What do you think?
Rate this book
A Deadly Pledge
The secret society everyone's dying to join ...
A case of mistaken identity means Eddie Dontay is hurled into the exclusive world of New Haven School. Pretending to be Bartholomew "Brat" Van Buren III, the sole heir to a rich family, who mysteriously disappeared a year ago, Eddie is sent undercover to expose the dark secrets of the Gloomth society.
But all is not what it seems. Eddie must participate in a series of difficult initiations, which prove his fitness for the club, competing against other students. An increasingly deadly contest culminates in the most dangerous challenge of all at a horror-filled, legendary Gothic house.
Is joining the Gloomth really worth dying for?
Perfect for fans of Wednesday and Holly Jackson.
A case of mistaken identity means Eddie Dontay is hurled into the exclusive world of New Haven School. Pretending to be Bartholomew "Brat" Van Buren III, the sole heir to a rich family, who mysteriously disappeared a year ago, Eddie is sent undercover to expose the dark secrets of the Gloomth society.
But all is not what it seems. Eddie must participate in a series of difficult initiations, which prove his fitness for the club, competing against other students. An increasingly deadly contest culminates in the most dangerous challenge of all at a horror-filled, legendary Gothic house.
Is joining the Gloomth really worth dying for?
Perfect for fans of Wednesday and Holly Jackson.
- GenresDark Academia
247 pages, ebook
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
M.A. Bennett
17 books306 followersM. A. Bennett is half Venetian and was born in Manchester, England, and raised in the Yorkshire Dales. She is a history graduate of Oxford University and the University of Venice, where she specialized in the study of Shakespeare’s plays as a historical source. After university she studied art and has since worked as an illustrator, an actress, and a film reviewer. She also designed tour visuals for rock bands, including U2 and the Rolling Stones. She was married on the Grand Canal in Venice and lives in north London with her husband, son, and daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 11, 2026
Eddie Dontay is the subject of a case of mistaken identity which then turns into an opportunity. When posh girl Harper approaches him thinking he is a former friend of hers (who went by the name of Bartholomew "Brat" Van Buren III), he finds himself agreeing to a bit of subterfuge.
Brat went missing a year ago from New Haven School where he had been in the midst of pledging for the Gloomth society - a very old, very exclusive group. Before he went missing he had told Harper about some of the initiations, & Harper wants to not only find out what happened to him, but bring down the group from the inside. What follows is a crash course into the exclusive world of the rich & privileged, but is it enough to fool the Gloomth?
Wow this was a page turner! It's one of those rare books that manages to be both predictable yet thrilling. It's not difficult to work out what's going on but it's the journey that counts here, not the destination. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If your tastes also run towards the macabre & the Gothic (think Edgar Allan Poe) & you enjoy reading about secret societies, hidden rooms/mazes, & wandering around old cemeteries in the dark, then this is the book for you. 4.5 stars (rounded down)
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Found it a predictable yet thrilling read.
Writing Style: Excellent - I was thorouoghly immersed in the world of Gloomth.
Enjoyment Level: High - If your tastes also run towards the macabre & the Gothic (think Edgar Allan Poe) & you enjoy reading about secret societies, hidden rooms/mazes, & wandering around old cemeteries in the dark, then this is the book for you.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hachette Children's Group/Welbeck Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
Brat went missing a year ago from New Haven School where he had been in the midst of pledging for the Gloomth society - a very old, very exclusive group. Before he went missing he had told Harper about some of the initiations, & Harper wants to not only find out what happened to him, but bring down the group from the inside. What follows is a crash course into the exclusive world of the rich & privileged, but is it enough to fool the Gloomth?
Wow this was a page turner! It's one of those rare books that manages to be both predictable yet thrilling. It's not difficult to work out what's going on but it's the journey that counts here, not the destination. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If your tastes also run towards the macabre & the Gothic (think Edgar Allan Poe) & you enjoy reading about secret societies, hidden rooms/mazes, & wandering around old cemeteries in the dark, then this is the book for you. 4.5 stars (rounded down)
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Found it a predictable yet thrilling read.
Writing Style: Excellent - I was thorouoghly immersed in the world of Gloomth.
Enjoyment Level: High - If your tastes also run towards the macabre & the Gothic (think Edgar Allan Poe) & you enjoy reading about secret societies, hidden rooms/mazes, & wandering around old cemeteries in the dark, then this is the book for you.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hachette Children's Group/Welbeck Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
April 3, 2026
An ideal story to pique younger readers’ interest in the Gothic genre. A captivating mystery, set amidst a backdrop of wealth and privilege.
The story opens with Bart being buried alive. We don’t know why, but then we are introduced to our main character Eddie. He is a server in a cafe, moonlighting as a waiter at a fancy school do. He is sacked when one of the young ladies mistakes him for Bart.
What follows requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but Harper enlists Eddie’s help in trying to work out exactly what happened to Bart and how a shadowy society known as The Gloomth are involved. He goes back to the exclusive New Haven School, enrolled as Bart, and vows to help unearth what happened.
From the moment we see Eddie back in the school it’s clear this is a lot more dangerous than you might expect. Some of the characters are, quite frankly, unhinged. Eddie has his own secrets, and as things progress we see just how desperate people have been to try and get to the truth.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
The story opens with Bart being buried alive. We don’t know why, but then we are introduced to our main character Eddie. He is a server in a cafe, moonlighting as a waiter at a fancy school do. He is sacked when one of the young ladies mistakes him for Bart.
What follows requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but Harper enlists Eddie’s help in trying to work out exactly what happened to Bart and how a shadowy society known as The Gloomth are involved. He goes back to the exclusive New Haven School, enrolled as Bart, and vows to help unearth what happened.
From the moment we see Eddie back in the school it’s clear this is a lot more dangerous than you might expect. Some of the characters are, quite frankly, unhinged. Eddie has his own secrets, and as things progress we see just how desperate people have been to try and get to the truth.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
July 5, 2026
m.a. bannett has done it again!! for context i recently re-binged the order (2019) on netflix so i was kind of on the look out for a secret society thriller. and to see one written by one of the authors that astounded me last year?? well this was a short, albeit predictable but still exciting read.
yes it's another joining a secret society for revenge but it is a lot deeper than it seems. i (along with many reviewers) guess the big plot twist that our mc eddie dontay is none other than brat van buren, the very pledge who went missing (was killed). there were many allusions to things he knew that he wasn't supposed to that it was obvious, but getting there was so satisfying. the gloomth is just evil, with lewis walpol the lit prof at its core and the gothic boys. i liked how it also tied into ending the cycle of abuse.
the fact that brat and ulysses were friends that first term before ulysses betrayed him? god it hurts but we all knew it would have been like that, the family feud between the parlows and van burens won't end with them. there was a short time for like half the book when i thought they might have ended up together though? in an enemies to lovers style because you don't describe your enemy to be that beautiful, truly. and (spoilers!!) that kiss?? lowkey that was pretty hot?? too bad ulysses was just evil. man killed his little sister and proceeded to have his first kiss with someone else.
still.
"his silver eyes narrow against the sun, his dark hair blowing back from that perfect face, his lopsided smile reveals a single dimple—his charisma is palpable. for the first time too, i wonder just how close he and harper were as teens — who could resist him?"
"a new bond has been formed. but it is not love. it is hate, as dark and deep as the grave. until that moment i hadn't understood just how close those two things were."
besides, for once the healthy hetero ship was actually so good? anna and brat barely met once before he cared so much about her. i was so here for it it's not even funny.
"i want you to know that when you kissed me at the feathers ball, and i kissed you back, i meant it. i've told a lot of lies but that was a truth." <- those were what he thought would be his last words
on a side note. genuinely. what the fck harper.
okay. waiting patiently for m.a. bennett's next gothic novel. i love her gothic stories. especially that menu.
my one gripe is that i wish this was longer and we saw more of the other gothic boys or pledges like calvin and jess getting initiated. the pledges were so thrilling i wanted more.
and my favourite line of the book, courtesy of stacey:
"you gotta do what them pigeons do. shit on everyone else before they shit on you."
yes it's another joining a secret society for revenge but it is a lot deeper than it seems. i (along with many reviewers) guess the big plot twist that our mc eddie dontay is none other than brat van buren, the very pledge who went missing (was killed). there were many allusions to things he knew that he wasn't supposed to that it was obvious, but getting there was so satisfying. the gloomth is just evil, with lewis walpol the lit prof at its core and the gothic boys. i liked how it also tied into ending the cycle of abuse.
the fact that brat and ulysses were friends that first term before ulysses betrayed him? god it hurts but we all knew it would have been like that, the family feud between the parlows and van burens won't end with them. there was a short time for like half the book when i thought they might have ended up together though? in an enemies to lovers style because you don't describe your enemy to be that beautiful, truly. and (spoilers!!) that kiss?? lowkey that was pretty hot?? too bad ulysses was just evil. man killed his little sister and proceeded to have his first kiss with someone else.
still.
"his silver eyes narrow against the sun, his dark hair blowing back from that perfect face, his lopsided smile reveals a single dimple—his charisma is palpable. for the first time too, i wonder just how close he and harper were as teens — who could resist him?"
"a new bond has been formed. but it is not love. it is hate, as dark and deep as the grave. until that moment i hadn't understood just how close those two things were."
besides, for once the healthy hetero ship was actually so good? anna and brat barely met once before he cared so much about her. i was so here for it it's not even funny.
"i want you to know that when you kissed me at the feathers ball, and i kissed you back, i meant it. i've told a lot of lies but that was a truth." <- those were what he thought would be his last words
on a side note. genuinely. what the fck harper.
okay. waiting patiently for m.a. bennett's next gothic novel. i love her gothic stories. especially that menu.
my one gripe is that i wish this was longer and we saw more of the other gothic boys or pledges like calvin and jess getting initiated. the pledges were so thrilling i wanted more.
and my favourite line of the book, courtesy of stacey:
"you gotta do what them pigeons do. shit on everyone else before they shit on you."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
M.A Bennett has always been a master at writing the most suffocating, gothic thriller that keeps me glued to the story, and this was just another great example of that.
The story was enveloped in deep gothic horror, from the world building, to the literature, and the twisted initiations the characters had to endure. The whole story felt suffocating and eerie, but also had a great mystery element, in which the reader was just as in the dark as the characters they were following, especially with such an unreliable narrator and cast of characters.
The secret society and the mystery shrouding it, was the bulk of the story, and was excellently written and portrayed, but the school itself felt a little unbelievable.
Outside of the main character Brat, and the members of the society, there didn't seem to be anybody else in the school, the few characters that did appear didn't feel like they had any depth or introduction to the story, they felt overshadowed by the gothic atmosphere, almost like they weren't as important, which was a little distracting.
The overall story felt really short, the pacing was good, but the ending felt a little rushed, with some predictable plot twists being thrown in, regardless, I really enjoyed the storytelling.
The story was enveloped in deep gothic horror, from the world building, to the literature, and the twisted initiations the characters had to endure. The whole story felt suffocating and eerie, but also had a great mystery element, in which the reader was just as in the dark as the characters they were following, especially with such an unreliable narrator and cast of characters.
The secret society and the mystery shrouding it, was the bulk of the story, and was excellently written and portrayed, but the school itself felt a little unbelievable.
Outside of the main character Brat, and the members of the society, there didn't seem to be anybody else in the school, the few characters that did appear didn't feel like they had any depth or introduction to the story, they felt overshadowed by the gothic atmosphere, almost like they weren't as important, which was a little distracting.
The overall story felt really short, the pacing was good, but the ending felt a little rushed, with some predictable plot twists being thrown in, regardless, I really enjoyed the storytelling.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to Team Tempest for the eARC of A Deadly Pledge to read and review.
A Deadly Pledge was an enjoyable dark academia read! The writing style is great and the storyline, whilst a little predictable, was immersive and enjoyable. There's a real gothic, macabre edge to it with the mysteries and secret societies which I loved and thought it made for a really cool setting.
Eddie is the main character and essentially enrols at the school as 'Brat', a character that is killed off right at the beginning. It was a little unbelievable at first, but the interest in the story then took over. There are definitely some rather unhinged characters at the school and it genuinely came across as a quite a terrifying place to be.
I think this book will definitely go over well with YA readers in the age group - for me I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me. The book felt a little rushed and predictable in places, but overall I thought it was written very well and A Deadly Pledge was an fun read.
A Deadly Pledge was an enjoyable dark academia read! The writing style is great and the storyline, whilst a little predictable, was immersive and enjoyable. There's a real gothic, macabre edge to it with the mysteries and secret societies which I loved and thought it made for a really cool setting.
Eddie is the main character and essentially enrols at the school as 'Brat', a character that is killed off right at the beginning. It was a little unbelievable at first, but the interest in the story then took over. There are definitely some rather unhinged characters at the school and it genuinely came across as a quite a terrifying place to be.
I think this book will definitely go over well with YA readers in the age group - for me I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me. The book felt a little rushed and predictable in places, but overall I thought it was written very well and A Deadly Pledge was an fun read.
May 31, 2026
3.5 ⭐
A Gothic-themed YA dark academia thriller, perfect for spooky season.
While the core story didn't intrigue me that much, what kept me hooked was our main character, Eddie. At the start of the story, he kept dropping hints about who he is, and what he's supposed to know, and I kept reading just to see what was really happening there.
I also liked that this book was not only focused around trials, but we actually got to witness and go through all of these trials - I feel like a lot of trials books nowadays skip over the nitty-gritty of the trials, so I enjoyed actually reading about them all. Plus, I loved the reveals of how they linked to various pieces of Gothic literature, and trying to guess what later trials would be based on the clues we were given.
A great read for anyone who is a fan of classic Gothic literature.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
A Gothic-themed YA dark academia thriller, perfect for spooky season.
While the core story didn't intrigue me that much, what kept me hooked was our main character, Eddie. At the start of the story, he kept dropping hints about who he is, and what he's supposed to know, and I kept reading just to see what was really happening there.
I also liked that this book was not only focused around trials, but we actually got to witness and go through all of these trials - I feel like a lot of trials books nowadays skip over the nitty-gritty of the trials, so I enjoyed actually reading about them all. Plus, I loved the reveals of how they linked to various pieces of Gothic literature, and trying to guess what later trials would be based on the clues we were given.
A great read for anyone who is a fan of classic Gothic literature.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
March 13, 2026
I am incredibly grateful to Hachette Children's Group for the opportunity to read and review A Deadly Pledge. Being selected to explore this captivating story before its official release has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to the team at Hachette Children's Group for their generosity and for making this advanced reading experience possible.
I was so looking forward to reading A Deadly Pledge because I am very much in my dark academia era so this felt like the perfect read!
It was a quick read that I found easy to follow.
It definitely had interesting parts and certain revelations had me shocked but overall, it just felt like it fell a little bit flat.
I wanted to love this book so much and in reality, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a good book.
I just didn't fall in love with it sadly. I feel as though this book is a great read for when you're between two really complicated or deep books. A bookish palate cleanser if you will.
I was so looking forward to reading A Deadly Pledge because I am very much in my dark academia era so this felt like the perfect read!
It was a quick read that I found easy to follow.
It definitely had interesting parts and certain revelations had me shocked but overall, it just felt like it fell a little bit flat.
I wanted to love this book so much and in reality, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a good book.
I just didn't fall in love with it sadly. I feel as though this book is a great read for when you're between two really complicated or deep books. A bookish palate cleanser if you will.
April 12, 2026
I won’t ever shut up about M. A. Bennett.
She is one of my favourite authors and rightfully so. I know I have to cancel my plans for the day when I pick up a book of hers. They are intriguing and always one up their twist and turns. The S.T.A.G.S. series will forever be my holy grail and her stand alone books are just so so good.
This one made me want to re-read the series again and you can bet I‘ll do that once finals are over.
She is one of my favourite authors and rightfully so. I know I have to cancel my plans for the day when I pick up a book of hers. They are intriguing and always one up their twist and turns. The S.T.A.G.S. series will forever be my holy grail and her stand alone books are just so so good.
This one made me want to re-read the series again and you can bet I‘ll do that once finals are over.
June 5, 2026
4.5
I honestly don't know how MA Bennett is still so severely underrated. She is an absolute queen of the gothic. I inhale everything she writes. Please give us the next Young Gothic book soon!
I honestly don't know how MA Bennett is still so severely underrated. She is an absolute queen of the gothic. I inhale everything she writes. Please give us the next Young Gothic book soon!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Deadly Pledge is a deeply atmospheric Gothic YA thriller. It’s a pacy and engaging read that keeps the pages flowing as you move further and further into this dark world.
I have long enjoyed M. A. Bennett’s work. I think she absolutely nails that tightknit claustrophobic bubble of privilege that can be formed in certain circles. It’s Dark Academia with a specific focus on issues around class. It is sharp and insightful. We can all recognise certain types and traits in some of the characters, feeling like you are getting a peek behind the curtain into another world. Eddie is drawn into this dark world through an elaborate subterfuge that threatens to unravel everything he loves.
This is taken to another level with the immersion in literature and I adored all of the references Bennett includes. They add texture to the story and pay homage to the history of the genre. As a lover of Gothic literature, this book is a dream come true for me. The parelles with the classroom discussions and the nefarious activities are so darkly humorous and yet chilling. There is this slavish devotion that has tipped the pages into real life and often distorted them. All of this builds in a great mystery for Eddie to uncover the truth behind his deception. Bennett packs the pages with intriguing character dynamics and revelations that flip this story on its head. No spoilers here but one of my favourite tropes is used. It is a nightmarish book filled with tension and palpable suspense throughout. You are on the edge right from the first page with these macabre visions and rituals.
A Deadly Pledge is a twisted gem of a book. It’s a love letter to the Gothic genre and it is perfect for those who already devotees as well as those diving into the dark waters for the first time.
I have long enjoyed M. A. Bennett’s work. I think she absolutely nails that tightknit claustrophobic bubble of privilege that can be formed in certain circles. It’s Dark Academia with a specific focus on issues around class. It is sharp and insightful. We can all recognise certain types and traits in some of the characters, feeling like you are getting a peek behind the curtain into another world. Eddie is drawn into this dark world through an elaborate subterfuge that threatens to unravel everything he loves.
This is taken to another level with the immersion in literature and I adored all of the references Bennett includes. They add texture to the story and pay homage to the history of the genre. As a lover of Gothic literature, this book is a dream come true for me. The parelles with the classroom discussions and the nefarious activities are so darkly humorous and yet chilling. There is this slavish devotion that has tipped the pages into real life and often distorted them. All of this builds in a great mystery for Eddie to uncover the truth behind his deception. Bennett packs the pages with intriguing character dynamics and revelations that flip this story on its head. No spoilers here but one of my favourite tropes is used. It is a nightmarish book filled with tension and palpable suspense throughout. You are on the edge right from the first page with these macabre visions and rituals.
A Deadly Pledge is a twisted gem of a book. It’s a love letter to the Gothic genre and it is perfect for those who already devotees as well as those diving into the dark waters for the first time.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews