Absolutely no idea why the average rating for this is so low! This was SO GOOD! I loved the atmosphere that Henderson created, and the suspense/worldbuilding was great too! I really liked the dynamics between the characters, specifically Lennon and Dante. The first half of the book is definitely stronger than the second, because once the time travel was introduced, I kind of got confused. But overall this is DEFINITELY worth the read!

This was INCREDIBLE! it felt like a mesh of Babel and The Secret History, I love Dark Academia and this was *chefs kiss* dark and broody, atmospheric and an intricate expansive world and magic system? Need I say more, I was gripped from the first page, propulsive plot and a great cast of characters! Can't wait for my special edition to arrive!

I wanted to share a glowing review of this book today but alas, I can’t do it, I dnfed around 10%. I usually dnf if I can’t connect with the characters or writing style and feel it will ultimately be less than 3 stars from me, which was my experience with this one. I think part of the problem is it reminds me so much of one of my favorite books (The Magicians) but done not as well which is just frustrating and disappointing. A lot of people hte the Magicians writing style and characters though so if that’s the case for you maybe you’ll love this!

I’m disappointed because this was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year! I loved House of Hunger, and this is my favorite genre (dark academia fantasy)😭 Also, TRIGGER WARNING there is a suicide attempt within the first few pgs which I wasn’t prepared for 😓

Thank you @berkleypub & @penguinrandomhouse for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a WILD RIDE. Lennon has just run away from her cheating fiancé and receives a call from a mysterious phone booth summoning her to Drayton College, a magical college hidden in Savannah. As she discovers and develops her powers, she discovers that a threat looms over the school and it may cost her everything.

I really enjoyed this book! It took its time setting up the school and the plot, and I was glad to have the time to discover what was happening along Lennon. The pacing increased as the tension did, and this gave it a thrilling feel! An Academy For Liars is a dark academia thriller with secret agendas, a forbidden romance, and supernatural threats.

Thank you to Berkley Pub for the earc. All thoughts are my own.

Dark Academia and fall are a perfect pairing, especially with a cup of tea in hand. An Academy for Liars is a fantastic new entry in the genre. From the very first page, I was drawn into its dark, unsettling atmosphere, where it's clear that something is amiss for the protagonist.
Lennon, the main character, may not be immediately is she, selected to rituind a universo specializested the art of magical "persuasion." The concept is chilling
—imagine people with the power to alter our memories and make us believe anything, even convincing us to harm ourselves or those we love.
I found the premise fascinating, particularly how it raises ethical questions about power and manipulation right from the start. The book hits all the classic dark academia notes: a flawed group of students, a secluded school, an attractive professor, a formidable vice chancellor, mysterious accidents, and perhaps even a murder or two.
Overall, it's an engaging read that perfectly sets the tone for fall.

I had such high hopes for this one but ultimately left disappointed. I loved the idea of this story, however, the execution left me wanting more - despite this being a long read.

I couldn’t really wrapped my head around the magic/powers used and how this school was established - it was a bit too much unknowns for my liking. I didn’t like any of the characters and felt Lennon did not experience any personal growth by the end. She merely got powers by the end.

And the romance subplot I could have done without since it lacked chemistry from me & didn’t felt wholly necessary to the plot - in my opinion.

Overall, I just ended this book not feeling much of anything & a bit confused. I’m still happy to read more from Alexis H. though as I loved House of Hunger.

This is a classic dark academia story - atmospheric and a little eerie with an incredibly unique magic system and a story that gets more and more unhinged the further you go. This felt like a mix of The Secret History and the Scholomance series with a sprinkle of Babel.

The only complaint I have about this book was that the pacing felt a little off to me in the middle. It was definitely a slow burn, but the payoff was worth it because the ending was wild!

An atmospheric, dark academia book. The atmosphere, the setting and the world building were done really well. Unfortunately I did not connect with a single character and felt the depth was missing.. I never found myself rooting for our MC or any of the other side characters. The pacing was also a bit slow for me until about the 75% mark.

So GOOD! An Academy for Liars hooked me from chapter one (what a spicy way to start off a book). It only got better from there. I found the setting to be very atmospheric and while the story started off a slow burn it kept you fully invested until the plot picked up pace. This may have been my first Alexis Henderson novel but it won't be my last!

Alexis Henderson did not disappoint with this broody, atmospheric dark academia novel. The FMC Lennon has felt chronically misunderstood by her family for the majority of her life so when she receives a mysterious invitation to attend Drayton, she see's it as an opportunity for self-discovery and redemption. What presents itself an a chance for self-discovery becomes a swift path to self-destruction. I loved this book for so many reasons. Henderson is a master world-builder and this book was instantly immersive. I loved the concept of persuasion and all of the mystery surrounding Drayton and it's history. My only criticism is that the romance initially felt forced and obvious, but by the end I was team Lennon and Dante. One of my favorite reads this year, easily!

Atmospheric, unsettling, and twisty dark academia/horror for fans of 'Ninth House.'

I enjoyed this book, but wanted a more central (and fulfilled) plot - there were many diversions and loose ends that I wish were wrapped up or more fully explored. It was hard to feel invested in these characters, especially the somehow supremely devoted "background friends," who felt rather flat and interchangeable. That said, there's plenty of intrigue, atmosphere, and elements of gothic horror to keep curious readers engaged. Will recommend for the right reader, however seasoned dark academia fans may want to temper expectations.

It is an outstanding, dark academic story! The world-building and magic systems are unique and interesting. Persuasion is the name of the game. An entire school is full of those with the power to bend others to their will. There are dire consequences for failing!
Our main character comes into power as the story goes along, and there are some surprising twists and turns. You never can tell who to trust.  Our main character spends her whole life running from various situations that she doesn’t want to continue in. The latest is her impending marriage to a man she finds cheating on her with a friend. Instead of having it out with him, she chooses to go to an abandoned mall to end her life. Oddly, though, on her way, a phone rings and offers an opportunity to attend a college she never heard of but soon finds out she is very sought after to attend. I like how this book sucked me in, as I knew little more about Dryden than the character in the book. I hope we learn more about the powers of persuasion and the open gates.

Lennon’s life is falling apart. In her attempt to get away from it all, she ends up in an abandoned parking lot and answers the phone ringing in the phone booth. The phone call changes her life and sets her on a dangerous course that could just end her life!

This story started a little slow for me but quickly picked up. It comes with lots of twists and turns that keep you engaged till the end. I would love another installment to see what becomes of Lennon, Dante and Dayton College. I would suggest this story to anyone who likes reading about paranormal and powers of the mind.

Really enjoyed this book. This was my first Alexis Henderson book but it certainly won’t be the last. I loved the atmosphere of Drayton college and the diverse set of characters, internally and externally. Because of this read I chose The Year of the Witching as my bookclub pick for October and we loved that one as well.

📓An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson📓

Pages: 464
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Book Goal 2024: 101/100

✨What dark academia novel would you love to attend school at? ✨

Chefs fucking kiss. This book was AMAZING. I should have known since Rachel Harrison recommended this book and I IMMEDIATELY requested it hoping for my wish to be granted.

This journey was incredibly long but it was worth every second spent. I absolutely wished for it to not end. I loved each character I met along the way. I loved the characters development, the pacing of the stories, the history of the school and the growth of the plot. I would recommend this to any fantasy reader with no hesitation and I would also recommend it for romance lovers or horror lovers even.

It has a little bit of something for everyone and I really wish the story would continue so I can continue my love for these characters.

Persuasion is the magical ability in this dark, urban fantasy. Lennon Carter is welcomed into Drayton College after a bizarre entrance exam, and a difficult mental health moment in her life.
This fast-paced dark academia novel follows Lennon as she learns about the consequences of using magic.
Unraveling the mystery threaded throughout this story was very satisfying, I almost wish more time had been spent on the reveal and less time spent on some of the time spent away from Drayton.

Lennon receives an invitation to apply to a secret magical school when she feels like she is at her lowest point. She takes a chance on the invitation, is accepted, and begins to discover the darker secrets of the schools history. This is my second book by Henderson and I will definitely be reading anything that she publishes in the future. The combination of the writing style and the way that everything she writes feels intentional to moving the story forward made the book feel both fast-paced but also rich in imagery, world building, and characterization. Lennon was a wonderfully imperfect and well rounded character that was easy to root for and I loved how each of the side characters also had depth and an important role to play. The book had a perfect blend of suspense, mystery, magic, and a touch of dark academia vibes that worked well without feeling forced or making the story feel shallow with vibes for the sake of vibes.

"I thought this book was going to be a dark academia vibe, but it really fell short on the academic world-building. I ended up DNF’ing around 40% because I just couldn’t see how the academic journey or characters were supposed to connect. Plus, throwing in that random hookup scene right at the start of Lennon’s time at school just confused me more about the story’s direction. I loved Alexis Henderson's previous book so I am sorta disappointed. I heard that it gets better after the halfway point but who has time for that.

Alexis Henderson's three novels, YEAR OF THE WITCHING, HOUSE OF HUNGER, and now AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS, have been some of my favorite fantasy/horror books of the last few years. She's grown as a storyteller with each novel published, and I sincerely appreciate that each of her novels has felt very different and fresh. She's not recycling the same kind of story repeatedly, which some newbie writers tend to do when their first or second book clicks with readers. There is a theme that is repeated throughout her three books, though, and it's one I certainly appreciate: female rage. All of Henderson's protagonists have a lot to be pissed off about and seeing them rip their respective worlds apart is very cathartic. AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS is Henderson's take on Dark Academia and its main character, Lennon, might be the most rage-filled of Henderson's leading ladies yet. I appreciated Lennon as a character because of her rage but also because she is honest about her flaws and mental health battles. I related to her struggles more than I'd like to admit. I was cheering her on through every nosebleed and gruesome scene hoping she would make it out on top. I don't want to spoil it too much, but there's one scene towards the end involving a paperweight that had me particularly giddy. I also loved this story's atmosphere because it's seeped in Southern Gothic Savannah, Georgia vibes and how it's about a magical school with adult students! Publishers, not every story needs to be about an 18 or 19-year-old. And, thank goodness for Dante. He is now one of my favorite fictional dudes, moths and all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for the ARC of this fine novel in exchange for my honest review.

This ain’t it for me. I feel like Henderson is a capable writer but needs an editor than was stronger than the one on this book. I felt like this book had an identity crisis, it didn’t know what kind of story it wanted to be or what its central plot was. And the plot holes and inconsistencies just buried this one too much for me.