**3.5 STARS**

I’ve read only one other book from this author called The River Has Teeth and I enjoyed it a lot. When I read the synopsis for this book it sounded so intriguing I had to request it.

I like that this book is set in college because I feel like there isn’t many young adult books set in college, but so many things happens to a young adult after high school. And we see it in this case with Tara who is trying her best to do good in her classes, hoping one day to be a novelist but she is a young woman who has to pay her own tuition and make things meet. Tara doesn’t have a wealthy family to help her pay for school so when she is invited to the secret society, Magni Viri, she feels this is her one chance to realize her big dreams.

The secret society gives the whole story its mystery. There is a backstory with the founding fathers of Magni Viri and we learn about it with Tara who is new to it all. The twist in the story is a good one and so unexpected. I found it creative and definitely gave all the dark academia vibes! Tara lives in a Victorian dormitory, there are woods around her and a graveyard. She also feels like she’s being haunted and obsessed with writing this novel – she feels like she’s becoming someone else which becomes really creepy.

I like the diverse cast of characters but I wish I felt like I could connect to them but I didn’t. I do like how each student had lofty ambitions and being part of Magni Viri was a chance to reach those goals – but at what cost? And was it all worth it to be so consumed by their passions that they would do anything to make their dreams come true.

Tropes: secret society

Why you should read it:
*you want to read a modern gothic horror story
*good twist in the story, dark academia vibes with ghosts, obsessions, strange things happening

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into horror

My Thoughts:

I thought this one was fairly entertaining but maybe a little too slow for me in the beginning and I wish I could’ve connected to the characters. Once everything starts unraveling for Tara is when I got more engaged and I was trying to figure what was going on with these Magni Viri kids. I like that it’s a college setting and it has a diverse cast. I thought the twist in the story was good and I like how the characters question if everything they are doing to achieve their goals are worth it.

**review will be posted on my blog in October 2023**

All That Consumes Us focuses on Tara, who dreams of being a writer and being part of Magni Viri, the prestigious academic society at Corbin College. (If you ask anyone else on campus, it might also be a cult.) She did not get accepted when she first applied to the school, instead entering the English teaching pathway while working two jobs to make ends meet. After a tragic accident, Tara is invited to join the society where she receives free room and board, tuition, and a stipend. She can finally rest and write and have real friends, all that she has ever wanted; however, she quickly finds that perhaps there is more happening at Magni Viri than she could have ever imagined.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best book I have read this year. I absolutely could not put it down. I love, love, love so much about this book. With its focus on gothic literature, its discussion of class divides in academia, and Tara Boone, the main character, I already know this is a new favorite of mine. Erica Waters never disappoints! It's spooky, queer, beautifully written, and absolutely a book you shouldn't miss!

College is nothing at all like Tara Boone hoped it’d be. Coming from a poor background with no familial support, Tara has no choice but to get a campus job and settle as an English Ed major. But what she wouldn’t give to be part of Corbib’s elite student society, Magni Viri—like Meredith Brown, the brilliant, poised writing major in Tara’s classes. If only Tara had gotten picked to be in Magni Viri instead of Meredith… if only Tara could just get lucky for once.

Then a terrible tragedy changed everything—Tara might just get her wish after all. But at what cost? Because rumors are circulating of what kind of society Magni Viri really is. Is it just an organization that boasts hardcore studiousness, or a cult like everyone secretly suspects?

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I was completely blown away by this book! Firstly by Tara because of how relatable she is and how well I thought she was written. Then of course Meredith, Magni Viri, the secrets that slowly poured it… There were some really powerful themes in this book, namely revolving around talent and ambition. It really brings a fresh perspective on how to differentiate between the two. I also thought the paranormal twist was a brilliant spin on dark academia - the two concepts perfectly married together by Waters. Amazing job by her, hands down. I HIGHLY recommend!

Other things I loved:
- Tara’s writing struggles
- her need to question everything
- the Sunday parties
- obsession/daydreams of Meredith
- Tara & Polly
- Wren!
- the spin on everyone’s “talent”
- Cicada
- WWG & JB
- mausoleum scene
- justice sweetly served

Many thanks to Netgalley and to Erica Waters’s publishing team for allowing me to read this!

Erica Waters is the queen of queer gothic horror and All That Consumes Us proves it. This is a wonderfully well-plotted story with characters that you can't stop watching. More, please!

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
4.75

A secret society at a small liberal arts college is more than it appears. What would you do to summon and hold creative genius?

This book was atmospheric, spooky, and kept me on the edge of my seat. It conjures up a whole new meaning of the phrase, “ghost writing.” Is fame and renown more important than living your own life?

Loved this gothic, spooky modern day read!

Dark academia is a genre I will always adore. Erica Waters' reliably beautiful prose lifts this darkly gothic tale that I would absolutely recommend.

I like Erica Waters' style and other works, but this was just alright. Something about this story just felt too predictable and I felt like I'd already read similar stuff before. Still, a decent read, especially for young adults.

Dark academia is my jam! This was very very good I had to know what happened next and how it ended. So good!
I just reviewed All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters. #AllThatConsumesUs #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

The concept of this story was really great, but I felt as though the writing was a little awkward. I am all for inclusivity, but this felt like forced inclusivity. I did not believe that any of the teenagers were actually teenagers.

This didn't particularly feel like a YA book to me - the characters are in college, and it was really giving The Secret History/Bad Heroines vibes. Apart from that, it just didn't feel like a new take on this familiar dark academia plotline so I didn't find it particularly compelling,

I didn't like or dislike it, I just sorta floated along reading it without any strong connection or feeling. As far as YA goes the writing is better than a lot I've read recently, it manages to balance pretension with angst in a way that feels natural. I just didn't find anything to care about so your milage may vary.

Erica Waters never fails to bring me an amazing story. This was haunting, eerie, mysterious, chilling, and beautiful. The dark academia themes are spot on and the plot twists were great. Whenever I thought I knew what was happening, Erica proved I was wrong. I will absolutely be buying a physical copy.

"All That Consumes Us" by Erica Waters is a forthcoming dark academia novel that you can devour in one sitting.

All aspiring writer Tara Boone dreams of being is great. But as a lower-class student at the prestigious Corbin College, the epitome of excellence, wealth, and success, Tara is constantly doubting herself and her writing skills.

When the body of a gifted student author, Meredith Brown, is found on campus, Tara is given the opportunity to join Corbin's academic society, Magni Viri. There, Tara is introduced to her eccentric cohort, who are not exactly the most welcoming.

Nothing is what it seems at Magni Vi, and Tara notices strange behavior. She keeps smelling lily of the valley perfume, the same fragrance owned by Meredith. Tara is also tasked with writing a gothic novella, and she can't help but feel like the writing isn't hers, but Meredith's.

Haunted by these occurrences, Tara starts digging into the society's past, hoping to find an answer. When no one else appears to recognize the odd behavior, she begins to suspect that the other members of Magni Viri might be hiding something from her.

"All That Consumes Us” is an eerie and unpredictable young adult novel that explores the extreme extent people will go to for success. Gripping and unputdownable, Erica Water's forthcoming novel will consume you.

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters is a mesmerizing and chilling tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story revolves around Tara, a student who enrolls in Corbin College's elite academic society, Magni Viri, where everything seems too good to be true. However, once she settles into the Victorian dormitory, strange things start happening, and she finds herself sleepwalking and dreaming about being buried alive.

As the story unfolds, Tara uncovers a terrible secret at the heart of Magni Viri, which threatens to destroy her before she can escape. Erica Waters does an excellent job of building a dark and gothic atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and dreams. Her vivid and descriptive writing style will draw readers into the story and keep them engaged until the very end.

The characters are well-developed, and the plot twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the final reveal. The themes of ambition and the price one pays for it are explored in a way that is both haunting and thought-provoking. All That Consumes Us is a page-turner that will leave readers wanting more. Highly recommended for fans of gothic horror and suspense.