The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones: A Novel

by Lex Croucher

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. 

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Queer, LGBT, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Lex 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.

Reviews

[Mei ☽︎]

Why did I have to find out about this book right now when it's freaking coming out October 2025???? 😭

[Rachel Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Eleni Chapman]

the blurb is giving school for good and evil vibes and i’m not sure i’m emotionally ready for that

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briar Jones I would die for you, I would kill for you, but most importantly I would bake you cookies and tuck you under a fluffy blanket.

Proper review to come

[ARC from Netgalley]

[amie]

I need this soooooo bad

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the eARC!

The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is a unapologetically dark, disturbing and often toxic addition to the genre of queer dark academia. When I heard Lex Croucher - an author whom I love for their banter, queer rep and humour - I was unsure how their writing would play out under a darker tone and adult voice. It turns out I need not have worried, as Lex Croucher took the elements I already love from their work (diverse queer rep, group dynamics and quippy one liners) and simultaneously blended them with a much darker voice filled with violence, yearning and that oh-so-beautiful queer rage.

The relationship between Bastian and Briar is by far the shining quality of this story. From the glimpses into past devotion to the far more twisted reality of their current relationship. The tension between the two; sometimes violent, sometimes wanting, more often than not both, lept off the page and kept me hooked from beginning to end.

My only reason for not hitting the 5-star rating is that the entire book left me wanting more. The main note I gave to friends whilst reading is "I want this book to have 200 more pages". I loved the glimpses into the power imbalances, toxic relationships and violence as a love language; but I kept wanting to urge the book to take it further and lean into those darker elements and fully commit to the malevolent tone so often present in dark academia. I think a longer book would have allowed more exploration into the themes and the larger cast of characters, and provided the opportunity for relationships and emotions to have felt more solidified before the plot moved forward.
Nonetheless, as a first book in this genre, and one which is markedly different from the authors previous work, I think TULoBJ holds up well and offers an really great dark academia story for those who have maybe not ventured into the genre before and would like a taste of the key themes coupled with the guarantee of a happier resolution.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up until 2am to finish this and cracked open the first page at breakfast to read it all again WITH KNOWLEDGE. Currently back home with family and I don’t want to talk to anyone I just want to read Briar Jones.

I will say it again: Lex Croucher is an automatic buy author for me. If they write a sci fi epic in verse next I will buy it. Idc I know they can pull it off.

Jokes aside, this is so masterfully executed. The characters are so rich I felt like I could touch them. When Briar steps into their attic bedroom only to find three rebel scholars I was curious to see how we were going to connect to so many characters in the short period of time they were going to be at Temple. I shouldn’t have worried. Westby, Hadley and Tate are my favourite scooby gang since Buffy (and OG scoobies of course). I would die for them.

I thought Croucher navigated Briar’s complicated feelings with having wanted to belong at Temple so bad, resentment towards the institution that took their friend Seb from them, the fact they STILL want to be a magician despite realising the school is a toxic proliferation of privileged violence is… chef’s kiss.

Briar and Bastian’s best friends to enemies to lovers arc is literally to die for. So much darker than Croucher’s other works and a welcome change. It still felt very much like one of their books. The quippy one liners had me giggling at 2am in my cousin’s childhood bedroom. I’m gonna go back to rereading it now. Bye.

[Lucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting from start to finish, The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is an incisive and potent exploration of a ruthless hegemonic system, its intergenerational toll, and those that choose to defy it.

The image this book paints of a magic school captures all the worst and most seductive horrors that elite institutions embody while also feeling inescapably tangible.

Croucher's skill for balancing banter with vulnerability is on full display, the supporting cast of queer found family being both complex and charming.

The lake-deep yearning between Briar and Bastian is matched only by their shared angst. They are catastrophically messy—both separately and together— and I never stopped rooting for them.

If you like incisive magical dark academia, funny and complex queer characters, or slow burn romance, please read this book. I gasped, I cried, I nearly broke a mug by gripping it too tightly. I am obsessed.

[Heather Pacella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

As children, Briar Jones and Sebastian Wolfe were thicker than thieves, exploring the local countryside, swapping their favorite paperbacks, and planning their future at the elite Temple School of Thaumaturgy, rumored to be an institute of magic and home to some of the most successful politicians and businessmen in local history. Though the existence of magic is up for question, one thing was certain - no matter where their lives would take them, they would be by each other's side, experiencing it together. However, the unthinkable happens, and legacy Sebastian is granted admission while not-so-privileged Briar is not. Their friendship is irreparably shattered, and what follows is seven years of silence between the two.

While Sebastian has disappeared behind the gates of the Temple, Briar has been stuck at home in their village, attending the mundane local school and helping out on the family farm in their spare time. Even so, Briar has never really given up on magic, and they jump at the opportunity to take a summer job at the Temple. However, when they arrive at the school, nothing is as they imagined. The wondrous "magic" Briar and Sebastian dreamed of as children is much more sinister than they imagined, and sweet, shy Sebastian has transformed into the most feared bully at the school. When Briar falls in with a group of students desperate to change the cruel status quo, they find that the knowledge they've been searching for has a devastating price - one they might not be willing to pay.


I really enjoyed the world built by Lex Croucher in The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones - the magic system created here, as well as how it is taken advantage of and gatekept by the elite, was great. Another strong point for me was the depth of the students that Briar made friends with - Tate, Westby, and Hadley jumped off the page. Briar and Sebastian's trauma - and their attempts to grow past it, together - was also beautifully captured. The only thing I was not a fan of was that this was a standalone - because of that, the story read almost juvenile, and it felt at times that the plot was advanced too quickly in implausible ways (especially the ending, when everything was suddenly neatly wrapped up with a shiny bow on top). I would have loved to see this world expanded upon even more, as I felt there was still a lot left to explore. However, I would still highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a book with a unique take on dark academia and strong non-binary/queer representation.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones follows Briar, seven years after they didn’t get into their dream magical school while their best friend did, as they gets a summer job working there and begin to unearth the mysteries behind it.

This book was perfect for me as a fan of dark academia, especially with its unapologetically queer cast of characters. I had so much fun diving into the toxic but obsessively interesting world of Temple and everything Briar uncovered during their time working there. I loved the dynamics between the characters and the friendship Briar began to build with Hadley, Westby, and Tate, and the intensity that was almost palpable in every scene Briar had with their former best friend Bastian. The magic of the world was also interesting and not something I’ve seen before. I also liked how the magic was intertwined with the way the school functioned and how Briar understood the things that happened to them there.

I also want to say that I loved how Briar’s queerness and gender were connected to the story. As a non binary person myself, I’ve been fairly hesitant to read books with non binary characters as I’ve read a few that didn’t feel genuine to me. But Briar was written with such care and even though their gender isn’t a big part of the story, it was still explored in a way that felt entirely right for their personality and I was able to relate it to my own experience as a non binary person.

The only issue I had (besides wanting more from this world) was how at times the writing felt very disconnected from Briar’s thoughts and feelings about the world. Briar seemed to be a very dynamic character from their actions but their thoughts and feelings didn’t always reflect it which took me out of the story at times. But that was a truly minor complaint and I really enjoyed being in this world and exploring the secrets of Temple and Briar’s own mind in this book.

Thank you again to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

Getting an early chance to read one of my most anticipated 2026 releases did not disappoint!

I was immersed from the first page by the world-building, which introduces some complex characters, deep themes, and unexpected humour – all wrapped up with a unique magic system and the intriguing social hierarchies of a magical boarding school.
Both Briar Jones and the Temple School of Thaumaturgy are not as they first appear. The fantastical, ‘dark academia’ environment which Briar (and the reader) might have imagined is quickly revealed to have dark undercurrents.

I loved seeing how Briar’s wry sarcasm and humour belies a depth of emotion (and trauma) which is gradually revealed as the mysteries of the plot thicken, along with romance and queer ‘found family’ in unlikely places.
The book disrupts your expectations of its nostalgic, fantastical setting and brings together a rogues gallery of personalities who grapple with trust, guilt, and their responsibilities to themselves and each other.
I found it refreshing to have a non-binary protagonist whose gender identity is established from the outset, their coming out and experience of gender is not a major plot point as we meet them in medias res. But, it still subtly informs the choices Briar makes and how they interact with their peers. As a viewpoint character, they are funny, compelling, flawed, resolute. I felt I was rooting for them from the outset.

I found that thematic discussions – of class and privilege, sexuality and relationships, violence and trauma, guilt and resolution – were deftly handled and cleverly extrapolated through the lens of the thaumaturgy magic system itself.
Lex Croucher writes such life-like, nuanced characters who make mistakes but, importantly, take action to make things better, not just wishing for a magical fix-all. The plot ties together in a satisfying conclusion which left me wanting more from these characters, and reads as a rallying cry for the importance of perseverance, forgiveness, friendship and community.

[Nimra Iqbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely surprised me in the best way.

I went in expecting a magic school story, but what I got was darker, more emotional, and much more layered than I anticipated. This is a story about disappointment, old friendships, and what happens when the dream you built your life around doesn’t turn out the way you imagined.

Briar is such a compelling main character. They’re thoughtful, hurt, and trying to figure out who they are in a world that suddenly feels unfair and unrecognizable. Returning to the school they once longed for only to discover its secrets and corruption made the story feel tense and unsettling in a really effective way. The magic here isn’t whimsical — it’s mysterious, exclusive, and sometimes downright disturbing.

What stood out to me most was the emotional depth. This book isn’t just about magic; it’s about grief, jealousy, betrayal, and the complicated feelings that come with growing up and realizing people change. The relationships felt messy and real, and I found myself genuinely invested in how Briar would navigate everything unfolding around them.

The pacing is slower at first, but it works because it allows the atmosphere and mystery to build naturally. Once the secrets start coming out, the story becomes hard to put down. I loved how the tension steadily increased and how the book trusted the reader to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of rushing to easy answers.

If you enjoy dark academia, morally gray choices, and fantasy stories that focus just as much on character and emotion as they do on magic, this is definitely worth picking up. It’s thoughtful, eerie, and surprisingly moving.

This was one of those reads that lingered with me after I finished — and those are always my favorite kinds of books.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this more than I expected to since I don’t read a lot of ‘dark academia’ or romantasy.

Briar and Seb were obsessed with Temple, the magical school near their hometown but when Briar gets rejected and Seb accepted, it destroys their friendship. Years later, the summer after Briar finishes school, they take a job clearing an attic at Temple only to discover the school year is still in session at Temple and Seb is part of the hazing rituals all new students are subjected to.

This really digs into class inequality and how academic institutions serve to reproduce these unequal structures. The magic system is one of coercion which felt unique and intriguing and I appreciated how it explored consent and the power imbalance inherent to this.

I also appreciated the queer rep, Briar was really enjoyable to read and I’m glad we’re getting more books with nonbinary main characters.

There’s a lot to like here but it was trying to do a bit too much. It had a strong cast of side characters but some of their storylines were more well developed than others. Towards the end things felt rushed and events that were supposed to have an emotional weight felt brushed over.

Even the central relationship between Seb and Briar didn’t feel as fleshed out as I would have liked, we don’t actually get to see them together in the present day very often and when we do they don’t have much of a chance to talk to each other properly.

It also felt a bit young for me, it’s technically an Adult book but at the end of the day the characters are 18 and the setting is a magical school.

Overall though I enjoyed the writing style and cast of characters and thought this was a lot of fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

[LaurAnde89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bond of true friendship tested. Briar and Seb are best friends, opposites in every way, attached at the hip, and dream of going to Temple together. A school for magic, elitists, and full of deep secrets. Until the unthinkable happens and one gets in and one doesn't. A fight that breaks them until a temporary job opens one summer at the school, and suddenly seven years later, the two are swept back into each other's lives for better or worse. A lot can happen in seven years! Will they even recognize one another? Secrets, betrayal, murder, dark magic, regrets, love, and so much more in a story of friendship turned more.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when starting this book, but I really enjoyed the story. The world building and character descriptions are fantastic. It was well written and I got really invested into the relationships and how dark the school really is. It shows the true test of friendships, and how our best friends at a young age can impact our lives forever. I loved it from start to finish. I did feel like the ending was a little rushed or maybe just would have like more closure at the end. Bonus chapters or a novella to see what happens years later would be great. Would definitely recommend reading if you like dark academia, found family, slow burn, witty banter, witty characters, and romance. A great standalone. Would be interested in reading more from this author.

***This ARC copy was provided free of charge by NetGalley for my honest review.***

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was. Surprisingly dark, twisted, and terrifying. And oh so addictive...

This book sucked me in right away and refused to let go, despite the fact that things turned so dark I often needed a break.

As plotlines go, this was fairly familiar: magic school, houses, initiations, privilege...

BUT

Briar hasn't seen their best friend since he took of for magic school seven years again. After years, they finally manage to get a temp job at he school, and can't believe how awful things are at the prestigious private school. And when I say awful, I mean full-on psychological and physical torture awful. And their best friend? Well. He seems to have become the villain. But uncovering just what is going on has Briar questioning the meaning of good and evil, and everything in between...

I really loved the setting and the creepy atmosphere, the take on magic was original, the resolution unexpected.

If you love your fantasy dark and twisted, don't miss this one!

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Erik Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is definitely a bit predictable at times, but the worldbuilding is cool and it also makes sense why the people with magic are able to attain the high positions that they are in. The way Briar is not able to let go of their obsession with the school and their bitterness are written in a way that is realistic and relatable: there’s no way I wouldn’t be disappointed if I found out that magic existed but I couldn’t access it because I wasn’t genetically predisposed to it. Also, I liked how the magical world isn’t separate in any way from the mundane in the book (other than the school).

The relationship between Seb and Briar is interesting and I liked Westby and co. as well. The romance doesn’t feel out of place, but I was not a fan of the way Sebastian was redeemed and everything he did just turned out to be an accident or a mistake. However, I thought the ending of the book was very awesome. (Would have been hilarious if it flopped, though) And of course, the non binary rep is really cool.

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading the book and would definitely recommend it.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely obsessed. I ate this up like every single Lex Croucher I read. It’s such a refreshingly queer read IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE.

I love seeing the representation that Lex gives in their books. I love seeing characters who are already certain in their identity and sexuality. Though I adore them, coming-out plots feel oversaturated and, now as an adult, I can identify closer with those who are already out, rather than coming-out. Lex makes me feel more confident in myself through these characters having certainty.

I may or may not ship a completely random pair that have no prospect and I’m sad to not see that relationship blossom more in a romantic way - here’s hoping to a sequel! Though, I wouldn’t know where it’d be taken (maybe that’s for the best?).

It was a slow burn at first and it took some turns I didn’t expect (because why would they be relevant to the plot?! BUT OF COURSE IT’S RELEVANT!!).

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to enjoy in this book. I found the characters, concept, and plot immediately engaging. I liked Lex Croucher's typical humorous quips. It's interesting that this is shelved as "adult" though, because the characters are just barely 18 and in their senior year of high school. It feels a little misleading if someone is actually looking for a book about adults. There are dark themes (though not darker than YA has overall) and more explicit material than what YA would typically have, so idk, I really think this should have been marketed as YA rather than being called Croucher's adult debut. But aside from this, I found it compulsively readable and thoroughly fun, and I really loved the nonbinary MC and their romance plot. My main quibble is with the ending, which I felt was a bit too neat and rushed, but it didn't spoil the experience for me. But again, this is not an adult fantasy. This is a magical high school, even if the characters are technical adults.

[Julia B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a well done dark-acadamia novel. Lex Croucher is so descriptive with their writing, and I found myself falling in love with the school/location along with the characters, and the world building was incredible. There was so much that went into this magic system, but it was also very simple to understand. The characters are complicated and flawed, and you can’t help but feel for and be invested in and root for each and every one of them.

The book is definitely dark, with toxic relationships and situations throughout, so check your triggers. The ending was a fantastic way to answer questions surrounding some of the mysteries of the school. The stakes were high, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would turn out. I’d definitely recommend this book for people looking for a unique fantasy/dark academia read.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

and i would read anything Lex Croucher writes!

in this book, our main character Briar Jones accepts a job to work at the magical school they were once rejected from, only to find out that their childhood best friend has now become something of a villain at said school. this was a really fresh take on a magic system that I was a big fan of. Briar was a lovable but flawed main character, and i really appreciated how fleshed out the ensemble cast was. there were so many different layers and pieces to the plot that kept me absolutely hooked, without it feeling confusing or too overloaded. this story had magic, romance, dark academia, and twists that i genuinely did not predict coming. it was just so so good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[hope anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning. Briar Jones is my favorite of Lex’s books so far, not just because the characters are delicious, the setting is fantastic and the humor is next level. But it scratches that itch for the books that remind me of my childhood, except through an adult lens. So often people think making something adult means it has to be gritty and bleak but Lex has turned out a book with all the awe and wonder of those childhood books—except told with the humor, reality and awareness of an adult. It’s like looking back on a fun childhood story and being like “hahah… oh wait.” But all wrapped up in a fun, wonderfully satisfying conclusion.

10/10, do NOT sleep on this!!

[Ella-Mae Campling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An alarmingly brilliant tale by Croucher proves them to be an author of various genre talents. I fell in love with Croucher’s YA tales and reimaginings, devoured their Regency-era laugh track hits, and this is the creme de la creme, a Dark Academia, that is in all honesty, seriously dark. I reveled in the twisting of emotions, the talent Croucher has to make you fall in love with such complex, sometimes repulsive characters is honestly inexplainable. I couldn’t decide at moments, if relating to the dark edges of certain characters made me would have made me an accomplice in certain dastardly deeds... But perhaps that is the point, Lex Croucher has crafted a dark tale of the monstrosities that hides behind the humanity we lay our claim to. No matter your age; to be human, is to feel, is to protect, is to be both villain and hero in your own tale. Croucher crafts characters of many facets, that felt so original and like they could easily walk into the room with their own tales to spin. Setting-wise, Temple is excellently crafted and leaves me dreaming of locked offices and forbidden books, terrors aside! The queer representation and exploration of how that would adjust the experiences within such a... hierarchy or ‘old-boys-club’ aesthetic felt authentic and perfectly addressed. As well as the natural experience of anyone queer or considered ‘different’ tends to be in less than accepting scenarios. My heart ached for many of the characters in this book, we all do ill-advised choices in the name of safety, and these characters at their core are just so human. There’s nothing other-worldly about their existence, even when given the opportunity to be considered ‘more’.
The slow burning twisty-turning relationship between Seb and Briar was agonisingly good, with pitfalls and danger dancing across each page, and the humor brought to the book by Briar, Hadley and Westby was the light needed in this darkness, and I loved their chemistry and its changing dynamic across the hodge-podge groups that emerged as different characters were interacting.
It felt real, visceral and moving in a way few books do. This one deserves the praise and more, you won’t regret picking this up. Croucher is truly going from strength to strength as their career continues, and this book was everything I hoped it would be.
Ebook edition gifted in exchange for honest review, thank you!

[Kobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

utterly obsessed with this world and these characters. the perfect balance of humour and heart wrapped up in a gripping tale of guilt and responsibility and privilege. the concept of a whimsical dream from childhood - a belief so strong that it never quite manages to stop haunting briar - clashing with the ugly truth of reality made for a truly compelling narrative. this reminded me why i love dark academia... and it's so delightfully queer too !! UGH i love it !!

thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the early digital copy! :)

[Julia Reitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this arc:
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones is dark academia with gusto. As a previous reader of this author, I wanted to see how Lex Croucher’s humor would translate into a darker, more adult story, but it absolutely translated perfectly.

Bastian and Briar completely carried this book for me. Their relationship is toxic, tender, volatile, and magnetic all at once. The tension between them practically vibrates off the page.

My only reason for this not being a five star is that I felt like it left me needing more almost as though something was missing.

[Kalyani · Rating 4 out of 5]

sometimes the magic school of your childhood dreams is full of evil hot people! and one of this people is your ex bff!! now what!!

lex croucher’s writing is a delight!!! dark academia ft a queer found family and an exploration of power in the hands of privilege

very if we were villains x the raven cycle

[ash ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had so much fun reading this! angsty, dark academia with a unique magic system and characters to be invested in (and some that you just want gone)

📖non-binary mc
📖friends to enemies to lover
📖child abuse
📖alcohol, drugs
📖spice 1/5
📖i want you dead but i also WANT you

i wanted the ending to answer more questions, but it was solid overall

[rachel x]

"Dark academia meets fantasy in this timely page-turner about a student who fails to gain admission to the UK's only school of magic but then finds their way there years later and unearths the ugly secrets simmering behind its ancient walls"

hell yeah

[Designsk · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gay! And feral! And fuck Eton! And fuck the establishment!

[Siavahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, may round up to 5 later. Rtc!