Haunting and mysterious with an engaging pace and high romantic tension, Alexis Henderson's An Academy for Liars is a thrilling dark academia novel that is perfect for ADHD readers.

Lennon is in a desperate place when she receives her invitation to Drayton. She has dropped out of school and is recovering from a traumatic event when she walks in on her fiance with her best friend during their engagement party. She's considering ending her life when she receives a mysterious phone call and an invitation to join a prestigious program for gifted magic weilders in a forgotten part of Savannah. Intrigued and yearning for purpose, she accepts and begins the twisted and dangerous journey to learn the art of persuasion.

There is so much to love about this book. It's everything I love about dark academia - secret plots and political maneuvering, dark magic and deep betrayals - without the pretension and slow pacing that are characteristic of the genre. Henderson captured me right away with her writing style and kept me engaged with the story's momentum and character development.

Lennon endures the strangest and most arbitrary entrance exam for Drayton, and Henderson makes sure that the reader is as confused as Lennon is by this process. The first few chapters are unhinged, and I'm absolutely here for it.

Lennon and Dante have sizzling chemistry from their first scene together, but Henderson makes it clear that Dante values Lennon's education over his attraction to her, and their relationship develops slowly.

If you love dark academia, psychological magic systems, and unhinged plot twists, you'll love An Academy for Liars.

An Academy for Liars publishes September 17, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

The release of this book was one of my most anticipated for the second half of this year and I’m just left in awe. The ending is like a punch to the gut my lord! Lennon and Dante in particular really shined as characters to me and how much they have to endure in this story is mind boggling. Beautiful writing and storytelling throughout, An Academy for Liars is a haunting story that will stay with me for some time.

A million thank yous to Berkley and Ace for approving me for the e-arc of An Academy for Liars! This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions based of the advance copy I read!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

You know those books that deserve way more than the usual 5 stars we use to rate books? An Academy for Liars would be that book for me. This book gets 100 stars from me. It's phenomenal. Alexis Henderson has landed herself on my auto-buy list because of this book. Why?

1) It usually takes me a few days to get through books because of how severe my ADHD is. I read this book from start to finish in 24 hours. That's how damn good this book is. My severe ADHD didn't have a chance in hell.

2) It gave me the same incredible hangover that Ninth House gave me and I haven't been able to replicate since. God it felt good to get that itch scratched.

3) This book is a stunning example of everything I love about Dark Academia. The secrets, the history, the magic, the horror, the forbidden romance, the atmosphere, the writing. Everything just ticked every single box and left me gasping for more.

Seriously, go read this book.

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
☆ Magical Academia for dysfunctional Adults
☆ Unique and detailed Magic System
☆ Chosen One
☆ Forbidden Romance
☆ Secrets galore
☆ Southern Gothic
☆ Gruesome Horror

i’m not gonna lie, this book was weird as all get out. But, it had me hooked and intrigued from the very beginning and I literally couldn’t put it down! It was good, I really enjoyed the unique premise! The only thing that let me down just a little was the ending. Other than that, this book was really, really good!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a surprisingly fun read! It is dark, captivating, haunting and I had so much fun with it. I love a good dark academia book, and this was exactly that. This is the first book I have read by Henderson, but it definitely will not be my last. Henderson’s writing is so captivating-from the pacing, the character development, the tension building, the blend of horror/fantasy/paranormal, with a splash of forbidden love. This book was so well done, and I loved the characters as well as the atmospheric vibes throughout. After a couple of chapters I was completely engrossed and immersed in the writing and the story. This is by far the BEST dark academia book I have read, and I have read a lot! I loved it so much.


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Dark academia books
✦Morally grey characters
✦Unique magic systems
✦Dark, haunting, and captivating vibes
✦Horror/fantasy/paranormal/forbidden romance

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

This book is the perfect read for spooky season. A dark academia wild ride with a unique magic system that will make you devour this. Don’t forget the dash of a student teacher forbidden romance

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a gifted galley of AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS by Alexis Henderson for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

4.5 / 5

AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS follows Lennon, a young woman who is struggling. She's seeing strange things and walks out on her engagement dinner with very good reason. She's at a loss for what to do next when she gets a call inviting her to sit for an entrance exam into an exclusive, unknown school. It gives her a goal on which to focus and even though the test is nothing less than bizarre she finds herself impressing the powers that be and gaining entrance to Drayton College.

Drayton is a school where those with a unique ability to impress their will onto others are taught to hone their craft. Even more rarely, some are able to use their will to control matter as well. Lennon soon learns that her powers are tremendous. The power the school itself holds is dangerous in the wrong hands and she must navigate the secrets hidden there to figure out who can be trusted.

September has always been back to school season for me and it's still a time of year when I crave all the dark academia reading! This book perfectly fit the bill. I knew I've enjoyed Alexis Henderson's writing in the past, so I went into this with high expectations. Gladly, I can report that those expectations were met.

I really enjoyed Lennon as the main character and getting to follow her on her journey. She knows nothing about the power she holds in the beginning and that allows the reader to learn everything they need to know along with Lennon. She hasn't had the best relationships with her family, friends, or fiancé, so seeing her make friends and develop close bonds was great as well. I did like that there is a bit of romance to the story, but that doesn't overshadow Lennon's personal development as the focus. Not everything ended perfectly happy in a too neat bow, and that gave a more real feel to things.

I really enjoyed my time reading this book and it's one that kept calling me back to keep reading!

Oooh, this is a dark academia treat!

Lennon finds herself at a crossroads when she finds her fiancé cheating on her. After a mysterious call offering her a position at Drayton College, she feels compelled and drives all night to get there. Drayton is a lush school full of dark secrets, societies, and magic. All of a sudden Lennon gets dragged in the middle of a dangerous plot to save the school.

This was a lot of fun, the last 30% of the book was truly a wild ride and I loved how everything came together. Henderson is so great at creating a vivid description that you get completely immersed in her worlds. I thought this was a wonderfully unique take on dark academia and the backstabbing, politics, relationships really gave it that extra oomph!

Pick this up if you're a fan of neat magic systems, morally gray characters, and secret societies!

Moody dark academia and someone messing with your mind and will… sign me up! This book synopsis had me shoving it into my immediate TBR well before other arcs I should have been reading 🙊🙈 (sorry, not sorry).

Short synopsis, the MC finds her finance cheating on her in the first chapter which leads her to escape from the party being held. When a mysterious phone call invites her to an interview the next morning, Lennon feels a pull to find out what this is all about.

This is where the reader lets their minds just “let it happen” because it’s magical and realism mixed together. But it’s the main step into Lennon joining a school of magic.

The book unfolds as Lennon realizes her power. And how to use it …. Just don’t know if she’s giving in to the gift of it for good or using it for corruption.

The book was good. I liked it. The ending I loved… but then it also made me want a sequel… because whatttt… elevator?! 💥 the pacing was fine too. Not a love for me but definitely a like

So happy to get a copy! Thank you Berkley team!
3.5stars

You know those moments when you start reading a book and about 30 pages in, you just know it's going to be amazing? Yeah, that kept happening with this one.

Lennon, married and stuck in a struggling relationship, doing the job everyone expected her to, suddenly finds herself in a phone booth in the middle of nowhere. Next to a motel. Answering a call from a college she never even applied to. Welcome to Drayton College, where secrets have secrets, and persuasion is the name of the game.

This book is twisted. Everyone’s out for themselves, motivations are hidden, morals are questionable, and somehow, it all fits together perfectly. If you love complex characters and were intrigued by Atlas Six—whether you liked the story or not—you’ll probably enjoy this read. It asks for a little trust, with some moments where not everything is laid out in detail, but the way the story comes together as a whole totally makes up for it.

If you’re not into speculative fantasy elements, questionable motives, or narrators you can’t always love, this might not be for you. But if, like me, you love anything fantasy and academic, add this to your TBR—it’s a solid read, especially for this season.

Thank you, Berkeley, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. My review I'll be posted on September 12th.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
🦋
This book is absolutely captivating. It’s so dark, haunting, intriguing, and complex. It takes place on a college campus, where there are secret societies, rivalries, and danger. The magic system was completely unique and original. Everyone in the book has questionable morals and has done bad things, and none of them are trustworthy. This book examines the things we are willing to do for power and the cost associated with having it. It perfectly blended a paranormal setting with horror elements and added a dash of forbidden love, and the result was one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read.
🦋
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
🦋
Read if you like:
▫️dark academia
▫️gothic fantasy
▫️elements of horror
▫️student x teacher
▫️found family
🦋
Thank you to Berkley, NetGalley, and Alexis Henderson for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5 stars
Dark academia/gothic feels with a morally grey mc. This book had me captivated from the first page and the small hint of forbidden romance made this CATNIP for me! This is the kind of horror I want to read!

"A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Lennon Carter's life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because - like everyone else at the school - she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion's heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton's lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.

As Lennon continues in her studies, her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns, for it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption...and it's a test she's terrified she's going to fail."

But to be among those like her that would level the playing field...

Thanks so much Berkley for the ARC!!!

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson is everything I want from a dark academia novel, and it more than delivers. This story follows Lennon Carter, whose life is unraveling until she receives a mysterious invitation to Drayton College, a secret school of magic hidden in Savannah. At Drayton, Lennon discovers she has the rare ability to control others through persuasion, a power that comes with immense responsibility and physical toll. As she navigates her studies under the guidance of her enigmatic mentor, Dante, Lennon uncovers dark secrets about the school and its dangerous past. With a lush, atmospheric setting and a magic system rooted in persuasion, it’s the kind of book that lingers long after you finish.

What really stood out to me is the moral complexity of the characters and the stakes. Henderson doesn’t shy away from making her characters—and by extension, the readers—question the cost of power. The gothic horror elements and the creeping sense of dread made this a perfect fall read. While there were a few moments where the pacing lagged, especially in the middle, the intrigue and world-building were strong enough to keep me hooked.

Overall, An Academy for Liars is an immersive, haunting experience that fans of dark academia, secret societies, and morally gray characters will devour. A solid 4.5 stars for me - this is my first Alexis Henderson novel but it won't be my last!

A dark academia novel with gothic/horror elements about a hidden school in Savannah, accessible only to those gifted with the ability of persuasion?? Say less!

With a bit of a slower start, it took me some time to get into the story but once Lennon gets to Drayton College I was fully immersed and flew through the rest. The romance takes a bit of a back seat here but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment as the premise itself was that unique and interesting.

What to expect:
Southern gothic/horror vibes
Magical school
Rivalry
Unique magic system
Forbidden romance
Morally grey characters

Huge thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

A book perfect for spooky/fall season.
An Academy of Liars is a dark academia with fantasy and horror. I found myself fully immersed in this world. With such vivid descriptions and beautiful writing I was captivated.
There was tension, drama, secrets and a hint of forbidden love. This will be one you’ll be up way past your bedtime reading!

I couldn’t put this book down – seriously, I grabbed it every spare second I had! The plot? Totally unique. I’ve read plenty of "School for the Talented" type stories, but none have grabbed my attention like this one. It’s more on the adult side, which I loved—no petty high school drama or vicious betrayals.

Lennon, our main character, has a special talent. But it’s not your usual flashy power – it’s all about the mind and psyche, which makes it almost believable, yet just wild enough to feel superhuman. Enter Dante, the professor, who helps Lennon hone her skills. And yes, as expected, there’s a touch of romance, but what I liked was that it wasn’t the steamy, over-the-top kind. It felt real, simple, and sweet.

And of course, no story is complete without a solid friend group! They were perfect, playing their roles without stealing the spotlight but still making you care about them. As I raced toward the ending, I had a few moments of "Wait, what’s going on here?" But don’t worry, it all came together beautifully.

Honestly, this book is probably one of my top reads of the year. Alexis is quickly climbing my list of favorite authors. Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for letting me dive into this ARC—it was fantastic!

I really enjoyed this one! I’m always looking for true fantasy horror, and this one fits the bill. If you’re looking for dark academia that’s truly dark, this will be the one for you.

It follows Lennon, a young woman who struggles with mental health and has attached her identity to her fiancé. When she finds him cheating on her at a party, she steals his car and goes to an abandoned building with the intention of committing suicide. Instead, she receives a mysterious call inviting her to attend a magical school that teaches the power of persuasion.

“What if this was all some elaborate sex-trafficking scheme wherein the targets were “gifted and talented” kids who’d never received their magic school acceptance letters and grew up to become depressed, praise-starved, thoroughly gullible adults.”

I really liked this take on the magical school setting, none of the characters are innocent and no one should be trusted. Lennon learns to channel her power over the minds and matter around her, but she grapples with questions over who has the right to wield this kind of power.

There are a lot of triggers in this book, including:
• suicide and suicidal ideation
• animal torture and cruelty
• body horror and broken bones

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An Academy for Liars was put on my radar because it’s rumored to be in a book box that I subscribe to so I requested the arc. I loved the book, it grabbed my attention immediately and held it to the very end. Never did I have any idea what was going to happen but I was invested. Great for dark academia fans plus some fantasy and horror. Definitely would recommend!

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of “An Academy for Liars” by Alexis Henderson in exchange for an honest review.

After years of uncertainty and instability, Lennon Carter discovers her fiancé's infidelity. She steals his car and just as she’s contemplating ending it all, she receives a mysterious phone call. It’s an impossible call with improbable instructions: she’s to drive through the night to an address in Utah. There, she will take an entrance exam for a college she’s never heard of, let alone applied for. But as unlikely as that scenario seems, she goes.

The school, hidden by arcane magic more than a century old, is for people who can persuade; they can persuade people to do anything. The strongest can even persuade inanimate objects and magic itself. It’s a heady, powerful feeling and although signs immediately suggest that this place has a dark side, Lennon finally, finally feels like she’s found her place and her purpose.

Her classmates are brilliant and terrible, her charismatic advisor even more so. She may not be the strongest or the richest, but her naturally scrappy instincts push her through every challenge that comes her way. She’s caring, but also flawed and vicious in the best way.

It’s a dark, thrilling story. The obvious comparison would be like a twisted and trippy version of a certain Wizard School, but that would be a disservice to both the story and the author. Alexis Henderson is very talented writer, demonstrating a keen sense of character development and plot pacing.

Recommended highly for readers who enjoy dark academia and strong female protagonists, who want a ”back-to-school but on an acid trip” story, and who have a full day to binge read because you will not want to put this book down.