What do you think?
Rate this book
A House of Vipers
A 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.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Emma Jackson
1 book53 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 14, 2026
these are my babies and I love them
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!
July 8, 2026
Actual Rating:
3.45/5 stars
No favorite quote. :(
Initial Reaction:
Hmmmm......Okay. So I had high hopes for this book...and uh....it didn't meet my expectations to be honest. So I'm kinda disappointed. I have many thoughts about it so this might get lengthy. I did laugh quite a bit and definitely more than I expected to. Many things were too obvious which will be discussed below. I didn't quite enjoy the characters too much. And yeah.....(my heart is also breaking over it currently as well.) And I did end up tearing up over it sooooo....yeah!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The characters:
The three POVS:
Sutter: Okay. So clearly he is the main character in this book! I overall liked his dynamic and his backstory.....UGHH!! HOW COULD YOU GET ANY BETTER THAN IT!? I loved him a lot and um...HE'S MINE. I know many average readers might think he is a beach but he really isn't. He's just hurting. A lot. But unfortunately, even though he was the main character........he ended up being sidelined and I got disappointed we didn't get more POV chapters. (There's like 1 POv chapter every..........10 chapters or SMTH.....)
Fallon:
Mk. So. Her thing with cinnamon is so real. I have a thing with cinnamon as well. She kinda felt like a temu Hermione Granger. IDK what to say guys. She even pulled the whole "I'm looking in the wrong section" and the "I read this in freshmen year as a bit of light reading" thing. So uh...yeah. Overall, she kinda just pissed me off. She got pissed off at Sutter because he was searching for his (possibly) dead brother and then she gets like......not mad per se but annoyed at Grayson for not telling her what is going on in his life.
Grayson:
ISTG his personality changed like every chapter. I felt like his backstory was incorporated nicely at the beginning but it started entering his chapters so randomly. LIKE I THOUGHT WE WERE DISCUSSING THE TREASURE AND THEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT HOW UR FATHER MAKES EXCUSES FOR YOU?? LIKE WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?? But! I will say his chapters were very much interesting in the way he was battling his feelings for Fallon.
The side characters:
Carter:
IF ANYONE HATES ON THIS PERSON, I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND THROW YOU OFF THE EDGE OF A CLIFF- WHO SAID THAT. Wow.....the wind is strong these days. Okay so yes. Clearly Carter is my fav (Sutter is the loml tho OMG MY BBG). The best friend dynamic? CHEF'S KISS. (Carter likes to cook and bake soooo......yeah. Hope you got that joke) NO BUT SERIOUSLY. I LOVEDDDDD Carter. He was so random and so funsies like I could see him being besties with Xander Hawthorne. (IYKYK). And the whole: "Sutter's my best friend. I go where he goes and vise versa. Ofc I'm not backing out on him" MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. YES.
Margot:
This poor girl got sidelined just as much as Sutter. She was only there purely for the fact that there was a love triangle and that Fallon was her best friend. That's it. Like at least Carter was the comic relief. This girl? She's the one who does all the shipping. So yeah. Kinda disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE HER. I just wish we saw MORE OF her.
And finally.....the one chapter prologue we got of Lawson:
SUTTER. MOVE ASIDE. I WILL TAKE UR BROTHER!! *shoves Sutter to the side*
THE BROTHER DYNAMIC. IT doesn't beat The Inheritance Games brother dynamic.....but UGHHHH!! JUST THAT PROLOGUE WAS AMAZINGLY WRITTEN. LIKE LWK, YALL SHOULD JS READ THE PROLOGUE AND STOP READING. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED THE ENTIRE BOOK TO BE. BUT IT WASN'T.
hehe. I got a lil carried away.
Point was, Lawson's POV in the prologue was amazing.
The Person who did it:
Overall view of the characters:
They were very flat. The only one who wasn't flat was Carter (and Lawson). Even Sutter was flatly written. I honestly forgot whose POV was whose and had to go back and check MULTIPLE TIMES just to remember. When good books are written, I don't need to check. I just know and can keep reading without having to look at the start of a new chapter.
NOW THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR:
THE PLOTTTTTTTT:
NO. JS NO. I liked the plot idea. I really do. It was just poorly written. And the ending? OMG IT WAS SO RUSHED. There were about 5 chapters left.....and they didn't even know where the treasure was. I actually started wondering if there was a sequel (ik there wasn't tho so I was very confused). And the person who did it? Ik who it was the moment they were mentioned on the page. I also had very high hopes that . So no. Just no. I also believe the plot was all over the place. It didn't....quite blend in as well as it should have.
But the love triangle scenes? Oh. I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD. But.....I also knew who was gonna end up with who. So......mmm yeah. Like don't make Fallon like Boy 1 and then start wondering if she likes Boy 2 and then completely forgets about Boy 1. No. Make her like both and then just keep leading the reader on until she chooses so we never know. But those scenes were my fav and dam Fallon. You really messed up there, didn't you hon?
Something you won't understand unless you read it:
Handwriting.
eh. Not really recommended. I might end up rereading this just for the sake of the dynamic of the brothers but other than that, it's not really worth it. That and the vibes. The vibes were pretty good. You can continue living if you haven't read this book. I was very disappointed considering this was Jennifer Lynn Barnes's student. (Love how she was in the acknowledgments. Finally, Emma Jackson did something right!) It also felt like she was trying to copy Jennifer Lynn Barnes with the characters.....so no.
To be fair, this was her first book so I might be a little harsh.....but also...there are three shelves filled with just this ONE book at the bookstore when it was released. Of course I had high hopes.
3.45/5 stars
No favorite quote. :(
Initial Reaction:
Hmmmm......Okay. So I had high hopes for this book...and uh....it didn't meet my expectations to be honest. So I'm kinda disappointed. I have many thoughts about it so this might get lengthy. I did laugh quite a bit and definitely more than I expected to. Many things were too obvious which will be discussed below. I didn't quite enjoy the characters too much. And yeah.....(my heart is also breaking over it currently as well.) And I did end up tearing up over it sooooo....yeah!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The characters:
The three POVS:
Sutter: Okay. So clearly he is the main character in this book! I overall liked his dynamic and his backstory.....UGHH!! HOW COULD YOU GET ANY BETTER THAN IT!? I loved him a lot and um...HE'S MINE. I know many average readers might think he is a beach but he really isn't. He's just hurting. A lot. But unfortunately, even though he was the main character........he ended up being sidelined and I got disappointed we didn't get more POV chapters. (There's like 1 POv chapter every..........10 chapters or SMTH.....)
Fallon:
Mk. So. Her thing with cinnamon is so real. I have a thing with cinnamon as well. She kinda felt like a temu Hermione Granger. IDK what to say guys. She even pulled the whole "I'm looking in the wrong section" and the "I read this in freshmen year as a bit of light reading" thing. So uh...yeah. Overall, she kinda just pissed me off. She got pissed off at Sutter because he was searching for his (possibly) dead brother and then she gets like......not mad per se but annoyed at Grayson for not telling her what is going on in his life.
Grayson:
ISTG his personality changed like every chapter. I felt like his backstory was incorporated nicely at the beginning but it started entering his chapters so randomly. LIKE I THOUGHT WE WERE DISCUSSING THE TREASURE AND THEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT HOW UR FATHER MAKES EXCUSES FOR YOU?? LIKE WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?? But! I will say his chapters were very much interesting in the way he was battling his feelings for Fallon.
The side characters:
Carter:
IF ANYONE HATES ON THIS PERSON, I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND THROW YOU OFF THE EDGE OF A CLIFF- WHO SAID THAT. Wow.....the wind is strong these days. Okay so yes. Clearly Carter is my fav (Sutter is the loml tho OMG MY BBG). The best friend dynamic? CHEF'S KISS. (Carter likes to cook and bake soooo......yeah. Hope you got that joke) NO BUT SERIOUSLY. I LOVEDDDDD Carter. He was so random and so funsies like I could see him being besties with Xander Hawthorne. (IYKYK). And the whole: "Sutter's my best friend. I go where he goes and vise versa. Ofc I'm not backing out on him" MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. YES.
Margot:
This poor girl got sidelined just as much as Sutter. She was only there purely for the fact that there was a love triangle and that Fallon was her best friend. That's it. Like at least Carter was the comic relief. This girl? She's the one who does all the shipping. So yeah. Kinda disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE HER. I just wish we saw MORE OF her.
And finally.....the one chapter prologue we got of Lawson:
SUTTER. MOVE ASIDE. I WILL TAKE UR BROTHER!! *shoves Sutter to the side*
THE BROTHER DYNAMIC. IT doesn't beat The Inheritance Games brother dynamic.....but UGHHHH!! JUST THAT PROLOGUE WAS AMAZINGLY WRITTEN. LIKE LWK, YALL SHOULD JS READ THE PROLOGUE AND STOP READING. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED THE ENTIRE BOOK TO BE. BUT IT WASN'T.
hehe. I got a lil carried away.
Point was, Lawson's POV in the prologue was amazing.
The Person who did it:
Overall view of the characters:
They were very flat. The only one who wasn't flat was Carter (and Lawson). Even Sutter was flatly written. I honestly forgot whose POV was whose and had to go back and check MULTIPLE TIMES just to remember. When good books are written, I don't need to check. I just know and can keep reading without having to look at the start of a new chapter.
NOW THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR:
THE PLOTTTTTTTT:
NO. JS NO. I liked the plot idea. I really do. It was just poorly written. And the ending? OMG IT WAS SO RUSHED. There were about 5 chapters left.....and they didn't even know where the treasure was. I actually started wondering if there was a sequel (ik there wasn't tho so I was very confused). And the person who did it? Ik who it was the moment they were mentioned on the page. I also had very high hopes that . So no. Just no. I also believe the plot was all over the place. It didn't....quite blend in as well as it should have.
But the love triangle scenes? Oh. I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD. But.....I also knew who was gonna end up with who. So......mmm yeah. Like don't make Fallon like Boy 1 and then start wondering if she likes Boy 2 and then completely forgets about Boy 1. No. Make her like both and then just keep leading the reader on until she chooses so we never know. But those scenes were my fav and dam Fallon. You really messed up there, didn't you hon?
Something you won't understand unless you read it:
Handwriting.
eh. Not really recommended. I might end up rereading this just for the sake of the dynamic of the brothers but other than that, it's not really worth it. That and the vibes. The vibes were pretty good. You can continue living if you haven't read this book. I was very disappointed considering this was Jennifer Lynn Barnes's student. (Love how she was in the acknowledgments. Finally, Emma Jackson did something right!) It also felt like she was trying to copy Jennifer Lynn Barnes with the characters.....so no.
To be fair, this was her first book so I might be a little harsh.....but also...there are three shelves filled with just this ONE book at the bookstore when it was released. Of course I had high hopes.
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 !
September 18, 2026
A love triangle where all 3 parties are green flags and the guy who doesn't get chosen acts maturely and is happy for the girl? MIRACLES EXIST.
Loved all the friendships (with all their ups and downs, one of the more realistic representations I read about), loved the boarding school setting, liked the secret society slash treasure-hunting scenario, even liked the ending reveals BUT one thing bothered me - the solution to the puzzles, aka the location of the treasure, seemed too basic, and I truly wonder how no one found it before these 5 random teens...
Loved all the friendships (with all their ups and downs, one of the more realistic representations I read about), loved the boarding school setting, liked the secret society slash treasure-hunting scenario, even liked the ending reveals BUT one thing bothered me - the solution to the puzzles, aka the location of the treasure, seemed too basic, and I truly wonder how no one found it before these 5 random teens...
June 26, 2026
This book got me back into reading. I was a lousy screen loving degenerate but the storyline, characters, and mystery drew me away from my fishing instagram algorithm and into the Meddlehart Universe. I couldn’t put this book down and I have missed that feeling. Thank you Emma Jackson!
April 30, 2026
(Libby audio) This felt very very Inheritance Games-esque with all the puzzles/clues to figure out. Even down to the love triangle. We have the perspectives of the 3 tied up in said triangle, written in 3rd person. And there are 2 other close friends involved in this treasure/brother hunt. I was entertained all the way through... but I wouldn't give it more than 4 stars. The ending is left open enough for a book 2, but also HEA enough to be done.
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.
August 4, 2026
Emma Jackson's A House of Vipers is one of those novels that immediately grabs hold of you with its atmosphere. If you enjoy dark academia, secret societies, privileged students with too many secrets, and a mystery that slowly coils tighter around its characters, there's plenty here to enjoy. The thriller elements are confidently handled, and Jackson clearly understands how to build tension while keeping the pages turning. It's an entertaining read from beginning to end, even if it ultimately reminded me that it is very much a young adult novel.
The story follows a group of students whose lives become increasingly entangled after they arrive at an elite academy steeped in tradition and whispered rumours. When unsettling events begin to unfold, old rivalries, hidden agendas, and long-buried secrets bubble to the surface. The novel balances its central mystery with interpersonal drama, examining friendship, ambition, loyalty, and the dangerous allure of belonging. As the stakes rise, every revelation feels like another piece of a carefully assembled puzzle, culminating in a satisfying if slightly restrained conclusion.
The strongest aspect of the novel is undoubtedly its cast. Jackson does an excellent job of making each character feel like an individual rather than simply filling archetypal YA roles. Their motivations are understandable, their relationships evolve naturally, and even the secondary characters have enough personality to make an impression. Watching alliances shift and trust erode is one of the book's greatest pleasures because the emotional groundwork has been so thoroughly laid.
Ironically, my biggest complaint about the characters has nothing to do with their personalities but their names. Every single character seems to have an incredibly distinctive or unusual name. Individually there's nothing wrong with that, but collectively it became distracting. After a while I found myself thinking that surely someone could just be called Sarah or Ashley. It sounds like a minor criticism, but it repeatedly pulled me out of the story because it made the cast feel just a little too curated. Real life tends to have a mixture of ordinary and unusual names, and that balance was missing here.
Jackson's writing itself is consistently strong. The pacing rarely falters, descriptions are vivid without becoming overindulgent, and the mystery unfolds at just the right speed to keep curiosity alive. The dark academia aesthetic is particularly well realised, with the academy itself becoming almost a character in its own right. The corridors, traditions, and oppressive atmosphere all contribute to a setting that feels immersive and suitably sinister.
That said, my biggest reservation comes down to audience rather than execution. As someone who almost exclusively reads adult fiction, I found A House of Vipers a little tame. The darker themes are certainly present, and there are moments of genuine suspense, but the novel never quite embraces the moral complexity or psychological intensity that I was hoping for. It remains firmly within the conventions of YA, which isn't a flaw in itself, but it did leave me wanting something sharper and more unsettling.
Overall, A House of Vipers is a well-written, character-driven thriller that successfully blends mystery with dark academia. Emma Jackson has created an engaging cast and an atmospheric setting that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the genre. While it didn't completely satisfy my preference for darker adult fiction, I still appreciated the craftsmanship behind it. It's an enjoyable, polished novel that knows exactly what it wants to be—even if I couldn't help wishing it had just a little more bite.
The story follows a group of students whose lives become increasingly entangled after they arrive at an elite academy steeped in tradition and whispered rumours. When unsettling events begin to unfold, old rivalries, hidden agendas, and long-buried secrets bubble to the surface. The novel balances its central mystery with interpersonal drama, examining friendship, ambition, loyalty, and the dangerous allure of belonging. As the stakes rise, every revelation feels like another piece of a carefully assembled puzzle, culminating in a satisfying if slightly restrained conclusion.
The strongest aspect of the novel is undoubtedly its cast. Jackson does an excellent job of making each character feel like an individual rather than simply filling archetypal YA roles. Their motivations are understandable, their relationships evolve naturally, and even the secondary characters have enough personality to make an impression. Watching alliances shift and trust erode is one of the book's greatest pleasures because the emotional groundwork has been so thoroughly laid.
Ironically, my biggest complaint about the characters has nothing to do with their personalities but their names. Every single character seems to have an incredibly distinctive or unusual name. Individually there's nothing wrong with that, but collectively it became distracting. After a while I found myself thinking that surely someone could just be called Sarah or Ashley. It sounds like a minor criticism, but it repeatedly pulled me out of the story because it made the cast feel just a little too curated. Real life tends to have a mixture of ordinary and unusual names, and that balance was missing here.
Jackson's writing itself is consistently strong. The pacing rarely falters, descriptions are vivid without becoming overindulgent, and the mystery unfolds at just the right speed to keep curiosity alive. The dark academia aesthetic is particularly well realised, with the academy itself becoming almost a character in its own right. The corridors, traditions, and oppressive atmosphere all contribute to a setting that feels immersive and suitably sinister.
That said, my biggest reservation comes down to audience rather than execution. As someone who almost exclusively reads adult fiction, I found A House of Vipers a little tame. The darker themes are certainly present, and there are moments of genuine suspense, but the novel never quite embraces the moral complexity or psychological intensity that I was hoping for. It remains firmly within the conventions of YA, which isn't a flaw in itself, but it did leave me wanting something sharper and more unsettling.
Overall, A House of Vipers is a well-written, character-driven thriller that successfully blends mystery with dark academia. Emma Jackson has created an engaging cast and an atmospheric setting that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the genre. While it didn't completely satisfy my preference for darker adult fiction, I still appreciated the craftsmanship behind it. It's an enjoyable, polished novel that knows exactly what it wants to be—even if I couldn't help wishing it had just a little more bite.
May 4, 2026
This was a solid read and a fantastic audiobook!
The main aspect of this book I enjoyed was the love triangle. It had just enough yearning, indecisiveness, and ultimately, a great resolution. I thought Fallon was a very lovely girl and I could tell why both boys were attracted to her. Grayson was my favorite; I loved his backstory and his intense feelings for Fallon. Sutter wasn't as interesting to me because he was so obsessed with finding his brother at all costs - it almost felt like everything (and everyone) else was an afterthought for him. The two side characters were good too: they rounded out the team well.
The dark academia atmosphere was spot-on. We were never without action or emotion - either we had an intense scene or an intense conversation and the story was always moving forward. I really enjoyed the writing style here and I was glad that the characters were open-minded about their situation. They never pigeon-holed themselves into thinking a certain way, like other students sometimes do in academic mysteries.
The narration was spectacular for this one. We have three narrators: for Fallon, Grayson, and Sutter. A tri-narration was ideal for this one, since the three of them are our narrators. I think I enjoyed this one even more on audio, precisely because it was so easy to determine whose POV I was in at any given time.
Overall, I would recommend this one to fans of dark academia mysteries, found families, and especially love triangles. If you are against love triangles in your books, then you should steer clear because that is very heavy in this one.
I really enjoyed this debut and am excited to see what Jackson does next! :)
The main aspect of this book I enjoyed was the love triangle. It had just enough yearning, indecisiveness, and ultimately, a great resolution. I thought Fallon was a very lovely girl and I could tell why both boys were attracted to her. Grayson was my favorite; I loved his backstory and his intense feelings for Fallon. Sutter wasn't as interesting to me because he was so obsessed with finding his brother at all costs - it almost felt like everything (and everyone) else was an afterthought for him. The two side characters were good too: they rounded out the team well.
The dark academia atmosphere was spot-on. We were never without action or emotion - either we had an intense scene or an intense conversation and the story was always moving forward. I really enjoyed the writing style here and I was glad that the characters were open-minded about their situation. They never pigeon-holed themselves into thinking a certain way, like other students sometimes do in academic mysteries.
The narration was spectacular for this one. We have three narrators: for Fallon, Grayson, and Sutter. A tri-narration was ideal for this one, since the three of them are our narrators. I think I enjoyed this one even more on audio, precisely because it was so easy to determine whose POV I was in at any given time.
Overall, I would recommend this one to fans of dark academia mysteries, found families, and especially love triangles. If you are against love triangles in your books, then you should steer clear because that is very heavy in this one.
I really enjoyed this debut and am excited to see what Jackson does next! :)
May 27, 2026
Disclaimer: I know the author.
I may be biased, but believe me when I tell you this book is brilliant. It offers fun for everyone:
+ Deadly scavenger hunt
+ Dark academia
+ Secret, mysterious club
+ Love triangle
+ A loathsome nemesis
+ Terrible parents
+ Murrrrrderrr (imagine me twirling a Poirot-like mustache while saying that with the most schmaltzy glee)
YA isn’t a genre I usually gravitate to, but this is a dynamic ride for any age. It’s funny how you can get different things out of a story based on where you are in life (see my previously extrapolated Breakfast Club theory). I found myself thinking a lot about the terrible parents. Probably took their misdeeds and the harms they inflicted on their children harder than intended.
Fingers crossed for a sequel? These are characters I’d like to follow some more & root for.
Emma Jackson is an author to watch. 💙
I may be biased, but believe me when I tell you this book is brilliant. It offers fun for everyone:
+ Deadly scavenger hunt
+ Dark academia
+ Secret, mysterious club
+ Love triangle
+ A loathsome nemesis
+ Terrible parents
+ Murrrrrderrr (imagine me twirling a Poirot-like mustache while saying that with the most schmaltzy glee)
YA isn’t a genre I usually gravitate to, but this is a dynamic ride for any age. It’s funny how you can get different things out of a story based on where you are in life (see my previously extrapolated Breakfast Club theory). I found myself thinking a lot about the terrible parents. Probably took their misdeeds and the harms they inflicted on their children harder than intended.
Fingers crossed for a sequel? These are characters I’d like to follow some more & root for.
Emma Jackson is an author to watch. 💙
September 20, 2026
A confusing book to say the least, of about 96k words, which seems very promising at first but quickly descends into nonsensical fluff. It's not a dark academia by any means, it's at most a school romance mystery with romance prominent as much as the mystery part.
There are plenty things to like here: the book is incredibly easy to read, the pacing is actually amazing and the language of the author is pleasant. Some characters, especially Fallon, are really well-established and honestly a joy to behold. I was invested at times in finding out about Lawson and the treasure, as well as about various romance scenes which are done rather well, I think.
However, the book suffers from a myriad of small funny inconsistencies that have never been discussed or thought through, or even fact-checked, which makes it really funny but kills any attempt at seriousness. Which is a shame, because it definitely deserves to be loved.
First, the characters are entirely diametrical. Sutter, Grayson and Fallon are great characters, but Margot and Carter? Comic reliefs with little to nothing to them.
The book opens with foreshadowing, which is not a good sign, and follows it up with such neat friendship it flows like molasses into your eyes... and is entirely absorbed and forgotten because you, at the start of the book, just don't give a damn about any of these characters. This continues with some of the sentences being extremely overly dramatic and cheesy. "Someone who made her feel safe in a world that had only ever wounded her" - nope, Fallon is a teenager, she saw about nothing of the world. "It wasn’t as if he had confessed anything real" - right after the guy confesses his love, what do you think is real or not?
The character conundrum continues when you learn about their teenager problems: they all have the same one. It's their parents. Which is not only boring, but also... not that common? Not to their extent anyway. It seems blown entirely out of proportion.
The funny things begin in school which is entirely devoid of any character and substance, not allowing to name it dark academia (Harry Potter seems more of a dark academia than this one). Grayson-Alex fight is just ridiculous. One bloke hits another in the temple. The latter "showed no shock" despite being hit in head's most vulnerable point, did not flinch and "swung at Alex... struck Alex's jaw, sending him reeling". Interesting disbalance you got there with Grayson dealing more damage despite hitting an arguably tenfold stronger part of the face. And the funniest thing is - Alex's reaction was... more out of proportion than that of hardened criminals. "You overheard me talking nonsense in a public place? Guess you'll die". Like, what? This is a clear case of "Lack experience, let me write it purely from imagination without thinking through or even checking how it feels being hit in a temple".
As much as I liked Fallon as a character and their problem-solver, this was a funny thing to note: "The ellipses in the last line of the poem almost made it seem like the poem was incomplete" - what does that even mean? She didn't notice the three dots or complete rhyme cycle, but decided... the ellipse-shaped letters were incomplete? How does that even work?
Nothing, however, beats the so-called Secret Order which I like to call "Public Figures Order. The first straw was supposedly secret order giving the main characters... secret invitations in the dorm - right where anyone could see them. Have you ever visited a dormitory? It's a chaotic place filled with people, more so in the middle of an actual semester of a boarding school. In Ch. 18 Sutter literally decides that a secret order is something he can just google and is distraught when the laptop battery dies before he can find info on a bunch of kids no one knows beyond the school grounds. What did he expect? Can't blame him though, because did you see Jeffrey? He is told that Sutter with friends are coming because they got the invitation and then he asks for invitation as though he suspects them of not being invited. Why???
A more important question is - how can this order be secret if the initiates are not concealed and recognise each other on sight? More so, the head of the order just... openly addresses them without hiding the identity? They need to pass tests, but even if lied to about results, they still recognise the Order Head. So in what part is this order secret? They even know the caves... Meaning they know who the head is and where they meet. It's very much a public order the minute one person hears about this, let alone sees everything. They say they will be watching, but... in truth, they won't know anything if someone starts posting that stuff online. Let alone walks into a meeting with a camera and live stream which Margot could have easily done. Basically a bunch of kids playing games, and absolutely not interesting to follow.
The motivation to actually be in the order is less than inspiring. Why join the defunct order that can't help you? Why commit actual crimes - all for a chance that a secret order of wealth-seeking shady people accepts you and shares the treasure with you... Huh?
So overall, regretfully, the presence of the Order makes the book incredibly worse. If the Order was cut and it was straight mystery, I think it would be a solid 7/10. Now, though, I can't recommend this book as the logic aspect of it in combination with the above-mentioned reasons makes it ever so slightly weaker than your average young adult school mystery book.
There are plenty things to like here: the book is incredibly easy to read, the pacing is actually amazing and the language of the author is pleasant. Some characters, especially Fallon, are really well-established and honestly a joy to behold. I was invested at times in finding out about Lawson and the treasure, as well as about various romance scenes which are done rather well, I think.
However, the book suffers from a myriad of small funny inconsistencies that have never been discussed or thought through, or even fact-checked, which makes it really funny but kills any attempt at seriousness. Which is a shame, because it definitely deserves to be loved.
First, the characters are entirely diametrical. Sutter, Grayson and Fallon are great characters, but Margot and Carter? Comic reliefs with little to nothing to them.
The book opens with foreshadowing, which is not a good sign, and follows it up with such neat friendship it flows like molasses into your eyes... and is entirely absorbed and forgotten because you, at the start of the book, just don't give a damn about any of these characters. This continues with some of the sentences being extremely overly dramatic and cheesy. "Someone who made her feel safe in a world that had only ever wounded her" - nope, Fallon is a teenager, she saw about nothing of the world. "It wasn’t as if he had confessed anything real" - right after the guy confesses his love, what do you think is real or not?
The character conundrum continues when you learn about their teenager problems: they all have the same one. It's their parents. Which is not only boring, but also... not that common? Not to their extent anyway. It seems blown entirely out of proportion.
The funny things begin in school which is entirely devoid of any character and substance, not allowing to name it dark academia (Harry Potter seems more of a dark academia than this one). Grayson-Alex fight is just ridiculous. One bloke hits another in the temple. The latter "showed no shock" despite being hit in head's most vulnerable point, did not flinch and "swung at Alex... struck Alex's jaw, sending him reeling". Interesting disbalance you got there with Grayson dealing more damage despite hitting an arguably tenfold stronger part of the face. And the funniest thing is - Alex's reaction was... more out of proportion than that of hardened criminals. "You overheard me talking nonsense in a public place? Guess you'll die". Like, what? This is a clear case of "Lack experience, let me write it purely from imagination without thinking through or even checking how it feels being hit in a temple".
As much as I liked Fallon as a character and their problem-solver, this was a funny thing to note: "The ellipses in the last line of the poem almost made it seem like the poem was incomplete" - what does that even mean? She didn't notice the three dots or complete rhyme cycle, but decided... the ellipse-shaped letters were incomplete? How does that even work?
Nothing, however, beats the so-called Secret Order which I like to call "Public Figures Order. The first straw was supposedly secret order giving the main characters... secret invitations in the dorm - right where anyone could see them. Have you ever visited a dormitory? It's a chaotic place filled with people, more so in the middle of an actual semester of a boarding school. In Ch. 18 Sutter literally decides that a secret order is something he can just google and is distraught when the laptop battery dies before he can find info on a bunch of kids no one knows beyond the school grounds. What did he expect? Can't blame him though, because did you see Jeffrey? He is told that Sutter with friends are coming because they got the invitation and then he asks for invitation as though he suspects them of not being invited. Why???
A more important question is - how can this order be secret if the initiates are not concealed and recognise each other on sight? More so, the head of the order just... openly addresses them without hiding the identity? They need to pass tests, but even if lied to about results, they still recognise the Order Head. So in what part is this order secret? They even know the caves... Meaning they know who the head is and where they meet. It's very much a public order the minute one person hears about this, let alone sees everything. They say they will be watching, but... in truth, they won't know anything if someone starts posting that stuff online. Let alone walks into a meeting with a camera and live stream which Margot could have easily done. Basically a bunch of kids playing games, and absolutely not interesting to follow.
The motivation to actually be in the order is less than inspiring. Why join the defunct order that can't help you? Why commit actual crimes - all for a chance that a secret order of wealth-seeking shady people accepts you and shares the treasure with you... Huh?
So overall, regretfully, the presence of the Order makes the book incredibly worse. If the Order was cut and it was straight mystery, I think it would be a solid 7/10. Now, though, I can't recommend this book as the logic aspect of it in combination with the above-mentioned reasons makes it ever so slightly weaker than your average young adult school mystery book.
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 is our best chance at finding out what happened to Lawson, right? And think about if we did find that treasure.’ ‘It’s not real,’ Fallon argued. ‘But if it is,’ Margot countered patiently, ‘our lives would change forever.”
Sutter Heyward’s brother, Lawson, has gone missing from Meddlehart Academy’s secluded campus, and everyone has given up on looking for him—except for Sutter. After finding a clue tying his brother’s disappearance to the search for the mysterious treasure rumored to have been buried at the Academy, Sutter and his friends—Grayson, Fallon, Carter, and Margot—set out in hopes of finding both the treasure and Lawson. However, they aren’t the only ones looking for the treasure. A secret society—the Order of the Vipers—has dedicated themselves to finding the treasure. Sutter and his friends rush to join the Vipers, but the trials are much more dangerous than they thought. But with every clue they find, Sutter knows that they are one step closer to finding the treasure and figuring out what really happened the night his brother disappeared.
When reading A House of Vipers, I already had my suspicions about the turn of events. I expected this book to be heavily focused on the friendship dynamics within the friend group while they tackled the mystery at hand, and it was. However, I didn’t expect a love triangle. I am not much of a love triangle fan, but I like how it functioned in an unexpected way. On the other hand, the love triangle sometimes overshadows the thriller-mystery elements, especially when shifting between POVs. This made sense, as each character wanted something different: Sutter was driving the hunt for the treasure because of his brother, while the other two, Fallon and Grayson, each had their own desires. The multiple POVs provided greater character interiority and background information while highlighting the friction between the characters. The chaotic friend group interactions felt very true to high school dynamics, and the added layer of Sutter struggling with his brother’s disappearance both heightened and tested the group. The group had some stereotypical roles, like Fallon being the voice of reason and Carter being the supportive free spirit of the group, but the added character quirks—like Carter being a food connoisseur— and Jackson’s use of them made the group’s dynamic more interesting overall. While the story was a little slow in the beginning, once Sutter and his friends began their trials for the Order of Vipers, I was practically flying through those pages trying to unearth what actually happened to Lawson that night.
A House of Vipers releases on April 28th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Sutter Heyward’s brother, Lawson, has gone missing from Meddlehart Academy’s secluded campus, and everyone has given up on looking for him—except for Sutter. After finding a clue tying his brother’s disappearance to the search for the mysterious treasure rumored to have been buried at the Academy, Sutter and his friends—Grayson, Fallon, Carter, and Margot—set out in hopes of finding both the treasure and Lawson. However, they aren’t the only ones looking for the treasure. A secret society—the Order of the Vipers—has dedicated themselves to finding the treasure. Sutter and his friends rush to join the Vipers, but the trials are much more dangerous than they thought. But with every clue they find, Sutter knows that they are one step closer to finding the treasure and figuring out what really happened the night his brother disappeared.
When reading A House of Vipers, I already had my suspicions about the turn of events. I expected this book to be heavily focused on the friendship dynamics within the friend group while they tackled the mystery at hand, and it was. However, I didn’t expect a love triangle. I am not much of a love triangle fan, but I like how it functioned in an unexpected way. On the other hand, the love triangle sometimes overshadows the thriller-mystery elements, especially when shifting between POVs. This made sense, as each character wanted something different: Sutter was driving the hunt for the treasure because of his brother, while the other two, Fallon and Grayson, each had their own desires. The multiple POVs provided greater character interiority and background information while highlighting the friction between the characters. The chaotic friend group interactions felt very true to high school dynamics, and the added layer of Sutter struggling with his brother’s disappearance both heightened and tested the group. The group had some stereotypical roles, like Fallon being the voice of reason and Carter being the supportive free spirit of the group, but the added character quirks—like Carter being a food connoisseur— and Jackson’s use of them made the group’s dynamic more interesting overall. While the story was a little slow in the beginning, once Sutter and his friends began their trials for the Order of Vipers, I was practically flying through those pages trying to unearth what actually happened to Lawson that night.
A House of Vipers releases on April 28th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
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.
November 1, 2026
I should have DNFed this book when we didn’t get to the promise of the premise until over 3.5 hours into the audiobook. This book is like a Netflix show that was written to accommodate users having a second screen and not really paying attention at all to the show so everything has to be spelled out in great detail. I was honestly just waiting for another audiobook to come in. The whole secret society/buried treasure feels like it’s trying to scrape elements from popular shows, without doing more work to back up these elements or seeing what made those elements work in the first place, leaving a meandering, haphazard dart board of ideas that truly goes nowhere. The author also did not trust the reader to pick up on their bread-crumbing, and by bread-crumbing, I mean dropping cement boulders on the page. (I didn’t know that lemon juice came in packets, but alas.) From the second this character walked onto the page, they were a blinking red flag that said, hey this is our interpretation of a dastardly evil villain with a really hastily thrown together motive. The book didn’t pick up the pace until the very last act, where it missed the landing with a generic villain monologue. All of these are not the worst crimes of the book. The worst crime is how much of a slog it was to get through. It felt like nothing was happening. Ever. The three main POV characters were hardly indistinguishable from one another in their characterization. One guy does football and the other’s brother is missing? Other than that, they are characterized as the same nice avoidant attached boyfriend that is indistinguishable from one another. The girl chooses but does not show any real reason why she chose who she did, because she would have to admit that they were not shown as two distinct people who serve two unique purposes in her life. In short, everything and everyone were underdeveloped.
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.
May 14, 2026
The thing that I noticed while reading this book — that hasn't occurred with any other book I've read — was that the characters felt very teenage-like. And what I mean is that their actions, thoughts, personalities, behavior and even conversations (at least to me, though I'm not a native English speaker) felt authentic. As a teenager, I can say that they acted genuinely and I think that's a hard thing to accomplish. I haven't read about any other characters that would give me this specific sense of realism and I loved that here.
The mystery aspect of the book was very enjoyable, I was intrigued and wanted to know things so badly! I haven't read many dark academia books yet, but if that's what the genre feels like, then I think I need to grab some more dark academia novels.
On a more emotional note, Sutter was my favorite of the five. He just clicked with me and became that character you're constantly waiting to appear on the pages.
*warning! a spoiler below*
My team didn't win the love triangle... But, that's my personal opinion. I just didn't vibe with Grayson as much and can't even fully explain why. It could have been the mood I was in at the time. But overall, the romance aspect is written very well and feels logical. The decision Fallon made in the end made sense. I guess that's the risk with love triangles — you can end up on the losing side. But as Margot said, everyone loves love triangles :)
*end of the spoilers*
It was a very fun read. Would recommend if you're looking for a standalone mystery with a love triangle, well-written emotionally layered characters, dark academia vibes, and of course some plot twists!
The mystery aspect of the book was very enjoyable, I was intrigued and wanted to know things so badly! I haven't read many dark academia books yet, but if that's what the genre feels like, then I think I need to grab some more dark academia novels.
On a more emotional note, Sutter was my favorite of the five. He just clicked with me and became that character you're constantly waiting to appear on the pages.
*warning! a spoiler below*
My team didn't win the love triangle... But, that's my personal opinion. I just didn't vibe with Grayson as much and can't even fully explain why. It could have been the mood I was in at the time. But overall, the romance aspect is written very well and feels logical. The decision Fallon made in the end made sense. I guess that's the risk with love triangles — you can end up on the losing side. But as Margot said, everyone loves love triangles :)
*end of the spoilers*
It was a very fun read. Would recommend if you're looking for a standalone mystery with a love triangle, well-written emotionally layered characters, dark academia vibes, and of course some plot twists!
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Get Underlined @GetUnderlined #GetUnderlinedPartner Delacorte Press @delacortepress and Emma Jackson @authoremmajackson for this free book! PUBLISHED APRIL 28, 2026.
“A House of Vipers” by Emma Jackson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: YA Dark Academia.
A year and a half ago, Sutter Heyward’s brother Lawson vanished from secluded Meddlehart Academy, a prestigious boarding school in the mountains of Colorado. Now Sutter and his friends Fallon and Grayson are joining the secret Order of the Vipers to find clues about Lawson's disappearance, which seems tied to a hidden treasure on campus. They quickly realize becoming a Viper involves dangerous initiation rituals. As they get closer to the deadly truth, they discover some things were meant to stay buried.
Author Jackson’s novel starts off slow, but it picks up as it continues, leading to a big ending. She includes secret societies, treasure hunts, found family, and a love triangle. Jackson alternates between Sutter, Fallon, and Grayson’s points of view, giving each character their own quirks and reason for investigating. It’s a dark academia atmosphere full of lies, puzzles, and backstabbing. If you’re a fan of The Inheritance Games and Wednesday, this is your kind of book! And, there’s a hint of future adventures, so it’s 4⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #ahouseofvipers #emmajackson
“A House of Vipers” by Emma Jackson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: YA Dark Academia.
A year and a half ago, Sutter Heyward’s brother Lawson vanished from secluded Meddlehart Academy, a prestigious boarding school in the mountains of Colorado. Now Sutter and his friends Fallon and Grayson are joining the secret Order of the Vipers to find clues about Lawson's disappearance, which seems tied to a hidden treasure on campus. They quickly realize becoming a Viper involves dangerous initiation rituals. As they get closer to the deadly truth, they discover some things were meant to stay buried.
Author Jackson’s novel starts off slow, but it picks up as it continues, leading to a big ending. She includes secret societies, treasure hunts, found family, and a love triangle. Jackson alternates between Sutter, Fallon, and Grayson’s points of view, giving each character their own quirks and reason for investigating. It’s a dark academia atmosphere full of lies, puzzles, and backstabbing. If you’re a fan of The Inheritance Games and Wednesday, this is your kind of book! And, there’s a hint of future adventures, so it’s 4⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #ahouseofvipers #emmajackson
September 15, 2026
To be honest, I was very disappointed.
Again, this was required for my PW reading class so I didn't go outta my way to choose this book.
I don't mind alternating POV's but Fallons and Graysons povs were so boring. It would've been way better if the main focus was on Sutter.
The book starts out with a very intriguing mystery, but half the book is focused on the mediocre love triangle.
I hate when a love triangle happens within a friend group bc it never leads anywhere good and the female character is annoying about it the WHOLE time.
Also, the mystery was painfully predictable. When the butterfly poem showed up and they got to the ski lodge I immediately knew where the treasure was. And when it mentioned Whittakers constant "nature walks" and the JE in the viper year book, i knew he was the antagonist. But it kept trying to redirect my attention to the Headmaster, in which the author did NOTHING with that character.
Finally, it was painfully millennial. When i first read the word "Fortnite" and "latest Netflix comedy". I felt like the author was just screaming "hey kids! im hip, im cool, im with the times". It also just took me out of the world. I read so I can escape the shitshow of reality, not to get reminded that Fortnite is still a thing.
If i was 13, this book would've been more digestible.
i give it a 2.3 stars.
Again, this was required for my PW reading class so I didn't go outta my way to choose this book.
I don't mind alternating POV's but Fallons and Graysons povs were so boring. It would've been way better if the main focus was on Sutter.
The book starts out with a very intriguing mystery, but half the book is focused on the mediocre love triangle.
I hate when a love triangle happens within a friend group bc it never leads anywhere good and the female character is annoying about it the WHOLE time.
Also, the mystery was painfully predictable. When the butterfly poem showed up and they got to the ski lodge I immediately knew where the treasure was. And when it mentioned Whittakers constant "nature walks" and the JE in the viper year book, i knew he was the antagonist. But it kept trying to redirect my attention to the Headmaster, in which the author did NOTHING with that character.
Finally, it was painfully millennial. When i first read the word "Fortnite" and "latest Netflix comedy". I felt like the author was just screaming "hey kids! im hip, im cool, im with the times". It also just took me out of the world. I read so I can escape the shitshow of reality, not to get reminded that Fortnite is still a thing.
If i was 13, this book would've been more digestible.
i give it a 2.3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a complimentary ALC from PRH-Audio via their influencer program, and I ate this book up making it very easy to offer my voluntary thoughts in this review.
You know I love me some YA dark academia with a side of secret society, so I was really excited going into this one. I ended up finishing the audiobook in one sitting because I genuinely did not want to stop.
Now I will say that while the narrators, Giordan Diaz, Jorjeana Marie, Max Meyers, and Eli Schiff, did a fabulous job bringing the story to life, I did disagree with the casting, particularly the male actors. They sounded too young for the tone they were going for.
This is a YA thriller, but at times it came across more like middle grade in terms of vocal delivery. Not the writing itself, but the choices in tone from the narrators. It created a bit of a disconnect for me while listening. That said, I was still able to power through and absolutely love the book.
I really enjoyed the multiple POV format, which kept everything feeling fresh, varied, and fast-paced. But what stood out most for me was the found family element. It was genuinely heartwarming and really grounded the story.
Sometimes there are just books that click, where you can fully feel all the vibes, and this was exactly that kind of read.
You know I love me some YA dark academia with a side of secret society, so I was really excited going into this one. I ended up finishing the audiobook in one sitting because I genuinely did not want to stop.
Now I will say that while the narrators, Giordan Diaz, Jorjeana Marie, Max Meyers, and Eli Schiff, did a fabulous job bringing the story to life, I did disagree with the casting, particularly the male actors. They sounded too young for the tone they were going for.
This is a YA thriller, but at times it came across more like middle grade in terms of vocal delivery. Not the writing itself, but the choices in tone from the narrators. It created a bit of a disconnect for me while listening. That said, I was still able to power through and absolutely love the book.
I really enjoyed the multiple POV format, which kept everything feeling fresh, varied, and fast-paced. But what stood out most for me was the found family element. It was genuinely heartwarming and really grounded the story.
Sometimes there are just books that click, where you can fully feel all the vibes, and this was exactly that kind of read.
June 1, 2026
Decidedly mid.
While this is a book I will be recommending to readers, it's not one that excited me. Filled with typical cliches, a predictable villain, and an eye-rolling love triangle, this book latches onto the academic mystery fad complete with a secret society and hidden treasure. While an entertaining mystery, I found Sutter and Fallon (two of our MCs) to be cringeworthy - it seems like Fallon is crying every other chapter for some reason or another and Sutter remains, by the end of the book, one of the most selfish characters, despite being called out on it multiple times. Fallon's romance was trite and suitably juvenile. I really can't get over Sutter, in the first chapter of the book, despite the fact that his brother is missing and assumed dead, stating that being back at school (where his brother went missing) means that everything will be back to normal. Dude, really?
Anyways, good for readers who like a mystery, an academic thriller, etc. Not my favorite of the genre but it is the current fad so duds are to be expected.
While this is a book I will be recommending to readers, it's not one that excited me. Filled with typical cliches, a predictable villain, and an eye-rolling love triangle, this book latches onto the academic mystery fad complete with a secret society and hidden treasure. While an entertaining mystery, I found Sutter and Fallon (two of our MCs) to be cringeworthy - it seems like Fallon is crying every other chapter for some reason or another and Sutter remains, by the end of the book, one of the most selfish characters, despite being called out on it multiple times. Fallon's romance was trite and suitably juvenile. I really can't get over Sutter, in the first chapter of the book, despite the fact that his brother is missing and assumed dead, stating that being back at school (where his brother went missing) means that everything will be back to normal. Dude, really?
Anyways, good for readers who like a mystery, an academic thriller, etc. Not my favorite of the genre but it is the current fad so duds are to be expected.
May 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
House of Vipers was dark, addictive, and emotionally intense in a way that kept me fully locked in from beginning to end.
Emma Jackson creates a world filled with manipulation, dangerous relationships, betrayal, and morally gray characters that constantly keep you questioning everyone’s intentions. The atmosphere felt luxurious and seductive while also carrying this underlying tension that made everything feel unstable in the best possible way.
What I enjoyed most was the emotional chaos woven into the relationships. Nothing feels simple or safe, and that unpredictability made the story incredibly bingeable. The chemistry between characters was layered with obsession, control, vulnerability, and power struggles that kept the stakes feeling high throughout the book.
This definitely feels like a read for fans of darker, emotionally messy stories with complicated dynamics and morally questionable characters.
If you enjoy atmospheric dark romance/drama with secrets, tension, and emotional manipulation, this one is worth picking up.
House of Vipers was dark, addictive, and emotionally intense in a way that kept me fully locked in from beginning to end.
Emma Jackson creates a world filled with manipulation, dangerous relationships, betrayal, and morally gray characters that constantly keep you questioning everyone’s intentions. The atmosphere felt luxurious and seductive while also carrying this underlying tension that made everything feel unstable in the best possible way.
What I enjoyed most was the emotional chaos woven into the relationships. Nothing feels simple or safe, and that unpredictability made the story incredibly bingeable. The chemistry between characters was layered with obsession, control, vulnerability, and power struggles that kept the stakes feeling high throughout the book.
This definitely feels like a read for fans of darker, emotionally messy stories with complicated dynamics and morally questionable characters.
If you enjoy atmospheric dark romance/drama with secrets, tension, and emotional manipulation, this one is worth picking up.
September 5, 2026
Content Rating:
THIS IS ONLY IN THE FIRST 150 PAGES OF THE BOOK BECAUSE OF SO MUCH LANGUAGE!
H*ll -- 16
D*mn -- 6
Sh*t -- 14
God/Jesus in vain -- 10
F*ck -- 7
B*tch -- 1
*ss -- 1
In total, there are 3 kissing scenes and a lot of physical affection (just hand-holding and hands on shoulders); the romance aspect is pretty clean, though.
Main Characters all sleep in the same room one night. (3 boys and 2 girls)
One of the main characters gets into a fight a few times, and the injuries are described.
A character throws up a few times
*PARTIAL SPOILERS*
A character "was lying on the floor of his room, his skin grey, Meddleheart uniform covered in blood. He was dead."
"Two bodies were unrecognizable, each one in a completely different state of decay, but Grayson knew without doubt who they were."
I would rate this book a 4.3/5. I feel like there could have been a lot less language, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I would totally recommend it! The romance is completely clean and has a great love triangle!
THIS IS ONLY IN THE FIRST 150 PAGES OF THE BOOK BECAUSE OF SO MUCH LANGUAGE!
H*ll -- 16
D*mn -- 6
Sh*t -- 14
God/Jesus in vain -- 10
F*ck -- 7
B*tch -- 1
*ss -- 1
In total, there are 3 kissing scenes and a lot of physical affection (just hand-holding and hands on shoulders); the romance aspect is pretty clean, though.
Main Characters all sleep in the same room one night. (3 boys and 2 girls)
One of the main characters gets into a fight a few times, and the injuries are described.
A character throws up a few times
*PARTIAL SPOILERS*
A character "was lying on the floor of his room, his skin grey, Meddleheart uniform covered in blood. He was dead."
"Two bodies were unrecognizable, each one in a completely different state of decay, but Grayson knew without doubt who they were."
I would rate this book a 4.3/5. I feel like there could have been a lot less language, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I would totally recommend it! The romance is completely clean and has a great love triangle!
November 9, 2026
The storyline seemed really promising, and it did start off on an interesting note. But somewhere along the way, I found myself getting so, so bored. It just couldn’t hold my attention the way I hoped it would.🫠
The multiple POVs helped keep things moving, but I found the two main plotlines, the love triangle and the mystery, a little disconnected. It almost felt like I was reading two different stories, and neither managed to fully pull me in. I kept wishing for more intrigue, more excitement, and something that would make me want to keep turning the pages. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t happening.
The twists towards the end did pick up the pace and finally gave me something to be invested in. But by then, I was mostly reading because I wanted to know how it all unfolded and be done with the story.
A promising premise, a few interesting twists, but overall, a rather underwhelming read.🙁
The multiple POVs helped keep things moving, but I found the two main plotlines, the love triangle and the mystery, a little disconnected. It almost felt like I was reading two different stories, and neither managed to fully pull me in. I kept wishing for more intrigue, more excitement, and something that would make me want to keep turning the pages. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t happening.
The twists towards the end did pick up the pace and finally gave me something to be invested in. But by then, I was mostly reading because I wanted to know how it all unfolded and be done with the story.
A promising premise, a few interesting twists, but overall, a rather underwhelming read.🙁
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a dark Academia mystery and slanted more towards the youth, but at 60 years old I loved the story anyway. Lawson disappears on prom night and even after a year he's not been found, his brother is about the only one still trying to figure out what happened to him. After some information comes up, Sutter drags his friends into an adventure to help him find out what happened to Lawson but there is also a treasure at stake that a secret society is also pursuing. This is a story about chasing the clues and hoping that it brings a successful ending and it pulls us into going along for the journey. I found the story intriguing and though it started a little slow it did pick up the pace and kept me flying through it find the outcome. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the complimentary copy of the story.
June 13, 2026
This book had such a tight-knit group of friends who, from the opening pages, I felt like I had known forever. It’s no secret that found family is one of my favorite tropes, and I love the dynamic it adds to this deadly treasure hunt adventure! I really resonated with Sutter because if anything happened to my sibling, I wouldn’t be able to focus on or think about ANYTHING but getting them back. He never gave up, and there was something so sweet and achingly sad about that. I really enjoyed the way personal dynamics played into the mystery at the heart of the story. I especially loved that the ending felt satisfying for a standalone, but also left the door open for me to wonder where their lives might lead next. This book is perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games, and I’m really excited for Jackson’s future books.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews