I had a hard time with this book. I loved the premise: magical college, dark academia. a “chosen one” storyline, and a splash of romance. By the execution was meh. I liked the world building and felt swept into the story at the beginning, only to have it fade as i reached the 50% mark. There were a lot of questions or themes brought up that weren’t resolved, including the symbolism of the moths and the names. The romance in this book was absolutely flat. Our MC has horrid taste in men and only leans into that as the book goes on. Even with her main love interest, the chemistry was no where to be found, and I didn’t feel invested in the relationship one bit. In fact, it felt pretty icky and immature. Overall, I liked the ride but I have a lot of questions left and wonder why the MC did what she did.

I am full of tears and emotions and Alexis Henderson has me in a chokehold

After House of Hunger being my favourite read last year and one of my favourites of all-time, I knew I needed to read this. I wasn't expecting to feel so deeply again but I think that is the skill of the writing and storytelling from this fabulous author. At first I was a little worried I would have difficulty picturing the world but it was described in such a way that my brain felt like it had been transported. I don't want to give too much away but yes, I definitely think you should read this if you love dark academia and feeling things deeply.

This book was an interesting foray into adult dark academia for me. The magic system was very unique and interesting. The book had a lot more direct action than I expected. It is pretty violent as far as my experience with dark academia. It is not a book with a lot of (read: any) likeable characters. The point that no one is good is drilled home over and over. The book did well as far as plot twists without having specific misdirects.

Lennon our main character seems to lack drive or will which makes her a bit difficult to root for in most of the book. The romantic subplot was well done and well-woven into the story, but I wasn't a fan of the relationship itself. The mystery of the school and its existence developed well and built over the book. It is very character driven to start, and then we end up in the mystery plot.

Disclosure: I received a free eARC and print copy of the book. No review was required and all opinions are my own.

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.