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An Arcane Study of Stars
From Sydney J. Shields, the breakout author of The Honey Witch, comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares and offers her a he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. He takes a bite of her soul to seal the deal, and Claudia wakes to a letter from the High Sage of Cygnus stating she will take the place of Odette Dufort, a Rhetoric student who passed away.
Her arrival raises suspicions, rumors that she had a hand in Odette's death spread like wildfire, and Cassius MacLeod, the High Sage’s apprentice and Claudia's fellow Rhetoric student, seems hellbent on humiliating her. Determined to clear her name, she searches for any evidence that could prove her innocence. When someone—or something—starts slipping her pieces of Odette’s diary, Claudia uncovers a horrifying over the last century, celestial witches at Cygnus have been murdered. Odette was one of them, and Claudia could be next. For her own protection, Claudia needs to free Dorian—and fast.
By night, she studies the stars, slowly unraveling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. As Claudia inches closer to the truth, she must would trusting Cassius be the last mistake she ever makes?
When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares and offers her a he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. He takes a bite of her soul to seal the deal, and Claudia wakes to a letter from the High Sage of Cygnus stating she will take the place of Odette Dufort, a Rhetoric student who passed away.
Her arrival raises suspicions, rumors that she had a hand in Odette's death spread like wildfire, and Cassius MacLeod, the High Sage’s apprentice and Claudia's fellow Rhetoric student, seems hellbent on humiliating her. Determined to clear her name, she searches for any evidence that could prove her innocence. When someone—or something—starts slipping her pieces of Odette’s diary, Claudia uncovers a horrifying over the last century, celestial witches at Cygnus have been murdered. Odette was one of them, and Claudia could be next. For her own protection, Claudia needs to free Dorian—and fast.
By night, she studies the stars, slowly unraveling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. As Claudia inches closer to the truth, she must would trusting Cassius be the last mistake she ever makes?
510 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2026
300 people are currently reading
20735 people want to read
About the author
Sydney J. Shields
2 books1,230 followersSydney J. Shields is a swamp creature who evolved to hold a pen. She is a No. 1 Sunday Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestselling author. Her debut, The Honey Witch, is an Amazon Editors’ Choice for Best Fantasy and Best Romance, and a 2024 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. When not writing, she enjoys playing chess in the park, keeping bees, and doing anything that an 87-year-old trapped in a gen-z body would enjoy. You can find her across social media @SydneyJShields, or her website, sydneyjshields.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc!
my first 5 star read of april!! 🥹🫶 i’m so happy that it was this! i genuinely can’t express how amazing this book was and made me feel, i was immersed from the first couple of chapters. the romance, plot, scenery, and writing was everythingg ✨
magical universities with academic rivals to lovers will always be a reason i pick up a book 🤭 i was blown away by the unique magic system it was so cool and refreshing.
one of my favourite parts was being able to “sit in” on the classes and learn along with claudia was so fun to me.
claudia and cassius go from hate at first sight to the most passionate lovers i fear i have ever read (that’s saying something) 🥵
tropes:
dark academia 📚
celestial magic ✨
rivals to lovers ♥️
found family 🫶
my first 5 star read of april!! 🥹🫶 i’m so happy that it was this! i genuinely can’t express how amazing this book was and made me feel, i was immersed from the first couple of chapters. the romance, plot, scenery, and writing was everythingg ✨
magical universities with academic rivals to lovers will always be a reason i pick up a book 🤭 i was blown away by the unique magic system it was so cool and refreshing.
one of my favourite parts was being able to “sit in” on the classes and learn along with claudia was so fun to me.
claudia and cassius go from hate at first sight to the most passionate lovers i fear i have ever read (that’s saying something) 🥵
tropes:
dark academia 📚
celestial magic ✨
rivals to lovers ♥️
found family 🫶
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ★— Stars, gods, and a heroine trying to make her way into the magical university she’s been dreaming of her whole life... this book attempted a lot, but kind of left me floundering for most of its duration.
I am a fiend for dark academia, so I can say that I ate a lot of this up! The aesthetics and vibes of it all worked. What didn’t work for me were the heroine and the development of the romance, which are important parts of the narrative and understandably dragged my rating down.
I’ll start with my problems with Claudia. She’s a fish out of water for most of this book, someone who’s disadvantaged and has less knowledge than her peers, but in my opinion, the story didn’t really do a good job of building out her journey into becoming the eventual academic weapon she strives to be. I felt like, because the magic and the school aspects were so vague, I didn’t really get a proper sense of her growth as a student. This also affected her academic rival, Cassius, who we are supposed to believe is her enemy-turned-lover.
I thought the book did their dynamic such a disservice by not actually building up their antagonistic relationship and instead relying on telling rather than showing their rivalry, before, boom, suddenly declaring that they’ve always been attracted to each other, with very little of this progression actually shown on page. This was especially noticeable with Cassius, whose attraction to Claudia felt like it came out of nowhere, with side characters remarking on it before the book had actually taken the time to develop it.
Furthermore, Claudia (at 23) often came across more like a child than a woman, in a way that just didn’t resonate with me. Whenever she was tasked with doing something important to save herself, she acted naively, while also failing to stand by her own decisions and mistakes, which made her frustrating to read. She felt like someone easily swayed, which can be an interesting trait, but here it didn’t feel like intentional characterization by the author and more like a result of underdevelopment.
I’ll also say that the book features some BDSM dynamics between Cassius and Claudia that I thought felt overdone, cliché, and ultimately unearned, because of the lack of proper setup between them. I could have enjoyed this, but not with how much these two together lacked romantically.
I think this could work for people who prefer atmosphere and aesthetics over more tightly developed plot and romance. There is a lot of fun to be had here, but this definitely isn't the next great dark academia story that will knock you off your feet.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I thoroughly enjoyed the narration of the audiobook and thought that the different characters were given their own unique voices that really matched the tone of the story. I also just loved how girlish the narrator managed to go with Claudia, which made a lot of her moments work more for me!
________________
Thank you to Orbit for the ARC and to Hachette Audio for the ALC.
I am a fiend for dark academia, so I can say that I ate a lot of this up! The aesthetics and vibes of it all worked. What didn’t work for me were the heroine and the development of the romance, which are important parts of the narrative and understandably dragged my rating down.
I’ll start with my problems with Claudia. She’s a fish out of water for most of this book, someone who’s disadvantaged and has less knowledge than her peers, but in my opinion, the story didn’t really do a good job of building out her journey into becoming the eventual academic weapon she strives to be. I felt like, because the magic and the school aspects were so vague, I didn’t really get a proper sense of her growth as a student. This also affected her academic rival, Cassius, who we are supposed to believe is her enemy-turned-lover.
I thought the book did their dynamic such a disservice by not actually building up their antagonistic relationship and instead relying on telling rather than showing their rivalry, before, boom, suddenly declaring that they’ve always been attracted to each other, with very little of this progression actually shown on page. This was especially noticeable with Cassius, whose attraction to Claudia felt like it came out of nowhere, with side characters remarking on it before the book had actually taken the time to develop it.
Furthermore, Claudia (at 23) often came across more like a child than a woman, in a way that just didn’t resonate with me. Whenever she was tasked with doing something important to save herself, she acted naively, while also failing to stand by her own decisions and mistakes, which made her frustrating to read. She felt like someone easily swayed, which can be an interesting trait, but here it didn’t feel like intentional characterization by the author and more like a result of underdevelopment.
I’ll also say that the book features some BDSM dynamics between Cassius and Claudia that I thought felt overdone, cliché, and ultimately unearned, because of the lack of proper setup between them. I could have enjoyed this, but not with how much these two together lacked romantically.
I think this could work for people who prefer atmosphere and aesthetics over more tightly developed plot and romance. There is a lot of fun to be had here, but this definitely isn't the next great dark academia story that will knock you off your feet.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I thoroughly enjoyed the narration of the audiobook and thought that the different characters were given their own unique voices that really matched the tone of the story. I also just loved how girlish the narrator managed to go with Claudia, which made a lot of her moments work more for me!
________________
Thank you to Orbit for the ARC and to Hachette Audio for the ALC.
May 6, 2026
❛❛ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴀs sʜᴇ'ᴅ ʜᴏᴘᴇᴅ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴀs sʜᴇ ғᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ.❜❜
˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ˎˊ˗
ᯓ an arcane study of stars was published on april 28, 2026!!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4 sᴛᴀʀs! ★★★★☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ʀɪᴠᴀʟs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs, ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍɪᴀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴇʟᴇsᴛɪᴀʟ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ!
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ || premise:
⤿ Claudia Joliceur has always been a dreamer, but nothing compares to her wish to attend the occult university, Cygnus. Despite her rejection, she is powerful enough to catch the attention of a demon and make a deal with him. Claudia can go to Cygnus in exchange for the demon’s freedom. Standing in the way is Cassiuss MacLeod, an arrogantly intelligent student, and an ancient rivalry.
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | all my thoughts:
⤷ This was exactly the kind of dark academia and fantasy book that I adore. It is stuffed full of secrets, mysteries, late night study sessions, magic and nightmares.
The magic system in this book is super unique. There are several with one mainly based upon rhetoric and language, another on astronomy and the alignment of the stars, others on mathematics, music, and botany. I was especially fascinated by the power given to language, it almost felt like something that we could achieve ourselves with enough time and patience.
The worldbuilding is so cool. Imagine being swept off to a different world to study magic at university! I liked all the descriptions, it made me feel a little better about my own obsessive study habits.
The pacing goes quick in this one, it felt like we barely stopped for anything. The beginning is incredibly fast, as Claudia is whisked away into another world. The middle lulls a bit as Claudia uncovers the mysteries and focuses on her studies - but the ending is another whirlwind.This book is so short and it flies by!
I really appreciate how the author makes an effort to include diversity in love. It made the book much more unique and interesting. Additionally, this is not the young-adult novel I initially believed it was (Not sure why I thought it - it is not even marketed as such). I was definitely in for a big surprise. (I believe that author stated it is BDSM.) I would have been much more triggered (and upset), but the author does a nice job of describing consent and setting boundaries.
❛❛sʜᴇ'ᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴀ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ - ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ.❜❜
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ | | characters:
⤷ Claudia Joliceur. A dreamer sometimes socially awkward, but determined to get what she wants at any cost.
⤷ Cassius MacLeod. A clever academic rival, Cassius has everything he could possibly want - except for one thing.
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | overall thoughts:
This was a really fun book, it delivered everything that I expected it would plus a little bit more. The characters and setting were super compelling. It was the exact dark academia novel that I needed.
I also think that this would make a very good addition to my bookshelf!
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ | | rating:
⤿ 3.75 stars ★★★★☆
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | read if you enjoyed:
⤿ a study in drowning (ava reid)
⤿ curious tides (pascalle lacelle)
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
☕️|| preread :
⤿ im so excited to start this book! after finishing katabasis i am definitely in the mood for more dark academia!!
‧𓍢ִ໋🖋️ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪. || reading updates:
➤ 41% - so this isn’t the ya book i thought it was 😅😅
➤ 62% - claudia don’t make the mistake i think you’re about to make!!
➤ 100% - pleasantly surprised by that one 😄
˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ˎˊ˗
ᯓ an arcane study of stars was published on april 28, 2026!!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4 sᴛᴀʀs! ★★★★☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ʀɪᴠᴀʟs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs, ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍɪᴀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴇʟᴇsᴛɪᴀʟ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ!
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ || premise:
⤿ Claudia Joliceur has always been a dreamer, but nothing compares to her wish to attend the occult university, Cygnus. Despite her rejection, she is powerful enough to catch the attention of a demon and make a deal with him. Claudia can go to Cygnus in exchange for the demon’s freedom. Standing in the way is Cassiuss MacLeod, an arrogantly intelligent student, and an ancient rivalry.
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | all my thoughts:
⤷ This was exactly the kind of dark academia and fantasy book that I adore. It is stuffed full of secrets, mysteries, late night study sessions, magic and nightmares.
The magic system in this book is super unique. There are several with one mainly based upon rhetoric and language, another on astronomy and the alignment of the stars, others on mathematics, music, and botany. I was especially fascinated by the power given to language, it almost felt like something that we could achieve ourselves with enough time and patience.
The worldbuilding is so cool. Imagine being swept off to a different world to study magic at university! I liked all the descriptions, it made me feel a little better about my own obsessive study habits.
The pacing goes quick in this one, it felt like we barely stopped for anything. The beginning is incredibly fast, as Claudia is whisked away into another world. The middle lulls a bit as Claudia uncovers the mysteries and focuses on her studies - but the ending is another whirlwind.This book is so short and it flies by!
I really appreciate how the author makes an effort to include diversity in love. It made the book much more unique and interesting. Additionally, this is not the young-adult novel I initially believed it was (Not sure why I thought it - it is not even marketed as such). I was definitely in for a big surprise. (I believe that author stated it is BDSM.) I would have been much more triggered (and upset), but the author does a nice job of describing consent and setting boundaries.
❛❛sʜᴇ'ᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴀ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ - ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ.❜❜
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ | | characters:
⤷ Claudia Joliceur. A dreamer sometimes socially awkward, but determined to get what she wants at any cost.
⤷ Cassius MacLeod. A clever academic rival, Cassius has everything he could possibly want - except for one thing.
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | overall thoughts:
This was a really fun book, it delivered everything that I expected it would plus a little bit more. The characters and setting were super compelling. It was the exact dark academia novel that I needed.
I also think that this would make a very good addition to my bookshelf!
ᯓ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐ | | rating:
⤿ 3.75 stars ★★★★☆
ᯓ ⊹ ࣪ ˖🕰️୭˚. | | read if you enjoyed:
⤿ a study in drowning (ava reid)
⤿ curious tides (pascalle lacelle)
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
☕️|| preread :
⤿ im so excited to start this book! after finishing katabasis i am definitely in the mood for more dark academia!!
‧𓍢ִ໋🖋️ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪. || reading updates:
➤ 41% - so this isn’t the ya book i thought it was 😅😅
➤ 62% - claudia don’t make the mistake i think you’re about to make!!
➤ 100% - pleasantly surprised by that one 😄
March 24, 2026
Thank you so much Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for the arc!
„You‘re the witch with no way in. I’m the devil with no way out. We are each other’s only chance, Starling.“
✨ academic rivals
🏛️ magic university setting
✨ celestial magic
🏛️ murder mystery
What I liked:
- The magic system. Using star constellations to create spells based on different combinations. One example is Orion, the Hunter, and Sagitta, the Arrow, which in combination create a protective spell. The magic is fickle because the constellations are imaginary and open to interpretation. It’s also finite and the light of a star can be abused and burn out as a consequence. Such an interesting system, especially in combination with an academic setting.
What I didn’t like:
- The protagonist lacks a bit of emotional depth, sometimes even realistic emotions in general. She behaves far too nonchalantly for someone who killed her father, especially since she had never been violent before. She arrives at a new place covered in blood and doesn’t really seem to care about it. Even if you didn’t like your father, killing someone should provoke some kind of emotional turmoil. The author also constantly tells us that she sees herself as good, obedient and quiet, but she never acts that way. She’s mouthy, quick to lose her temper, slaps people and even threatens teachers… without ever seeming conflicted about it or spending more than a second thought on it.
- The diary entries felt way too convenient and unrealistic. The protagonist’s pet snake finds, eats and then coughs up a piece of a diary in which the girl who previously lived (and died) in her room confesses that someone is trying to kill her. The protagonist doesn’t even have to search for clues herself, her snake does it for her. I couldn’t take it seriously. Overall, the diary entries that appear throughout the story, filled with far too much convenient information, feel like a lazy way to move the plot forward and give the protagonist an upper hand.
„Desires create Doorways, and those who dream of escape will always find somewhere to run.“
✍🏻 Writing style: 2,5/5
👥 Characters: 2,5/5
🌍 Worldbuilding: 5/5
📝 Story & Plot: 3,5/5
✨ Vibes: 5/5
„You‘re the witch with no way in. I’m the devil with no way out. We are each other’s only chance, Starling.“
✨ academic rivals
🏛️ magic university setting
✨ celestial magic
🏛️ murder mystery
What I liked:
- The magic system. Using star constellations to create spells based on different combinations. One example is Orion, the Hunter, and Sagitta, the Arrow, which in combination create a protective spell. The magic is fickle because the constellations are imaginary and open to interpretation. It’s also finite and the light of a star can be abused and burn out as a consequence. Such an interesting system, especially in combination with an academic setting.
What I didn’t like:
- The protagonist lacks a bit of emotional depth, sometimes even realistic emotions in general. She behaves far too nonchalantly for someone who killed her father, especially since she had never been violent before. She arrives at a new place covered in blood and doesn’t really seem to care about it. Even if you didn’t like your father, killing someone should provoke some kind of emotional turmoil. The author also constantly tells us that she sees herself as good, obedient and quiet, but she never acts that way. She’s mouthy, quick to lose her temper, slaps people and even threatens teachers… without ever seeming conflicted about it or spending more than a second thought on it.
- The diary entries felt way too convenient and unrealistic. The protagonist’s pet snake finds, eats and then coughs up a piece of a diary in which the girl who previously lived (and died) in her room confesses that someone is trying to kill her. The protagonist doesn’t even have to search for clues herself, her snake does it for her. I couldn’t take it seriously. Overall, the diary entries that appear throughout the story, filled with far too much convenient information, feel like a lazy way to move the plot forward and give the protagonist an upper hand.
„Desires create Doorways, and those who dream of escape will always find somewhere to run.“
✍🏻 Writing style: 2,5/5
👥 Characters: 2,5/5
🌍 Worldbuilding: 5/5
📝 Story & Plot: 3,5/5
✨ Vibes: 5/5
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March 19, 2026Hello friends! I've been informed that unfortunately my author's note with content warnings was mistakenly left out of the first print run. I am so sorry for this. I can confirm the eBook and second print run will include it. The content warnings have always been up on my website, but I wanted to share here as well: This is a dark academia fantasy novel with gothic themes, gore, and explicit sexual content. It explores grief, suicidality, alcohol and drug abuse, and mental health struggles. Reader discretion is advised.
More specific CW here: https://www.sydneyjshields.com/an-arc...
More specific CW here: https://www.sydneyjshields.com/an-arc...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my god.
special thanks to the author and netgalley for an arc!
special thanks to the author and netgalley for an arc!
May 1, 2026
If she was a good person before she came here, this school is making her bad. If she was already bad, she’s getting so much worse.
oh i DEVOURED this!! a dark academia for a university of magic with a creative, unique magic system, enemies/rivals to lovers, stars and magic and deals with gods, a grecian epic. dark, mysterious, eerie and yet intensely clever and striking.
claudia is a perfectly imperfect protagonist who has flaws but fights and claws her way into this new world to claim the place she desires in it. the chemistry between her and cassius is INSANE, when they realize that the venom between them is really sparks for something greater 🤌🏼
“...if I can’t keep you safe, I don’t deserve to keep you at all.”
CASSIUS IS NEW TOP TIER BOOK BF OMG.
it was refreshing to read something very inspired by grecian epics more than its mythology, even extending to greek philosophy and rhetoric. it does give you a run for your money to sit in claudia and cassius's rhetoric class and try to keep up with the logic philosophy, but it's also so rewarding when it all comes together. the magic systems and the lore of the gods was so clever and innovative.
engaging, exciting, fantastical, i was racing through this hungry to see what would happen next, constantly kept on my toes at turns.
“What is the greatest reason for punishing the gods?” “Punishment is a cure. Without it, gods become devils.”
i think the end fits the grecian epic theme so perfectly but oh i would love there to be another book !!!
an honest arc review ✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) ༉‧ ♡*.✧
oh i DEVOURED this!! a dark academia for a university of magic with a creative, unique magic system, enemies/rivals to lovers, stars and magic and deals with gods, a grecian epic. dark, mysterious, eerie and yet intensely clever and striking.
claudia is a perfectly imperfect protagonist who has flaws but fights and claws her way into this new world to claim the place she desires in it. the chemistry between her and cassius is INSANE, when they realize that the venom between them is really sparks for something greater 🤌🏼
“...if I can’t keep you safe, I don’t deserve to keep you at all.”
CASSIUS IS NEW TOP TIER BOOK BF OMG.
it was refreshing to read something very inspired by grecian epics more than its mythology, even extending to greek philosophy and rhetoric. it does give you a run for your money to sit in claudia and cassius's rhetoric class and try to keep up with the logic philosophy, but it's also so rewarding when it all comes together. the magic systems and the lore of the gods was so clever and innovative.
engaging, exciting, fantastical, i was racing through this hungry to see what would happen next, constantly kept on my toes at turns.
“What is the greatest reason for punishing the gods?” “Punishment is a cure. Without it, gods become devils.”
i think the end fits the grecian epic theme so perfectly but oh i would love there to be another book !!!
an honest arc review ✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) ༉‧ ♡*.✧
April 14, 2026
I am such a sucker for any kind of dark academia. I love it, it’s one of my first loves and my truest. It has so rarely let me down. The idea of magic and school together… SOLD. And this one starts out strong with a truly unique magic system based on schools of study, ruled by gods and kept secret except to those with the ability to perceive them. It’s rigorous and scholarly, so much so that some of the class lectures detailed for the Rhetoric group had my head spinning. It was refreshing to see a different magic system than the usual go-tos when it comes to dark academia.
Unfortunately that is where it fell apart for me. While the magic system was truly different, the rest of the narrative isn’t as well-thought out. The main character, Claudia, was a particular issue for me. I couldn’t decide whether I liked her or hated her. And honestly, I’m not sure the author was sure either. She would be cold and almost heartless in one scene, and then filled with lust in another. She was unpredictable, but also borderline unstable. It made it difficult to relate to her and want her to succeed in her task. In fact, it seemed like everyone in this book is more unhinged than not. The back and forth/hot and cold of the characters took away from my enjoyment of the book.
There was a large component of the relationship between Claudia and Cassius that bothered me. They went from hating each other's guts, literally wanted the other dead to entering into a dom/sub relationship within a chapter. One conversion around boundaries (which I noted did include the addition of a safe word that neither one of them discussed or agreed to prior to entering into this relationship) does not model a healthy, kink-positive lifestyle. There’s a huge level of trust and love that has to be present in that type of relationship, you’re holding someone at a vulnerable point and they are trusting that when they say to stop, you will. You can’t bring hate or even loathing into it or it becomes abuse. Full stop. I’m all for kink inclusiveness and sex-positivity in books, but please, if you’re going to portray this type of relationship, make it correct. It really bothered me, and while I realize it may not be a sticking point for some, it might matter a lot for others.
And I’ll say this, I am a mood reader. Sometimes the right book hits at the right time, and it works. Sometimes it’s the right book and the wrong time. That may be the case for this one, and I’m open to trying it again in the future. It could very well be the right time and right book for you.
An Arcane Study of Stars hits shelves April 28.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately that is where it fell apart for me. While the magic system was truly different, the rest of the narrative isn’t as well-thought out. The main character, Claudia, was a particular issue for me. I couldn’t decide whether I liked her or hated her. And honestly, I’m not sure the author was sure either. She would be cold and almost heartless in one scene, and then filled with lust in another. She was unpredictable, but also borderline unstable. It made it difficult to relate to her and want her to succeed in her task. In fact, it seemed like everyone in this book is more unhinged than not. The back and forth/hot and cold of the characters took away from my enjoyment of the book.
There was a large component of the relationship between Claudia and Cassius that bothered me. They went from hating each other's guts, literally wanted the other dead to entering into a dom/sub relationship within a chapter. One conversion around boundaries (which I noted did include the addition of a safe word that neither one of them discussed or agreed to prior to entering into this relationship) does not model a healthy, kink-positive lifestyle. There’s a huge level of trust and love that has to be present in that type of relationship, you’re holding someone at a vulnerable point and they are trusting that when they say to stop, you will. You can’t bring hate or even loathing into it or it becomes abuse. Full stop. I’m all for kink inclusiveness and sex-positivity in books, but please, if you’re going to portray this type of relationship, make it correct. It really bothered me, and while I realize it may not be a sticking point for some, it might matter a lot for others.
And I’ll say this, I am a mood reader. Sometimes the right book hits at the right time, and it works. Sometimes it’s the right book and the wrong time. That may be the case for this one, and I’m open to trying it again in the future. It could very well be the right time and right book for you.
An Arcane Study of Stars hits shelves April 28.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc!
Okay , The story begins with the MFC, who faces several problems , including the loss of her mother and a father who is a gambler, has lost all his money, and is in debt. He wants to force his 23-year-old daughter to marry a 60-year-old man to solve his financial problems .She loves books, but since she can't afford to buy them, she goes to the library from time to time to read another chapter. One day, she is drawn to a book as if it were calling to her, and the woman who owns the library, whose brother recently passed away, She tried to convince the elderly woman that she desperately wanted to buy the book, and after some persuasion, she was agrees to give it to her In one case only, which is if she apply to Cygnus University, and from here her world begins to change.
I loved the first quarter of the book but then I becomes a little confusing from a world ruled by gods and magic, the characters weren't convincing to me, and I disliked the MFC relationship with MMC. She intensely hated the MMC, then in the blink of an eye, lust and desire consumed her, and she desperately wanted him. She doesn't mind violence, humiliation, or choke , if you know what I mean.(this is not for me )
Also, the characters' conversations were very philosophical, which bored me and made me lose interest.
There were good elements in the story, but it became a bit chaotic for me.
What this book contains: A blend of dark academia, dark romance, and magic.
thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc!
Okay , The story begins with the MFC, who faces several problems , including the loss of her mother and a father who is a gambler, has lost all his money, and is in debt. He wants to force his 23-year-old daughter to marry a 60-year-old man to solve his financial problems .She loves books, but since she can't afford to buy them, she goes to the library from time to time to read another chapter. One day, she is drawn to a book as if it were calling to her, and the woman who owns the library, whose brother recently passed away, She tried to convince the elderly woman that she desperately wanted to buy the book, and after some persuasion, she was agrees to give it to her In one case only, which is if she apply to Cygnus University, and from here her world begins to change.
I loved the first quarter of the book but then I becomes a little confusing from a world ruled by gods and magic, the characters weren't convincing to me, and I disliked the MFC relationship with MMC. She intensely hated the MMC, then in the blink of an eye, lust and desire consumed her, and she desperately wanted him. She doesn't mind violence, humiliation, or choke , if you know what I mean.(this is not for me )
Also, the characters' conversations were very philosophical, which bored me and made me lose interest.
There were good elements in the story, but it became a bit chaotic for me.
What this book contains: A blend of dark academia, dark romance, and magic.
Want to Read
May 24, 2025holy hell im so excited to see what comes from sydney next. the honey witch holds such a special place in my heart
Did Not Finish
December 12, 2025This started out so strong, then quickly took a nose dive. I hated the dialogue. Nobody talks like that…Also, who finds a random page out of a diary that’s so detailed-it even includes dialogue? WAY TOO CONVENIENT!!
November 10, 2025
Very grateful to have received an e-arc of this book. Releasing April 2026
This is a gritty romantasy that combines magic, gods and the stars. It started off very strong for me, lots of promise. Good writing. But for me it slowly got cut down by slow pacing and over complicated plot. I think it falls into the too many ideas going on at the same time - for me I just found it a bit information overload. And I take issue with Cassius - the so called MMC, I think Claudia could have done better.
Claudia is from a disgraced family in a small nowhere kind of town. After her mother passed, her father gambled away all their fortune, and with it went their reputation. Now 23, Claudia lives for books and to keep her mother’s teaching of the stars alive. She finds a magical book that shows her the world and possibility of a magical college, only to have her application be rejected. But when her father plans to sell her hand in exchange for his debts (to a man 50 years her senior), she is desperate for escape. That is when a being from the stars reaches out in her dreams - brings her to his nightmare realm where he is trapped. This ethereal being Dorian offers her a chance to escape and go to the magical university, in exchange for her figuring out how to free him. She accepts - giving a piece of her soul in exchange. But little does she know she has just made a deal with the devil. Thus begins the mystery, the misadventure and the search for truth amongst the stars and the gods that will either take her life - or the lives of those she cares for. And with so much deceit and subterfuge, who can she trust.
This is a gritty romantasy that combines magic, gods and the stars. It started off very strong for me, lots of promise. Good writing. But for me it slowly got cut down by slow pacing and over complicated plot. I think it falls into the too many ideas going on at the same time - for me I just found it a bit information overload. And I take issue with Cassius - the so called MMC, I think Claudia could have done better.
Claudia is from a disgraced family in a small nowhere kind of town. After her mother passed, her father gambled away all their fortune, and with it went their reputation. Now 23, Claudia lives for books and to keep her mother’s teaching of the stars alive. She finds a magical book that shows her the world and possibility of a magical college, only to have her application be rejected. But when her father plans to sell her hand in exchange for his debts (to a man 50 years her senior), she is desperate for escape. That is when a being from the stars reaches out in her dreams - brings her to his nightmare realm where he is trapped. This ethereal being Dorian offers her a chance to escape and go to the magical university, in exchange for her figuring out how to free him. She accepts - giving a piece of her soul in exchange. But little does she know she has just made a deal with the devil. Thus begins the mystery, the misadventure and the search for truth amongst the stars and the gods that will either take her life - or the lives of those she cares for. And with so much deceit and subterfuge, who can she trust.
May 6, 2026
I really loved this one. The magic system was SO cool, it’s tied to constellations and celestial magic, and it felt really unique without ever being confusing.
I also loved how the book handled philosophy. There are a lot of deeper discussions and references woven in, but it never felt overwhelming or like it slowed the story down. It actually made everything more interesting and added a layer of depth I don’t usually get.
The academy setting was done really well too and we actually see them learning, competing, and existing in that space, which made it feel super immersive.
And the romance?? SO GOOD. The tension was there, the rivals-to-lovers hit perfectly, and just a heads up, it’s definitely spicy and that ENDING!!!!
Overall, such an addictive read with a unique magic system, strong dark academia vibes, and characters. I was fully invested in this one.
Audiobook update! Yes I did a reread already with the audiobook it was nicely done.
I also loved how the book handled philosophy. There are a lot of deeper discussions and references woven in, but it never felt overwhelming or like it slowed the story down. It actually made everything more interesting and added a layer of depth I don’t usually get.
The academy setting was done really well too and we actually see them learning, competing, and existing in that space, which made it feel super immersive.
And the romance?? SO GOOD. The tension was there, the rivals-to-lovers hit perfectly, and just a heads up, it’s definitely spicy and that ENDING!!!!
Overall, such an addictive read with a unique magic system, strong dark academia vibes, and characters. I was fully invested in this one.
Audiobook update! Yes I did a reread already with the audiobook it was nicely done.
February 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing an early copy of this book.
This one took me a little while to fully settle into. I wasn’t completely hooked until around the 25% mark, but once it grabbed me, it really grabbed me. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading the majority of it in a 24-hour span.
The writing is genuinely beautiful — atmospheric, lyrical, and immersive. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was compelling and added strong emotional tension throughout the story. The character interactions were one of my favorite parts once the pacing found its rhythm.
That said, I do wish the atmosphere — especially the school setting — had been expanded on more. The foundation was there for something incredible, and honestly, this would have made an excellent series. There was so much potential in the world and academic environment that I would have loved to see explored more deeply.
The spice level was a bit overwhelming for my personal preference as a reader. I skipped most of those scenes, which didn’t detract from the overall plot for me, but it’s worth noting for readers who are sensitive to that element.
Overall, once the story hit its stride, it was hard to step away from. Beautiful prose, strong romantic tension, and a gripping second half made this a memorable read for me.
This one took me a little while to fully settle into. I wasn’t completely hooked until around the 25% mark, but once it grabbed me, it really grabbed me. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading the majority of it in a 24-hour span.
The writing is genuinely beautiful — atmospheric, lyrical, and immersive. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was compelling and added strong emotional tension throughout the story. The character interactions were one of my favorite parts once the pacing found its rhythm.
That said, I do wish the atmosphere — especially the school setting — had been expanded on more. The foundation was there for something incredible, and honestly, this would have made an excellent series. There was so much potential in the world and academic environment that I would have loved to see explored more deeply.
The spice level was a bit overwhelming for my personal preference as a reader. I skipped most of those scenes, which didn’t detract from the overall plot for me, but it’s worth noting for readers who are sensitive to that element.
Overall, once the story hit its stride, it was hard to step away from. Beautiful prose, strong romantic tension, and a gripping second half made this a memorable read for me.
May 1, 2026
✨️ Dark Academia
🐍 Found Family
✨️ Rivals to Lovers
🐍 Witches + Gods
✨️ Celestial Magic
My feelings about this book are somewhat conflicted because there were aspects and elements in the story that completely captivated me, while others fell short. Overall, it was a great Dark Academia read with just a hint of spice.
Claudia is caught between a rock and a hard place. She lives with a father who gambled away everything they own after the loss of her mother, and now she will be forced to marry an old decrepit man so her father can be rid of her. She strikes a bargain with a mysterious demon on the night before her wedding to gain acceptance to Cygnus University—the school of her dreams—that had previously denied her admission.
First of all, I adore an animal sidekick and Bishop steals the show—I love him. I loved the celestial magic aspect, as well as the historic dark academia vibe. There's murder mystery, rivalry, forbidden magic and a little bit of spice all blended into this story. Some segments had me feeling completely captivated—like I was turning the pages quickly, and other segments felt like they had a bit of a lull in the story development.
I loved the mystery elements but felt that some plot developments were too easily resolved, cheapening my previous excitement and feeling anticlimactic. While I enjoyed the character dynamics, the relationships between the characters sometimes felt stilted. There was a little bit of a D/S dynamic here that had me screaming, but it does come a little bit out of left field (Although, NGL it had me glued to the page). The love story itself feels a bit forced.
Going off the vibes alone, this is a 4-star read. If I start to think too hard about the dynamics and plot rollout it doesn't have that same grit.
Also, we need to talk about the ending because honestly, I am crashing out. I need to know ASAP whether this is going to be expanded or if it's a standalone but either way, I'm invested.
Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
🐍 Found Family
✨️ Rivals to Lovers
🐍 Witches + Gods
✨️ Celestial Magic
My feelings about this book are somewhat conflicted because there were aspects and elements in the story that completely captivated me, while others fell short. Overall, it was a great Dark Academia read with just a hint of spice.
Claudia is caught between a rock and a hard place. She lives with a father who gambled away everything they own after the loss of her mother, and now she will be forced to marry an old decrepit man so her father can be rid of her. She strikes a bargain with a mysterious demon on the night before her wedding to gain acceptance to Cygnus University—the school of her dreams—that had previously denied her admission.
First of all, I adore an animal sidekick and Bishop steals the show—I love him. I loved the celestial magic aspect, as well as the historic dark academia vibe. There's murder mystery, rivalry, forbidden magic and a little bit of spice all blended into this story. Some segments had me feeling completely captivated—like I was turning the pages quickly, and other segments felt like they had a bit of a lull in the story development.
I loved the mystery elements but felt that some plot developments were too easily resolved, cheapening my previous excitement and feeling anticlimactic. While I enjoyed the character dynamics, the relationships between the characters sometimes felt stilted. There was a little bit of a D/S dynamic here that had me screaming, but it does come a little bit out of left field (Although, NGL it had me glued to the page). The love story itself feels a bit forced.
Going off the vibes alone, this is a 4-star read. If I start to think too hard about the dynamics and plot rollout it doesn't have that same grit.
Also, we need to talk about the ending because honestly, I am crashing out. I need to know ASAP whether this is going to be expanded or if it's a standalone but either way, I'm invested.
Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
April 28, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much to Sydney, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this ARC ✨
5 is not enough stars for this book in all honesty.
I came into it with an open mind and an open heart, and it absolutely did not disappoint, Sydney has such a way with words, and every twist and turn I really did not see coming (which, as a fantasy reader, is quite a feat).
The mixture of the academia, the magic, the spice (hello??!) and the heart wrenching feeling of lost and love, in all forms… it was all portrayed so beautifully and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it since I read the first page.
The FMC was smart, strong, and didn’t lose any of who she was along the way - something I tend to find in a lot of romantasy - and it was really refreshing to see and read.
I’ve already preached to my book club about how great this is, and I’m absolutely not going to stop - it’s the top read of the year for me so far.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 is not enough stars for this book in all honesty.
I came into it with an open mind and an open heart, and it absolutely did not disappoint, Sydney has such a way with words, and every twist and turn I really did not see coming (which, as a fantasy reader, is quite a feat).
The mixture of the academia, the magic, the spice (hello??!) and the heart wrenching feeling of lost and love, in all forms… it was all portrayed so beautifully and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it since I read the first page.
The FMC was smart, strong, and didn’t lose any of who she was along the way - something I tend to find in a lot of romantasy - and it was really refreshing to see and read.
I’ve already preached to my book club about how great this is, and I’m absolutely not going to stop - it’s the top read of the year for me so far.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 3, 2026
| rating: 3.75 ★
what do you mean this is a standalone?? after THAT ending??
--
Claudia Joliceur longs for a life away from her controlling father. A bright young woman, she has always dreamed of going to a university, but instead her hand is sold in marriage to a wealthy old man. A chance encounter at her favorite bookstore introduces her to Cygnus Academy, a school where talented minds learn to harness their desires into magic. Claudia, who has always had a connection with the stars, applies for a place in the Astrologia department, but is rejected after learning that Astrologia has been denounced as a discipline.
Still desperate for an escape, Claudia makes a deal with a man she meets in the Realm of Nightmares, a devil who takes a bite out of her soul for their bargain. Dorian will help her get into Cygnus, if she can use what she learns to help him escape the Realm of Nightmares. Claudia learns that Cygnus isn’t as enchanting as she thought. Faced with the judgment of her peers, Claudia struggles to fit in at Cygnus, especially with her newfound rival, Cassius MacLeod, breathing down her neck.
An Arcane Study of Stars doesn’t redefine the fantasy dark academia subgenre. In fact, it is an almost messy amalgamation of R.F. Kuang’s Babel, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, and M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains. There was a lot of potential and the execution wasn't the best, but I find that the good outweighed the bad.
The magical systems were so interesting. The rhetoric system reminded me a little bit of Babel, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like the astrology one before. The concept of combining constellations, which have specific meanings, to create spells was frankly ingenious. I wish we had a little more time actually learning magic. There was a lot of communing with the gods and long monologues discussing rhetoric ideas, but not a lot of casting spells and learning how to cast spells.
This is also incredibly focused on the romance aspect of the book, which I don’t particularly mind. However, the random discussions of BDSM kind of took me out of the story a little bit.
Character-wise, they were interesting but not particularly fleshed out. Claudia is your typical gifted and talented burnout, who finds out she’s completely out of her league when she starts at Cygnus. Cassius is the rich smart guy who doesn’t actually hate her and has a tragic background. Dorian is the evil guy who is supposed to occupy the same niche as the Darkling from Shadow and Bone—that is, the bad boy romantic interest who is actually evil but also capable of love/obsession.
Overall, I think it was a healthy mix of new/innovative and incredibly cliche. I really enjoyed it and I hope that this isn’t just a standalone. I liked the concept of humans ascending into gods and I want to know more about Dorian and the original gods!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the e-ARC!
what do you mean this is a standalone?? after THAT ending??
--
Claudia Joliceur longs for a life away from her controlling father. A bright young woman, she has always dreamed of going to a university, but instead her hand is sold in marriage to a wealthy old man. A chance encounter at her favorite bookstore introduces her to Cygnus Academy, a school where talented minds learn to harness their desires into magic. Claudia, who has always had a connection with the stars, applies for a place in the Astrologia department, but is rejected after learning that Astrologia has been denounced as a discipline.
Still desperate for an escape, Claudia makes a deal with a man she meets in the Realm of Nightmares, a devil who takes a bite out of her soul for their bargain. Dorian will help her get into Cygnus, if she can use what she learns to help him escape the Realm of Nightmares. Claudia learns that Cygnus isn’t as enchanting as she thought. Faced with the judgment of her peers, Claudia struggles to fit in at Cygnus, especially with her newfound rival, Cassius MacLeod, breathing down her neck.
An Arcane Study of Stars doesn’t redefine the fantasy dark academia subgenre. In fact, it is an almost messy amalgamation of R.F. Kuang’s Babel, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, and M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains. There was a lot of potential and the execution wasn't the best, but I find that the good outweighed the bad.
The magical systems were so interesting. The rhetoric system reminded me a little bit of Babel, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like the astrology one before. The concept of combining constellations, which have specific meanings, to create spells was frankly ingenious. I wish we had a little more time actually learning magic. There was a lot of communing with the gods and long monologues discussing rhetoric ideas, but not a lot of casting spells and learning how to cast spells.
This is also incredibly focused on the romance aspect of the book, which I don’t particularly mind. However, the random discussions of BDSM kind of took me out of the story a little bit.
Character-wise, they were interesting but not particularly fleshed out. Claudia is your typical gifted and talented burnout, who finds out she’s completely out of her league when she starts at Cygnus. Cassius is the rich smart guy who doesn’t actually hate her and has a tragic background. Dorian is the evil guy who is supposed to occupy the same niche as the Darkling from Shadow and Bone—that is, the bad boy romantic interest who is actually evil but also capable of love/obsession.
Overall, I think it was a healthy mix of new/innovative and incredibly cliche. I really enjoyed it and I hope that this isn’t just a standalone. I liked the concept of humans ascending into gods and I want to know more about Dorian and the original gods!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the e-ARC!
April 3, 2026
if you've followed me for a while, you know that i've been a champion of sydney shields since the early days of their beautiful debut, THE HONEY WITCH, and this month, they're back with their sophomore novel, AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS!
when we meet claudia jolicoeur, she is grieving her late mother and is arranged to marry an undesirable, much older man to appease her father's debts. she sees little future for herself until she discovers cygnus university—the secret occult university of her dreams that speaks to her insatiable desire for freedom and her love of the stars. after being initially rejected, claudia encounters a being in her nightmares who strikes a deal with her: he will gift her acceptance to cygnus if she agrees to free him from his celestial prison. armed with little more than a determined heart and her precious pet snake bishop, claudia steps through the doorway and into her new life. what follows is the dark academia fantasy you've always longed for.
an ambitious, gorgeous, and philosophical excavation of cygnus university's history and darkest secrets, AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS features a unique magic system, a fascinating pantheon, a hot rivals-to-lovers romance, impressive and thought provoking classroom lectures, and a revelation on the very last page that will leave you reeling. existing at the sublime intersections of the invisible life of addie larue and the atlas six, sydney shields's sophomore novel is a fantastical triumph and i can't wait for you all to experience it!
AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS releases on april 28. ✨
when we meet claudia jolicoeur, she is grieving her late mother and is arranged to marry an undesirable, much older man to appease her father's debts. she sees little future for herself until she discovers cygnus university—the secret occult university of her dreams that speaks to her insatiable desire for freedom and her love of the stars. after being initially rejected, claudia encounters a being in her nightmares who strikes a deal with her: he will gift her acceptance to cygnus if she agrees to free him from his celestial prison. armed with little more than a determined heart and her precious pet snake bishop, claudia steps through the doorway and into her new life. what follows is the dark academia fantasy you've always longed for.
an ambitious, gorgeous, and philosophical excavation of cygnus university's history and darkest secrets, AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS features a unique magic system, a fascinating pantheon, a hot rivals-to-lovers romance, impressive and thought provoking classroom lectures, and a revelation on the very last page that will leave you reeling. existing at the sublime intersections of the invisible life of addie larue and the atlas six, sydney shields's sophomore novel is a fantastical triumph and i can't wait for you all to experience it!
AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS releases on april 28. ✨
March 7, 2026
This is what I want to see in a dark academia romantasy!!!
What an absolute total package of a book. There was virtually no flaw for me here. I have not read The Honey Witch by this author, so I fully went in blind. The concept of this book hooked me though, and the execution did not disappoint. Claudia is such a fascinating main character. She was flawed and made mistakes, but it was so easy to fall in love with her. Her interactions with her friends grew to become a highlight for me, The found family dynamic, although it took some time to fully become fleshed out, was really lovely.
THE ROMANCE. ABSOLUTELY GAGGED. I somehow missed the fact that this was spicy, and let me tell you, it is spicy (!!!). This type of spice will not be for everyone as it dives into BDSM so be warned. However, the tension absolutely hooked me from the start and had me squealing. Cassius, the man that you are, was so unbelievably down bad for Claudia. I mean incredibly. I ate it UP! He was such a sweetheart at times too. He would have done literally anything for her. I am obsessed.
The academy was incredibly interesting as well. It reminded me a little bit of Hogwarts if they had majors and were able to commune with gods. Really unique concept I hadn't seen before. Now, Claudia is a rhetoric major, so there were a lot of philosophical conversations being had during those classes. They kind of went over my head most of the times, but the ones I was able to follow were very thought provoking. It was clear Shields had done some thorough research which I appreciate.
My only minor, and it is minor, complaint is that the pacing was a little slow to start with and took me a minute to get into. Once it picked up, however, I literally couldn't put it down. Shields should continue in this vein of romantasy in the future!!
This is perfect for fans of dark academia, spicy romance, rivals to lovers, and suspenseful mysteries!
Thank you so much to net galley and Orbit Books for the e-arc!! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What an absolute total package of a book. There was virtually no flaw for me here. I have not read The Honey Witch by this author, so I fully went in blind. The concept of this book hooked me though, and the execution did not disappoint. Claudia is such a fascinating main character. She was flawed and made mistakes, but it was so easy to fall in love with her. Her interactions with her friends grew to become a highlight for me, The found family dynamic, although it took some time to fully become fleshed out, was really lovely.
THE ROMANCE. ABSOLUTELY GAGGED. I somehow missed the fact that this was spicy, and let me tell you, it is spicy (!!!). This type of spice will not be for everyone as it dives into BDSM so be warned. However, the tension absolutely hooked me from the start and had me squealing. Cassius, the man that you are, was so unbelievably down bad for Claudia. I mean incredibly. I ate it UP! He was such a sweetheart at times too. He would have done literally anything for her. I am obsessed.
The academy was incredibly interesting as well. It reminded me a little bit of Hogwarts if they had majors and were able to commune with gods. Really unique concept I hadn't seen before. Now, Claudia is a rhetoric major, so there were a lot of philosophical conversations being had during those classes. They kind of went over my head most of the times, but the ones I was able to follow were very thought provoking. It was clear Shields had done some thorough research which I appreciate.
My only minor, and it is minor, complaint is that the pacing was a little slow to start with and took me a minute to get into. Once it picked up, however, I literally couldn't put it down. Shields should continue in this vein of romantasy in the future!!
This is perfect for fans of dark academia, spicy romance, rivals to lovers, and suspenseful mysteries!
Thank you so much to net galley and Orbit Books for the e-arc!! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 18, 2026
DNF @ 22%
Sadly did not find the magic system fleshed out for this, nor the dark academia setting. Usually I love learning what the characters are learning in detail and enjoy the dark academia environment, but this book did not go into the magic.
I couldn’t get on board with the characters and how they were speaking. This was not grabbing my attention.
Sadly did not find the magic system fleshed out for this, nor the dark academia setting. Usually I love learning what the characters are learning in detail and enjoy the dark academia environment, but this book did not go into the magic.
I couldn’t get on board with the characters and how they were speaking. This was not grabbing my attention.
January 12, 2026
I didn’t realize when requesting this that it was the author of the honey witch so that was a fun surprise. I did find this book to be a lot different, the plot follows a 20 something year old (yay not a teen) who is trapped in a miserable existence with only books for an escape, she comes across a magical book that opens up her world and ends up with her attending a magical school and making a deal with a (hot) bad guy.
I thought this was a fun read! Id recommend giving it a go
I thought this was a fun read! Id recommend giving it a go
May 6, 2026
Yeah so, Sydney ateee with this one.
An Arcane Study of Stars is my dream standalone. The plot arc makes sense and keeps you guessing. The world and magic is rich without being too complex to get in one book. The celestial elements felt so unique.
It’s more dimly lit academia than dark academia, but that works so well for these vibes. Think like, edgy more than spooky, with great mood lighting.
And the romance? Oof. So hot. Like, some of these moments had me barking. Think a down bad man who will crawl for her but also likes taking control. I just loved her and Cassius’s chemistry so, so much, and he checks most of my key boxes—rich, smart, shitty… just missing the blonde. (But he’s like—blonde MMC coded? iykyk)
Add in a demonic other love interest pulling her attention and strings and causing mayhem and it’s just a hot, fun time.
This story does technically stand on its own but with that ending—we have to be getting a sequel, right?? The setup is just TOO GOOD!
🎧 I mostly listened here and Jane Fox’s narration was great. The only thing I struggled with a little was differentiating her male voices. I also had heard that there were illustrations in the book so I switched off for a bit in the middle.
Thank you Orbit and Hachette Audio for the ARC & ALC!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded 🆙
An Arcane Study of Stars is my dream standalone. The plot arc makes sense and keeps you guessing. The world and magic is rich without being too complex to get in one book. The celestial elements felt so unique.
It’s more dimly lit academia than dark academia, but that works so well for these vibes. Think like, edgy more than spooky, with great mood lighting.
And the romance? Oof. So hot. Like, some of these moments had me barking. Think a down bad man who will crawl for her but also likes taking control. I just loved her and Cassius’s chemistry so, so much, and he checks most of my key boxes—rich, smart, shitty… just missing the blonde. (But he’s like—blonde MMC coded? iykyk)
Add in a demonic other love interest pulling her attention and strings and causing mayhem and it’s just a hot, fun time.
This story does technically stand on its own but with that ending—we have to be getting a sequel, right?? The setup is just TOO GOOD!
🎧 I mostly listened here and Jane Fox’s narration was great. The only thing I struggled with a little was differentiating her male voices. I also had heard that there were illustrations in the book so I switched off for a bit in the middle.
Thank you Orbit and Hachette Audio for the ARC & ALC!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded 🆙
April 3, 2026
Bumped my original rating from a 4.25 to 5💫 because slight personal gripe with the ending aside, I loved this book and had a blast reading it!
I spent the first 15% very curious towards the direction of where this story was going to go and when I realized where we were, in fact, going I was like OK YES LOVE!
Magical universities with academic rivals is an exact recipe in getting me to pick up a book especially when it comes to fantasy because I’ve because so very selective with this genre. The magic system in this is SO cool and I found it really interesting and honestly refreshing that it didn’t lean towards zodiac and more towards celestial magic!
The romantic elements literally had me holding my breath! Sydney Shields knows how to write chemistry and I have already had so much fun telling people about the banter in this book (but specifically the “beg for it” scene 🥵)
PLEASE LET THERE BE A SECOND BOOK I NEED IT SO BAD LOL
All my thanks to Orbit for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
I spent the first 15% very curious towards the direction of where this story was going to go and when I realized where we were, in fact, going I was like OK YES LOVE!
Magical universities with academic rivals is an exact recipe in getting me to pick up a book especially when it comes to fantasy because I’ve because so very selective with this genre. The magic system in this is SO cool and I found it really interesting and honestly refreshing that it didn’t lean towards zodiac and more towards celestial magic!
The romantic elements literally had me holding my breath! Sydney Shields knows how to write chemistry and I have already had so much fun telling people about the banter in this book (but specifically the “beg for it” scene 🥵)
PLEASE LET THERE BE A SECOND BOOK I NEED IT SO BAD LOL
All my thanks to Orbit for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
August 17, 2025
Perfect for fans of Addie LaRue and The Secret History. Chock full of romance, tension, profound discussions of philosophy, magic powered by pure desire, and so much heart—all packaged in Shields’s signature lush prose. Fans of The Honey Witch will NOT be disappointed!
April 29, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This was just ok for me. It definitely had a great plot, I just wish we could have flushed out the magic system a little bit more. I also could not stand the main characters. Claudia was very childlike and the romance was just kind of weird with Cassius coming in out of nowhere. The spicy parts, though I'm not much for spice to begin with, were just a little awkward and cringey at parts. This definitely had its audience, unfortunately I'm just not part of it.
This was just ok for me. It definitely had a great plot, I just wish we could have flushed out the magic system a little bit more. I also could not stand the main characters. Claudia was very childlike and the romance was just kind of weird with Cassius coming in out of nowhere. The spicy parts, though I'm not much for spice to begin with, were just a little awkward and cringey at parts. This definitely had its audience, unfortunately I'm just not part of it.
March 16, 2026
I was lucky enough to snag an eARC of AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS and I am so incredibly thankful I had the chance to dive into this masterpiece early.
For anyone looking for a delicious and PERFECT rivals to lovers, may I present Claudia and Cassius. From hate at first sight to the most passionate lovers I may have ever read, I am blessed to have joined them on this beautiful, messy, murderous, and cosmic journey. I was completely obsessed and invested in them as a couple but also as individuals, which is truly impressive. I couldn’t root for one without also constantly thinking about how the other would be impacted by what was happening on page. They are the perfect yin and yang.
Now let’s talk magic system. I am so so impressed by the intricate world that Sydney J. Shields created. Cygnus is not only a university, it’s truly a different realm. The rules of the natural world don’t apply and magic is fueled by desire. The desire to succeed and achieve what you set out to do, what you think, and what you want. Both Claudia and Cassius are incredibly driven and motivated to be the best but for what they think are different reasons. When their motivations finally converge it is a clear their fates are inexplicably intertwined and have always been written in the stars. Turns out they just needed a certain witch’s powers to awaken and finally bring them together.
For anyone craving a dark academia murder mystery sprinkled with the perfect amount of fantasy and slow burn romance, I highly recommend adding AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS to your TBR right now. I am cosmically in love with this story and I need everyone to preorder, buy it immediately, and yap with me about this story.
For anyone looking for a delicious and PERFECT rivals to lovers, may I present Claudia and Cassius. From hate at first sight to the most passionate lovers I may have ever read, I am blessed to have joined them on this beautiful, messy, murderous, and cosmic journey. I was completely obsessed and invested in them as a couple but also as individuals, which is truly impressive. I couldn’t root for one without also constantly thinking about how the other would be impacted by what was happening on page. They are the perfect yin and yang.
Now let’s talk magic system. I am so so impressed by the intricate world that Sydney J. Shields created. Cygnus is not only a university, it’s truly a different realm. The rules of the natural world don’t apply and magic is fueled by desire. The desire to succeed and achieve what you set out to do, what you think, and what you want. Both Claudia and Cassius are incredibly driven and motivated to be the best but for what they think are different reasons. When their motivations finally converge it is a clear their fates are inexplicably intertwined and have always been written in the stars. Turns out they just needed a certain witch’s powers to awaken and finally bring them together.
For anyone craving a dark academia murder mystery sprinkled with the perfect amount of fantasy and slow burn romance, I highly recommend adding AN ARCANE STUDY OF STARS to your TBR right now. I am cosmically in love with this story and I need everyone to preorder, buy it immediately, and yap with me about this story.
March 14, 2026
3.5 Stars — Dazzling Dark Academia
First of all huge thank you to Redhook/Hachette and NetGalley for the ARC! ILYSM.
An Arcane Study of Stars had me absolutely hooked from page one. Sydney J. Shields pulls you in with an atmospheric, dark academia world that feels almost familiar. I was fully under its celestial spell.
Then the 50% mark hit, and it was like watching a beautifully decorated cake left out to sit in the sun. The frosting starts to slide, it gets a little goopy, and suddenly you’re scrambling to catch one of the layers before it slides off the edge…
The story juggles a lot: celestial gods, a central mystery, and academic rivalry and somewhere in the middle, those threads started competing with each other rather than weaving together.
What earned that extra half star without question was the magic system. Genuinely one of the most inventive and satisfying I’ve come across recently. Shields clearly put real thought into it, and it shines bright like a diamond (Rhianna voice.)
Now, the rivals to lovers element, yum, (my absolute favorite trope!) is very much present, and yes, it was giving major Dramione. I was thirsty in the desert for it.
That said, I did feel it tipped a little too far into insta-love territory for my taste. The slow burn could’ve used a longer burn. Like 3rd degree…and the pacing of some of the steamier scenes also felt slightly off-beat, but honestly now I’m just being nitpicky. As if I could do better, please. I can barely write an email.
If you’re a Dramione stan, a dark academia devotee, or loved Wild Reverence or Nightshade, this one belongs on your TBR. Just go in knowing the second half asks a little more from you than the first.
First of all huge thank you to Redhook/Hachette and NetGalley for the ARC! ILYSM.
An Arcane Study of Stars had me absolutely hooked from page one. Sydney J. Shields pulls you in with an atmospheric, dark academia world that feels almost familiar. I was fully under its celestial spell.
Then the 50% mark hit, and it was like watching a beautifully decorated cake left out to sit in the sun. The frosting starts to slide, it gets a little goopy, and suddenly you’re scrambling to catch one of the layers before it slides off the edge…
The story juggles a lot: celestial gods, a central mystery, and academic rivalry and somewhere in the middle, those threads started competing with each other rather than weaving together.
What earned that extra half star without question was the magic system. Genuinely one of the most inventive and satisfying I’ve come across recently. Shields clearly put real thought into it, and it shines bright like a diamond (Rhianna voice.)
Now, the rivals to lovers element, yum, (my absolute favorite trope!) is very much present, and yes, it was giving major Dramione. I was thirsty in the desert for it.
That said, I did feel it tipped a little too far into insta-love territory for my taste. The slow burn could’ve used a longer burn. Like 3rd degree…and the pacing of some of the steamier scenes also felt slightly off-beat, but honestly now I’m just being nitpicky. As if I could do better, please. I can barely write an email.
If you’re a Dramione stan, a dark academia devotee, or loved Wild Reverence or Nightshade, this one belongs on your TBR. Just go in knowing the second half asks a little more from you than the first.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Don't go in expecting dark academia, they may as well be in a studious leaning apartment complex rather than a magical boarding school. Also? Everyone immediately acts on every single thought they have, which is exhausting.
May 2, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This read was 2.5 stars for me.
An Arcane Study of Stars has a lot of potential, and I think that a lot of people will really like it. Unfortunately, despite some really cool ideas there were some major issues I had with it that kept me from enjoying the rest of it. I would still recommend that people give it a try if it sounds interesting, especially if they don't mind stories with less focus on relationship development between characters.
I really liked the magic system and the gods (especially their histories and the lore of ascension and stuff!) but it takes a backseat to the romance, which is such a shame. I think that Shields is a good writer and has some really compelling story ideas, so I would still be interested in reading future works, especially with further character development.
The biggest issue for me was the relationships between characters. Almost all of them felt like telling rather than showing, with the exception maybe of Claudia's relationships with her two professors. In the beginning of the book Claudia pretty much just goes up to Alistair and is like "let's be friends" and then they just are, and theirs is the most well developed of all of Claudia's relationships with her fellow students.
The romance in this is one of the least compelling romance plots I have read. The two characters had no chemistry whatsoever, and the relationship is very focused on lust, but then I'm supposed to buy that they are in love??
Another relationship I had issue with was Claudia and Marcherie. We are told in a scene where Marcherie and Claudia are together (I think the 3rd time they are ever on page together in the book) that they share a friend group and have tea as a group at Alistair's insistence. We are never once shown them interacting in a friendly way at all up to this point. They are not friendly now either, but Claudia uses her nickname and they interact, and it feels like a wasted opportunity to not show any of their prior interactions (because up to this point they have talked maybe 2 times and do not get along at all).
Claudia's own character felt a bit off as well. At the very beginning of the story she goes through a traumatic experience that is largely forgotten about later on - she struggles with it a little bit and then it's seldom mentioned. She didn't feel like she had much character outside of her academics and the relationships she has with the other characters.
If the relationships were more well-developed I actually think this could've been a 4 star read for me. The lore and setting and everything was pretty interesting, and I liked the mystery and twists throughout. The ending was okay but again fell flat because the characters and their relationships didn't feel real. Overall it felt like An Arcane Study of Stars couldn't decide what it wanted to be - a trendy spicy romantasy, a gothic academic mystery, a love story, and combined them all in a way that made each aspect feel like it couldn't shine.
This read was 2.5 stars for me.
An Arcane Study of Stars has a lot of potential, and I think that a lot of people will really like it. Unfortunately, despite some really cool ideas there were some major issues I had with it that kept me from enjoying the rest of it. I would still recommend that people give it a try if it sounds interesting, especially if they don't mind stories with less focus on relationship development between characters.
I really liked the magic system and the gods (especially their histories and the lore of ascension and stuff!) but it takes a backseat to the romance, which is such a shame. I think that Shields is a good writer and has some really compelling story ideas, so I would still be interested in reading future works, especially with further character development.
The biggest issue for me was the relationships between characters. Almost all of them felt like telling rather than showing, with the exception maybe of Claudia's relationships with her two professors. In the beginning of the book Claudia pretty much just goes up to Alistair and is like "let's be friends" and then they just are, and theirs is the most well developed of all of Claudia's relationships with her fellow students.
The romance in this is one of the least compelling romance plots I have read. The two characters had no chemistry whatsoever, and the relationship is very focused on lust, but then I'm supposed to buy that they are in love??
Another relationship I had issue with was Claudia and Marcherie. We are told in a scene where Marcherie and Claudia are together (I think the 3rd time they are ever on page together in the book) that they share a friend group and have tea as a group at Alistair's insistence. We are never once shown them interacting in a friendly way at all up to this point. They are not friendly now either, but Claudia uses her nickname and they interact, and it feels like a wasted opportunity to not show any of their prior interactions (because up to this point they have talked maybe 2 times and do not get along at all).
Claudia's own character felt a bit off as well. At the very beginning of the story she goes through a traumatic experience that is largely forgotten about later on - she struggles with it a little bit and then it's seldom mentioned. She didn't feel like she had much character outside of her academics and the relationships she has with the other characters.
If the relationships were more well-developed I actually think this could've been a 4 star read for me. The lore and setting and everything was pretty interesting, and I liked the mystery and twists throughout. The ending was okay but again fell flat because the characters and their relationships didn't feel real. Overall it felt like An Arcane Study of Stars couldn't decide what it wanted to be - a trendy spicy romantasy, a gothic academic mystery, a love story, and combined them all in a way that made each aspect feel like it couldn't shine.
Did Not Finish
March 12, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review
DNF at 45%
I thought the first 30% was really interesting and loved the fantasy dark academia vibe. I was really intrigued by the mystery and the magic system & gods, but then a lot of things fell flat.
I didn’t like Claudia at all. She felt like a very self-indulgent, wishy-washy, and a just not overly well written character.
She declares herself Cassius’ rival, but is nowhere near him academically and it makes her seem very pathetic. A lot of her actions don’t really make sense.
She makes a bargain with what appears to be a demon (the story really isn’t all that clear about it) who takes a piece of her soul and not only does she not seem to be concerned by that AT ALL, she’s also blindly following his orders.
The romance plot line is just an insta-lust situation that shows up out of NOWHERE. No development, nothing, it’s just 0 to 100. It also completely screwed what we knew about certain characters up to that point — you’re telling me that Cassius hated her and was convinced that she murdered his friend and cheated her way into the school and then all of a sudden he’s worried sick about her sleepwalking and is also .. thirsty as hell.
Not to mention, the beginning of this book was obviously set in a historical period (it didn’t give us the exact year but they were discussing dowries and marrying their children off so…) but throughout the story it just gets more and more modern. It’s non-stop modern day slang, if I took a shot everytime they said fuck I’d be dead, and at one point a couple characters played fuck marry kill, be so serious rn.
Also at the beginning of the book she mentions that the old man she was being married off to had said that she seemed like she was going to be a good wife because she was a good, obedient, quiet girl and Claudia was so upset by it. Then suddenly when the insta-lust plot line starts she becomes super submissive and suddenly acquires a praise kink. :)
DNF at 45%
I thought the first 30% was really interesting and loved the fantasy dark academia vibe. I was really intrigued by the mystery and the magic system & gods, but then a lot of things fell flat.
I didn’t like Claudia at all. She felt like a very self-indulgent, wishy-washy, and a just not overly well written character.
She declares herself Cassius’ rival, but is nowhere near him academically and it makes her seem very pathetic. A lot of her actions don’t really make sense.
She makes a bargain with what appears to be a demon (the story really isn’t all that clear about it) who takes a piece of her soul and not only does she not seem to be concerned by that AT ALL, she’s also blindly following his orders.
The romance plot line is just an insta-lust situation that shows up out of NOWHERE. No development, nothing, it’s just 0 to 100. It also completely screwed what we knew about certain characters up to that point — you’re telling me that Cassius hated her and was convinced that she murdered his friend and cheated her way into the school and then all of a sudden he’s worried sick about her sleepwalking and is also .. thirsty as hell.
Not to mention, the beginning of this book was obviously set in a historical period (it didn’t give us the exact year but they were discussing dowries and marrying their children off so…) but throughout the story it just gets more and more modern. It’s non-stop modern day slang, if I took a shot everytime they said fuck I’d be dead, and at one point a couple characters played fuck marry kill, be so serious rn.
Also at the beginning of the book she mentions that the old man she was being married off to had said that she seemed like she was going to be a good wife because she was a good, obedient, quiet girl and Claudia was so upset by it. Then suddenly when the insta-lust plot line starts she becomes super submissive and suddenly acquires a praise kink. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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