Welcome to the blazing hot dark academia romance trilogy from USA Today bestselling author Roxy Sloane—perfect for fans of Ana Huang. Emily McIntire, and Lauren Asher!
"Oxford, England. The city of dreaming spires, dark secrets... And desire."
Anthony St. Clair. The future Duke of Ashford. A reckless enigma… and my greatest temptation.
I've come here, to Oxford University, on a mission—to uncover the truth about what happened to my sister—no matter the cost. Until I meet him...
Saint is my passport to a sensual world of wealth and privilege, but something wicked is lurking behind these ivy covered walls. Secrets these people will kill to protect.
Loyalty is everything to them… but will it be my ruin?
Roxy Sloane is a romance junkie with a dirty mind. She lives in Los Angeles and loves writing sexy, complex stories about pushing the boundaries and risking it all.
The idea was really great, but the execution fell completely flat😬
Everything sounded great at first: heroine seeking revenge for her sister, Oxford setting, a case of hidden identity with a dash of dark academia. What's not to like? I thought so too, but! 🛑🛑🛑🛑
- the heroine is "supposedly" really determined to find the person who SAed her sister and drove her to suicide, but enter chapter 1, and she's already leaking like an old roof at first sight of the hero🤡 - the buildup towards any sexual tension is non-existent. The hero appears and the heroine is horny and imagines hundreds of different ways he could bang her. Excuse you?! You sister is dead, set your priorities straight! 💩🙈 - the heroine used to be a party girl, who didn't study and barely passed her uni in Philadelphia, but SOMEHOW managed to get a scholarship for "older, not so smart" students to OXFORD!!! How? 🤯🤷🏼♀️ - heroine ran into her hot professor who has a reputation on campus for being all about sex, she calls him a cliché, insults him OUT of NOWHERE, implies he has a small dick and walks away. Then she is late to his seminar and the professor refuses to let her attend due to tardiness, she talks back at him and he asks he to leave the room, using the same phrase she used at him earlier. This prompts her to view him as an ass 🤡 - on her quest to find the truth about her sister she gets stupidly distracted, puts herself in dangerous situations and then is just about to have sex at an orgy before i DNFd🤣🤯🙈
Holy moly I binged this book!!!! I was not expecting to get drawn into the storyline as quickly as I did but my gosh was it addicting!
Saint was so fcking hot I was so excited to see what was going to come out of his mouth next 💦💦
A grad student trying to avenge her sisters death. A hot professor caught in the mix. Secret societies. Mysterious & powerful people. Sex club. IT HAS IT ALL.
The only thing I didn’t like was her fake ass friends ugh I hated them. If I was there someone would be getting throat punch!
I was itching to know what happened next!! We need justice for Wren!!!!! And next thing I knew I FREAKING FINISHED IT. Fair warning it ends on a cliff BUTTTTT all the books are getting published on the same day so you get to jump right into the next one without waiting! BLESS UP ROXY SLOANE!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes: Dark academia Professor x grad student Romantic suspense He falls first Public play Reformed playboy
DNF. Con mucha diferencia lo pero que he leído en mi vida! Preferiría no volver a leer nunca más que tener que leer una sola página más de este libro…
Trama: 0 Desarrollo de personajes: 0
El nivel de redacción de la autora parecía el de un niño de 10 años y me apunto lo que sea a que lo ha traducido una IA y absolutamente nadie en la editorial lo ha revisado no corregido. PENOSO.
Entiendo que las editoriales son negocios, pero los lectores nos gastamos nuestro dinero su vuestro producto, los libros, y nos merecemos un mínimo de calidad al que este libro no llega ni de lejos.
Quickest DNF ever. I should have known this wasn’t going to work out after reading the dedication. Help, why was there a weird sex party on chapter 7? Yeah that’s when I tapped out, ew ewwwwww, no. I didn’t even finish that chapter because I genuinely felt traumatised LMAO 😭 I’m going to go wash my eyes out with soap and sit in a box of shame. I hope to never be associated with this book in my life.
Also just want to say that I have nothing against spice… heck most of the books I read have some level of spice in them, but she was literally lusting after him on page 6. Can we at least have a plot please? Also, the writing is actually so, so terrible. Shes meant to be finding out about her sisters death but she’s too busy at the orgy she’s found herself at LOL no I’m actually laughing so much cause I cannot take this seriously right now 💀 I’m so sorry if you loved this book, genuinely no judgement from me at all. It’s never that deep, it’s just definitely not for me.
Well shit I started this on a whim and 4 hours later the sun is about to come up. This story is so my speed it don’t make no sense. So Tessa’s sister went through something horrible and took her own life. Tessa has now faked her way into her old school in England trying to find out what happened and is charmed by none other than a duke who also happens to be her professor. She had him eating out the palm of her hands!!! It’s nothing like a rich man wanting to change all his way for a woman who is not easily impressed by him. Let that man drop several bags just so you can breathe in his direction sissss.
Strong FMC Hot as fuck MC Angst out the MF roof Amazing AF banter Steam & spice Interesting plot + secret society?
Please I ate this up and left not one crumb on the damn plate!!!! I’m jumping into book 2 immediately
- student/ proxy - Age gap - FMC is 26 MMC is mid 30s - Dark academia - Billionaire - Secret societies
Our FMC is undercover at Oxford on her own personal investigation to find out who hurt her late sister and undercover her past… only the man she falls for is all twisted up in the secrets.
This book was so much fun between the spice, mystery and general vibes it’s the perfect fun easy romance to sink in.
"Tenderness will be my undoing, but passion...? Passion will set me free, the way only he knows how."
The only thing I'm truly upset about after finishing this book is the fact that I don’t already have the second one to dive into. This novel wasn’t even on my TBR for 2025 until I received it as a Christmas gift — and, honestly, I almost returned it. I’m beyond grateful I didn’t. Saint and Tessa’s story completely captivated me!
This book checks all the boxes I love:
✔️ Spicy romance ✔️ Dark academia ✔️ Secret societies ✔️ Intriguing mystery
We follow Tessa, a young woman with a burning need for justice as she hunts for answers and vengeance over the attack on her sister, Wren. Her journey leads her to Oxford Academy, where hidden truths are as prevalent as the secrets lurking in the shadows. As Tessa digs deeper for clues, mysterious messages and hidden hints begin to surface — all leading her to none other than Professor Saint, the campus heartthrob with a reputation for fleeting affairs and broken hearts. Unsurprisingly, Tessa is not impressed by his charm. She’s focused on one thing: finding the truth.
However, a chance encounter at a private party shifts the dynamics between them. As she begins to uncover more about Saint’s mysterious past, Tessa realizes that their connection might not be as coincidental as it seems. Is Saint a key to unlocking the mystery surrounding her sister’s trauma? Or is he simply a distraction that might derail her pursuit of justice?
This book is a beautifully twisted blend of suspense, romance, and dark academia. The chemistry between Tessa and Saint is undeniable, and the tension between them kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes these characters!
Lo primero que quiero decir es que es un libro que engancha desde el principio, y que creo que la autora lo ha sabido llevar bien tanto por la parte del misterio como por la parte amorosa.
En esta historia hay mucho mucho sexo❤️🔥, eso hace que por una parte, la historia se convierta más en una historia romántica erótica que en una historia de Dark Academy y misterio. Que tampoco me ha parecido un Dark Academy, ya que lo veo más como un libro de sociedades secretas actual, no relacionadas con un college.
El libro te deja con ganas de saber más así que ya estoy deseando tener el segundo.
La historia termina en un punto que tampoco me ha sorprendido, es algo que esperaba desde el principio, pero que no llega hasta el final, algo que te ves venir. Y que por cierto me parece el típico cliché, pero es que este libro está plagado de clichés.
Así que en definitiva es una historia que me ha gustado, la he disfrutado y tengo ganas de saber más, aunque no sea más que un cliché tras otro. La historia no me ha sorprendido en absoluto aunque si enganchado.
DNF at 6% - h gets wet just having a run of the mill conversation with a man who I’m assuming is the H. He’s a professor who regularly sleeps with students. Even if that guy isn’t the H (I’m just assuming) I’d still DNF since a heroine who gets wet from one conversation should probably seek medical help. 🤷🏼♀️
Not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After the insta lust with no relationship building in sight, him chasing her constantly and a lot of (public) heavy petting he asks to move in with him around the 80% mark.
God no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3'5🌟 "Cross my heart" es la primera entrega de la trilogía The Oxford Legacy. Un dark academy muy adictivo con un romance explosivo y una venganza que te atrapará entre sus redes 🎓✈️🎭🗒️🌶️🖤
Fue ver la portada y después leer la sinopsis, y sabía que tenía que adentrarme en esta historia donde en ningún momento dejan de suceder cosas 🗒️
La novela está narrada principalmente por Tessa aunque nos encontramos con algún que otro capítulo narrado por Saint. Los capítulos son de una extensión normal donde el ritmo es trepidante y los giros inesperados. La autora combina a la perfección las descripciones junto con los diálogos, es una lectura totalmente adictiva 🎭
El romance es explosivo con una química brutal desde el primer instante entre Saint y Tessa. Cuenta con una buena dosis de escenas spicy 🌶️
El libro es una mezcla perfecta entre romance y thriller 🔎
En lo referente a los personajes, ambos protagonistas me han gustado mucho y varios de los secundarios me tienen de lo más intrigada. Es una novela repleta de plot twist donde nada ni nadie es lo que parece 🤯
Me ha gustado un montón leer esta historia y quiero decir que necesito el siguiente libro porque menudo final, aún sigo sin asimilarlo. Es de esas historias que en cuanto comienzas no puedes parar de leer. Os recomiendo mucho está historia si disfrutasteis de #Prettylittleliars y sois fans de los dark academy 🤭
If you’re a fan of dark academia mixed with romance, spice and mystery, this book will scratch that itch.
Tess is studying abroad in the UK via a fellowship she applied for and was chosen for. Landing this fellowship gave her the perfect means to investigate the attack on her sister (who studied at Oxford,) that ultimately led to her tragic death. Saint is a professor of the libertine arts and the epitome of a wild and wanton playboy, born into the upper echelon of the British elite. When Tess and Saint cross paths, the connection is instantaneous.
This novel mixes that academia vibe, with mystery and explosive romance, extremely well. Throw in the lure of life as a British socialite, some detective work and secret societies and I found myself immediately invested in the plot and the development of the relationship between Tess and Saint. I love the support characters, each seems to have a very important role in this story. The author, Roxy Sloane, writes spice exquisitely! The cliffhanger at the end had me immediately diving into the sequel, I have to know how Tess and Saint, and the mystery of what happened to Tess’s sister, evolve.
This is a wonderful first installment novel.
I received an advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Давненько я не читала книг з таким вайбом, вже навіть забула як це Таємна академія, розслідування вбивства, викладач і студентка я просто це обожнюю Оця частина дуже лайтова, мені навіть була дуже передбачуваною, я вже знала наперед що буде Та і закінчилось так як я і передбачала 🤷🏿♀️ шось і нема бажання далі продовжувати читати Я ще подумаю чи читати інші частини бо в мене залишилось багато питань
Come lo descrivi un romanzo che ti ha tenuto incollato per un paio di giorni e che ti SCONVOLGE per il finale e ti intreccia un mistery, una società segreta, un professore duca di letteratura libertina che la mette in pratica e ama PARTICOLARMENTE la condivisione? Qua abbiamo: croccantezza, mistero, una donna in contatto con la sua sessualità e fantasie e un uomo che non ha paura di mostrare il suo lato sensibile - e più perverso. Mia nuova ossessione
“There’s only one man I’m interested in, and I’m going to hunt him down, no matter what. The man who attacked my sister, and made her take her own life.”
“Saint, the girl called him. But this guy is a sinner, through and through.”
OMG! That is the only thought in my mind after finishing this book!! It took me a minute to get into the story but I am starting book 2 immediately, I don’t think I’d survive if I had to wait for the next book. I don’t know what to think and I’m obsessed with solving this mystery, what the hell happened to Wren?!!
I’m going to be perfectly honest here, I did skim read this. The plot was pretty cliché but oh boy, that spice was spicy. The two mc’s had the best chemistry I’ve read in while. The whole mystery part kind of put me off, but not enough to stop me from reading it. Overall, it was a very silly time and I may have to continue the series to see it through…
J’ai dévoré cette pépite qui a presque été un coup de cœur. J’ai trouvé malheureusement qu’il y’avait trop de smut. J’aurais adoré que le côté enquête soit un peu plus poussé ✨
Je suis vraiment fan de l’histoire et j’ai hâte de découvrir le deuxième tome parce que je suis restée sur ma faim 👀
Esta es una de esas lecturas que te mantienen en vilo durante toda la historia. No sabes qué va a pasar en cada capítulo y eso es lo que más me ha enganchado: el misterio que se esconde.
Al ser el primero de una trilogía creo que es bastante introductorio, lo que en realidad me causó confusión porque sí que es cierto que en algunos capítulos sentía que la historia retrocedía o no avanzaba demasiado.
Tampoco considero que sea especialmente "dark", al menos esta primera parte (aunque ya os digo que me he leído libros bastante más fuertes mismamente en WattPad, así que tampoco hago mucha prueba 😅).
Sí, tiene algunas escenas spicy que creo que no sé exceden, pero más allá de eso y de alguna escena turbia tampoco creo que sea "oscuro". Aún así, tendría que leerme los otros dos libros para valorar si lo calificaría de esa manera, ya que al no tener parte del resto de la historia siento que no estoy siendo objetiva.
Es una lectura muy mamarracha que a su vez te infiltra en las calles de Oxford y en sus oscuros secretos... 🫣
No sé en quién puedo confiar y en quién no, por lo que tengo miedo de la segunda parte. En el grupo hemos comentado algunas hipótesis y la verdad es que todas me cuadran 😂
Ojalá poder leer pronto la segunda parte, tengo mil ganas de saber cómo continúa este enredo de misterios ❤️🔥
Heb ik dit boek in 2 dagen verslonden? Ja zeker! Maar omg dit einde??? Ik moet nu meteen deel 2 hebben Harper Collins!!!🥲😩
Dit boek is echt een mix van 50 shades, dark academia, high society & mysterie. Heb dit boek echt opgevreten, zo goed!! De mysterie plot in het boek was ook mega spannend en hierdoor wilde ik echt blijven doorlezen! En my god Saint🥵 daddy professor