I definitely liked this book more than House of Hunger. I think the premise was really interesting and it had a very distinct atmosphere to it. It almost felt like a fever dream. I appreciated that the characters were a little older than usual and I almost always like an academy type setting.

While I do like the author's writing style in many instances, there were several things that I think detracted from my enjoyment of the story overall. I think that the characters were intentionally unlikeable so I didn't find myself rooting for or connecting emotionally to anyone. While I really quite liked the 'magic' abilities, there was a lot that didn't make complete sense. I think my biggest issues came from any scene that was meant to be action-y. That's where the writing I think could have used more polish. Whenever the pace would pick up, things really became confusing and hard to visualize.

I would absolutely still recommend this to my customers who are into magical realism, dark academia, telepathy, and diverse representation.

Really great. I liked it a lot. I'm not always the biggest on fiction so that's great feedback coming from me.

This was a really intriguing read. I absolutely got sucked into the atmosphere and the writing. I loved the setting. I’m a huge dark academia fan and I loved Drayton College. The powers of persuasion and the ability to wield will like a weapon were fascinating. I thought the mystery surrounding the school was gripping and once I started this I couldn’t put it down. The dark history of Drayton was unsettling but I honestly thought this was one of those books that felt like it could be real. I loved the themes about the power of persuasion/ free will. Is it better to learn how to bend the will of others in hopes you can make yourself powerful enough to stop those who would use their powers to harm? We see Lennon test the boundaries of embracing ultimate power while she struggles not to succumb to corruption.

I didn’t know what to think at first seeing the synopsis alluding to a teacher student relationship. It was okay it’s definitely not my favorite trope but for a teacher student relationship it was decent. I think if you’re a fan of this trope you’ll enjoy this book. But my biggest disappointment with this book were the characters in general. I didn’t really like or care for any of them. Lennon is frustrating and does so many stupid things. I don’t need a genius MC but how many times can you surprise pikachu when you take a bunch of unknown drug concoctions and end up overdosing and in the ICU? I found her aimless and lazy at times. Towards the end her character did start to grow on me but I just felt like it was a bit too late and I wasn’t attached or really rooting for her.

Overall I think this was really interesting and I think dark academia fans will enjoy this one. It kind of gave me some Ninth House and Atlas Six vibes at times.

3.5 stars. I would definitely recommend this for someone new to fantasy but for someone who has read a lot of fantasy it may seem predictable. The book had a great start, I could really see Henderson's horror writing coming through but that left very quickly. Overall the story was good but there were some key areas missing. I feel the book could have been taken down about 100 pages, a lot of the school time in the middle going into the last third of the book seemed useless. I also had a hard time with the timeline of this story, there was a lot "three months later and x, x, and x have happened" which meant we didn't get to see the main characters progression with her studies or much of the romantic relationship grow. I think if the book had taken place over a semester rather than a year it would have run a lot smoother. In the end I was not rooting for the FMC and MMC to get together, I really just wanted her to get away from him probably because I wasn't able to see any reason for the relationship to work or why she even liked him past looks. I think if Henderson gives fantasy another go I have no doubt we will see her writing improve but it was a bit of a rusty start.

I love dark academic books and this absolutely fit the bill. I was enthralled by the story and couldn’t put it down. I oftentimes found myself noticing and thinking through the philosophical and moral issues at hand in the story and really enjoyed that as well. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this.

Such fun and new concepts!
I flew through the first half and then hit a lull. I think because I didn’t care much for the characters.
Would still continue to read more of this authors work

The description of this book gripped me at first, so of course I requested it. I was done 10% in, this book moved so slowly and could've been at least 100 pages shorter, definitely needed at least 2 more rounds of developmental editing. I was bored, really bored.

"An Academy for Liars" by Alexis Henderson is a dark academia book, and as a fan of the genre, I was enthusiastic to read it. Let me start by saying this is a very good book. It is well-written, well-plotted, and kept me interested throughout.

The book follows Lennon Carter, a college dropout turned housewife who is invited to enroll in Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Students at the school learn to hone their gift of persuasion - the ability to control others and, in rare cases, even affect matter itself. At first, all goes well, and Drayton seems like heaven to Lennon. She is captivated by her studies, the campus, her brilliant classmates, and her charismatic adviser, Dante. But something is rotten in Drayton College. And if she is not careful, she will be destroyed by it.

I loved the book and couldn't stop reading. It started a bit slow, but then the pace picked up. The author keeps the story's pace up, and the secrets that are revealed are exciting indeed. The dark atmosphere is well-sketched and convincing. It is one of the best dark academia books I have read recently. It's full of atmosphere. The author writes the scenery and atmosphere so well that the reader is swept into that world.

The book has everything I like about the genre: complex and morally gray characters, good world-building and a magic system, intrigue, and even a bit of romance between an unlikely pair. Additionally, it deals with themes of mental illness, abuse, drug use, friendship, moral conflicts, and teacher/student relationships.

Lennon is imperfect, as likable as she is flawed. I liked the delicate way her mental issues were described. I didn't like or approve of some of her choices and actions. It wasn't easy to relate to her, but I warmed up to her. Her sister was really annoying, quick to judge and criticize. Dante was intriguing, and I liked his mysterious stranger vibes.

I loved the diverse ethnicity, the LGBTQIA+ representation, and the backstories. I really liked that the characters were portrayed as real people with flaws. The author also managed to surprise me with a couple of twists. There are some unanswered questions, though, such as the mystery of the moth, which wasn't clear until the end.

The world-building, characters, magic system, themes, and suspenseful plot make it an enjoyable and engaging read. The book stands on its own, but its ending implies there may be another book on the way (I certainly hope there is). If you love dark academia and flawed characters and don't mind a bit of violent action, then this is totally for you. Full stars from me!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
I definitely enjoyed this book but I also feel like the story isn't entirely over. It was a little slow to get going and there were parts that lulled a little bit but all the buildup was worth it.

An Academy for Liars takes readers on a journey to Drayton, a "magical" college hidden in Savannah, Georgia. Drayton is a college for persuasionists and the most talented persuasionists' can alter ones perception of reality. Lennon Carter finds Drayton (or more accurately Drayton finds her) when she's running away from a bad situation. After taking the entrance exam and impressing her advisor Dante, Lennon is admitted to the mysterious school. There is definitely a mental and physical toll to studying the art of persuasion and Lennon's backstory reveals she's already had some issues with her mental health. Things also almost immediately start going wrong adding a sense of foreboding that lingers through the rest of the novel. Luckily Lennon has her hot advisor to help her out though Dante is just as mysterious as the school itself.

Lennon was a great character and I liked that she didn't start off super powerful or super smart and that she struggled with her classes before eventually learning and growing into her powers. Her friendships with the other students were fun though a little flat at time but the strongest relationship was between her and Dante which I liked.

I'm not sure this is a bad thing or a criticism but An Academy for Liars really reminded me a lot of The Magicians series - especially the entrance exam and the mysterious campus. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of that series.


Overall I enjoyed this novel and would recommend to fans of magical books, dark academia or a combo of the two.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

This one took a while for me to settle into, but when it took off, it went to places I never expected (even as a fan of Henderson's other two books). Definitely worth a reread now that I know how it ends - it's one of those books where I know I missed little details because I was flying through it, eager to see what would happen. Recommended for fans of dark academia and horror (though I personally would class it more as horror; it does take place at a college though).

"An Academy for Liars" is a unique dive into one of my favorite genres - dark academia. Lennon Carter's life takes an unexpected turn when she's invited to apply to the enigmatic Drayton College, a hidden magical school in Savannah. The story beautifully blends the allure of a lush, moss-draped campus with the eerie, secretive undercurrents of the college's history. Lennon's power of persuasion and her intense connection with her adviser, Dante, add layers of complexity and tension. The exploration of power and corruption is both chilling and fascinating. Definitely reminded me of The Magicians just a bit, but this story is really its own thing and very intense/engaging.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

I need a sequel. This is not enough for me. Tell me more please.

Dark academia ✅
A quickly built world ✅
A twisted and perverse counterculture ✅

Seriously tho, I need more.

A dark academia novel is my weakness. This was my first from this author but definitely not my last! I was really intrigued the entire time and can’t wait to read more from this author.

I really wanted to like this book but just couldn't get into the writing style. The plot is interesting and the characters could have been compelling, but this book is a whole lot of tell and barely any show. It would even sometimes repeat information. I feel like for this style of book you have to be really atmosphere, but this just didn't have the vibes I wanted.

Dark Academia, Atlas Six vibes, and such a cool interesting magic system! I enjoyed this so much!

I've been in such a reading slump and this pulled me right out of it. I couldn't stop reading. I was hooked from the very beginning. The secrets, the vibes, the characters, the moral dilemmas, some murder, and lots of lies. I really just devoured this from start to finish and a million percent recommend to dark academia lovers!

I do truly love dark academia novels. I love the secret society aspect, the interesting and overly complicated magic systems they often have and the delightfully hateful characters. An Academy for Liars had all of these things and more.
The story follows Lennon who after receiving a mysterious phone call with an address, abandons her life to attend Drayton College- a place she is fairly certain doesn't actually exist. Upon arriving she is immersed in a complicated course load that will teach her how to impose her will on others.
I enjoyed the story, it was dark (as I both hoped and expected) and the characters were abhorrent most of the time. One of my favourite things about this genre is that the characters are not good moral individuals- they are nuanced and complicated and more often than not violent.
I will say that the storyline did at time feel rushed- I felt this especially at the beginning and then near the end. Things felt like they were changing a little too quickly and Lennon would often reflect on things that had barely happened a few pages ago.
Overall I believe any fans of the genre will enjoy this book- I certainly di

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson is a roller coaster of events, challenging its characters about their ethics and destiny. The MC, Lennon, moves from some unhappy circumstances to the secret Drayton College which teaches her how to use her will to help and harm, like a more morally gray version of Naomi Novik's Scholomance series. It skimps on some areas, emphasizes others, but is a great read and hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

The world the author created is so detailed and so well-written. I just wish I had liked the main characters more. So much happened in this book. The author managed to pack so much action into this one book. It seemed like something was always happening and there were rarely any dull moments. It had its weird moments, but was overall a good read.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me access to this book. I have not read a lot of dark academia prior to reading this book, but this has really got me interested. I think that the beginning and end were really good, but there was a bit of a lull in the middle. I would recommend, especially for someone who is looking into reading dark academia either for the first time or as a regular reader.

An Academy for Liars follows Lennon, a twenty-something mentally unstable woman floundering in life, who receives a mysterious invitation to apply for a prestigious and private university. What follows is something of a deep south acid trip, where Lennon discovers great power and darkness within her.
This dark academia fantasy is incredibly atmospheric and will draw readers into the lush landscape of Savannah and Drayton school. With complicated characters and fraught political tension, there is constant conflict woven into the core of this story. I was hooked by the overarching mystery of the story and found myself rooting for Lennon even as I didn't particularly like her.
I would recommend this novel for fans of the Private series by Kate Brian, and would still recommend to those who were fans of Alexis Henderson's previous work. This novel fits right in with the rest of her extremely atmospheric works.