worry it won’t be good enough. So to write something is extremely brave. Just because this story wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you or someone else. In that case let me know if you loved this one!

[Dee Hancocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously gothic dark academia. Whispers Most Foul has that perfect balance between giving us a dark plot and then having added romance to lighten the mood. The magic school is really cool, vividly described and we get enough of the lessons/library for the academic in me to be satisfied. The language used is immersive and atmospheric, this is definitely a book to read in the dark with rain pattering at your window. The actual plot is great, I loved every minute and didn’t want to put it down. There are definitely some chilling moments that some readers may find disturbing, which I personally couldn’t get enough of! The book gave me Wednesday vibes. Definitely highly recommend. 4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

[faria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning gothic read that enchants you from the first page.

Rose is an outcast at Dunhollow academy, she can’t cast spells and prefers to spend her time in the library much to the dismay of her mother who happens to be the headmistress. Picked on by her peers, Rose is resigned to keeping to the shadows until her fellow students start disappearing and she alone can still see them. A deadly and sinister mystery haunts Dunhollow academy and Rose is the key to unraveling it.

I adored this world a lot. Perfectly seasonal, the dark academia vibes were perfect. Despite appearances Rose is in no way a timid character which I totally love about her.

I was literally in tears by the end of this book. I honestly had no idea who could’ve been behind everything but the ending had me reading with blurry vision. I’m massively curious about what comes next with Rose and who she’s become, I cannot wait for more!!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entry in the increasingly crowded dark academia sub-genre, but a standout in the category in my opinion.

Rose Thenlif attends Dunhollow Academy, a school of magic, where she's academically gifted despite being unable to cast the simplest spell. This doesn't stop her overbearing mother, the headmistress of the Academy, from forcing her into spell-casting courses that she's unsuited for. While she struggles with school and her mother's expectations and demands, a student goes missing, and Rose begins to see ghostly apparitions of them. This becomes even more concerning when Rose's main rival at the school also goes missing and then goes on to appear as a ghost only visible to her.

The cast have great characterization, and many of them have sufficient shadiness to be suspects in what's going on. There's also what's happening with Rose's ability to see the ghosts and what that means for her own magical ability, on top of who is responsible for the disappearance of the students and what they're doing it for. Layers of mystery make for a fascinating approach to this genre, and the hint of romance between Rose and her rival is great too.

Highly recommended and I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Marlena123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.75. The themes were great but I really felt like the pacing of the story felt off. As if everything happens in the second half. I had to push myself through the first half until it finally got good!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75✨ I would dabble in necromancy for sure

[Geertje]

This gothic romantasy meets dark academia novel with a dash of horror set at a magical university has all the elements to make it a favourite with the tiktok girlies:
-chaotic bisexual main character;
-lots of other queer rep;
-magic school;
-enemies to lovers
And more!

Perfect for fall, that's for sure.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Atmospheric and full of gut-wrenching emotions, Whispers Most Foul is a sapphic adult fantasy dark academia novel that I had to keep myself from devouring whole in one sitting.

At the elite Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft, Rose Thenlif is the only university student unable to cast spells, exiling her from her cutthroat magical peers and earning her headmistress mother's sharp criticism. But when students start to go missing, Rose is suddenly haunted by their ghosts, which only she can see. Then Sylvie, her academic rival, vanishes, only to reappear in Rose's ghostly visions. Desperate for answers, Rose reluctantly teams up with Sylvie in a race to discover what—or who—is behind the disappearances. As the two of them grow closer to each other and the truth, they realize the division between life and death is whisper-thin when it comes to love.

I absolutely loved reading Rose's story. The mystery is well-paced, the horror elements are incredibly vivid (that bath scene will live in my nightmares), the characters are complex and interesting, the world building is intriguing, and the rival-to-lovers romance is pitch perfect.
If you like books with an all-queer cast, pining and angst, secret societies, bi ghost girlfriends, and murder mysteries, I highly recommend Whispers Most Foul.

Content warnings: child death, death, violence, blood, medical content, grief, murder, injury/injury detail, classism

[Mars Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give Whispers Most Foul 10 stars! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

I felt transported to the hallowed halls of Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft from the very first page and I didn’t want to leave. Magical flying books, exciting classes, and dark mysteries down every corridor - I’m obsessed!

The dark academia aesthetic and narrative was so captivating and immersive - you can tell that Emma was writing what she knew, because she captured it perfectly!

I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers dynamic between Rose and Sylvie. It was so believable and explored with perfect pacing and rich emotional depth. I can’t wait to see what book two brings to their relationship!

The horror elements were chilling and I had to turn all the lights on!! They really added a rich darkness to the tale. Although I will be traumatised by that bath scene for many years to come - talk about frightening!!

That ending! I was crying and will be haunted by it forever 🥲

This book has everything anyone looking for a perfect magical dark academia read could hope for!

Dunhollow Academy is magical school where everyone is welcome. I can’t wait to return in book two!

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose is a student of a magical school but she's unable to cast her own spells. When another student goes missing though she finds herself being haunted by the ghost of that student and she has no idea how to deal with it or who to tell about it since necromancy is forbidden in the empire.

I really enjoyed how climactic and creepy this story was. Straight from the start the ghost is terrifying and it's easy to be legitimately scared for the main character. Then the story really nicely builds its mystery and conspiracy to the point that it's really difficult to guess where the story is going because so many characters could be behind what's happening.

I do think the worldbuilding is a little bit of a weakness for this story. We know very little about this world beyond the functioning of the school which felt a bit weird. But I'm very curious how the sequel will build up on this idea and I really hope it won't end up being an overwhelming tasks to build a whole world from scratch in a second book in a series. I guess time will tell.

I also really enjoyed the romance of the story. I thought it was a really well built enemies to lovers trope with enough thrown in their way that you're never sure if the characters have any chance at happiness or not.

All in all it was very enjoyable read.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is fantastic but the payoff is awful.

I think this book tried to buy into the dark academia that was going round but it fails spectacularly and whilst rose and sylvie have potential it doesn’t feel right.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worst witch meets fourth wing and ninth house. Absolutely loved it!

[Aud Lacroix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mijn hart breekt voor Fen

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I had a great time reading this book, loved the world, and I can't wait to continue on!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to the publisher for approving my netgalley request!
Now, onto the book - I loved the concept idea: ghosts in a magic school and f/f ghost/human relationship?? Sounds awesome, sign me up.
It didn’t quite end up being as I’d imagined however, even though I overall enjoyed reading it.

Firstly, I could have done with a little more character development to feel closer to the characters. Fen felt a little like an acquaintance to Rose even though they were supposed to be best friends and exes - maybe if he was on the page more we could have seen how he felt about Rose more and I would have felt more whenever he was in danger.

I did think the Sylvie/Rose relationship was nicely done, maybe that’s where the time spent in the book on development went - I could sense their emotions easily on the page.

A likely side effect of this was that I didn’t read Whispers Most Foul for a day and in doing so I forgot 3 side characters entirely and had to flip back to remind myself who they were. Even writing this review now I can’t remember most of the three, only Sylvie’s rude ex.

In general I found the idea to be really interesting but the execution wasn’t for me. They did put in some good twists that I didn’t see coming, but I didn’t feel much of the suspense or the ticking clock towards the big finale, which also felt over before it even started.

Timing is key however, a big reveal at the end of the book seemed to appear just a bit too early for me to really give the most impact. Maybe if this had been shifted a bit later then it would have packed more of a punch and made more sense.

But the thing I noticed the most was that, while I was reading Whispers Most Foul, I kept looking at other books on my shelf and getting the strongest urge to pick them instead. I don’t tend to get this at all when I’m reading a book that I’m drawn in to. When that happens I’m much more likely to not want to put it down than start thinking about my next read.

I think I’ve shredded this book enough right now! Even though it may look like I really didn’t enjoy Whispers Most Foul, it was actually quite a fun spooky read, with some nitpicks things thrown in that would have just made it an awesome read.

Would recommend for anyone who likes magic schools, f/f romance, uncovering nefarious plots, and ghosts. It could be a nice Halloween/autumn read.

[Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spicy Level: 1/5
Tropes: Rivals to Lovers
Topics: Magic, Dark Academia
POV 3rd Person, FMC
Release: October 15, 2024

Whispers Most Foul is a dark fantasy mystery romance set in a fantasy world not of our own.

At Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft, Rose Thenlif, the only student who can't cast spells, prefers hiding in her books, avoiding her peers' mockery and the watchful gaze of her headmistress mother. But when students begin disappearing, only Rose can see their ghosts—starting with her most talented rival, Sylvie. As they reluctantly team up to solve the mystery of the vanishings, Rose and Sylvie uncover more than just dark secrets; they also confront unexpected feelings for each other, leading them into a dangerous love that blurs the line between life and death.

When it comes to world-building, the magic system and overall setting aren't overly complicated, drawing on familiar elements from other fantasy stories. This makes the world easy to grasp, and while there's some unique terminology (helpfully included in a glossary), the context is made clear through the frequent use of these terms by the characters.

The world’s broader history isn’t central to the plot in this first installment, so you won’t need to worry about keeping track of continent names or political intricacies. The story’s focus is more on the history of the school and the characters connected to it.

As for the protagonist, Rose, she brings a refreshing change to the typical fantasy lead. Unlike many young protagonists in the genre, she doesn’t come from a background of hardship. Though raised by her mother, the absence of her father isn’t a defining trauma in her life. Instead, her struggles stem from her mother’s high expectations and her inability to perform magic, something that makes her an outcast among her peers—except for her loyal friend, Fen.

Rose is isolated, often retreating into herself, finding comfort in expanding her practical knowledge of magic and, of course, in her books.

Although she faces bullying from both her mother and her peers, she isn't timid. While she may occasionally withdraw, more often than not, she's wise enough to pick her battles. Ultimately, her boldness and bravery stand out, and her determination to protect those she cares about—even her rival—becomes a defining trait, and the trait of familiar heroes we all love.

The other characters in her circle, Fen and Sylvie, are well-written, though I found myself wanting to know more about them. You get glimpses of their personalities and backstories, but I was left feeling a bit starved for deeper exploration, especially as they are dearest to Rose over everyone else.

Pacing in the first half was SLOW. It was tough to read through the first half. In that regard, the romance aspect of the plot is a slow burn! I would say at 60% things started to pickup. I do feel like it didn't have to drag on, or maybe other things could've been explored to hold interest during those slow moments. At 60% though, I couldn't put it down.

The writing style had a nice, almost Gothic feel, but leaned more toward whimsical. It wasn't fully Gothic, which isn’t a bad thing. The story carries a dark tone, but it doesn't dive into the bleakness typical of Gothic literature, so I'm not sure I would classify this book as gothic.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. While the characters are well-written, the pacing in the first half was slow and nearly lost my interest.

[Samantha Paterson (Magic.between.pages_za) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 Stars)

💡 This book hit that sweet spot between dark academia vibes, magical mystery, and slow-burn romance. If you’re into atmospheric stories with secret societies, eerie hallways, and complex characters who might just learn more about themselves than they bargained for — you’re going to love this.

📚 What’s It About?

Rose Thenlif is the classic underdog. At Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft, she’s the only student who can’t cast spells. She spends her days buried in books, dodging the judgment of her classmates and her headmistress mother. But when students start disappearing and their ghosts start appearing to Rose — including her fiercest academic rival, Sylvie — she realizes that being magic-less might just be the key to solving the mystery.

What starts as a ghost hunt quickly becomes more tangled as Rose and Sylvie uncover dark secrets about Dunhollow, secret societies, and themselves. And as the mystery unravels, so do their feelings for each other, leading to a romance that feels both inevitable and dangerous.

♥️ What I Loved: Dark Academia Meets Magical Mystery

The dark academia vibes are immaculate. Think ancient libraries, hidden passageways, and a boarding school filled with magic, mystery, and more than a few skeletons in the closet (literally). Dunhollow Academy feels alive — the kind of place that holds centuries of secrets if you know where to look.

The mystery itself is gripping. Missing students, secret societies, ghostly whispers — it kept me guessing right until the end. I love a good "haunted school" story, and this one delivered.
And then there’s Rose and Sylvie’s relationship. Their enemies-to-reluctant-allies dynamic is full of tension and slow-burn chemistry. Watching them navigate their differences and growing feelings while dealing with life-or-death stakes? Chef’s kiss. It adds an emotional layer to the mystery that makes the story even more compelling.

🌟 Themes: Inner Strength and Facing Your Fears

At its core, Whispers Most Foul is about finding your inner strength. Rose starts out feeling like an outsider — magic-less in a world that values power — but she learns to embrace her unique abilities and stand up to her fears.

There’s a message here about being more than what people expect of you and finding your own way, even when the odds are stacked against you. It’s a story about learning that strength doesn’t always look like what you think it does — and sometimes, the things that make you different are exactly what make you powerful.

✨ What Could’ve Been Better?

Honestly, not much! The pacing did slow down a bit in the middle, and I would’ve loved more backstory on Dunhollow’s secret society. It felt like there were layers of lore we almost got to see but not quite. Give me more hidden rituals and ancient conspiracies, please!

🎯 Final Thoughts: A Magical Mystery Worth Solving

If you love dark academia with a dash of magic and a twisty mystery to unravel, Whispers Most Foul is for you. It’s got haunted hallways, secret societies, and a swoon-worthy slow-burn romance that feels both tender and tragic.

There’s a lot to love here — and a few moments that might even give you chills. It’s a story about ghosts, yes, but also about the things we carry with us and the strength it takes to let them go.
Highly recommend this one if you’re in the mood for a moody, magical mystery with heart.

[Maria P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read, but it didn't grip me as much as I'd hoped. On the surface, it holds a lot of the things I love in a novel: Academic Setting, Romantic Sub Plot, a Mystery to be solved. Yet, none of it really met my expectation.

Though it's set in an Academy, there's not a lot of focus on the magic systems, or the school's learning material. Yes, there's romance, but it's barely there until it hits quite abruptly (in my opinion). And the mystery begins with a lot of cliche hauntings that feel as though they're a device to jumpscare the reader rather than hold any purpose.

Granted, it's my first time reading a novel with such an obvious horror element, so perhaps this is my personal preference and other readers used to the genre would appreciate it a lot more. I also found that the story read quite YA, even though the characters are old enough to drink red wine on the regular. This tended to take me out of the story often.

I feel as though the story started in the wrong place - the beginning drags a little while it's setting the scene and introducing the horror elements. Though in my mind, the story should begin when Sylvie first appears to Rose in ghost form. Aveline just feels like a plot device used to scare the reader, rather than being her own person with her own goals.

I enjoyed the relationships between some of the main characters - I love a story with mother-daughter issues, and family secrets are always fun! But I wish that Rose had been less passive. I understand that a part of her character is that she is timid and trying to people please her mother, but her lack of independence made it hard to root for her. The majority of the story was events happening to her, or a variant on the miscommunication trope where information is withheld from her for various reasons.

I will say that I liked the whodunit element of the story. It felt well done, and I didn't suspect the actual person behind it all due to other red herrings. While I didn't guess the villain, it didn't feel improbable either. In fact, the person I did suspect ended up being one of the victims!

It's a shame because the ending felt quite strong; the action at the last minute really set up the drama and lead into the next book. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of the epilogue. Without giving any spoilers, it feels like the next book will be of an entirely different tone to the one I just read. While I dislike it when sequels repeat parts of the first book, I worry that this sequel will be entirely disconnected and we may lose parts of the story that I did enjoy.

I probably wouldn't re-read this book, though I potentially may pick up the sequel. I need to read more about it to gauge interest! However, I would recommend to people who enjoy the dark academia/horror genre as you will likely enjoy it more than I did!

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers Most Foul: A Gripping Mystery amidst Academic Pressure

Emma's Whispers Most Foul is a deft mosaic of mystery and magic, coming-of-age amidst the turmoil of a community. Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft is where magic and blood join to create the most elite and powerful strata of society. Rose Thenlif is just a tiny witch who does not fit anywhere in might and estate.

Against the backdrop of relentless academic pressure and ruthless competition, Rose—who is an outsider and basically has a meager magic heritage to them—must not only keep up a complex social hierarchy but also live with a haunting secret. This secret is what sets her apart from the rest of her peers and becomes a key to unraveling a sinister mystery shadowing over the academy.

A world full of intrigue and danger. There is a tension in the air with a threat starting from the very first disappearance of students, through to a long shadow cast across Dunhollow. She balanced this tightrope walk deftly, Rose's mind torn between academic pressure and growing horror against the supernatural threat.

It is also among the strong points of the novel that Rose's character is actually developed. One gets drawn into her development from scared and insecure schoolgirl to determined and brave young woman, very inspiring and relatable. The mystery grows with her, and she makes for a most compelling lead protagonist.

While the other characters are less fleshed out compared to Rose, they really help to push forward the mood of the story. There are rivalries and friendships at the academy that further flesh out the narrative.

The novel balances everything out, with each chapter alternating between its academic world and its supernatural elements. The approach builds to a certain level of suspense, making the reader get attached to the book.

This bundle of mystery and magic with loads of character growth only adds to the mix for a truly compelling read. It does flow and leaves one looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Whispers Most Foul has everything, or at least almost everything, that readers who love young adult fantasy and mystery wish for.

[Kezia Lucas (keziareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

Whispers Most Foul is an atmospheric dark academic fantasy that truly shines in its setting. The gothic magic school and the immersive writing make it feel as though you’re right there alongside the main character, Rose, exploring its secrets. The world-building is rich in aesthetics, and learning about the school’s traditions and magical lessons was one of the highlights of the book.

The magic system itself was intriguing, but at times, a little underdeveloped. While I loved the concept, I found myself wishing for more explanation on how it all worked. A bit more depth and clarity would have made it even stronger, as some aspects felt a little vague.

Character-wise, Rose was a great protagonist with a strong character arc. Watching her grow throughout the book was satisfying, and I’m definitely interested in seeing where her journey takes her in the sequel. The supporting cast was also well-written, but the romance aspect didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic had potential, but the execution felt a little rushed, with not enough build-up to make their relationship feel truly earned.

The mystery at the heart of the book had some intriguing elements, and I enjoyed piecing things together alongside Rose. However, the pacing was a bit uneven—slow in the beginning, then suddenly picking up speed towards the climax, which ultimately felt a little underwhelming. The motive behind the big reveal didn’t entirely make sense, which left the resolution feeling a bit weaker than I had hoped.

Overall, this is a book with an incredible atmosphere and a compelling protagonist, but certain elements—particularly the romance, magic system, and mystery climax—could have used more depth and refinement. That said, the foundation is strong, and I’m intrigued to see where the series goes next.

[Sylvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at my favourite bookstore on a whim because of the "talented but insufferable Sylvie" line on the back (it spoke to me for obvious reasons). It looked right up my alley but I didn't expect to like it as much as I did.
The story is both haunting and magical and nicely balanced between the two; I like spooky stories but not so spooky that I can't sleep at night. This was disturbing (my mind works with images and those final chapters? Yikes) but in a good way.

Throughout the story I couldn't really help but think of / compare the setting to other books with magical schools (mainly, THE other series with a magical school) but the similarities are not annoying. There's no getting around alchemy and herbology in a magical courselist and I suppose every library must have a forbidden section (where else are they going to hide the good books?) but there were plenty of elements I haven't yet seen in magical academia books.

All in all, I have little complaint other than that, and I'm trying not to spoil anything while typing a long review with my vision obscured by a long stream of tears, I would like to curse the person who said "hey lets make the ending sad shall we" to step on lego barefoot everyday for all eternity. Here I am happily reading my creepy gothic little romantic fantasy book and now I have to mourn one of my favourite characters of this year? Well played miss MacDonald, well played.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about witches, witchy boarding school and ghostly hauntings? Sign me up!!

This book really fell into the perfect dark academia autumn vibes with horror bibes to boot!

I found this one really hard to get started with and the story was quite slow until midpoint. I really struggled to connect with Rose, and I do wish there was more about the different types of magic. The magic system was so interesting, and I would have loved more time with the other professors at school.

Roses struggles with being an outcast did feel relatable though, yet friendship with Fen felt more like an acquaintance rather than a best friendship.

The idea over the hauntings was really interesting, and I did find the gore and mild jump scares around them well executed. There were so many twists in the story that I just didn’t expect, and I did like that in her attempts to solve what is going on she allied with someone quite unexpected.

For a dark academia novel, the dark was written well, I just found the story moved a little too slow at the beginning for my liking.

* Magic School
* Bisexual MC
* Rivals to Lovers
* Mild Gore
* Dark Academia
* Lots of Queer rep

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Shirley Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually this is a 3.5 star book. Hmmm….i guess it was okay. GO LESBIANS GO but like also??? Do u guys actually like each other??? I always get so annoyed when romance is depicted as like don’t know why but after long standing hatred suddenly we love each other type beat bc it just makes no sense to me. Maybe enemies to lovers is too confusing to me….it gave similar vibes to the other magic book I just read (forgot the name but I liked that one). The world building in this one was not really as good - very typical magic stuff that goes pretty unexplained throughout. Plot was okay….not like super predictable but also didn’t make the most sense - like come on why was the bartender the big villain in the end?? Apparently he wanted to revive MC’s aunt but earlier in the book it’s heavily implied he was boinking her mom??? confused af bro. Sure whatever u want I guess 😨😭😭 also I am so mad they killed off my fave character in the last 50 pages for NO REASON again. Hello is this the six of crows series or what. Why did u do that???? Bro did not need to die that was actually just silly and did absolutely zero for the plot. But yeah…I still finished it and I didn’t have a bad time so….3.5 it is

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book.
There are so many reasons to love Whispers Most Foul, be it the LGBTQIA rep that is integrated into the story so seamlessly (my Bi ass could not keep up with Sylvie and Fen), the fact it's set in the wonderfully spooky Dunhallow academy, there's a bloody murder mystery and ON TOP of all that...there's magic?! Like how could you not love this story?!

I absolutely loved the characters. Sylvie was such a baddie, I would have loved to hear more about her and feel more of the enemies to lovers vibes between her and Rose.

Fen was such a sweetheart to Rose but again, their relationship seemed to have been missing something.

I was constantly guessing who was murdering the girls but I am so pleased to say I didn't guess it!

Would have loved Aveline to be even more spooky. She seemed to trail off when Sylvie entered the scene. Could maybe play that down to her becoming weaker?

Three errors I spotted in the writing:
1."After all, ere there roles reversed, Sylvie...
2. to tell hersomething. I’m only surprised she believed me.’
3. Yet Rose couldn’tt hold her gaze

Really loved the story and grateful to be given the opportunity to read in advance! 🩷

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful gothic read. I really enjoyed the setting of the magic school. It was interesting to see how Rose came into herself over the course of the book and how she matured. One of my favorite parts of this book, besides the magic, was the queer rep because I think that the author did really well with it. It’s a classic enemies to lovers and the progression was well done. The mystery element was a lot of fun and kept me guessing up until the final reveal.

This book is labeled an adult read, however I would classify it more of an older YA read. There are no explicit scenes, and everything is very tame. The characters are also early in their college careers, and I think that those in high school would really resonate with it despite the mild gore that is present. It’s probably splitting hairs but reading it I kept thinking it was a YA read based on how the writing was done. I love YA reads, so while this didn’t take from my enjoyment, I do think it is important to note.

If you’re looking for a witchy tale with a well done mystery element, then check this one out.


Thank you to @michaeljbooks for sending me a copy of this gorgeous book. All thoughts are my own.

[Kay RW · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first page, Whispers Most Foul casts a spell with its moody, magical atmosphere. Twisting corridors, hidden secrets, and slow-burning tension create a dark academia world that's impossible to resist.

Rose’s path through this layered mystery is gripping, and the enemies-to-lovers tension between her and Sylvie unfolds with striking emotional nuance. Their dynamic feels natural, with a slow, believable build that made every interaction electric.

The story balances magic, mystery, and character complexity so well, drawing readers deeper with every chapter. While each new clue adds depth to the unfolding mystery, it’s the relationships — messy, sharp-edged, and real — that make the heart of the novel beat.

If you're craving a story full of slow-burn romance, shadowy magic, and an irresistible dark academic setting, you’ll want to dive into Whispers Most Foul — and like me, you’ll be counting down the days until the sequel.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has me second guessing my ability to solve mysteries!
I was promised a gothic fantasy full of mystery, romance, magic and a dash of horror and it delivered!
The wonderful FMC Rose is a bisexual icon. She was written so well, with depth and complexity, I felt all of her emotions through the page. Her love of those important to her really shone through, without repetition or cringey statements.
The characters interacted in a realistic manner, building relationships organically and reacting in ways that are to be expected from their personalities. They were so multi-faceted that I genuinely suspected most of them at some point or another, as their intentions and interactions were realistic and secret rather than bare for all to see.
I adored the representation in this story, from sexuality and race to disability, none of it felt forced but rather a story about ordinary people you may meet on the street (unfortunately they’re in a different realm and mostly have magic but apart from that!). It was comforting to read such non-stigmatised characters and relate them to the diversity of the real world.
Thank you for the ARC, all my opinions are my own.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Whispers Most Foul,” by Emma Macdonald

I liked this book. I liked the ghosts and magic system especially because the main character can’t do magic even though her mother is the head of the magic school she attends. I love the type of magic the book has, alchemy and necromancy. I do not get to read a lot of books where magic is focused on alchemy, and I love it. I love the entire boarding school setting, with enemies and friends. This book was very mysterious and had cults which were super fun. I adored the side character Fen; he is literally perfect. The entire book was very poetic. The two main girl characters grow and really come into themselves throughout the book. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Ghosts
-Magic, Alchemy, Necromancy
-Boarding School
-F/F
-Cult

Thank you for the ARC, Edelweiss.