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The Arcane Arts
In this thrilling and sensuous dark academia fantasy, an ambitious graduate student and her advisor dive into studying a taboo branch of magic, igniting a dangerous passion between them.
Tucked within an idyllic corner of New England, Newlyn University stands as a bastion for the academic elites. Inside its hallowed halls, students can pursue degrees in medicine, history, technology . . . or the Arcane Arts—the esoteric study of powerful magical forces. Enter Ellsbeth long determined to pursue a graduate degree in arcane mechanicals at Newlyn. Headstrong and driven, she convinces Thaddeus Rawlins, one of the field’s most celebrated professors, to take her on as a student. Against his better judgment, but invigorated by Ellsbeth’s ambition, Rawlins allows her to pursue a thesis on writ magic, the long-forbidden power to control and compel others.
While student and teacher both profess academic interest in the topic, each wants it for their own secret purpose. And they soon discover that Newlyn itself may be hiding the darkest secret of all . . .
As Rawlins and Ellsbeth undertake their clandestine research, their flirtation crosses into uncontrollable desire, which threatens to bloom into something even more love. But when their project begins to spin out of control, entangling them in a destructive web of lust and power, the question can two people who are masters of manipulation ever trust each other?
Tucked within an idyllic corner of New England, Newlyn University stands as a bastion for the academic elites. Inside its hallowed halls, students can pursue degrees in medicine, history, technology . . . or the Arcane Arts—the esoteric study of powerful magical forces. Enter Ellsbeth long determined to pursue a graduate degree in arcane mechanicals at Newlyn. Headstrong and driven, she convinces Thaddeus Rawlins, one of the field’s most celebrated professors, to take her on as a student. Against his better judgment, but invigorated by Ellsbeth’s ambition, Rawlins allows her to pursue a thesis on writ magic, the long-forbidden power to control and compel others.
While student and teacher both profess academic interest in the topic, each wants it for their own secret purpose. And they soon discover that Newlyn itself may be hiding the darkest secret of all . . .
As Rawlins and Ellsbeth undertake their clandestine research, their flirtation crosses into uncontrollable desire, which threatens to bloom into something even more love. But when their project begins to spin out of control, entangling them in a destructive web of lust and power, the question can two people who are masters of manipulation ever trust each other?
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
S.D. Coverly
1 book50 followersPseudonym for the writing team of Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
November 28, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with this eARC!
Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I think it would definitely appeal to a different audience...and I was not it. I was fooled by the NetGalley description, which mentioned Babel by RF Kuang. Babel is one of my favorite books, and this was soooooo different. I understood the similarities to Saltburn (which was also mentioned), and yes, this could also be considered as dark academia. But including Babel in the description is 100% going to attract the wrong audience. Also, just because something is "dark academia" does NOT mean it's similar to Babel.
I actually really enjoyed the writing—it was great and flowed very well, but the story itself was a bit strange. First of all, there wasn't really a coherent plot. Most of the book was just the two main characters lusting after each other, which made their relationship seem forced. The romance moved too quickly, so I had a hard time believing the chemistry between them. There were also no stakes, and the characters were bland. I also wasn't a huge fan of the dual POV. Rawlins had a pretty linear character arc, which was boring. I felt like his POV was only there to convince the reader that the romance was working.
I enjoyed the overall feel of the novel, but the romance really ruined it for me. I just didn't enjoy the romantic dynamic between the two MCs, and this resulted in me having to almost skip past some scenes because they made me very uncomfortable. BUT this all depends on personal preference, so some people may really enjoy it. I will say that I don't really think the description did enough to help me understand what this novel was really about. Maybe I didn't interpret it correctly, but I wasn't expecting it to be so focused on the lust and tension between the MCs. It got to the point where the romance took over the novel completely, and it left me constantly wondering whether or not there was actually an end goal.
Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I think it would definitely appeal to a different audience...and I was not it. I was fooled by the NetGalley description, which mentioned Babel by RF Kuang. Babel is one of my favorite books, and this was soooooo different. I understood the similarities to Saltburn (which was also mentioned), and yes, this could also be considered as dark academia. But including Babel in the description is 100% going to attract the wrong audience. Also, just because something is "dark academia" does NOT mean it's similar to Babel.
I actually really enjoyed the writing—it was great and flowed very well, but the story itself was a bit strange. First of all, there wasn't really a coherent plot. Most of the book was just the two main characters lusting after each other, which made their relationship seem forced. The romance moved too quickly, so I had a hard time believing the chemistry between them. There were also no stakes, and the characters were bland. I also wasn't a huge fan of the dual POV. Rawlins had a pretty linear character arc, which was boring. I felt like his POV was only there to convince the reader that the romance was working.
I enjoyed the overall feel of the novel, but the romance really ruined it for me. I just didn't enjoy the romantic dynamic between the two MCs, and this resulted in me having to almost skip past some scenes because they made me very uncomfortable. BUT this all depends on personal preference, so some people may really enjoy it. I will say that I don't really think the description did enough to help me understand what this novel was really about. Maybe I didn't interpret it correctly, but I wasn't expecting it to be so focused on the lust and tension between the MCs. It got to the point where the romance took over the novel completely, and it left me constantly wondering whether or not there was actually an end goal.
May 20, 2026
the “babel meets saltburn” is what initially drew me to this book (and this stunning cover lbr) and while i personally did not see a correlation to either i very much enjoyed this read!! i will say i think that the audiobook had a lot to do with just how much i enjoyed it but it was a really entertaining and bingeable listen nonetheless!
professor rawlins made me stop and think “wow its a good thing i did not ever attend university in person” because i am in fact NOT gods strongest soldier and i would have folded just as fast if not faster than ellsbeth 🙂↕️
the only reason this is a 4 star is because i wish that the underlying plot of the secret society and murders wasnt so rushed feeling when it came to the climax of it all. given that this book was already 400 pages i feel like that plot point would have been much better if it was expanded upon toward the end.
other than that i truly really enjoyed my time with this book and im really looking forward to what this duo does next!
professor rawlins made me stop and think “wow its a good thing i did not ever attend university in person” because i am in fact NOT gods strongest soldier and i would have folded just as fast if not faster than ellsbeth 🙂↕️
the only reason this is a 4 star is because i wish that the underlying plot of the secret society and murders wasnt so rushed feeling when it came to the climax of it all. given that this book was already 400 pages i feel like that plot point would have been much better if it was expanded upon toward the end.
other than that i truly really enjoyed my time with this book and im really looking forward to what this duo does next!
May 18, 2026
The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly
Book Blurb: Ambitious and driven, Ellsbeth Storer has long been determined to study the arcane arts, even before the mysterious death of a loved one draws her to prestigious Newlyn University.
Professor Thaddeus Rawlins was once the wunderkind of the field, but in the wake of a horrific tragedy that nearly ended his career, he has resigned himself to the boredom of tenure.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigue, Curiosity, Heat, Satisfaction
Style: Dark Academia, Fantasy, Romance, Adult, Romantasy, Academia
First published May 19, 2026 : 400 pages
This story had was a great combination of dark academia, mystery and fantasy. Adding in a forbidden romance between a professor (40s) and a student (24) gave the story some definite spice. Ellsbeth is brilliant , motivated and determined to solve the murder of her sister. Its fascinating how they build up the world with this magic system which is basically just another form of math to study. I loved how throughout the book they explored the magic system with the academic passion you would have for any course of study and everything was so very academic based with that touch of magic that gave it the right amount of sparkle. Ellsbeth was honestly my favorite of the entire book and I was totally rooting for her to get everything she wanted and deserved through the whole book. This was a book that easily kept me entertained and engaged.
This book has:
Dark Academia
Murder Mystery
Forbidden Romances
Magic System
Age Gap
Secret Societies
Book Blurb: Ambitious and driven, Ellsbeth Storer has long been determined to study the arcane arts, even before the mysterious death of a loved one draws her to prestigious Newlyn University.
Professor Thaddeus Rawlins was once the wunderkind of the field, but in the wake of a horrific tragedy that nearly ended his career, he has resigned himself to the boredom of tenure.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigue, Curiosity, Heat, Satisfaction
Style: Dark Academia, Fantasy, Romance, Adult, Romantasy, Academia
First published May 19, 2026 : 400 pages
This story had was a great combination of dark academia, mystery and fantasy. Adding in a forbidden romance between a professor (40s) and a student (24) gave the story some definite spice. Ellsbeth is brilliant , motivated and determined to solve the murder of her sister. Its fascinating how they build up the world with this magic system which is basically just another form of math to study. I loved how throughout the book they explored the magic system with the academic passion you would have for any course of study and everything was so very academic based with that touch of magic that gave it the right amount of sparkle. Ellsbeth was honestly my favorite of the entire book and I was totally rooting for her to get everything she wanted and deserved through the whole book. This was a book that easily kept me entertained and engaged.
This book has:
Dark Academia
Murder Mystery
Forbidden Romances
Magic System
Age Gap
Secret Societies
December 1, 2025
If you are looking for a dark academia read with a taboo student x professor relationship that is unique then i definitely recommend giving this a try.
I liked the FMC despite her tendencies to be overly stubborn, ambitious, a little bit of a know it all but her passion and determination was definitely fun to watch.
I liked the magic system and the unethical subject / forbidden magic use the FMC chose for her studies. I also liked the email format between the student and the professor there were parts that definitely made me chuckle.
This book had great pacing and I didnt find any parts boring (which sometimes I find is the case with dark academia books).
Fully recommend, thank you for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
I liked the FMC despite her tendencies to be overly stubborn, ambitious, a little bit of a know it all but her passion and determination was definitely fun to watch.
I liked the magic system and the unethical subject / forbidden magic use the FMC chose for her studies. I also liked the email format between the student and the professor there were parts that definitely made me chuckle.
This book had great pacing and I didnt find any parts boring (which sometimes I find is the case with dark academia books).
Fully recommend, thank you for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
November 24, 2025
A 6 star read. My #1 book of 2025 and I hope it will be yours when it comes out in 2026.
Oh my God, I never wanted it to end. I was immediately drawn to this book. It was passion, lust, yearning, ambition, destruction, grief… all wrapped up in a perfectly paced story. I hung on every word of it and couldn’t put it down. Ellsbeth was intensely likable to me. Rawlins was a stand out, deep MMC. I have never enjoyed an age gap until this book. They are truly perfect for one another. The magic system was interesting. The deep wanting they had for one another, but also for power. It was morally grey in all the best ways. You find yourself wanting more power as much as they do. I felt I was in the story. I wanted the passion, power, and resolution as much as the main characters did.
It has been a long time since a book made me feel this way. I want more! Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, you will not regret it.
P.S. the emails are the very best part. Every email exhilarated me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Oh my God, I never wanted it to end. I was immediately drawn to this book. It was passion, lust, yearning, ambition, destruction, grief… all wrapped up in a perfectly paced story. I hung on every word of it and couldn’t put it down. Ellsbeth was intensely likable to me. Rawlins was a stand out, deep MMC. I have never enjoyed an age gap until this book. They are truly perfect for one another. The magic system was interesting. The deep wanting they had for one another, but also for power. It was morally grey in all the best ways. You find yourself wanting more power as much as they do. I felt I was in the story. I wanted the passion, power, and resolution as much as the main characters did.
It has been a long time since a book made me feel this way. I want more! Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, you will not regret it.
P.S. the emails are the very best part. Every email exhilarated me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2026
the writing, atmosphere, premise, and vibes were all there for me. went into this having pretty high expectations because I love dark academia especially set in a graduate program.
I was giving it some grace in the first 30%. but after 50% and there wasn’t a plot to be seen I was getting so annoyed. all ellsbeth cared about was getting into rawlins’ pants instead of idk FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER DEAD SISTER?????
when the plot finally starts (I would say maybe 80%???) it felt over in a flash and the romance completely dissolved. not only that, as this is marked as a romance, where was the actual hea?? the epilogue isn’t from either mcs and we don’t even see them interact meaningfully.
vibes were there. but this was basically erotica with an unsatisfying ending.
I was giving it some grace in the first 30%. but after 50% and there wasn’t a plot to be seen I was getting so annoyed. all ellsbeth cared about was getting into rawlins’ pants instead of idk FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER DEAD SISTER?????
when the plot finally starts (I would say maybe 80%???) it felt over in a flash and the romance completely dissolved. not only that, as this is marked as a romance, where was the actual hea?? the epilogue isn’t from either mcs and we don’t even see them interact meaningfully.
vibes were there. but this was basically erotica with an unsatisfying ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
Book Title: The Arcane Arts: A Novel | Author: S. D. Coverly | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I picked this book:
I received an ARC copy of The Arcane Arts at the Del Rey booth during New York Comic Con. After taking a short quiz, it matched me with The Arcane Arts: A Novel by S. D. Coverly and I’m SO happy it did!
Quick Summary:
Ellsbeth is a prospective graduate student vying for a place at the College of the Arcane Arts at Newlyn University, specifically in the Arcane Mechanicals graduate program. The problem? An unexpected tragedy causes her to fail her Arcanus test, which is only offered once. Desperate, she pleads with the prestigious Professor Thaddeus M. Rawlins to allow her entry—and not only that, but also to let her study forbidden and illegal magic for her thesis.
Professor Rawlins is no stranger to ambitious students, but lately, things have felt rather uninspired. Soon, the two become entangled in more ways than one. They’re both chasing their own ambitions, but can they trust each other, or themselves, with what’s to come? The lines are blurring and danger is lurking at every turn!
What I Liked
1. This story is a sapiosexual’s dream! The dark academia setting is deliciously atmospheric, and the use of magic in such a daring, cerebral way is outstanding.
2. The email exchanges throughout the book add a much needed dose of playful, witty banter.
3. The mystery and intrigue are top-notch! Each character is solving their own puzzle while keeping secrets from the other, creating a tangled web that’s impossible to look away from.
Favorite Quote / Moment:
I’m so tempted to gush about my favorite quotes, but since the publication date is still a ways off, I’ll just broadly mention my favorite scene:
It’s the moment Ellsbeth realizes how much she not only desires but truly needs someone brilliant, and someone she can be utterly and unapologetically depraved with.
Who I’d Recommend It To & Final Thoughts:
I’d recommend The Arcane Arts: A Novel to readers who love dark academia with a healthy dose of spice, wit, and danger. It’s seductive, intelligent, and impossible to put down. I cannot wait for the official release!
Why I picked this book:
I received an ARC copy of The Arcane Arts at the Del Rey booth during New York Comic Con. After taking a short quiz, it matched me with The Arcane Arts: A Novel by S. D. Coverly and I’m SO happy it did!
Quick Summary:
Ellsbeth is a prospective graduate student vying for a place at the College of the Arcane Arts at Newlyn University, specifically in the Arcane Mechanicals graduate program. The problem? An unexpected tragedy causes her to fail her Arcanus test, which is only offered once. Desperate, she pleads with the prestigious Professor Thaddeus M. Rawlins to allow her entry—and not only that, but also to let her study forbidden and illegal magic for her thesis.
Professor Rawlins is no stranger to ambitious students, but lately, things have felt rather uninspired. Soon, the two become entangled in more ways than one. They’re both chasing their own ambitions, but can they trust each other, or themselves, with what’s to come? The lines are blurring and danger is lurking at every turn!
What I Liked
1. This story is a sapiosexual’s dream! The dark academia setting is deliciously atmospheric, and the use of magic in such a daring, cerebral way is outstanding.
2. The email exchanges throughout the book add a much needed dose of playful, witty banter.
3. The mystery and intrigue are top-notch! Each character is solving their own puzzle while keeping secrets from the other, creating a tangled web that’s impossible to look away from.
Favorite Quote / Moment:
I’m so tempted to gush about my favorite quotes, but since the publication date is still a ways off, I’ll just broadly mention my favorite scene:
It’s the moment Ellsbeth realizes how much she not only desires but truly needs someone brilliant, and someone she can be utterly and unapologetically depraved with.
Who I’d Recommend It To & Final Thoughts:
I’d recommend The Arcane Arts: A Novel to readers who love dark academia with a healthy dose of spice, wit, and danger. It’s seductive, intelligent, and impossible to put down. I cannot wait for the official release!
Want to Read
January 13, 2026woah this for my shelf <3
Read
May 13, 2026she was fearless
and crazier than him
she was his queen
and god help anyone who dared to disrespect his queen
#iykyk
and crazier than him
she was his queen
and god help anyone who dared to disrespect his queen
#iykyk
May 19, 2026
Sometimes you read a book that just delivers absolutely everything you could want and The Arcane Arts felt like the perfect book for me, it was like the authors reached into my brain and pulled at all my thoughts to convert them into this.
Layered with grit and tension, full of magical academics and most importantly complex characters, this book allowed for so many different levels to be explored. I really can’t quite describe how well the magical academic writing is done, I think if you liked Katabasis or The Atlas Six then you’ll love this element of The Arcane Arts too.
However, through all complexity of plot the focus really is on the main two characters; Ellsbeth and Rawlins. If you’re on the hunt for a professor/student, age gap read then may I suggest you throw yourself at the nearest bookstore and purchase this book immediately. The absolute teasing and taunting from start to finish is exquisite. I’m not usually one for mixed formats in novels but the emails between our two main characters was such a brilliant addition that helped build their relationship. The smut is excellent and the way magic is combined in the bedroom had me blushing. It’s sexy, tantalising and full of confidence
The Arcane Arts delivered a beautiful balance of sensual romance with dark academia elements; an instant favourite and definitely my latest obsession.
5/5 ⭐️
Release day: TODAY! Happy Publication day @danaschwartzzz & Dan Frey
*Ad/Gifted huge thanks @yourswithlovex
Layered with grit and tension, full of magical academics and most importantly complex characters, this book allowed for so many different levels to be explored. I really can’t quite describe how well the magical academic writing is done, I think if you liked Katabasis or The Atlas Six then you’ll love this element of The Arcane Arts too.
However, through all complexity of plot the focus really is on the main two characters; Ellsbeth and Rawlins. If you’re on the hunt for a professor/student, age gap read then may I suggest you throw yourself at the nearest bookstore and purchase this book immediately. The absolute teasing and taunting from start to finish is exquisite. I’m not usually one for mixed formats in novels but the emails between our two main characters was such a brilliant addition that helped build their relationship. The smut is excellent and the way magic is combined in the bedroom had me blushing. It’s sexy, tantalising and full of confidence
The Arcane Arts delivered a beautiful balance of sensual romance with dark academia elements; an instant favourite and definitely my latest obsession.
5/5 ⭐️
Release day: TODAY! Happy Publication day @danaschwartzzz & Dan Frey
*Ad/Gifted huge thanks @yourswithlovex
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow wow wow this was the best standalone I've read in 2026 so far! I finished reading the ARC (thank you NetGalley and Del Rey!) in 2.5 days because I just couldn't put it down, and now I'm genuinely mad I cannot get all my friends to read this until May.
This book is truly elevating dark academia and romantic fantasy, both genres that are in desperate need of it, IMO. 5 stars and I am going to pray every day this book's film option actually makes it through development.
As someone who grew up in academic circles where toxic relationships and affairs often occurred, I am pretty critical of most dark academia fic that involves teacher/student sexual relationships, even when all involved are adults. It's just rarely sexy to me, and frequently gross or tragic. This book pleasantly surprised me in this regard!
The Arcane Arts expertly dissects the culture that allows abuse to fester in these settings while exploring whether true consent is possible within that dynamic. It doesn't try to whitewash the moral complexities or greater impact of these relationships with a hand-wavey "but true love will prevail" logic, while still being romantic. No character in this book is perfect or guiltless, and you see them grapple with that.
This will be a great book club book, because there is so much to pick apart regarding sex, gender, desire, and, of course, power-- AND, some kicking-my-feet romantic and sexy banter between the two main characters. I've never written a sexy email, but now I want to try. Why were all my emails from college professors just "put your term paper in the box outside my office," huh?
This book is truly elevating dark academia and romantic fantasy, both genres that are in desperate need of it, IMO. 5 stars and I am going to pray every day this book's film option actually makes it through development.
As someone who grew up in academic circles where toxic relationships and affairs often occurred, I am pretty critical of most dark academia fic that involves teacher/student sexual relationships, even when all involved are adults. It's just rarely sexy to me, and frequently gross or tragic. This book pleasantly surprised me in this regard!
The Arcane Arts expertly dissects the culture that allows abuse to fester in these settings while exploring whether true consent is possible within that dynamic. It doesn't try to whitewash the moral complexities or greater impact of these relationships with a hand-wavey "but true love will prevail" logic, while still being romantic. No character in this book is perfect or guiltless, and you see them grapple with that.
This will be a great book club book, because there is so much to pick apart regarding sex, gender, desire, and, of course, power-- AND, some kicking-my-feet romantic and sexy banter between the two main characters. I've never written a sexy email, but now I want to try. Why were all my emails from college professors just "put your term paper in the box outside my office," huh?
November 16, 2025
This book freaking rips. I am so serious right now, stop whatever you're doing and immediately go pre-order this book (or if you're reading this in May 2026, go get it immediately!). The Arcane Arts is the dark academia of my dreams. It's romantic, intelligent, suspenseful, twisty, dark and spicy. I think it's my favorite book of 2025.
I loved:
-Rawlins and Ellsbeth were both such believable characters and relatable in different ways. Their relationship development was completely organic, felt very natural, was extremely romantic, and hot. Their relationship was perfect, I would change nothing about it. Also is it just my history nerd crush or was Rawlins giving Dan Jones vibes? Just me? Maybe I listen to a few too many history podcasts...
-The magic system. It reminded me of Babel, but a little less pretentious, with a little bit of Blood Over Bright Haven mixed in. I thought it was the perfect mix of analytical rigor and flights of fantasy. Perfection.
-The dark and foreboding atmosphere on the campus. At its best, dark academia illuminates the rot behind the ivy-covered buildings, and this one does that successfully.
-The balance between romance, mystery, and fantasy. I didn't feel that one aspect overshadowed the rest. I was swept up in the fantasy, the romance, and the mystery in equal measure.
I didn't like:
That it ended. More! now! please!
This book is billed as Saltburn meets Babel, and while those are appropriate, I think Ninth House is probably a better comparison.
I loved:
-Rawlins and Ellsbeth were both such believable characters and relatable in different ways. Their relationship development was completely organic, felt very natural, was extremely romantic, and hot. Their relationship was perfect, I would change nothing about it. Also is it just my history nerd crush or was Rawlins giving Dan Jones vibes? Just me? Maybe I listen to a few too many history podcasts...
-The magic system. It reminded me of Babel, but a little less pretentious, with a little bit of Blood Over Bright Haven mixed in. I thought it was the perfect mix of analytical rigor and flights of fantasy. Perfection.
-The dark and foreboding atmosphere on the campus. At its best, dark academia illuminates the rot behind the ivy-covered buildings, and this one does that successfully.
-The balance between romance, mystery, and fantasy. I didn't feel that one aspect overshadowed the rest. I was swept up in the fantasy, the romance, and the mystery in equal measure.
I didn't like:
That it ended. More! now! please!
This book is billed as Saltburn meets Babel, and while those are appropriate, I think Ninth House is probably a better comparison.
April 6, 2026
Thank you, S.D. Coverly, Del Rey Random House, and NetGalley for the early preview of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Title: The Arcane Arts
Author: S.D. Coverly
Format: e-book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Review:
Ellsbeth has always had a passion for arcane, but the tragic loss of her younger sister has led her to a change of plans in her academic career. Now that she’s a student at Newlyn University, she is determined to convince Thaddeus Rawlins, a celebrated professor in the field, to take her on as a student. She then seeks to write her thesis on writ magic, the long-forbidden power to control and compel others. Should Professor Rawlins allow one of his students to write a thesis on such a controversial subject, even academically? And why is Ellsbeth determined to write on such a taboo subject when she had such a troubling acceptance into the arcane mechanics program? The plot thickens with romantic entanglement between student and professor.
*//What to expect:
* Dual POV
* Dark academia
* Arcane Magic
* Age gap romance
* Student-Professor romance
* Secret society
*//Trigger Warnings:
* Abuse/torture
* Intentional drugging
* Murder
* Death/grief
*//Some things I didn’t know I needed that were present in this story:
✔️ he cooks for her
✔️ intellectual conversations about magic (actually really LOVED this)
✔️ mild dom
*//Review(with spoilers):
I went into this book not knowing anything more than it was labeled “dark academia”. Honestly this has proven to be successful for me in terms of being surprised and catching my attention for what I am reading. I do love the academic setting and I really loved how in depth the knowledge went to build this magic. (This is also me not knowing anything about arcane magic).
I was very curious why Ellsbeth was attending this University. Because I didn’t read any intro, was it Ellsbeth’s sister who died?! Yes it was. So then… what is this magic and learning it from this (hot) professor going to do? Ahhhh.. then we find out. Yes she is going to do illegal magic. I am here for it.
The introverted type behavior really resonated. I could understand Ellsbeth and her desire to not need anyone and do everything on her own. I love the background explanation of Ellsbeth with prior relationships and it felt natural for her to think about this when kind of exploring the attraction with Professor Rawlins.
And boy oh boy did that attraction deliver. Hot hot hot. I was not expecting romance, but we got it. I really loved how this relationship played out. It was so satisfying for it to get to the point it did with both parties hiding details from each other in regards to the magic.
I really loved this whole story. The writing style was *chefs kiss*. I read this book in 2 days because I could not put it down.
I am only upset that there isn’t more to devour.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Title: The Arcane Arts
Author: S.D. Coverly
Format: e-book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Review:
Ellsbeth has always had a passion for arcane, but the tragic loss of her younger sister has led her to a change of plans in her academic career. Now that she’s a student at Newlyn University, she is determined to convince Thaddeus Rawlins, a celebrated professor in the field, to take her on as a student. She then seeks to write her thesis on writ magic, the long-forbidden power to control and compel others. Should Professor Rawlins allow one of his students to write a thesis on such a controversial subject, even academically? And why is Ellsbeth determined to write on such a taboo subject when she had such a troubling acceptance into the arcane mechanics program? The plot thickens with romantic entanglement between student and professor.
*//What to expect:
* Dual POV
* Dark academia
* Arcane Magic
* Age gap romance
* Student-Professor romance
* Secret society
*//Trigger Warnings:
* Abuse/torture
* Intentional drugging
* Murder
* Death/grief
*//Some things I didn’t know I needed that were present in this story:
✔️ he cooks for her
✔️ intellectual conversations about magic (actually really LOVED this)
✔️ mild dom
*//Review(with spoilers):
I went into this book not knowing anything more than it was labeled “dark academia”. Honestly this has proven to be successful for me in terms of being surprised and catching my attention for what I am reading. I do love the academic setting and I really loved how in depth the knowledge went to build this magic. (This is also me not knowing anything about arcane magic).
I was very curious why Ellsbeth was attending this University. Because I didn’t read any intro, was it Ellsbeth’s sister who died?! Yes it was. So then… what is this magic and learning it from this (hot) professor going to do? Ahhhh.. then we find out. Yes she is going to do illegal magic. I am here for it.
The introverted type behavior really resonated. I could understand Ellsbeth and her desire to not need anyone and do everything on her own. I love the background explanation of Ellsbeth with prior relationships and it felt natural for her to think about this when kind of exploring the attraction with Professor Rawlins.
And boy oh boy did that attraction deliver. Hot hot hot. I was not expecting romance, but we got it. I really loved how this relationship played out. It was so satisfying for it to get to the point it did with both parties hiding details from each other in regards to the magic.
I really loved this whole story. The writing style was *chefs kiss*. I read this book in 2 days because I could not put it down.
I am only upset that there isn’t more to devour.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2026
This book surprised me more and more as it went on. This is the type of dark academia filled with mathematics and chemistry. The subject of study is The Arcane Arts/Arcane mechanicals. Story is full of twists and turns. Secrets revealed. The two MCs are full of passion for the academics and each other. Loved how they were turned on by each other’s brains which resulted into some spicy scenes. The magic in this book is extremely interesting and will keep you intrigued. Dual POV and HEA…sort of. You will find that they communicate a lot through emails which are highly entertaining. You will see what I mean when you read this thrilling dark academia book.
We have Ellsbeth who is a genius when it comes to the subject matter and has strong academic goals. However, everything goes wrong when during the scrying portion of the Arcanus (a test can only be taken once), she sees her sister dead. Determined to find out what happened, she seeks out Professor Rawlins at Newlyn University to convince him to allow her into is program.
Professor Rawlins is so very bored. He misses the days where his field of study was invigorating and exciting. Be careful what you wish for because he meets the gifted Ellsbeth who ignites that long dormant passion within him. He tries to refuse but gives in and allows her into his program. Rawlins is repeatedly impressed by her brain and courage to study taboo topics within the Arcane magic world. But he doesn’t want to make the same mistake with her like he did with a student years prior that ended up with dead students and one in jail.
Together they dive into clandestine meetings with untested rituals. Paranoia sets in and they start questioning if the other one is up to something. Did I mention that there is a sinister secret society?
Thank you to the author, @delreybooks @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
We have Ellsbeth who is a genius when it comes to the subject matter and has strong academic goals. However, everything goes wrong when during the scrying portion of the Arcanus (a test can only be taken once), she sees her sister dead. Determined to find out what happened, she seeks out Professor Rawlins at Newlyn University to convince him to allow her into is program.
Professor Rawlins is so very bored. He misses the days where his field of study was invigorating and exciting. Be careful what you wish for because he meets the gifted Ellsbeth who ignites that long dormant passion within him. He tries to refuse but gives in and allows her into his program. Rawlins is repeatedly impressed by her brain and courage to study taboo topics within the Arcane magic world. But he doesn’t want to make the same mistake with her like he did with a student years prior that ended up with dead students and one in jail.
Together they dive into clandestine meetings with untested rituals. Paranoia sets in and they start questioning if the other one is up to something. Did I mention that there is a sinister secret society?
Thank you to the author, @delreybooks @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2026
Ellsbeth is a smart & driven academic for the magics. Due to a tragedy the day of her arcanus exam, she wasn’t able to complete her test to help her get into magic school. That doesn’t stop her from contacting Professor Rawlings’s to make an exception for her. Ellsbeth wants to learn techniques to help her uncover the truth about the tragedy that occurred, while Rawlins has secrets of his own that he’s keeping. All the while, they grow closer in their relationship as they work together on illegal magic practices.
I have never really been a fan of age gap romances so I personally have steered clear of them, but admittedly haven’t actually read any so when I was offered the opportunity to read this I figured I’d at least give it a try. Especially with a professor x student romance I went in with an open mind & honestly I thought it was done well. It is very instalove, but once their relationship gets going I wasn’t put off by their dynamic.
One way the author develops their relationship is by showing email exchanges between our main characters. Based on other reviews this seems to be a hit or miss, but for me I personally liked the relationship developing in this way. It felt unique & a fresh way to show the characters personalities.
The prologue sets this book up to be a murder mystery & hooked me in right away. However, after that the book seemed to just dive into the romance & magic until the last third of the book where it picks back up again. I wish that the murder mystery & the tension stayed throughout the book, making the read a bit uneven.
Overall, I still found this read enjoyable & thought the story itself was a wild ride even if the middle seemed to drag in places.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!
I have never really been a fan of age gap romances so I personally have steered clear of them, but admittedly haven’t actually read any so when I was offered the opportunity to read this I figured I’d at least give it a try. Especially with a professor x student romance I went in with an open mind & honestly I thought it was done well. It is very instalove, but once their relationship gets going I wasn’t put off by their dynamic.
One way the author develops their relationship is by showing email exchanges between our main characters. Based on other reviews this seems to be a hit or miss, but for me I personally liked the relationship developing in this way. It felt unique & a fresh way to show the characters personalities.
The prologue sets this book up to be a murder mystery & hooked me in right away. However, after that the book seemed to just dive into the romance & magic until the last third of the book where it picks back up again. I wish that the murder mystery & the tension stayed throughout the book, making the read a bit uneven.
Overall, I still found this read enjoyable & thought the story itself was a wild ride even if the middle seemed to drag in places.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!
January 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Publisher for the ARC.
I walked into this book expecting something like Blood Over Bright Haven or Babel, both books that I loved. While this book is fantastically written, the story, unfortunately, falls short. This is heavier on the romance element instead of the fantasy element; the magic system, while intriguing at first, is half-baked. There seems to be more emphasis on the relationship rather than the events of the story, which results in disjointed pacing. The ending is very abrupt.
I did enjoy Ellsbeth as a character; I found Rawlins to be pretty boring. However, the set up and backstory was great. The development of their relationship is a bit too insta-attraction to me, which I usually don’t have a problem with, but it makes their intense attraction drawn from each other’s intelligence seem less compelling. I wanted to see a bit more exploration of darkness that surfaces when dealing with forbidden magic. That didn’t really come through for me. The story was simple and the foreshadowing unsubtle; none of the twists took me by surprise.
Like I said, though, this is very well written—lovely prose and some cool character introspection stuff—so it was a breeze to read through. This would probably do well with huge romantasy readers, not huge fantasy readers.
I walked into this book expecting something like Blood Over Bright Haven or Babel, both books that I loved. While this book is fantastically written, the story, unfortunately, falls short. This is heavier on the romance element instead of the fantasy element; the magic system, while intriguing at first, is half-baked. There seems to be more emphasis on the relationship rather than the events of the story, which results in disjointed pacing. The ending is very abrupt.
I did enjoy Ellsbeth as a character; I found Rawlins to be pretty boring. However, the set up and backstory was great. The development of their relationship is a bit too insta-attraction to me, which I usually don’t have a problem with, but it makes their intense attraction drawn from each other’s intelligence seem less compelling. I wanted to see a bit more exploration of darkness that surfaces when dealing with forbidden magic. That didn’t really come through for me. The story was simple and the foreshadowing unsubtle; none of the twists took me by surprise.
Like I said, though, this is very well written—lovely prose and some cool character introspection stuff—so it was a breeze to read through. This would probably do well with huge romantasy readers, not huge fantasy readers.
March 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advanced reader copy of this book.
3.5 stars - Let’s start with what I did enjoy! I really liked the writ magic aspect of this and the academia. Those were so interesting to read about and it was fun when they started experimenting with it. The premise of grad student x professor while doing forbidden magic was great, very taboo. I also think this was well written and kept me turning each page.
As for what didn’t work for me, one would be the prologue. This is just personal, but it put a weird taste in my mouth and affected my experience right at the beginning. I don’t think it was needed in my personal opinion. The romance wasn’t my favourite part of the book, insta lust with a lot of miscommunication, but don’t get me wrong they have good chemistry! Finally, the ending epilogue wasn’t what I expected and I thought it would be wrapped up differently.
I do think this was a well written, dark academia with an intriguing forbidden magic element! It was overall a great story that I couldn’t put down, I was never bored.
3.5 stars - Let’s start with what I did enjoy! I really liked the writ magic aspect of this and the academia. Those were so interesting to read about and it was fun when they started experimenting with it. The premise of grad student x professor while doing forbidden magic was great, very taboo. I also think this was well written and kept me turning each page.
As for what didn’t work for me, one would be the prologue. This is just personal, but it put a weird taste in my mouth and affected my experience right at the beginning. I don’t think it was needed in my personal opinion. The romance wasn’t my favourite part of the book, insta lust with a lot of miscommunication, but don’t get me wrong they have good chemistry! Finally, the ending epilogue wasn’t what I expected and I thought it would be wrapped up differently.
I do think this was a well written, dark academia with an intriguing forbidden magic element! It was overall a great story that I couldn’t put down, I was never bored.
May 11, 2026
S.D. Covertly is a writing duo, Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz. Now I haven’t previously heard of Dan Frey but I have heard of Dana Schwartz. This is my first time reading anything by either of these authors especially writing together.
I really enjoyed the writing. I love books that have more of the epistolary variety and you have that with the emails in this book. This does have the professor/student dynamic and an age gap. If that isn’t for you then you might not like this. Ellsbeth is writing a these on writ magic, which is illegal. She is also looking into her sister death, who died at the same college. We have Rawlins. Who is a professor at the college. He ends up helping her and of course is her love interest. I am not one to really want to read romance that is written by a man and while this does have a man and a woman co author… I though it was ok. I really did enjoy the banter and I thought it was a solid read over all. . I give it a 3.75.
Thank you to Del Rey fo the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed the writing. I love books that have more of the epistolary variety and you have that with the emails in this book. This does have the professor/student dynamic and an age gap. If that isn’t for you then you might not like this. Ellsbeth is writing a these on writ magic, which is illegal. She is also looking into her sister death, who died at the same college. We have Rawlins. Who is a professor at the college. He ends up helping her and of course is her love interest. I am not one to really want to read romance that is written by a man and while this does have a man and a woman co author… I though it was ok. I really did enjoy the banter and I thought it was a solid read over all. . I give it a 3.75.
Thank you to Del Rey fo the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 17, 2026
I was sent a complimentary widget for this book based on my past reading history with the publisher Dey Ray and, from the description alone, I jumped on it immediately. Then I saw the cover…
Ironically, this is one of those rare cases where the cover actually does perfectly capture the tone of the book. Had I seen it first, I probably wouldn’t have looked into the book any further and, honestly, that would have been an accurate warning for me. While I love the dark academia trope, I still want the story to feel immersive and engaging, not like I’m reading a textbook. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how this felt.
Because I struggled to stay engaged with the eARC, I set it aside for a bit until I was able to grab the ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, hoping the audio format would help pull me in. Sadly, that ended up being a bust as well. The casting choices just didn’t work for me and somehow made the experience feel even more like sitting through a lecture.
In the end, I speed read the second half with just my eyeballs. To be fair, there were a few moments where I thought the story might finally turn things around for me, but unfortunately those moments never lasted long enough to change my overall feelings.
While this book definitely wasn’t for me, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy this style a bit more.
Ironically, this is one of those rare cases where the cover actually does perfectly capture the tone of the book. Had I seen it first, I probably wouldn’t have looked into the book any further and, honestly, that would have been an accurate warning for me. While I love the dark academia trope, I still want the story to feel immersive and engaging, not like I’m reading a textbook. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how this felt.
Because I struggled to stay engaged with the eARC, I set it aside for a bit until I was able to grab the ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, hoping the audio format would help pull me in. Sadly, that ended up being a bust as well. The casting choices just didn’t work for me and somehow made the experience feel even more like sitting through a lecture.
In the end, I speed read the second half with just my eyeballs. To be fair, there were a few moments where I thought the story might finally turn things around for me, but unfortunately those moments never lasted long enough to change my overall feelings.
While this book definitely wasn’t for me, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy this style a bit more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay I loved this. It was so unique while simultaneously being so frustrating, I absolutely ate it up.
This story is about two brilliant, hot people who are bending the rules of magic (and the law) while hiding so many secrets from each other and falling in love anyways.
The writing style absolutely drew me in and kept me in the story. The creative choice to have email correspondences as chapters, some covering certain gaps of time??? I loved that choice so much, it not only highlighted yearning with the characters, but also created yearning with the reader.
This story was such a great, entertaining read with a satisfying ending.
overall: highly recommend
spice: open door
This story is about two brilliant, hot people who are bending the rules of magic (and the law) while hiding so many secrets from each other and falling in love anyways.
The writing style absolutely drew me in and kept me in the story. The creative choice to have email correspondences as chapters, some covering certain gaps of time??? I loved that choice so much, it not only highlighted yearning with the characters, but also created yearning with the reader.
This story was such a great, entertaining read with a satisfying ending.
overall: highly recommend
spice: open door
January 25, 2026
So much more the dark academia promised by the first chapters. The sincerity and depth of the relationship between the characters was so potent, whilst pushing the limits of what people would do to achieve their goals.
Excellent.
Excellent.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am very sorry to say that I DNFed this book. It was recommended by the publisher because I liked Arcana Academy by Elise Kova, but this doesn't even come close to that book.
Ellsbeth botched her Arcanus test which is of the utmost importance if you want to study more about Arcane arts. Within the first few chapters it becomes clear that she wants the professor of Newlyn to accept her anyway, without the proper test scores but for her brilliance on this subject alone. She emails the professor directly and pleads her case, which should be fine if not for the flirtatious nature of the emails.
Professor Rawlings is getting bored and rusted in place with what he's teaching and what he's willing to share. He doesn't want to accept Ellsbeth in his program but she is compelling and seems to be very smart indeed. She's even pretty, but that would be a road he doesn't want to go down to.
When Ellsbeth is accepted after numerous emails and an in person meet, she tells the professor what she wants to study.. Writ magic which is forbidden. But with a few kinks in the law you can actually still study and finetune it, if a person where to try it on a willing participant.
The banter between professor and Ellsbeth keeps growing, so he'll be going down that road soon enough..
Not much happening within the first 40% aside from the flirtation and eventually romance.. The course for a forbidden magic was the only thrilling thing. It just wasn't for me.
Ellsbeth botched her Arcanus test which is of the utmost importance if you want to study more about Arcane arts. Within the first few chapters it becomes clear that she wants the professor of Newlyn to accept her anyway, without the proper test scores but for her brilliance on this subject alone. She emails the professor directly and pleads her case, which should be fine if not for the flirtatious nature of the emails.
Professor Rawlings is getting bored and rusted in place with what he's teaching and what he's willing to share. He doesn't want to accept Ellsbeth in his program but she is compelling and seems to be very smart indeed. She's even pretty, but that would be a road he doesn't want to go down to.
When Ellsbeth is accepted after numerous emails and an in person meet, she tells the professor what she wants to study.. Writ magic which is forbidden. But with a few kinks in the law you can actually still study and finetune it, if a person where to try it on a willing participant.
The banter between professor and Ellsbeth keeps growing, so he'll be going down that road soon enough..
Not much happening within the first 40% aside from the flirtation and eventually romance.. The course for a forbidden magic was the only thrilling thing. It just wasn't for me.
April 28, 2026
4.75 ⭐️, what a dark little gem of a book! I couldn't put this down. Equal parts dark academia, romance, *and* mystery, The Arcane Arts is such a successful genre-bender that it feels hard to accurately reduce any categorization of it down to just one.
Loved the way magic was portrayed in this book, and I have to give flowers where they’re due for surprising me with a romantic pairing that not only defied my reservations about the trope but has left me obsessing over some of the most romantic lines I’ve read in a while 💖
It’s hard to emphasize just how unique and refreshing I found this story, so just take my word for it and pick it up to see for yourself! Best enjoyed over a moody, overcast weekend with a cup of tea ☕️
I received an ARC copy of The Arcane Arts at the PRH booth during Emerald City Comic Con. Review and opinions are my own :)
Loved the way magic was portrayed in this book, and I have to give flowers where they’re due for surprising me with a romantic pairing that not only defied my reservations about the trope but has left me obsessing over some of the most romantic lines I’ve read in a while 💖
It’s hard to emphasize just how unique and refreshing I found this story, so just take my word for it and pick it up to see for yourself! Best enjoyed over a moody, overcast weekend with a cup of tea ☕️
I received an ARC copy of The Arcane Arts at the PRH booth during Emerald City Comic Con. Review and opinions are my own :)
November 26, 2025
an erotic dark academia with a strong flavor of ninth house. characters you can’t decide if you like but interesting to read about all the same. this book has a student/teacher dynamic which is a big swing for me but I appreciated the ways in which the book tried to wrestle with that power differential and waded into muddy waters even with the romance
April 28, 2026
4.75 stars
February 21, 2026
I had a surprisingly hard time figuring out how to rate this one, mostly because it feels like two completely different books glued together. The first half was honestly pretty rough and disappointing, but the second really delivered. In the end I land on 3.5 stars, because even though I had a good time, it’s still hard to overlook some very obvious flaws of this novel.
This is a dark academia fantasy set in a world very close to ours, with a strong romantic plot between a grad student and her professor. The prologue sets up a murder mystery tied to a secret society, so I went in expecting high stakes from the start. Long story short, that’s not really what you get. The mystery doesn’t really come into play until around the 60% mark, and for a large portion of the book the focus is almost entirely on the romance and magical rituals. So instead of a dark, plot driven story, it feels much lower in stakes and doesn’t quite match the tone the opening promises. There was a moment about 40% mark when I started to wonder what is the purpose of this story…
I also have mixed feelings about the romance and that’s not because I’m against an age-gap book per se. Once Ellsbeth and Rawlins are involved and somehow established romantically, I actually enjoyed their dynamic. What I didn’t like is how quickly and awkwardly it starts. Their early interactions rely heavily on long, very personal email exchanges that feel oddly intimate considering they barely know each other. At one point, Rawlins shares a lot of personal information in response to what’s essentially an academic question, which was both awkward and uncomfortable and extremely implausible from a professional perspective. I don’t know - maybe it’s just me, but I found those early stages hard to buy.
I don’t have much to say about the characters honestly. Ellsbeth is the classic dark academia overachiever who excels at everything, to the point where she can pull off an illegal ritual that no one has managed in decades just by studying some rare texts. Rawlins fits neatly into the brooding professor archetype. They become more interesting later on, but early characterization is pretty surface level.
As I said, the book really improves in the second half. The stakes finally kick in when the secret society from the prologue comes back into play. Both characters also reveal hidden agendas tied to their use of illicit magic, and seeing how this shapes their relationship was probably the most interesting part. In short, the consequences start to matter, and the story gains a sense. From about 80% onward, I was hooked and flew through the final chapters, genuinely invested in how it would all resolve.
In short, the biggest problem with this book is its less-than-ideal plotting. This seems more like an issue of execution than of ideas, because the core concepts are genuinely strong, and when the story finally leans into them, it really works. I just wish those engaging elements had been introduced much earlier, instead of starting with an insta-love romance and little else. That would make the book so much better and prevent the ending from feeling a bit rushed.
On the plus side, the writing is very accessible and easy to binge. I read this almost in one sitting, which definitely says something. Even with all my complaints, I can’t deny that I had a good time overall.
One last thing: I’ve seen this novel compared a lot to Babel by R. F. Kuang, and I honestly think that comparison does the book a disservice. They have very little in common apart from the dark academia label, and going in with those expectations will likely lead to disappointment, which already shows in early reviews. If anything, the vibe is closer to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, just with a heavier focus on romance.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review
This is a dark academia fantasy set in a world very close to ours, with a strong romantic plot between a grad student and her professor. The prologue sets up a murder mystery tied to a secret society, so I went in expecting high stakes from the start. Long story short, that’s not really what you get. The mystery doesn’t really come into play until around the 60% mark, and for a large portion of the book the focus is almost entirely on the romance and magical rituals. So instead of a dark, plot driven story, it feels much lower in stakes and doesn’t quite match the tone the opening promises. There was a moment about 40% mark when I started to wonder what is the purpose of this story…
I also have mixed feelings about the romance and that’s not because I’m against an age-gap book per se. Once Ellsbeth and Rawlins are involved and somehow established romantically, I actually enjoyed their dynamic. What I didn’t like is how quickly and awkwardly it starts. Their early interactions rely heavily on long, very personal email exchanges that feel oddly intimate considering they barely know each other. At one point, Rawlins shares a lot of personal information in response to what’s essentially an academic question, which was both awkward and uncomfortable and extremely implausible from a professional perspective. I don’t know - maybe it’s just me, but I found those early stages hard to buy.
I don’t have much to say about the characters honestly. Ellsbeth is the classic dark academia overachiever who excels at everything, to the point where she can pull off an illegal ritual that no one has managed in decades just by studying some rare texts. Rawlins fits neatly into the brooding professor archetype. They become more interesting later on, but early characterization is pretty surface level.
As I said, the book really improves in the second half. The stakes finally kick in when the secret society from the prologue comes back into play. Both characters also reveal hidden agendas tied to their use of illicit magic, and seeing how this shapes their relationship was probably the most interesting part. In short, the consequences start to matter, and the story gains a sense. From about 80% onward, I was hooked and flew through the final chapters, genuinely invested in how it would all resolve.
In short, the biggest problem with this book is its less-than-ideal plotting. This seems more like an issue of execution than of ideas, because the core concepts are genuinely strong, and when the story finally leans into them, it really works. I just wish those engaging elements had been introduced much earlier, instead of starting with an insta-love romance and little else. That would make the book so much better and prevent the ending from feeling a bit rushed.
On the plus side, the writing is very accessible and easy to binge. I read this almost in one sitting, which definitely says something. Even with all my complaints, I can’t deny that I had a good time overall.
One last thing: I’ve seen this novel compared a lot to Babel by R. F. Kuang, and I honestly think that comparison does the book a disservice. They have very little in common apart from the dark academia label, and going in with those expectations will likely lead to disappointment, which already shows in early reviews. If anything, the vibe is closer to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, just with a heavier focus on romance.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review
April 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
DNF @ 75%
What an excellent example of a book with the potential to be amazing that just absolutely fails to stick the execution. In the first 20% of this book, I was certain this would be a 5* read. By 30% of the book, that certainty had crashed and burned.
More than anything, the pacing of this story is awful. It starts off so strong, building anticipation and tension, and then loses itself to chapters and chapters of horniness. Followed, at long last, by a sprinkling more plot. And then more horniness that moved the story absolutely nowhere. At the 30% mark, the story could’ve been cleanly wrapped up by the 50% mark, and instead it just dragged and dragged.
It reads as if the author started writing a dark academia book, learned partway through that romantasy was popular, and threw the original story out the window. Despite the strong start, every major plot point is overly convenient. When the author remembers the plot, every new ritual (never before successfully done in human history) works perfectly the first time, after the 24-year-old grad student FMC spends an evening coming up with it. There’s no plot tension, no pay off, nothing. The plot only moves forward so that the author can go back to writing about how horny the main characters are for each other. Themes and morality are spoon fed to the audience, to the degree that there are multiple pages on how Ellsbeth is still a feminist even if she enjoys mild BDSM.
Ellsbeth and Rawlins’ romance, in the very beginning, is exactly as promised. It’s illicit, there’s manipulation, it’s not clear who’s playing who or what they’re keeping from each other. It’s delicious. It’s over by about 25%, when they get together. Despite some melodrama thrown in in a blind attempt to keep things interesting, all the moral ambiguity and tension of the relationship is over.
As for the characters themselves, I have complicated feelings. On the same issue of spoonfeeding us everything, we’re told constantly how Ellsbeth thinks and why she is the way she is, etc etc. This is tedious on its own, but then the way we actually see Ellsbeth act is completely different from what we’re told, both by the narrative and through Rawlins’ thought on her. And the worst part is, if you take that away, the Ellsbeth we actually see is a really interesting character! If we didn’t have this clash going on, I would find her so interesting! Rawlins, on the other hand, is kind of just there. His characterization swings back and forth between mature and juvenile, but I will give the author this: they absolutely nail the whole pretentious, self absorbed scholar/academic persona. As someone with three degrees—they really are Like That.
Believe it or not, I do think I am willing to try something else written by this author still. The writing itself is very strong and flows well, and the ideas and bones of a good book are absolutely there. Once the author is more sure what kind of book they want to write, I could definitely see myself enjoying something by them. As for The Arcane Arts, though, it’s a hard pass for me.
DNF @ 75%
What an excellent example of a book with the potential to be amazing that just absolutely fails to stick the execution. In the first 20% of this book, I was certain this would be a 5* read. By 30% of the book, that certainty had crashed and burned.
More than anything, the pacing of this story is awful. It starts off so strong, building anticipation and tension, and then loses itself to chapters and chapters of horniness. Followed, at long last, by a sprinkling more plot. And then more horniness that moved the story absolutely nowhere. At the 30% mark, the story could’ve been cleanly wrapped up by the 50% mark, and instead it just dragged and dragged.
It reads as if the author started writing a dark academia book, learned partway through that romantasy was popular, and threw the original story out the window. Despite the strong start, every major plot point is overly convenient. When the author remembers the plot, every new ritual (never before successfully done in human history) works perfectly the first time, after the 24-year-old grad student FMC spends an evening coming up with it. There’s no plot tension, no pay off, nothing. The plot only moves forward so that the author can go back to writing about how horny the main characters are for each other. Themes and morality are spoon fed to the audience, to the degree that there are multiple pages on how Ellsbeth is still a feminist even if she enjoys mild BDSM.
Ellsbeth and Rawlins’ romance, in the very beginning, is exactly as promised. It’s illicit, there’s manipulation, it’s not clear who’s playing who or what they’re keeping from each other. It’s delicious. It’s over by about 25%, when they get together. Despite some melodrama thrown in in a blind attempt to keep things interesting, all the moral ambiguity and tension of the relationship is over.
As for the characters themselves, I have complicated feelings. On the same issue of spoonfeeding us everything, we’re told constantly how Ellsbeth thinks and why she is the way she is, etc etc. This is tedious on its own, but then the way we actually see Ellsbeth act is completely different from what we’re told, both by the narrative and through Rawlins’ thought on her. And the worst part is, if you take that away, the Ellsbeth we actually see is a really interesting character! If we didn’t have this clash going on, I would find her so interesting! Rawlins, on the other hand, is kind of just there. His characterization swings back and forth between mature and juvenile, but I will give the author this: they absolutely nail the whole pretentious, self absorbed scholar/academic persona. As someone with three degrees—they really are Like That.
Believe it or not, I do think I am willing to try something else written by this author still. The writing itself is very strong and flows well, and the ideas and bones of a good book are absolutely there. Once the author is more sure what kind of book they want to write, I could definitely see myself enjoying something by them. As for The Arcane Arts, though, it’s a hard pass for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all, I owe the authors an apology. I received an ARC back in January, and instead of diving in immediately, I let it sit on my kindle for weeks. I was deep in a reading slump at the time, and I’ve learned the hard way that forcing myself to read when I’m not in the right mood only makes things worse. So I waited. And to be honest, I’m so glad I picked it up when I finally did, because this was exactly the kind of book I needed.
From the very first chapter, this story pulls absolutely no punches. That opening was insane. Dark, shocking, and so unapologetically bold that I had to pause for a second just to process it. That’s how you start a book. It immediately set the tone and made it impossible not to keep reading.
Set at the elite Newlyn University, the dark academia vibes are immaculate: secret research, forbidden magic, hidden agendas, and an undercurrent of danger running through every scene. The double POV worked so well here. Getting inside both Ellsbeth’s and Rawlins’ heads added layers of tension and complexity, especially with the teacher–student dynamic at the center of it all. Their relationship is intense, morally messy, and charged from the start.
And can we talk about the magic? Magical BDSM is apparently something I didn’t know I needed in my life. The way writ magic: this forbidden power of control and compulsion, intertwines with themes of dominance, submission, and manipulation made the whole thing feel dangerous in the best way. It’s dark, it’s seductive, and it constantly blurs the lines between power and desire.
That said, the structure did feel a bit confusing at times. The story opens with a murder, then dives deep into the academic and very kinky aspects of their research, and only circles back to the murder closer to the end. At points, it almost felt like I was reading two separate stories woven together. It didn’t ruin the experience for me, but it did make the pacing feel slightly uneven in the middle.
Overall, though, this book absolutely did what I needed it to do: it pulled me out of my reading slump. It’s fast-paced, dark, provocative, and completely unafraid to lean into its themes. I’m genuinely excited to grab a finished paper copy to put on my shelf, because this is one I’ll definitely be thinking about for a while.
If you love dark academia with morally gray characters, taboo magic, and a dangerously compelling romance, this one is worth the ride.
From the very first chapter, this story pulls absolutely no punches. That opening was insane. Dark, shocking, and so unapologetically bold that I had to pause for a second just to process it. That’s how you start a book. It immediately set the tone and made it impossible not to keep reading.
Set at the elite Newlyn University, the dark academia vibes are immaculate: secret research, forbidden magic, hidden agendas, and an undercurrent of danger running through every scene. The double POV worked so well here. Getting inside both Ellsbeth’s and Rawlins’ heads added layers of tension and complexity, especially with the teacher–student dynamic at the center of it all. Their relationship is intense, morally messy, and charged from the start.
And can we talk about the magic? Magical BDSM is apparently something I didn’t know I needed in my life. The way writ magic: this forbidden power of control and compulsion, intertwines with themes of dominance, submission, and manipulation made the whole thing feel dangerous in the best way. It’s dark, it’s seductive, and it constantly blurs the lines between power and desire.
That said, the structure did feel a bit confusing at times. The story opens with a murder, then dives deep into the academic and very kinky aspects of their research, and only circles back to the murder closer to the end. At points, it almost felt like I was reading two separate stories woven together. It didn’t ruin the experience for me, but it did make the pacing feel slightly uneven in the middle.
Overall, though, this book absolutely did what I needed it to do: it pulled me out of my reading slump. It’s fast-paced, dark, provocative, and completely unafraid to lean into its themes. I’m genuinely excited to grab a finished paper copy to put on my shelf, because this is one I’ll definitely be thinking about for a while.
If you love dark academia with morally gray characters, taboo magic, and a dangerously compelling romance, this one is worth the ride.
February 10, 2026
Going to preface this with these are my personal opinions and thoughts, and please feel free to disagree with me. There are all sorts of books for everyone, and this one just wasn’t for me.
I’m giving this three stars as I did finish reading, but I want to start with the fact that I was grossly disappointed with this.
We start the book with the ritualized murder of a girl. (Strong start) We then move to a dual narration between Professor Rawlins and Ellsbeth, a grad student studying arcane magic.
What follows is a sordid affair between teacher and student working in an illegal branch of magic. Both are hiding things from each other and are using this illegal magic to further their own agendas.
I’m going to pause here as what follows might be very spoil-ery.
What I hoped for in the entire book was a very unreliable narrator (honestly both being unreliable would have been fantastic) and for bits and pieces of the story start to come together to solve the murder of the girl from chapter 1 -surprise, it’s Ellsbeth’s sister. But this was just a somewhat derivative teacher/student “romance” that was dry on the academia side in a not great way. I didn’t enjoy the fact that we have a 25 yo female and 40+ yo male who COULDN’T COMMUNICATE. Also Rawlins kept talking about how he “was so surprised he was having carnal feelings toward his student at his age” like what man in his 40s isn’t still just ready to go always?
This would have been fantastic if 1. E had truly been so ahead of her time she performed magic on R to have him help her or 2. They were both doing things sooner to solve their problems. Another option could have been that we take the weird sexual relationship out as I didn’t feel like it added to the story in any helpful way possible.
I’m giving this three stars as I did finish reading, but I want to start with the fact that I was grossly disappointed with this.
We start the book with the ritualized murder of a girl. (Strong start) We then move to a dual narration between Professor Rawlins and Ellsbeth, a grad student studying arcane magic.
What follows is a sordid affair between teacher and student working in an illegal branch of magic. Both are hiding things from each other and are using this illegal magic to further their own agendas.
I’m going to pause here as what follows might be very spoil-ery.
What I hoped for in the entire book was a very unreliable narrator (honestly both being unreliable would have been fantastic) and for bits and pieces of the story start to come together to solve the murder of the girl from chapter 1 -surprise, it’s Ellsbeth’s sister. But this was just a somewhat derivative teacher/student “romance” that was dry on the academia side in a not great way. I didn’t enjoy the fact that we have a 25 yo female and 40+ yo male who COULDN’T COMMUNICATE. Also Rawlins kept talking about how he “was so surprised he was having carnal feelings toward his student at his age” like what man in his 40s isn’t still just ready to go always?
This would have been fantastic if 1. E had truly been so ahead of her time she performed magic on R to have him help her or 2. They were both doing things sooner to solve their problems. Another option could have been that we take the weird sexual relationship out as I didn’t feel like it added to the story in any helpful way possible.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a well written book. The prose is not too simple as it is in a lot of romantasies but it is not hard to read either. It just flows easily. Actually, the tone reminded me of Divine Rivals in the beginning.
I like the characters and their complex pasts and personalities. I like the tone of academic curiosity. I like the murder mystery. Discovering little things about everyone's pasts was fun and actually what kept me going despite not liking the main characters' relationship. And talking about not liking the relationship...
It was unfortunate that I did not realize that this was an age gap romance. I thought grad student and advisor might be closer in age and maybe not have this much of a power discrepancy. I dislike teacher-student romance as well but there have been books that I enjoyed and I was interested in the plot of this book so I decided to give it a chance. But no, unfortunately Ellsbeth and Rawlins' romantic dynamic was just icky to me.
At one point, the book started to be more about romance than the overarching mystery which was a shame for me. It is still a well written book so I am trying not to judge it too harshly even though I was quite uncomfortable with the romance aspect of it.
All that being said; if you enjoy these tropes, you would probably enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
I like the characters and their complex pasts and personalities. I like the tone of academic curiosity. I like the murder mystery. Discovering little things about everyone's pasts was fun and actually what kept me going despite not liking the main characters' relationship. And talking about not liking the relationship...
It was unfortunate that I did not realize that this was an age gap romance. I thought grad student and advisor might be closer in age and maybe not have this much of a power discrepancy. I dislike teacher-student romance as well but there have been books that I enjoyed and I was interested in the plot of this book so I decided to give it a chance. But no, unfortunately Ellsbeth and Rawlins' romantic dynamic was just icky to me.
At one point, the book started to be more about romance than the overarching mystery which was a shame for me. It is still a well written book so I am trying not to judge it too harshly even though I was quite uncomfortable with the romance aspect of it.
All that being said; if you enjoy these tropes, you would probably enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
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