Divine Oaths

by Elizabeth Agyemang

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling dark academia debut following a new student fueled by questions about her prestigious university and the haunting answers she uncovers as her heart pulls her in two different, dangerous directions.

Westfield University was supposed to be Sianna Adu’s dream school. But just when she’s on the cusp of attending the elite academic institution hidden in Virginia’s swampland, an unexpected tragedy changes everything. In one day, Sianna loses her family and gains an extraordinary power—the ability to see lifelines and witness other people’s pasts and futures.

With all she’s lost, Sianna puts her college dreams on pause and spends her days navigating dead-end jobs and a not-so-secret crush on her coworker. But when Kasem Saint James, the undeniably handsome heir of Westfield, approaches her with a strange request, the future Sianna has long deferred becomes a dangerous new reality. Worried that her powers are now tied to Kasem, she has no choice. Fate has called her to Westfield.

At an academy where secret societies abound, connections are everything, and an ominous history—stretching back centuries—determines the future, Sianna and Kasem must piece together the past to undo a curse that binds them to each other.

With a swoony romance and jaw dropping twists, this layered dark academia novel introduces a university where nothing is quite as it seems.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Romantasy, Gothic, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Helen I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 RTC

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I received this as an early access read copy from NetGalley.

Even though this book had all of the elements I usually really like (magic, ghosts, mystery, academia, love elements), it took awhile for me to get into it. After finishing the story and really thinking about it, the storyline was very clever and creative. Perhaps I struggled with the pacing and how it was hard to put all the hints and pieces together. I like twists and turns and surprises, but I also like to try to figure it all out along the way. Everything came at us in the last 20% like a huge knowledge bomb and then rushed to finish without full closure.

I was a bit confused about the main characters’ love triangle and some questions were never addressed on the pages. Like, did Kasem love Sianna only because he swapped destinies with Jojo, or was that independent of the curse? And how did Kasem always know where Sianna was to save her from danger. They were all so hot and cold that it was hard to figure out how everyone truly felt.

I did love the supporting cast - Vivian and Angelica. I came around on Honey.

Destiny, curses, fortune telling, ghosts, betrayal, pining, lies and secrets, music, time, love, loss, love, confessions, death and love.

🎹🔥🧤🔮🏫👻🫖🐊🎭🔪💍⏳🧙🏻‍♀️❤️🔼❤️
📱ebook
Early access read copy from NetGalley

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine.

Following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of her parents, Sianna has taken the backseat in her life. She has ignored a scholarship opportunity , stopped performing piano and is desperate for cash using her talent for seeing the past when touching mundane objects when a St James arrives at the pawn shop to ask for her help. Finding herself tangled up in an attempted murder and secrets haunting her new school she works to overcome her trauma and stop a centuries old curse once and for all.

This was a bit of a miss for me. The premise was so interesting at the beginning with her abilities and this school with secret societies and curses but I just couldn’t really keep up with some of the elements. On the surface it was fine but the more you pulled back the more murky it got and it almost felt like maybe the author wasn’t too sure either once the web of plot lines became so much bigger.

The characters too are very flat. I wanted so much to like anyone but they never managed to stand out which left some of the bigger moments like romance, betrayals or deaths not hit as hard as I’m sure was the intention. I’m not sure why Sianna felt drawn to Jojo or Kasem, we’re told on paper she is but I couldn’t find anything in the story to justify why to the point I genuinely thought by the end there would be no romance at all. I wish we had dived deeper into the creepiness of the school and the devastation caused by a curse of this nature against innocent unsuspecting people but we never quite manage to get there.

This had so much potential I wish we had been given more to play with but hopefully the next reader will enjoy it!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Mathilde Banville-Chénier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sianna has powers. She can see the past and sometimes the future when she touches someone. Kasem knows that and tries to get her to help him break a curse. From there, strange accidents seem to happen and Sianna can’t control her powers. She then decides to attend Westfield University, following Kasem, to uncover why she lost control.

I liked the story, the setting and the dark academia vibes. I did not however connect to the romantic part of the book. The love triangle aspect was more or less well executed and the attraction between characters was not shown in a way that made me believe it. I was also a bit confused by the second half of the book, a lot happened and I’m not sure I was able to follow all of it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Boston Lavoie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this arc at BookCon and was excited to give it a try. I wish we could give half stars because it’s more 2.5 than 2 stars. The concept had a lot of potential, I was intrigued and interested by the storyline. However, at times the plot sort of seemed all over the place, and hard to follow because it jumped around a lot. The love story felt under developed and rushed. Lots of potential just needs some fine tuning.

[Alyx Gough · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one completely missed the mark for me, and I decided to DNF at 40%.

I really wanted to love this because the premise sounded like everything I usually enjoy: dark academia, secret societies, magic, a mysterious university, and a romance woven into it all. But unfortunately, I spent most of my reading time confused and waiting for things to start making sense.

By 40%, I still felt like I didn’t understand what was happening or why certain things mattered. The story felt like it was missing so many pieces, and instead of feeling intrigued by the mystery, I felt disconnected from it.

Sianna as an FMC just didn’t work for me. I struggled to understand her choices, her motivations, or what she actually wanted. We’re introduced to Kasem, who needs her help and seems to be tied to her newfound abilities, but then there’s also JoJo, who I honestly wasn’t even sure how to categorize. Is he her friend? Her cousin? Someone she’s been in love with? The relationship dynamic was never clear to me. What I did understand was that Sianna was pining after him, while JoJo very clearly did not want the same thing. There’s even a moment where he tells his ex that he doesn’t want Sianna right in front of her, yet Sianna is still making choices based around him. The whole situation left me incredibly frustrated.

Her decisions throughout the story also felt inconsistent. She promises JoJo she won’t follow him to school, and then almost immediately she’s doing exactly that. She’s trying to build a future around someone who doesn’t seem to want her there, and I just couldn’t connect with that storyline.

The worldbuilding was another area where I struggled. Sianna loses her parents in a tragic accident and gains the ability to see lifelines and other people’s pasts and futures, but no one really questions this? She’s just using magic in the real world like it’s a completely normal thing, despite seemingly no one else having these abilities. I kept waiting for more explanation, more history, more depth, but I never got there.

The piano prodigy storyline also felt strange. We’re repeatedly reminded that she’s a “Baby Mozart” level talent, but she hasn’t played in years, and somehow random people still recognize her at the mall. It just felt like another detail that was thrown in without enough development.

The characters felt flat, the descriptions became repetitive, and I never formed an emotional connection with anyone. I was also expecting a true dark academia atmosphere, but I never found that feeling here. Instead, it felt like a collection of interesting ideas that never fully came together.

This had a lot of potential, and I can see why the concept would appeal to readers, but unfortunately it wasn’t the right fit for me.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divine Oaths
by Elizabeth Agyemang

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026

First of all, thank you to Requited for the opportunity to ARC read Divine Oaths.

The premise of this book immediately caught my attention. A girl who can see memories hidden within objects, a mysterious school filled with secrets, secret societies, curses, and a centuries-old mystery? I was so intrigued going in and really wanted to love this one.

Unfortunately, this ended up being a bit of a mixed read for me.

The beginning had so much promise. Sianna’s abilities were fascinating, and I loved the idea of exploring a school where something darker was hiding beneath the surface. The mystery had all the pieces for something I would normally devour, but as the story continued, I found myself struggling to connect with the larger plot. There were so many threads introduced that the story started to feel a little tangled, and I never felt like I fully understood how everything connected.

The characters were also where I struggled the most. I wanted to become attached to them, especially Sianna, but I never quite reached that emotional connection I was hoping for. Some of the bigger moments—betrayals, losses, and relationship developments—didn’t land with the impact I think they were meant to because I needed more time getting to know and understand these characters.

I also wish we had gotten more exploration of the school itself and the curse. The atmosphere was there, and there were moments that felt genuinely intriguing, but I wanted to dive deeper into the darkness, the history, and the consequences of what was happening.

The romance was another area where I struggled. I understood that Sianna cared about Jojo and Kasem, but I wanted more moments showing those connections developing naturally. I found myself more invested in the mystery and friendships than the romantic storyline.

Overall, Divine Oaths had a really interesting foundation and so much potential. While it didn’t fully work for me, I do think readers who enjoy dark academia, magical mysteries, and secret societies may find something to love here.

[Alyssa ☀️ (stories.and.sunshine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divine Oaths is the ultimate mash up of dark academia, thriller, and horror! I feel like my month is not compete if I don’t read at least one dark academia book and I’m so glad I requested this title on NetGalley. Thank you Requited for the opportunity to read and review early.

Sianna is a child musical prodigy that experienced traumatic loss before she was to attend college early. As a young adult she is considering facing her past to attend Westfield. Westfield is an old mysterious college on a swamp with lots of secrets and family drama tied to inheritance. She is basically forced to attend after a ominous encounter with Westfield student. Right away Sianna feels the separation and “othering” as a scholarship student. To fit in and solve her problem she make alliances and even rushes a sorority.

The dark academia vibe leans heavily into thriller which kept a great pace the whole story. The end of each chapter had me gasping into the next. I felt like I was collecting so many clues and sure I had enough to solve the mystery, but then there were ghosts. Beware! This story is a little creepy and I should guessed that the eerie halls of Westfield would have its fair share of ghosts.

To add a great layer to the storytelling, Elizabeth weaves in Black American experiences from first generation immigrants and mixed families with ties to the Union and Confederate armies. As a Chicana woman, I definitely feel the tension of belonging to different cultures. In Divine Oaths, Sianna and the cast of characters share their own way of connecting to their Black culture in authentic ways that is read throughout the entire story.

I recommend Divine Oaths for any reader looking for a dark academia read with secret societies, dark hallways, and a seance or two. There is also a really fun love triangle involving the family that owns Westfield! Keep a family tree if you want to catch on to some of the clues earlier in the story!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy of The Divine Oaths in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5/5 stars)
I really wanted to love this book. The premise immediately grabbed my attention—a dark academia setting, secret societies, mysterious magic, and a romance tied together by fate sounded like exactly the kind of story I enjoy.
One of the biggest strengths of the novel was its setting. Westfield University had an intriguing atmosphere, and I loved the dark academia aesthetic. Sianna and Kasem were interesting characters, and I found myself invested enough in their story to keep reading until the very end because I genuinely wanted to know how everything would come together.
Unfortunately, the story lost me as it progressed. As more magical elements and lore were introduced, I found myself increasingly confused. Rather than feeling like the mysteries were unfolding naturally, it felt as though a lot of new information was added late in the story without enough grounding, making it difficult for me to fully connect all the pieces.
I also struggled with the writing style. This is very much a matter of personal preference, but I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story, which made it harder to connect emotionally with some of the bigger moments.
That said, I can absolutely see why this book will find its audience. Readers who enjoy dark academia, secret societies, layered magical systems, and unraveling mysteries may have a very different experience than I did.
Overall, while The Divine Oaths wasn't quite the right fit for me, I appreciated its ambitious concept, compelling setting, and interesting cast of characters. It just didn't come together in a way that fully worked for me.

[bells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25⭐️


This book had me the moment I read the premise. We got a protagonist who can see people’s pasts just by touching them, a murder mystery, and a mysterious deadly curse. The concept is genuinely intriguing, and I can absolutely see the version of this story that would’ve consumed my entire personality for a week. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the potential for me.

The atmosphere was gloomy, eerie, and slightly bone-chilling in exactly the way this story needs. However, despite being marketed as dark academia, I never fully bought into the dark academia label. To me, this read more like a gothic mystery that takes place at a university. The focus is very much on unraveling the curse and the mystery behind it rather than exploring the morally-corrupted academic side of things.

The magic system and lore were a bit hit-or-miss for me. Some of the explanations felt like information dumps, and while the ideas themselves were interesting, they weren’t always explored deeply enough for me to fully dive into the story. But I really enjoyed how the historical elements were woven into the story, it added emotional weight to the mystery and helped ground some of the bigger twists.

My biggest issue was probably the ending, I genuinely think this story needed a few more chapters. After spending so much time building up the mystery, I wanted the final reveals to land with a bigger impact instead of feeling like they were rushing to the finish line.


════════════════════════

Thank you to Requited and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Unnamednonsense · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sad to say that I didn’t love this one nearly as much as I hoped. In fact, I ended up dnfing it and skimming a decent percent of the story.

This book starts out so incredibly strong. The plot was super fast paced and addicting at the start. I was sucked in right in the first chapter, and I found myself feeling more and more eager to sit down and read this when I had a few moments during the day. But as the story went on, I found myself confused. We have a lot of plot lines, a lot of characters, a lot of real world mixed with a dark academia vibe, and something got lost along the way for me. It jumped around so much that I started mixing things up and forgetting details that were seemingly important. I went from wanting to read during every little moment to not wanting to pick it up at all.

I was swept into this world and our fmc. She’s a very strong lead for this story, and very quickly, I found myself feeling heartbroken for her after everything she’s been through. As the story progressed, I liked her more and more. She felt real and more like a real person than a simple book character. She was complex, had real-world depth, and I thought she was the perfect lead for this story.

I also had trouble with the romance. I didn’t really see why she was in this love triangle with these men. The connection just wasn’t there for me.

Overall, I thought this was promising, but it was missing something that would’ve kept me hooked.

Thank you very much to Requited and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Catherine Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Divine Oaths was a solid read for me, but it didn’t completely blow me away.

The strongest part of the book was definitely the characters. I really enjoyed Sianna and found myself invested in her journey, and her relationships with Jojo and Kasem.

The Greek society elements were interesting, and there were enough mysteries to keep me turning the pages. That said, I never felt fully immersed in the world, and there were a few points where the pacing felt slower than I wanted.

I also liked the romance well enough, but it wasn’t the highlight of the book for me. I was honestly more interested in the friendships and the larger mystery than the romantic storyline.

I wanted more about how Kasem and Sianna fell in love. We don’t get to see them get to know each other in a way where I felt I understood their relationship. Including Jojo in the mix and I was extra lost. His betrayal cut so deeply and I wanted for Sianna to address it with the fire I know she has in her and it never really got there.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a likable cast and some intriguing ideas. While it didn’t become a new favorite, I’m glad I picked it up and I’d still be interested in seeing where the story goes next. If you’re a fan of dark academia, magical mysteries, and strong friendships, it’s worth giving a try.

[Cindi Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family burdened by a curse. A family haunted by tragedy. Two legacies intertwined by a past shrouded in mystery.

Sianna Adu is a gifted musical prodigy with her heart set on earning a place at the prestigious Westfield University. But after surviving a horrific accident, she awakens with supernatural abilities that turn her world upside down. When Kasem Saint James unexpectedly enters her life, he unravels everything she thought she knew—not only about herself, but also about her closest friend. As long-buried secrets come to light, Sianna is forced to confront a truth far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

I really enjoyed this book. The blend of fantasy, mystery, and the supernatural kept me invested, and I found the premise refreshingly unique. The characters were compelling, though I would have loved to spend more time getting to know them on a deeper level, especially Sianna. I also found myself wanting a bit more of her backstory, as I think it would have added even more emotional weight to her journey.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would happily recommend to fans of fantasy, supernatural mysteries, and stories filled with hidden secrets and family legacies.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Divine Oaths has the bones of a good dark academia novel but could have benefited from a more thorough editor and often tried to do too much at once.

Former child prodigy Sianna is offered a full scholarship to the most prestigious school in the U.S. following tragedy. Once there she uncovers the darkness that lingers beneath the school and its ties to the civil war.

There was a lot to work with here and it didn’t always smoothly go together. I liked the idea of linking real societal issues such as race into the story but at times it felt a bit forced. I also had trouble really connecting with the characters and found the romance a bit confusing given how the MMC acted towards Sianna for so much of the book. I think there’s a good story here, but an editor probably needed to clean up some of the storytelling to make it a truly great book.

Read if…
- you like dark academia similar to Ninth House or A Deadly Education
- you enjoy books that carry a deeper societal message

Skip if…
- you want a book that flows very well and the writing is flawless
- you don’t like books that try to do too much at once
- the romance is important to you

Spice: 🫑
Violence: 🗡️

Thank you to NetGalley and Requited for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dotti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 stars

Divine Oaths is a dark academia fantasy thriller romance about a young woman who becomes entangled in a web of curses, conspiracies and magic. Sianna is a former piano prodigy whose magic leapt into power on the day of her parents’ death. When Sianna saves the heir to the local prestigious university from a vicious attack, her magic is tied to his lifeline. Sianna and her friends must work together to break Kasan’s curse and save her life in the process.

The atmosphere in this book is excellent. Westfield University leans into dark academia and southern gothic elements, with hidden passageways and impenetrable mazes. The swamps around the school bring an isolation to the setting that works well. The descriptions of the setting were vivid and lush and did a great job setting our character in a sinister, beautiful place.

This book intersected a number of genres. The curse and its perpetrators made the book feel like a thriller, the love triangle made it feel like a romance, the spooky college setting made it feel like dark academia, and all the magic made it feel like fantasy. It tried to do many things and I don’t know how many it managed to succeed in. The romance felt thin, with the love triangle resolving without much fanfare or thought. The dark academia elements focused plenty on the vibes but not enough on the academic rigors—even one or two studying sessions would have made a nice difference. The magic system seemed shallow, with a number of assumptions about what the audience would know. The thriller elements felt disjointed. I think in trying to hit four genres, the book managed to do none of them well.

This book sounded right up my alley. But I think the thriller elements weren’t advertised well enough by the publisher, and the book was ultimately trying to exceed its capacities. It had a lot of promise and potential, and I hope to read more from this author.

Thank you to Requited, Elizabeth Agyemang and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

[Emma]

I’m so sad that I did not enjoy this book more because it has a lot of elements and themes that I tend to like, such as dark academia vibes; unfortunately, it didn’t end up coming together for me.

The big thing is that this has a love triangle that wasn’t in the blurb and I don’t personally enjoy love triangles. Then there was also the prose. Tbh I do tend to be a bit particular about the prose I enjoy. For me, the writing here wasn’t bad but it lacked the sensory details and emotion that I tend to prefer. Honestly, it didn’t feel particularly identifiable either. I know that some people prefer more straightforward writing like this - Shield of Sparrows is loved by so many people and that didn't hit for me personally for similar reasons. It’s just unfortunate that it’s not what I enjoy.

I would still recommend this book to those who want dark academia vibes, a messy love triangle and a more straightforward writing style. Especially if you’re looking for something with strong themes criticizing college as an institution and the way it treats some students significantly worse than others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Requited Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Morgan Vorwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me this ARC!

3.75 stars

Divine Oaths was a good dark academia novel but was missing some oomph to make it stand out. The concepts of the FMC seeing the past by touching objects and the MMC under a deadly curse of inheritance is what sparked my interest in this book. Sadly, the execution of the plot, especially in the last 25% of the book, left me feeling like this story could have been so much more. I did like the creepy, haunted atmosphere of Westfield, and it felt like there was always something lurking. The characters were good, but I felt like they kinda got left behind in terms of developing with the story compared to the unraveling of the mystery. Bits about the magical system were dropped suddenly in the plot without a ton of explanation or exploration, more of a here’s something you need to know and move on from quickly. The ending was honestly my least favorite part because we don’t get the big finale that the book felt like it was building towards and are instead left with a kinda ambiguous ending. If the ending was longer and had a better resolution, I think I would rate this book a bit higher, but it was overall a good read.

[Monique B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one SO much! It says it's perfect for fans of Legendborn so I was immediately drawn to it. Plus, the ability to see past & present visions by touch?! I was sold!

Unfortunately this wasn't a knock out like I hoped. There's a great premise for the book, it just didn't flow. Some things happen so quick, but then there's a few turns that had me going back to make sure I didn't miss something. I think this book would work well if it was expanded into a series with more depth for characters, magic & the setting.

Midway through the book the pace did pick up, but then we are given more information/explanations, (with backtracking) which had me more confused. There's a lot going on at once - it just became a lot to keep track of (especially with past history & pledge groups) & I became bored. The romance was just okay, I didn't fully feel the angst!

I did enjoy the ghostly aspects & pieces of the historical lore/hauntings of the school! That's when I really started turning the pages. Appreciated the topics of grief, racism, & generational trauma.

Thanks to Elizabeth Agyemang & Requited for the eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own! 🩷

[Megan Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Negalley.

Wow, I was not expecting that ending! I love that our FMC has powers to see people's past or through touching items. I haven't read many books like this. This story takes place in Richmond, VA which I thought was cool since I live near there.

The story is mainly centered around a prestigious historic college erected just before the Civil War, where the curse upon the family line begins. The premise of the story is to try and break this curse that has plagued the St. James family since the 1800s. This story gives you ghosts, sororities, super powers and friendships. The story starts off a little slow but that is just because you are still piecing together clues but picks up about half way through.

I do wish there had been an additional chapter at the end or an epilogue because I was left wanting to know more about what
happens to the college and the characters.

If you love paranormal, YA, inclusive books with some mystery and history, this book is for you and happy reading!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
I really enjoyed this book. It combines mystery, fantasy, and romance in a way that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The story follows Sianna as she discovers strange new abilities and becomes caught up in secrets, curses, and hidden dangers at Westfield University. She is dealing with loss while also trying to understand her new powers and place in the world. Her betrayal from someone she loves to finding new friends she didn't realize she needed.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the dark academia setting. The university felt mysterious and full of secrets, which created an atmosphere that made me want to keep reading. I also liked how the supernatural elements were woven into the story without overwhelming the characters and their personal struggles.

The relationship between Sianna and Kasem added another layer to the novel. Their connection felt meaningful and helped balance the darker aspects of the plot. I really liked that the story focused not only on magic and mystery but also on trust, friendship, and personal growth.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

[Sunah Wildhaber · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW (NETGALLEY):

I didn’t totally enjoy this read nor did I totally dislike it. I’m at a good middle ground in terms of enjoyment.

The events of Divine Oaths were really intriguing. The FMC can see into the past and the future, triggered by touch. She becomes entangled in a dangerous family curse and falls for 2 brothers in the midst of trying to break that curse.

At first, the story takes place in a mall but we later are transferred to a college setting. I’ve always loved Dark Academia so I loved that aspect of the book. There was also some small amounts of history in. I would have like to see and read more of that.

In my honest opinion, the ending felt rushed and unfinished. We’re left with some unanswered questions and I struggle not seeing a clear happy ending.

There’s a lot of death entwined in the story and I kind of wish there were more background on the school, the history of all the deaths, and more on how those deaths correlate to the curse.

3/5 stars!!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This unfortunately did not hit the mark for me. I found the pacing uneven, the mystery and romance plots didn't draw me in, and the ending was unsatisfying. The premise had a lot of promise- solving the mysteries of a cursed southern college with a bit of romance mixed in is unique and really cool sounding! However, the story was very slow until ~2/3 of the way through. I wanted more southern gothic tension if it was going to take that long for the plot to pick up. Also, every mystery felt like it was solved by a conveniently placed character having the answer. The last third of the book was leaning 3 stars, however the ending was unsatisfying and didn't have any good pay off.
The main character did remind me of Bonnie from the vampire diaries, always putting others before herself. So I did like the main character and her friends Vivian at the very least.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

[Morgan Hearns · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out strong and in the beginning I was invested and excited to pick it up. The story was interesting and had a lot of elements to it. Personally I found the flow difficult to follow, it seemed like from the middle onward more and more information was thrown at us without enough world building or explanation in place. It got a little confusing at times. I liked the main character and I love a brother trope but the romance fell short to me. I just didn’t connect with her relationship to either brother, both felt hot and cold. The characters I connected with the most were Vivian and Angelica who were side characters, I would’ve liked to see more of them. I liked them more than any of the main characters tbh. All in all the book was okay. It was definitely unique with an original plot, I’ve never read any book like it.

Thank you to Requited Publishing, Elizabeth Agyemang and team for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Juana Groat]

A solid dark academia read, but it gets a bit tangled in its own lore.
Divine Oaths delivers exactly what it promises on the surface: a moody, atmospheric dark academia setting packed with magic, ghosts, and ancient curses. I didn't hate it by any means, and I actually found myself enjoying the core storyline overall. It has a lot of potential and some really cool concepts.
However, it didn't quite cross the line into greatness for me. At times, the book felt incredibly overcrowded. Between the constant influx of monsters, the rapid-fire plot twists, and the heavy dumps of historical lore, it just became too much to process. Instead of building tension, the endless elements occasionally bogged down the pacing.
It’s a good, entertaining read if you love the genre, but a little more restraint with the world-building could have made it a five-star book.

[Deidra Orris · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Divine Oaths' is a dark academia book filled with secret societies, magic, mystery, a love triangle, and death.

When I read the premise of the book and saw the cover, I immediately wanted to read it - and the first few chapters captured my attention. Unfortunately as the book went on the plot became a bit murky for me, and had more trouble keeping my attention.
The story makes sense throughout, just something about it didn't hit quite right. The ending also felt a bit rushed for me - there was so much build up, and I wish we had another chapter or so to see what happens after the climax of the story.

I did love the historical and cultural elements to this book, and feel like the author has a lot of promise.
I would pick up a book from her in the future to try again!

Thank you to Requited and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

More like a 4.5

Divine Oaths is a roller coaster of emotions. It's this fierce burning inferno of rage and revenge, there's this passionate swooning, and a thrumming action and mystery story. The world building is compelling and sweeps you up into this dark academia world of betrayal and power. Divine Oaths builds like a wave and it soon pulls you under. There's something deeply wrong and the feeling in the pit of your stomach only widens until it swallows everyone up. Those epic stories about family drama and power games which sweeps all of us up definitely rings true. There's this rot amongst the decadent hallways, the locked doors and glances. 

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I’m an absolute fiend for a dark academia mystery and this one gets bonus points for the magical and supernatural elements.

Elizabeth has created such a perfect atmosphere in Divine Oaths for all those elements to shine and I was locked in from the start!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable story and I loved reading Sianna’s story but I wish that the main characters relationships were more developed and less rushed. The copy I read was an ARC so there is always the potential for things to get added/removed but I do believe this could have benefited from a couple of developing chapters.

Thankyou so much to Elizabeth Agyemang, Requited and NetGalley for an eARC of Divine Oaths (Expected publication September 1st 2026).

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The description of this book caught my interest. It promised dark academia, secret societies, magic and curses. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

There were some good ideas here, but the execution ultimately felt somewhat lacking. The plot was a bit all over the place and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. I didn’t like the love triangle with the FMC and brothers. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying as well.

Despite my issues with this book, I do think that the author attempts to examine some important topics such as racial inequality, societal injustice, grief, guilt and generational trauma.

I also loved the Shakespeare quotes included with each chapter heading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Requited for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Tunrayo Lumpkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Thank you Requited and NetGalley for this ARC!!! I truly enjoyed every bit of this story from start to finish. While the pacing was a little weird at times throughout the book, I loved learning more and more about each character. I love the raw and unfiltered emotions from Sianna, Jojo, and Kasem. I wish the plot twists were not that predictable, because they would have made such a bigger impact and would have made the book even more enjoyable. The ending was also quite abrupt and I would have preferred for some loose ends to have been tied up better, but maybe it leaves room for a book 2?

Overall, I loved reading this book, it felt like a fresh twist on similar stories that have been told in the past.

[Christina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Elizabeth Agyemang, Requited, and Netgalley for the gifted ARC.

The story had such a cool dark academia setting, which made it so easy for me to get hooked. I was particularly fascinated by the restricted courtyard. I also enjoyed the backstory about Sienna's parents and when her gifts started, while watching her powers grow.

​That said, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and I wish I got to know the characters a little deeper, especially Sianna. Overall I did enjoy the story and plan to add Divine Oaths to my shelf.

If you like a mix of mystery, romance, and fantasy with a dark academic backdrop, this might be right up your alley!