This was stranger than I thought it would be and a bit all over the place. The beginning started out strong, jumping into Cal's new life at boarding school and discovering the secret society. I enjoyed the tasks he had to complete and seeing him explore the hidden parts of the school. I would love to do secret missions and learn how to pick locks and gain access to hidden areas.

The romance was toxic and quickly spiraled out of control. Some parts felt rushed and not explored enough and I wanted Cal to question things more rather than just keep going along with everything. The ending also tried to just give a quick update on things and I could have done without it. I didn't really care about those characters or where their lives went after school.

I liked the narrator for the most part, he embodied Cal and his increasing frenzy well. I did think his female voice was a bit whiny.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for the copy.

This was such a dark and suspenseful book that had me sucked in from the start and desperate to know what happened next. The narration was very well done and had me feeling like I was in the story myself.

I absolutely loved this book. The narration was amazing. At first it felt a bit slow but it was definetly worth the listen.

DNF any 30%….ill be totally honest i started this book so long ago I don’t even remember it and thats a testament to how little this story got my attention

“𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎!”
“𝙽𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚜.” 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍.

💛💛💛💛 / 5

🌶️.75 / 5

»»————-✼————-««

Review:
This was my first Derek book and while I went in excited, I was completely and utterly blown away! There were so many intricate layers to this story, from the history of the buildings to the history of the society to Cal and Luke’s backstories, all of which where sewn together so so well, there wasn’t a stitch out of place! Every time I thought I had finally found my footing and knew exactly what was going on, the Society pulled another thread and suddenly I was confused again!

Cal was a very complicated character, and I never felt like I fully figured him out. I like how the narrator would play up a midwestern accent, it really added that extra layer, especially when Cal was stressed as it came out more! It was really interesting to learn he had a glass eye, idk if I just wasn’t paying attention but that caught me by surprise! Cals complicated backstory included being attacked by an ex and having complicated family dramas in the background as well. He felt very relatable and personable, he had the teenager snark and sass as well as the intelligence needed to crack all the secrets and codes to get into the Society.

Luke was a very complicated character for me, I’m still undecided on whether I like him or not. He definitely didn’t bring out the best in Cal, but was definitely being manipulated and coerced into doing things he didn’t want to. However, he still had a choice no matter how small it was. I definitely hated Pinky, but I’ll let you read or listen to figure out why!

The Society itself was also very complicated, like an ogre it had many layers, although it was pitched as a brotherhood, you really can’t trust anyone?!? Steeped in hundreds of years of history its purpose of discovering all areas of the schools campus is really cool, and teaching its members the skills needed to find this stuff out was so so cool; gave me all the dark academia vibes that I would have loved as a teen, though maybe a wee too much danger…

This was a writing style I enjoyed, I’m normally a big speech reader, but I think having the narrator read all of the inner monologues and other non speech related words (is what to call them😅) really helped and made this an easy listen for me. I liked the level of description, I can definitely picture each building and almost see it through out its history! I think the fact I’m a big history nerd really helped me enjoy this book and I’m not sure if others would find those bits annoying and boring? But I loved them!

A very intriguing read with perfect helpings of dark academia and secrets and a good heaping of betrayal and blackmail. Definitely a read or a listen that will keep you on your toes!

I had a hard time getting into this book but I think that was more of a me problem than an author or book issue. This was my 1st book by Derek Milman but I will give him another chance.

#ADarkerMischief
#NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing and I highly recommend it. The narration was also spot on especially now after having read the text format I can say that the narrator did an awesome job.

A really interesting story of secret societies in old campuses. I think I wanted to follow a different set of characters though.

This felt like Gilmore Girl’s Life and Death Brigade meets Ready Player One. A fun time if you don’t think about it too much.

A Darker Mischief
by Derek Milman

4/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I was quite excited to read this one but getting into it was slow going and I had a hard time trying to piece everything together and understand/care about the characters. One of the *reveals* about the main character was both obvious and underdeveloped, and I think it could have been stronger in the way it was hinted at if we’d had more introduction and backstory for the main character that wasn’t lost in the academic world building.

However once the story picked up, the characters and story started to work better and set the story up in way that finally sucked me in and the deeper themes usually to dark academia, about the lengths someone might go to in order to standout and belong, the darkness of humanity, the all consuming draw of power, and the ways relationships can be poisoned by self hatred, fear, and prejudice

I don’t even know how to explain the insane and dark plot but it becomes very quintessentially dark academia with a secret society with illuminati-type sway, kidnapping of prominent figures children, an outsider desperate to belong, some pretty grotesque violence, and queer romantic storylines.

if you’re into dark academia and reading about complex queer characters, I would recommend. The audiobook and narrator was excellent, no notes.

Thanks to NetGalley, and the publisher Dreamscape Media for the audiobook!

Derek Milman’s A Darker Mischief is a thrilling and clever ride that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. With sharp wit, unpredictable twists, and a gripping plot, Milman crafts a mystery that delves into the darker sides of human nature. This fast-paced, suspenseful story is perfect for fans of twisty thrillers.

An addictive, smart read that’s impossible to put down.

Please stop saying everything that is set at a school is “like The Secret History.”

This book has nothing in common with Secret History, aside from, y’know, being set at a school. Which doesn’t in and of itself imply anything about the quality of the book, but it does leave the reader feeling misled and likely let down by the comparison.

Aside from publisher promo missteps, is this actually a good book? Unfortunately no, not really, though I wouldn’t call it a bad book either. The concept was good, it’s just a bit messy in the execution, and careers wildly from an almost dystopian brutality and sense of cruelty to a warm and fuzzy aspirational utopia, which really doesn’t work well together.

The characters’ romantic entanglements don’t interest me much, and the secret society part of the plot is the book’s biggest selling point. But there’s a hokiness to the activities of the group (despite the real or implied danger they create). It’s hard to see the “we kidnapped a government official’s daughter!” sequence as anything other than, say, the tagline for an early 2000s Nicholas Cage movie.

In all, the book is well-paced and gives you a likable protagonist, but the plot needed a lot of work.

I enjoyed this book. What really kept me reading was the main character of Cal. He's a well written underdog and I found myself rooting for him from the start. The book felt too heavy on the descriptions of the school history for me though, it was never that clear why the reader needs to know all of this information about a fictional school. The info about the school buildings, floor plans, etc didn't always relate back to the plot so some of it felt a bit unnecessary. Not going to add spoilers but I also didn't feel like there was a satisfying ending. All that said, this is a solid YA read, especially if you are into dark academia!

I loved this book until the very end. The final climatic event happened so fast and so intensely that I kind of lost track and it felt a bit rushed. The characters and the intrigue had me confused in a good way and questioning everything the entire book though! This story is FULL of dark twists and turns and the whole book had me waiting to see what would happen next.

honestly this wasn't for me. the premise was giving me "ronan and adam" vibes from maggie stiefvater's the raven cycle series, but i couldn't get into the actual storyline. the plot was too slow moving for my taste, therefore i had to mark it as "DNF". i may try to pick this one up again at a later date, but for now, this one simply was not for me.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!

Derek Milman's A Darker Mischief pulls readers into a dark, atmospheric world perfect for fans of dark academia. The gothic tone and suspenseful twists keep the tension high, though some find the multiple themes—secret societies, academy history, and teen conflicts—a bit overwhelming.

Protagonist Cal Ware’s vulnerability is well-drawn, though the characters can feel distant, a common trait in the genre. The complex, "toxic" romance between Cal and Luke has divided opinions, with some finding it underdeveloped and others seeing it as a reflection of Cal’s struggles.

The audiobook is a strong option, with narration that enhances the story’s tone. Overall, it’s a solid choice for those who love young adult mysteries with a dark twist.

Summary:
MM
Dark Academia
YA Romance
Secret Society
Boarding School
Crazy Twists
Audiobook
Gothic tone

“A Darker Mischief” started with a lot of promise—dark intrigue, clever plot twists, and a sense of impending danger that pulled me in right away. The writing style is atmospheric, almost gothic at times, which really set the tone for the mysterious events unfolding.

The audiobook of A Darker Mischief had its moments and the narrator did a solid job bringing the eerie atmosphere to life, with an engaging voice that matched the dark tone of the book. Their pacing and emotion were spot on, especially during the more intense or suspenseful moments.

The only thing I noticed, some of the characters’ voices weren’t as distinct as I’d like, which made it difficult to differentiate them during conversations.

Tho the pacing is slower than my usual reads, you'd enjoy this if you’re a fan of moody, atmospheric reads.

thank you netgalley & dreamscape media for providing a copy of the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review <3

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y'know that trend of like "here's my favourite weird girl books". soo, i think this could definitely fall under someone's fave weird girl books. the writing was definitely very ya, so it was easy to listen to but hard to connect (fair enough - i'm not at the age where I'd be considered ya anymore). i liked the secret society vibes, and for the most part - i did enjoy listening. the narrator did a great job, and their voice is extremely soothing and matched the vibes of the book.

however, i think the relationship felt kind of off for me/lacked chemistry (again, please take with a grain of salt b/c I do understand this is a ya book and I definitely remember having the same feelings when I was that age). i don't think this is my regular cup of tea, and is definitely for a very specific audience. one pro tho - i really gravitated towards this audiobook when i was in between my current reads and wanted a break reading with my eyes :)

⭐️⭐️.75

.5(🌶️)

🎭Dark Academia
👁️YA Romance
🎭Secret Society
👁️MM
🎭Boarding School
👁️Crazy Twists

This was an ALC.

Hmmmm. I’m still processing what I read. The intro hooked me and I just kept thinking the whole time..how does this story wrap back around to put everything together. Well…not exactly how I expected.

The romance was good but toxic very toxic. The secret society aspect started off amazing but then IMO became a little weird.

This book had a great premise but was completely not the vibe I was thinking. This does have dark academia vibes, so if you love DA then this might be one for you.

The narrator was very good. I do think that listening to this book made a big difference for me. I think if I would’ve read this book and a physical or evil format, I might have rated it a little bit lower. I would definitely listen to more books from this narrator.

A really great queer dark academia romance that sees fish out of water Mississippi boy feeling like an outcast at his new elite boarding school. When he learns about a secret society on campus he finds an unexpected ally in a wealthy Korean American boy. Together the two participate in various rush activities, fall in love and discover there are darker secrets at play in this riveting new YA story perfect for fans of books like A dark and drowning tide by Allison Saft. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: the audio is an okay way to take in the story. Nothing major to comment on.

Unforchunetly this story didn't work for me. The atmosphere and the "vibes," are strong at the start of the book. However, the fundamental aspects that kept the story moving, the character conflict and dialogue I found how to get through. I know this is a YA story and I think the author shows a lot of potential in future works, I just felt that it read a little too young for the age group. I will own that this is not my age range, I am not a YA reader. The way some of the sentences and dialogue was written was just really off putting for me personally.