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The Arcane Arts
In this thrilling and sexy dark romance, a graduate student and her adviser dive into a taboo branch of magic, igniting a dangerous passion.
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.
Yet when the magnetic Ellsbeth enters his orbit, he finds her impossible to resist. He agrees to oversee her pursuit of a taboo thesis topic: the study of writ magic, the illegal power to control and compel others—and a secret obsession of Rawlins’s.
As student and professor undertake their illicit research, harmless flirtation crosses into uncontrollable desire, which threatens to bloom into something even more dangerous: love.
But can two people who are masters of manipulation ever trust each other?
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.
Yet when the magnetic Ellsbeth enters his orbit, he finds her impossible to resist. He agrees to oversee her pursuit of a taboo thesis topic: the study of writ magic, the illegal power to control and compel others—and a secret obsession of Rawlins’s.
As student and professor undertake their illicit research, harmless flirtation crosses into uncontrollable desire, which threatens to bloom into something even more dangerous: love.
But can two people who are masters of manipulation ever trust each other?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
S.D. Coverly
1 book70 followersPseudonym for the writing team of Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 662 reviews
June 1, 2026
As someone who generally steers clear of any sign of dark/taboo romance... I actually surprisingly enjoyed this one!
First of all, the writing was wonderful. Reminded me of a mix between Olivie Blake & Leigh Bardugo (Ninth House version). Dark and delicious, but still literary feeling as we ventured into this story of dark academia, magic rituals & secret societies.
While we were diving into this taboo student/professor romance, I found that everything was done very respectfully in this case. Fully consensual. And felt realistic vs a glamorized or romanticized version of it. We did explore the ethics of it and the relationship was directly happening in tandem with our characters studying about magic where you could control the mind & body of others. So in that way, the parallel themes of surrendering control and the implications of that were quite well done for me.
The spice did take up a few too many pages for me personally, but also didn't feel like it completely took over the story. And I'll have to admit - I am impressed at how the spice was written. No "velvet steel lengths" here 😂 We didn't use any of the trendy romantasy smut lingo, and I kind of loved that.
The mystery was a bit predictable for me, but did keep me engaged throughout - and I overall did like the overall direction of the story.
In some ways, I feel like this is almost a dark romantasy for non-dark-romantasy readers if that makes any sense. But it worked for me!
First of all, the writing was wonderful. Reminded me of a mix between Olivie Blake & Leigh Bardugo (Ninth House version). Dark and delicious, but still literary feeling as we ventured into this story of dark academia, magic rituals & secret societies.
While we were diving into this taboo student/professor romance, I found that everything was done very respectfully in this case. Fully consensual. And felt realistic vs a glamorized or romanticized version of it. We did explore the ethics of it and the relationship was directly happening in tandem with our characters studying about magic where you could control the mind & body of others. So in that way, the parallel themes of surrendering control and the implications of that were quite well done for me.
The spice did take up a few too many pages for me personally, but also didn't feel like it completely took over the story. And I'll have to admit - I am impressed at how the spice was written. No "velvet steel lengths" here 😂 We didn't use any of the trendy romantasy smut lingo, and I kind of loved that.
The mystery was a bit predictable for me, but did keep me engaged throughout - and I overall did like the overall direction of the story.
In some ways, I feel like this is almost a dark romantasy for non-dark-romantasy readers if that makes any sense. But it worked for me!
November 27, 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.
November 4, 2025
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 17, 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
May 25, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 4 stars ✮˚.⋆
⤿ Thank you to Del Rey for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
listen...this book won't be for everyone, but it honestly worked really well for me. even if i was graciously sent this by the publisher, this would have been on my radar of releases for 2026 as i can never have enough of dark academia, magical schools, and secret societies.
this is a deliciously slow book, the search for answers about Elisabeth's sister is slow and sometimes appears to take a back seat in the story. but i picked up on so many little moments where, while it may have seemed she had forgotten about her sister, it was obvious (to me) that Elisabeth was making small moves to eventually get the answers she needed. as someone who is in graduate school too, and appreciates when magical schools actually seem to make sense- i adored how much time and attention went into exploring what Elisabeth was doing for graduate school. that's really not going to be everyone's cup of tea but for me it worked wonderfully.
both characters Elisabeth and Thaddeus make plenty of questionable decisions, but it was so interesting to see inside their heads (i loved getting both of their perspectives). both of them are very desperate to work on the forbidden magic that has eluded both of them, and it was really interesting to see how they went about getting access to it. i think i hoped for just a little more characterization from both of them, especially near the end, but i just couldn't help but be so invested in their stories.
i think the biggest gripe people will have about this story is the relationship between a graduate student Elisabeth and her professor/advisor Thaddeus. i'm not always the biggest fan of age gap romances just personally, but i think in this context it didn't bother me as much as they were both well into their adulthood (and to me at that point they could definitely both make their own decisions). with that, their relationship is not sunshine and rainbows, its manipulative, illicit and also incredibly interesting. i wouldn't say their relationship is inherently romantic, and that's one of the things that worked really well for me. it's incredibly obvious the author wasn't writing this to be the pinnacle of romance, but show how two people so desperate for power and control can manipulate one another while also, maybe slowly having feelings for one another. neither of these characters are excellent people, and that's why this relationship works so well in this book. even if in real life, i would be concerned about both of them lol.
surprisingly, there was less spice than i was anticipating in this book, or at least it was less descriptive. that was fine though, as i could definitely feel the manipulative tension simmering between Elisabeth and Thaddeus when they weren't tangled together. i think something that threw me off the tiniest bit, was in the middle of the book the plot slowed down and there was a LOT of attention on just them. it ended up being fine as the last 25% of the book picked back up, but i wish that had been cut down ever so slightly to allow the book to keep moving.
once again this book isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind reading about characters who are complicated and maybe not the best of people alongside dark academia, magical schools and secret societies i think this could be the perfect read for you! especially in fall!!
↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, violence and gore, blood, suicide mentioned, torture, kidnapping, depictions of grief
⤿ Thank you to Del Rey for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
listen...this book won't be for everyone, but it honestly worked really well for me. even if i was graciously sent this by the publisher, this would have been on my radar of releases for 2026 as i can never have enough of dark academia, magical schools, and secret societies.
this is a deliciously slow book, the search for answers about Elisabeth's sister is slow and sometimes appears to take a back seat in the story. but i picked up on so many little moments where, while it may have seemed she had forgotten about her sister, it was obvious (to me) that Elisabeth was making small moves to eventually get the answers she needed. as someone who is in graduate school too, and appreciates when magical schools actually seem to make sense- i adored how much time and attention went into exploring what Elisabeth was doing for graduate school. that's really not going to be everyone's cup of tea but for me it worked wonderfully.
both characters Elisabeth and Thaddeus make plenty of questionable decisions, but it was so interesting to see inside their heads (i loved getting both of their perspectives). both of them are very desperate to work on the forbidden magic that has eluded both of them, and it was really interesting to see how they went about getting access to it. i think i hoped for just a little more characterization from both of them, especially near the end, but i just couldn't help but be so invested in their stories.
i think the biggest gripe people will have about this story is the relationship between a graduate student Elisabeth and her professor/advisor Thaddeus. i'm not always the biggest fan of age gap romances just personally, but i think in this context it didn't bother me as much as they were both well into their adulthood (and to me at that point they could definitely both make their own decisions). with that, their relationship is not sunshine and rainbows, its manipulative, illicit and also incredibly interesting. i wouldn't say their relationship is inherently romantic, and that's one of the things that worked really well for me. it's incredibly obvious the author wasn't writing this to be the pinnacle of romance, but show how two people so desperate for power and control can manipulate one another while also, maybe slowly having feelings for one another. neither of these characters are excellent people, and that's why this relationship works so well in this book. even if in real life, i would be concerned about both of them lol.
surprisingly, there was less spice than i was anticipating in this book, or at least it was less descriptive. that was fine though, as i could definitely feel the manipulative tension simmering between Elisabeth and Thaddeus when they weren't tangled together. i think something that threw me off the tiniest bit, was in the middle of the book the plot slowed down and there was a LOT of attention on just them. it ended up being fine as the last 25% of the book picked back up, but i wish that had been cut down ever so slightly to allow the book to keep moving.
once again this book isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind reading about characters who are complicated and maybe not the best of people alongside dark academia, magical schools and secret societies i think this could be the perfect read for you! especially in fall!!
↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, violence and gore, blood, suicide mentioned, torture, kidnapping, depictions of grief
July 17, 2026
Romance readers, BE ADVISED that this book doesn't have a HEA. 🤦♀️
🛑 POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD 🛑
This book left me with a weird feeling. On one hand, it's really well written; the author took care with creating the world-building, the "laws" of this arcane magic, and the academic aspect of it was very well developed. Plus, I enjoyed how different from most heroines this heroine acted: she knew what worked on men and what didn't, and basically flirted with the hero to get him to do what she wanted, cleverly using her "feminine wiles" 😅🙌 She did all that because she wanted to learn the arcane, and figure out what really happened with her dead sister.
But also, her trying to figure out what happened to her sister took a backseat throughout the book and was suddenly remembered by the author in the last 90%. And the hero also had his own agenda and used the forbidden arcane ritual they came up with together, without telling her. So all this time, they were dealing with important life problems alone, not communicating with each other and not helping each other.😭🤦♀️ Moreover, the hero was certain that the heroine had done something, and it indicated that he didn't trust her at all. This level of mistrust was really unfortunate in the last 90% of a love story.
🛑 POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD 🛑
This book left me with a weird feeling. On one hand, it's really well written; the author took care with creating the world-building, the "laws" of this arcane magic, and the academic aspect of it was very well developed. Plus, I enjoyed how different from most heroines this heroine acted: she knew what worked on men and what didn't, and basically flirted with the hero to get him to do what she wanted, cleverly using her "feminine wiles" 😅🙌 She did all that because she wanted to learn the arcane, and figure out what really happened with her dead sister.
But also, her trying to figure out what happened to her sister took a backseat throughout the book and was suddenly remembered by the author in the last 90%. And the hero also had his own agenda and used the forbidden arcane ritual they came up with together, without telling her. So all this time, they were dealing with important life problems alone, not communicating with each other and not helping each other.😭🤦♀️ Moreover, the hero was certain that the heroine had done something, and it indicated that he didn't trust her at all. This level of mistrust was really unfortunate in the last 90% of a love story.
November 22, 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.
November 19, 2025
As I see it, Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz had two visions and decided to combine them to create this mess.
First things first, it's an age-gap romance with a subplot of vengeance.
No, sorry, it's a story about fake magic, how to achieve it, do’s, don’ts, whys, and what it takes to be the best.
Not really, tho. It's a kind of a mix of all of that and even more, not fully achieving any real aspect that (I suppose) was so important to the finished novel they all needed to be explored.
Do you also want me to share my thoughts on the storytelling?
Confusing flashbacks, wordy chapters about formulas and imaginary ritual procedures; nothing happens but the words are just never-ending.
Cherry on top: the miscommunication!
And the man acting like a freaking idiot every time you may think he's a decent guy!
I’m painfully aware of how I'm not mean enough — and I really mean it when I say ENOUGH — about the story, the writers, the whole marketing department, even to that one teacher who taught me how to read… but damn it, that finale made me release the biggest sigh of relief of my life.
↠ 2.2 stars
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.
First things first, it's an age-gap romance with a subplot of vengeance.
No, sorry, it's a story about fake magic, how to achieve it, do’s, don’ts, whys, and what it takes to be the best.
Not really, tho. It's a kind of a mix of all of that and even more, not fully achieving any real aspect that (I suppose) was so important to the finished novel they all needed to be explored.
Do you also want me to share my thoughts on the storytelling?
Confusing flashbacks, wordy chapters about formulas and imaginary ritual procedures; nothing happens but the words are just never-ending.
Cherry on top: the miscommunication!
And the man acting like a freaking idiot every time you may think he's a decent guy!
I’m painfully aware of how I'm not mean enough — and I really mean it when I say ENOUGH — about the story, the writers, the whole marketing department, even to that one teacher who taught me how to read… but damn it, that finale made me release the biggest sigh of relief of my life.
↠ 2.2 stars
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.
July 18, 2026
oh this book was FUNNNN
i did want to scream at the mmc a little bit every now and then towards the 80%ish mark but this was still thoroughly enjoyable
i did want to scream at the mmc a little bit every now and then towards the 80%ish mark but this was still thoroughly enjoyable
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.
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.
June 7, 2026
2 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2026/06/10/...
The Arcane Arts was a rather atypical read for me. On paper, a dark academia romantasy with strong thriller elements and shades of erotica is very much outside my usual comfort zone. However, S.D. Coverly is actually the shared pen name of two authors: Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz. While I’m not familiar with Dana Schwartz, Dan Frey is someone whose work I’ve absolutely loved, including The Future Is Yours and Dreambound. In fact, I’d spent the last couple years wondering what he’s been working on and when I can read more from him, and as it turns out, this was the answer. So, my curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to take the plunge. And the results were…mixed.
The story follows Ellsbeth, who has spent her entire life preparing for a future in the arcane arts. Gifted and academically driven, she has every reason to believe she’ll earn a place among the most prestigious magical institutions and researchers in the field. But then, during the most important test of her life, everything falls apart. While on the scrying portion of the exam that would determine her future prospects, she experiences a horrifying vision of her younger sister Birdie dying. Panicked and desperate, Ellsbeth abandons the examinations and rushes to help, only to discover she is too late.
The tragedy cost her more than her sister. Because the exam can only be taken once, her decision meant the collapse of everything she has worked for. Worse, according to the authorities, Birdie died by suicide in bed, which wasn’t what Ellsbeth saw. Convinced the police are hiding the truth, she becomes determined to use magic to investigate for herself. To that end, she travels to Newlyn University and sets her sights on Professor Thaddeus Rawlins, one of the field’s most respected scholars, hoping to convince him to take her on as a student. However, because her interest is in writ magic, a forbidden discipline capable of compelling and controlling others, Rawlins is hesitant, especially since he is already haunted by the consequences of a former student’s involvement with it. Yet Ellsbeth’s intelligence and ambitions intrigue him, so he agrees, believing he can help keep her research within acceptable and legal boundaries. Of course, with both of them harboring dark secrets, as their professional relationship deepens, so too does a mutual attraction that quickly evolves into something far more dangerous.
As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t normally my genre. And I have to say, after a while with this book, it reminded me exactly why. If you’re a reader who loves forbidden romance, dark academia, morally questionable attraction, and all the tensions that come with a student-professor relationship complete with a bit of kink, then I think you’ll have a much better time than I did. The novel commits fully to that dynamic and delivers exactly the sort of sexy romantasy many readers are looking for. Nevertheless, my issue was that it often felt as though every aspect of the story existed solely to facilitate that relationship, even when doing do required the plot and the characters’ decision-making to bend in ways I found extremely unbelievable.
For example, Rawlins initially raises all the objections you’d expect in his refusal to take Ellsbeth on as a student. Making an exception for her would be unfair to others and a professionally risky move that would be academically improper, creating all sorts of complications for himself and the college. But one slight push from Ellsbeth later, he caves almost immediately in a 180 that practically gave me whiplash. More importantly, he’s a professor and should understand the ethical problems involved. Rawlins has direct supervisory authority over Ellsbeth, and even if Newlyn itself doesn’t explicitly prohibit those kinds of student-professor relationships (which might be the least believable part of this whole thing), the obvious conflict of interest should have made him transfer her to another advisor if he possessed even a sliver of morals. Instead, this so-called brilliant genius just barrels ahead. Which is fine, if the taboo is the point, but it makes it hard to take the story seriously.
A similar issue extends to the writ magic storyline. Both Ellsbeth and Rawlin understand it’s highly illegal and dangerous. They repeatedly acknowledge the risks and how a former student is in prison and his life is ruined because of it. Yet they both continue pursuing it without any practical explanation for how they expect this arrangement to work long term. What are they going to do when it comes time for Ellsbeth to present her thesis? Are they simply going to ignore the inconvenient questions the university will ask? The whole thing feels less like a plan and more like two delusional people hoping future consequences somehow won’t materialize.
But in the end, what frustrated me the most was how the central mystery got pushed aside. Birdie’s death is the reason Ellsbeth embarks on this journey in the first place, the emotional and narrative foundation of the whole story. Yet there were long stretches where I genuinely forgot that was supposed to be the main driving force because the plot kept shifting its focus so heavily toward the romance, the flirting, and the relationship drama. I was honestly close to bailing around the halfway point, but thankfully the story eventually remembers its original premise and begins steering back to the mystery. Once that happened, things improved drastically.
On another positive note, the writing itself is quite strong. I could definitely see traces of Dan Frey’s influence, particularly in the way the story incorporates emails and written correspondence into the narrative, which is reminiscent of his experience with epistolary storytelling. It’s just unfortunate that even those felt a little awkward at times because the emails rarely sounded like messages actual people would send. While the prose was fantastically polished, the voices often felt overly literary and self-conscious, especially compared to how the characters would speak during face-to-face conversations.
And yet, despite all these complaints, I kept reading. That’s probably worth acknowledging, I suppose. Yes, the book frustrated me often, but it also managed to maintain just enough intrigue to keep me from putting the book aside. Whether that’s because there was actually something compelling beneath all the issues I had or because I had reached a point where I was too invested to quit, I’m honestly not sure. Probably a bit of both.
Ultimately, The Arcane Arts wasn’t a complete disaster by any means, but it also wasn’t a book that worked particularly well for me. Like I said though, I’m probably not the right audience. While there were elements I enjoyed, they were frequently overshadowed by a romantic plotline that frequently strained credibility. Even so, I’m glad I gave it a chance. Dan Frey remains an author whose books I will still want to pick up, and even though this collaboration turned out to be very different, I always appreciate the opportunity to try something new.
The Arcane Arts was a rather atypical read for me. On paper, a dark academia romantasy with strong thriller elements and shades of erotica is very much outside my usual comfort zone. However, S.D. Coverly is actually the shared pen name of two authors: Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz. While I’m not familiar with Dana Schwartz, Dan Frey is someone whose work I’ve absolutely loved, including The Future Is Yours and Dreambound. In fact, I’d spent the last couple years wondering what he’s been working on and when I can read more from him, and as it turns out, this was the answer. So, my curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to take the plunge. And the results were…mixed.
The story follows Ellsbeth, who has spent her entire life preparing for a future in the arcane arts. Gifted and academically driven, she has every reason to believe she’ll earn a place among the most prestigious magical institutions and researchers in the field. But then, during the most important test of her life, everything falls apart. While on the scrying portion of the exam that would determine her future prospects, she experiences a horrifying vision of her younger sister Birdie dying. Panicked and desperate, Ellsbeth abandons the examinations and rushes to help, only to discover she is too late.
The tragedy cost her more than her sister. Because the exam can only be taken once, her decision meant the collapse of everything she has worked for. Worse, according to the authorities, Birdie died by suicide in bed, which wasn’t what Ellsbeth saw. Convinced the police are hiding the truth, she becomes determined to use magic to investigate for herself. To that end, she travels to Newlyn University and sets her sights on Professor Thaddeus Rawlins, one of the field’s most respected scholars, hoping to convince him to take her on as a student. However, because her interest is in writ magic, a forbidden discipline capable of compelling and controlling others, Rawlins is hesitant, especially since he is already haunted by the consequences of a former student’s involvement with it. Yet Ellsbeth’s intelligence and ambitions intrigue him, so he agrees, believing he can help keep her research within acceptable and legal boundaries. Of course, with both of them harboring dark secrets, as their professional relationship deepens, so too does a mutual attraction that quickly evolves into something far more dangerous.
As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t normally my genre. And I have to say, after a while with this book, it reminded me exactly why. If you’re a reader who loves forbidden romance, dark academia, morally questionable attraction, and all the tensions that come with a student-professor relationship complete with a bit of kink, then I think you’ll have a much better time than I did. The novel commits fully to that dynamic and delivers exactly the sort of sexy romantasy many readers are looking for. Nevertheless, my issue was that it often felt as though every aspect of the story existed solely to facilitate that relationship, even when doing do required the plot and the characters’ decision-making to bend in ways I found extremely unbelievable.
For example, Rawlins initially raises all the objections you’d expect in his refusal to take Ellsbeth on as a student. Making an exception for her would be unfair to others and a professionally risky move that would be academically improper, creating all sorts of complications for himself and the college. But one slight push from Ellsbeth later, he caves almost immediately in a 180 that practically gave me whiplash. More importantly, he’s a professor and should understand the ethical problems involved. Rawlins has direct supervisory authority over Ellsbeth, and even if Newlyn itself doesn’t explicitly prohibit those kinds of student-professor relationships (which might be the least believable part of this whole thing), the obvious conflict of interest should have made him transfer her to another advisor if he possessed even a sliver of morals. Instead, this so-called brilliant genius just barrels ahead. Which is fine, if the taboo is the point, but it makes it hard to take the story seriously.
A similar issue extends to the writ magic storyline. Both Ellsbeth and Rawlin understand it’s highly illegal and dangerous. They repeatedly acknowledge the risks and how a former student is in prison and his life is ruined because of it. Yet they both continue pursuing it without any practical explanation for how they expect this arrangement to work long term. What are they going to do when it comes time for Ellsbeth to present her thesis? Are they simply going to ignore the inconvenient questions the university will ask? The whole thing feels less like a plan and more like two delusional people hoping future consequences somehow won’t materialize.
But in the end, what frustrated me the most was how the central mystery got pushed aside. Birdie’s death is the reason Ellsbeth embarks on this journey in the first place, the emotional and narrative foundation of the whole story. Yet there were long stretches where I genuinely forgot that was supposed to be the main driving force because the plot kept shifting its focus so heavily toward the romance, the flirting, and the relationship drama. I was honestly close to bailing around the halfway point, but thankfully the story eventually remembers its original premise and begins steering back to the mystery. Once that happened, things improved drastically.
On another positive note, the writing itself is quite strong. I could definitely see traces of Dan Frey’s influence, particularly in the way the story incorporates emails and written correspondence into the narrative, which is reminiscent of his experience with epistolary storytelling. It’s just unfortunate that even those felt a little awkward at times because the emails rarely sounded like messages actual people would send. While the prose was fantastically polished, the voices often felt overly literary and self-conscious, especially compared to how the characters would speak during face-to-face conversations.
And yet, despite all these complaints, I kept reading. That’s probably worth acknowledging, I suppose. Yes, the book frustrated me often, but it also managed to maintain just enough intrigue to keep me from putting the book aside. Whether that’s because there was actually something compelling beneath all the issues I had or because I had reached a point where I was too invested to quit, I’m honestly not sure. Probably a bit of both.
Ultimately, The Arcane Arts wasn’t a complete disaster by any means, but it also wasn’t a book that worked particularly well for me. Like I said though, I’m probably not the right audience. While there were elements I enjoyed, they were frequently overshadowed by a romantic plotline that frequently strained credibility. Even so, I’m glad I gave it a chance. Dan Frey remains an author whose books I will still want to pick up, and even though this collaboration turned out to be very different, I always appreciate the opportunity to try something new.
May 31, 2026
i overall really enjoyed this!! i read dana schwartz anatomy duology a few years ago and was diligently waiting for this new co-written book by her and it didn’t disappoint.
i liked the dark academia elements, the arcane magic definitely made it actually dark and not just an aesthetic sprinkled into the backdrop of the story. i normally find age gap romances a bit creepy (sorry!) but this one worked given the psyche of the characters and their ambitions and reservations.
the mystery of the plot was creepy and cool - although i wish more of it was the focus! the romance and physical relationship took up a looot of the book so i wish the actual plot and mystery had more time to shine. given the focus on the romance, i found the ending to be a bit bittersweet. had the story focused more on the plot and protagonist, it would have felt more fitting. but given that the romance seemed soo central, the “realistic” nature of the ending felt kinda depressing lol.
all in all a really entertaining read i found hard to put down!!
i liked the dark academia elements, the arcane magic definitely made it actually dark and not just an aesthetic sprinkled into the backdrop of the story. i normally find age gap romances a bit creepy (sorry!) but this one worked given the psyche of the characters and their ambitions and reservations.
the mystery of the plot was creepy and cool - although i wish more of it was the focus! the romance and physical relationship took up a looot of the book so i wish the actual plot and mystery had more time to shine. given the focus on the romance, i found the ending to be a bit bittersweet. had the story focused more on the plot and protagonist, it would have felt more fitting. but given that the romance seemed soo central, the “realistic” nature of the ending felt kinda depressing lol.
all in all a really entertaining read i found hard to put down!!
August 14, 2026
4.5
I can see why the reviews are so conflicted about this one but I enjoyed it. Now, did the book suddenly forget that there was a murder mystery element for more than a third of the page length? Yes, it did. I am ready to forgive it, though, because all that was written was engaging. I definitely wouldn't have comped this for fans of Babel (the book is far more interested in the romance than academia) and calling this a "dark romance" seems like a bit of a stretch, but I understand this is just a hard book to describe in a eye-catching tiktok-y way. Either way, I'd recommend it.
I can see why the reviews are so conflicted about this one but I enjoyed it. Now, did the book suddenly forget that there was a murder mystery element for more than a third of the page length? Yes, it did. I am ready to forgive it, though, because all that was written was engaging. I definitely wouldn't have comped this for fans of Babel (the book is far more interested in the romance than academia) and calling this a "dark romance" seems like a bit of a stretch, but I understand this is just a hard book to describe in a eye-catching tiktok-y way. Either way, I'd recommend it.
August 24, 2026
inappropriate!!
October 16, 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!
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
August 17, 2026
Format: 📱
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series: Standalone
This was a good Dark Academia with a romance subplot (the romance could theoretically be removed with minimal alteration to the storyline).
Ellsbeth is our intrepid FMC, a woman with a lifelong passion for the arcane arts. When she was abroad in England studying her passion, her sister is murdered and she comes home and enrolls at her sister’s University to investigate and find closure. She finds her childhood idol, Professor Thaddeus Rollins, and seduces him to help her investigation - finding love in a dark time.
I really enjoyed the plot twists and reveals, and the pacing was pretty steady throughout the whole story. This would be a great book to read after reading the Alex Stern series by Leigh Bardugo. The vibes are similar and it helped me retain the feeling I get when I read Ninth House and Hell Bent!
Notable tropes & themes —
📚 searching for her sister’s unaliver
🕯️ a professor with a broken heart
📚 age gap
🕯️ professor & undergraduate student relationship
📚 forbidden romance
🕯️ unaliving rituals
📚 arcane arts
🕯️ dark academia
📚 university setting
🕯️ magic as a science
I received this eARC from Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey as an opportunity to read and give my honest review.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series: Standalone
This was a good Dark Academia with a romance subplot (the romance could theoretically be removed with minimal alteration to the storyline).
Ellsbeth is our intrepid FMC, a woman with a lifelong passion for the arcane arts. When she was abroad in England studying her passion, her sister is murdered and she comes home and enrolls at her sister’s University to investigate and find closure. She finds her childhood idol, Professor Thaddeus Rollins, and seduces him to help her investigation - finding love in a dark time.
I really enjoyed the plot twists and reveals, and the pacing was pretty steady throughout the whole story. This would be a great book to read after reading the Alex Stern series by Leigh Bardugo. The vibes are similar and it helped me retain the feeling I get when I read Ninth House and Hell Bent!
Notable tropes & themes —
📚 searching for her sister’s unaliver
🕯️ a professor with a broken heart
📚 age gap
🕯️ professor & undergraduate student relationship
📚 forbidden romance
🕯️ unaliving rituals
📚 arcane arts
🕯️ dark academia
📚 university setting
🕯️ magic as a science
I received this eARC from Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey as an opportunity to read and give my honest review.
July 28, 2026
mad let down on every single front. the romance, the dark academia, and even the taboo were all killed with that last 20%. what a disappointment. i was genuinely intrigued by the magic system and the danger of it all. however, that loses steam roughly halfway through the book and doesn't recover.
also, using emails as fade to black and cut scenes was cowardly as hell lmao
also, using emails as fade to black and cut scenes was cowardly as hell lmao
May 31, 2026
4.5⭐️ Absolutely devoured this one. A dark academia romantic fantasy so sultry and lush, filled with secrets, lies, deception, illicit encounters, the study (& sexy applications) of forbidden magic, ambition, grief & determination while solving a murder mystery entangled in a secret society. And it’s a standalone?! Say less.
This was enthralling and addictive. If you loved Nocticadia but set in a less creepy and more old school college setting with power play explorations, you will love this.
The writing was so cinematic, and the audiobook made this even more unputdownable.
This was enthralling and addictive. If you loved Nocticadia but set in a less creepy and more old school college setting with power play explorations, you will love this.
The writing was so cinematic, and the audiobook made this even more unputdownable.
Want to Read
January 13, 2026woah this for my shelf <3
June 21, 2026
I noticed a lot of the reviews say they were shocked and disappointed in how much lust is in the book and how that got in the way of the magic and the plot. I thought that was fully the point. The characters literally said they were enthralled with each other and their entanglement was almost their downfall. This book was some good ole beautifully written smut but with a twist. They managed to seamlessly incorporate magic and academia in with the heated stuff and also create characters with depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
This book gets terrible ratings (for Goodreads) so I almost bypassed it entirely despite it being in my favourite genre (dark academia) and one of my favourite publishers (Del Rey). But then I got to thinking about how sometimes there's a book like Bunny by Mona Awad that follows a similar pattern but I end up loving it despite the majority opinion.
Thankfully I gave this book a chance because it really is the type of Dark Academia I love. There's murder and secret societies, the thrill of forbidden magic, the academic exploration of magic that leads to new discoveries, secret histories to uncover, and some rich, complex relationships between the characters. It also largely devolves into a series of kinky sex scenes for the middle of the book, but some of those were good to so I'm not complaining (personally I'd have trimmed/cut a few).
Audiobook Notes:
Dual narration from the 2 MCs. I think she had a better voice and more vocal range for the characters she had to do dialogue for, but he has a nice deep voice and his feminine falsetto wasn't too grating/noticeable.
Thankfully I gave this book a chance because it really is the type of Dark Academia I love. There's murder and secret societies, the thrill of forbidden magic, the academic exploration of magic that leads to new discoveries, secret histories to uncover, and some rich, complex relationships between the characters. It also largely devolves into a series of kinky sex scenes for the middle of the book, but some of those were good to so I'm not complaining (personally I'd have trimmed/cut a few).
Audiobook Notes:
Dual narration from the 2 MCs. I think she had a better voice and more vocal range for the characters she had to do dialogue for, but he has a nice deep voice and his feminine falsetto wasn't too grating/noticeable.
July 28, 2026
This shit SUUUUUUUUCKED
June 14, 2026
2.0/5
Such a stunning book cover! Unfortunately the cover design’s the best thing The Arcane Arts has going for it. I love dark academia and the novels concept of illegal “writ” magic that enables mind-control, combined with a murder mystery was compelling but the execution’s just bad. To begin with, the epistolary-style emails between Ellsbeth and Professor Rawlins were absurd and distastefully cringe. Anyone who knows how much work it takes for professors at esteemed universities to obtain both full status AND tenure will side-eye how quickly Rawlins acquieses to the pushy, entitled emails Ellsbeth bombards him with. Ellsbeth, a “student” who’s not even enrolled in the program! He would never. Topping this off, the overall writing tone of the novel comes across as young adult. It gives the impression of a mediocre debut novel. Surprisingly, it’s not. The pseudonym S.D. Coverly is actually writing duo, Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz, both have published multiple novels separately. Schwartz is well-known for her bestselling Anatomy duology, a young adult, historical romantasy. The Arcane Arts reads like mid-quality YA writing and features a teacher/student, sub/dom romance. It’s marketed as adult fiction but I suspect most adults will feel similarly underwhelmed. The whole storyline and murder mystery is quite predictable and not at all surprising when the perpetrator(s) are finally revealed.
Such a stunning book cover! Unfortunately the cover design’s the best thing The Arcane Arts has going for it. I love dark academia and the novels concept of illegal “writ” magic that enables mind-control, combined with a murder mystery was compelling but the execution’s just bad. To begin with, the epistolary-style emails between Ellsbeth and Professor Rawlins were absurd and distastefully cringe. Anyone who knows how much work it takes for professors at esteemed universities to obtain both full status AND tenure will side-eye how quickly Rawlins acquieses to the pushy, entitled emails Ellsbeth bombards him with. Ellsbeth, a “student” who’s not even enrolled in the program! He would never. Topping this off, the overall writing tone of the novel comes across as young adult. It gives the impression of a mediocre debut novel. Surprisingly, it’s not. The pseudonym S.D. Coverly is actually writing duo, Dan Frey and Dana Schwartz, both have published multiple novels separately. Schwartz is well-known for her bestselling Anatomy duology, a young adult, historical romantasy. The Arcane Arts reads like mid-quality YA writing and features a teacher/student, sub/dom romance. It’s marketed as adult fiction but I suspect most adults will feel similarly underwhelmed. The whole storyline and murder mystery is quite predictable and not at all surprising when the perpetrator(s) are finally revealed.
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
May 22, 2026
Thank you Del Rey for the ARC!
If Katabasis and Half His Age had a baby, it would be this book! The way the story is woven is absolutely *chef's kiss*. It starts out innocently enough--a young woman wanting nothing more than to study the arcane arts under the best professor she can get access to, all with the intent to learn the taboo--how to compel and control people via magic. But as time progresses, they get swept up in a relationship. But both parties are master manipulators (in fact, literally studying it!), so how much of it is real? How much of ANY of it is real?
This was a RIDE. It nails the concepts of obsession, of the seemingly unevenness in which time flows, and the darker side of academia. I had SUCH a great time reading this! It didn't QUITE make me feel the way Katabasis did, but the energy is there--both in the arcane magic and the relationship between Ellsbeth and Rawlins.
My main complaint is the way the narrative was started--it definitely sets up expectations for a very different story. The prologue was aggressively dark and it feels like the book is setting up for a sort of secret society/serial killer sort of energy. Instead, it's far more focused on the relationships between Ellsbeth and Rawlins with some arcane magic as a vehicle for that exploration. Was it still great? Yes. Was it was I was expecting? No.
If Katabasis and Half His Age had a baby, it would be this book! The way the story is woven is absolutely *chef's kiss*. It starts out innocently enough--a young woman wanting nothing more than to study the arcane arts under the best professor she can get access to, all with the intent to learn the taboo--how to compel and control people via magic. But as time progresses, they get swept up in a relationship. But both parties are master manipulators (in fact, literally studying it!), so how much of it is real? How much of ANY of it is real?
This was a RIDE. It nails the concepts of obsession, of the seemingly unevenness in which time flows, and the darker side of academia. I had SUCH a great time reading this! It didn't QUITE make me feel the way Katabasis did, but the energy is there--both in the arcane magic and the relationship between Ellsbeth and Rawlins.
My main complaint is the way the narrative was started--it definitely sets up expectations for a very different story. The prologue was aggressively dark and it feels like the book is setting up for a sort of secret society/serial killer sort of energy. Instead, it's far more focused on the relationships between Ellsbeth and Rawlins with some arcane magic as a vehicle for that exploration. Was it still great? Yes. Was it was I was expecting? No.
August 11, 2026
i suspected i could only enjoy romance if the protagonists were genuinely closed off, abrasive, off-putting, and pathetic and i'm pleased to report that i was right! i'm sure the audiobook helped with making ellsbeth feel so familiar and relatable, but i also cannot deny that she was operating at peak roma murphy levels throughout!
the plotty, dark academia elements were also smart and elevated enough to compel me even when my sex negativity reared its ugly head. i did find the romance-y "everything works out okay for the protags" ending a little silly, but hey, it's a genre convention.
the plotty, dark academia elements were also smart and elevated enough to compel me even when my sex negativity reared its ugly head. i did find the romance-y "everything works out okay for the protags" ending a little silly, but hey, it's a genre convention.
July 1, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.0.
Thank you to this book for reminding me just how good dark academia is, I haven’t tapped into this genre in a while and I’ve been missing out.
This book has a seductive quality, it indulges your intellect with its slightly prentious language and outlandish exploration of magic and control, but also with our main characters who verbally tango their way into a dangerous dynamic that has a lure of forbidden to it.
At the core of the plot though is a clever and ferocious FMC who has so much drive and it’s directed at finding out what happened to her sister. This dark academic mystery that blends a little romance and fantasy into the plot had me from literally page 5 I think. I couldn’t recommend it more.
Thank you to this book for reminding me just how good dark academia is, I haven’t tapped into this genre in a while and I’ve been missing out.
This book has a seductive quality, it indulges your intellect with its slightly prentious language and outlandish exploration of magic and control, but also with our main characters who verbally tango their way into a dangerous dynamic that has a lure of forbidden to it.
At the core of the plot though is a clever and ferocious FMC who has so much drive and it’s directed at finding out what happened to her sister. This dark academic mystery that blends a little romance and fantasy into the plot had me from literally page 5 I think. I couldn’t recommend it more.
September 2, 2026
Oh, this was delicious.
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