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All That Consumes Us
Ninth House meets The Dead and the Dark in this gothic dark academia novel that delves into the human capacity for great love, great art, and great evil.
Magni animi numquam moriuntur. Great minds never die.
The students in Corbin College's elite academic society, Magni Viri, have it all--free tuition, inspirational professors, and dream jobs once they graduate. When first-gen college student Tara is offered a chance to enroll, she doesn't hesitate.?
Except once she's settled into the gorgeous Victorian dormitory, something strange starts to happen. She's finally writing, but her stories are dark and twisted. Her dreams feel as if they could bury her alive. An unseen presence seems to stalk her through the halls.
And a chilling secret awaits Tara at the heart of Magni Viri--one that just might turn her nightmares into reality; one that might destroy her before she has a chance to escape.
All That Consumes Us will pull readers into a hypnotizing, dark reverie that blurs the lines of reality and shows that the addictive nature of ambition--and its inevitable price--always claims its due.
Magni animi numquam moriuntur. Great minds never die.
The students in Corbin College's elite academic society, Magni Viri, have it all--free tuition, inspirational professors, and dream jobs once they graduate. When first-gen college student Tara is offered a chance to enroll, she doesn't hesitate.?
Except once she's settled into the gorgeous Victorian dormitory, something strange starts to happen. She's finally writing, but her stories are dark and twisted. Her dreams feel as if they could bury her alive. An unseen presence seems to stalk her through the halls.
And a chilling secret awaits Tara at the heart of Magni Viri--one that just might turn her nightmares into reality; one that might destroy her before she has a chance to escape.
All That Consumes Us will pull readers into a hypnotizing, dark reverie that blurs the lines of reality and shows that the addictive nature of ambition--and its inevitable price--always claims its due.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2023
120 people are currently reading
20533 people want to read
About the author
Erica Waters
6 books619 followersErica Waters is a lifelong Southerner who now lives in Salem, Massachusetts. She writes dark fantasy and horror for young adults. Her second novel, The River Has Teeth, won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel and was also an Indie Next pick and a Kirkus Best Young Adult Book of 2021. Erica’s other works include Ghost Wood Song, The Restless Dark, and All That Consumes Us. She is also a contributor to the bestselling folk horror anthology The Gathering Dark. You can visit her online at ericawaters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 601 reviews
October 25, 2023
gay love so full of longing and obsession that you would rather doom generations of students to come than let your lover die <3
when will it happen to me...
this was fun, i'm usually 50:50 on dark academia but i enjoyed this one a lot. would i have liked it more if it was a prequel about aforementioned gay couple... yes 👉👈 ... but it is what it is.
i do recommend if you wanna do some (light) spoopy halloween reading next week 🎃
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
when will it happen to me...
this was fun, i'm usually 50:50 on dark academia but i enjoyed this one a lot. would i have liked it more if it was a prequel about aforementioned gay couple... yes 👉👈 ... but it is what it is.
i do recommend if you wanna do some (light) spoopy halloween reading next week 🎃
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
July 6, 2024
Lesbian gothic horror in October... as a treat <3
I put it off until February... as a treat <3
Fun, quick read. This time I had a harder time caring about the characters compared to other books by the author, so it gets a 4/5
I put it off until February... as a treat <3
Fun, quick read. This time I had a harder time caring about the characters compared to other books by the author, so it gets a 4/5
March 5, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: hospitalization, accidental misgendering, mentions of addiction, mentioned attempted abortion, child abandonment
4.2
Waters doesn’t miss in terms of atmosphere, writing, and queer girls- and she certainly didn’t this time! This may be her first stab at dark academia, but you wouldn’t be able to tell, it’s beautifully done. It falls within the realm of the genre while bringing something new to the vibe.
I really loved Tara- a lower class student fed scraps and desperately wanting to prove that she’s worth more, but also being the only person who’s resilient enough to tear everything down instead of letting it use her. The parental/family part of this really added a whole new layer as well, to give you the understanding of exactly where Tara’s coming from and what she has on the line.
The romance isn’t a main focus on the book, but it is incredibly cute, and adds a little softness. It could have worked even without romantic love, but it also helped along the great found family vibe of the Freshman class of Magni Viri.
Honestly, I really loved the side characters in this. I love the whole secret society adjacent fraternity, but the individuals really gave it the feel of a true friend group and actual people with their lives on the line. Honestly, I would have loved to have more of them- especially Quigg. It would’ve been great to have more contact with the older members, too, which would’ve made it feel more like a full society instead of a handful of teenagers.
The only real issue I had with this book was that a lot of the details I wanted were skimmed past. Beyond having the society feel more expansive and have more detail, there were moments like the divorce that felt like they were going somewhere, and the other ghosts existences that I just was expecting more of. I’d also have really loved actually getting to know Tara’s writing style.
Pre-review comments below
Erica Waters called this a queer, dark academia ghost story YES YES YES YES YES YES YESSSS
Update I got an aaaarc 😍
TW: hospitalization, accidental misgendering, mentions of addiction, mentioned attempted abortion, child abandonment
4.2
Waters doesn’t miss in terms of atmosphere, writing, and queer girls- and she certainly didn’t this time! This may be her first stab at dark academia, but you wouldn’t be able to tell, it’s beautifully done. It falls within the realm of the genre while bringing something new to the vibe.
I really loved Tara- a lower class student fed scraps and desperately wanting to prove that she’s worth more, but also being the only person who’s resilient enough to tear everything down instead of letting it use her. The parental/family part of this really added a whole new layer as well, to give you the understanding of exactly where Tara’s coming from and what she has on the line.
The romance isn’t a main focus on the book, but it is incredibly cute, and adds a little softness. It could have worked even without romantic love, but it also helped along the great found family vibe of the Freshman class of Magni Viri.
Honestly, I really loved the side characters in this. I love the whole secret society adjacent fraternity, but the individuals really gave it the feel of a true friend group and actual people with their lives on the line. Honestly, I would have loved to have more of them- especially Quigg. It would’ve been great to have more contact with the older members, too, which would’ve made it feel more like a full society instead of a handful of teenagers.
The only real issue I had with this book was that a lot of the details I wanted were skimmed past. Beyond having the society feel more expansive and have more detail, there were moments like the divorce that felt like they were going somewhere, and the other ghosts existences that I just was expecting more of. I’d also have really loved actually getting to know Tara’s writing style.
Pre-review comments below
Erica Waters called this a queer, dark academia ghost story YES YES YES YES YES YES YESSSS
Update I got an aaaarc 😍
October 23, 2023
3,5 *
This book started off really good! I really enjoyed the prologue, the setup to the story and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, I did start getting a little bored after a bit. I think the 1st third of the book (after the catalyst event that starts the story) is a little slow. However, once Tara started uncovering everything and realizing what was happening to her, things got really interesting!
Seeing Tara’s health decline and her not remembering things was ominous, but also quite intriguing. When she comes up with her theory about what could be happening to her…. I was definitely creeped out 🤐. And once the *full truth* is revealed??? Oh boyyyy!! 😰 The plot was definitely my favourite thing about this book. The mystery was very captivating and I enjoyed the way things played out.
I also like the indirect commentary and critique towards academia. Magni Viri clearly shows the dark side of academic institutions, as well as how far some people go in the pursuit of greatness (obviously in an exaggerated way by using the paranormal as an allegory lol). It wasn’t anything too deep, and idk if delving deeper into a critique of academia would’ve fit in this story, so I think this very light approach to the topic was enough for this book.
Now for something I didn’t really care about: the relationships. Tara’s romance with Penny was pretty underdeveloped: it was basically insta-love, and, even after they get together (after knowing each other for 1 week) we barely see them together, so it’s really hard to care about them 😕. The romance was pretty unnecessary in this story, but if the author wanted to include it (even if just as a background plotline) I think it needed a bit more development. I also didn’t really care about Tara’s friendship with the other 1st year students. I understand they were supposed to be a ~found family~ (the author literally spells it out at the end lol), but I honestly didn’t feel much for them. I do appreciate all the queer rep, though! 10/10! 👌🏻
Overall, I think this book is a good read, especially for the spooky season! If you enjoy atmospheric and slightly unsettling (but not too scary!) dark academia books, this will be perfect for you!!!
(review written on 23/10/23)
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"a gothic, ghostly, queer dark academia book about a college student who joins a mysterious academic society with a sinister secret."
👀👀👀 i'm listening
(25/01/23)
This book started off really good! I really enjoyed the prologue, the setup to the story and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, I did start getting a little bored after a bit. I think the 1st third of the book (after the catalyst event that starts the story) is a little slow. However, once Tara started uncovering everything and realizing what was happening to her, things got really interesting!
Seeing Tara’s health decline and her not remembering things was ominous, but also quite intriguing. When she comes up with her theory about what could be happening to her…. I was definitely creeped out 🤐. And once the *full truth* is revealed??? Oh boyyyy!! 😰 The plot was definitely my favourite thing about this book. The mystery was very captivating and I enjoyed the way things played out.
I also like the indirect commentary and critique towards academia. Magni Viri clearly shows the dark side of academic institutions, as well as how far some people go in the pursuit of greatness (
Now for something I didn’t really care about: the relationships. Tara’s romance with Penny was pretty underdeveloped: it was basically insta-love, and, even after they get together (after knowing each other for 1 week) we barely see them together, so it’s really hard to care about them 😕. The romance was pretty unnecessary in this story, but if the author wanted to include it (even if just as a background plotline) I think it needed a bit more development. I also didn’t really care about Tara’s friendship with the other 1st year students. I understand they were supposed to be a ~found family~ (the author literally spells it out at the end lol), but I honestly didn’t feel much for them. I do appreciate all the queer rep, though! 10/10! 👌🏻
Overall, I think this book is a good read, especially for the spooky season! If you enjoy atmospheric and slightly unsettling (but not too scary!) dark academia books, this will be perfect for you!!!
(review written on 23/10/23)
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"a gothic, ghostly, queer dark academia book about a college student who joins a mysterious academic society with a sinister secret."
👀👀👀 i'm listening
(25/01/23)
August 18, 2023
And, just like that, one of my most anticipated Fall reads became a major disappointment.
This book was pitched as gothic, ghostly, and queer, where a girl joins a secretive academic society after one of its members suddenly passes away. Liberated from a life of repaying student loans and two jobs, Tara finds herself free to pursue a career as an author with the full backing of Magni Viri. However, she quickly learns that her induction into this society may not be all she imagined.
At first, ALL THAT CONSUMES US was haunting and atmospheric, but, as the mystery unraveled, I found myself increasingly annoyed. The cause of Tara's horror only made sense on a surface level because the more I pondered it, the more glaringly obvious plot holes/character logic became. And not in a gothic, deteriorating-sanity type of way (though I'm sure that was partly the author's intent), but simply a lack of deeper thinking on the author's behalf about plot implications.
A lot of this novel focuses on building suspense and dread, which was fairly believable until the big reveal, a little over halfway through. After the big reveal occurs, I had a lot of questions about Magni Viri, but 90% of them went unanswered (perhaps after publication day I will post a full, no-spoilers-barred review that explains this).
Just about the only thing I liked about this book was the author's inclusion of a wide array of representations and diversity. There are characters who are disabled, characters who are nonbinary, and, to my utter delight, a featured relationship between two female characters that weren't fetishized. That being said, I felt as though this book was lacking insight into the finer details of these supporting characters, both in terms of personality and interactions with the main character. I could have had less of Tara and more of everyone else.
All in all, this book started off strong but quickly delved into frustrating. While I was fastidiously consuming the first half of this book, I struggled to get through the last quarter of the book. If this book sounds like it would suit you for Fall, I would caution you going in that the plot is disappointing.
➫ 2.5 Stars
This book was pitched as gothic, ghostly, and queer, where a girl joins a secretive academic society after one of its members suddenly passes away. Liberated from a life of repaying student loans and two jobs, Tara finds herself free to pursue a career as an author with the full backing of Magni Viri. However, she quickly learns that her induction into this society may not be all she imagined.
At first, ALL THAT CONSUMES US was haunting and atmospheric, but, as the mystery unraveled, I found myself increasingly annoyed. The cause of Tara's horror only made sense on a surface level because the more I pondered it, the more glaringly obvious plot holes/character logic became. And not in a gothic, deteriorating-sanity type of way (though I'm sure that was partly the author's intent), but simply a lack of deeper thinking on the author's behalf about plot implications.
A lot of this novel focuses on building suspense and dread, which was fairly believable until the big reveal, a little over halfway through. After the big reveal occurs, I had a lot of questions about Magni Viri, but 90% of them went unanswered (perhaps after publication day I will post a full, no-spoilers-barred review that explains this).
Just about the only thing I liked about this book was the author's inclusion of a wide array of representations and diversity. There are characters who are disabled, characters who are nonbinary, and, to my utter delight, a featured relationship between two female characters that weren't fetishized. That being said, I felt as though this book was lacking insight into the finer details of these supporting characters, both in terms of personality and interactions with the main character. I could have had less of Tara and more of everyone else.
All in all, this book started off strong but quickly delved into frustrating. While I was fastidiously consuming the first half of this book, I struggled to get through the last quarter of the book. If this book sounds like it would suit you for Fall, I would caution you going in that the plot is disappointing.
➫ 2.5 Stars
October 25, 2023
This was magnificent. If you crave a contemporary Gothic tale with lingering traces of dark academia and beautiful writing, give Erica Waters' new release a try. It has lodged itself deep into my mind, and it is staying there for good.
July 3, 2023
Out October 17, 2023! Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the advanced reading copy!
--
A queer, dark academia ghost story is what this says on the tin and that's exactly what you get.
After discovering the body of a fellow student one day, Tara is offered her place in a mysterious on-campus secret society called Magni Viri.
The society churns out artists, prolific authors, politicians, etc. and answers Tara's financial needs, so she can hardly say no. Pretty soon, she starts churning out writing that she doesn't remember scribbling down.
This truly felt like a queer Supernatural episode. There are ghosts, yes, and there's possession. Probably for me the book's biggest success is its atmosphere - Erica Waters really knows how to spin a yarn that makes you feel as though you're present in the school. You can feel the chilly air. You can feel the ominousness of Tara realizing that she may not be in control of her own body.
My own personal challenge with this were that I didn't always understand the choices Tara made and I felt frustrated by that, but I think that they were probably authentic to a seventeen year old. Though queer - which I love - I wasn't sold on the nature of the romantic relationship, either.
Despite all of that, I think this is a pretty great read, especially heading into spooky season.
--
A queer, dark academia ghost story is what this says on the tin and that's exactly what you get.
After discovering the body of a fellow student one day, Tara is offered her place in a mysterious on-campus secret society called Magni Viri.
The society churns out artists, prolific authors, politicians, etc. and answers Tara's financial needs, so she can hardly say no. Pretty soon, she starts churning out writing that she doesn't remember scribbling down.
This truly felt like a queer Supernatural episode. There are ghosts, yes, and there's possession. Probably for me the book's biggest success is its atmosphere - Erica Waters really knows how to spin a yarn that makes you feel as though you're present in the school. You can feel the chilly air. You can feel the ominousness of Tara realizing that she may not be in control of her own body.
My own personal challenge with this were that I didn't always understand the choices Tara made and I felt frustrated by that, but I think that they were probably authentic to a seventeen year old. Though queer - which I love - I wasn't sold on the nature of the romantic relationship, either.
Despite all of that, I think this is a pretty great read, especially heading into spooky season.
September 17, 2023
The moment I started this book I was sucked into the academic atmosphere, and as the plot and relationships progressed I was HOOKED. This is the absolute perfect combo of plot/horror and the dark academia ~vibes~ - I find a lot of books only do one of those things successfully.
Great queer rep! I would say this was pretty light horror, but a few scenes definitely would have terrified me if I was alone in the dark.
Great queer rep! I would say this was pretty light horror, but a few scenes definitely would have terrified me if I was alone in the dark.
December 1, 2023
truly a dark academia book about the toxicity of academia and the why it can unhealthily consume us (literally and otherwise), the greed for greatness and all we're willing to do to achieve it.
also the dangers of unresolved mommy
issue and the results of dramatic gay people
also the dangers of unresolved mommy
issue and the results of dramatic gay people
January 16, 2024
Absolutely hated every minute of this book. It was written by/for a babyqueer who spent too much time on Tumblr. There are ways to write queer characters so that they don't feel so forced?? It felt like pandering and sooooo annoying. The narration and actions of characters was in direct conflict for the whole thing too. The other characters and narration kept saying how Tara was so smart and such a good writer but then all she writes is a shitty Jane Eyre fanfiction, and then can't even manage to write anything herself after her financial situation changed. Tara directly compares herself to Meredith saying she was just as good, if not better, but she was just a whiny annoying brat the whole book.
April 17, 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters is a creepy, dark academia book that would make the perfect Halloween read! The story revolves around Tara, a student at Corbin College who has just been asked to join an exclusive society. She is now one of the Magni Viri, an elite group of students who get special privileges in the school. Now, she can focus on her creative writing. But whenever she starts writing, bad things start happening. It's like she's losing her grip on reality. Can Tara discover the secrets behind the Magni Viri before it's too late?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from the Prologue:
"This is it, the last time you’ll kiss me. I want to burn it into my heart, inscribe every touch so that later, in that dark place, I���ll be able to run my fingers over the memory, feel the worn grooves of it against my skin. A spell for not forgetting,a spell for not disappearing.
It’s midnight, and the moon is a pale sliver in the black velvet sky, less luminous than your eyes. The long fragrant branches of a weeping willow reach and sway, forming a lover’s canopy around us, so that I can almost forget the others who circle us with their burning candles, their chanting voices. You reach out a too-warm hand to cup my cheek. My breath hitches."
Overall, All That Consumes Us is a gothic YA story that will appeal to fans of the recent YA release Wolfwood or the Point Horror books from the 1990's. One highlight of this book is the creepy gothic setting, which is full of secret societies, mysteries and secrets. Another highlight of this book is that it is dark academia, which is one of my favorite tropes. I absolutely love reading about spooky happenings in Victorian buildings late at night. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA horror in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in October!
All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters is a creepy, dark academia book that would make the perfect Halloween read! The story revolves around Tara, a student at Corbin College who has just been asked to join an exclusive society. She is now one of the Magni Viri, an elite group of students who get special privileges in the school. Now, she can focus on her creative writing. But whenever she starts writing, bad things start happening. It's like she's losing her grip on reality. Can Tara discover the secrets behind the Magni Viri before it's too late?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from the Prologue:
"This is it, the last time you’ll kiss me. I want to burn it into my heart, inscribe every touch so that later, in that dark place, I���ll be able to run my fingers over the memory, feel the worn grooves of it against my skin. A spell for not forgetting,a spell for not disappearing.
It’s midnight, and the moon is a pale sliver in the black velvet sky, less luminous than your eyes. The long fragrant branches of a weeping willow reach and sway, forming a lover’s canopy around us, so that I can almost forget the others who circle us with their burning candles, their chanting voices. You reach out a too-warm hand to cup my cheek. My breath hitches."
Overall, All That Consumes Us is a gothic YA story that will appeal to fans of the recent YA release Wolfwood or the Point Horror books from the 1990's. One highlight of this book is the creepy gothic setting, which is full of secret societies, mysteries and secrets. Another highlight of this book is that it is dark academia, which is one of my favorite tropes. I absolutely love reading about spooky happenings in Victorian buildings late at night. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA horror in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in October!
April 20, 2023
This dark academic tale has stupored my brain.
A book about a girl who wants to be a writer lured into the elite society of college 'Magni Viri'. And while everything lustres here like gold, the students look all insane. All that consumes us has literally consumed me while I consumed it. This devious cycle goes on throughout the book.
Loaded with ghostly spirits, Latin spells, and madness to excel at their courses, the story is a maddening tale of students in pursuit of passion. It captures the reader's attention like nothing else. It's scary and captivating, and the world buildup is so real and freaking great. You can't separate reality, imagination, hallucination, or possession 👻
A perfect companion for your Halloween week!
Thank you @this_is_edelweiss @ericawatersbooks and @harpercollins for this wonderful ARC. This was a wonderful book
Genre: #gothic #fantasy #horror #ya #lgbt
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Tropes: #darkacademia #foundfamily
A book about a girl who wants to be a writer lured into the elite society of college 'Magni Viri'. And while everything lustres here like gold, the students look all insane. All that consumes us has literally consumed me while I consumed it. This devious cycle goes on throughout the book.
Loaded with ghostly spirits, Latin spells, and madness to excel at their courses, the story is a maddening tale of students in pursuit of passion. It captures the reader's attention like nothing else. It's scary and captivating, and the world buildup is so real and freaking great. You can't separate reality, imagination, hallucination, or possession 👻
A perfect companion for your Halloween week!
Thank you @this_is_edelweiss @ericawatersbooks and @harpercollins for this wonderful ARC. This was a wonderful book
Genre: #gothic #fantasy #horror #ya #lgbt
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Tropes: #darkacademia #foundfamily
August 23, 2023
Dark academia, ghosts, graveyards, obsession, possession, paranoia. This book has it all! Tara feels like she doesn’t fit in at Corbin College. When she is offered a chance to enroll in Magni Viri, an elite academic society with free tuition, she accepts with no hesitation. Tara, who takes the place of the most recent dead girl Meredith, thinks that she is possessing her and using her body to write her novella during the night. But actually, what is happening is much worse. This book is perfect for spooky season. 4.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Erica Waters, Harper Teen, and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 25, 2023
I loved this! I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I love Lori Prince and the summary seemed right up my alley—it absolutely was. LOVED the atmosphere, loved the themes, loved the narration, and really enjoyed the characters. Overall I had an absolute blast and will def look for more from this author in the future. Lori Prince knocked the performance out of the park.
November 8, 2023
see, the thing is, if you have the gall to compare your book to the secret history then it better have tartt level writing, themes, storytelling capabilities, and characterization.
newsflash: 100% of the books that are marketed this way have NONE of the above
newsflash: 100% of the books that are marketed this way have NONE of the above
February 23, 2024
DNF at a third in.
Comparing it to Ninth House did this book a disservice, as it reads much younger, the protagonist whiny and unpleasant as a narrator despite similar experiences as Alex Stern.
It's much more diverse in terms of more queer, gender diverse, and non-white characters, but. I was bored. Looked up the spoilers and found I was a bit squicked out, so I'm moving on.
Comparing it to Ninth House did this book a disservice, as it reads much younger, the protagonist whiny and unpleasant as a narrator despite similar experiences as Alex Stern.
It's much more diverse in terms of more queer, gender diverse, and non-white characters, but. I was bored. Looked up the spoilers and found I was a bit squicked out, so I'm moving on.
September 17, 2023
Deeply atmospheric, this Southern Gothic ghost story will give you chills.
First-generation college student Tara Boone has sacrificed everything to get to Corbin College, but she still feels like she's struggling to keep her head above water. All she wants is to be able to write. After a tragedy opens up a spot in the elite secret society Magni Viri, Tara finally feels like she has a chance: free tuition, academic mentoring, guaranteed success after graduation, and a close knit group of peers who are also driven to achieve greatness. But of course, nothing comes without a cost. But the farther she descends into Magni Viri, the more she suspects that the price is even higher and darker than she could have imagined...
I think this is a phenomenal example of YA dark academia. The setting here really is its own character - old Tennessee school, intimidatingly old and dark buildings, and graveyards. There's a steady feeling of paranoia buzzing in the background as Tara struggles to discover the truth and survive.
One of the aspects that elevates this ghost story is the care that Waters takes in developing interesting, well-rounded, and diverse characters. Several of the characters, including Tara, are explicitly queer. Although this is definitely not a romance overall, I enjoyed the sapphic relationship between Tara and her love interest. There is a side character who is non-binary, and the conversation around pronouns is simple but well done, as well as a side character with an autoimmune disease who uses a mobility aid. Classism is also discussed and important throughout the story - Tara struggles with feeling like she belongs at an elite institution and importantly doesn't have a safety net to fall back on.
If you're looking for something spooky to kick off this fall reading season that will give you chills but not nightmares, All That Consumes Us is a great pick for you! In general, I'd recommend Erica Waters' books to anyone who's interested in sapphic Southern gothic ghost stories (a subgenre you perhaps didn't realize you needed in your life, but you do).
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
First-generation college student Tara Boone has sacrificed everything to get to Corbin College, but she still feels like she's struggling to keep her head above water. All she wants is to be able to write. After a tragedy opens up a spot in the elite secret society Magni Viri, Tara finally feels like she has a chance: free tuition, academic mentoring, guaranteed success after graduation, and a close knit group of peers who are also driven to achieve greatness. But of course, nothing comes without a cost. But the farther she descends into Magni Viri, the more she suspects that the price is even higher and darker than she could have imagined...
I think this is a phenomenal example of YA dark academia. The setting here really is its own character - old Tennessee school, intimidatingly old and dark buildings, and graveyards. There's a steady feeling of paranoia buzzing in the background as Tara struggles to discover the truth and survive.
One of the aspects that elevates this ghost story is the care that Waters takes in developing interesting, well-rounded, and diverse characters. Several of the characters, including Tara, are explicitly queer. Although this is definitely not a romance overall, I enjoyed the sapphic relationship between Tara and her love interest. There is a side character who is non-binary, and the conversation around pronouns is simple but well done, as well as a side character with an autoimmune disease who uses a mobility aid. Classism is also discussed and important throughout the story - Tara struggles with feeling like she belongs at an elite institution and importantly doesn't have a safety net to fall back on.
If you're looking for something spooky to kick off this fall reading season that will give you chills but not nightmares, All That Consumes Us is a great pick for you! In general, I'd recommend Erica Waters' books to anyone who's interested in sapphic Southern gothic ghost stories (a subgenre you perhaps didn't realize you needed in your life, but you do).
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 20, 2023
This is THE dark academia, secret society, haunting, gothic, lit-inspired book of the year.
Criminally under hyped.
Criminally under hyped.
November 13, 2023
1.5
Man, what is with new YA books this year? Some of been really good and others have just been a headache.
First off, this DID NOT need to be 12 hours long. The narrator's voice was grating, and the story was redundant and boring. Also, all of the characters and relationships were waaaay underdeveloped, and like Starling House, the main character "falls in love" instantly.
I gave this a star and a half because the concept of past intelligent writers/professors possessing students to carry on their writing was an intresting idea. It just should have been executed in such a way that made a good story, not a boring, one-dimensional one.
Man, what is with new YA books this year? Some of been really good and others have just been a headache.
First off, this DID NOT need to be 12 hours long. The narrator's voice was grating, and the story was redundant and boring. Also, all of the characters and relationships were waaaay underdeveloped, and like Starling House, the main character "falls in love" instantly.
I gave this a star and a half because the concept of past intelligent writers/professors possessing students to carry on their writing was an intresting idea. It just should have been executed in such a way that made a good story, not a boring, one-dimensional one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2023
Really enjoyed this one. Will definitely add it to the Dark Academia Instagram post I'm working on.
Now, this is the type of Dark Academia that I love. A lot of the ones I have been reading lately were either too full of drama or didn't have enough of the DA atmosphere. I like my DA with a side of supernatural or murder/mystery, and this has BOTH. It also mixed in queer characters and found family. This was just -chefs kiss- a lovely dark little story.
Now, this is the type of Dark Academia that I love. A lot of the ones I have been reading lately were either too full of drama or didn't have enough of the DA atmosphere. I like my DA with a side of supernatural or murder/mystery, and this has BOTH. It also mixed in queer characters and found family. This was just -chefs kiss- a lovely dark little story.
Want to read
March 29, 2023- on netgalley US
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
November 8, 2023
PERFECT Oct. read!
February 18, 2025
3 / 5 🌟
“if i didn’t know any better, i’d say you’re worried about me,” i say.
“oh, go fuck yourself,” neil says, but this time, there’s something like fondness in his voice.”
—
this book was good. some things were great and some things were just okay. i didn’t like the characters as much as i was hoping, but the plot itself made up for it to a certain extent. if you’re into “secret” sororities and ghosts, this might be up your alley, but if you’re going in expecting it to be filled with character development or developed friendships, you may be disappointed!
“if i didn’t know any better, i’d say you’re worried about me,” i say.
“oh, go fuck yourself,” neil says, but this time, there’s something like fondness in his voice.”
—
this book was good. some things were great and some things were just okay. i didn’t like the characters as much as i was hoping, but the plot itself made up for it to a certain extent. if you’re into “secret” sororities and ghosts, this might be up your alley, but if you’re going in expecting it to be filled with character development or developed friendships, you may be disappointed!
January 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
The moment I saw this book was a queer ghost story, I was already sold. But the fact that it's also got immaculate gothic horror vibes that only get stronger and spookier the further into the book you read, the found family trope, a dangerous and secretive academic society, and *screams* dark academia dragged me so far into it that I put everything else I was reading on hold for the most part to fly through this one. And I was *not* disappointed.
Tara Boone, having spent most of her life in a backwards town taking care of her mother rather than the other way around, seizes the opportunity to leave her directionless life behind when she's accepted to Corbin College, her eyes set on the full scholarship and promised family-like relations of Magni Viri, the extremely exclusive academic society on campus. But when she isn't accepted into Magni Viri and life at college turns out to be far more difficult than she'd anticipated with no friends or social life to speak of, she finds herself dragging her feet through each day just trying to get by while taking classes, working two campus jobs, and trying in her minimal free time to work on her writing.
But everything changes one night after what she labels a failed reading of one of her short stories, and in the coming days, she finds herself invited to join a suddenly vacant spot in Magni Viri and being ushered into the life she'd wished for so desperately. Suddenly, she has time to work on her writing, she's meeting a host of new friends, and she feels connected with the other Magni Viri students and the society itself, like she's a part of something bigger. Too bad even the good feelings from all of that can't keep her afloat once the nightmares and apparent sleepwalking start, making her feel as though she's getting little to no rest for days at a time. And when it seems like everyone around her understands what's happening to her but won't fill her in or help her, it's up to Tara to solve the mystery and save herself from whatever is slowly consuming her.
This book is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year so far. A study in modern gothic horror, the atmosphere was cold and dreary and just the right amount of spooky and haunting even in the lighter moments. Erica Waters has a way of weaving words together that dragged me right into the story alongside Tara and all of her friends, the story kept me guessing almost until the very end on exactly what was going to happen, and the characters were diverse and well rounded and flawed and felt *so real* that I wanted to be friends with them myself. I would also sell my soul for a chance to read the novel being written throughout the book, Cicada, just for the experience of reading those words as well.
But I think what ended up personally drawing me into All That Consumes Us most of all was how much I found myself relating to Tara. A young girl who dreams of being a novelist (with a love of Jane Eyre and other gothic literature) from a small town spending her life taking care of everyone but herself, wishing for something more for her future and distancing herself from her past to get to where she needs to be, struggling constantly with finding a community and with feeling like an imposter in her own skin...it was the first time in a long while that I've connected so deeply with the protagonist of a novel that I could so fully understand the decisions they made.
The moment I saw this book was a queer ghost story, I was already sold. But the fact that it's also got immaculate gothic horror vibes that only get stronger and spookier the further into the book you read, the found family trope, a dangerous and secretive academic society, and *screams* dark academia dragged me so far into it that I put everything else I was reading on hold for the most part to fly through this one. And I was *not* disappointed.
Tara Boone, having spent most of her life in a backwards town taking care of her mother rather than the other way around, seizes the opportunity to leave her directionless life behind when she's accepted to Corbin College, her eyes set on the full scholarship and promised family-like relations of Magni Viri, the extremely exclusive academic society on campus. But when she isn't accepted into Magni Viri and life at college turns out to be far more difficult than she'd anticipated with no friends or social life to speak of, she finds herself dragging her feet through each day just trying to get by while taking classes, working two campus jobs, and trying in her minimal free time to work on her writing.
But everything changes one night after what she labels a failed reading of one of her short stories, and in the coming days, she finds herself invited to join a suddenly vacant spot in Magni Viri and being ushered into the life she'd wished for so desperately. Suddenly, she has time to work on her writing, she's meeting a host of new friends, and she feels connected with the other Magni Viri students and the society itself, like she's a part of something bigger. Too bad even the good feelings from all of that can't keep her afloat once the nightmares and apparent sleepwalking start, making her feel as though she's getting little to no rest for days at a time. And when it seems like everyone around her understands what's happening to her but won't fill her in or help her, it's up to Tara to solve the mystery and save herself from whatever is slowly consuming her.
This book is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year so far. A study in modern gothic horror, the atmosphere was cold and dreary and just the right amount of spooky and haunting even in the lighter moments. Erica Waters has a way of weaving words together that dragged me right into the story alongside Tara and all of her friends, the story kept me guessing almost until the very end on exactly what was going to happen, and the characters were diverse and well rounded and flawed and felt *so real* that I wanted to be friends with them myself. I would also sell my soul for a chance to read the novel being written throughout the book, Cicada, just for the experience of reading those words as well.
But I think what ended up personally drawing me into All That Consumes Us most of all was how much I found myself relating to Tara. A young girl who dreams of being a novelist (with a love of Jane Eyre and other gothic literature) from a small town spending her life taking care of everyone but herself, wishing for something more for her future and distancing herself from her past to get to where she needs to be, struggling constantly with finding a community and with feeling like an imposter in her own skin...it was the first time in a long while that I've connected so deeply with the protagonist of a novel that I could so fully understand the decisions they made.
November 8, 2025
La estética Dark Academia funciona muy bien en esta historia.
Me gustaron el misterio y el plot twist. La primer mitad de la historia es interesante y atrapante, pero hacia el final sentí que se desinflaba un poco.
Una vez que la protagonista descubre el misterio, la historia comienza a dar vueltas sobre si misma inutilmente sin avanzar, y luego cuando los personajes deciden tomar acción en la solución del problema, no hay ningún contratiempo, todo les sale bien.
Sé que para algunas personas la temática de "found family" va a ser un atractivo del libro, pero sentí que hacia el final ya era muy trazo grueso, no había sutilezas sino que la autora nos tiraba en la cara todo el tiempo el tema.
En general lo disfruté, pero me dio la sensación de que estaba apuntado a un público mas joven, mas adolescente que universitario.
Me gustaron el misterio y el plot twist. La primer mitad de la historia es interesante y atrapante, pero hacia el final sentí que se desinflaba un poco.
Una vez que la protagonista descubre el misterio, la historia comienza a dar vueltas sobre si misma inutilmente sin avanzar, y luego cuando los personajes deciden tomar acción en la solución del problema, no hay ningún contratiempo, todo les sale bien.
Sé que para algunas personas la temática de "found family" va a ser un atractivo del libro, pero sentí que hacia el final ya era muy trazo grueso, no había sutilezas sino que la autora nos tiraba en la cara todo el tiempo el tema.
En general lo disfruté, pero me dio la sensación de que estaba apuntado a un público mas joven, mas adolescente que universitario.
June 2, 2023
Overall this book was fun read with lots of twists and turns. It is short and sweet with strikingly beautiful descriptions. The writing style is the perfect blend of modern language and Shakespearean metaphors. The complex romance echoed the real confusion of human emotions and betrayal. On the other hand the main character Tara at times felt a bit “I’m not like other girls” especially at the beginning in relation to her roommate Helena. However the sentiment does make sense because of how ostracized she is by her classmates. Towards the middle of the book Tara changes her mind quite literally every 2 pages. However I would still recommend this book to people who like gothic and spooky vibes. (It also gave me some good gothic literature recommendations)
February 11, 2024
Super cheesy and even at 17, I refuse to believe this girl is this stupid. Not the worst book I've read by any means, but not good either.
December 4, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc!
All That Consumes Us is a story that follows Tara, a girl in college who is the age of a teenager (16/17), who is trying to make her own way in the world. Tara wants to build a life for herself and find closeness with friends since her home life was lacking in many ways and is responsible for Tara growing up faster than a typical kid would. She is excited when a prestigious program in her school reaches out to offer her membership after initially rejecting her but the excitement wanes when she realizes she was offered the position because another student died. Tara expects to make friends, learn a lot, and dive into writing in a way she never has before. But her expectations are quickly stifled when the reality of this society's secrets begin to overtake her life.
I enjoyed much of this story. Erica Waters writing is stunning as always. I will read everything they write because it is beautifully immersive and believable storytelling with relatable characters.
This is a three star read because the pacing felt a little strange. There were times I found myself thinking the story was winding down or coming to the big climax only for there to be something else come up. I get that authors do this sometimes as a way to trick readers and shock them with the truth, but nothing in this really felt like a big shock or reveal after the initial one. So the second half of the book felt like it dragged to get to the conclusion.
My second issue is the ages of the characters. It is a weird choice to write a book set in college but the main characters are somehow still teenagers. Like high school age teenagers. I don't really understand what purpose this served in the overall story other than this book needed to be marketed to a YA audience. And I do feel like it was a strange juxtaposition to just randomly bring up how their not adults for no consequential reason. This could have been a book about college freshman and it would have been the same. Or it could have been a book about high school seniors set in a prestigious high school societal club and it would have been the same. Just seems like a weird choice.
The last issue I have is with the audiobook production. Sound quality was great. The narrator not as much. She wasn't bad, but she did often forget to look ahead to see which characters were speaking and used the wrong accent for a character. This was particularly problematic for me when she would give the non-binary character a female voice when the narrator had previously given them a more neutral voice. Also, the narrator was not great at any deeper male voices.
Overall, I would recommend. But it wouldn't be the first Erica Waters book I recommend to people.
All That Consumes Us is a story that follows Tara, a girl in college who is the age of a teenager (16/17), who is trying to make her own way in the world. Tara wants to build a life for herself and find closeness with friends since her home life was lacking in many ways and is responsible for Tara growing up faster than a typical kid would. She is excited when a prestigious program in her school reaches out to offer her membership after initially rejecting her but the excitement wanes when she realizes she was offered the position because another student died. Tara expects to make friends, learn a lot, and dive into writing in a way she never has before. But her expectations are quickly stifled when the reality of this society's secrets begin to overtake her life.
I enjoyed much of this story. Erica Waters writing is stunning as always. I will read everything they write because it is beautifully immersive and believable storytelling with relatable characters.
This is a three star read because the pacing felt a little strange. There were times I found myself thinking the story was winding down or coming to the big climax only for there to be something else come up. I get that authors do this sometimes as a way to trick readers and shock them with the truth, but nothing in this really felt like a big shock or reveal after the initial one. So the second half of the book felt like it dragged to get to the conclusion.
My second issue is the ages of the characters. It is a weird choice to write a book set in college but the main characters are somehow still teenagers. Like high school age teenagers. I don't really understand what purpose this served in the overall story other than this book needed to be marketed to a YA audience. And I do feel like it was a strange juxtaposition to just randomly bring up how their not adults for no consequential reason. This could have been a book about college freshman and it would have been the same. Or it could have been a book about high school seniors set in a prestigious high school societal club and it would have been the same. Just seems like a weird choice.
The last issue I have is with the audiobook production. Sound quality was great. The narrator not as much. She wasn't bad, but she did often forget to look ahead to see which characters were speaking and used the wrong accent for a character. This was particularly problematic for me when she would give the non-binary character a female voice when the narrator had previously given them a more neutral voice. Also, the narrator was not great at any deeper male voices.
Overall, I would recommend. But it wouldn't be the first Erica Waters book I recommend to people.
October 10, 2024
"Whatever you do, don't fall asleep."
Right! Sign me up to the Erica Waters Fan Club, and send me my first newsletter and badge.
I thought Dark Academia had died a death (save for Where Sleeping Girls Lie), but hey - YA triumphs over Adult Fiction again!
'All that Consumes Us' might be the best DA I've read since The Secret History - big claim (and what a delight to have the characters explicitly quote and consistently refer back to that here).
My recommendation? Sling yourself into this tremendous book and this terrific cast of characters (and do it with Lori Prince narrating the audiobook - only Prince and Natalie Naudus get my no-questions, immediate-yes, hit-play-right-away status where audiobook narrators are concerned - just give Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan a spin).
Anyway, this is what The Cloisters, All the Devils, and The Society For Soulless Girls want to be. Spectacular! Five stars! Straight onto the Favourites shelf.
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