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These Lessons are Merciless
He’s her professor.
She’s his student.
And every rule between them is starting to burn.
Yelena came to Loyola University to study art history but when her new professor walks into class, everything inside her remembers him and what happened that night she was dragged from her bed and introduced to monsters.
Jasper Hawthorne is handsome, controlled, and dangerously familiar. He watches Yelena like he has loved her before. Like he has lost her before. Like he was made to protect her forever.
This dark academia fantasy romance is perfect for readers who crave forbidden professor/student tension, reincarnated soulmates, ancient curses, blood bonds, dangerous angels, morally gray monsters, and a heroine who discovers she was never the corrupted one in the story.
*This title can be read as an interconected standalone*
She’s his student.
And every rule between them is starting to burn.
Yelena came to Loyola University to study art history but when her new professor walks into class, everything inside her remembers him and what happened that night she was dragged from her bed and introduced to monsters.
Jasper Hawthorne is handsome, controlled, and dangerously familiar. He watches Yelena like he has loved her before. Like he has lost her before. Like he was made to protect her forever.
This dark academia fantasy romance is perfect for readers who crave forbidden professor/student tension, reincarnated soulmates, ancient curses, blood bonds, dangerous angels, morally gray monsters, and a heroine who discovers she was never the corrupted one in the story.
*This title can be read as an interconected standalone*
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy
Well written and well researched, its foray into symbolism is interesting and the story gripping. I like this complex world, it's so imaginative and new characters keep being surprisingly original.
Poignant, fast paced and immersing, I really liked this story and I look forward to read the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Poignant, fast paced and immersing, I really liked this story and I look forward to read the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2026
Whenever I read M. R. Pritchard books, I am in awe with the world building and truly enjoy her descriptive writing style! This book once again transports your imagination with ease.
I love the character development for both Yalena and Jasper throughout the book.
I honestly enjoyed everything about this book!!!
The mix of dark academia with angels, monsters, forbidden love ,blood bonds and soulmates.
Thank you BookSirens and M.R. Pritchard for this advance reader copy.
I love the character development for both Yalena and Jasper throughout the book.
I honestly enjoyed everything about this book!!!
The mix of dark academia with angels, monsters, forbidden love ,blood bonds and soulmates.
Thank you BookSirens and M.R. Pritchard for this advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
These Lessons Are Merciless is an intoxicating, razor-sharp collision of dark academia, mythic stakes, and devastating romance that refuses to let you breathe from its opening pages to the final line. M.R. Pritchard delivers a masterclass in atmospheric tension, crafting a world where the hallowed halls of academia conceal ancient terrors and the weight of forgotten lifetimes.
At the center of it all is Yelena, whose desperate bid for an ordinary college existence instantly grounds the narrative. Watching her reality fracture as the mundane strips away makes for an electrifying emotional ride. Then there is Jasper Hawthorne—her art history professor, guardian, and an enigmatic force far older and deadlier than any mortal title can hold. Their dynamic is pure, volatile alchemy: intellectual sparring laden with centuries of unspoken weight, protective instincts, and a forbidden pull that burns through every shared glance and whispered secret.
Pritchard’s world-building feels lush and immediately immersive without ever bogging down the pacing. You do not need to memorize every crevice of the Veil to be utterly swept away; the atmosphere does the heavy lifting. From the towering, shadow-drenched stacks of the Peabody Library to the breathless dread lurking within the Forbidden Archives, every setting hums with latent power. The mythology—interweaving angels, demons, reincarnation, and old bloodlines with an insidious lie that stretches back to the very first garden—is layered with genuine reverence and delicious subversion.
The story thrives on its haunting central truths: the past is never finished, blood remembers, and darkness lies. Pritchard understands that love in a broken, divine cosmos is rarely simple, and watching Yelena and Jasper navigate the ghosts of who they were versus who they must become is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling. It is visceral, gothic, and unashamedly smart, balancing high-stakes supernatural conflict with deeply intimate character arcs.
If you are looking for an addictive, fiercely written dark fantasy that marries academic gothic mystery with an epic, star-crossed soul connection, pick this up immediately. An unforgettable read, and an absolute five-star triumph.
At the center of it all is Yelena, whose desperate bid for an ordinary college existence instantly grounds the narrative. Watching her reality fracture as the mundane strips away makes for an electrifying emotional ride. Then there is Jasper Hawthorne—her art history professor, guardian, and an enigmatic force far older and deadlier than any mortal title can hold. Their dynamic is pure, volatile alchemy: intellectual sparring laden with centuries of unspoken weight, protective instincts, and a forbidden pull that burns through every shared glance and whispered secret.
Pritchard’s world-building feels lush and immediately immersive without ever bogging down the pacing. You do not need to memorize every crevice of the Veil to be utterly swept away; the atmosphere does the heavy lifting. From the towering, shadow-drenched stacks of the Peabody Library to the breathless dread lurking within the Forbidden Archives, every setting hums with latent power. The mythology—interweaving angels, demons, reincarnation, and old bloodlines with an insidious lie that stretches back to the very first garden—is layered with genuine reverence and delicious subversion.
The story thrives on its haunting central truths: the past is never finished, blood remembers, and darkness lies. Pritchard understands that love in a broken, divine cosmos is rarely simple, and watching Yelena and Jasper navigate the ghosts of who they were versus who they must become is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling. It is visceral, gothic, and unashamedly smart, balancing high-stakes supernatural conflict with deeply intimate character arcs.
If you are looking for an addictive, fiercely written dark fantasy that marries academic gothic mystery with an epic, star-crossed soul connection, pick this up immediately. An unforgettable read, and an absolute five-star triumph.
November 2, 2026
If you are looking for an addictive, fiercely written dark fantasy that marries academic gothic mystery with an epic, star-crossed soul connection, this book needs to be at the very top of your TBR list.
M.R. Pritchard completely wrecked me in the best way possible, delivering a masterclass in atmospheric tension. I was pulled into a world where the hallowed halls of academia conceal ancient terrors and the heavy weight of forgotten lifetimes. The dynamic between Yelena; a resilient art history student fighting to uncover her identity and Jasper Hawthorne, her professor, guardian, and a force far older and deadlier than any mortal title can hold, is pure, volatile alchemy. Their intellectual sparring, centuries of unspoken weight, and deep-seated yearning burned through every page for me.
What made this stand out was the brilliant subversion of myth and lore, particularly the breathtaking reimagining of the Garden of Eden and the exploration of reincarnation and blood bonds. It is visceral, gothic, and unashamedly smart, balancing high-stakes supernatural conflict with deeply intimate character arcs. Whether you are hooked by the forbidden professor/student tension, the dark academia setting, or the intricate web of angels, demons, and moral gray areas, this book completely consumed me from the opening pages to the final line. An unforgettable, top-tier read!
M.R. Pritchard completely wrecked me in the best way possible, delivering a masterclass in atmospheric tension. I was pulled into a world where the hallowed halls of academia conceal ancient terrors and the heavy weight of forgotten lifetimes. The dynamic between Yelena; a resilient art history student fighting to uncover her identity and Jasper Hawthorne, her professor, guardian, and a force far older and deadlier than any mortal title can hold, is pure, volatile alchemy. Their intellectual sparring, centuries of unspoken weight, and deep-seated yearning burned through every page for me.
What made this stand out was the brilliant subversion of myth and lore, particularly the breathtaking reimagining of the Garden of Eden and the exploration of reincarnation and blood bonds. It is visceral, gothic, and unashamedly smart, balancing high-stakes supernatural conflict with deeply intimate character arcs. Whether you are hooked by the forbidden professor/student tension, the dark academia setting, or the intricate web of angels, demons, and moral gray areas, this book completely consumed me from the opening pages to the final line. An unforgettable, top-tier read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
These lessons are merciless has me in the feels currently. The journey that I went on in this book was a wild ride. We learn more about Yelena and Jasper from the previous book. But we definitely learned things I was not expecting at all, hello plot twist!!!
- We have academia. Loving the topics in the college as well dark ,gothic and out of the box thinking.
- We have a sort of amnesia with the female main character.
- The fight of good vrs evil.
- Best friend checking in throughout the book and I thought that was a nice touch.
- The old world and the modern world combined.
In this book the yearning from the characters was next level and I felt the connection was so real between them even though as a reader we didn't know their origin till about 70% of the book. I was rooting for them to believe in each other and put their hearts on the line.
At the end here I really started forming hypotheticals about future books. I am always trying to predict how some characters are going to develop or who will be new love interests. I feel as though M. R. Pritchard leaves bread crumbs for us to follow and I am here for every single one!
All in all another great book in this amazing series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
- We have academia. Loving the topics in the college as well dark ,gothic and out of the box thinking.
- We have a sort of amnesia with the female main character.
- The fight of good vrs evil.
- Best friend checking in throughout the book and I thought that was a nice touch.
- The old world and the modern world combined.
In this book the yearning from the characters was next level and I felt the connection was so real between them even though as a reader we didn't know their origin till about 70% of the book. I was rooting for them to believe in each other and put their hearts on the line.
At the end here I really started forming hypotheticals about future books. I am always trying to predict how some characters are going to develop or who will be new love interests. I feel as though M. R. Pritchard leaves bread crumbs for us to follow and I am here for every single one!
All in all another great book in this amazing series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
October 29, 2026
Every time I dive back into this world, I feel at home. Pritchard’s writing and world building continues to suck me right in.
This one was centered around Yelena and Jasper. We got a little snippet of them in the prior books, as usual with this interconnected series. But it was just that, a small sneak peek.
The main theme it delved into was the Garden (of Eden) and I really enjoyed the alternative perspective. It made questions arise that I hadn’t thought of. (What if Eve didn’t really bite the apple? What if it was all a lie told by the corrupter?) It also explored reincarnation, which was fun to read and a subject I’ve always found fascinating. Both themes really got me thinking and both were unexpected, but welcomed.
Yelena herself was easy to love, as all the FMC’s in this world have proven to be. She was kind and resilient, even while being hunted her entire life.
Her Guardian Angel / College Professor, Jasper, was just that and more. He fell first and yearned. He was protective, patient and risked everything he had several times for her.
Overall, another win for Pritchard! I can’t wait for the next!🖤 Thank you MR & BookSirens for the early eARC copy!
This one was centered around Yelena and Jasper. We got a little snippet of them in the prior books, as usual with this interconnected series. But it was just that, a small sneak peek.
The main theme it delved into was the Garden (of Eden) and I really enjoyed the alternative perspective. It made questions arise that I hadn’t thought of. (What if Eve didn’t really bite the apple? What if it was all a lie told by the corrupter?) It also explored reincarnation, which was fun to read and a subject I’ve always found fascinating. Both themes really got me thinking and both were unexpected, but welcomed.
Yelena herself was easy to love, as all the FMC’s in this world have proven to be. She was kind and resilient, even while being hunted her entire life.
Her Guardian Angel / College Professor, Jasper, was just that and more. He fell first and yearned. He was protective, patient and risked everything he had several times for her.
Overall, another win for Pritchard! I can’t wait for the next!🖤 Thank you MR & BookSirens for the early eARC copy!
Review of advance copy
I liked the story quite a bit, I just wish I'd read the other books. It does well as a standalone, but I was really missing a great deal of context.
I'm not a huge fan of religious overtones, but the book does a good job of not beating you over the head with religious mythos.
Jasper and Yelena are very cute and I love their backstory. There's some wonderful yearning and a hot-almost-hookup. That said, I really could have used the resolution of the almost-hookup. Not having read the others I'm not sure if there is any spice, but I could have done with a fade-to-black at least. After all they went through, they are owed a little physical reunion.
All in all, an enjoyable read. It was well written and the lore and classroom lessons were interesting. I just think I was missing too much context to judge it fully.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm not a huge fan of religious overtones, but the book does a good job of not beating you over the head with religious mythos.
Jasper and Yelena are very cute and I love their backstory. There's some wonderful yearning and a hot-almost-hookup. That said, I really could have used the resolution of the almost-hookup. Not having read the others I'm not sure if there is any spice, but I could have done with a fade-to-black at least. After all they went through, they are owed a little physical reunion.
All in all, an enjoyable read. It was well written and the lore and classroom lessons were interesting. I just think I was missing too much context to judge it fully.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I received the ARC for this novel. Thank you. It seems that you need to read the other books to truly enjoy this one. A lot was lost in what had happened, and I was not aware of it. Other than that the story is interesting and it's about the battle between good and evil. It's also about reincarnation. The romance is not that important in the story (at least for this installment). So, if you are looking for a book that is more about the plot and not about romance and spice, this is for you. The problem for me was that I could not connect with Yelena. For some reason, her character was just as confused as I was. The writing is good, and it is easy to read. I couldn't enjoy the story as much as I wanted to because I did not read the previous ones. It shouldn't be advertised as an interconnected standalone. It was like jumping into a third season of a tv show.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I didn't have an opportunity to read previous books so I was a bit anxious that I'd miss the plot. However, this story really can be read as a standalone.
There is lot going on here. We have some fantastic beeings, reincarnation, fight between good and evil and of course - love. Reincarnated girl and her guarding angel join their powers.
I prefer slow burn but this story has almost established relationship (main characters do have some past). If you seek less romance and more fantasy in modern environment this is something for you. The plot containing main intrigue isn't maybe original itself but for sure shows good vs evil fight in new light.
Author thought whole universum through which is a big YES
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
There is lot going on here. We have some fantastic beeings, reincarnation, fight between good and evil and of course - love. Reincarnated girl and her guarding angel join their powers.
I prefer slow burn but this story has almost established relationship (main characters do have some past). If you seek less romance and more fantasy in modern environment this is something for you. The plot containing main intrigue isn't maybe original itself but for sure shows good vs evil fight in new light.
Author thought whole universum through which is a big YES
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
DNF at 50%.
Honestly I spent the entire time I was reading this confused. It felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series with no recap, even though this is marked as a 'interconnected standalone'. I was expecting not to know everything due to that, but I felt like I knew absolutely nothing.
So much information is thrown at you, but none of it connects in any way with how its offered.
I feel like if I had read the rest of the books in this world, maybe it would have made more sense in terms of who we meet. But for this story itself it just felt so confusing that I couldn't get through it.
DNF at 50%.
Honestly I spent the entire time I was reading this confused. It felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series with no recap, even though this is marked as a 'interconnected standalone'. I was expecting not to know everything due to that, but I felt like I knew absolutely nothing.
So much information is thrown at you, but none of it connects in any way with how its offered.
I feel like if I had read the rest of the books in this world, maybe it would have made more sense in terms of who we meet. But for this story itself it just felt so confusing that I couldn't get through it.
November 2, 2026
This story was medium to fast paced and full of angst & tension 🫦
Love a good student x professor trope but Meredith makes it so much more! Throw in past lives, a guardian angel, and an ancient archangel that wants Yelena for his freedom & watch out!
There were new characters, a few cameo appearances from Lucipurr 🐈⬛ and more than one plot twist 👀
Thoroughly entertained & enjoyed it!!
And Jasper 🥵 our MMC, has earned his right to stand alongside all the other MMC’s in the Veil of Shadows Universe!
***A special thank you to BookSirens for the opportunity to read & review this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this honest review. ***
Love a good student x professor trope but Meredith makes it so much more! Throw in past lives, a guardian angel, and an ancient archangel that wants Yelena for his freedom & watch out!
There were new characters, a few cameo appearances from Lucipurr 🐈⬛ and more than one plot twist 👀
Thoroughly entertained & enjoyed it!!
And Jasper 🥵 our MMC, has earned his right to stand alongside all the other MMC’s in the Veil of Shadows Universe!
***A special thank you to BookSirens for the opportunity to read & review this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this honest review. ***
Review of advance copy received from Author
It is said that some connections span through time and space, and those who are lucky enough to have those connections to one another will find each other in every lifetime. The premise of this book is ridiculously interesting and had me addicted within the first few chapters. Not to mention the characters we well written and intriguing all on their own!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
a great addition to the series. i love the suspense of the reading while savouring the way the characters melted together in the end. i love that even if i had read the previous books a long while back, it was easy to get back into the world that was built! two thumbs up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The tension between Jasper and Yelena was delicious. I love that Yelena kept Jasper on his toes. Their story across time was beautiful. Meredith knocked this one out of the park! I’d give it 10 stars if I could.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Been loving this series and adored Yelena and Jasper’s story
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews