<b>actual rating: 2/5 stars</b>

unfortunately, i really didn’t enjoy this book. while the premise had so much potential, the execution left me feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. the story was unintentionally vague, which made it difficult to stay invested. so much about the world and the magic system felt underdeveloped, leaving countless questions unanswered. the lack of proper world-building was especially frustrating because the setting—a secret school of magic hidden in savannah—could have been so rich and immersive if it had been given the attention it deserved. i think this story was far too ambitious for a standalone fantasy, and it ended up trying to do too much without delivering on any of it fully.

the characters were another major issue for me. lennon, the protagonist, was frustrating to follow. she repeatedly made bad decisions, and while i understand that flawed characters can be realistic and relatable, her choices often felt grating and hard to justify. the side characters, unfortunately, didn’t add much to the story either. they lacked depth and individuality, making them all feel interchangeable and forgettable. none of them stood out or left a lasting impression, which made the interactions between characters feel flat and uninteresting.

the romance was one of the weakest aspects of the book. lennon’s relationship with dante had no chemistry, which made their interactions feel forced and awkward. their dynamic also involved frequent boundary-crossing, which was uncomfortable to read about and detracted from any potential appeal of their connection. towards the end, the romance became a central focus, but because it was so poorly developed, it felt completely unearned. i couldn’t bring myself to care about their relationship or how things turned out for them.

overall, this book was extremely lackluster. while the synopsis promised an intriguing dark academia fantasy with a unique magic system and a morally complex protagonist, it failed to deliver on nearly every front. the story felt rushed and incomplete, and the characters and romance left much to be desired. it’s disappointing because there were elements of the premise that had so much potential, but the execution didn’t live up to what this book could have been.

thank you to berkley publishing group, alexis henderson, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i feel like the ball was really dropped here. the first few chapters were intriguing but this quickly got boring.

When I saw the cover and read the description for Academy for Liars, I knew I had to give it a go. While I haven’t read any of Alexis Henderson’s previous books, I’ve heard good things. After reading Academy of Liars, I would definitely read more by this author.

I will admit, I had a bit of a rough start with this book. I struggled through the first 30-40%. I was sure it was not going to live up to my expectations, however as the story progressed, I found myself drawn deeper into this story, unable to put it down.

What kept me turning the pages was the unique dark academia elements and the twisty plot. I found myself fascinated with Drayton College and the magic system. The plot started unfolding with layers of secrets, betrayals, hidden motives, and twists and turns that kept me guessing. I was compelled to find out how everything was going to play out.

With that being said, I did have issues with the book. For one, I wanted to see more about the school and classes offered. The Drayton College setting and the magic system was what drew me into the book, but I felt like the world-building was very surface-level. Another big issue I had was the lack of character development and unlikable characters. This book has a huge cast of characters, many of which were hard to keep track of, but none of the characters were fleshed out. It was also hard to root for the characters, since they didn’t really have many endearing qualities. A few do redeem themselves at the end, but it almost felt a bit odd because it was so out of character from the rest of the book.

Despite my reservations, this book was compelling enough to eventually win me over. If you are a dark academia fan, I would say it’s a worthwhile read.

As a dark academia lover, I wanted to like this one but I just couldn't get on board with the characters. The premise sounded great and I was looking forward for the more adult story but it did not live up to my hopes. I wish Lennon did not go from one relationship to the next, she would have benefitted from some time on her own. There was no reason for me to feel attachment to Lennon or other characters and so my overall interest fell flat.

oh this just makes me want to dive into henderson's backlist. perfectly atmospheric and eery, i loved the dark academia of it all and her immersive writing was so compelling, i read it in about two solid sitting give or take. def recommend for fall/spooky season

I have mixed feelings about this dark, atmospheric mystery set in a school for magic. The descriptions and setting and character development were great. Despite this I did not engage fully with this book and I am not 100% sure why. If you like dark academia then this might be right up your alley.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an electronic ARC of this book.

This book really challenged my assumptions about dark academia. I have like this genre in the past, but this book really pushed into pure horror territory for me. I really liked the characters, the variety in the cast and how they interacted, it felt like a real group of college students. I also really enjoyed the magical system and the idea that magic is just someone's ability to persuade action and perception. I also think the author's treatment of the various settings is excellent. Each location felt like another character with as much importance as the human characters. I did find the body horror difficult to take, but that is my preference, not an indictment of the quality of writing. In fact I think Henderson's writing skill is what makes the body horror so unsettling. I also found Lennon to be a tricky main character. I found her believable while at the same time unrelatable. She seemed like a well drawn character, just one I did not particularly like especially in her relationships. Again I think it is Henderson's deft writing that makes her as complicated and grey as she is. Overall I would recommend this book to fans of dark academia and horror, who have the stomach for a bit of gore.

Thank you to Berkley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited to cozy up with this book, knowing it had suspenseful and even horror elements, based on how this book was marketed and what people were saying about this author's work. I truly did like the plot of this and the academia setting and how it was dark and eery. This story follows Lennon and her entry into Drayton College and of course, you have to be on the lookout for a certain Dante... I am not sure what to make of this book, really. I enjoyed it while reading it but at the end, I just felt rather indifferent. This is great for the winter months if you're looking for a university/academia setting read about power (as most things are).

ooooh my god, I absolutely loved this!!! it gave me DARK academia and was such a quick and enjoyable read.

The writing really tickled something for my brain, because I loved everything about it. It was so atmospheric and I thought the pacing was perfect. The concept of this school and persuasion were really interesting and honestly, I wish we had gotten more info and lore!! The other students also felt real and adding layers of depth to this school that let me buy in completely. The romance was good, but it didn't feel like the center of the story (in a good way!!).

This is a book where I truly wasn't sure where we were going but I enjoyed the ride and learning more about this world.

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC!

I was sent an email after getting this arc that it was being changed and to re-request it and not read this one. I never read this version because of that. I do still plan on reading the book. I'm giving it a 3 since I'm not sure the best way to rate this

I was so excited to pick this up. The premise seemed really interesting, and I had high hopes that I would end up liking it. Unfortunately, this was just not for me, and I’m so disappointed. I couldn’t even finish it—I had to DNF it at 50%. I was making myself miserable trying to get through it, and it just wasn’t getting any better. I found myself dreading picking it up each time.

The plot was really confusing. I was pretty much lost from the beginning, and I tried really, really hard to keep pushing through, hoping it would eventually make sense. But it never did. Normally, I enjoy dark academia, so I’m not sure what about this one made it so unappealing to me. The MC was really unlikable, and I just couldn’t bring myself to care about her.

I’m really sad this didn’t work for me. I was so excited for it initially.

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

I really enjoyed the setting. I usually like academic settings, and I can ignore when the plot is not the most complex. But my greatest issue with this book was the main character. She was insufferable, and that ruined the whole reading experience for me.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)
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Pub Date Sep 17 2024

Thank you to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, Ace and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This felt more like a portal fantasy to me than a gothic horror, so it just wasn't what I expected, but I really enjoyed it nontheless! I loved the academia setting/learning

A brilliantly immersive dark academia fantasy that I can’t stop thinking about. Bloody and brutal at times, this book introduces us to an inventive magic, an engaging world, and characters you won’t be able to get enough of. Full of dark magics, sinister plots, undeniable chemistry, combined in an alchemical explosion you will not be able to put down, this fast became one of my favourite reads this year.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

Any time a description for a book says ‘dark academia’, I’m sold. It’s my favorite thriller trope. Mix in some magic and I’m double sold. Plus, would you look at that cover?!

It took me a little while to get into this one but once I did, I ended up really enjoying it. The magic of persuasion is intriguing and unique. The way the students are taught to hone their abilities gave me some heart palpitations a few times but those lessons proved to be an important aspect of the plot as a whole. Although it is a slow burn, the last 40% really kicked the story into gear and was full of action and shocking revelations. I truly hope there is a book 2 and, if so, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Tracie Frank did a wonderful job with the narration. She set the tone and amped up the suspense with her descriptive storytelling! I definitely recommend the audio for this one!

Mystical, terrifying, and engrossing. Really like nothing I’ve read before and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I started out slow, i was almost ready to give up reading. Magic and power and a bit of fantasy. Lennon was a difficult character is many issues. The academy was totally weird with all it’s powers and darkness. There are some that will love this story, but It wasn’t for me.

I really enjoyed this dark academia novel! It was so intriguing and had the most complex characters that had you feeling so invested them!

An enjoyable dark academia fantasy, but unfortunately not a personal hit for me in the way Henderson's previous works have been. I was super compelled by the story and had a hard time putting it down, but the middle of the book felt a little ramblely and I wasn't sure where we were going with the plot or the point. I think a little more editing could have tightened up the book overall.

I also realize this is the first contemporary fantasy that Henderson has written and I think perhaps she just does better in the past.

Still a great read, but was sad it wasn't another five star for me. I will continue to pick up her books.