Death and Devices

by Anna Vander Wall

16-year-old Cole Erickson didn’t know an internship at the world’s leading AI Lab meant unearthing a warlock’s legacy… a legacy that turns out to be his own.

Cole’s life with his friends at Vendler Academy, a former Kirkbride insane asylum turned STEM school, is a haven from his absent mother and addict father. Starved for a sense of belonging at home, Cole jumps at the chance to apply for an internship at an AI Lab developing an algorithm that opens communication with the dead.

But between the Lab owner’s hidden agenda and Vendler Academy’s haunted past, Cole and his friends are plunged into a world of mystery and black magic that ends up threatening everything Cole holds dear.

The layered mystery of Piranesi meets the binge-worthy action of A Deadly Education and the heart-warming friendships of Harry Potter in this dark academia mystery for adults and young adults. Buy now before the price changes!

Genres: Fantasy

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2025

Reviews

[Katherine Elease · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only really write reviews when I encounter spectacular books. Death and Devices is one of those. Anna Vander Wall paints with her words— you feel like you’re in the room with the characters and feel what they feel. The plot itself is absolutely gripping and I had a hard time putting this book down. My only qualm is that I don’t have book 2 on my shelf. Absolutely recommend.

[Ewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My ultimate sleeper pick. This book just showed up at my house the other day and I picked it up on a whim. Characters and friendships 10/10, plot 8.5/10

[Jean Hoefling · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life teaches us to do what is impossible." --Death and Devices 

I was given an advanced reader copy of this little gem of a debut mystery by a thoughtful young writer who surely has a future as a serious fiction author. Death and Devices satisfactorily checks all the genre boxes for dark academia-- mystery, intellectualism, a quasi-creepy setting, and bright, contrasting characters. And, of course, villains painted despicably enough that you just love hating them. Mystery is hard; so easy to leave holes in the plot. This one fills every chink for me. 

Despite the thought-provoking story around the ethics of the ever-encroaching presence of AI, I was even more interested by the unraveling darkness around the protagonist Cole and his alcoholic father. The heart of life is relationship, and relationships can go remarkably sideways. Author Vander Wall thoughtfully handles the brutal unpredictability of living with an addictive parent in ways younger readers struggling with the same thing will appreciate. 

There’s everything to like about this smart mystery. I was sad when, like all good things, the story came to an end. Happily, the last chapter hints at what will be an excellent sequel.

[Nicholas Kotar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a book that basically defies genre. It’s a dark academia book with creepy atmospheric vibes. It’s an AI/technology thriller. It’s a layered mystery. It’s got Egyptian mythology in its blood. It has the best, most heart-warming young adult friendships since Harry Potter. And it’s utterly amazing. You need to read it.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a debut from a young author with obvious talent. It got off to a bit of a rocky start, and some of the plot points felt a little contrived, but it was very strong and poignant throughout the rest of the book. There are real emotions here, real adventures, real friendships. I highly recommend it to all readers and especially to YA readers.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow an incredible book, I could barely put it down!

Came for the AI mystery thriller aspect and was blown away by the complex and beautiful relationships between characters!

Absolutely incredible work, I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welp, my fingernails are gone.