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A House of Vipers
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26A new dark academia mystery that begins a year after a student’s mysterious disappearance when his brother finds clues that can help him and his friends solve their boarding school’s most elusive puzzle—and find his brother dead or alive.
It’s been a year and a half since Sutter Heyward’s brother, Lawson, disappeared from the secluded campus of Meddlehart Academy. Everyone has given up on finding him except for Sutter, who can’t shake the feeling that he’s out there somewhere and desperately needs help to make it home.
That is, until he and his friends uncover clues that Lawson was searching for their school’s rumored buried treasure the night he went missing . . . and there is a secret society on campus still trying to find it. They are the Order of the Vipers. Sutter and his friends don’t hesitate to join the hunt, but they quickly realize that becoming a Viper involves dangerous initiation rituals where the risk is often greater than the reward.
With every clue and secret they uncover, Sutter knows they are one step closer to solving the mystery of his brother’s disappearance. But as he digs closer to the deadly truth, he will discover that some things were meant to stay buried.
It’s been a year and a half since Sutter Heyward’s brother, Lawson, disappeared from the secluded campus of Meddlehart Academy. Everyone has given up on finding him except for Sutter, who can’t shake the feeling that he’s out there somewhere and desperately needs help to make it home.
That is, until he and his friends uncover clues that Lawson was searching for their school’s rumored buried treasure the night he went missing . . . and there is a secret society on campus still trying to find it. They are the Order of the Vipers. Sutter and his friends don’t hesitate to join the hunt, but they quickly realize that becoming a Viper involves dangerous initiation rituals where the risk is often greater than the reward.
With every clue and secret they uncover, Sutter knows they are one step closer to solving the mystery of his brother’s disappearance. But as he digs closer to the deadly truth, he will discover that some things were meant to stay buried.
- GenresDark AcademiaYoung Adult
400 pages, Library Binding
Expected publication April 28, 2026
223 people want to read
About the author
Emma Jackson
1 book11 followersEmma Jackson is an author who is passionate about storytelling in all its forms. After writing her first story at 8 years old for a school project, she couldn’t stop writing and penned dozens of stories with a pencil and loose sheets of notebook paper. Every story pushed her closer to her dream of becoming an author one day.
Emma studied professional writing at the University of Oklahoma, where she focused on growing her love of writing young adult fiction. She is a believer in the positive impact YA books can have on teens because of how powerful her favorite books were when she was that age! When Emma is not writing her next story, she can be found spending time with friends and family, playing cozy video games, going on adventures with her husband, or reading on the couch with her orange tabby cat.
Representation: Rachel Beck at Liza Dawson Associates
Emma studied professional writing at the University of Oklahoma, where she focused on growing her love of writing young adult fiction. She is a believer in the positive impact YA books can have on teens because of how powerful her favorite books were when she was that age! When Emma is not writing her next story, she can be found spending time with friends and family, playing cozy video games, going on adventures with her husband, or reading on the couch with her orange tabby cat.
Representation: Rachel Beck at Liza Dawson Associates
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Want to read
November 7, 2025Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for granting my request of an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
October 25, 2025
A multi-POV YA story that will suck you in from the very beginning. Suspense, mystery, and found family that will absolutely pull at your heartstrings.
I had the honor and pleasure of getting to read an ARC copy of A House of Vipers. This is a must read!
I had the honor and pleasure of getting to read an ARC copy of A House of Vipers. This is a must read!
Want to read
August 3, 2025hello , I want to say that this is one of my most anticipated book releases in 2026 and I can't wait to read this one !
November 3, 2025
What a special story!!!! This book feels like a warm hug while also keeping you in absolute suspense over what could possibly happen next… an absolutely deadly combo!!!! You really couldn’t find a better found family if you tried. And don’t even get me STARTED on the love triangle. I loved every single second I spent with these characters and will be thinking about them long after I finished the book!!!
If you need me I will be trying to figure out how I can enroll at meddlehart. Five freaking stars.
If you need me I will be trying to figure out how I can enroll at meddlehart. Five freaking stars.
December 2, 2025
What a read! This one did take me awhile to fully get into as if started out slow. Not bad, just that kind of slow burn where you’re thinking, “Alright, I’m settling in, let’s see where this goes.” And then suddenly—BOOM—I was in too deep, emotionally compromised, and flipping pages like Sutter and the crew were about to mail me my own Vipers initiation invite.
Once the story hit its stride, it became amazing. Like truly, unexpectedly amazing. This book made me laugh, cry, and—maybe the most surprising of all—feel a real ache of nostalgia for my own high school days and the friendships that felt a little chaotic, a little dramatic, but absolutely ride-or-die.
The story picks up a year and a half after Lawson Heyward vanished from Meddlehart Academy’s eerie, ivy-covered campus. Everyone else has accepted he’s gone for good—everyone except his younger brother, Sutter, who’s still clinging to hope. That hope turns into something more when he and his tight-knit friend group stumble onto clues Lawson left behind.
Those clues point to two things:
1. Lawson may have been chasing the school’s rumored buried treasure, and
2. A secret society on campus—the shadowy Order of the Vipers—might know more than anyone’s letting on.
Joining the Vipers sounds useful… until Sutter and his friends realize the group’s “initiations” might be more danger than mystery. But with each clue, each lie uncovered, and each unsettling truth they dig up, they’re drawn deeper into the puzzle of what really happened the night Lawson disappeared.
It’s dark academia with real heart—mystery, loyalty, danger, and the kind of friendships that shape who you are.
Emma Jackson absolutely nailed the atmosphere. Once the story kicks into gear, it stays addictive all the way through. I was totally immersed, emotionally invested, and genuinely moved. Five stars, easy.
Highly recommend if you love: secret societies, puzzles, sibling loyalty, academic gothic vibes, and found-family chaos.
Once the story hit its stride, it became amazing. Like truly, unexpectedly amazing. This book made me laugh, cry, and—maybe the most surprising of all—feel a real ache of nostalgia for my own high school days and the friendships that felt a little chaotic, a little dramatic, but absolutely ride-or-die.
The story picks up a year and a half after Lawson Heyward vanished from Meddlehart Academy’s eerie, ivy-covered campus. Everyone else has accepted he’s gone for good—everyone except his younger brother, Sutter, who’s still clinging to hope. That hope turns into something more when he and his tight-knit friend group stumble onto clues Lawson left behind.
Those clues point to two things:
1. Lawson may have been chasing the school’s rumored buried treasure, and
2. A secret society on campus—the shadowy Order of the Vipers—might know more than anyone’s letting on.
Joining the Vipers sounds useful… until Sutter and his friends realize the group’s “initiations” might be more danger than mystery. But with each clue, each lie uncovered, and each unsettling truth they dig up, they’re drawn deeper into the puzzle of what really happened the night Lawson disappeared.
It’s dark academia with real heart—mystery, loyalty, danger, and the kind of friendships that shape who you are.
Emma Jackson absolutely nailed the atmosphere. Once the story kicks into gear, it stays addictive all the way through. I was totally immersed, emotionally invested, and genuinely moved. Five stars, easy.
Highly recommend if you love: secret societies, puzzles, sibling loyalty, academic gothic vibes, and found-family chaos.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A HOUSE OF VIPERS by Emma Jackson (April 28, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, GetUnderlined, and Delacorte for the earc
A year and a half after Lawson Heyward's disappeared from Meddlehart Academy, his brother Sutter seems to be the only one who hasn't given up finding him. When he and his friends find clues that Lawson was searching for buried treasure, and that there is a secret society, they don't hesitate to join. Quickly they realize the order of vipers is dangerous, and the truth is deadly.
A HOUSE OF VIPERS is a YA thriller. This is a multi-pov, dark academia that blends a prestigious academy, mysterious societies, and treasure. Found family and a love triangle help make up this read. Jackson's debut novel is gripping from the first chapter all the way up to the last, mind-blowing reveal.
I love that dark academia and secret societies are still in. There's something about the secrets, drama, and overall darkness that entwines its way throughout these types of novels. A HOUSE OF VIPERS is no exception. This is a very easy-to-read book. The points of view flows nicely from one to the other without feeling like something was missing. It's unpredictable and well-written; however, at the 70% mark or so, I did have a hunch about who was responsible for what was going on---I was right, but it took me so long. And that ending. I was expecting it, but I had hoped I would be wrong...
A HOUSE OF VIPERS, though something that's been done before, Jackson adds a fresh take with the mysterious treasure at Meddlehart Academy. The riddles and clues were a nice touch.That's what made this novel.
A HOUSE OF VIPERS by Emma Jackson (April 28, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, GetUnderlined, and Delacorte for the earc
A year and a half after Lawson Heyward's disappeared from Meddlehart Academy, his brother Sutter seems to be the only one who hasn't given up finding him. When he and his friends find clues that Lawson was searching for buried treasure, and that there is a secret society, they don't hesitate to join. Quickly they realize the order of vipers is dangerous, and the truth is deadly.
A HOUSE OF VIPERS is a YA thriller. This is a multi-pov, dark academia that blends a prestigious academy, mysterious societies, and treasure. Found family and a love triangle help make up this read. Jackson's debut novel is gripping from the first chapter all the way up to the last, mind-blowing reveal.
I love that dark academia and secret societies are still in. There's something about the secrets, drama, and overall darkness that entwines its way throughout these types of novels. A HOUSE OF VIPERS is no exception. This is a very easy-to-read book. The points of view flows nicely from one to the other without feeling like something was missing. It's unpredictable and well-written; however, at the 70% mark or so, I did have a hunch about who was responsible for what was going on---I was right, but it took me so long. And that ending. I was expecting it, but I had hoped I would be wrong...
A HOUSE OF VIPERS, though something that's been done before, Jackson adds a fresh take with the mysterious treasure at Meddlehart Academy. The riddles and clues were a nice touch.That's what made this novel.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for sending me this eARC! The premise immediately hooked me since boarding school mysteries are right up my alley, so I was excited to see "A House of Vipers" available on NetGalley.
On the positive side, I loved the friendship dynamic between the gang. They are amusing, likeable characters with unique personalities, and they keep the reader invested. It was refreshing to see how much they cared about each other, and I wish we got to see more of them being the fun friend group they're described as "in the good old days", as Carter says. The school's history was also enticing, particularly Meddleheart's poems that left the trail of breadcrumbs leading to the treasure.
In terms of the grand reveal at the end, I did sort of guess who the villain would be, which was unfortunate. However, there were other things that did surprise me, so all was not in vain. I also feel like the mystery was slightly underwhelming in some parts of the story- I forgot about the poem left in Grayson's locker until halfway through the book. Plus, it was painful watching Sutter push his friends away, although that's par for the course given his situation. I'm glad he came to his senses eventually, because a fractured friendship would've stung even more.
Based on the little snippet in the last chapter, "A House of Vipers" could possibly be getting a sequel, which I would definitely be in favour of (although the poor gang has seriously been through enough drama).
On the positive side, I loved the friendship dynamic between the gang. They are amusing, likeable characters with unique personalities, and they keep the reader invested. It was refreshing to see how much they cared about each other, and I wish we got to see more of them being the fun friend group they're described as "in the good old days", as Carter says. The school's history was also enticing, particularly Meddleheart's poems that left the trail of breadcrumbs leading to the treasure.
In terms of the grand reveal at the end, I did sort of guess who the villain would be, which was unfortunate. However, there were other things that did surprise me, so all was not in vain. I also feel like the mystery was slightly underwhelming in some parts of the story- I forgot about the poem left in Grayson's locker until halfway through the book. Plus, it was painful watching Sutter push his friends away, although that's par for the course given his situation. I'm glad he came to his senses eventually, because a fractured friendship would've stung even more.
Based on the little snippet in the last chapter, "A House of Vipers" could possibly be getting a sequel, which I would definitely be in favour of (although the poor gang has seriously been through enough drama).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
When it comes to dark academia books, you can't really go wrong and this book hit every note for me in that department! Mystery, suspenseful, creepy vibes and with some romance but nothing grossly over the top nauseating. I really enjoy reading POVs from multiple characters and it's done tastefully where it isn't overly complicated and mucks up the story or gets confusing. This is an absolute must read and I would love to buy a physical copy of this book upon release on 2026!
I've had the honor and privilege of getting approved for an ARC book complimentary in exchange for an honest review and I would love to take the time to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity.
I've had the honor and privilege of getting approved for an ARC book complimentary in exchange for an honest review and I would love to take the time to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity.
December 16, 2025
Beyond happy that I was able to read an advanced copy of A House of Vipers! I loved getting to know these characters and trying to solve the riddles with them. Emma Jackson does a great job of building a complete world to get immersed in. I didn’t want to put it down!
If you like solving puzzles, secret societies, boarding school settings, love triangles, or found family, be sure and check it out!
If you like solving puzzles, secret societies, boarding school settings, love triangles, or found family, be sure and check it out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a brilliant, twisty, dark (very dark in places!) academia mystery that also felt somehow so cosy and warm-hearted, from the lovable characters (Grayson 💜) and found family to the evocative mountain setting. The plot snakes (ha) so expertly and I never knew what was round the corner. Teens are going to devour this thriller! Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 23, 2025
5 Freaking Stars, guys. I loved this book, loved the characters, the setting, the mystery, the LOVE TRIANGLE (and I usually despise them with all my heart, but in this case, it was immaculate).
It was such a well thought and fun read, that I couldn't miss the chance to praise it.
It was such a well thought and fun read, that I couldn't miss the chance to praise it.
December 3, 2025
The characters in this book immediately pulled me. I fell in love with them all! The love triangle was very well written and I especially liked the found family gang. The mystery and puzzles were so engaging! I loved the treasure hunting aspect. One of my favorite YA books I've ever read! 5/5!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews