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The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones
Casey McQuiston meets The Secret History in this unmissable dark academia fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lex Croucher following former childhood best friends who reunite at magical boarding school after years, only to find themselves enemies on opposite sides of the ugly secrets hidden within the gilded walls.
Welcome to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy ... and your newest dark academia obsession.
For as long as they can remember, Briar Jones dreamed of attending the Temple School of Thaumaturgy. Behind its looming ornate gates, the elite prep school—the place that has produced the most CEOs and Prime Ministers in British history—is whispered to be magical.
Briar's best friend, Sebastian Wolfe, never cared about Temple or believed in the rumors. He just wanted them to stay together forever.
When, at age 11, Seb gets an acceptance letter and Briar doesn't, their childhood friendship is shattered. Seb vanishes onto Temple's grounds and Briar resigns themself to a mundane life. But they can't completely forget their yearning for Temple, for the extraordinary, to be one of the chosen in the ivory tower.
Seven years later, a summer job advert a temp position sorting through the junk in Temple’s attics. Briar takes it. And they discover that quiet, sensitive Seb, the boy they once loved more than anything else in the world, has become a beautiful, arrogant villain feared by most of the school. And worse, the secrets Temple is hiding might not be so magical after all, but a dark conspiracy with implications that extend far beyond the gates.
Welcome to the Temple School of Thaumaturgy ... and your newest dark academia obsession.
For as long as they can remember, Briar Jones dreamed of attending the Temple School of Thaumaturgy. Behind its looming ornate gates, the elite prep school—the place that has produced the most CEOs and Prime Ministers in British history—is whispered to be magical.
Briar's best friend, Sebastian Wolfe, never cared about Temple or believed in the rumors. He just wanted them to stay together forever.
When, at age 11, Seb gets an acceptance letter and Briar doesn't, their childhood friendship is shattered. Seb vanishes onto Temple's grounds and Briar resigns themself to a mundane life. But they can't completely forget their yearning for Temple, for the extraordinary, to be one of the chosen in the ivory tower.
Seven years later, a summer job advert a temp position sorting through the junk in Temple’s attics. Briar takes it. And they discover that quiet, sensitive Seb, the boy they once loved more than anything else in the world, has become a beautiful, arrogant villain feared by most of the school. And worse, the secrets Temple is hiding might not be so magical after all, but a dark conspiracy with implications that extend far beyond the gates.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Lex Croucher
9 books3,086 followersLex Croucher grew up in Surrey, reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London with an elderly cat. With a background in social media for NGOs, Lex now writes historical-ish rom coms for adults (REPUTATION, INFAMOUS) and historical fantasy rom coms for teenagers. GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE is their YA debut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
June 20, 2026
Wickedly good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!
_________
Fuck, I'm in love with this book, okay?
Think: there is a very Hogwartsy institute not too far where you live and you wait for that admission letter like we all did after first reading Harry Potter. Only that your *best friend* gets in and you don't. Until you kinda do, but not as a scholar. Only that it's not at all the rainbows and kittens you dreamt it was, and you have no idea if you now wish you left the memory of the dream and of your childhood love intact, or if it's better having your heart broken all over again in several ways.
He is the asshole. No, you're the asshole. They (most of the extended cast) are surely the asshole.
Everyone is an asshole, so nobody is really an asshole. Readers included, cause we are all real people doing asshole and non-asshole stuff.
If you want to see a more visual review you can check my IG post CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL REVIEW
Huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, & the publisher for this ARC!
Pre-read
I was very intrigued by this title. I need magic in my books so there was a bit of push and pull before I curiosity won over!
_________
Fuck, I'm in love with this book, okay?
Think: there is a very Hogwartsy institute not too far where you live and you wait for that admission letter like we all did after first reading Harry Potter. Only that your *best friend* gets in and you don't. Until you kinda do, but not as a scholar. Only that it's not at all the rainbows and kittens you dreamt it was, and you have no idea if you now wish you left the memory of the dream and of your childhood love intact, or if it's better having your heart broken all over again in several ways.
He is the asshole. No, you're the asshole. They (most of the extended cast) are surely the asshole.
Everyone is an asshole, so nobody is really an asshole. Readers included, cause we are all real people doing asshole and non-asshole stuff.
If you want to see a more visual review you can check my IG post CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL REVIEW
Huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, & the publisher for this ARC!
Pre-read
I was very intrigued by this title. I need magic in my books so there was a bit of push and pull before I curiosity won over!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!
I feel very conflicted about this read because I think the writing was very compelling & nostalgic - but I had a few issues with the story.
Bastian & Briar were inseparable until Bastian got accepted in a magical school and Briar didn’t. A lot of resentment unfolded and they only see each other 7 years later - when Briar gets a cleaning job at said school.
I was really enjoying the mystery & found family in the first half of this novel. There’s queer representations and it was well done. I will admit I couldn’t get attached to the characters because they felt very far to me. I don’t quite know how to explain it but sometimes Briar’s lack of reaction snapped me out of the story. That character was also very persistent in their naïveté through the whole story. There were 2 plotholes I noticed… but ultimately what really hindered my reading experience was the ‘romance’. It was extremely toxic and very high school romance coded. I wish it didn’t have romance because I could not root for them.
Drugs are heavily mentioned and there’s usage on page as well. Now I know some people don’t necessarily mind that and I respect it… but I don’t like reading about it. With drug addict parents - I guess I just don’t want to read about that and I know it’s entirely subjective.
What was also a bit jarring to me is that the writing did feel very YA (despite being marketed as Adult) so the torture scenes of humans & animals, with all the scenes of almost SA were very shocking. And I just think that the problem for me… was the fact that they weren’t really discussed or solved afterwards. It did feel as if they were there for shock value only.
I think the resolution was lightning fast, for a story that drew the ending on and on. It was resolved in a YA way - which accentuated the feeling I had about this being possibly mismarketed. I do feel unsatisfied with the ending but that’s only because I wish the story had kept the edge it had all along.
I feel very conflicted about this read because I think the writing was very compelling & nostalgic - but I had a few issues with the story.
Bastian & Briar were inseparable until Bastian got accepted in a magical school and Briar didn’t. A lot of resentment unfolded and they only see each other 7 years later - when Briar gets a cleaning job at said school.
I was really enjoying the mystery & found family in the first half of this novel. There’s queer representations and it was well done. I will admit I couldn’t get attached to the characters because they felt very far to me. I don’t quite know how to explain it but sometimes Briar’s lack of reaction snapped me out of the story. That character was also very persistent in their naïveté through the whole story. There were 2 plotholes I noticed… but ultimately what really hindered my reading experience was the ‘romance’. It was extremely toxic and very high school romance coded. I wish it didn’t have romance because I could not root for them.
Drugs are heavily mentioned and there’s usage on page as well. Now I know some people don’t necessarily mind that and I respect it… but I don’t like reading about it. With drug addict parents - I guess I just don’t want to read about that and I know it’s entirely subjective.
What was also a bit jarring to me is that the writing did feel very YA (despite being marketed as Adult) so the torture scenes of humans & animals, with all the scenes of almost SA were very shocking. And I just think that the problem for me… was the fact that they weren’t really discussed or solved afterwards. It did feel as if they were there for shock value only.
I think the resolution was lightning fast, for a story that drew the ending on and on. It was resolved in a YA way - which accentuated the feeling I had about this being possibly mismarketed. I do feel unsatisfied with the ending but that’s only because I wish the story had kept the edge it had all along.
Want to Read
April 26, 2024Why did I have to find out about this book right now when it's freaking coming out October 2025???? 😭
January 24, 2026
4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️
- Dark academia / Magical School
- Magic systems
- non-binary/ queer rep
- Fighting establishment
- Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Trials
Seb and Briar are inseparable, until one day Seb receives a letter to the country’s only school of magic while Briar does not. Years later, Briar arrives at the school on a temporary job contract and discovers their former best friend, the boy they once loved, has become a villain. However, nothing is as it seems…As Briar explores hidden attics, forgotten studies and long-buried memories, they race to uncover the truth behind the school’s ancient walls. They must find who they can trust, as they unearth secrets with far-reaching consequences…
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is a brilliant, queer, dark-academia story that explores power, longing, and all the complexities of human relationships. It’s an emotional, smart, and powerful read and once I picked it up I couldn’t put down!
The story is intensely character-driven, especially the first half, and slower pacing really gives the characters room to evolve and grow. Every character is flawed, complicated, and carrying old wounds, yet fiercely loyal in their own ways. So many moments broke my heart a little, it completely captures the duality of human relationships in all their beauty and brutality.
I felt so invested in all the characters, especially Seb. The longing, heartbreak, and quiet desperation throughout his story had me desperately hoping for a happy ending!
Also the queer representation is so appreciated, it’s seamlessly woven into the bones of the story rather than sidelined.
The ending was perfect, even if I was a little devastated to realise this is a standalone. I wanted more time with these characters and I’m not ready to let them go!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
- Dark academia / Magical School
- Magic systems
- non-binary/ queer rep
- Fighting establishment
- Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Trials
Seb and Briar are inseparable, until one day Seb receives a letter to the country’s only school of magic while Briar does not. Years later, Briar arrives at the school on a temporary job contract and discovers their former best friend, the boy they once loved, has become a villain. However, nothing is as it seems…As Briar explores hidden attics, forgotten studies and long-buried memories, they race to uncover the truth behind the school’s ancient walls. They must find who they can trust, as they unearth secrets with far-reaching consequences…
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is a brilliant, queer, dark-academia story that explores power, longing, and all the complexities of human relationships. It’s an emotional, smart, and powerful read and once I picked it up I couldn’t put down!
The story is intensely character-driven, especially the first half, and slower pacing really gives the characters room to evolve and grow. Every character is flawed, complicated, and carrying old wounds, yet fiercely loyal in their own ways. So many moments broke my heart a little, it completely captures the duality of human relationships in all their beauty and brutality.
I felt so invested in all the characters, especially Seb. The longing, heartbreak, and quiet desperation throughout his story had me desperately hoping for a happy ending!
Also the queer representation is so appreciated, it’s seamlessly woven into the bones of the story rather than sidelined.
The ending was perfect, even if I was a little devastated to realise this is a standalone. I wanted more time with these characters and I’m not ready to let them go!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
June 16, 2026
I expected something completely different, it felt like what the blurb promised and what the actual story delivered aren’t the same thing.
This made me feel disconnected from the story early on and the fact that it read very YA despite being marketed as adult didn’t help that feeling.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished this, and I must admit that I’m struggling to remember most of the plot. But during the story, I do remember thinking that the writing is good and I’m sure this will find its audience. You just have to have the right expectations.
This made me feel disconnected from the story early on and the fact that it read very YA despite being marketed as adult didn’t help that feeling.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished this, and I must admit that I’m struggling to remember most of the plot. But during the story, I do remember thinking that the writing is good and I’m sure this will find its audience. You just have to have the right expectations.
March 3, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Look, I haven’t had a cigarette since Election Day 2024. For pretty much all of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” I needed one. Fucking hell. This was a lot.
Let’s get my one quibble out of the way. I don’t think this should be marketed as YA. Yes, Briar and Bastian are young adults, but these themes and plot points are… a lot. It’s all the angst and dread from Croucher’s previous works put on steroids. Everything is handled quite well, but yeah… just… a lot. I don’t think I was an emotionally mature enough high schooler to read this. Hell, I’m pushing 30 and I had a hard time reading this.
Anywho, “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I was so hooked and couldn’t put it down, even when I was so disturbed and upset. The book reminded me mostly of “Let The Dead Bury The Dead” and “Cursed Crown” Duology in that respect. Hooked, but upset.
What mostly makes Croucher’s writing so successful is that we want Seb to be redeemed. Bastian is pretty despicable, but we read about sweet Seb and we want him back.
I loved Briar as a narrator and protagonist. They’re not perfect, but they’re someone we truly root for. I liked a lot of the gender beats and Briar’s own identity. Very strong.
Finally, thank God for happy (or hopeful perhaps) endings. Like I said, I had so much dread for most of this book and the ending healed me a bit. The powers of love and hope and redemption and forgiveness are nothing to be trifled with.
I can’t wait for this to hit libraries and book stores. Will definitely be buying my own copy so I can revisit it. Will be thinking about Briar, Sebastian and the others for a long while. Considering the surprise sequel to “Gwen And Art Are Not In Love”, would be hopeful to see more of this story in the future. Lots of potential.
Look, I haven’t had a cigarette since Election Day 2024. For pretty much all of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” I needed one. Fucking hell. This was a lot.
Let’s get my one quibble out of the way. I don’t think this should be marketed as YA. Yes, Briar and Bastian are young adults, but these themes and plot points are… a lot. It’s all the angst and dread from Croucher’s previous works put on steroids. Everything is handled quite well, but yeah… just… a lot. I don’t think I was an emotionally mature enough high schooler to read this. Hell, I’m pushing 30 and I had a hard time reading this.
Anywho, “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I was so hooked and couldn’t put it down, even when I was so disturbed and upset. The book reminded me mostly of “Let The Dead Bury The Dead” and “Cursed Crown” Duology in that respect. Hooked, but upset.
What mostly makes Croucher’s writing so successful is that we want Seb to be redeemed. Bastian is pretty despicable, but we read about sweet Seb and we want him back.
I loved Briar as a narrator and protagonist. They’re not perfect, but they’re someone we truly root for. I liked a lot of the gender beats and Briar’s own identity. Very strong.
Finally, thank God for happy (or hopeful perhaps) endings. Like I said, I had so much dread for most of this book and the ending healed me a bit. The powers of love and hope and redemption and forgiveness are nothing to be trifled with.
I can’t wait for this to hit libraries and book stores. Will definitely be buying my own copy so I can revisit it. Will be thinking about Briar, Sebastian and the others for a long while. Considering the surprise sequel to “Gwen And Art Are Not In Love”, would be hopeful to see more of this story in the future. Lots of potential.
Want to Read
November 27, 2024the blurb is giving school for good and evil vibes and i’m not sure i’m emotionally ready for that
June 9, 2026
Loved the Hogwarts vibes and the dry witty humor. This is a really enjoyable dark academia
June 19, 2026
Look, when you pitch a book as "your newest dark academia obsession", you have a lot to live up to, but Lex Croucher absolutely delivered with The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones. It has a bit of slice of life academia mess, a bit of sinister mystery, a bit of friends to strangers to enemies to lovers romance, a bit of dark magical trauma, a whole lot of queer chaos, and a bold 'fuck the system' energy that just drips off every page, and I love it for that.
Now, there is no denying that The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones takes its sweet, sweet time to get going. We spend a lot of time just going through the days alongside Briar as they become more familiar with the Temple School of Thaumaturgy during their summer job, meet the wonderfully eccentric people who live there, reminisce about the past, and try to deal with the fact that their childhood best friend who they once loved more than anything else in the world has somehow become the school's resident villain. Which is, admittedly, not an ideal reunion.
Honestly, I can see why some people might find the beginning a bit slow or boring, and there were definitely a few moments where I found myself wondering whether an actual plot was ever going to emerge from all the wandering and yearning, but I was just having such a good time hanging out with my non-binary babe Briar that I didn't even care. Their narration is messy and funny and painfully self-aware (especially on audio!), and I really enjoyed watching them slowly connect with the students at Temple, who are all absolute menaces in the best ways possible. Sometimes the dialogue and interactions did make the tone feel a little more YA than I was expecting considering everyone is seventeen or eighteen, but I still ate up every bit of the banter and loved the slow-burn found family dynamics that slowly started to develop even while Briar continued to trust absolutely nothing and nobody, including themself.
That said, there is no denying that the second half is where The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones really started to shine for me. Once Briar stopped spending quite so much time living in the past and we started focusing more on the present, things get darker and more twisted with every new discovery, and I was so here for that. I loved how the tone became noticeably more mature as the conspiracy at the heart of the story started revealing itself piece by piece, but what I loved even more is that Seb suddenly got a lot more page time.
Because, unfortunately for me, I am always going to be weak for a traumatized, misunderstood anti-hero, so of course Seb just completely stole my heart. I really enjoyed how every interaction between him and Briar felt so loaded with years of hurt, resentment, longing, and things left unsaid, and their relationship easily ended up being my favourite aspect of The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones, even if this is absolutely not a romance-driven story. You could definitely argue that their dynamic progresses fairly quickly, but it totally worked for me because these two come with so much history already built into the story. Their feelings don't need pages and pages to develop because they've been carrying them around for years, so what we get instead is the messy process of unpacking all that baggage, and I loved every painful second of it.
The tension was truly just excellent all across the board, and I really appreciated how well Croucher seemed to understand what makes dark academia so compelling in the first place. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is moody, dramatic, pretentious, dry, sarcastic, and quietly melancholic, and I loved how every character is so morally messy and self-destructive in all the best ways as they are constantly making questionable decisions while chasing knowledge they probably should have left alone. And as if that was not enough, we also have the magic (or perhaps not-magic?) involving mind control and consent, which just adds the most morbidly fascinating and uncomfortably dark layer to every interaction and relationship, which I was so here for. Like, the more I learned about what was really happening at Temple, the more horrified I became, which naturally only made me want to keep reading.
And sure, maybe the final twenty percent is a little rushed and wildly bombastic compared to the much slower pace of the rest of the book, but I still think Croucher absolutely nailed what they were trying to do here and stuck the landing beautifully. While The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones wasn't quite the new all-time fave I convinced myself it was going to be, I had an absolutely wonderful time with the audiobook and I would highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a hella queer dark academia in the vein of Ninth House, The Incandescent or A Deadly Education.
Now, there is no denying that The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones takes its sweet, sweet time to get going. We spend a lot of time just going through the days alongside Briar as they become more familiar with the Temple School of Thaumaturgy during their summer job, meet the wonderfully eccentric people who live there, reminisce about the past, and try to deal with the fact that their childhood best friend who they once loved more than anything else in the world has somehow become the school's resident villain. Which is, admittedly, not an ideal reunion.
Honestly, I can see why some people might find the beginning a bit slow or boring, and there were definitely a few moments where I found myself wondering whether an actual plot was ever going to emerge from all the wandering and yearning, but I was just having such a good time hanging out with my non-binary babe Briar that I didn't even care. Their narration is messy and funny and painfully self-aware (especially on audio!), and I really enjoyed watching them slowly connect with the students at Temple, who are all absolute menaces in the best ways possible. Sometimes the dialogue and interactions did make the tone feel a little more YA than I was expecting considering everyone is seventeen or eighteen, but I still ate up every bit of the banter and loved the slow-burn found family dynamics that slowly started to develop even while Briar continued to trust absolutely nothing and nobody, including themself.
That said, there is no denying that the second half is where The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones really started to shine for me. Once Briar stopped spending quite so much time living in the past and we started focusing more on the present, things get darker and more twisted with every new discovery, and I was so here for that. I loved how the tone became noticeably more mature as the conspiracy at the heart of the story started revealing itself piece by piece, but what I loved even more is that Seb suddenly got a lot more page time.
Because, unfortunately for me, I am always going to be weak for a traumatized, misunderstood anti-hero, so of course Seb just completely stole my heart. I really enjoyed how every interaction between him and Briar felt so loaded with years of hurt, resentment, longing, and things left unsaid, and their relationship easily ended up being my favourite aspect of The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones, even if this is absolutely not a romance-driven story. You could definitely argue that their dynamic progresses fairly quickly, but it totally worked for me because these two come with so much history already built into the story. Their feelings don't need pages and pages to develop because they've been carrying them around for years, so what we get instead is the messy process of unpacking all that baggage, and I loved every painful second of it.
The tension was truly just excellent all across the board, and I really appreciated how well Croucher seemed to understand what makes dark academia so compelling in the first place. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is moody, dramatic, pretentious, dry, sarcastic, and quietly melancholic, and I loved how every character is so morally messy and self-destructive in all the best ways as they are constantly making questionable decisions while chasing knowledge they probably should have left alone. And as if that was not enough, we also have the magic (or perhaps not-magic?) involving mind control and consent, which just adds the most morbidly fascinating and uncomfortably dark layer to every interaction and relationship, which I was so here for. Like, the more I learned about what was really happening at Temple, the more horrified I became, which naturally only made me want to keep reading.
And sure, maybe the final twenty percent is a little rushed and wildly bombastic compared to the much slower pace of the rest of the book, but I still think Croucher absolutely nailed what they were trying to do here and stuck the landing beautifully. While The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones wasn't quite the new all-time fave I convinced myself it was going to be, I had an absolutely wonderful time with the audiobook and I would highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a hella queer dark academia in the vein of Ninth House, The Incandescent or A Deadly Education.
June 20, 2026
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher had several elements that immediately appealed to me such as dark academia, LGBTQ+ representation, found family, and a mysterious magical school. While I enjoyed aspects of the novel, it ultimately fell short of my expectations.
Despite being marketed as adult fantasy, the story read much more like YA. The focus is largely on Briar’s personal struggles and relationships rather than the school, magic, or academic setting, making the dark academia atmosphere feel underutilized. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of introspection and exposition that slowed the narrative considerably.
I particularly struggled with the central romance. Briar and Sebastian’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic never felt fully convincing to me, and I found it difficult to connect with the intensity of Briar’s resentment over events from their childhood. As a result, I was never fully invested in their relationship or rooting for their reconciliation.
That said, I appreciated the inclusive representation, found family themes, and the mystery surrounding Temple and its secrets. While the second half gained momentum, I never became fully invested in the characters or their journeys.
Overall, this was a solid read with strengths that will appeal to many readers, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you Lex Croucher, HarperAudio Adult | Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being marketed as adult fantasy, the story read much more like YA. The focus is largely on Briar’s personal struggles and relationships rather than the school, magic, or academic setting, making the dark academia atmosphere feel underutilized. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of introspection and exposition that slowed the narrative considerably.
I particularly struggled with the central romance. Briar and Sebastian’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic never felt fully convincing to me, and I found it difficult to connect with the intensity of Briar’s resentment over events from their childhood. As a result, I was never fully invested in their relationship or rooting for their reconciliation.
That said, I appreciated the inclusive representation, found family themes, and the mystery surrounding Temple and its secrets. While the second half gained momentum, I never became fully invested in the characters or their journeys.
Overall, this was a solid read with strengths that will appeal to many readers, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you Lex Croucher, HarperAudio Adult | Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2026
05/19/2026-05/26/2026
Thank You @harpervoyagerus for this gorgeous #gifted proof of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” by Lex Croucher ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(Out June 9th)
I loved the world building, the Temple School of Thaumaturgy and all the little dark academia potholes in this book 🖤
However, Briar lived the same day, the same struggles and the same feelings and thoughts over and over again, a little over halfway a plot does begin to show and you can finally understand the gaps and history!💚
I’m just thrilled Briar and (redacted) got their happy ending 🥹🖤
Read if you love:
🦢 Dark Academia
🦢 Mystery
🦢 Subtle elements of Magic
🦢 The Breakfast Club style friendship
🦢 An Underdog Win
Thank You @harpervoyagerus for this gorgeous #gifted proof of “The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones” by Lex Croucher ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(Out June 9th)
I loved the world building, the Temple School of Thaumaturgy and all the little dark academia potholes in this book 🖤
However, Briar lived the same day, the same struggles and the same feelings and thoughts over and over again, a little over halfway a plot does begin to show and you can finally understand the gaps and history!💚
I’m just thrilled Briar and (redacted) got their happy ending 🥹🖤
Read if you love:
🦢 Dark Academia
🦢 Mystery
🦢 Subtle elements of Magic
🦢 The Breakfast Club style friendship
🦢 An Underdog Win
June 14, 2026
4.5 🌟
'....everything feels new and dangerous, every brush of lip and skin like it might be the thing that fatally crosses the line.' (Ch 30)
Dark Academia | Magical Realism | Queer Romance | Friends to Enemies to Lovers | Found Family | Betrayal | Secrets
Briar never wanted something more than to go to Temple for all of their childhood, but that dream was snatched away, and along with it, their childhood friend, Seb. Years later, they find themself right where they always wanted to be. However, their long lost friend is a far cry from the one they remember.
'Don’t make anybody the god of your life, even if you’ve watched a hundred sunrises together and seen them clutch their heart and cry like they’re dying and tasted the blood from their broken lip' (Ch 10)
The world that they enter is wrought with startling revelations about Temple and the cruel and immoral goings-on behind those walls. Though they are powerless on their own, fueled by anger, they think they can join with others who are against the wrongness that is occurring there. Stop the vicious cycle.
'....but Temple . . . Temple demands its pound of flesh.' (Ch 33)
A friendship gone astray, found family and allies, and tormentors by standing traditions in a place where danger increases with every interaction. When the bullies are in power and have control, what can one unmagical person and a few misfits do to seize it back?
Briar seems dauntless. They are like the hired muscle, all brawn, yet they wear their heart on their sleeves. Was kinda wanting to ship them with Tate as he had this vibe about him.
They uncover many secrets about themself, about their history with Seb, and stumble upon a mystery at Temple. But their stay is temporary, and as the ending of their contract looms near, they face the terrifying possibility that they may lose all they had discovered... friendship, love, knowledge, everything that came to matter.
"'...Maybe . . . maybe we don’t need to be completely good, to be worth saving.’" (Ch 40)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Harper Voyager / HarperCollins Publishers
'....everything feels new and dangerous, every brush of lip and skin like it might be the thing that fatally crosses the line.' (Ch 30)
Dark Academia | Magical Realism | Queer Romance | Friends to Enemies to Lovers | Found Family | Betrayal | Secrets
Briar never wanted something more than to go to Temple for all of their childhood, but that dream was snatched away, and along with it, their childhood friend, Seb. Years later, they find themself right where they always wanted to be. However, their long lost friend is a far cry from the one they remember.
'Don’t make anybody the god of your life, even if you’ve watched a hundred sunrises together and seen them clutch their heart and cry like they’re dying and tasted the blood from their broken lip' (Ch 10)
The world that they enter is wrought with startling revelations about Temple and the cruel and immoral goings-on behind those walls. Though they are powerless on their own, fueled by anger, they think they can join with others who are against the wrongness that is occurring there. Stop the vicious cycle.
'....but Temple . . . Temple demands its pound of flesh.' (Ch 33)
A friendship gone astray, found family and allies, and tormentors by standing traditions in a place where danger increases with every interaction. When the bullies are in power and have control, what can one unmagical person and a few misfits do to seize it back?
Briar seems dauntless. They are like the hired muscle, all brawn, yet they wear their heart on their sleeves. Was kinda wanting to ship them with Tate as he had this vibe about him.
They uncover many secrets about themself, about their history with Seb, and stumble upon a mystery at Temple. But their stay is temporary, and as the ending of their contract looms near, they face the terrifying possibility that they may lose all they had discovered... friendship, love, knowledge, everything that came to matter.
"'...Maybe . . . maybe we don’t need to be completely good, to be worth saving.’" (Ch 40)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Harper Voyager / HarperCollins Publishers
June 15, 2026
Lex Croucher can really do it all. so far, ive loved their YA (Gwen & Art Are Not In Love) and their historical romance (Reputation and Infamous) and now I love their dark academia fantasy! their writing is such a treat to read, so clever and funny but also so much angst (i love angst).
no one is “good” in this book, and I loved how many shades of gray we saw in the characters. even though everyone was a little (perhaps more than) awful they are also literally in their late teens, in a fucked up magical school with ritual hazing and extreme power dynamics, and still figuring things out. It’s a mess (affectionate). speaking of power dynamics!! i really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this, and i liked that it questions the fairness of magic (or “the work”) and also questioned all the weird rituals/trials that go on in this school.
it’s so hard for me to pick a favorite character because I loved so many of them. I loved Briar, Seb, and Briar’s group of friends (Hadley, Tate, and Westby). Also Eugenia??? She really stole the show in the first few chapters and I was instantly obsessed. but BRIAR AND SEB oh my god...ok yeah, their scenes were my favorites. the tension between these two and aaaah, of course i ate it up— i’m a sucker for a second chance and also for growth and redemption!!
I combo read this and the narrator was very good!! highly rec the audiobook version if that’s available to you!!
thank you to Harper Voyager for the free copy and ALC!!
no one is “good” in this book, and I loved how many shades of gray we saw in the characters. even though everyone was a little (perhaps more than) awful they are also literally in their late teens, in a fucked up magical school with ritual hazing and extreme power dynamics, and still figuring things out. It’s a mess (affectionate). speaking of power dynamics!! i really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this, and i liked that it questions the fairness of magic (or “the work”) and also questioned all the weird rituals/trials that go on in this school.
it’s so hard for me to pick a favorite character because I loved so many of them. I loved Briar, Seb, and Briar’s group of friends (Hadley, Tate, and Westby). Also Eugenia??? She really stole the show in the first few chapters and I was instantly obsessed. but BRIAR AND SEB oh my god...ok yeah, their scenes were my favorites. the tension between these two and aaaah, of course i ate it up— i’m a sucker for a second chance and also for growth and redemption!!
I combo read this and the narrator was very good!! highly rec the audiobook version if that’s available to you!!
thank you to Harper Voyager for the free copy and ALC!!
June 10, 2026
I loved loved loved this book. In a way it reminded me of Vita Nostra, although much lighter, and that’s high praise coming from me.
We follow 18-year-old Briar Jones on their summer job, which is nothing less than cleaning an attic at a school they fantasised about joining all throughout their childhood with their best friend, Seb. But seven years ago, Seb got in and left Briar behind, away to learn magic while Briar had to stay on their family’s farm. And now, Seb stands in front of Briar again, but his name is Bastian and the sweet boy he was is nowhere to be found anymore, forgotten behind the cruelty of Temple.
First of all, I have to mention that the non binary rep was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to see a non binary main character and also have it just be a fact of the story, and not a coming-out focused story. These are just as important, but so is post-coming out rep.
The world was also very well developed, with deeply flawed characters that are still very much realistic and likeable despite their faults. It felt very human, and helped the story feel more grounded. The magic system was also refreshing and is what reminded me the most of Vita Nostra, which I very much enjoyed.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the book made it all worth it regardless and I hope we get to see more of this from Lex Croucher!
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
We follow 18-year-old Briar Jones on their summer job, which is nothing less than cleaning an attic at a school they fantasised about joining all throughout their childhood with their best friend, Seb. But seven years ago, Seb got in and left Briar behind, away to learn magic while Briar had to stay on their family’s farm. And now, Seb stands in front of Briar again, but his name is Bastian and the sweet boy he was is nowhere to be found anymore, forgotten behind the cruelty of Temple.
First of all, I have to mention that the non binary rep was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to see a non binary main character and also have it just be a fact of the story, and not a coming-out focused story. These are just as important, but so is post-coming out rep.
The world was also very well developed, with deeply flawed characters that are still very much realistic and likeable despite their faults. It felt very human, and helped the story feel more grounded. The magic system was also refreshing and is what reminded me the most of Vita Nostra, which I very much enjoyed.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the book made it all worth it regardless and I hope we get to see more of this from Lex Croucher!
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 13, 2026
My rating 4.50
Oh I enjoyed this.
Wow! Dark academia but make it friends to enemies to lovers in the most intriguing way possible.
I loved Briar so much as a main character. They were a fully fleshed out character and one I just wanted to spend time with. Sebastian is the antithesis of Briar - a school yard bully, haughty and sullen but with magic.
It's been 7 long years since Briar and Sebastian have seen each other - since the time when only Seb got acceptance to the secretly magical school of Thaumaturgy - Temple. Leaving Briar behind, Seb goes off alone, never to be heard of, that is until Briar shows up to work at Temple.
Twisted and dark, the journey this book takes us on is everything! I love the relationships that are built around Briar and between Seb and Briar. Some dark themes around violence, consent (lack of), secrets and control.
This is what queer YA stories should be all the time!!
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this novel by audio. The narrator Ellise Chappell was so good! wonderful accents, different voices and terrific emotion in her performance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC. My thoughts are my own.
Oh I enjoyed this.
Wow! Dark academia but make it friends to enemies to lovers in the most intriguing way possible.
I loved Briar so much as a main character. They were a fully fleshed out character and one I just wanted to spend time with. Sebastian is the antithesis of Briar - a school yard bully, haughty and sullen but with magic.
It's been 7 long years since Briar and Sebastian have seen each other - since the time when only Seb got acceptance to the secretly magical school of Thaumaturgy - Temple. Leaving Briar behind, Seb goes off alone, never to be heard of, that is until Briar shows up to work at Temple.
Twisted and dark, the journey this book takes us on is everything! I love the relationships that are built around Briar and between Seb and Briar. Some dark themes around violence, consent (lack of), secrets and control.
This is what queer YA stories should be all the time!!
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this novel by audio. The narrator Ellise Chappell was so good! wonderful accents, different voices and terrific emotion in her performance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC. My thoughts are my own.
June 18, 2026
I recently finished The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones, a dark academia fantasy that follows Briar Jones as they start working at an elite academy, rumored to teach magic; a school they dreamt of attending as a child with their best friend Sebastian only to get rejected while he accepted. After spending their teenage years devastated and estranged from Sebastian once he started school, Briar runs into Sebastian while working only to rehash their relationship and uncovering so much more going on at the school and its elitism.
I thought this was an enjoyable read that, for me, really stood out thanks for two reasons. 1. the authors nonbinary protagonist and the push back on the gender norms you just kind of expect to read in books. That in and of itself made it absolutely worth it to read for me. It pushed me to think outside of my own experiences and biases as well as tackled those in story. This is a major reason of why I enjoy reading so much. And 2. I really enjoyed the complex nature of the relationship between Briar and Sebastian. That dynamic where the energy is always there, regardless of time and distance or where the friendship stands. If you enjoy dark academia and queer fantasy then I would definitely say this could peak your interest!
Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending a free advanced reading copy AND @librofm for including it in the ALC program for the month of June!
I thought this was an enjoyable read that, for me, really stood out thanks for two reasons. 1. the authors nonbinary protagonist and the push back on the gender norms you just kind of expect to read in books. That in and of itself made it absolutely worth it to read for me. It pushed me to think outside of my own experiences and biases as well as tackled those in story. This is a major reason of why I enjoy reading so much. And 2. I really enjoyed the complex nature of the relationship between Briar and Sebastian. That dynamic where the energy is always there, regardless of time and distance or where the friendship stands. If you enjoy dark academia and queer fantasy then I would definitely say this could peak your interest!
Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending a free advanced reading copy AND @librofm for including it in the ALC program for the month of June!
June 22, 2026
Thank you @harpervoyagerus + @librofm for the ARC + audiobook; the character art with Briar and Bastian is amazing also 🥺♡
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Loved the premise: best friends separated after one leaves for magic school while the other never gets their acceptance letter… I wanted to love it.
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My biggest issue was with the pacing… it moved very slowly, my mind was wandering through a lot of conversating, but where not a lot was moving the plot forward. Pacing picks up in the last 1/3, although I also felt the ending was resolved too simplistically.
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Maybe that was actually the point. This was a book about dismantling systems of oppression, keeping the wealthy in power while crushing everyone else underfoot.
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I did very much appreciate some of the humorous banter and friends circle, although personally thought the romance felt forced.
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Definitely read and make your own opinion. A few trusted friends came away with a very different feeling so I do think this book will find its audience!
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https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ3m4wKDJkU/
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Loved the premise: best friends separated after one leaves for magic school while the other never gets their acceptance letter… I wanted to love it.
.
My biggest issue was with the pacing… it moved very slowly, my mind was wandering through a lot of conversating, but where not a lot was moving the plot forward. Pacing picks up in the last 1/3, although I also felt the ending was resolved too simplistically.
.
Maybe that was actually the point. This was a book about dismantling systems of oppression, keeping the wealthy in power while crushing everyone else underfoot.
.
I did very much appreciate some of the humorous banter and friends circle, although personally thought the romance felt forced.
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Definitely read and make your own opinion. A few trusted friends came away with a very different feeling so I do think this book will find its audience!
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https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ3m4wKDJkU/
June 12, 2026
Dark academia, intrigue, secret societies, and social commentary on the rich and powerful? With some childhood best friends to enemies to lovers in the mix? And the protagonist is non-binary? It sounds like everything I love in one neat package. And I liked it a lot, it's well executed, with detailed worldbuilding, and epic consequences.
With all that said, it didn't really grip me on an emotional level. Intellectually, I wanted to see where it would all go. It was always interesting but I didn't stay up long past my bedtime to keep reading, if I'm being honest.
But that's just me. This is objectively a really solid book and I'd still recommend it if the details I started with sound like your thing. I know a lot of people will genuinely love this!
Thank you to librofm for the chance to listen to this book! Much appreciated!
With all that said, it didn't really grip me on an emotional level. Intellectually, I wanted to see where it would all go. It was always interesting but I didn't stay up long past my bedtime to keep reading, if I'm being honest.
But that's just me. This is objectively a really solid book and I'd still recommend it if the details I started with sound like your thing. I know a lot of people will genuinely love this!
Thank you to librofm for the chance to listen to this book! Much appreciated!
June 9, 2026
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
For most of this book I was convinced this was sitting at a comfortable three star read. Briar is a charming protagonist, the humor is sharp, and the world is quirky, but the story took its sweet time getting where it was going. I enjoyed myself, but I wasn’t exactly racing through the pages wondering what would happen next.
The characters did a lot of the heavy lifting. Briar’s awkwardness, determination, and tendency to stumble into trouble made her easy to root for, and the supporting cast added plenty of personality. Even when the plot seemed to be wandering through the magical equivalent of a scenic back road, the relationships and witty dialogue kept me invested. Sometimes a book survives on vibes alone, and this one had good vibes to spare.
Then the final chapters arrived and completely changed the conversation. Suddenly the emotional stakes kicked in, the payoff landed, and all those carefully placed pieces came together in a way that made me appreciate the journey a lot more. That three stars jumped to four by the last page. And if I’m reading the ending correctly, the door has been left wide open for a sequel. After spending most of the book casually strolling along, I was surprised to find myself genuinely interested in seeing where Briar goes next. Well played Lex Croucher, well played.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the digital advanced reader copy.
Publish date: June 9, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
For most of this book I was convinced this was sitting at a comfortable three star read. Briar is a charming protagonist, the humor is sharp, and the world is quirky, but the story took its sweet time getting where it was going. I enjoyed myself, but I wasn’t exactly racing through the pages wondering what would happen next.
The characters did a lot of the heavy lifting. Briar’s awkwardness, determination, and tendency to stumble into trouble made her easy to root for, and the supporting cast added plenty of personality. Even when the plot seemed to be wandering through the magical equivalent of a scenic back road, the relationships and witty dialogue kept me invested. Sometimes a book survives on vibes alone, and this one had good vibes to spare.
Then the final chapters arrived and completely changed the conversation. Suddenly the emotional stakes kicked in, the payoff landed, and all those carefully placed pieces came together in a way that made me appreciate the journey a lot more. That three stars jumped to four by the last page. And if I’m reading the ending correctly, the door has been left wide open for a sequel. After spending most of the book casually strolling along, I was surprised to find myself genuinely interested in seeing where Briar goes next. Well played Lex Croucher, well played.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the digital advanced reader copy.
Publish date: June 9, 2026
June 1, 2026
Wow I loved this! Only reason it took me so long to finish was #camp, but I was genuinely picking up my kindle whenever I could and reading before bed every night even when I was absolutely exhausted because I couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day!! It kind of straddles the line between YA and adult- the writing is sort of too good to be YA (is that a crazy thing to say lol)/ the characters are so well developed, but they’re also 17 and 18 and ultimately it’s set in a high school (albeit in their last month of school)?? Overall I really liked the character focus of this; I also liked the plot, and enjoyed how it could still surprise me even with relatively typical progression in retrospect… I think because I was so focused on the characters and their relationships and understandings of themselves and what was going on around them, the plot almost flew under the radar which allowed me to be surprised because I hadn’t put as much thought into how it was going to turn out?? Hm that doesn’t even really make sense to me but anyway!! Also really loved having a non-binary main character… so good for my brain to be reading their pronouns throughout. Only thing that confused me somewhat was the ending??? I kind of thought this was gonna be a series so could see that it would continue but then I think it’s a standalone? And things kiiiind of wrapped up but like way too fast/ weirdly straight forwardly explained for how the rest of the book was written???? So that was kinda odd
June 10, 2026
It pains me that I didn’t like this more. I like their Arthur books and was hoping for the same kind of tone in this (but magic!) but this was more inner monologuing than I would prefer.
It’s sold as a dark academia but the focus is placed more on Briar and their struggles and even the relationship came before the school and magic parts. A friends to enemies to lovers story should be charming and sweet but this felt unredeemable after some of those school scenes. We spend large quantities of time listening to Briar describe stuff or think about stuff and no action is happening. It made the pacing feel way off. They also kind of jump back and forth in the story mid sentence it seems like i.e. talking about needing to take a gap year but they’ve been out of school for 7 years? (What year is it??? Lol). I just wasn’t captivated by the characters and I wasn’t really rooting for the romance.
The narrator was fine but they had that kind of abrasive English accent that made it difficult to speed up or I couldn’t understand what she was saying and so the audio felt even longer. I’d listen to a sample before committing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s sold as a dark academia but the focus is placed more on Briar and their struggles and even the relationship came before the school and magic parts. A friends to enemies to lovers story should be charming and sweet but this felt unredeemable after some of those school scenes. We spend large quantities of time listening to Briar describe stuff or think about stuff and no action is happening. It made the pacing feel way off. They also kind of jump back and forth in the story mid sentence it seems like i.e. talking about needing to take a gap year but they’ve been out of school for 7 years? (What year is it??? Lol). I just wasn’t captivated by the characters and I wasn’t really rooting for the romance.
The narrator was fine but they had that kind of abrasive English accent that made it difficult to speed up or I couldn’t understand what she was saying and so the audio felt even longer. I’d listen to a sample before committing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I did appreciate this book, and all that Lex conveys there; it's also a beautiful story on love and friendship, and the characters are written with a lot of care and tenderness.
I did however not love it, and I suspect that my position as a subjective reader is to blame for it. I went into this book assuming it would have Lex's usual lightheartedness, and that I would have a good laugh, but this is not what this book is, and I should not have gotten into this book with such expectations, I should have been opened to whatever Lex Croucher wanted to do with their first dark academia book, so this is absolutely my fault!
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.
I did however not love it, and I suspect that my position as a subjective reader is to blame for it. I went into this book assuming it would have Lex's usual lightheartedness, and that I would have a good laugh, but this is not what this book is, and I should not have gotten into this book with such expectations, I should have been opened to whatever Lex Croucher wanted to do with their first dark academia book, so this is absolutely my fault!
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.
February 26, 2026
3.25 Stars — Unexpected, Clever, and Delightfully Odd!
First of all, as always, thank you so much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC! I’m honored that you gift me your wonderful books to read and sprinkle my little commentaries all over.
I went into The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones expecting one thing and got something entirely different, and honestly, I *really* enjoyed it. Dark academia is probably my favorite genre and this did not disappoint.
The writing is sharp, clever, and genuinely funny in a way that feels almost unintentional. The whole story was giving, “What if everyone at Hogwarts was a Slytherin, but it was written and directed by Wes Anderson.” energy.
It’s semi-whimsical, a little offbeat, and filled with delicious morally gray ambition. It’s almost like the characters wrote themselves.
What I loved that really stood out was the queer representation. I’ll admit, as someone who’s probably a little too Gen X to process they/them pronouns on autopilot, it took me a minute to fully settle in, but once I did, I really appreciated the perspective shift. I actually enjoy reading stories about characters I don’t personally identify with because I feel like it stretches me as a reader. This queer love story was exquisitely written and will live with me rent-free for quite some time.
Pacing-wise, I never felt bored. I was fully invested the entire time. The book didn’t lag for me at all, which is always a win. It was wonderfully strange in a way that made the whole experience memorable!
First of all, as always, thank you so much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC! I’m honored that you gift me your wonderful books to read and sprinkle my little commentaries all over.
I went into The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones expecting one thing and got something entirely different, and honestly, I *really* enjoyed it. Dark academia is probably my favorite genre and this did not disappoint.
The writing is sharp, clever, and genuinely funny in a way that feels almost unintentional. The whole story was giving, “What if everyone at Hogwarts was a Slytherin, but it was written and directed by Wes Anderson.” energy.
It’s semi-whimsical, a little offbeat, and filled with delicious morally gray ambition. It’s almost like the characters wrote themselves.
What I loved that really stood out was the queer representation. I’ll admit, as someone who’s probably a little too Gen X to process they/them pronouns on autopilot, it took me a minute to fully settle in, but once I did, I really appreciated the perspective shift. I actually enjoy reading stories about characters I don’t personally identify with because I feel like it stretches me as a reader. This queer love story was exquisitely written and will live with me rent-free for quite some time.
Pacing-wise, I never felt bored. I was fully invested the entire time. The book didn’t lag for me at all, which is always a win. It was wonderfully strange in a way that made the whole experience memorable!
March 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Lex Croucher and the nice people at Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC!
I’m a big fan of Lex Croucher’s other works and this fits right into the pantheon. A morally grey, queer treatise in the dark academia genre, Lex explores themes of class and caste through Briar’s lens. This book gave me “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo vibes, but in a ‘hell is empty and the devils are all here’ way. I immediately fell into the world created, and though I didn’t always agree with or even like some of the cast of characters, it is an enjoyable ride. Some bits were laugh out loud witty, and then it flips to devastatingly sad and then becomes an exploration of grief in its many forms.
Highly recommend, I can’t wait for more people step beyond the gates of Temple.
I’m a big fan of Lex Croucher’s other works and this fits right into the pantheon. A morally grey, queer treatise in the dark academia genre, Lex explores themes of class and caste through Briar’s lens. This book gave me “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo vibes, but in a ‘hell is empty and the devils are all here’ way. I immediately fell into the world created, and though I didn’t always agree with or even like some of the cast of characters, it is an enjoyable ride. Some bits were laugh out loud witty, and then it flips to devastatingly sad and then becomes an exploration of grief in its many forms.
Highly recommend, I can’t wait for more people step beyond the gates of Temple.
Want to Read
April 23, 2025I need this soooooo bad
June 8, 2026
This is a dark academia fantasy set in a queer normative world. Briar (they/them) has always wanted to attend the Temple School of Thaumatugy. But their letter never came for acceptance. Their best friend Sebastian, whom they grew up with thought did get accepted. Now seven years later they have an opportunity to go...but it is not in the way they originally expected. They accepted a job to sort through junk left in the attic. And Sebastian, aka Seb, is not the same guy he was when they were younger. Now he is more of the villain type character and the school...well it is not as it was said to be either.
I do think this was a slower paced book but I didn't actually mind it. It is told in three parts, and the third part was defiantly the fastest of them all. While this is an adult novel, and Lex Croucher's first I did find the characters still more on the younger side of things, they are like 18. Nothing wrong with that but I thought they would be a bit older. I did find myself surprised here and there that this is a fantasy world but it seems that it was more here in our real world as I got pop culture references. So when I started to hear them here and there I felt like I was always waiting for the next one to come up.
Character wise I really did like Briar. I thought they were an interesting and strong character. I liked the non-binary representation that Lex Croucher brought with them to this story. When it came to Seb... well sometimes I liked Seb and a lot of the times I didn't. In the end though I did enjoy the story and how it all concluded I would totally read more Lex Croucher.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I do think this was a slower paced book but I didn't actually mind it. It is told in three parts, and the third part was defiantly the fastest of them all. While this is an adult novel, and Lex Croucher's first I did find the characters still more on the younger side of things, they are like 18. Nothing wrong with that but I thought they would be a bit older. I did find myself surprised here and there that this is a fantasy world but it seems that it was more here in our real world as I got pop culture references. So when I started to hear them here and there I felt like I was always waiting for the next one to come up.
Character wise I really did like Briar. I thought they were an interesting and strong character. I liked the non-binary representation that Lex Croucher brought with them to this story. When it came to Seb... well sometimes I liked Seb and a lot of the times I didn't. In the end though I did enjoy the story and how it all concluded I would totally read more Lex Croucher.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 10, 2026
Note that though the characters are young in this story, it’s said to be geared for adults because of its themes/content. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is Dark Academia, but it builds up. There is a lot of dialogue in this one, which I enjoy in romantasy stories more so than not.
The elite magic school that both have wanted to go to since they were younger is the crux of what breaks their friendship—one gets in, and one does not. However, years later, their paths cross again at the school. The same school that broke their friendship.
The author shows what time does to individuals—people are not the same as they were years ago. The two characters, Seb and Briar—they’ve grown, they’ve matured, they’ve been exposed to things that may have influenced their character, behaviors and decisions.
I enjoyed the story and how Author Lex Croucher built the magical school. It was easy to envision. I appreciated how the Author seamlessly incorporated queer characters throughout the story.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Author Lex Croucher for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The elite magic school that both have wanted to go to since they were younger is the crux of what breaks their friendship—one gets in, and one does not. However, years later, their paths cross again at the school. The same school that broke their friendship.
The author shows what time does to individuals—people are not the same as they were years ago. The two characters, Seb and Briar—they’ve grown, they’ve matured, they’ve been exposed to things that may have influenced their character, behaviors and decisions.
I enjoyed the story and how Author Lex Croucher built the magical school. It was easy to envision. I appreciated how the Author seamlessly incorporated queer characters throughout the story.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Author Lex Croucher for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026DNF @ 37% - I'm glad this book exists but unfortunately it's just not for me.
I've seen a variety of reviews that say it picks up after about 30% or it really kicks off after 50% and I just have too many books I'm excited to read to stay stuck on a book that takes that long to get interesting.
On the one hand, I think this is incredibly well written. On the other hand, I don't think I vibe with this writing style. I struggled for the entire 37% I read to feel invested in these characters or this story. Don't ask me to differentiate any of the side characters because I have no clue. I kept feeling like nothing was happening and I honestly couldn't tell you much more than a person begins working at a magical school that their estranged childhood best friend attends.
The summary for this book led me to believe the romance would be more of a focal point of the story. Briar and Seb barely interacted in what I was able to get through which definitely contributed to my lack of interest.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists. A non-binary protagonist, a variety of queer characters, a magical school and some dark academia. This book will absolutely find its audience and be a 5 star for many.
I received an eARC from Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
I've seen a variety of reviews that say it picks up after about 30% or it really kicks off after 50% and I just have too many books I'm excited to read to stay stuck on a book that takes that long to get interesting.
On the one hand, I think this is incredibly well written. On the other hand, I don't think I vibe with this writing style. I struggled for the entire 37% I read to feel invested in these characters or this story. Don't ask me to differentiate any of the side characters because I have no clue. I kept feeling like nothing was happening and I honestly couldn't tell you much more than a person begins working at a magical school that their estranged childhood best friend attends.
The summary for this book led me to believe the romance would be more of a focal point of the story. Briar and Seb barely interacted in what I was able to get through which definitely contributed to my lack of interest.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists. A non-binary protagonist, a variety of queer characters, a magical school and some dark academia. This book will absolutely find its audience and be a 5 star for many.
I received an eARC from Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
March 15, 2026
LEX CROUCHER YOU ARE SO COOL YOUR BOOKS ARE SO GOOD!!!!
this book was one of my highest anticipated upcoming releases and i can say that it without a doubt lived up to all my hopes dreams and expectations. it was SO good. i love dark academia fantasy, and this book is easily a five star addition to the genre. i loved the characters, the plot, the magic, the atmosphere, the writing… everything really. it felt fresh compared to other similar books, having all the best traits of dark academia while introducing something new at the same time. i could keep going on and on about things i loved in this book, but honestly i just think everyone should read it for themselves when it comes out.
thank you so so so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc (i actually squealed when i got approved to read this i was so excited) and thank you icon lex croucher for writing yet another banger of a book
this book was one of my highest anticipated upcoming releases and i can say that it without a doubt lived up to all my hopes dreams and expectations. it was SO good. i love dark academia fantasy, and this book is easily a five star addition to the genre. i loved the characters, the plot, the magic, the atmosphere, the writing… everything really. it felt fresh compared to other similar books, having all the best traits of dark academia while introducing something new at the same time. i could keep going on and on about things i loved in this book, but honestly i just think everyone should read it for themselves when it comes out.
thank you so so so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc (i actually squealed when i got approved to read this i was so excited) and thank you icon lex croucher for writing yet another banger of a book
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