What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones
Casey McQuiston meets The Secret History in this unmissable dark academia fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lex Croucher following former childhood best friends who reunite at magical boarding school after years, only to find themselves enemies on opposite sides of the ugly secrets hidden within the gilded walls.
Welcome to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy...and your newest dark academia obsession.
For as long as they can remember, Briar Jones dreamed of attending the Temple School of Thaumaturgy. Behind its looming ornate gates, the elite prep school—the place that has produced the most CEOs and Prime Ministers in British history—is whispered to be magical.
Briar's best friend, Sebastian Wolfe, never cared about Temple or believed in the rumors. He just wanted them to stay together forever.
When, at age 11, Seb gets an acceptance letter and Briar doesn't, their childhood friendship is shattered. Seb vanishes onto Temple's grounds and Briar resigns themself to a mundane life. But they can't completely forget their yearning for Temple, for the extraordinary, to be one of the chosen in the ivory tower.
Seven years later, a summer job advert appears: a temp position sorting through the junk in Temple’s attics. Briar takes it. And they discover that quiet, sensitive Seb, the boy they once loved more than anything else in the world, has become Bastian: a beautiful, arrogant villain feared by most of the school. And worse, the secrets Temple is hiding might not be so magical after all, but a dark conspiracy with implications that extend far beyond the gates.
Welcome to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy...and your newest dark academia obsession.
For as long as they can remember, Briar Jones dreamed of attending the Temple School of Thaumaturgy. Behind its looming ornate gates, the elite prep school—the place that has produced the most CEOs and Prime Ministers in British history—is whispered to be magical.
Briar's best friend, Sebastian Wolfe, never cared about Temple or believed in the rumors. He just wanted them to stay together forever.
When, at age 11, Seb gets an acceptance letter and Briar doesn't, their childhood friendship is shattered. Seb vanishes onto Temple's grounds and Briar resigns themself to a mundane life. But they can't completely forget their yearning for Temple, for the extraordinary, to be one of the chosen in the ivory tower.
Seven years later, a summer job advert appears: a temp position sorting through the junk in Temple’s attics. Briar takes it. And they discover that quiet, sensitive Seb, the boy they once loved more than anything else in the world, has become Bastian: a beautiful, arrogant villain feared by most of the school. And worse, the secrets Temple is hiding might not be so magical after all, but a dark conspiracy with implications that extend far beyond the gates.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Lex Croucher
9 books3,150 followersLex Croucher grew up in Surrey, reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London with an elderly cat. With a background in social media for NGOs, Lex now writes historical-ish rom coms for adults (REPUTATION, INFAMOUS) and historical fantasy rom coms for teenagers. GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE is their YA debut.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews
June 20, 2026
Wickedly good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!
_________
Fuck, I'm in love with this book, okay?
Think: there is a very Hogwartsy institute not too far where you live and you wait for that admission letter like we all did after first reading Harry Potter. Only that your *best friend* gets in and you don't. Until you kinda do, but not as a scholar. Only that it's not at all the rainbows and kittens you dreamt it was, and you have no idea if you now wish you left the memory of the dream and of your childhood love intact, or if it's better having your heart broken all over again in several ways.
He is the asshole. No, you're the asshole. They (most of the extended cast) are surely the asshole.
Everyone is an asshole, so nobody is really an asshole. Readers included, cause we are all real people doing asshole and non-asshole stuff.
If you want to see a more visual review you can check my IG post CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL REVIEW
Huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, & the publisher for this ARC!
Pre-read
I was very intrigued by this title. I need magic in my books so there was a bit of push and pull before I curiosity won over!
_________
Fuck, I'm in love with this book, okay?
Think: there is a very Hogwartsy institute not too far where you live and you wait for that admission letter like we all did after first reading Harry Potter. Only that your *best friend* gets in and you don't. Until you kinda do, but not as a scholar. Only that it's not at all the rainbows and kittens you dreamt it was, and you have no idea if you now wish you left the memory of the dream and of your childhood love intact, or if it's better having your heart broken all over again in several ways.
He is the asshole. No, you're the asshole. They (most of the extended cast) are surely the asshole.
Everyone is an asshole, so nobody is really an asshole. Readers included, cause we are all real people doing asshole and non-asshole stuff.
If you want to see a more visual review you can check my IG post CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL REVIEW
Huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, & the publisher for this ARC!
Pre-read
I was very intrigued by this title. I need magic in my books so there was a bit of push and pull before I curiosity won over!
August 3, 2026
There has been this big rise of dark academia style books in recent years and they have very often underwhelmed me when I have expected to love them. THIS BOOK IS WHAT I AM THINKING OF WHEN I THINK DARK ACADEMIA. It was atmospheric, it was morally complex and it was full of horrors being perpetuated by the powerful in the pursuit of knowledge and control.
Briar Jones always dreamed of attending The Temple School of Thaumaturgy and learning magic with their best friend Sebastian Wolfe. Except, when the time comes, only Seb receives his invitation and, fuelled by the hurt, jealously and anger of youth, Briar cuts off contact with Seb, ending their friendship.
Resigned to a normal life, seven years later, Briar answers a job advertisement in the paper in which Temple is looking for someone to sort through the junk in the school attic that no one has had the time or inclination to tackle. Accepting the job finally gives Briar the opportunity to glimpse into the world they have longed to join for years. Except that the reality is nothing like they imagined, with the student body filled with the children of the wealthiest and most powerful families in an pressure cooker environment that encourages , power, cruelty and the survival of the fittest. Most devastating of all is the discovery that Seb has now become the strongest and most feared student in the school.
However, the more Briar uncovers about the school, the deeper the secrets and conspiracies seem to spread and Briar comes to realise that nothing is quite what it seems.
I was quite surprised at just how how dark some of the elements of this book ended up being, but given the nature of influence magic and it being in the hands of the wealthy and powerful, its capacity for misuse is horrifying. There are frequent mentions of consent (or lack thereof) throughout, as well as quite graphic depictions of physical and psychological abuse of the younger students in hazing style rituals.
The childhood friends - to enemies- to lovers trope isn’t one that I normally froth but I have to admit that it worked great here and I really enjoyed seeing the tenderness of the childhood relationship between Briar and Seb, and then witnessing them navigating their history of hurt and what Seb has become. I genuinely did not know how that relationship was going to evolve but I think Croucher was able to take the reader on a journey that felt genuine and organic to the characters.
One of the most interesting elements of this story was that it was one of the first times I have come across a book with a non-binary main character who uses they/them pronouns and who remains entirely gender neutral throughout the whole book. I was very impressed with how Croucher was able to achieve this and how unique it made Briar as a main protagonist.
This is a dark academia story that looks down the barrel of how horrifying the misuse of magic, when protected by an institution of power and money, can be. Coupled with a cast of morally complex and engaging supporting characters and a romantic subplot that had me hooked, it was just an utterly fantastic engaging audio escape.
Consider following my instagram
Briar Jones always dreamed of attending The Temple School of Thaumaturgy and learning magic with their best friend Sebastian Wolfe. Except, when the time comes, only Seb receives his invitation and, fuelled by the hurt, jealously and anger of youth, Briar cuts off contact with Seb, ending their friendship.
Resigned to a normal life, seven years later, Briar answers a job advertisement in the paper in which Temple is looking for someone to sort through the junk in the school attic that no one has had the time or inclination to tackle. Accepting the job finally gives Briar the opportunity to glimpse into the world they have longed to join for years. Except that the reality is nothing like they imagined, with the student body filled with the children of the wealthiest and most powerful families in an pressure cooker environment that encourages , power, cruelty and the survival of the fittest. Most devastating of all is the discovery that Seb has now become the strongest and most feared student in the school.
However, the more Briar uncovers about the school, the deeper the secrets and conspiracies seem to spread and Briar comes to realise that nothing is quite what it seems.
I was quite surprised at just how how dark some of the elements of this book ended up being, but given the nature of influence magic and it being in the hands of the wealthy and powerful, its capacity for misuse is horrifying. There are frequent mentions of consent (or lack thereof) throughout, as well as quite graphic depictions of physical and psychological abuse of the younger students in hazing style rituals.
The childhood friends - to enemies- to lovers trope isn’t one that I normally froth but I have to admit that it worked great here and I really enjoyed seeing the tenderness of the childhood relationship between Briar and Seb, and then witnessing them navigating their history of hurt and what Seb has become. I genuinely did not know how that relationship was going to evolve but I think Croucher was able to take the reader on a journey that felt genuine and organic to the characters.
One of the most interesting elements of this story was that it was one of the first times I have come across a book with a non-binary main character who uses they/them pronouns and who remains entirely gender neutral throughout the whole book. I was very impressed with how Croucher was able to achieve this and how unique it made Briar as a main protagonist.
This is a dark academia story that looks down the barrel of how horrifying the misuse of magic, when protected by an institution of power and money, can be. Coupled with a cast of morally complex and engaging supporting characters and a romantic subplot that had me hooked, it was just an utterly fantastic engaging audio escape.
Consider following my instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!
I feel very conflicted about this read because I think the writing was very compelling & nostalgic - but I had a few issues with the story.
Bastian & Briar were inseparable until Bastian got accepted in a magical school and Briar didn’t. A lot of resentment unfolded and they only see each other 7 years later - when Briar gets a cleaning job at said school.
I was really enjoying the mystery & found family in the first half of this novel. There’s queer representations and it was well done. I will admit I couldn’t get attached to the characters because they felt very far to me. I don’t quite know how to explain it but sometimes Briar’s lack of reaction snapped me out of the story. That character was also very persistent in their naïveté through the whole story. There were 2 plotholes I noticed… but ultimately what really hindered my reading experience was the ‘romance’. It was extremely toxic and very high school romance coded. I wish it didn’t have romance because I could not root for them.
Drugs are heavily mentioned and there’s usage on page as well. Now I know some people don’t necessarily mind that and I respect it… but I don’t like reading about it. With drug addict parents - I guess I just don’t want to read about that and I know it’s entirely subjective.
What was also a bit jarring to me is that the writing did feel very YA (despite being marketed as Adult) so the torture scenes of humans & animals, with all the scenes of almost SA were very shocking. And I just think that the problem for me… was the fact that they weren’t really discussed or solved afterwards. It did feel as if they were there for shock value only.
I think the resolution was lightning fast, for a story that drew the ending on and on. It was resolved in a YA way - which accentuated the feeling I had about this being possibly mismarketed. I do feel unsatisfied with the ending but that’s only because I wish the story had kept the edge it had all along.
I feel very conflicted about this read because I think the writing was very compelling & nostalgic - but I had a few issues with the story.
Bastian & Briar were inseparable until Bastian got accepted in a magical school and Briar didn’t. A lot of resentment unfolded and they only see each other 7 years later - when Briar gets a cleaning job at said school.
I was really enjoying the mystery & found family in the first half of this novel. There’s queer representations and it was well done. I will admit I couldn’t get attached to the characters because they felt very far to me. I don’t quite know how to explain it but sometimes Briar’s lack of reaction snapped me out of the story. That character was also very persistent in their naïveté through the whole story. There were 2 plotholes I noticed… but ultimately what really hindered my reading experience was the ‘romance’. It was extremely toxic and very high school romance coded. I wish it didn’t have romance because I could not root for them.
Drugs are heavily mentioned and there’s usage on page as well. Now I know some people don’t necessarily mind that and I respect it… but I don’t like reading about it. With drug addict parents - I guess I just don’t want to read about that and I know it’s entirely subjective.
What was also a bit jarring to me is that the writing did feel very YA (despite being marketed as Adult) so the torture scenes of humans & animals, with all the scenes of almost SA were very shocking. And I just think that the problem for me… was the fact that they weren’t really discussed or solved afterwards. It did feel as if they were there for shock value only.
I think the resolution was lightning fast, for a story that drew the ending on and on. It was resolved in a YA way - which accentuated the feeling I had about this being possibly mismarketed. I do feel unsatisfied with the ending but that’s only because I wish the story had kept the edge it had all along.
June 27, 2026
I fear a new favourite author has joined the ranks. The writing in this was so good I could vomit. Hilarious and clever with the best cast of characters imaginable. I now need to read everything Lex has ever written.
THE PREMISE: Briar Jones was separated from their best friend by a magical class system and a giant fuck-off fence. Now with a temp job as a cleaner for the Eton/Hogwarts that rejected them, Briar is learning the truth and ruining everything.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Dark academia x secrets and deception
- Everyone’s queer, chaotic and amazing
- NB main character
- I love West. That’s my bitch
5⭐️ 1🌶️
THE PREMISE: Briar Jones was separated from their best friend by a magical class system and a giant fuck-off fence. Now with a temp job as a cleaner for the Eton/Hogwarts that rejected them, Briar is learning the truth and ruining everything.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Dark academia x secrets and deception
- Everyone’s queer, chaotic and amazing
- NB main character
- I love West. That’s my bitch
5⭐️ 1🌶️
Want to Read
April 26, 2024Why did I have to find out about this book right now when it's freaking coming out October 2025???? 😭
June 19, 2026
Look, when you pitch a book as "your newest dark academia obsession", you have a lot to live up to, but Lex Croucher absolutely delivered with The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones. It has a bit of slice of life academia mess, a bit of sinister mystery, a bit of friends to strangers to enemies to lovers romance, a bit of dark magical trauma, a whole lot of queer chaos, and a bold 'fuck the system' energy that just drips off every page, and I love it for that.
Now, there is no denying that The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones takes its sweet, sweet time to get going. We spend a lot of time just going through the days alongside Briar as they become more familiar with the Temple School of Thaumaturgy during their summer job, meet the wonderfully eccentric people who live there, reminisce about the past, and try to deal with the fact that their childhood best friend who they once loved more than anything else in the world has somehow become the school's resident villain. Which is, admittedly, not an ideal reunion.
Honestly, I can see why some people might find the beginning a bit slow or boring, and there were definitely a few moments where I found myself wondering whether an actual plot was ever going to emerge from all the wandering and yearning, but I was just having such a good time hanging out with my non-binary babe Briar that I didn't even care. Their narration is messy and funny and painfully self-aware (especially on audio!), and I really enjoyed watching them slowly connect with the students at Temple, who are all absolute menaces in the best ways possible. Sometimes the dialogue and interactions did make the tone feel a little more YA than I was expecting considering everyone is seventeen or eighteen, but I still ate up every bit of the banter and loved the slow-burn found family dynamics that slowly started to develop even while Briar continued to trust absolutely nothing and nobody, including themself.
That said, there is no denying that the second half is where The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones really started to shine for me. Once Briar stopped spending quite so much time living in the past and we started focusing more on the present, things get darker and more twisted with every new discovery, and I was so here for that. I loved how the tone became noticeably more mature as the conspiracy at the heart of the story started revealing itself piece by piece, but what I loved even more is that Seb suddenly got a lot more page time.
Because, unfortunately for me, I am always going to be weak for a traumatized, misunderstood anti-hero, so of course Seb just completely stole my heart. I really enjoyed how every interaction between him and Briar felt so loaded with years of hurt, resentment, longing, and things left unsaid, and their relationship easily ended up being my favourite aspect of The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones, even if this is absolutely not a romance-driven story. You could definitely argue that their dynamic progresses fairly quickly, but it totally worked for me because these two come with so much history already built into the story. Their feelings don't need pages and pages to develop because they've been carrying them around for years, so what we get instead is the messy process of unpacking all that baggage, and I loved every painful second of it.
The tension was truly just excellent all across the board, and I really appreciated how well Croucher seemed to understand what makes dark academia so compelling in the first place. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is moody, dramatic, pretentious, dry, sarcastic, and quietly melancholic, and I loved how every character is so morally messy and self-destructive in all the best ways as they are constantly making questionable decisions while chasing knowledge they probably should have left alone. And as if that was not enough, we also have the magic (or perhaps not-magic?) involving mind control and consent, which just adds the most morbidly fascinating and uncomfortably dark layer to every interaction and relationship, which I was so here for. Like, the more I learned about what was really happening at Temple, the more horrified I became, which naturally only made me want to keep reading.
And sure, maybe the final twenty percent is a little rushed and wildly bombastic compared to the much slower pace of the rest of the book, but I still think Croucher absolutely nailed what they were trying to do here and stuck the landing beautifully. While The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones wasn't quite the new all-time fave I convinced myself it was going to be, I had an absolutely wonderful time with the audiobook and I would highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a hella queer dark academia in the vein of Ninth House, The Incandescent or A Deadly Education.
Now, there is no denying that The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones takes its sweet, sweet time to get going. We spend a lot of time just going through the days alongside Briar as they become more familiar with the Temple School of Thaumaturgy during their summer job, meet the wonderfully eccentric people who live there, reminisce about the past, and try to deal with the fact that their childhood best friend who they once loved more than anything else in the world has somehow become the school's resident villain. Which is, admittedly, not an ideal reunion.
Honestly, I can see why some people might find the beginning a bit slow or boring, and there were definitely a few moments where I found myself wondering whether an actual plot was ever going to emerge from all the wandering and yearning, but I was just having such a good time hanging out with my non-binary babe Briar that I didn't even care. Their narration is messy and funny and painfully self-aware (especially on audio!), and I really enjoyed watching them slowly connect with the students at Temple, who are all absolute menaces in the best ways possible. Sometimes the dialogue and interactions did make the tone feel a little more YA than I was expecting considering everyone is seventeen or eighteen, but I still ate up every bit of the banter and loved the slow-burn found family dynamics that slowly started to develop even while Briar continued to trust absolutely nothing and nobody, including themself.
That said, there is no denying that the second half is where The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones really started to shine for me. Once Briar stopped spending quite so much time living in the past and we started focusing more on the present, things get darker and more twisted with every new discovery, and I was so here for that. I loved how the tone became noticeably more mature as the conspiracy at the heart of the story started revealing itself piece by piece, but what I loved even more is that Seb suddenly got a lot more page time.
Because, unfortunately for me, I am always going to be weak for a traumatized, misunderstood anti-hero, so of course Seb just completely stole my heart. I really enjoyed how every interaction between him and Briar felt so loaded with years of hurt, resentment, longing, and things left unsaid, and their relationship easily ended up being my favourite aspect of The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones, even if this is absolutely not a romance-driven story. You could definitely argue that their dynamic progresses fairly quickly, but it totally worked for me because these two come with so much history already built into the story. Their feelings don't need pages and pages to develop because they've been carrying them around for years, so what we get instead is the messy process of unpacking all that baggage, and I loved every painful second of it.
The tension was truly just excellent all across the board, and I really appreciated how well Croucher seemed to understand what makes dark academia so compelling in the first place. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is moody, dramatic, pretentious, dry, sarcastic, and quietly melancholic, and I loved how every character is so morally messy and self-destructive in all the best ways as they are constantly making questionable decisions while chasing knowledge they probably should have left alone. And as if that was not enough, we also have the magic (or perhaps not-magic?) involving mind control and consent, which just adds the most morbidly fascinating and uncomfortably dark layer to every interaction and relationship, which I was so here for. Like, the more I learned about what was really happening at Temple, the more horrified I became, which naturally only made me want to keep reading.
And sure, maybe the final twenty percent is a little rushed and wildly bombastic compared to the much slower pace of the rest of the book, but I still think Croucher absolutely nailed what they were trying to do here and stuck the landing beautifully. While The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones wasn't quite the new all-time fave I convinced myself it was going to be, I had an absolutely wonderful time with the audiobook and I would highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a hella queer dark academia in the vein of Ninth House, The Incandescent or A Deadly Education.
June 16, 2026
I expected something completely different, it felt like what the blurb promised and what the actual story delivered aren’t the same thing.
This made me feel disconnected from the story early on and the fact that it read very YA despite being marketed as adult didn’t help that feeling.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished this, and I must admit that I’m struggling to remember most of the plot. But during the story, I do remember thinking that the writing is good and I’m sure this will find its audience. You just have to have the right expectations.
This made me feel disconnected from the story early on and the fact that it read very YA despite being marketed as adult didn’t help that feeling.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished this, and I must admit that I’m struggling to remember most of the plot. But during the story, I do remember thinking that the writing is good and I’m sure this will find its audience. You just have to have the right expectations.
July 20, 2026
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones
by Lex Croucher
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Jun 3, 2026
Avon & Harper Voyager
Ages: 18+
At age eleven, Briar and their best friend Sebastian apply to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy, a school whispered to be magical. While Briar dreamed about attending the school, Sebastian didn't care; he just wanted their friendship. But Sebastian got an acceptance letter, and Briar got nothing, and they heard nothing from Sebastian again.
Seven years later, Briar gets a temp summer job at the school to sort through the school's attics, where for years professors just dumped junk. And within the first day, Briar's path crosses with their once best friend. But that young quiet boy was gone, replaced with a young man who is malicious and everyone fears.
This book reminded me of Harry P. and the other 'magic' schools tropes. It wasn't bad, but I did find myself bored.
Most of the characters and the plot were good, but what bothered me was Briar. They were older, I think around eighteen, and was hired to work at the school, but found themselves absorbed by kids. (I think they were at least a year younger). But what was odd was that it was accepted by the school. An adult employee hanging out with kids. And I do mean hanging out. In their rooms, they in Briar's and going to parties together.
I get making friends, but to me, this was inappropriate.
As for the world, it was interesting, as was the magic; though, while I understand the why, it was skirted over, but it did develop and enhance the plot. But the 'magic' kids, and their behavior, were pretty typical.
There is violence, bullying, torture, and some adult content (some of which hinted at possible r#pe), so this is not suitable for readers under eighteen. This was also listed as 'romance': toxic maybe but not romance.
Now even though there's a lot I didn't care for, the plot was interesting as was the overall story, but because of the 'creepy' things, I can't fully recommend this story.
Overall, a typical academia story with the general tropes of money, power, magic, and the such that wasn't that impressive.
2 Stars
This eARC was granted by Avon & Harper Voyager through NetGalley (Thank You) in exchange for my honest review.
by Lex Croucher
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Jun 3, 2026
Avon & Harper Voyager
Ages: 18+
At age eleven, Briar and their best friend Sebastian apply to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy, a school whispered to be magical. While Briar dreamed about attending the school, Sebastian didn't care; he just wanted their friendship. But Sebastian got an acceptance letter, and Briar got nothing, and they heard nothing from Sebastian again.
Seven years later, Briar gets a temp summer job at the school to sort through the school's attics, where for years professors just dumped junk. And within the first day, Briar's path crosses with their once best friend. But that young quiet boy was gone, replaced with a young man who is malicious and everyone fears.
This book reminded me of Harry P. and the other 'magic' schools tropes. It wasn't bad, but I did find myself bored.
Most of the characters and the plot were good, but what bothered me was Briar. They were older, I think around eighteen, and was hired to work at the school, but found themselves absorbed by kids. (I think they were at least a year younger). But what was odd was that it was accepted by the school. An adult employee hanging out with kids. And I do mean hanging out. In their rooms, they in Briar's and going to parties together.
I get making friends, but to me, this was inappropriate.
As for the world, it was interesting, as was the magic; though, while I understand the why, it was skirted over, but it did develop and enhance the plot. But the 'magic' kids, and their behavior, were pretty typical.
There is violence, bullying, torture, and some adult content (some of which hinted at possible r#pe), so this is not suitable for readers under eighteen. This was also listed as 'romance': toxic maybe but not romance.
Now even though there's a lot I didn't care for, the plot was interesting as was the overall story, but because of the 'creepy' things, I can't fully recommend this story.
Overall, a typical academia story with the general tropes of money, power, magic, and the such that wasn't that impressive.
2 Stars
This eARC was granted by Avon & Harper Voyager through NetGalley (Thank You) in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2026
4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️
- Dark academia / Magical School
- Magic systems
- non-binary/ queer rep
- Fighting establishment
- Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Trials
Seb and Briar are inseparable, until one day Seb receives a letter to the country’s only school of magic while Briar does not. Years later, Briar arrives at the school on a temporary job contract and discovers their former best friend, the boy they once loved, has become a villain. However, nothing is as it seems…As Briar explores hidden attics, forgotten studies and long-buried memories, they race to uncover the truth behind the school’s ancient walls. They must find who they can trust, as they unearth secrets with far-reaching consequences…
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is a brilliant, queer, dark-academia story that explores power, longing, and all the complexities of human relationships. It’s an emotional, smart, and powerful read and once I picked it up I couldn’t put down!
The story is intensely character-driven, especially the first half, and slower pacing really gives the characters room to evolve and grow. Every character is flawed, complicated, and carrying old wounds, yet fiercely loyal in their own ways. So many moments broke my heart a little, it completely captures the duality of human relationships in all their beauty and brutality.
I felt so invested in all the characters, especially Seb. The longing, heartbreak, and quiet desperation throughout his story had me desperately hoping for a happy ending!
Also the queer representation is so appreciated, it’s seamlessly woven into the bones of the story rather than sidelined.
The ending was perfect, even if I was a little devastated to realise this is a standalone. I wanted more time with these characters and I’m not ready to let them go!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
- Dark academia / Magical School
- Magic systems
- non-binary/ queer rep
- Fighting establishment
- Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Trials
Seb and Briar are inseparable, until one day Seb receives a letter to the country’s only school of magic while Briar does not. Years later, Briar arrives at the school on a temporary job contract and discovers their former best friend, the boy they once loved, has become a villain. However, nothing is as it seems…As Briar explores hidden attics, forgotten studies and long-buried memories, they race to uncover the truth behind the school’s ancient walls. They must find who they can trust, as they unearth secrets with far-reaching consequences…
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is a brilliant, queer, dark-academia story that explores power, longing, and all the complexities of human relationships. It’s an emotional, smart, and powerful read and once I picked it up I couldn’t put down!
The story is intensely character-driven, especially the first half, and slower pacing really gives the characters room to evolve and grow. Every character is flawed, complicated, and carrying old wounds, yet fiercely loyal in their own ways. So many moments broke my heart a little, it completely captures the duality of human relationships in all their beauty and brutality.
I felt so invested in all the characters, especially Seb. The longing, heartbreak, and quiet desperation throughout his story had me desperately hoping for a happy ending!
Also the queer representation is so appreciated, it’s seamlessly woven into the bones of the story rather than sidelined.
The ending was perfect, even if I was a little devastated to realise this is a standalone. I wanted more time with these characters and I’m not ready to let them go!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
June 30, 2026
"Maybe you won't be able to forget the things that happened here, or forgive yourself for the worst of them. But...I don't think that means this is all you can ever have. Maybe...maybe we don't need to be completely good, to be worth saving."
I didn’t know how much I needed a queer dark academia story with a non-binary main character. Turns out, I absolutely did. 'The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones' by Lex Croucher is an atmospheric dark academia read that completely sucked me in. It was my first time reading a POV from a non-binary protagonist so that definitely added to my enthusiasm for this one, but I also just LOVE a magic school.
The story follows childhood friends Briar and Sebastian. The devastating twist? Briar doesn't get into magic school, while Sebastian does, fracturing their bond. Years later, the story picks back up when Briar takes a job working at that very same school, forcing them back into each other's orbits. The tension and friction between Briar & Seb (Sebastian) is palpable and keeps you turning the pages. In fact, one particular scene was so intense that I completely forgot I had a full cup of coffee sitting right beside me. A sudden movement later, and my copy now has a few permanently coffee-stained pages, but honestly? It works 😅 🙈 Every time I look at those stains, it just reminds me of exactly how deeply absorbed in the story I was 🤣
This book felt like the taste of ice cream on a hot day... felt like a leap over a forbidden fence as a child. It danced between the beauty of that old library book smell and the gory undertones of privleged elitism. Croucher has an uncanny ability to make the reader forget they are reading. They are truly a gorgeous writer! I will read anything they write!
If you love dark academia, childhood sweetheart to slow- burn dynamics, and stories that make you completely forget the outside world, you need to add this to your TBR. Just maybe keep your drinks a safe distance away while you read! ☕️
Bookish Beans 🤍
I didn’t know how much I needed a queer dark academia story with a non-binary main character. Turns out, I absolutely did. 'The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones' by Lex Croucher is an atmospheric dark academia read that completely sucked me in. It was my first time reading a POV from a non-binary protagonist so that definitely added to my enthusiasm for this one, but I also just LOVE a magic school.
The story follows childhood friends Briar and Sebastian. The devastating twist? Briar doesn't get into magic school, while Sebastian does, fracturing their bond. Years later, the story picks back up when Briar takes a job working at that very same school, forcing them back into each other's orbits. The tension and friction between Briar & Seb (Sebastian) is palpable and keeps you turning the pages. In fact, one particular scene was so intense that I completely forgot I had a full cup of coffee sitting right beside me. A sudden movement later, and my copy now has a few permanently coffee-stained pages, but honestly? It works 😅 🙈 Every time I look at those stains, it just reminds me of exactly how deeply absorbed in the story I was 🤣
This book felt like the taste of ice cream on a hot day... felt like a leap over a forbidden fence as a child. It danced between the beauty of that old library book smell and the gory undertones of privleged elitism. Croucher has an uncanny ability to make the reader forget they are reading. They are truly a gorgeous writer! I will read anything they write!
If you love dark academia, childhood sweetheart to slow- burn dynamics, and stories that make you completely forget the outside world, you need to add this to your TBR. Just maybe keep your drinks a safe distance away while you read! ☕️
Bookish Beans 🤍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Look, I haven’t had a cigarette since Election Day 2024. For pretty much all of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” I needed one. Fucking hell. This was a lot.
Let’s get my one quibble out of the way. I don’t think this should be marketed as YA. Yes, Briar and Bastian are young adults, but these themes and plot points are… a lot. It’s all the angst and dread from Croucher’s previous works put on steroids. Everything is handled quite well, but yeah… just… a lot. I don’t think I was an emotionally mature enough high schooler to read this. Hell, I’m pushing 30 and I had a hard time reading this.
Anywho, “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I was so hooked and couldn’t put it down, even when I was so disturbed and upset. The book reminded me mostly of “Let The Dead Bury The Dead” and “Cursed Crown” Duology in that respect. Hooked, but upset.
What mostly makes Croucher’s writing so successful is that we want Seb to be redeemed. Bastian is pretty despicable, but we read about sweet Seb and we want him back.
I loved Briar as a narrator and protagonist. They’re not perfect, but they’re someone we truly root for. I liked a lot of the gender beats and Briar’s own identity. Very strong.
Finally, thank God for happy (or hopeful perhaps) endings. Like I said, I had so much dread for most of this book and the ending healed me a bit. The powers of love and hope and redemption and forgiveness are nothing to be trifled with.
I can’t wait for this to hit libraries and book stores. Will definitely be buying my own copy so I can revisit it. Will be thinking about Briar, Sebastian and the others for a long while. Considering the surprise sequel to “Gwen And Art Are Not In Love”, would be hopeful to see more of this story in the future. Lots of potential.
Look, I haven’t had a cigarette since Election Day 2024. For pretty much all of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” I needed one. Fucking hell. This was a lot.
Let’s get my one quibble out of the way. I don’t think this should be marketed as YA. Yes, Briar and Bastian are young adults, but these themes and plot points are… a lot. It’s all the angst and dread from Croucher’s previous works put on steroids. Everything is handled quite well, but yeah… just… a lot. I don’t think I was an emotionally mature enough high schooler to read this. Hell, I’m pushing 30 and I had a hard time reading this.
Anywho, “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I was so hooked and couldn’t put it down, even when I was so disturbed and upset. The book reminded me mostly of “Let The Dead Bury The Dead” and “Cursed Crown” Duology in that respect. Hooked, but upset.
What mostly makes Croucher’s writing so successful is that we want Seb to be redeemed. Bastian is pretty despicable, but we read about sweet Seb and we want him back.
I loved Briar as a narrator and protagonist. They’re not perfect, but they’re someone we truly root for. I liked a lot of the gender beats and Briar’s own identity. Very strong.
Finally, thank God for happy (or hopeful perhaps) endings. Like I said, I had so much dread for most of this book and the ending healed me a bit. The powers of love and hope and redemption and forgiveness are nothing to be trifled with.
I can’t wait for this to hit libraries and book stores. Will definitely be buying my own copy so I can revisit it. Will be thinking about Briar, Sebastian and the others for a long while. Considering the surprise sequel to “Gwen And Art Are Not In Love”, would be hopeful to see more of this story in the future. Lots of potential.
July 18, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
There’s nothing like a dark academia magic school novel with lots of queer and morally grey characters to pull me out of a reading slump. 🪄
There’s nothing like a dark academia magic school novel with lots of queer and morally grey characters to pull me out of a reading slump. 🪄
June 20, 2026
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher had several elements that immediately appealed to me such as dark academia, LGBTQ+ representation, found family, and a mysterious magical school. While I enjoyed aspects of the novel, it ultimately fell short of my expectations.
Despite being marketed as adult fantasy, the story read much more like YA. The focus is largely on Briar’s personal struggles and relationships rather than the school, magic, or academic setting, making the dark academia atmosphere feel underutilized. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of introspection and exposition that slowed the narrative considerably.
I particularly struggled with the central romance. Briar and Sebastian’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic never felt fully convincing to me, and I found it difficult to connect with the intensity of Briar’s resentment over events from their childhood. As a result, I was never fully invested in their relationship or rooting for their reconciliation.
That said, I appreciated the inclusive representation, found family themes, and the mystery surrounding Temple and its secrets. While the second half gained momentum, I never became fully invested in the characters or their journeys.
Overall, this was a solid read with strengths that will appeal to many readers, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you Lex Croucher, HarperAudio Adult | Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being marketed as adult fantasy, the story read much more like YA. The focus is largely on Briar’s personal struggles and relationships rather than the school, magic, or academic setting, making the dark academia atmosphere feel underutilized. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of introspection and exposition that slowed the narrative considerably.
I particularly struggled with the central romance. Briar and Sebastian’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic never felt fully convincing to me, and I found it difficult to connect with the intensity of Briar’s resentment over events from their childhood. As a result, I was never fully invested in their relationship or rooting for their reconciliation.
That said, I appreciated the inclusive representation, found family themes, and the mystery surrounding Temple and its secrets. While the second half gained momentum, I never became fully invested in the characters or their journeys.
Overall, this was a solid read with strengths that will appeal to many readers, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you Lex Croucher, HarperAudio Adult | Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2026
(4.5 stars) I received a free eARC from the publisher. This is my honest review.
Growing up, I loved stories about magical schools. Once I hit adulthood, I gravitated towards Dark Academia - specifically the original definition of dark academia, where characters will do anything and everything in the pursuit of knowledge. As an academic, I realized that all academia is Dark Academia.
~~~
THE UNMAGICAL LIFE OF BRIAR JONES captures how wondrous the idea of a magical school can be as a child... as well as how horrific we know it would be in practice. We know the rich elite would never, ever let something as powerful as magic be used for anything other than control. When you put rich children in an elite institution and teach them magic with the purpose of producing the next generation of world leaders, evil things will absolutely happen.
This book is so nuanced. It makes me nervous, because social media does NOT handle nuance well. The author really explores what causes people (especially children) to knowingly harm others. This book does not claim that causing irreparable harm makes someone a lost cause and brands them forever as a villain. But it also doesn’t give anyone the easy out of a classic redemption arc that minimizes harm and ignores victims. Instead, readers are faced with a more realistic question: how can someone who has committed truly evil actions ever become a better person if they are not allowed room to change...and how do you accomplish that while addressing the harm that has been done.
~~~
This book has terrifying magic, complicated side characters, queer found family, romance, and great nonbinary rep (like, seriously some of the best nonbinary rep I’ve ever read). These are wonderfully crafted, complicated characters. No one acts out of character just to further the plot. And the plot? It has twists and turns that are both surprising and well-foreshadowed (my favorite combo). I truly didn’t know how the author would wrap up this book in a satisfying way while staying true to the characters and world. But somehow it works! This should become a genre classic
Growing up, I loved stories about magical schools. Once I hit adulthood, I gravitated towards Dark Academia - specifically the original definition of dark academia, where characters will do anything and everything in the pursuit of knowledge. As an academic, I realized that all academia is Dark Academia.
~~~
THE UNMAGICAL LIFE OF BRIAR JONES captures how wondrous the idea of a magical school can be as a child... as well as how horrific we know it would be in practice. We know the rich elite would never, ever let something as powerful as magic be used for anything other than control. When you put rich children in an elite institution and teach them magic with the purpose of producing the next generation of world leaders, evil things will absolutely happen.
This book is so nuanced. It makes me nervous, because social media does NOT handle nuance well. The author really explores what causes people (especially children) to knowingly harm others. This book does not claim that causing irreparable harm makes someone a lost cause and brands them forever as a villain. But it also doesn’t give anyone the easy out of a classic redemption arc that minimizes harm and ignores victims. Instead, readers are faced with a more realistic question: how can someone who has committed truly evil actions ever become a better person if they are not allowed room to change...and how do you accomplish that while addressing the harm that has been done.
~~~
This book has terrifying magic, complicated side characters, queer found family, romance, and great nonbinary rep (like, seriously some of the best nonbinary rep I’ve ever read). These are wonderfully crafted, complicated characters. No one acts out of character just to further the plot. And the plot? It has twists and turns that are both surprising and well-foreshadowed (my favorite combo). I truly didn’t know how the author would wrap up this book in a satisfying way while staying true to the characters and world. But somehow it works! This should become a genre classic
Want to Read
November 27, 2024the blurb is giving school for good and evil vibes and i’m not sure i’m emotionally ready for that
June 9, 2026
Loved the Hogwarts vibes and the dry witty humor. This is a really enjoyable dark academia
July 12, 2026
The start of this was so strong that when I felt things start to lose steam around the climax, say, 70% and on, well. It felt a little heartbreaking.
I can’t say I was having a good time, because this is dark and occasionally ugly in a brutal unflinching way, but it was well crafted. Ontop of that it had an interesting premise wherein our perspective is not that of the Chosen One but instead the best friend left behind, and the magic system was.. interesting. Sometimes clear, other times not, but at least different for all of some of that uncertainty. Which is probably my own fault anyway.
Another thing that was great in set-up but sorta lost me at times? The romance. It initially felt delicious and a little dangerous, not quite toxic but almost flirting with the idea that it could become that way, and it worked. Until it had these little moments where it didn’t. I almost felt that the significant amount of history between these two worked against them even when so much of the story hinged on said backstory.
But even though things fizzled, the resolution to this story, how it all ends? I really enjoyed. I can’t say for sure it’s never been done before but it feels unique and all the more clever considering everything that had been there since the beginning. It’s definitely a triumph even though some uncertainty remains — I assumed this was a standalone but is enough being left open for more? Or a companion? Guess time will tell.
If you’re looking for a read that combines dark academia, queerness, found family dynamics, and can withstand the claustrophobic feeling of systems of oppression up close and personal, and with all the associated harm and circumstances of weaponized authority and power found within those systems, while also experiencing a constant barrage of dry English humour and commentary? Well, here you go.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I can’t say I was having a good time, because this is dark and occasionally ugly in a brutal unflinching way, but it was well crafted. Ontop of that it had an interesting premise wherein our perspective is not that of the Chosen One but instead the best friend left behind, and the magic system was.. interesting. Sometimes clear, other times not, but at least different for all of some of that uncertainty. Which is probably my own fault anyway.
Another thing that was great in set-up but sorta lost me at times? The romance. It initially felt delicious and a little dangerous, not quite toxic but almost flirting with the idea that it could become that way, and it worked. Until it had these little moments where it didn’t. I almost felt that the significant amount of history between these two worked against them even when so much of the story hinged on said backstory.
But even though things fizzled, the resolution to this story, how it all ends? I really enjoyed. I can’t say for sure it’s never been done before but it feels unique and all the more clever considering everything that had been there since the beginning. It’s definitely a triumph even though some uncertainty remains — I assumed this was a standalone but is enough being left open for more? Or a companion? Guess time will tell.
If you’re looking for a read that combines dark academia, queerness, found family dynamics, and can withstand the claustrophobic feeling of systems of oppression up close and personal, and with all the associated harm and circumstances of weaponized authority and power found within those systems, while also experiencing a constant barrage of dry English humour and commentary? Well, here you go.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
May 26, 2026
05/19/2026-05/26/2026
Thank You @harpervoyagerus for this gorgeous #gifted proof of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” by Lex Croucher ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(Out June 9th)
I loved the world building, the Temple School of Thaumaturgy and all the little dark academia potholes in this book 🖤
However, Briar lived the same day, the same struggles and the same feelings and thoughts over and over again, a little over halfway a plot does begin to show and you can finally understand the gaps and history!💚
I’m just thrilled Briar and (redacted) got their happy ending 🥹🖤
Read if you love:
🦢 Dark Academia
🦢 Mystery
🦢 Subtle elements of Magic
🦢 The Breakfast Club style friendship
🦢 An Underdog Win
Thank You @harpervoyagerus for this gorgeous #gifted proof of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” by Lex Croucher ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(Out June 9th)
I loved the world building, the Temple School of Thaumaturgy and all the little dark academia potholes in this book 🖤
However, Briar lived the same day, the same struggles and the same feelings and thoughts over and over again, a little over halfway a plot does begin to show and you can finally understand the gaps and history!💚
I’m just thrilled Briar and (redacted) got their happy ending 🥹🖤
Read if you love:
🦢 Dark Academia
🦢 Mystery
🦢 Subtle elements of Magic
🦢 The Breakfast Club style friendship
🦢 An Underdog Win
June 20, 2026
Let me start by saying this ARC is incredibly well written. I can tell the author put a lot of thought behind the plot, characters, and every word on the page.
When I read the blurb, I think I was anticipating more of a traditional dark academia fantasy romance. Not necessarily Zodiac Academy or Forbidden Alchemy, but within the same playground. I would say this is a pretty big departure. I’d categorize this as queer lit within a dark academia setting. (The queer storytelling isn’t repetitive or overdone by any means, but every character is LGBTQIA2S+).
For me personally, it was hard to grasp the main characters and understand this incredibly deep, vulnerable connection they shared from childhood up to the age of 11. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had friendships that brutally intense in my adolescence, but it threw me off from the start of the book. The rage and betrayal Briar feels towards Bastian for leaving them at 11 y/o seems a bit…much.
The other difficult elements to swallow was the depictions of graphic child abuse (on page) and animal abuse/harm (both on and off page). I felt every time the latter was mentioned was unnecessary and didn’t add to the story. As this was an ARC, I can see why trigger warnings wouldn’t be added, but I wish I had known going into this what “dark” meant in the blurb.
PS: If you liked Atlas Six or The Magicians, I’d recommend this.
When I read the blurb, I think I was anticipating more of a traditional dark academia fantasy romance. Not necessarily Zodiac Academy or Forbidden Alchemy, but within the same playground. I would say this is a pretty big departure. I’d categorize this as queer lit within a dark academia setting. (The queer storytelling isn’t repetitive or overdone by any means, but every character is LGBTQIA2S+).
For me personally, it was hard to grasp the main characters and understand this incredibly deep, vulnerable connection they shared from childhood up to the age of 11. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had friendships that brutally intense in my adolescence, but it threw me off from the start of the book. The rage and betrayal Briar feels towards Bastian for leaving them at 11 y/o seems a bit…much.
The other difficult elements to swallow was the depictions of graphic child abuse (on page) and animal abuse/harm (both on and off page). I felt every time the latter was mentioned was unnecessary and didn’t add to the story. As this was an ARC, I can see why trigger warnings wouldn’t be added, but I wish I had known going into this what “dark” meant in the blurb.
PS: If you liked Atlas Six or The Magicians, I’d recommend this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2026
4.5 🌟
'....everything feels new and dangerous, every brush of lip and skin like it might be the thing that fatally crosses the line.' (Ch 30)
Dark Academia | Magical Realism | Queer Romance | Friends to Enemies to Lovers | Found Family | Betrayal | Secrets
Briar never wanted something more than to go to Temple for all of their childhood, but that dream was snatched away, and along with it, their childhood friend, Seb. Years later, they find themself right where they always wanted to be. However, their long lost friend is a far cry from the one they remember.
'Don’t make anybody the god of your life, even if you’ve watched a hundred sunrises together and seen them clutch their heart and cry like they’re dying and tasted the blood from their broken lip' (Ch 10)
The world that they enter is wrought with startling revelations about Temple and the cruel and immoral goings-on behind those walls. Though they are powerless on their own, fueled by anger, they think they can join with others who are against the wrongness that is occurring there. Stop the vicious cycle.
'....but Temple . . . Temple demands its pound of flesh.' (Ch 33)
A friendship gone astray, found family and allies, and tormentors by standing traditions in a place where danger increases with every interaction. When the bullies are in power and have control, what can one unmagical person and a few misfits do to seize it back?
Briar seems dauntless. They are like the hired muscle, all brawn, yet they wear their heart on their sleeves. Was kinda wanting to ship them with Tate as he had this vibe about him.
They uncover many secrets about themself, about their history with Seb, and stumble upon a mystery at Temple. But their stay is temporary, and as the ending of their contract looms near, they face the terrifying possibility that they may lose all they had discovered... friendship, love, knowledge, everything that came to matter.
"'...Maybe . . . maybe we don’t need to be completely good, to be worth saving.’" (Ch 40)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Harper Voyager / HarperCollins Publishers
'....everything feels new and dangerous, every brush of lip and skin like it might be the thing that fatally crosses the line.' (Ch 30)
Dark Academia | Magical Realism | Queer Romance | Friends to Enemies to Lovers | Found Family | Betrayal | Secrets
Briar never wanted something more than to go to Temple for all of their childhood, but that dream was snatched away, and along with it, their childhood friend, Seb. Years later, they find themself right where they always wanted to be. However, their long lost friend is a far cry from the one they remember.
'Don’t make anybody the god of your life, even if you’ve watched a hundred sunrises together and seen them clutch their heart and cry like they’re dying and tasted the blood from their broken lip' (Ch 10)
The world that they enter is wrought with startling revelations about Temple and the cruel and immoral goings-on behind those walls. Though they are powerless on their own, fueled by anger, they think they can join with others who are against the wrongness that is occurring there. Stop the vicious cycle.
'....but Temple . . . Temple demands its pound of flesh.' (Ch 33)
A friendship gone astray, found family and allies, and tormentors by standing traditions in a place where danger increases with every interaction. When the bullies are in power and have control, what can one unmagical person and a few misfits do to seize it back?
Briar seems dauntless. They are like the hired muscle, all brawn, yet they wear their heart on their sleeves. Was kinda wanting to ship them with Tate as he had this vibe about him.
They uncover many secrets about themself, about their history with Seb, and stumble upon a mystery at Temple. But their stay is temporary, and as the ending of their contract looms near, they face the terrifying possibility that they may lose all they had discovered... friendship, love, knowledge, everything that came to matter.
"'...Maybe . . . maybe we don’t need to be completely good, to be worth saving.’" (Ch 40)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Harper Voyager / HarperCollins Publishers
June 15, 2026
Lex Croucher can really do it all. so far, ive loved their YA (Gwen & Art Are Not In Love) and their historical romance (Reputation and Infamous) and now I love their dark academia fantasy! their writing is such a treat to read, so clever and funny but also so much angst (i love angst).
no one is “good” in this book, and I loved how many shades of gray we saw in the characters. even though everyone was a little (perhaps more than) awful they are also literally in their late teens, in a fucked up magical school with ritual hazing and extreme power dynamics, and still figuring things out. It’s a mess (affectionate). speaking of power dynamics!! i really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this, and i liked that it questions the fairness of magic (or “the work”) and also questioned all the weird rituals/trials that go on in this school.
it’s so hard for me to pick a favorite character because I loved so many of them. I loved Briar, Seb, and Briar’s group of friends (Hadley, Tate, and Westby). Also Eugenia??? She really stole the show in the first few chapters and I was instantly obsessed. but BRIAR AND SEB oh my god...ok yeah, their scenes were my favorites. the tension between these two and aaaah, of course i ate it up— i’m a sucker for a second chance and also for growth and redemption!!
I combo read this and the narrator was very good!! highly rec the audiobook version if that’s available to you!!
thank you to Harper Voyager for the free copy and ALC!!
no one is “good” in this book, and I loved how many shades of gray we saw in the characters. even though everyone was a little (perhaps more than) awful they are also literally in their late teens, in a fucked up magical school with ritual hazing and extreme power dynamics, and still figuring things out. It’s a mess (affectionate). speaking of power dynamics!! i really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this, and i liked that it questions the fairness of magic (or “the work”) and also questioned all the weird rituals/trials that go on in this school.
it’s so hard for me to pick a favorite character because I loved so many of them. I loved Briar, Seb, and Briar’s group of friends (Hadley, Tate, and Westby). Also Eugenia??? She really stole the show in the first few chapters and I was instantly obsessed. but BRIAR AND SEB oh my god...ok yeah, their scenes were my favorites. the tension between these two and aaaah, of course i ate it up— i’m a sucker for a second chance and also for growth and redemption!!
I combo read this and the narrator was very good!! highly rec the audiobook version if that’s available to you!!
thank you to Harper Voyager for the free copy and ALC!!
Did Not Finish
July 30, 2026I made it to 24% before deciding this one wasn't for me. The story just didn't pull me in the way I was hoping, and the YA tone felt stronger than I anticipated going in. This is entirely a personal preference issue and not a reflection of the writing quality. I think readers looking for a YA fantasy with this style and tone may have a much better experience than I did. It just wasn't the right book for me at this time.
June 22, 2026
Thank you @harpervoyagerus + @librofm for the ARC + audiobook; the character art with Briar and Bastian is amazing also 🥺♡
.
Loved the premise: best friends separated after one leaves for magic school while the other never gets their acceptance letter… I wanted to love it.
.
My biggest issue was with the pacing… it moved very slowly, my mind was wandering through a lot of conversating, but where not a lot was moving the plot forward. Pacing picks up in the last 1/3, although I also felt the ending was resolved too simplistically.
.
Maybe that was actually the point. This was a book about dismantling systems of oppression, keeping the wealthy in power while crushing everyone else underfoot.
.
I did very much appreciate some of the humorous banter and friends circle, although personally thought the romance felt forced.
.
Definitely read and make your own opinion. A few trusted friends came away with a very different feeling so I do think this book will find its audience!
.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ3m4wKDJkU/
.
Loved the premise: best friends separated after one leaves for magic school while the other never gets their acceptance letter… I wanted to love it.
.
My biggest issue was with the pacing… it moved very slowly, my mind was wandering through a lot of conversating, but where not a lot was moving the plot forward. Pacing picks up in the last 1/3, although I also felt the ending was resolved too simplistically.
.
Maybe that was actually the point. This was a book about dismantling systems of oppression, keeping the wealthy in power while crushing everyone else underfoot.
.
I did very much appreciate some of the humorous banter and friends circle, although personally thought the romance felt forced.
.
Definitely read and make your own opinion. A few trusted friends came away with a very different feeling so I do think this book will find its audience!
.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ3m4wKDJkU/
Read
June 24, 2026what if magic school was Eton and, consequently, fucking horrifying??
Briar Jones takes a summer job at the magic elite private school they were always obsessed with but never got into - where they’re quickly exposed to the grim reality, and fall in with a ragtag queer friend group fighting back. Also, their childhood best friend is there and seems changed and genuinely AWFUL, ramping up to a devastating, delicious ‘violent nonbinary MC x delicate horrible traumatised man’ romance.
Extremely easy to get into and full of dry banter, I just massively enjoyed reading, and found it surprisingly comforting for a book so biting and gut-wrenching. Full of fucked up characters making bad choices and troubled sexy longing for someone whose past you can’t just wave away, it teeters interestingly between dark/mature YA and adult - matching where Briar is at, torn between member of staff vs student mentality.
But the thing I liked most was the British institutional cruelty as dark academia - unusually keenly observed and horribly believable. The magic highlights that whole boys-club, torturous humiliation, homophobic rape culture, bullingdon-club-to-prime-minister-pipeline in a way that gave me goosebumps and made me want to scream (compliment). Instead of just suggesting ‘have you considered elite institutions are bad’ it really makes you FEEL the brutality of that enforced power dynamic in a way that really banged!!! Horrible. LOVED IT.
Briar Jones takes a summer job at the magic elite private school they were always obsessed with but never got into - where they’re quickly exposed to the grim reality, and fall in with a ragtag queer friend group fighting back. Also, their childhood best friend is there and seems changed and genuinely AWFUL, ramping up to a devastating, delicious ‘violent nonbinary MC x delicate horrible traumatised man’ romance.
Extremely easy to get into and full of dry banter, I just massively enjoyed reading, and found it surprisingly comforting for a book so biting and gut-wrenching. Full of fucked up characters making bad choices and troubled sexy longing for someone whose past you can’t just wave away, it teeters interestingly between dark/mature YA and adult - matching where Briar is at, torn between member of staff vs student mentality.
But the thing I liked most was the British institutional cruelty as dark academia - unusually keenly observed and horribly believable. The magic highlights that whole boys-club, torturous humiliation, homophobic rape culture, bullingdon-club-to-prime-minister-pipeline in a way that gave me goosebumps and made me want to scream (compliment). Instead of just suggesting ‘have you considered elite institutions are bad’ it really makes you FEEL the brutality of that enforced power dynamic in a way that really banged!!! Horrible. LOVED IT.
July 8, 2026
3.5 stars.
I overall liked this one but the resolution absolutely did not live up to the build up. RTC.
I overall liked this one but the resolution absolutely did not live up to the build up. RTC.
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026DNF @ 37% - I'm glad this book exists but unfortunately it's just not for me.
I've seen a variety of reviews that say it picks up after about 30% or it really kicks off after 50% and I just have too many books I'm excited to read to stay stuck on a book that takes that long to get interesting.
On the one hand, I think this is incredibly well written. On the other hand, I don't think I vibe with this writing style. I struggled for the entire 37% I read to feel invested in these characters or this story. Don't ask me to differentiate any of the side characters because I have no clue. I kept feeling like nothing was happening and I honestly couldn't tell you much more than a person begins working at a magical school that their estranged childhood best friend attends.
The summary for this book led me to believe the romance would be more of a focal point of the story. Briar and Seb barely interacted in what I was able to get through which definitely contributed to my lack of interest.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists. A non-binary protagonist, a variety of queer characters, a magical school and some dark academia. This book will absolutely find its audience and be a 5 star for many.
I received an eARC from Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
I've seen a variety of reviews that say it picks up after about 30% or it really kicks off after 50% and I just have too many books I'm excited to read to stay stuck on a book that takes that long to get interesting.
On the one hand, I think this is incredibly well written. On the other hand, I don't think I vibe with this writing style. I struggled for the entire 37% I read to feel invested in these characters or this story. Don't ask me to differentiate any of the side characters because I have no clue. I kept feeling like nothing was happening and I honestly couldn't tell you much more than a person begins working at a magical school that their estranged childhood best friend attends.
The summary for this book led me to believe the romance would be more of a focal point of the story. Briar and Seb barely interacted in what I was able to get through which definitely contributed to my lack of interest.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists. A non-binary protagonist, a variety of queer characters, a magical school and some dark academia. This book will absolutely find its audience and be a 5 star for many.
I received an eARC from Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 10, 2026
It pains me that I didn’t like this more. I like their Arthur books and was hoping for the same kind of tone in this (but magic!) but this was more inner monologuing than I would prefer.
It’s sold as a dark academia but the focus is placed more on Briar and their struggles and even the relationship came before the school and magic parts. A friends to enemies to lovers story should be charming and sweet but this felt unredeemable after some of those school scenes. We spend large quantities of time listening to Briar describe stuff or think about stuff and no action is happening. It made the pacing feel way off. They also kind of jump back and forth in the story mid sentence it seems like i.e. talking about needing to take a gap year but they’ve been out of school for 7 years? (What year is it??? Lol). I just wasn’t captivated by the characters and I wasn’t really rooting for the romance.
The narrator was fine but they had that kind of abrasive English accent that made it difficult to speed up or I couldn’t understand what she was saying and so the audio felt even longer. I’d listen to a sample before committing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s sold as a dark academia but the focus is placed more on Briar and their struggles and even the relationship came before the school and magic parts. A friends to enemies to lovers story should be charming and sweet but this felt unredeemable after some of those school scenes. We spend large quantities of time listening to Briar describe stuff or think about stuff and no action is happening. It made the pacing feel way off. They also kind of jump back and forth in the story mid sentence it seems like i.e. talking about needing to take a gap year but they’ve been out of school for 7 years? (What year is it??? Lol). I just wasn’t captivated by the characters and I wasn’t really rooting for the romance.
The narrator was fine but they had that kind of abrasive English accent that made it difficult to speed up or I couldn’t understand what she was saying and so the audio felt even longer. I’d listen to a sample before committing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
Wow I loved this! Only reason it took me so long to finish was #camp, but I was genuinely picking up my kindle whenever I could and reading before bed every night even when I was absolutely exhausted because I couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day!! It kind of straddles the line between YA and adult- the writing is sort of too good to be YA (is that a crazy thing to say lol)/ the characters are so well developed, but they’re also 17 and 18 and ultimately it’s set in a high school (albeit in their last month of school)?? Overall I really liked the character focus of this; I also liked the plot, and enjoyed how it could still surprise me even with relatively typical progression in retrospect… I think because I was so focused on the characters and their relationships and understandings of themselves and what was going on around them, the plot almost flew under the radar which allowed me to be surprised because I hadn’t put as much thought into how it was going to turn out?? Hm that doesn’t even really make sense to me but anyway!! Also really loved having a non-binary main character… so good for my brain to be reading their pronouns throughout. Only thing that confused me somewhat was the ending??? I kind of thought this was gonna be a series so could see that it would continue but then I think it’s a standalone? And things kiiiind of wrapped up but like way too fast/ weirdly straight forwardly explained for how the rest of the book was written???? So that was kinda odd
June 10, 2026
I loved loved loved this book. In a way it reminded me of Vita Nostra, although much lighter, and that’s high praise coming from me.
We follow 18-year-old Briar Jones on their summer job, which is nothing less than cleaning an attic at a school they fantasised about joining all throughout their childhood with their best friend, Seb. But seven years ago, Seb got in and left Briar behind, away to learn magic while Briar had to stay on their family’s farm. And now, Seb stands in front of Briar again, but his name is Bastian and the sweet boy he was is nowhere to be found anymore, forgotten behind the cruelty of Temple.
First of all, I have to mention that the non binary rep was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to see a non binary main character and also have it just be a fact of the story, and not a coming-out focused story. These are just as important, but so is post-coming out rep.
The world was also very well developed, with deeply flawed characters that are still very much realistic and likeable despite their faults. It felt very human, and helped the story feel more grounded. The magic system was also refreshing and is what reminded me the most of Vita Nostra, which I very much enjoyed.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the book made it all worth it regardless and I hope we get to see more of this from Lex Croucher!
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
We follow 18-year-old Briar Jones on their summer job, which is nothing less than cleaning an attic at a school they fantasised about joining all throughout their childhood with their best friend, Seb. But seven years ago, Seb got in and left Briar behind, away to learn magic while Briar had to stay on their family’s farm. And now, Seb stands in front of Briar again, but his name is Bastian and the sweet boy he was is nowhere to be found anymore, forgotten behind the cruelty of Temple.
First of all, I have to mention that the non binary rep was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to see a non binary main character and also have it just be a fact of the story, and not a coming-out focused story. These are just as important, but so is post-coming out rep.
The world was also very well developed, with deeply flawed characters that are still very much realistic and likeable despite their faults. It felt very human, and helped the story feel more grounded. The magic system was also refreshing and is what reminded me the most of Vita Nostra, which I very much enjoyed.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the book made it all worth it regardless and I hope we get to see more of this from Lex Croucher!
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews