So, I wanted to love this. It started out great! But by 60% I was pretty bored.

I didn't care for the characters, and really wanted to, but there wasn't much depth to them.

It was written in 3rd person POV - which isn't my favorite.

And I don't really understand the "liars" aspect except from one line in the entire book.

This was a fun dark academia by Henderson! They are quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. The vibes were all pretty good, at times a little slow/hard to follow but interesting.

I am a huge fan of Alexis Henderson's other books, The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger, so I had enormous hopes for this one. Unfortunately I think I'm just burned out on books about magical schools for talented students. I wasn't crazy about the idea of "persuasion" as a talent from the start, but I gave it my all.

This is for fans of Catherine House and Vita Nostra!

The book begins with our main character Lennon Carter as her life crumbles before her eyes. We briefly meet the irrelevant ex-boyfriend (whose name I don’t remember because he doesn’t matter) and start our journey to Lennon’s breaking point where she questions the point of life. And then the phone rings. Her invitation to Drayton College, a school of magic hidden from reality and time itself.

As you progress throughout this story you’ll meet some of the most peculiar and fascinating characters that have also arrived at Drayton College during extremely low points within their lives. The professors all seem to have something to hide, especially the unattainable and mysterious Dr. Dante Lowe.

My favorite part about this book was the magic system itself: persuasion. I felt like persuasion was a form of charmspeak from Percy Jackson but explained in a highly technical and almost scientific manner. I loved how each individual’s psyche depended on the strength of their will and how they could overcome another’s advances to bend that will while also attempting to attack someone else’s mind. It was very complex and I consumed every detail.

Alexis Henderson’s An Academy for Liars dives headfirst into the dark academia genre, a setting rife with secret societies, cutthroat rivalries, and the tantalising allure of forbidden knowledge. On paper, this sounds like a winning combination for fans of gothic fantasy. However, while the novel offers an interesting premise and some truly intriguing moments, it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.

The story centres on Lennon Carter, whose life is at a standstill when she receives an unexpected invitation to Drayton College—a magical university hidden in a pocket universe, offering training in the art of persuasion. Persuasion at Drayton isn’t just about convincing others; it’s about bending the very fabric of reality to one’s will. With the help of her enigmatic advisor, Dante Lowe, Lennon hones her abilities while uncovering the dark history of the institution and the true extent of her power.

Warning, there are mild spoilers ahead.

Let’s start with the positives. Henderson’s strength lies in creating a vivid and atmospheric setting. Drayton College, with its shadowy halls and air of mystery, is the quintessential backdrop for a dark academia novel. The secret societies, magic trials, and academic rivalries feel familiar but are executed well enough to keep readers engaged. The novel’s exploration of power—how it corrupts and what it demands in return—is compelling, particularly in a setting like Drayton where ambition knows no bounds.

The magic system in An Academy for Liars also stands out for its uniqueness. Persuasion as a form of magic, the ability to impose one’s will on others or even on the material world, is a fascinating concept. It raises some thought-provoking questions about control, manipulation, and morality. The moral dilemmas that arise from using such power give the novel a philosophical edge, forcing readers to reflect on the potential consequences of wielding such abilities.

That said, the book falters in a few significant ways. One of the most glaring issues is pacing. There are stretches where the story drags, bogged down by an overabundance of exposition or repetitive introspection from Lennon. This sluggish pacing is compounded by a romance subplot that, while promising at first, quickly loses its appeal. Lennon’s relationship with Dante, her brooding and morally ambiguous professor, never quite clicks. Their dynamic feels forced, and the emotional stakes of their romance are often undermined by awkward dialogue and unconvincing chemistry. In a novel that centres so much on relationships and power dynamics, this is a major drawback.

Furthermore, the secondary characters, while interesting, are often underutilised. Lennon’s classmates, who should play a significant role in her journey, are overshadowed by her intense focus on Dante and her personal struggles. This becomes particularly problematic during the novel’s climax, where Lennon’s peers are expected to rally around her in a way that feels unearned and hollow. Without more meaningful development of these relationships earlier in the story, the climax lacks the emotional weight it should have carried.

There’s also a lack of clarity in some of the novel’s key plot points. There were a few times when I was reading that I realised something had just dropped off and never returned. While the complexity of a novel is often a selling point, the plot points often didn’t fully connect which leaves the payoff unclear and unsatisfying.

In the end, An Academy for Liars feels like a missed opportunity. It’s an enjoyable read with a solid premise and some standout moments—particularly when it delves into the darker aspects of power and persuasion—but it ultimately falls short of delivering on its initial promise. Fans of dark academia may still find plenty to appreciate, but the uneven pacing, underwhelming romance, and lacklustre character development prevent it from reaching the heights of its genre.

A thriller that was a little difficult to wrap my head around, but nonetheless, fascinating. The story centers on Lennon, a woman struggling in her relationship and in life. When she gets a phone call saying that she has been invited to apply at the mysterious Drayton College, she takes that as a lifeline. When she arrives on the campus hidden in Savannah, she quickly realizes this is no ordinary college and her classmates and professors are much more than they seem. What Drayton is offering is lessons in Persuasion - not exactly magic, but very close to it. And it is a dangerous power, one that Lennon has to learn to master, before it ends up hurting her.

As I said before, a bit confusing at times, but overall interesting and once I hit the second half, very hard to put down. I always look forward to Henderson’s novels - this one once again did not disappoint.

Chilling

Straight up, chilling.

That is the one word I will use to describe this banger.

An Academy for Liars

Alexis Henderson, has knocked it out of the park with this sure to be bestseller.

This was my first time reading a book by Henderson, and I was curious as to why they never ended up on my radar, imagine my surprise when I found two very different books, House of Hunger and The Year of Witching. Well, after concluding An Academy of Liars and having my mind blown, you better believe I purchased both books.

Henderson has a very unique writing style that will plunge you right into another realm. Everything is intriguing. The words flow across the page so gracefully, you will fly through before realizing you just finished.

WOW, just WOW.

Check out this teaser :

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.

As Lennon continues in her studies, her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns, for it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption...and it’s a test she’s terrified she’s going to fail.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alexis Henderson, and Berkley Publishing Group: Ace for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I had high hopes for this after seeing several rave reviews, but I'm not sure of my true feelings upon completion. This book REALLY works in parts and REALLY doesn't for me in others. In terms of dark academia, Henderson can write the heck out of a setting!! I am dying to visit Drayton, and every time the school was described, I felt like I could see it clear as a picture. I loved the overall vibes of the novel and seeing Lennon progress in her studies; it's definitely a great, darker read for fall. However, the world building felt so messy and incomplete to me. As I preface everything, I'm not a ~huge~ reader of fantasy, so this might just be because I don't have a ton of familiarity with the genre, but there seemed to be tons of loose ends. What was with the moth symbolism? Random reveals, details, and relationships happened way too late for the pacing of this book, which already felt super long at times. I also felt that Lennon and Dante were always held at an arm's length from letting the reader know more about both of them individually. I actually really liked them and their relationship, but I think it's because that was the most developed storyline! Which to me is unfortunate because there is a lot of really interesting and original content here, and I think the premise works as a whole. I just still am confused about what exactly this book was about/how their powers worked/how they developed or trained them aka so I'm literally puzzled about essentially the whole book. So it might be a personal thing because clearly I've seen lots of great buzz! But I think the book could have worked better with a little more editing of some of the filler and a little more addition of basic world buidling.

DNF @26%

I am just not getting into this book. I appreciate how unique it is, and I love a dark academia vibe, but I feel like I’m missing something?

I was going to put it down for a bit and come back to it, but I don’t think I will. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn’t work for me

I adored the dark academia vibes of this book, so for that reason the parts during which Lennon and her classmates are navigating Drayton College were the most engaging to me. I was less interested after the climax occurred and everything fell apart--plus the Lennon-Dante pairing felt off to me--but Alexis Henderson does gothic fiction SO well.

Alexis Henderson has haunted my dreams, both waking and sleeping for the past two years, ever since I first read The Year of the Witching.

An Academy for Liars lived up to my internal hype. The character of Lennon is complex in the sense that she has made poor decisions and built her life around those decisions with little remorse. Her relationships throughout the book give the reader a strong sense of how she could be dangerous and the juxtaposition of her between her "normal" family was endlessly fascinating for me.

The way that this book was fantasy but not was interesting. I often enjoy speculative fiction. I do not tend toward thrillers and mysteries, as often I find them to be too easy to figure out but the twists in this were unseen, stunning, and brilliant.

Each character was nuanced as developed well, even those with minor roles seemed like real, flawed people.

I read several other books while reading this one, whenever my anxiety would spike, I would switch over. I also wonder if subconsciously I was trying to draw this out. It is one of those books I want to read for the first time again.

I highly recommend throwing yourself into this world of dark academia!

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkely Publishing Group for the eARC!

This was fantastic. Henderson's books are cuh immersive experiences. She has a rare, atmospheric talent and I feel like it's only improved with An Academy for Liars. Perfect for those who love dark academia being more than just set at at a school, and also for lovers of deeply twisted morally grey characters. So many parts of this narrative progressed in ways I wouldn't have dreamed. Now for me, I do find that Henderson's endings are the weakest parts of her work, including this one, but the journey always more than makes up for it. She's an automatic read author for me, for sure.

Alexa, play Rats by Ghost.

#AnAcademyForLiars:

Thank you @prhaudio @berkley for my free copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner

“Good lies are rewarded with belief. Great lies are rewarded with conviction. In my experience, persuasion is a great lie, well told.”

I originally had the alternate title: Wyatt is trash, let’s throw him away - but it got better after chapter.. 8ish. I did feel very autopilot until we hit chapter 12. After that, it was on. The horror was definitely horrifying, the suspense thrilled me, it was an absolute adventure that I’m glad I started.

I always feel like Henderson wraps up her stories with Rufus wild floor to the petal action in the last 45-90 minutes or 5 chapters. I was thinking I’d finish this book the next day, but there I was gripped at every word at 2:45 AM unable to stop until I got resolution.

The audio was the audio. I personally preferred to read the print version, but it’s not a horrible audio at all!

Overall, Alexis Henderson never misses. This actually be my favorite of hers. (I’m sorry I’m a dark academia sucker. Plus doors to go to places - absolutely yes)

Just released so worth it. Check it out.

Predict text: An Academy For …
An academy for the best of the world’s program.

I love dark academia and I’ve enjoyed Henderson’s previous horror work, so this was one of my most-anticipated books of the fall. Henderson didn’t let me down — I think An Academy for Liars is my favourite of her books so far.

This one follows Lennon, a woman adrift in her own life, as she flees and engagement and is called to join the hidden, mysterious Drayton College.

An Academy for Liars definitely scratched my dark academia itch.  It’s extremely compelling, with morally grey characters and a serious amount of darkness.

My only criticism is that I would have liked more world-building.  I wanted to know more about what the college’s students do with their power after graduating, and what made different people stronger at compulsion than others. 

I especially recommend this one to fans of A Deadly Education or Babel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley / Ace for my review copy of this book.

I’ll start off by saying, I have been in a reading slump these past couple of weeks which definitely affected my reading experience. Not to say the experience was bad, but unfortunately I did struggle through this book.

I’m actually really surprised because I literally devoured this author’s previous works. Nothing gets me flipping pages of a book like Alexis Henderson’s writing.

And that was true for the first chunk of this book. The atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal, it’s eerie and very much dark academia in the best way.

I loved learning about the school and the magic system. Most of all, I loved meeting the different students and teachers and following our main character through the first days in this mysterious academy.

However, I started getting a little bit lost in the plot. While things were happening, I enjoyed what I was reading but didn’t understand where the story is going and what it’s trying to do. There were so many elements to the plot. A romance, rivalry, a murder mystery, a sci-fi element - but no real direction, which made it hard for me to get invested in the story. I also think it was a little bit too long.

I’m so sad I didn’t absolutely love this book but I’m still so happy that this author keeps growing and expanding her writing. This was still one of the most unique dark academia fantasy books and I’m just so excited to see what brilliant ideas she comes up with next 🖤🖤

I have to say that this one really disappointed me. Although I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and the overall premise of the story, I just didn’t jive with the execution of the story. This one felt long and took me a while to get through. I don’t mind world building or a long book, but this one felt like it had a lot of unnecessary detail. And I think a lot of this stemmed from characters that felt very one dimensional and flat. There were many emotional scenes in this novel that because I didn’t feel connected to the characters left me feeling very unaffected. The magic is really the star of this one, and I did love the idea of the secret school that harnesses the power of persuasion in students. Those parts of the story were exceptionally well thought out and created perfect dark academia vibes. I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this one, particularly if you like dark academia, but I think the characters really do weaken the overall story.

Lennons life is falling apart when she gets a mysterious call. She is invited to interview for a place at Drayton College, a magical school, hidden in Savannah. It’s a place for people who have certain powers of persuasion. There she finds the feeling of belonging, power, friendship and the possibility of love. The longer she’s there, secrets come out and she gets involved with the secrets and magic of the very essence of the school and it conception.

The vibes were great. I loved the atmospheric setting and the power was unique. Dark academia and magic schools never get old and I loved the writing. It was a little slow to get started for me but once it got going I was enthralled. The relationship between Lennon and her advisor, Dante, was just enough. I enjoyed the slow build and anticipation but also not fully knowing who could be trusted. There were a few things not explained but the ending was great:) I’m hoping this leaves the possibility of another book.

Thanks to @berkleypub and @letstalkbookspromo for the arc for review.

3.5 stars

After a series of mental health struggles, dropping out of college and chasing men who take advantage of her, Lennon Carter is ready to end it all. That is, until a mysterious phone call informs her she’s been accepted into Drayton College—a hidden academy where students learn the mystical art of persuasion. With a semblance of direction and purpose, Lennon ventures off to Drayton, only to discover that academic rivals, eerie demons, suspicious professors and many more secrets await.

AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS started off so strong—I was hooked in the very first chapters and intrigued by the mystique surrounding Lennon’s history, hauntings and journey to Drayton… but then everything fell apart. There are few more disappointed in this book than I.

This feels like a classic case of “great concept, poor execution.” The premise is extremely exciting: A secret college, a unique magic system, dark academia vibes, an MC with a troubled past seeking purpose and acceptance. But with all of these elements came a whole lot of confusion, loose ends and unexplained phenomena.

The good:

-Lennon was an engaging main character. I appreciated the ways her background led her to the desperate, somewhat vicious place she finds herself in. She’s a pretty consistent character throughout (some might say TOO consistent by the end), and I rooted for her.

-The magic system was very unique, albeit too unexplored. The idea of persuasion to impact people, animals and the surrounding world is something I haven’t seen much of before, and I liked the idea of classes teaching principles of this concept.

-I found the questions raised about good vs. evil and the role this magic could play in our world interesting. Character motivations varied, showcasing the ways persuasion could help or hurt.

-The ending of the book was action-packed and pretty gripping.

The disappointing:

-Pretty much every character aside from Lennon felt really flat, and in a lot of cases, entirely unimportant. There’s a found family aspect to the story, but Lennon’s classmates could largely be interchanged with one another with little to no consequence. By the end, I barely remembered certain students’ names because they were so undeveloped—but, for some reason, they’d play a major role in an escape, death or plot beat.

-I wanted so much more from the magic system and school. The classes started off interesting, but then the plot flew by and we barely learned anything about how the magic was used. Over time, it became a little too limitless, as well. All of the sudden, people could not only influence other people but also impact matter, persuade entire cities, create full illusions, etc.

-Lennon’s academic growth was unbelievable. When she first begins her studies, Lennon is at the bottom of her class, struggling with no concept of how to pull ahead. But all of the sudden, she’s mega-powerful and being recruited to the prestigious Logos house, which barely showed interest in her prior to their induction ceremony? The “chosen one” narrative was too convenient and didn’t pay off.

-I still have SO many questions. There were entire scenes in the first half of the book that I thought were building up to some big mystery reveal, but they never were discussed again or amounted to anything. Who was the boy Lennon saw through the elevator and why was not mentioning him important? What was up with all the moths? What was the purpose of the Amsterdam scene and the “monster” they ran from? There were so many pieces that felt extraneous to the puzzle Henderson was putting together here.

Ultimately, I wanted so much more from this novel. It didn’t feel tight enough to propel me through the story, and the ending didn’t have the payoff required to feel worth all the mystery. I definitely feel like there are stronger dark academia books to turn to than this.

I’m not sure I think this is truly Dark Academia, but it’s hard to care about that because it’s just a really good book.

This is an interesting spin on the magical college setting, and while it’s a bit short on atmosphere (especially for something billed as Dark Academia), the setting works really well and it has a unique spin that feels fresh. The system and basics of the plot feel a little bit like a less irreverent Magicians or a better-plotted Vita Nostra, but it’s very much it’s own original story in the end.

I liked the magical system here, which is complex without being incomprehensible and fits tightly with both the character development and the story.

And of course, there’s Lennon, a complicated, fascinating, and utterly lovable protagonist. Henderson does such a good job of writing flawed but likable characters and placing them in situations that demonstrate both the best and worst of who they are as well as their ability to evolve.

I would have loved more atmosphere and day-to-day details about the school, but overall this is really well done. I’m now very curious to check out Henderson’s other novels.

I did almost DNF this at one point but I am so glad I pulled through. I think if you liked ms peregrines home for peculiar children as a kid, you'll enjoy this. The beginning felt extremely slow to me and I wasn't super intrigued. I couldn't picture some of the characters and there were quite a few so it made it hard to keep track of. I liked Lennon and I thought the plot was very mastermind. There were totally fall vibes and the school was cool. Around 40% is when it really started to pick up and I flew through but it took a while to get there. For fans of the atlas six and if we were villains.