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A Campus on Fire
When a shocking death rocks the exclusive writing program at a prestigious campus, a student journalist, Tess Azar, sets out to discover the truth. Rumors abound of the writing program' s cultish atmosphere and its zealous members, who will stop at nothing to ensure the sanctity of their own secrets. As an extreme right-wing student group swells in numbers, Tess finds herself in the crosshairs, dangerously at the center of the growing chaos. Simmering with tension, this provocative novel portrays the nation' s current-charged political climate, highlighting the immovable structures of our society and the dangers of navigating a post-truth world.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
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3740 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 2, 2025
This is one of those rare novels that has been smoldering quietly in the margins, waiting for the right moment to ignite. And now that it’s here, it feels not only timely, but necessary.
A Campus on Fire begins as a sort of campus mystery but quickly deepens into something more intimate and unsettling: a meditation on power, complicity, and the emotional toll of ambition. Through the eyes of Tess, a student journalist with something to prove, the novel explores what it means to tell the truth inside institutions built to obscure it. Her voice is sharp, observant, and always compelling.
This isn’t a book that ties itself up in answers. It sits with discomfort. It traces the cost of access, of trust, of admiration. In true campus novel tradition, it explores intellectual ambition and moral unraveling. And yet it’s wholly its own.
This is a story that burns slow and steady, leaving behind a lasting heat.
A Campus on Fire begins as a sort of campus mystery but quickly deepens into something more intimate and unsettling: a meditation on power, complicity, and the emotional toll of ambition. Through the eyes of Tess, a student journalist with something to prove, the novel explores what it means to tell the truth inside institutions built to obscure it. Her voice is sharp, observant, and always compelling.
This isn’t a book that ties itself up in answers. It sits with discomfort. It traces the cost of access, of trust, of admiration. In true campus novel tradition, it explores intellectual ambition and moral unraveling. And yet it’s wholly its own.
This is a story that burns slow and steady, leaving behind a lasting heat.
October 5, 2025
I was excited to read this book as it is part of the seasonal challenges and this gave me the chance to read a new author and book I wouldn't normally read. That said, I was extremely disappointed with this book and by the end, I just wanted it to end. The entire premise of the book centers around a journalism student who is at the center of fascism taking place at her university while also researching the death of a fellow student. What failed, in my opinion, is that there is no evolution to the characters and the author failed to bring them to life. Tess, the main character, reads less like a truth-seeker and more like a reporter who is trying to find an angle to advance her career. She succumbs to the opportunities presented by a powerful figure, the truth be damned. Other characters like Sylvia, Rose, Lisa, and Richard all remain the same. Even though the book takes place over a short period of time, there should be some changes with the shocking events that took place at Tess's university.
Without any growth or redemption by the characters, this is simply a hollow political narrative about what is taking place at any old university campus in America today. Due to O'Dowd's weighty themes about truth, ideology, consent, and journalistic integrity to name a few, the book loses its impact since no character evolves to show the weight of one's actions. Due to this, I felt that the characters were more of a static plot device when O'Dowd could have explored humanity complexity when facing such themes.
Without any growth or redemption by the characters, this is simply a hollow political narrative about what is taking place at any old university campus in America today. Due to O'Dowd's weighty themes about truth, ideology, consent, and journalistic integrity to name a few, the book loses its impact since no character evolves to show the weight of one's actions. Due to this, I felt that the characters were more of a static plot device when O'Dowd could have explored humanity complexity when facing such themes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
O’Dowd’s debut novel quickly earns its place on shelves next to acclaimed fiction authors.
A book of our times, it is a masterful portrayal of societal discord, which has become exacerbated by the blurring of physical and digital worlds. O’Dowd meticulously reflects on the vitriol and contempt that we have for anyone who we see as a threat to our own standings, and the weapons we use to enforce them—whether they be torches or cell phones.
This story takes full advantage of its setting, and the contained environment lends itself to the tension between and combustibility of its characters. Reading dialogue (including the inner dialogue of the protagonist), feels eerily like looking in a mirror. I felt my own very real frustration, shame, and fear while watching Tess struggle to navigate the chaos around her.
It’s a thought-provoking invitation to grow through your own discomfort. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
A book of our times, it is a masterful portrayal of societal discord, which has become exacerbated by the blurring of physical and digital worlds. O’Dowd meticulously reflects on the vitriol and contempt that we have for anyone who we see as a threat to our own standings, and the weapons we use to enforce them—whether they be torches or cell phones.
This story takes full advantage of its setting, and the contained environment lends itself to the tension between and combustibility of its characters. Reading dialogue (including the inner dialogue of the protagonist), feels eerily like looking in a mirror. I felt my own very real frustration, shame, and fear while watching Tess struggle to navigate the chaos around her.
It’s a thought-provoking invitation to grow through your own discomfort. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
May 8, 2025
I was hooked right away. In chapter 1, you are introduced to characters having an interview, no background or history provided, and you are immediately intrigued with what they are discussing. You want to keep reading to understand what’s going on and why they are discussing certain topics.
Lots of great parallels to our current political climate. Chapter 30-32 were intense page turners and I was on the edge of my seat thinking about what would happen next. The way Pat describes certain activites during the book makes you feel like you are right along side the characters.
A great political thrilling book!
Lots of great parallels to our current political climate. Chapter 30-32 were intense page turners and I was on the edge of my seat thinking about what would happen next. The way Pat describes certain activites during the book makes you feel like you are right along side the characters.
A great political thrilling book!
April 30, 2025
Loved this book!!
Patrick O’Dowd’s debut novel A Campus On Fire, is powerful and thought provoking. I couldn’t put it down. O’Dowd has written a brilliant novel, skillfully presenting the familiar heated opposing political views. Looking forward to his next novel!
Patrick O’Dowd’s debut novel A Campus On Fire, is powerful and thought provoking. I couldn’t put it down. O’Dowd has written a brilliant novel, skillfully presenting the familiar heated opposing political views. Looking forward to his next novel!
April 29, 2025
A fantastic, poignant, and timely read that touches on the partisanship in American society. The plot was intriguing and the pacing was strong. O’Dowd’s prose sparkles throughout and I’m looking forward to reading more by him.
April 30, 2025
Absolutely captivating thriller keeping you on your toes the entire time. I couldn’t put it down! Patrick Odowd really knows how to grab the reader and keep them on a roller coaster of twists, turns and emotions. Everyone should add to your list to read!
April 29, 2025
A page turner that cannot be put down once you pick it up. O’Dowd’s take on the political and social climate in the US feels all too relevant.
August 19, 2025
Our book club recently chose Campus on Fire, and it sparked some of the most thought-provoking conversations we’ve had in a long time. From the very first chapter, I was struck by how gripping and honest the writing felt—nothing sugarcoated, just a powerful account that pulls you right in. The author has a rare gift for weaving vivid storytelling with sharp insight, and the result is a book that is both engaging and deeply impactful.
One of the strengths of this book is the way it tackles post-truth journalism and politics with such clarity. The author makes sense of complex issues in a way that feels both urgent and relatable, helping readers see how these forces shape not only campuses, but our society at large. It’s the kind of writing that challenges you to think critically while also making you reflect personally.
Campus on Fire is the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. I’m so glad our club picked it—it’s a read that challenges, inspires, and leaves you eager to recommend it to others.
One of the strengths of this book is the way it tackles post-truth journalism and politics with such clarity. The author makes sense of complex issues in a way that feels both urgent and relatable, helping readers see how these forces shape not only campuses, but our society at large. It’s the kind of writing that challenges you to think critically while also making you reflect personally.
Campus on Fire is the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. I’m so glad our club picked it—it’s a read that challenges, inspires, and leaves you eager to recommend it to others.
November 21, 2025
This book was very odd because it tries to mash together two entirely separate and essentially independent stories into one single story for seemingly no reason. Like both stories could definitely be expanded and stand alone and probably make for much better writing than what they are in their current form. Both stories intersect in that they center around Tess, an undergrad journalist. Story A revolves around Tess’ investigation into a very selective and insular creative writing workshop following the death of their star student. Story B follows the rise of fascism on Tess’ campus under the leadership of some douche named Richard.
The plot surrounding the creative writing workshop was definitely the more compelling story to me, and there were moments where O’Dowd really dug into the perversion and gothic themes that can make the creative process so sickly fascinating. I really felt that this plot only suffered from having to share space with the Richard storyline, and so many interesting dynamics were left unexplored and questions were left unanswered. I actually really enjoyed that Tess becomes more looped into this group because she becomes romantically involved with one of the students, Rose, and it would have been so fascinating to explore the conflicts that inevitably would have arisen between them with Tess as an outsider and Rose as someone who has been indoctrinated. However, what we get is actually an extremely underwhelming ending, because there just wasn’t time to let those conflicts play out. Instead, Tess and Rose have an incredibly insta-love relationship, which really just meant that Tess would go along with anything Rose wanted. Another aspect that could have been really fun to explore is the class and ideological divide between Tess and Rose, but alas Tess was too busy imagining ski trips with Rose to bother thinking about her questionable morals.
This absolutely lack of personality and principle is unfortunately Tess’ only defining characteristic, which I do think is intentional. This was annoying, but it wasn’t a flaw in the execution of her character development. What actually was a problem was how utterly impossible it was for me to believe that Tess is somehow this extremely talented journalist who anyone is taking seriously. She comes off as incredibly dim and rigid in every single interview scene, and I don’t know many people who want to listen to a college student give their opinion about anything, much less someone like Tess.
The Richard storyline really was not all that compelling to me, but I do think O’Dowd does a really good job of creating parallels between extremists at both ends of the political spectrum. That being said, he is not trying to equate the two, but rather my understanding was that morality should not be held up to the standards of logic and rationality. Both “good” and “bad” people can do good and bad things, but that doesn’t make them the same. It should not be a requirement to write up a proof for why we believe certain things are right or wrong, because the principles and ideologies that stick are not the ones that are the most rational but the ones that appeal to your emotions, that can make you feel.
Anyway, these are my scattered and somewhat disjointed thoughts, which is in alignment with the structure of this book.
The plot surrounding the creative writing workshop was definitely the more compelling story to me, and there were moments where O’Dowd really dug into the perversion and gothic themes that can make the creative process so sickly fascinating. I really felt that this plot only suffered from having to share space with the Richard storyline, and so many interesting dynamics were left unexplored and questions were left unanswered. I actually really enjoyed that Tess becomes more looped into this group because she becomes romantically involved with one of the students, Rose, and it would have been so fascinating to explore the conflicts that inevitably would have arisen between them with Tess as an outsider and Rose as someone who has been indoctrinated. However, what we get is actually an extremely underwhelming ending, because there just wasn’t time to let those conflicts play out. Instead, Tess and Rose have an incredibly insta-love relationship, which really just meant that Tess would go along with anything Rose wanted. Another aspect that could have been really fun to explore is the class and ideological divide between Tess and Rose, but alas Tess was too busy imagining ski trips with Rose to bother thinking about her questionable morals.
This absolutely lack of personality and principle is unfortunately Tess’ only defining characteristic, which I do think is intentional. This was annoying, but it wasn’t a flaw in the execution of her character development. What actually was a problem was how utterly impossible it was for me to believe that Tess is somehow this extremely talented journalist who anyone is taking seriously. She comes off as incredibly dim and rigid in every single interview scene, and I don’t know many people who want to listen to a college student give their opinion about anything, much less someone like Tess.
The Richard storyline really was not all that compelling to me, but I do think O’Dowd does a really good job of creating parallels between extremists at both ends of the political spectrum. That being said, he is not trying to equate the two, but rather my understanding was that morality should not be held up to the standards of logic and rationality. Both “good” and “bad” people can do good and bad things, but that doesn’t make them the same. It should not be a requirement to write up a proof for why we believe certain things are right or wrong, because the principles and ideologies that stick are not the ones that are the most rational but the ones that appeal to your emotions, that can make you feel.
Anyway, these are my scattered and somewhat disjointed thoughts, which is in alignment with the structure of this book.
May 21, 2025
I was blown away by this debut! While reading it, I mentally put it on my shelf of favorite campus novels like The Secret History and If We Were Villains. The novel's pacing is relentless—in the best ways—with short, striking chapters that pick up more and more tension until the last devastating chapter.
I'm still processing this novel: I feel like I went from angry to frustrated to afraid right along with the main character, Tess. The social commentary from both the charismatic conservative leader rising to power on campus and the insular creative writing workshop is something I'll have to sit with for a bit. There's nuance in the writing that I really enjoyed. Definitely one to revisit!
I'm still processing this novel: I feel like I went from angry to frustrated to afraid right along with the main character, Tess. The social commentary from both the charismatic conservative leader rising to power on campus and the insular creative writing workshop is something I'll have to sit with for a bit. There's nuance in the writing that I really enjoyed. Definitely one to revisit!
May 21, 2025
O'Dowd's debut novel is a riveting page-turner that leaves readers wanting more. Set against the backdrop of a college campus, the story explores timeless themes of power, corruption, ambition, racism, misogyny, and seduction with unflinching insight.
Student journalist Tess Azar confronts a rising right-wing movement that threatens to destroy the campus community. Her quest to find answers is complicated by the allure of a secretive literary cult that promises success—at a price. Tess must confront fear, violence and moral ambiguity to find her voice. The novel is breathtakingly relevant, echoing the real-world turmoil of today’s political landscape.
Timely, tense, and impossible to put down—this is a must-read for our turbulent times.
Student journalist Tess Azar confronts a rising right-wing movement that threatens to destroy the campus community. Her quest to find answers is complicated by the allure of a secretive literary cult that promises success—at a price. Tess must confront fear, violence and moral ambiguity to find her voice. The novel is breathtakingly relevant, echoing the real-world turmoil of today’s political landscape.
Timely, tense, and impossible to put down—this is a must-read for our turbulent times.
September 28, 2025
Five star quality writing, but kind of mess. This book was way limited in space to develop either of the plot lines (investigate a dead classmate who was part of the on campus writing workshop/cult or stick with the Conservative Party/nazi rally bit or do something with the half plot line about the sex Addict who filmed himself having sex with other women and posted videos online)—
The content of this book was insane and I really enjoyed the bits and pieces that I got. However I feel like Tess is basically a mystery at this point, who she is and what challenged her specifically behind people not knowing where to find Lebanon on a map. Basically every interaction was an interview of some sort, but the stakes were so high that small stuff didn’t really stand out— like what building the school paper was housed in, her fellow journalists.
So much was happening I was watching the end get closer and closer without any real coherence in weaving together any of the plots. Great start, terrible finish.
The content of this book was insane and I really enjoyed the bits and pieces that I got. However I feel like Tess is basically a mystery at this point, who she is and what challenged her specifically behind people not knowing where to find Lebanon on a map. Basically every interaction was an interview of some sort, but the stakes were so high that small stuff didn’t really stand out— like what building the school paper was housed in, her fellow journalists.
So much was happening I was watching the end get closer and closer without any real coherence in weaving together any of the plots. Great start, terrible finish.
August 6, 2025
This was a really visceral portrait of our current political climate packaged in an engaging dark academia/campus mystery story. Not perfect, a little too heavy on the "both sides are bad" themes and lacking a bit of depth but still a great read!!
October 2, 2025
maybe I’m too stupid to understand this book, or too non-American. the annotation was interesting, but in the end it was just a waste of my already non-existent reading resource...
October 2, 2025
This book is an ambitious book that touched on many important topics and had some great and interesting observations and analogies. The subplots were interesting and each had a lot of potential, so much so that they could have been books on their own. But because there was so much, it became too much. With so much 'message,' the story’s details and the characters’ motivations got lost. In the end, it felt like the author bit off more than he could chew by trying to tackle everything at once.
October 6, 2025
Political fan fiction with a BDSM teenage lesbian subplot. Reads more like the author’s fantasy than a serious exploration of consent, power, or politics. Didn’t appreciate it, won’t give it more of my time. Won’t pick up a Patrick O’Dowd book again.
Maybe I missed something, maybe I could be convinced otherwise, doubt it.
Maybe I missed something, maybe I could be convinced otherwise, doubt it.
May 25, 2025
A Campus on Fire is an excellent debut novel; the pages start turning and they truly do not stop turning. Beautiful prose and writing, suspenseful scenes and impressive interweaving of complex plot points, characters and their motivations. The novel makes you think and doesn’t tell you what to think. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
October 7, 2025
First of all, I don’t recommend this book. That said, I thought it was well written. This read like a political suspense novel of our time. But then it suddenly took a sharp turn into a sex cult??? And the ending left me with a feeling of a loss of faith in people, politics, and media.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2025
I really struggled with writing a review for this one. I don’t want to do the author disservice by rating it low and affecting other readers’ access the book. However, it definitely didn’t do what it was supposed to. Other readers commented on the lack of character development, and I think that’s my biggest issue with the novel. Tess’s decision to choose success over the truth would have been much more impactful had there been a better lead up to it. I feel like this author avoided having a problematic mc so hard that he didn’t discuss her motivations as in-depth as necessary. I also felt like having the two plot lines (A-secret-history-cult-study-group-like story alongside commentary on current politics) did the overall story a disservice. I was interested in both and felt they were underdeveloped, as attention was split between the two.
I felt this novel had great potential and, as far as first ones go, it’s not a bad introduction. I am interested in seeing how O’Dowd’s writing improves over time!
Side note: this one unintentionally meets the criteria for my “wtf Richard” collection!!!1!!1!
I felt this novel had great potential and, as far as first ones go, it’s not a bad introduction. I am interested in seeing how O’Dowd’s writing improves over time!
Side note: this one unintentionally meets the criteria for my “wtf Richard” collection!!!1!!1!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
it may be unfortunate that I loved Tartt's Secret History. it's hard not to compare. I think O'Dowd could have fleshed out characters a lot more: I don't feel like I really got to know any of them. Also, I didn't buy the cult aspect, the motivation. it's hard not to compare to Slonim Woods 9.
May 21, 2025
The stories we tell about ourselves, the myths we create about ghosts and heroes, the interpretations we give works of art, and the meaning we assign to fragments of events are all really just that second word: stories. The truth is illusive and, at times, unknowable. A Campus on Fire dwells in that ambiguity. The story sends Tess Azar, a student journalist on the search for truth, through multiple leaps of faith and on a dizzying trail of secrecy and political volatility. It’s a wonderful debut novel and I can’t wait to read more!
August 18, 2025
Preface this by saying I had to read this in haste for my book club that meets today, as I thought I had more time.
This novel was so damn compelling that it wasn’t even a task of labor; it was pure excitement and suspense that had me tanking through each chapter in anticipation.
Without revealing too much, this is a story about a college journalist that is starting a new story regarding a very strange suicide that happened on her campus. This somehow spiraled in to an amazing story about the political climate of the US (very similar to what we are seeing unfold now) that ended taking a very methodical turn back in to the pursuit of finding more about this suicide. How all this intertwined while keeping you engaged with current events in a book was done masterfully. As a debut novel, Mr O’Dowd had an amazing future in writing coming his way.
Easily an instant classic for me, as I literally could not put the book down. I just needed to come to the end to see how this tale of drama, social injustice and unrest, and mystery unfolded. I will say, without spoiling much more, I was not happy with the ending (as it wasn’t what I wanted), but I can understand the one that was written and how it would just stoke deep thought and contemplation about much of what we can relate to it in our society we live in now.
4.89 out of 5 stars. It would literally be perfect if it ended how I wanted it to be, but honestly, it’s a perfect novel for everything that it is. Definitely a must read from left field, as I may have not heard of it this soon, if not for the book club that I’m in.
Once again, highly thankful for them expanding my reading repertoire so that I could share with the people who may be pondering about reading. But enough of this, GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!
This novel was so damn compelling that it wasn’t even a task of labor; it was pure excitement and suspense that had me tanking through each chapter in anticipation.
Without revealing too much, this is a story about a college journalist that is starting a new story regarding a very strange suicide that happened on her campus. This somehow spiraled in to an amazing story about the political climate of the US (very similar to what we are seeing unfold now) that ended taking a very methodical turn back in to the pursuit of finding more about this suicide. How all this intertwined while keeping you engaged with current events in a book was done masterfully. As a debut novel, Mr O’Dowd had an amazing future in writing coming his way.
Easily an instant classic for me, as I literally could not put the book down. I just needed to come to the end to see how this tale of drama, social injustice and unrest, and mystery unfolded. I will say, without spoiling much more, I was not happy with the ending (as it wasn’t what I wanted), but I can understand the one that was written and how it would just stoke deep thought and contemplation about much of what we can relate to it in our society we live in now.
4.89 out of 5 stars. It would literally be perfect if it ended how I wanted it to be, but honestly, it’s a perfect novel for everything that it is. Definitely a must read from left field, as I may have not heard of it this soon, if not for the book club that I’m in.
Once again, highly thankful for them expanding my reading repertoire so that I could share with the people who may be pondering about reading. But enough of this, GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
This book was pretty good! It did have some great insights. Although I feel like toward the end the characters’ motivations got lost.
July 30, 2025
4.7 Absolute page turner could not put it down. Will come back and write a better review but god damn that was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2025
So much potential to be amazing but was meh.
September 21, 2025
Super meh which I was surprised by given all the rave reviews. Underdeveloped characters, no character growth, rushed plot. Explores some pretty heavy themes without really making a statement on any of them. Hated the ending. Sorry!
May 6, 2025
A Campus on Fire is a phenomenal novel—urgent, emotionally charged, and beautifully written. From the first chapter, you’re drawn into the world of student organizing, where passion and pressure collide in unpredictable ways. The pacing is tight, the dialogue is natural, and the emotional complexity of the story is what really elevates it. It’s not just about political activism—it’s about the relationships behind the scenes, the fear of saying the wrong thing, the tension between solidarity and self-preservation. Every decision the characters make feels like it matters, and that weight keeps you hooked. What I admired most is how grounded it feels. This isn’t a romanticized version of protest—it’s messy, painful, and deeply human. If you’re looking for a book that challenges you while keeping you completely engaged, this is it.
July 4, 2025
I very much enjoyed the campus setting, weaving together the conflicts between the alt-right and campus journalists, alongside the intense creative writing workshop cult-like clique. It felt very, very topical. It was hard to put down — I wanted to see how it all ended!
July 18, 2025
This book illustrates how we live in a world where we never really know the full truth, and it feels like a cautionary tale for not resorting to the same tactics used by the far right. The main character is a little frustrating at times, but I think she represents how each of us is susceptible to falling victim to lies and manipulation, or choosing to participate in those lies and manipulation, even if we think we know what’s right. I felt angry and disheartened at several points in this book, which is the point since it’s about the current political climate. There were a couple of things left unanswered, and it isn’t necessarily revolutionary, but overall, I feel like this book accomplished what it set out to accomplish.
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