MC’s Reviews > The Arcane Arts > Status Update

“…he realized he couldn’t pull his eyes from Ellsbeth’s face, her narrowed eyes and the curl at the corner of her mouth. Sometimes, Ellsbeth said carefully, I like being told what to do.”

Um, hello, yes please. The atmosphere of this is HOT and they are talking about her dissertation thesis. It is so academic and so provocative at the same time.

I am SO into this. Many dark academia books skip the academia and go quickly into whatever other pull or trope is being implemented. This doesn’t do that. The writing presumes a level of intelligence in the reader, like Babel by R.F. Kuang but with a less heavy handed approach. Covertly writers as though knowing the reader is competent or at least clever enough to figure it out.

Well, it feels very academic and the email correspondence is on point. I also feel like it is inspired by a school I am familiar with, so probably going to be a good read.