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Sibylline
Three teens infiltrate the magical ivy league in this heart-stopping dark academia romantasy, the first in a young adult duology from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.
Raven, Atticus, and Dorian have dreamed of attending Sibylline for as long as they can remember. But when the magical ivy league rejects them, the friends’ plans of a future together studying the arcane begin crashing down.
Until they decide to steal an education.
Getting jobs on campus, they sneak into lectures and swipe forbidden texts, dodging the administration’s watchful eye. In the quiet of night, in the thrill of secrecy, their magic awakens. And so do long-buried attractions that turn their friendship into something more.
But like magic, love can create, and it can destroy. As unrequited feelings and resentment threaten to fracture their bond, the trio discovers an insidious magic that has sunk its claws into Sibylline, killing students and corroding the very bones of the university. Now the three intruders may be the key to saving the institution from wreckage . . . if they don’t wreck one another first.
Raven, Atticus, and Dorian have dreamed of attending Sibylline for as long as they can remember. But when the magical ivy league rejects them, the friends’ plans of a future together studying the arcane begin crashing down.
Until they decide to steal an education.
Getting jobs on campus, they sneak into lectures and swipe forbidden texts, dodging the administration’s watchful eye. In the quiet of night, in the thrill of secrecy, their magic awakens. And so do long-buried attractions that turn their friendship into something more.
But like magic, love can create, and it can destroy. As unrequited feelings and resentment threaten to fracture their bond, the trio discovers an insidious magic that has sunk its claws into Sibylline, killing students and corroding the very bones of the university. Now the three intruders may be the key to saving the institution from wreckage . . . if they don’t wreck one another first.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
118 people are currently reading
21363 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
173 books16k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 2.5 ⭐️ INAPPROPRIATE for anyone under 18.
Here I am once again, providing the most unapologetic review on a book that had a lot of potential but went sideways and downwards real quick. Please bear with me in explaining my reasoning.
Why is a YA novel so lusty? It’s not just inappropriate, it’s trying to normalize throuple relationships in young adult population. As per publisher, the intended reading age is 9-12 or 14 years and up. Sibylline has a very vividly graphic scene of a THREESOME. Some critics of this review might say that parents are acting like their teens don’t have sexual relations but let me be clear that WE as parents were not born yesterday. We have been teens and walked in those shoes and are not naive. We can’t fully protect our kids but we should be able to protect their sexual health as much as possible.
My problem with this book is the inappropriate intended reading age. Are we saying that at 14 years of age, it’s completely normal for our children to start having lusty relationship with multiple partners? I do not agree that children in 9th grade should be reading things like this because at this age they are developing many ideas about their own sexuality and forming their own “norms” about what’s OK or not OK.
So when we have a book like this presented to our young kids, what kind of ideas are they going to get from it? This book basically says that it’s OK for us to have sex with multiple partners at age of 14. Kids even under 14 will be reading it because the word will spread and because most of our kids are developing faster than a speed of light & they want everything they can’t have. I’m strongly opposed to it being in the young adult isle. I also want to note that nowhere in the story a mention of safe sexual practices has been written—a condom, protection, pregnancy? This is where the book fails to educate our kids. If you’re recommending something to be OK at 14 then it should include safety precautions.
While it may fail in the appropriateness, it’s actually not a bad story. Sure it’s written in a more relaxed style, it’s easy to follow and it has a good plot with lots of action. It read like a rendition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and while I did enjoy some parts, unfortunately not as a whole.
Sibylline is a college for the magically inclined. It’s the oldest schools of grimoires and ancient wisdom. The magic is everything and Sibylline guards it well. It carries magical texts that are safely guarded in the depth of their libraries, but some people believe that Sibylline obtained these texts illegally. There are secrets tunnels that lead to a secret caged prison below school grounds and there is something more mysterious that is happening in the depths of Sibylline. There are secrets, dark powers and a looming presence that lies within these passageways.
Three students have applied but were denied admission. These three are somehow managed to get jobs on school grounds. They each have strong powers and very rebellious personalities. They are rule breakers and their rule breaking is what unleashes the universities buried secrets. Their actions & behavior can resonate with that of a 14-16 year olds—they test limits, they like to make stupid decisions or be rebellious—so I think in that regard kids can completely enjoy this fantasy as it’s on “par” with their age level.
I strongly suggest/believe that the publisher should change the reading age to 18+.
The bottom line, proceed with caution ⚠️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group and the author, Melissa de la Cruz for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 3, 2026
Here I am once again, providing the most unapologetic review on a book that had a lot of potential but went sideways and downwards real quick. Please bear with me in explaining my reasoning.
Why is a YA novel so lusty? It’s not just inappropriate, it’s trying to normalize throuple relationships in young adult population. As per publisher, the intended reading age is 9-12 or 14 years and up. Sibylline has a very vividly graphic scene of a THREESOME. Some critics of this review might say that parents are acting like their teens don’t have sexual relations but let me be clear that WE as parents were not born yesterday. We have been teens and walked in those shoes and are not naive. We can’t fully protect our kids but we should be able to protect their sexual health as much as possible.
My problem with this book is the inappropriate intended reading age. Are we saying that at 14 years of age, it’s completely normal for our children to start having lusty relationship with multiple partners? I do not agree that children in 9th grade should be reading things like this because at this age they are developing many ideas about their own sexuality and forming their own “norms” about what’s OK or not OK.
So when we have a book like this presented to our young kids, what kind of ideas are they going to get from it? This book basically says that it’s OK for us to have sex with multiple partners at age of 14. Kids even under 14 will be reading it because the word will spread and because most of our kids are developing faster than a speed of light & they want everything they can’t have. I’m strongly opposed to it being in the young adult isle. I also want to note that nowhere in the story a mention of safe sexual practices has been written—a condom, protection, pregnancy? This is where the book fails to educate our kids. If you’re recommending something to be OK at 14 then it should include safety precautions.
While it may fail in the appropriateness, it’s actually not a bad story. Sure it’s written in a more relaxed style, it’s easy to follow and it has a good plot with lots of action. It read like a rendition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and while I did enjoy some parts, unfortunately not as a whole.
Sibylline is a college for the magically inclined. It’s the oldest schools of grimoires and ancient wisdom. The magic is everything and Sibylline guards it well. It carries magical texts that are safely guarded in the depth of their libraries, but some people believe that Sibylline obtained these texts illegally. There are secrets tunnels that lead to a secret caged prison below school grounds and there is something more mysterious that is happening in the depths of Sibylline. There are secrets, dark powers and a looming presence that lies within these passageways.
Three students have applied but were denied admission. These three are somehow managed to get jobs on school grounds. They each have strong powers and very rebellious personalities. They are rule breakers and their rule breaking is what unleashes the universities buried secrets. Their actions & behavior can resonate with that of a 14-16 year olds—they test limits, they like to make stupid decisions or be rebellious—so I think in that regard kids can completely enjoy this fantasy as it’s on “par” with their age level.
I strongly suggest/believe that the publisher should change the reading age to 18+.
The bottom line, proceed with caution ⚠️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group and the author, Melissa de la Cruz for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 3, 2026
February 23, 2026
Non-con threesome in a YA that is suggested to grades 9 and up?
He’s asleep! And wakes up being used by two people!
What a great concept to imprint on young minds.
If only I could wipe it from mine.
It’s also very telling that the publisher has ignored ARC reader emails sent months ago, voicing their concerns.
I’m no prude, but the horrific and poorly written aforementioned passage alone made me cringe.
It’s incredible to consider how many layers of failure had to occur in order for this to be permitted to exist.
He’s asleep! And wakes up being used by two people!
What a great concept to imprint on young minds.
If only I could wipe it from mine.
It’s also very telling that the publisher has ignored ARC reader emails sent months ago, voicing their concerns.
I’m no prude, but the horrific and poorly written aforementioned passage alone made me cringe.
It’s incredible to consider how many layers of failure had to occur in order for this to be permitted to exist.
December 18, 2025
I was not at all expecting to dislike this because I liked this authors Blue Bloods series in high school. But this was really bad.
February 23, 2026
Wish I could give it 0 stars. Anyone want to explain why there was a graphic, non-consensual, threesome in a book market for kids as young as 14 years old?
November 26, 2025
Sneaking into a magical Ivy League university? Sign me up. Sibylline had me hooked from page one with its midnight lecture halls, stolen grimoires, and a campus that looks pristine but hides something sinister beneath all that gilded perfection. Raven, Atticus, and Dorian jumped off the page as fully realized characters—each with their own distinct voice and skills that complement each other beautifully. The "let's audit arcane classes we're not supposed to take" setup is such a fun, rebellious spin on dark academia. When their rule-breaking accidentally awakens their magic and starts unleashing the university's buried secrets, the story really comes alive.
But here's where I struggled a bit: the romantic dynamics, while intriguing, sometimes overwhelmed everything else. There were long stretches where the will-they/won't-they/who-are-we dance took center stage, and the actual mystery investigation got pushed to the sidelines. Don't get me wrong—I'm totally here for a poly romance when it's done well. But in this case, the relationship drama and jealousy spirals sometimes felt like they belonged in a different book than the creepy campus-horror story I was equally invested in. Just when the conspiracy was heating up and I desperately wanted answers, we'd pivot back to complicated feelings. There was also a more explicit scene late in the book that honestly took me out of the moment and kind of deflated the tension right when the finale should have been building to a crescendo.
That said, the foundation here is really strong. The pacing at the start is crisp and engaging, the worldbuilding feels polished and atmospheric, and there are enough tantalizing hints about Sibylline's "insidious magic" that I'm genuinely curious about book two—especially if the sequel gives the relationships room to develop naturally while ramping up the mystery and horror elements.
Bottom line: Three stars from me. This book has so much potential and creates an incredibly atmospheric world with a premise I absolutely loved. It just occasionally got weighed down by the complexity of juggling three-way relationship dynamics alongside a dark magical conspiracy. I'm still intrigued enough to see where this series goes, though.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sharing this dark-academia-meets-poly-fantasy digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. Despite my quibbles, I really appreciated the opportunity to dive into this atmospheric world!
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But here's where I struggled a bit: the romantic dynamics, while intriguing, sometimes overwhelmed everything else. There were long stretches where the will-they/won't-they/who-are-we dance took center stage, and the actual mystery investigation got pushed to the sidelines. Don't get me wrong—I'm totally here for a poly romance when it's done well. But in this case, the relationship drama and jealousy spirals sometimes felt like they belonged in a different book than the creepy campus-horror story I was equally invested in. Just when the conspiracy was heating up and I desperately wanted answers, we'd pivot back to complicated feelings. There was also a more explicit scene late in the book that honestly took me out of the moment and kind of deflated the tension right when the finale should have been building to a crescendo.
That said, the foundation here is really strong. The pacing at the start is crisp and engaging, the worldbuilding feels polished and atmospheric, and there are enough tantalizing hints about Sibylline's "insidious magic" that I'm genuinely curious about book two—especially if the sequel gives the relationships room to develop naturally while ramping up the mystery and horror elements.
Bottom line: Three stars from me. This book has so much potential and creates an incredibly atmospheric world with a premise I absolutely loved. It just occasionally got weighed down by the complexity of juggling three-way relationship dynamics alongside a dark magical conspiracy. I'm still intrigued enough to see where this series goes, though.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sharing this dark-academia-meets-poly-fantasy digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. Despite my quibbles, I really appreciated the opportunity to dive into this atmospheric world!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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February 23, 2026
There should never be open door smut scenes in YA books. Depictions of 3somes are not for 14 year olds.
November 12, 2025
This is marketed as a YA romantasy. While technically these teens are 18 and they are working at a college that they didn't get into (which is a weird plot point in of itself), this whole book reads as though they are in high school. They read as high school students and this work/not college experience does not make them seem any older than that. This is why I cannot approve of the progressively explicit nature of the make-out/sex scenes. Again, technically they are 18, but it still made me feel like I was unwittingly participating in child pornography and that's not cool. I feel like the author needs to tone down the writing or it needs to be marketed for adults and not teens.
February 26, 2026
Inappropriate for anyone under 18. Deeply unsettling to market this for children.
February 24, 2026
This is not a YA book. Receiving feedback from arc readers that this book was gross, featured nonconsensual sex, and inappropriate for 14 year olds, and then doing nothing about it? Will never buy from this author or publisher again. Absolutely disgusting for an adult to write about non con in a YA book. you are morphing young minds to believe that rape and SA is ok. How this got published I have no idea, because the scene reads like a wattpad author wrote it, but i’ve honestly read better from them. Absolutely unacceptable for this type of content to be normalizing. YA books should not EVER include sex scenes, LET ALONE non consensual ones. severely disappointed and disgusted.
February 22, 2026
━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 + 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟐.𝟐𝟓 ✩
𝒜 𝓁𝒾𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
Well then, now I understand why there’s so many bad reviews…
For starters, I had quite low expectations but was hoping that I’d at least have a fun time. The premise sounded interesting, and that prologue hooked me in, but everything else was just…bad. Extremely bad. Severely, atrociously, undeniably bad. Both the plot and the romance lacked. And when there was romance, it was rushed and more twisted than a damn rollercoaster. Let me try to explain it for you: Raven is in love with her best friend, Atticus. But he’s in love with their best friend, Dorian. But he’s in love with Raven, and then has feelings for Atticus–so he’s stuck between the two of them. Instead of getting their hearts broken, they choose to just, y’know…have a throuple🧍♀️. Because why the fuck not? I’ve also, once again, found a book that’s boring up until the last couple of chapters. It’s getting to the point where I just wonder why I even read the full story if it’s not interesting. I found Raven annoying at times with some of the decisions she made; magic over friends. The jealousy both her and Atticus felt because Dorian was giving attention to the other was seriously pissing me off–one of the reasons why I steer clear of love triangles. I’ve also found that just because a book may be short, doesn’t mean it’ll be fast. It dragged at times, and felt too boring to be able to fly through (even though I finished this in twenty-four hours, it felt longer). Sorry to say this, but the literal only thing I enjoyed about Sibylline were the quotes from classic books at the start of each chapter… And of course, it ends with the most diabolical, jaw-dropping cliffhanger that makes me want to read the second book if/when it comes out. Maybe I will, or maybe I’ll forget all about this book in a few days and have no care about it.
I don't want to waste my time writing a full review, and I think what I have written is hopefully enough to convince you not to pick it up.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
sooo, from the reviews i’ve been reading, i have low expectations and am only going into this book purely for the vibes (as everyone says the plot isn’t good). this sounds interesting, so maybe i’ll enjoy it? thank you to my sister who got me the physical arc for this (perks of working at a bookstore), although i’m pretty sure it’s already been released... anyways, i’ve FINALLY broken the curse of not being able to read physical books *insert me screaming for joy*, so i’m going to be DEVOURING any and every book i have.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 21/2/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 22/2/2026
-𝓖
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 + 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟐.𝟐𝟓 ✩
𝒜 𝓁𝒾𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
Well then, now I understand why there’s so many bad reviews…
For starters, I had quite low expectations but was hoping that I’d at least have a fun time. The premise sounded interesting, and that prologue hooked me in, but everything else was just…bad. Extremely bad. Severely, atrociously, undeniably bad. Both the plot and the romance lacked. And when there was romance, it was rushed and more twisted than a damn rollercoaster. Let me try to explain it for you: Raven is in love with her best friend, Atticus. But he’s in love with their best friend, Dorian. But he’s in love with Raven, and then has feelings for Atticus–so he’s stuck between the two of them. Instead of getting their hearts broken, they choose to just, y’know…have a throuple🧍♀️. Because why the fuck not? I’ve also, once again, found a book that’s boring up until the last couple of chapters. It’s getting to the point where I just wonder why I even read the full story if it’s not interesting. I found Raven annoying at times with some of the decisions she made; magic over friends. The jealousy both her and Atticus felt because Dorian was giving attention to the other was seriously pissing me off–one of the reasons why I steer clear of love triangles. I’ve also found that just because a book may be short, doesn’t mean it’ll be fast. It dragged at times, and felt too boring to be able to fly through (even though I finished this in twenty-four hours, it felt longer). Sorry to say this, but the literal only thing I enjoyed about Sibylline were the quotes from classic books at the start of each chapter… And of course, it ends with the most diabolical, jaw-dropping cliffhanger that makes me want to read the second book if/when it comes out. Maybe I will, or maybe I’ll forget all about this book in a few days and have no care about it.
I don't want to waste my time writing a full review, and I think what I have written is hopefully enough to convince you not to pick it up.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
sooo, from the reviews i’ve been reading, i have low expectations and am only going into this book purely for the vibes (as everyone says the plot isn’t good). this sounds interesting, so maybe i’ll enjoy it? thank you to my sister who got me the physical arc for this (perks of working at a bookstore), although i’m pretty sure it’s already been released... anyways, i’ve FINALLY broken the curse of not being able to read physical books *insert me screaming for joy*, so i’m going to be DEVOURING any and every book i have.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 21/2/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 22/2/2026
-𝓖
February 18, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 2 stars ✮˚.⋆
⤿ Thank you to Penguin Teen and Putnam Books for the physical arc and a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
i was hoping that the other early reviews talking about how rough this book was would be wrong…but unfortunately they were right. while i think it's a little dramatic to say that no one under 18 should read this, or that it's completely appalling, there are definitely things that should have been changed or improved upon before publication. it's really unfortunate because there were the bones of a really good story here, that could've delved into privilege in academic settings, but everything just seemed to fall short of the mark.
this book follows Raven, Atticus, and Dorian after they are denied access to Sibylline the elite school for magic users that they've been dreaming of for as long as they can remember. they decide instead to get an education by getting jobs on campus and sneaking magical information whenever they can. one night, they gain access to a magical grimroire and their magic seems to awaken to new heights. but as they grow closer not just as friends, but lovers, they discover a darkness has begun to destroy the university from the inside out and they may be able to find the key to keeping the university alive.
i know i lamented on how this book was really underdeveloped, but there were some good things, especially in the beginning of the story
⤿ one thing i really enjoyed was how everyone in this world had a unique magic that was specific to them, and that the author was really creative with this. one of the main characters could understand and speak any language, even those that were really old. another could sense the emotions of others. and the final main character could touch an object and see it's story. there were other unique magics mentioned throughout the book and i thought this was fun!
⤿ saw some people complaining about this, but i honestly didn't mind the why choose in concept. i think representation of polyamorous relationships is important and it's unfortunate it makes people uncomfortable, when most teenagers i know would be able to have a mature conversation about it. unfortunately- as i will get to later, it was underdeveloped but i enjoyed the rep.
⤿ this had the feel of an old young adult book, which made me feel pretty nostalgic for the story even though it was released this year lol, but the vibe was there for that
despite the things i mentioned above, there were just too many pieces of the story i really found myself disliking or feeling indifferent about, and they overshadowed what was decent
⤿ this was WAY too underdeveloped in terms of the plot, and everything was super predictable. why was i reading a story where i could predict absolutely everything that was going to happen? there was no mystery, no mysticism. the plot was also boring really fast, characters doing the same things over and over again. i feel this either should've been a novella or a 500 page fantasy that really dives into a lot of this story instead.
⤿ unfortunately the romance was also waaay underdeveloped. it fell into the trap so often seen in friends-to-lovers romances where the audience is expected to just believe they've been friends forever, without actually showing pieces of their relationship before the story starts. i just didn't care enough to root for any of them, and also didn't see their connection.
⤿ there was a missed opportunity to have a really in-depth discussion about privilege in academic settings, with a dark academia background. unfortunately, this book is NOT dark academia; the true vibes of that genre are not there. and while there is mention of rich people got into the school over those who had lots of magical talent, it doesn't say anything beyond that. lackluster unfortunately.
⤿ okay so one of the last chapters...i couldn't not talk about it. while i do not believe the author had ill intention with what she was writing, especially as going into a almost death-like state had happened to one of the characters before (and he was fine) this was borderline necrophilia. this to me was done in extremely poor taste, even if the main character was NOT dead, he was unable to give consent to what his friends started doing to him. it was all so messy and not clear at all- that's the only thing i agree that could be not appropriate for teenagers- but i feel like we just don't need it for any age group?? like the scence could've just not happened.
i can't say, unfortunately that i recommend this book, but i'm very grateful that i was able to receive advanced copies to read it myself. i had high hopes for this, and there was just too much wrong with this for me to enjoy it. if you decide to read it, go in knowing it feels underdeveloped and there's some questionable things that happen at the end.
↬ trigger warnings: death of loved ones, injury and gore, sexual scenes, scenes bordering on necrophilia
˖ ࣪ ⋆୨୧⋆ ࣪ ˖ quotes ˖ ࣪ ⋆୨୧⋆ ࣪ ˖
✧ "Like any great beast, Sibylline College slept when darkness fell. Like all living things, it dreamed." (1)
✧"How could I expose my heart to a friend and not be afraid? There's a certain radiance about him, like the flashbulb from an old-fashioned camera. It lingers after he's gone." (21)
✧ "The soft autumn morning outside draws the world downward, brings gazes to the wet pavement, shadows into inky spills, gold adn red leaves to the grass." (100)
⤿ Thank you to Penguin Teen and Putnam Books for the physical arc and a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
i was hoping that the other early reviews talking about how rough this book was would be wrong…but unfortunately they were right. while i think it's a little dramatic to say that no one under 18 should read this, or that it's completely appalling, there are definitely things that should have been changed or improved upon before publication. it's really unfortunate because there were the bones of a really good story here, that could've delved into privilege in academic settings, but everything just seemed to fall short of the mark.
this book follows Raven, Atticus, and Dorian after they are denied access to Sibylline the elite school for magic users that they've been dreaming of for as long as they can remember. they decide instead to get an education by getting jobs on campus and sneaking magical information whenever they can. one night, they gain access to a magical grimroire and their magic seems to awaken to new heights. but as they grow closer not just as friends, but lovers, they discover a darkness has begun to destroy the university from the inside out and they may be able to find the key to keeping the university alive.
i know i lamented on how this book was really underdeveloped, but there were some good things, especially in the beginning of the story
⤿ one thing i really enjoyed was how everyone in this world had a unique magic that was specific to them, and that the author was really creative with this. one of the main characters could understand and speak any language, even those that were really old. another could sense the emotions of others. and the final main character could touch an object and see it's story. there were other unique magics mentioned throughout the book and i thought this was fun!
⤿ saw some people complaining about this, but i honestly didn't mind the why choose in concept. i think representation of polyamorous relationships is important and it's unfortunate it makes people uncomfortable, when most teenagers i know would be able to have a mature conversation about it. unfortunately- as i will get to later, it was underdeveloped but i enjoyed the rep.
⤿ this had the feel of an old young adult book, which made me feel pretty nostalgic for the story even though it was released this year lol, but the vibe was there for that
despite the things i mentioned above, there were just too many pieces of the story i really found myself disliking or feeling indifferent about, and they overshadowed what was decent
⤿ this was WAY too underdeveloped in terms of the plot, and everything was super predictable. why was i reading a story where i could predict absolutely everything that was going to happen? there was no mystery, no mysticism. the plot was also boring really fast, characters doing the same things over and over again. i feel this either should've been a novella or a 500 page fantasy that really dives into a lot of this story instead.
⤿ unfortunately the romance was also waaay underdeveloped. it fell into the trap so often seen in friends-to-lovers romances where the audience is expected to just believe they've been friends forever, without actually showing pieces of their relationship before the story starts. i just didn't care enough to root for any of them, and also didn't see their connection.
⤿ there was a missed opportunity to have a really in-depth discussion about privilege in academic settings, with a dark academia background. unfortunately, this book is NOT dark academia; the true vibes of that genre are not there. and while there is mention of rich people got into the school over those who had lots of magical talent, it doesn't say anything beyond that. lackluster unfortunately.
⤿ okay so one of the last chapters...i couldn't not talk about it. while i do not believe the author had ill intention with what she was writing, especially as going into a almost death-like state had happened to one of the characters before (and he was fine) this was borderline necrophilia. this to me was done in extremely poor taste, even if the main character was NOT dead, he was unable to give consent to what his friends started doing to him. it was all so messy and not clear at all- that's the only thing i agree that could be not appropriate for teenagers- but i feel like we just don't need it for any age group?? like the scence could've just not happened.
i can't say, unfortunately that i recommend this book, but i'm very grateful that i was able to receive advanced copies to read it myself. i had high hopes for this, and there was just too much wrong with this for me to enjoy it. if you decide to read it, go in knowing it feels underdeveloped and there's some questionable things that happen at the end.
↬ trigger warnings: death of loved ones, injury and gore, sexual scenes, scenes bordering on necrophilia
˖ ࣪ ⋆୨୧⋆ ࣪ ˖ quotes ˖ ࣪ ⋆୨୧⋆ ࣪ ˖
✧ "Like any great beast, Sibylline College slept when darkness fell. Like all living things, it dreamed." (1)
✧"How could I expose my heart to a friend and not be afraid? There's a certain radiance about him, like the flashbulb from an old-fashioned camera. It lingers after he's gone." (21)
✧ "The soft autumn morning outside draws the world downward, brings gazes to the wet pavement, shadows into inky spills, gold adn red leaves to the grass." (100)
Read
February 19, 2026I'm just here for the necrophilic threesome resurrection.
February 20, 2026
Why in the fuck are we putting non consensual detailed sex scenes in a fucking YA book???
February 11, 2026
2 stars ♡
A big thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok so uh... this book started out strong. I love the concept of a magical Ivy League university, the characters' abilities and personalities were interesting to me, and I even liked the idea of there being a TRUE love triangle - like a literal triangle between the characters.
...I was not expecting that would lead to a throuple. Or that the throuple would be such a... dominant plot point. The main "mystery" took forever to get to and was resolved super quickly but the throuple, THAT was the priority. Right.
You know, normally I wouldn't mind or care except for the fact that this is a YA book and is written like a middle grade novel. I had to check repeatedly that this was in fact a YA novel because of how juvenile the writing was and how immature the characters were acting.
Have you ever read spice scenes that read like they were written by a 12 year old? Yeah.
The concept itself was interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. This is another book that really would've benefited from having no romance.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok so uh... this book started out strong. I love the concept of a magical Ivy League university, the characters' abilities and personalities were interesting to me, and I even liked the idea of there being a TRUE love triangle - like a literal triangle between the characters.
...I was not expecting that would lead to a throuple. Or that the throuple would be such a... dominant plot point. The main "mystery" took forever to get to and was resolved super quickly but the throuple, THAT was the priority. Right.
You know, normally I wouldn't mind or care except for the fact that this is a YA book and is written like a middle grade novel. I had to check repeatedly that this was in fact a YA novel because of how juvenile the writing was and how immature the characters were acting.
Have you ever read spice scenes that read like they were written by a 12 year old? Yeah.
The concept itself was interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. This is another book that really would've benefited from having no romance.
February 25, 2026
So this book is just not good. Let's start with the basics: it's audience is children and there are graphic descriptions of sexual acts between characters. Yes, the characters are older. No, they're not always consenting.
I am not opposed to having high school students read texts that discuss these desire and hormones and even referencing other things- students read texts like "Romeo and Juliet". But what disturbs me about this novel is the graphic detail (chapter 12 and 13, a few in the middle, and the becoming infamous chapter 41) given. It's not needed. The graphic detail does not add to the story. The other incredibly disturbing aspect is the lack of consent. One character, assuming his friends now hate him, goes off and gets kidnapped and is on the verge of death at first knocked unconscious and then coming to. The other two characters kiss him and then undress him and begin engaging in a threesome. He is gradually coming to consciousness as this is happening.
At least in the ARC I received there weren't any content warnings. I cannot speak to if they exist in the published version.
If you're even willing or able to put aside those disturbing elements: the storyline isn't good. Three kids get rejected from their top college and then decide they'll work there. While Raven's family is described as being incredibly rich (and her as incredibly spoiled), Dorian and Atticus are both described as being pretty poor. Somehow they all can afford furnished apartments by this college working what would have had to have been minimum wage jobs - they have at most basic high school type work experience.
The world building of this is so so. There's a decent explanation of the way magic exists but it's randomly convenient. De La Cruz makes up a bunch of powers by throwing words together and then actually makes up words that I would think maybe she expects her readers to assume are Latin? That may be nitpicky on my part but I just was unimpressed. There were multiple times the main three characters are saved because one of them just happened to conveniently have a magical ability that allows them succeed when everyone else would've been caught or failed.
There's a random potential love interest for Raven for a bit and a secret society he's a part of. There's just way too much crammed in this plot. The person in charge of the university (who is called a Warden, but it's not a prison) won't admit the three main characters because they have dangerous powers but yet he allows them to be hired because he knows they can save the day with their dangerous powers. And this is all because someone on staff is trying to release an element of chaos magic (a magic that is referred to in flashback but not really ever explained well either) so she can be more powerful. The original releasor of this chaos element is also introduced but we never really get an explanation of why she wants more power- there's no motivation.
And speaking of way too much - there are three points of views in this story. It unnecessarily fragments this story.
And then lastly- it irritated me personally to no end the quotes from other texts as the subtitles for each chapter. They didn't fit the chapters especially if you've read the original texts. What is does do is show where De La Cruz pulled all her ideas from. This book is trite. It's filled with cliched plot points.
I get that dark academia is the new genre of choice right now but if you're looking for that there are so many other better options out there.
I am not opposed to having high school students read texts that discuss these desire and hormones and even referencing other things- students read texts like "Romeo and Juliet". But what disturbs me about this novel is the graphic detail (chapter 12 and 13, a few in the middle, and the becoming infamous chapter 41) given. It's not needed. The graphic detail does not add to the story. The other incredibly disturbing aspect is the lack of consent. One character, assuming his friends now hate him, goes off and gets kidnapped and is on the verge of death at first knocked unconscious and then coming to. The other two characters kiss him and then undress him and begin engaging in a threesome. He is gradually coming to consciousness as this is happening.
At least in the ARC I received there weren't any content warnings. I cannot speak to if they exist in the published version.
If you're even willing or able to put aside those disturbing elements: the storyline isn't good. Three kids get rejected from their top college and then decide they'll work there. While Raven's family is described as being incredibly rich (and her as incredibly spoiled), Dorian and Atticus are both described as being pretty poor. Somehow they all can afford furnished apartments by this college working what would have had to have been minimum wage jobs - they have at most basic high school type work experience.
The world building of this is so so. There's a decent explanation of the way magic exists but it's randomly convenient. De La Cruz makes up a bunch of powers by throwing words together and then actually makes up words that I would think maybe she expects her readers to assume are Latin? That may be nitpicky on my part but I just was unimpressed. There were multiple times the main three characters are saved because one of them just happened to conveniently have a magical ability that allows them succeed when everyone else would've been caught or failed.
There's a random potential love interest for Raven for a bit and a secret society he's a part of. There's just way too much crammed in this plot. The person in charge of the university (who is called a Warden, but it's not a prison) won't admit the three main characters because they have dangerous powers but yet he allows them to be hired because he knows they can save the day with their dangerous powers. And this is all because someone on staff is trying to release an element of chaos magic (a magic that is referred to in flashback but not really ever explained well either) so she can be more powerful. The original releasor of this chaos element is also introduced but we never really get an explanation of why she wants more power- there's no motivation.
And speaking of way too much - there are three points of views in this story. It unnecessarily fragments this story.
And then lastly- it irritated me personally to no end the quotes from other texts as the subtitles for each chapter. They didn't fit the chapters especially if you've read the original texts. What is does do is show where De La Cruz pulled all her ideas from. This book is trite. It's filled with cliched plot points.
I get that dark academia is the new genre of choice right now but if you're looking for that there are so many other better options out there.
February 4, 2026
Sibylline
by Melissa de la Cruz
New Adult Fantasy Paranormal
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 3, 2026
Penguin Young Readers
Ages 18+
Best friends Raven, Atticus, and Dorian met in school when they each demonstrated magic, and ever since, they all wanted to go to Sibylline, a university where they teach magic. Instead, they find themselves getting jobs around campus and 'borrowing' books and sneaking into a lecture, but their friendship begins to suffer as each has feelings for another who does not have the same feelings. They also discover that just about all of the students have more money and magical parents than magic themselves.
But when a part of the university falls, they see a body, and their injuries look more like claw marks than falling bricks.
Do people even read the books they publish or 'highly' recommend? This is NOT suitable for YA readers. These are college kids, over eighteen, and there is adult content in this book, the stuff minors should not be reading, but because it's labeled as YA, parents will think it's ok for their kids to read.
The whining of unreciprocated feelings got so irritating! Sure, I get why the author rambled on about it for the ending, but it takes a lot away from the actual story. If the 'romance' had been reduced, this story would've been so much better.
I did like the idea for the story; the mystery, and the magic, but the 'romance' almost drowned it all. The characters weren't that different; they seemed to blend, and worse, the history of the magic and the magic itself wasn't that developed. Sure, there were examples of people's 'powers', but why was there only this or that? Why was the power so limited?
This book could have been so much better, and then it was made worse by the adult content that could have been done differently. I get why the author rambled about the characters' feelings they had for each other, so it matched...spoiler...
Even though the main idea of the story was good, and the cliffhanger was interesting, I don't know if I want to read the next.
As I said before, because of the adult content, this is NOT suitable for readers under eighteen.
2 Stars
by Melissa de la Cruz
New Adult Fantasy Paranormal
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 3, 2026
Penguin Young Readers
Ages 18+
Best friends Raven, Atticus, and Dorian met in school when they each demonstrated magic, and ever since, they all wanted to go to Sibylline, a university where they teach magic. Instead, they find themselves getting jobs around campus and 'borrowing' books and sneaking into a lecture, but their friendship begins to suffer as each has feelings for another who does not have the same feelings. They also discover that just about all of the students have more money and magical parents than magic themselves.
But when a part of the university falls, they see a body, and their injuries look more like claw marks than falling bricks.
Do people even read the books they publish or 'highly' recommend? This is NOT suitable for YA readers. These are college kids, over eighteen, and there is adult content in this book, the stuff minors should not be reading, but because it's labeled as YA, parents will think it's ok for their kids to read.
The whining of unreciprocated feelings got so irritating! Sure, I get why the author rambled on about it for the ending, but it takes a lot away from the actual story. If the 'romance' had been reduced, this story would've been so much better.
I did like the idea for the story; the mystery, and the magic, but the 'romance' almost drowned it all. The characters weren't that different; they seemed to blend, and worse, the history of the magic and the magic itself wasn't that developed. Sure, there were examples of people's 'powers', but why was there only this or that? Why was the power so limited?
This book could have been so much better, and then it was made worse by the adult content that could have been done differently. I get why the author rambled about the characters' feelings they had for each other, so it matched...spoiler...
Even though the main idea of the story was good, and the cliffhanger was interesting, I don't know if I want to read the next.
As I said before, because of the adult content, this is NOT suitable for readers under eighteen.
2 Stars
February 26, 2026
No, just no. Not appropriate for YA on so many levels. Even looking at it if it wasn’t YA… just no. The plot was non existent and pushed aside for the “romance” and that was uncomfortable on so many levels. I think is the lowest I’ve rated a book.
After sitting with this for a bit I figured I’d come back and elaborate on my opinion. As a mom with a child entering the YA audience I cannot believe that this was market for 14+ , I really can’t believe that GMA thought this was appropriate for their choice, but I could never recommend it. My child and I openly discuss sex and their questions with sexuality because I’m not naive enough to believe that kids are not having these discussions and feelings at younger ages. But many kids do not have that education at home and instead they get it from classmates and the media they consume. So whether the media wants that responsibility or not, they have it. This book could have easily been moved up to New adult by the publisher, in fact many, many early arc readers reached out months and months in advance with that opinion. It of course was ignored.
This does not mean there cannot be sex or their implication of sex is YA books, but there shouldn’t be “steamy”, “sultry”, “spicy” 3some scenes. There definitely should not be noncon 3some scenes.
But besides my opinion of the sexual relationships in this book, this book had potential with the original plot and storyline, but instead I did not feel that those were explored as much as they could have been. As mentioned above they were pushed aside for the sake of the “romance” of the book. Because of that it felt lacking in many ways.
After sitting with this for a bit I figured I’d come back and elaborate on my opinion. As a mom with a child entering the YA audience I cannot believe that this was market for 14+ , I really can’t believe that GMA thought this was appropriate for their choice, but I could never recommend it. My child and I openly discuss sex and their questions with sexuality because I’m not naive enough to believe that kids are not having these discussions and feelings at younger ages. But many kids do not have that education at home and instead they get it from classmates and the media they consume. So whether the media wants that responsibility or not, they have it. This book could have easily been moved up to New adult by the publisher, in fact many, many early arc readers reached out months and months in advance with that opinion. It of course was ignored.
This does not mean there cannot be sex or their implication of sex is YA books, but there shouldn’t be “steamy”, “sultry”, “spicy” 3some scenes. There definitely should not be noncon 3some scenes.
But besides my opinion of the sexual relationships in this book, this book had potential with the original plot and storyline, but instead I did not feel that those were explored as much as they could have been. As mentioned above they were pushed aside for the sake of the “romance” of the book. Because of that it felt lacking in many ways.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I have many thoughts about this book. First and foremost, this book is marketed as YA and has characters that act like immature teens, but the characters are actually adults (18-years-old) and engage in on-page adult content. It seems like the author wasn’t clear on her audience for this book, and what she did isn’t working. A book marketed toward teens should not feature adult characters engaging in on-page sex.
Sibylline honestly started out pretty good. There are three POVs: Atticus can sense people, their emotions, and their thoughts. Raven is a situational polyglot and can read and understand many languages. Dorian is a psychometric; he can see flashes of something’s history when he touches it. I liked learning about their various magical abilities and seeing how they used them.
This book has a true love triangle were person A likes B, B likes C, and C likes A. Until A starts to like C back, and then B starts to like A back, and everybody likes everybody and then suddenly there’s a polyamorous romance going on. The romance definitely took a front seat in this story and pushed the plot to the side. I personally feel like too much page time was given to the romance. The plot was so good, but it was like 1 page of plot and then 3 pages of romance. Also why is it that the first time people kissed it lead to more? Y’all are moving way too fast.
Please tell me why a YA book has an explicit threesome sex scene on page?? And it happens when one character is unconscious, the act bordering on necrophilia if I’m being honest. He wakes up to find the other two undressing him and then finds himself sandwiched between them. Are we trying to teach teens that not giving consent because they’re not fully awake is okay only because one time they said they liked you? I’m sorry but that is not appropriate and not the right message for a YA audience! Chapter 41 is the culprit here. Highly recommend skipping this chapter if you read this book. Completely unnecessary and out of place and made me feel ill.
The pacing overall was quite fast. Some important scenes were over in just a couple of pages when they felt like they should have been longer because of the impact they had on the story. I do think this book could have benefitted from being about fifty pages longer, with the added length being given to deepening the plot and developing the magic systems and expounding on the setting (i.e. not detailing the romance, which already had more than enough page time).
I don’t condone teens drinking and having sex, both of which are present in this book. This is unfortunate because the story underneath the romance was good and each character’s magic was cool and the setting was rich, but it all felt overshadowed by the romance. I’m not a romance hater—in fact I love love—but there was just too much going on here. This story did not need a polyamorous romance plot on top of the infiltrate-the-university plot; this book would have benefitted from the romance taking a backseat to the actual story.
Sibylline reads as if the author had two book ideas: three teens infiltrate a magical university after not getting accepted and they discover its dangerous hidden secrets while uncovering their own magical abilities, and a love triangle that turns into a polyamorous romance after many will-they/won’t-they scenes and emotional monologues. I came for the first plotline but then the author did a bait and switch and served us the second plotline.
This book started out as a 4-star read, then around the 40% mark became a 3-star read, and then the ending left me disgusted and feeling like it was barely a 2-star read. I was originally going to give the book 3 stars overall as an average, but hours after finishing I still cannot stop thinking about how chapter 41 ruined the book for me.
If you are looking for an adult romance-first story that also happens to have a university setting and characters with neat magical abilities, then Sibylline will be for you. If you are looking for a dark academia setting with secrets and intrigue and deep descriptions of magic and also happens to feature a romance, then Sibylline will disappoint you. I think the reason this book has such low ratings currently is because it is being advertised as the latter but it is actually the former (and because of the atrocious and unnecessary chapter 41). Readers are not getting what they expected out of this book.
Is the book bad? No, or at least it doesn’t start out that way. But is it what I thought it would be and what I wanted? Also no, which just makes it disappointing. I enjoyed most of the story until last two chapters, even if I did feel like there was too much romance-to-plot ratio throughout. I do currently plan to read the sequel as I liked the story enough to continue on, plus it is only supposed to be a duology, but I really hope the second book tones down the romance a bit. If we have another necrophiliac threesome scene then I’ll have to call it quits.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.
Sibylline honestly started out pretty good. There are three POVs: Atticus can sense people, their emotions, and their thoughts. Raven is a situational polyglot and can read and understand many languages. Dorian is a psychometric; he can see flashes of something’s history when he touches it. I liked learning about their various magical abilities and seeing how they used them.
This book has a true love triangle were person A likes B, B likes C, and C likes A. Until A starts to like C back, and then B starts to like A back, and everybody likes everybody and then suddenly there’s a polyamorous romance going on. The romance definitely took a front seat in this story and pushed the plot to the side. I personally feel like too much page time was given to the romance. The plot was so good, but it was like 1 page of plot and then 3 pages of romance. Also why is it that the first time people kissed it lead to more? Y’all are moving way too fast.
Please tell me why a YA book has an explicit threesome sex scene on page?? And it happens when one character is unconscious, the act bordering on necrophilia if I’m being honest. He wakes up to find the other two undressing him and then finds himself sandwiched between them. Are we trying to teach teens that not giving consent because they’re not fully awake is okay only because one time they said they liked you? I’m sorry but that is not appropriate and not the right message for a YA audience! Chapter 41 is the culprit here. Highly recommend skipping this chapter if you read this book. Completely unnecessary and out of place and made me feel ill.
The pacing overall was quite fast. Some important scenes were over in just a couple of pages when they felt like they should have been longer because of the impact they had on the story. I do think this book could have benefitted from being about fifty pages longer, with the added length being given to deepening the plot and developing the magic systems and expounding on the setting (i.e. not detailing the romance, which already had more than enough page time).
I don’t condone teens drinking and having sex, both of which are present in this book. This is unfortunate because the story underneath the romance was good and each character’s magic was cool and the setting was rich, but it all felt overshadowed by the romance. I’m not a romance hater—in fact I love love—but there was just too much going on here. This story did not need a polyamorous romance plot on top of the infiltrate-the-university plot; this book would have benefitted from the romance taking a backseat to the actual story.
Sibylline reads as if the author had two book ideas: three teens infiltrate a magical university after not getting accepted and they discover its dangerous hidden secrets while uncovering their own magical abilities, and a love triangle that turns into a polyamorous romance after many will-they/won’t-they scenes and emotional monologues. I came for the first plotline but then the author did a bait and switch and served us the second plotline.
This book started out as a 4-star read, then around the 40% mark became a 3-star read, and then the ending left me disgusted and feeling like it was barely a 2-star read. I was originally going to give the book 3 stars overall as an average, but hours after finishing I still cannot stop thinking about how chapter 41 ruined the book for me.
If you are looking for an adult romance-first story that also happens to have a university setting and characters with neat magical abilities, then Sibylline will be for you. If you are looking for a dark academia setting with secrets and intrigue and deep descriptions of magic and also happens to feature a romance, then Sibylline will disappoint you. I think the reason this book has such low ratings currently is because it is being advertised as the latter but it is actually the former (and because of the atrocious and unnecessary chapter 41). Readers are not getting what they expected out of this book.
Is the book bad? No, or at least it doesn’t start out that way. But is it what I thought it would be and what I wanted? Also no, which just makes it disappointing. I enjoyed most of the story until last two chapters, even if I did feel like there was too much romance-to-plot ratio throughout. I do currently plan to read the sequel as I liked the story enough to continue on, plus it is only supposed to be a duology, but I really hope the second book tones down the romance a bit. If we have another necrophiliac threesome scene then I’ll have to call it quits.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.
February 28, 2026
Inappropriate. Graphic threesome involving necrophilia in a book marketed towards children. Absolutely disgusting
November 3, 2025
WTF was that?
Throughout the whole book there is this bizarre and annoying love triangle/möbius strip between teenagers where the trusty old trope of keeping secrets from one another is alive and well. They acted like elementary-aged kids in days of old who would pass each other a note that says, “Do you like me? Check yes or no.”
I kept trudging on because it was a compelling story about magic and a magic school.
Suddenly the teenagers are in a dungeon fighting the baddie and one of them dies. But never fear, after taking off their clothes and having a threesome he is saved.
What the what?
Throughout the whole book there is this bizarre and annoying love triangle/möbius strip between teenagers where the trusty old trope of keeping secrets from one another is alive and well. They acted like elementary-aged kids in days of old who would pass each other a note that says, “Do you like me? Check yes or no.”
I kept trudging on because it was a compelling story about magic and a magic school.
Suddenly the teenagers are in a dungeon fighting the baddie and one of them dies. But never fear, after taking off their clothes and having a threesome he is saved.
What the what?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Absolutely not!!! For all reasons mentioned.
Leave children ALONE.
Write it all you want but stop marketing it for CHILDREN!
Leave children ALONE.
Write it all you want but stop marketing it for CHILDREN!
November 25, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.
I hated this book. I’m sorry, but as much as I wanted to like it, I just…didn’t. The writing was incredibly amateur, the love triangle—circle?—going on here was purely lust-driven, the characters had no personality, there were no challenges that could not be easily overcome, and the “mystery” was overly dramatized to increase the stakes (spoiler: it didn’t work). I could say a whole lot more, but I’m not going to, because it’s an ARC and I want all other readers out there to give it a fair chance, but my opinion is that this book just shouldn’t have been written. Period.
I hated this book. I’m sorry, but as much as I wanted to like it, I just…didn’t. The writing was incredibly amateur, the love triangle—circle?—going on here was purely lust-driven, the characters had no personality, there were no challenges that could not be easily overcome, and the “mystery” was overly dramatized to increase the stakes (spoiler: it didn’t work). I could say a whole lot more, but I’m not going to, because it’s an ARC and I want all other readers out there to give it a fair chance, but my opinion is that this book just shouldn’t have been written. Period.
February 23, 2026
TW: SA ‼️
author needs to reevaluate their life. how are you gonna say this book is for ages 14 and up while having a scene of a NON-CONSENSUAL THREESOME? absolutely horrendous.
author needs to reevaluate their life. how are you gonna say this book is for ages 14 and up while having a scene of a NON-CONSENSUAL THREESOME? absolutely horrendous.
Read
March 1, 2026I'm not going to rate this because I haven't read it, but I HAVE read *that one* scene near the end of the book (Chapter 41) because I try to verify information going around online. I'm sharing that scene here so others can be informed when choosing what types of books they want to read.
I have redacted a few words in order to try to reduce the full graphic effect. This is under 400 words so should be fine to quote for review purposes and in order to allow readers to make informed decisions about what they want to read.
Please keep in mind, this is a teen/young adult publishing imprint (Penguin Teen) and the age range listed in the front of the book is 14+.
WARNING: explicit content below.
Personally, I am calling on the publishers of this book to edit and remove this non-con scene. At a minimum, it involves an unconscious character. The publisher ignored concerns from ARC readers. Also, Good Morning America chose to feature this as their February Young Adult pick.
I have redacted a few words in order to try to reduce the full graphic effect. This is under 400 words so should be fine to quote for review purposes and in order to allow readers to make informed decisions about what they want to read.
Please keep in mind, this is a teen/young adult publishing imprint (Penguin Teen) and the age range listed in the front of the book is 14+.
WARNING: explicit content below.
Personally, I am calling on the publishers of this book to edit and remove this non-con scene. At a minimum, it involves an unconscious character. The publisher ignored concerns from ARC readers. Also, Good Morning America chose to feature this as their February Young Adult pick.
February 28, 2026
Not YA. Should not have ever been published. The fact that this got through review and publication for readers 12-18yo (CHILDREN) is shocking and reeks of p3d0ph¡lic grooming ideologies. Who approved threesome necrophilic p0rn for teens????
February 11, 2026
This was a disappointing read.
In no way should this be marketed as young adult.
It’s disappointing that it’s also a Good Morning America young adult book club pick.
In no way should this be marketed as young adult.
It’s disappointing that it’s also a Good Morning America young adult book club pick.
February 28, 2026
Thank you much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Update: I don’t know what I was on, when I wrote my original review of this book saying that I really liked it. This was not good.
This is not a great book for younger readers! It is marketed as ya- yeah no. There is lots of lust and weirdness that should not be in a teen book, but perhaps that could have been forgiven if there was not an explicit scene at the end involving a threesome, necrophilia, and non-consensual sex (essentially rape, but I have heard differing opinions.)
I wrote a whole review for this earlier this year, but got rid of it because honestly- I wouldn’t recommend reading this.
Whoever thought that publishing and marketing this to readers as young as 12- why? At 15, reading it was honestly uncomfortable.
The reason that it wasn’t one star is that I enjoyed most of the book, up until the creepy weird stuff at the end. However, the bad definitely DOES outweigh the good, and this was not worth the read.
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Tw: death, murder, sex (bad especially considering it’s a ya book,) demonic rituals, necrophilia.
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Update: I don’t know what I was on, when I wrote my original review of this book saying that I really liked it. This was not good.
This is not a great book for younger readers! It is marketed as ya- yeah no. There is lots of lust and weirdness that should not be in a teen book, but perhaps that could have been forgiven if there was not an explicit scene at the end involving a threesome, necrophilia, and non-consensual sex (essentially rape, but I have heard differing opinions.)
I wrote a whole review for this earlier this year, but got rid of it because honestly- I wouldn’t recommend reading this.
Whoever thought that publishing and marketing this to readers as young as 12- why? At 15, reading it was honestly uncomfortable.
The reason that it wasn’t one star is that I enjoyed most of the book, up until the creepy weird stuff at the end. However, the bad definitely DOES outweigh the good, and this was not worth the read.
-------------------------︎☽---------------------------
Tw: death, murder, sex (bad especially considering it’s a ya book,) demonic rituals, necrophilia.
June 14, 2025
Okay so I’ve sat with this for a day just to really put my thoughts in order and let me tell you this book is fantastic. This book is fast paced but also keeps you intrigued with the 3 main characters as to what is actually going on. My only complaint is that this book wasn’t long enough. but we’re getting a sequel so who cares lol. I loved how fleshed out each of the characters were when you were in their perspectives. some books I’ve read with multiple pov can seem to blend together but this didn’t. if you love dark academia, a why choose romance plot line. This is for you.
February 28, 2026
NOT YA!! Do not let your kid read this.
March 1, 2026
NECROPHILIA IN A YOUNG ADULT BOOK IS NOT OKAY! Stay away from this disgustingness stop grooming children!!
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