I loved the idea of this book so much, but I quit reading about 70% through it. I just couldn't take it anymore.

This book needed a round of developmental edits! There were some interesting ideas presented but clear the author had no idea what direction to go in. We didn't learn enough about the school. Not it's reason for existence, not it's graduates impact on the world outside of the campus, not the magic system and the way in which it's used. On top of that the main character had no growth whatsoever but we also never learned why she makes the decisions she does. Instead the second half of this book relies heavily on tropes and reveals that have little impact.

A dark academia novel featuring a hidden magical school and the power to influence minds. Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House will like this one.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It is the perfect combination of sci-fi and mystery. Savannah is one of my favorite cities and I could just imagine all the places from the descriptive scenes. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and colleagues. The character descriptions were perfection.

This book was a little too slow for me and I found Lennon's character to be very unlikable. In dark academia books, the characters really drive the story and the ones in this story fell flat for me.

This book is a masterclass in unexpected twists and turns. Just as you think you’ve settled into a rhythm; Henderson throws in a curveball that answers lingering questions while simultaneously setting your mind spinning in new directions.

Set in Drayton College, a hidden private academy located in the secretive 25th ward of Savannah—an area uncharted on any map—the narrative unfolds within this isolated world. The students gathered from around the globe, possess extraordinary talents, the type that fuel the ambitions of powerful figures.

Lennon Carter enters this world in disarray. Fresh from discovering her fiancé in a compromising situation with her best friend during their engagement party, Lennon stumbles upon a mysterious phone booth in an abandoned mall. The call she receives informs her of her acceptance into a college she never applied to, plunging her into the enigmatic Drayton College.

Her advisor, Dante Lowe, becomes a complex figure in her life. Their relationship evolves in the expected way in books of this genre and is further complicated by Dante’s undisclosed past. Drayton College’s motto seems to be that if you excel in persuasion, your past is irrelevant.

Lennon's first year is fraught with chaotic challenges, not just academically but personally, as she learns to navigate the intense and often brutal environment of Drayton. The book does not shy away from violence, highlighting the struggle of the students as they come to terms with their innate abilities and the explosive emotions that accompany them.

One of the book’s most captivating aspects is its unpredictability. The middle may have felt a bit slow at times, but that was only to prepare you for the ending which delivers a punch that leaves a lasting impact.

An Academy for Liars stands out as one of my top reads of the year for its intensity and the memorable twists that keep me holding my breath.

Though it’s listed as a standalone, the world Henderson has created is ripe with potential for a sequel.

Dark academia vibes for sure, but the plot was so formulaic and step-by-step to me. I didn't care about any of the characters, and there were no or hardly any scenes existing to <i>make</i> me care about any of them. It felt very "this is what happens, and then this happens" over and over again. I liked the atmosphere, and the concept was cool, but it wasn't executed that well. Maybe it needed to be longer to establish more rapport with the cast of characters.

I'm sad to say this book took me awhile to get into, it took me almost 2 months to finish it actually. And the reason I say I'm sad about that is because this book was fantastic! I knew I loved Alexis Henderson's writing after reading, and loving, House of Hunger but this book far surpassed my expectations. The writing was fantastic and flowed so well, at times I would sit down to read this and be amazed that I had read so much. The chapters are not super short but the writing made this book fly by when I would actually read it. The magic system was very unique and unlike anything I've ever read before. This was one of the very few books that I could picture everything that was happening, that's how descriptive the author's writing was. I also was not expecting this book to have such great, heartbreaking romance in it. I was gasping and tearful quite a few times while reading and then the ending got me more than once. I loved this book, I loved Lennon, the cover, it was just great.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the gifted copy for my honest review!

I've enjoyed everything by Alexis Henderson that I've read, and this one does not disappoint.

The first third or so seemed a little slow as her dark academia world is introduced, but after that it's a roller coaster ride to the finish. Questions of moral and ethical responsibilities. is power inherently evil or is it what we do with it, and rising above past pains and finding our own way regardless of what tradition dictates.

This had a great start and definitely gives off strong dark academia vibes which I enjoyed.
I loved the idea of Drayton College. It was mysterious and houses some dark secrets. I was incredibly curious about its past and purpose. Students at Drayton are taught the art of persuasion, the ability to use their will to control others. They are taught to wield it like a weapon and at times, must practice against each other which can get a bit bloody.
The idea of persuasion was intriguing but I was hoping to learn a little more about the magic system and more world-building.

The biggest issue I had with this was that I didn’t particularly care for Lennon or any of the other characters. Lennon was constantly making bad decisions and I was hoping to see some character growth by the end but it just never happened. The romance also left much to be desired. I never really felt a connection between them.

The pacing was a bit slow at times but really picks up near the end and by that point I could not put it down.

DNF at 36% :( I wanted to LOVE this one...it sounds like Ninth House x The Secret History, and I was completely on board. I absolutely love the dark academia fantasy aesthetic, and I thought this would be the perfect read for early October.

Unfortunately I couldn't get through it, and I may or may not have dozed off a bit while reading this on the plane. The plot was 100% there, and that's why I continued reading until page like 165. It seemed to have the perfect combination of world-building, mystery, and fantasy. And the focus on students harnessing the power of persuasion was so intriguing. However, I personally felt so detached from all of the characters. There wasn't a single character I really liked, other than maybe Dante? In a book like this, the characters need to be complex and you need to have a strong sense of their motivations at the academy. The characters just feel flat, and I wasn't able to continue reading.

Thank you so much to Berkley for sending me an ARC of An Academy for Liars. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

When Lennon receives a mysterious call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, she thinks this may be the escape she needs from her unhappy life. Once accepted in the school, she quickly realizes her great powers of persuasion. Under the instruction of her advisor, Dante, Lennon must decide her role within Drayton or if she’ll even have one. For fans of paranormal horror.

I don't know how to feel about this one... the story was interesting for a while but around the 70% mark I was bored and felt drug along. The story will go along and then all of a sudden weeks and months have passed. Lennon is screwed over this whole time, first by her fiancé, next by Dante her mentor at the school who she also has caught feelings for and also by "friends" at said school. I almost felt like Lennon while reading this, just being drug a long with no real explanation of what is going on or what the point even is.

In this school your application begins the day that you are born and only those who possess the innate ability of persuasion are accepted.

3.6 stars

I want to start off this review in saying that I really wanted to like this book. It had a magicians vibes/dark academia. However I felt that this book fell flat in the character development. The connection between the two main characters (Lennon and Dante) was not there. Even if their love was supposed to be "forbidden" it felt like a forced connection and was painful to read.

The magic system seemed as if it was not very well fleshed out. It spoke a lot with dealing with psychology and the mind but the overall feeling of the school and the magic system was that it was an excuse to cause harm and distress to each other. It felt as if the faculty "discouraged" violence but then did not have any consequences for it as long as the students were not a direct danger to the school.

As far as Lennon being the "chosen one" it was as if the school wanted to get rid of her repeatedly through out the novel just for her to become the most important part of the school in the end.

There were a lot of scenes of gore and violence the felt as if it was there primarily for the shock value of the violence and not the necessity to move the plot along. Characters back stories had little to no consequence to the overall arc of the story, or felt thrown in and did not truly add to the plot. It also felt as if certain characters actions were contradictory in themselves.

I feel as if I may be overly critical with this book as I may not have been the target audience, however, it was not a book that I would have finished had I not been chosen for the ARC.

If you would like my FULL review you can find that on our podcast Just One More Page anywhere you can find a podcast.

Holy Hot Damn!

Have you ever read a book that just had you completely turned around?

I love romantic suspense, but I’m super picky about my thrillers. This book though. 😮‍💨 Whew! This book was one hell of a ride. It’s like a mix of Eyes Wide Shut, Get Out, and Magicians (the sci-fi show).
The plot was fast paced and there were several points where I thought I knew where the story was going, only for it to approach a specific topic or destination and veer off course. By the end I didn’t know what to think, who to trust, or how it was all going to play out.

🎙️This was another tandem read where I read the ebook from Netgalley while listening to the audiobook from PRH Audio. The book was exceptionally well written in a single POV with one narrator and stuck to the script for the most part. So it was easy to follow along and I was able to really enjoy the narrator’s storytelling abilities. Tracie has this deep dulcet tone that’s almost hypnotic, and she does several very convincing southern accents.

All the Stars!

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟🌶️
💙💙💙💙💙
Out Now (Sept 17, 2024)

Thriller | Romantic Suspense:
Psychological Thriller
Dark Academia (College)
Magic (sort of)
Undertones of racial inequality and injustice
Ambiguous love interest (at first)
Secret society (controls the world)

⚠️Cheating, Gore, Death, Explicit Language, Non-graphic Sex Scenes, Drug Abuse, Alcohol, Mentions of physical abuse and the abuse of a child

Stunning.

I code this dark academia book. The characters the setting all of it was chefs kiss. Perfect for spooky season!

This is quite the thriller just when I thought I had it figured out and where it was going Nope I was wrong.
This is a fast paced thriller that grabbed my attention from the start.
I just finished this book & I am having trouble putting my thoughts into words I will come back later and express my thoughts better but for now if you like dark academia stories that have
Forbidden love
Secrets
Gothic dark academia
Self discovery
History
Psychological,Thriller
This one’s for you

Holy shit. Here’s to the start of psychological thriller season (if it’s even considered that???)

I know they say it’s dark academia - but the entire book I was saying “what the fuck is happening” but I read it under 24 hours because I needed to know. So I think the “what the fuck is happening” ties well with dark?? Maybe?

Lennon’s life is falling apart. She finds her fiancé cheating on her, leaves the house to hurt herself essentially, and gets a phone call that she’s been accepted to Drayton College (a college she’s never heard of, let alone applied to). She decides to go and do their interview process and gets in. The school focuses on the innate gift of persuasion that she has.

She goes through her classes trying to learn how to distort stuff, when it’s revealed she can open elevators. Her power continues to grow but has to leave the campus after a killing. Shit happens, it gets crazy - there’s even a hint of romance (enough to make my romantic heart happy).

All of that to say, I think this would make an epic thriller movie.

But I don’t think the moth is ever explained. It’s on the cover, and it’s brought up in relation to her professor. And I’m still confused on that.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's already out, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This is a story about elevators.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Do you enjoy spooky, magical, dark academia? What about compelling characters with complex motivations? Read this book! I literally couldn’t put it down, and would love to chat about it if you do.

Thank you so much Berkley for the eArc & Prha for the Alc!