The Arcane Arts

by S.D. Coverly

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 Storer: 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, 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. But 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 troubling: love. But when their project begins to spin out of control, entangling them in a destructive web of lust and power, the question remains: can two people who are masters of manipulation ever trust each other?

Genres: Dark Academia, Fantasy, Romance, Adult, Fiction, Romantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Pseudonym for the writing team of Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz.

Reviews

[hannah⁷ · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[megan ◡̈]

saltburn meets babel… 👀

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sarah Pirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Nelly]

woah this for my shelf <3

[Jennika · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[sydspages · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!!

[ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Ashley (andtheniwasbookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Rudi Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kalyani · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Meredith D · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Leslie McMann · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?

[Cindieslibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Kristi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO GOOD. I am so grateful to the publisher at NYCC. This arc was a must have and finishing it solidifies why!

Dark Academia ✅
Professor student ✅
Secret society ✅
Cold, crisp fall day to read it? ✅

I could not put this book down. The mystery of the story to the final culmination were all paced and executed really well. I loved the two main characters relationship. Their tension and growth and academic banter was just 🤌🏼🤌🏼. The magic system was so cool and enjoyable to invest in! A great stand alone for a fall day! And those romantics quotes, 😮‍💨. I would just read it for those because 😮‍💨. Would highly recommend!!

[Bevany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academia romance, dark magic theme. this book features a student teacher relationship for the romance.
I liked the concept of this book but wasn't invested in the story. there were parts that could have been flushed better. the book read slow and not super interesting.

[mimi (depression slump)]

Thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Brittany Kilinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought the nitty gritty of academia and a tortured love story together perfectly.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good!! When reading this I had a similar reading experience when reading “the scholar and the last faerie door” and “Katabasis” with how it truly explores the magical subject academically within the books writing. I wanted to learn arcane magic while reading this book.

The characters in this book are also similar to the characters in the above books in the sense that the characters search for answers and learning more academically, despite legal/moral obligations, is the most important thing to them.

This had some romance/erotica which was established quickly, but didn’t take away from the main object of them striving for knowledge.

This also had a murder mystery at the centre of it and the things that Ellsbeth uncovers that has to do with her sisters murder.

Overall I really enjoyed this! I’ve seen some mention “Babel” mentioned in their reviews on the NetGalley site - this book is NOT AT ALL like that book (so I’d say go into this not comparing it - as this is completely different to books like Babel, Blood Over Bright Haven, etc).

This book is mainly to do with a forbidden relationship, digging into a subject at an academic level (which some may or may not enjoy), as well as some murder mystery.

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

setting: Vermont
rep: n/a

this was a pretty solid fantasy romance, something I don't usually read, but this didn't feel like the usual cliches. this is dark academia, power, magic, and taboo relationships - ellsbeth is a 24yo grad student and Rawlins is her 45yo tutor, so if that gives you the ick, give this one a miss. I enjoyed their dynamic and the story in general. the pacing was a bit off and the banestooth stuff came in a bit late for me, which had me thinking this was going to be a series (which it isn't, thankfully!). I didn't get a good sense of how magic is used in the world/day to day life, this is very much an academic study of it, enjoyable if lacking a bit of depth; I liked the writing and the relationship and the emails

also, only after finishing am I realizing that the author is a pseudonym for Dana schwartz and Dan frey! that's why it didn't feel like a debut

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of The Arcane Arts from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review — and this was such a solid dark academia read for me.

This book is all vibes. I really liked how character-driven it felt.

It’s a slower burn, but in a deliberate way. If you like your fantasy atmospheric, intelligent, and quietly intense rather than action-heavy, this will absolutely work for you.

A very easy 4 stars from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Olivia Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saltburn meeting Babel immediately had me hooked as a one-line description.

Would absolutely recommend to the reader who loves dark academia with lacking redeemable characters.
Elsbeth tragically not being able to enter into the Arcane Mechanicals grad program does not stop her! She absolutely blows up the supervising professor Rawlings inbox for a spot while asking to also take part in some dark underground (not permitted) magic on the side.

Loved the emails that lined the entire story and made a difference in the storytelling all together. It was funny and lighthearted break in the midst of the plot.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favourite books last year was a dark academia/fantasy book around the ephemeral arts, so I threw myself headlong into this expecting it to be brilliant. Unfortunately, we really didn’t get on.

We’ll start as always with the good.

I loved the magic system. The titular Arcane Arts were fascinating here and the authors do a brilliant job of making them feel threatening and misunderstood. We’re set in a world of inherent mistrust towards magic due to previous crimes and tragedies, and you feel that mistrust seep into every page. The side plot about secret societies trying to rile up the public specifically to sew more seeds of that unease was also really fun to follow. Even if it was for “vague nefarious reasons, stop looking the MCs are kissing” purposes.

The main plot was… mostly look at these people kissing between purple-prosey discussions of “aren’t we so smart and hot?” But the crime at the core of this story was genuinely compelling. We follow Ellsbeth who enters university after the mysterious death of her sister. Along the way she meets a professor with her same interest in the dark and ephemeral arts.

Okay so I knew going into this book that it was going to be a “taboo” subject; professor x student. I read enough of the reviews and felt comfortable enough that I wouldn’t find it too uncomfortable, and honestly I found it to be done quite well. Initially there’s a bit of a weird power dynamic but as it develops there’s enough genuine respect that I didn’t find it offputting. TAA features a middle aged (so I’d assume 40’s?) professor and a sort of mid 20’s student, meaning not the worst thing in the world given the broader scheme of dark academia books.

My problem is that this is the most instalovey book ever to instalove. Well lust is possibly a kindness, it’s pure lust. Our MMC’s first real thought about the FMC is “she’s hot and she’s smart, fuck.” and there’s minimal development from there.

Ellsbeth was an interesting enough character to follow. Intelligent, burdened by her grief and driven by the search for answers. She’s relatable an unraveling the mystery from her perspective was genuinely entertaining.

Unfortunately, Rawlins fell entirely flat for me. He has little genuine development before a random tragic backstory very far in. He’s got very little too him except “intelligent” and “sexy.” Not the most compelling storyline. Oh sorry, “intelligent” “sexy” and “libido of a rabbit.”

SD Coverly I discovered after beginning my read is an alias of two writers, and while I haven’t been able to confirm it… I have quite strong suspicions on who wrote which point of view. When in the POV of Rawlins, so much of the agency and individuality we see from the POV of Ellsbeth just sort of… poofs out of the book.

As much as I praised the plotlines, unfortunately the credit doesn’t go far. This is because the plotlines were not the centre of the book but the romance and their sex scenes. The interesting stuff was very much a sidebar for these characters having their way with one another, and as I’ve mentioned I only found Ellsbeth particularly compelling.

This book has a strange habit of writing mostly in the close third person 90% of the time, then the interesting bits become really detached. This book has an epilogue which is the most egregious example but at the heart of quite a bit of the rest of the drama, we randomly run out of the heads of the characters. And it felt like we were watching the action from the stands rather than the perspectives, which I found super jarring.

Ms Schwartz I will probably look to read again. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be saying the same for her co-writer.

[Khali Hearon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Del Rey / PRH for providing me with an advance reader copy of The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly in exchange for an honest review!

Before I get started, the publisher reached out and suggested that I read this book because I loved Arcana Academy. I loved this book, but it is in no way comparable to Arcana Academy. Arcana Academy is romantasy with tarot card magic, enemies to lovers, in a fantasy world. The Arcane Arts is a dark academia novel set in the modern world, where 'magic' can be achieved through ritual using elements (kind of witchy) and mathematic equations. If anything, I have seen a lot of reviewers compare this to Ninth House or Saltburn. I guess I need to go read Ninth House now!

The Arcane Arts is a dark academia–infused fantasy that blends murder mystery, forbidden magic, and a simmering, morally complex romance. Set within an intellectually rigorous academic environment, the novel follows a world where power—magical, institutional, and personal—comes at a steep ethical cost. This reminded me a lot of Blood over Bright Haven, if you were a fan of that.

From the very first pages, I found myself completely immersed. Although the writing is heavily academic: rich with theory, ritual, and intellectual weight, I was able to follow along easily thanks to the author’s clear, confident prose.

One of the most striking elements is the dialogue, which at times carries a restrained, almost old-English cadence—evoking subtle Mr. Darcy–like energy—that perfectly suits the academic setting. This formality contrasts beautifully with the intimate, flirtatious emails exchanged between characters, which add tension and a sense of forbidden closeness. The romance is both intelligent and seductive, and the spice had me clutching my metaphorical pearls.

As for the characters, Rawlins, in particular, is well written with SO. MUCH. YEARNING. As mentioned earlier, it kind of gave me Mr Darcy vibes with the comments about knee brushing or fingers barely touching. However, he is so much more than a man who yearns for the mmc. He is multilayered, intelligent, and passionate. His emotional backstory has a major influence on his arc and inner dialogue. Ellsbeth matches him well -- she's smart, driven, passionate and at times quite stubborn. Their relationship is one of my favorite parts of the book, personally. It was equally seductive and intellectual, testing the boundaries of both the arcane arts and what they prefer in the bedroom. I wish I could share all of the quotes I highlighted but I'll wait until release day!

Tonally, the novel strikes an impressive balance. It is dark and sexy (some would say kinky) without losing its intellectual grounding. The magic system—especially its moral and ethical implications—will strongly appeal to readers who enjoyed the thematic depth of Blood Over Bright Haven. Power, sacrifice, and consequence are central questions here, and the story never shies away from examining them. The mystery element is equally compelling. The pacing tightens significantly toward the final act, delivering multiple twists that genuinely surprised me. So many unexpected twists that added emotional and narrative weight to the conclusion.

Overall, The Arcane Arts is an intelligent, atmospheric, and seductive dark academia fantasy that expertly weaves together mystery, magic, and [spicy] romance. This was a gripping and memorable read, and I was hooked from beginning to end. I'm sad it's over!

[Bethanie Free · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC read of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Ellsbeth Storer is top of her class and on a one way track to, potentially, career defining success when a deadly vision hits her at the worst time, in the middle of her Arcanus test. But Ellsbeth has never been one to back down from a challenge, her grief becoming a fire that guides her and urges her on.

Thaddeus Rawlins is a professor and academic on the tail end of his success. While he was widely celebrated as a young adult for the advancements he was making in the Arcane Arts, as he grew older he realized success and fame wasn’t all he thought it would be. In all actuality it leads to a dull future of financial safety but no excitement or yearning for life for the foreseeable future.

What Rawlins didn’t see coming was Ellsbeth entering his life and challenging his patience, knowledge, and ability to keep it in his pants. She presents him with a thesis idea on a forbidden branch of magic that could get both of them arrested at best or dead at worst. But the allure of testing the boundaries of Arcane magic and the willingness to get.. tied up in the work by his young ingenue proves too much for Rawlins to resist.

What I loved:

The email exchange was absolute perfection. I found myself craving the moments that the emails appeared. The back and forth between Ellsbeth and Rawlins was very well written and was, by and far, the highlight of the book in my opinion. It gave the reader an insight to what is going through both of their minds as the romance starts.

The overall theme of forbidden desires was spot on. It was in virtually every aspect of the story and it was nice to see that reflected in each person’s storyline in a different way. The debate of using forbidden magic for good vs greed was such a fun struggle to watch the characters go through. Where exactly that line is, what happens once you cross it, and, arguably the most important, how it affects how one views themselves after.

The epilogue!!!!!! Omg, the epilogue was so beautifully written! The ending had me in tears, literally. My heart was breaking so beautifully but I completely understood the need for it. And the epilogue came in and let us view such an incredible and emotional scene from a third party. We as the reader knew what was going on but getting to see it from the outside was such a fun, new perspective.

The only thing I found lacking in the book was the explanation of the magic system. I wanted so much more from it. I read the whole book and still understand virtually nothing about the magic system and how it works. I wanted to know so much more about it, how the rituals work, how it all works together, but was left wanting heavily in that department.

Overall, a fantastic book that I feel could be made a bit better by potentially splitting it up into two or more books to add more detail instead of compacting it all in one book.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For as long as she can remember, Ellsbeth has desired to pursue a future in the Arcane Arts. She convinces her professor to take her under his wing as she pursues the study of writ magic, the power to control others. As their research into this forbidden study deepens, Ellsbeth and Professor Rawlins are emboldened by each other's ambitions and the ways this illegal magic can serve their own desires. However tension grows as they realize their ability to manipulate can be used on each other and trust built on secrecy can so easily fall apart. They soon realize their appetite for power may consume them as they struggle to balance their newfound abilities in a world increasingly less tolerant of such magic. Ellsbeth and Professor Rawlins need to decide when to draw the line, if they'll be able to stop when they do, and if that will be enough.

I gobbled up this book!! The dark academia vibes were immaculate. The prose was descriptive and lush and the story felt immersive from the very beginning. Ellsbeth and Professor Rawlins each had their own individual goals and those subplots were equally as engaging and interesting as the main story. I really enjoyed the alternating POV between these two main characters. It helped to serve the advancement of the story and build a ton of tension which was excellent. I did not find myself looking forward to one perspective more than the other which I think is rare! The magic system was unique and I enjoyed learning more about the rituals as they were designed throughout the story. I enjoyed how every character had flaws and navigating them was a main focus. The book was clearly well thought out.

I WILL SAY early on in the book I told my husband "I don't care how good this book ends up being I'm knocking a star off for the age gap." Obviously you can see that that didn't end up happening because I loved this so much I'm still giving 5 stars. At the beginning of the book I did keep forgetting that Rawlins was so much older than Ellsbeth and when I remembered it pulled me out of the story a bit and felt icky. I had thought initially that the same could've been achieved if he were minimally older but still in a position of power over her which might feel a little less gross, although with later reveals in the book I can see how the age gap was needed. I do think this aspect of their relationship was well handled and realistic and can see how it was a necessary choice to the plot and so I have forgiven.

Ultimately I loved this book and will be talking about it to anyone who will listen. I would recommend for readers looking for a more sultry version of Ninth House!

Thank you to Net Galley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read and review the book. All opinions are my own.