4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I really enjoyed this book. Spoilers: This book is about about a young woman, Clover, going to magical school as a scholarship student, having learned about the existance of magic after accident to her brother during WWI. But while a lot of books would just be about the magical school, it then picks up 8 years later, once Clover had finished her initial schooling and became a scholar mage. In this present day, she now has to deal with the consequences of something she thought she had left behind in her undergraduate days. I felt very satisfying to me to have both storylines since nowadays I feel like it would often be broken up into seperate books.

I did have one question about the world building, namely the fact that post-WWI France, Germany, and England decide to lock the border between the human world and the faerie country, and each lock it within their own countries. This is good enough to cover the whole world? There's references to studying magic in both India and Japan. But I guess it does, or you would have faeries popping out elsewhere? idk it seems odd if there are magic traditions all over the world that they can just lock it down in Europe and it counts for everywhere. But I'm probably waaaay overthinking this. I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to the publishers for approving me for an e-arc so I could read it early.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for providing this digital advanced reader copy (e-ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
If you want to read a book set in a magical school in the 1920s, where life coexists with fairies, you need to put this on your tbr.

I enjoyed this book a good amount. The dark academia setting, with all the magic lessons (incantations and runes), was my favorite because it is so unique, especially in how they create connections with the fairies. I liked how the portrayal of one reckless choice and flaw could affect the entire plot. In this book, I truly saw how people’s greed for power affects their morality and challenges what they tend to believe. The friendship and journey of these characters fascinated me, because, in the end, they come back together to support each other and make things right.

Even though I liked almost everything about the book, it was very slow from beginning to end. I think I finally got into the story about halfway through the book. The concept of this book is good, but there are some execution issues that were somewhat lacking. I know it focuses on the main characters, but the depth of them and other characters that actually effect the storyline was somewhat lacking. The world-building is mesmerizing, but at the same time, some aspects feel small and lack detail. There’s also a plot hole regarding the magical abilities; even though half of the answers were provided by the end, it’s still confusing. By the end, I felt like I needed more from the book, but it just ended in a way that was actually acceptable yet still left me unsettled.

However, despite all of that, I still felt good about this book. It’s not boring and is somewhat engaging. Not to mention, the writing is beautiful, so I was in awe from chapter to chapter. I think if you liked emily wilde series you should pick this one up, it has similar vibes and a really good plot.

"The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door" is a book that really took me by surprise! We follow the story of a young woman named Clover, who finds herself thrust into the magical world after her brother is cursed by a faerie. She will do anything to help save him, and along with 3 friends, gets caught up in some magic that has serious consequences.

I hadn't heard anything about this book until I saw an "upcoming releases" youtube video from peruse project. When I saw it was available for request on netgalley and had a 5 star rating, I felt I had to give it a try. Let me tell you those 5 star ratings are absolutely right! From the first page I was hooked! The story was so fast paced that I never wanted to put the book down, and it kept my interest the whole way through. I loved learning about the magical world and the intricacies of faerie bargains. The author did a great job of foreshadowing events to come, which kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not stop reading and highly recommend!

I think you would like this book if you are into the mischievous type faeries, dark academia, and stories of non-magical people being thrust into the magical world. This book would be great for both the teen and adult audience. I found a lot of similarities between this book and Babel, but this was way better! This book will certainly be on my top books of the year for 2024.

5/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Redhook Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Redhook, Orbit, and H.G. Parry for the ARC copy of The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door to read.

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door is my first read of H.G. Parry. I found this book to be very enjoyable, however it was a slow read for me. The pacing of the book is one of leisure. It took me a while to become invested in the characters. I felt Parry created well-developed and likeable characters. She did exceptionally well with the four main characters: Clover, Alden, Hero, and Eddie. I really enjoyed Clover's insatiable desire for knowledge and found her to be the most relatable character. While Clover and her friends quested for knowledge to answer the questions of their world and especially faerie magic, I found myself wanting to know more along with them. Parry does a fantastic job at writing the story so that the reader feels they are on the journey too. I loved the dark academic setting and the magical world that Parry has built.

This book has strong themes of friendship, finding ones' self, family, "righting the wrongs", and a strong need to do what is right. I have seen that some compare Parry's The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door to Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde series. I feel the only similarities are faeries and an academic setting. Parry's book is less whimiscal with no focus on romance, however more on serious matters including saving a brother from a life-ending curse and saving a lost brother. I am a fan of both the Emily Wilde series and Parry's The Scholar and the Last Faerie door. Both authors have given readers their own unique yet magical take on the Fae.

What I enjoyed most from this book is Parry's special view on Faeries. I liked the depication of the Dryads. The Faeries are not romanticized in Parry's world she has created. There was magic present, through out the story, but I wanted more. I feel Parry had a good foundation, but there could be a bit more whimsy. Besides the pacing of the story and the sometimes wordy passages, overall Parry's The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door was a worthwhile and enjoyable read!

*Thank you Netgalley, Redhook, and Orbit for this arc in exchange for an honest review*

Honestly, I really wasn't feeling this book. It felt like it was dragging its feet through the early chapters, and when it finally reached what should have been the big, pivotal moments, they ended up being surprisingly lackluster. The pacing was off, and the buildup to the climax was so slow that by the time the big reveal or resolution arrived, it was almost a letdown. I think that the time jumps (not a huge fan in general) also detracted from the book for me.

That said, there were some redeeming qualities. The characters had depth and were well-developed, and the premise had a lot of potential. I genuinely liked the concept and the world the author built. Unfortunately, despite the intriguing setup, the execution didn’t quite live up to the promise. It was like watching a suspenseful thriller that fizzles out just before the end. For me, the book just didn’t hit the mark it seemed to be aiming for.

This book took me a while to get into it, but once the twists started getting revealed I was sold. The setting felt fresh with a premise that had the best of both worlds of dark academia and fantasy. I love all four of these characters. They make sense as a unit, and as individuals. They all broke my heart in different ways. This story transports you to a time and world so familiar and yet so different. The writing does much of the same. It felt like reading a folktake or watching an old movie. I will be thinking about Clover, Alden, Hero, and Eddie for some time

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H. G. Parry
The scholar and the last faerie door is a magical story about a young lady finding her way in a new world. This story brought me through the wonderful ups and downs of reading a great novel. I began to read this book with a bit of skepticism. I was sure if the book would be too much of a young adult to read. I was surprised to find that this is a wonderful book for all ages. The author writes clearly and cleverly. Reading this book was relaxing and had me holding on to my chair.
The main character Clover, is a very likable character. The reader is able to grow with her and learn with her as if you are a scholar. One of the best attributes to this novel was the actual learning you were able to understand about faerie magic. While Clover learned, the reader learned with her. You were able to understand exactly what was happening with the faerie doors and the magic. I felt very connected and inspired by the characters' friendships. I found myself not wanting to put the novel down. I would say this is a great novel for young adult fantasy. It’s understandable and very intriguing.
Overall, this novel was a great twist on the usual fantasy faerie novels. It showed us a whole new world at play while also tying in to the real world. The time setting for this book was a great way to connect the war to the storyline. I’ve read many fantasy books but this one felt different. I felt very connected to the main character Clover and wanted her to succeed. I felt it was a very well written book, both in setting and the timeline.
Additionally, I may have found one error on page 31. The book states “…never since the war…” and I believe it’s meant to be “ever since the war”.
I would also like to add that when reading books oftentimes the reader has a very strong emotional reaction to the book. Whether we are aware of it or not as readers our brains actually take on the emotions of the characters. While this novel had a wide range of emotions, I always felt a very warm positive feeling while reading this book. I can’t quite put a name to the emotion, but I really do think the author did an amazing job at creating these great characters and story. I would be delighted if I was reading this book and someone came up to me and asked, “What are you reading?”

An enchanting and grown up version of Harry Potter, without hanky-panky. This is what Harry Potter would have been -Camford/Hogwarts and all with the feel of the Great Gatsby.

Babel but make it for Faeries.

Parry creates a world to be savored, not binged.

This is my third Parry book and I feel like she’s one of those authors that keeps getting better and better. I love that she’s able to create nerdy FMCs that are easy to love, and her latest is no exception (Pub Date 22 Oct 2024). I would categorize it as cozy fantasy with a little dialogue zest.

For fans of Hannah Nicole Maehrer & Heather Fawcett, H. G. Parry will feel like a TBR win.

My thanks to @netgalley & Orbit Books for the ARC. This was very faerie delight.

4/5

Set in post-World War I England, the story transports readers to Camford, a glittering yet exclusive magical academy where the lines between privilege and peril blur ominously. Clover is a commoner thrust into a world where she does not belong. Families with a history of magic and elite social standing dominate Camford. She is there to find a cure for her brother, Matthew, who bears the scars of a horrific faerie attack on the battlefields of the Great War. His world is irrevocably altered, with the doors to the faerie realm sealed and its magic forbidden. She captures the attention of Alden Lennox-Fontaine, the academy's "golden boy." Alden and his circle of friends offer Clover a tantalizing glimpse into a world that had previously been closed to her. She has the lines of friendship blur to something else. Is she their friend, or is she there to pursue knowledge that will change their lives to cross dangerous thresholds? Once thought impenetrable, the faerie seals are now broken, and the chaos results directly from the experiments and secrets from her time at Camford.

The narrative examines the effects of guilt, responsibility, and the lingering impact of friendships. It is a masterful blend of dark academia, historical fantasy, and the consequences of ambition. As Clover's world teeters on the brink of destruction, it leaves the reader questioning what price is too high and what sacrifices one is willing to make for those one loves. The middle of the book was a chore to get through. The beginning and end had a good pace and enough action to keep the reader engaged. If you love the allure of magic with the dark undercurrents of human ambition, you should not miss this one.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Redhook Books.

I really liked this book. I would consider it a cross between The Magicians and Harry Potter (although heavier on the Magicians) and the 1920s setting evokes how countries survive and build back after a horrible event (e.g. WW1). I loved the character of Clover and the Camford school was vividly drawn. I'm not a huge fantasy person but this one was one of the most realistic fantasies I've ever read (and that is a huge positive). Highly recommend.

DNF at ~44%

Thank you to NetGalley and RedHook books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for that dark academia feel, complete with vintage English college settings, ivy covered walls and cozy libraries, with the allure of mysterious faerie magic, then this may be worth checking out. As a scholar myself, I enjoyed the way the introverted, bookish vibes and unrelenting desire to learn and experiment shown by the main character. The lore and the wroldbuilding for this story is clearly very well thought out and well done, casually blending real world settings into a more fantasy based story.

All that said, this story just really dragged on for me. The story is portrayed as a retelling - I can imagine sitting in a room with the main character, fire blazing and all of us in rocking chairs as she recounts her tale as a young researcher. However, the level of detail and overall pace of the story is hurt by this approach (in my opinion). Despite being nearly halfway through the book, I don't feel like much has happened in terms of plot or in terms of character development. The relationships between the main group of characters also feel a little shallow to me, making it hard to feel invested in the outcomes.

While this is DNF for now, I may still come back to it in the future, in which I case I will update this review.

Historical fantasy is a genre that is specific for sense of time, sense of place and then some imagination thrown in for something different. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door delivers as a historical fantasy novel which is loaded with feelings of time, place and gorgeous characters. Clover Hill is a farm girl living in the sadness of England following World War I. When her brother comes home from war with a supernatural injury, she is desperate for a way to help him. This search for help causes Clover to go out of her comfort zone and far away from home. The novel is the story of her journey, her friends and a whole different world that she never knew existed. I absolutely loved the characters, the setting, and the writing. Author H.G. Parry has written a book encompassing early 1900’s English life, a bit of magic school, an English country manor and a thrilling chase. Her characters are very well written and deep, showing a lifetime worth of adventures together make a strong bond. I love that Parry releases bits of the mystery of what is behind this yarn all throughout it. This book just sets you in a nice long comfortable story that has it all. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door would make a great movie, or series of movies. It is an appropriate novel for teens and up, although it is not at all immature in its writing. I would love to see a prequel or a sequel! Thank you to NetGalley for the ability to read this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to netgalley for trading an ARC for an honest review!

I considered not rating this book at all, as I had to dnf at 82%, but since I got the majority of the way through, I settled on 2 stars. Mostly, I read this for the comparisons to Babel, but ultimately, the writing lacked. For instance, the pacing was weirdly slow, and as someone who’s favorite book is the Starless sea, I don’t mind lyrical writing, but the sentences were unnecessarily wordy. Some things seemed repetitive, while other things seemed to have lose strings (like why did she get accepted in the school if it was so secretive and she doesn’t meet the social standards? What precisely is the magic based on?). The characters are okay, but nothing you haven’t seen before. The story itself was enjoyable, but it just lagged on for so long because of the writing. Btw, I can confirm: this absolutely reads like YA rather than adult, not just because of the age rage of the characters, but their personalities too.

The fae aspects of the story were interesting, and it had my favorite trope: found family! But, once again, because the story was so slow, I just really couldn’t enjoy it. I would avoid if you are in a reading slump, but if you want a book while you wait for Emily Wilde Book 3, maybe pick this one up.

I received an ARC for my honest review. I was not previously familiar with this author though they’ve had some other popular works.

We follow Clover Hill as she learns about magic, goes to university, and grows up. The story is split into four parts and is told looking back from the present.
Clover is intelligent and ambitious and lonely and manipulative. I related with her desire to do better for herself even potentially at the cost of other relationships.

The story is about finding family. About how people, even those we love, can surprise us. For better and worse. It’s about growing up and making mistakes. The characters do grow as people and both “good guys” and “bad guys” feel like their motives support their actions .

The author does a great job of leaving breadcrumbs but also of surprising the reader. Surprised and happy about it even if the surprise wasn’t good news.
Overall I highly recommend you read this!

Firstly, I want to say thank you to Redhook and Orbit for allowing me to review the ARC of “The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door.” I was drawn to this title for a few reasons. The first was because I am a fiend for stories that include faerie lore from around the world, especially in a fantasy setting. Secondly, because I am a Scholar main in the MMORPG called Final Fantasy Online, which involves creating a pact with a fairy to utilize their healing magics. Overall, I was very pleased with this read!

This story is written in a structure that is unlike many of the fantasy books I’ve read because of the foreboding nature in which it starts. Fairly early on, the reader is told that things are going to go wrong, and thus the story is told in such a way to tell how that thing happens and the aftermath. We follow a character named Clover Hill who lives in rural England during a period that covers about ten years (before and after) World War 1.
Clover’s brother, Matthew, joins the war effort but is injured in combat. But before he can come home to fully recover, the Hill family is visited by a stranger to explain the nature of his injury. Not one caused by weapons of man, but by magic. Faerie magic. The family learns that magicians exist in secret, and that one fighting for Germany opened a faerie door, leading to the deaths of hundreds. Matthew was cursed during this attack, and only lived due to quick thinking of a magician at his side.

Clover, having learned of this magical world, wants to study magic in the hopes of curing her favorite sibling. Thus, we join her as she enters a magical academy, interacts with some of the aristocratic elite of the country, and inevitably has an experiment go incredibly awry.
This is a story of secrets, a glamourous world, unique magic, family and friendship. As someone who particularly enjoys traditional fae retellings, I am happy to report that you will find a lot of that here: hidden doors, tricky bargains, and creepy faerie creatures. And while I would say this will be a perfect cozy read for fall and winter, there are plenty of curve balls and plot twists to keep you thrilled and on your toes.

Keeping to my usual Goodreads ratings, I would give this somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. I had a great time in the world H.G. Perry created for her readers! I highly recommend that fans of Heather Fawcett, Olivia Atwater, Allison Saft, and Rebecca Ross pick this up come its release in October 2024.

(3.75 rounded up)

Dark academia, a magical academy, England, faeries, faerie doors, the 1920's...need I say more? Sign me up!

This had so many things that I just LOVE to read about. And it combined them all to make such a cool environment that I really enjoyed being in.

The world is still dealing with the aftermath of WWI and what's the best way to handle that? Faeries.

I really enjoyed the depiction of the faeries in this book. They're those classic bargaining tricksters, where you have to be so careful about your word choice or things could get messy. I don't see that type of faerie in books much anymore, so that was refreshing and fun. And I feel like it heightened the stakes a bit for the characters that were interacting with the faeries. I also think that gives the reader a lot of insight on those humans - you get to see more of their intentions and flaws with that. MANY of these characters seem morally grey but that makes them more human, especially in these situations. Humans CAN be selfish and flawed.

I do think that it takes a bit of time to really get invested in this world and story, the pacing at the beginning was a bit slow. But once you get into it, you're into it and that pace speeds right up!

Overall, I had fun with this unique faerie-centered story! Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! My review is already up on Goodreads. And my TikTok review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

For the most part, I really, really enjoyed this. There's heavy dark academia vibes--especially in the first half of the book--and a sense of foreboding underneath the summer-tinged air. The various themes present throughout the book I also felt were mostly done pretty well. Particularly the theme of knowledge and how the rich and powerful hoard it.

I do wish the magic were fleshed out a little more. I realize it's not the entire focus of the book--the relationship between Clover and the trio who let her into their world is--but it felt like there were moments where magic was used and I didn't quite understand how/why it worked that way. Especially because there's a reveal towards the end that pulled into question the way people worked magic in general that I felt didn't get fully explained.

I think I liked the first half of the book more than the second (and there was a reveal towards the end that didn't entirely work for me), but I overall enjoyed this a lot. Definitely recommend it if you like dark academia books and historical fantasy.

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door
🌕🌕🌕🌕/5 Releases Oct. 22/2024

Clover Hill lives a simple life near Pendle Hill but when World War I breaks out and her brother comes home she discovers he has been cursed by a faerie during battle with no cure and she is determined to save him.
Clover has dreamed of becoming a teacher and now that she knows there is a hidden world of magic she is intent on getting accepted into Camford; a magical university secreted away for the elite “Families”.

Once there she is on a mission, researching faerie lore. Her and her three friends head down a dangerous path that once started with curiosity. What they unlock is pure bedlam.

Unthinkable revelations come to light and Clover must convince her friends to right their wrongs. With the government and Board on their tails do they stand a chance and what are they willing to sacrifice to complete their mission?

🪄 I enjoyed how the narrative was written in the past tense as Clover brings her compelling story to life.
🪄 The plot is creative, complex and full of surprising twists.
🪄Alden, the MMC is a handsome, rich mortally grey character who follows his ambitions above all. He is a driving force behind the story.
🪄 I enjoy reading magical realism with fantastical elements.

What Could be Improved:
🪄 I found the novel slow at times, the wordiness took away a rather engaging story but the events and characters saved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I requested the ARC for this book because I really loved The Magicians Daughter, and HG Parry did not disappoint! This book has so many of the fun elements I enjoy- magical schools, an unlikely loner welcomed into a sparkling group of friends, dark academia, fae magic, it’s all there. And yet the book doesn’t feel stale, and even if you can guess where it’s going at times there is still something to be surprised by, and you’ll enjoy the ride nonetheless.

It never veers as dark as A Secret History or Babel I and I actually like that. The Magicians Daughter is very similar tonally, so if enjoyed that you’re likely to enjoy this book. The focus is definitely on the four friends as opposed to the workings of magic or the details of the fae, you get very little insight into the magic system, but worth the read if you would like a blend of the ‘4 friends with a secret’ genre in a magical setting.

Thanks to Redhook for the ARC.