I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and give dark academia another try. This was not terrible but I definitely did not love it. My biggest pet peeve in a main character is them being pathetic/weak and Cal came off a little pathetic at times. I wanted to root for him and Luke but Luke was such a douche that I could not get on board.

A few spoilers coming up! 2 deal breakers for me in a book are cheating and no HEA so once that happened I knew this was not for me! I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone who also needs a HEA.

loved this dark academia young adult book !
there's so much representation I really enjoyed it
sometimes the pacing wasn't quite right, too fast or slow
I would have enjoyed more details and depth but overall it was good

thank you netgalley for the copy

This book is about a world of secrets and self-discovery through the eyes of Cal, a young man who’s recently earned a scholarship to an elite boarding school. For Cal, who has never quite felt like he belongs, this new environment presents both an opportunity and a challenge. As he navigates the complexities of his new life, he stumbles upon a secret society within the school, which promises to offer solutions to his problems—but at what cost?

From the outset, Cal is a compelling protagonist. His struggle to fit in and find his place in a world that seems so foreign to him is portrayed with authenticity and depth. Milman’s character development shines as Cal evolves from an outsider into someone who begins to understand the power dynamics at play in his new environment.

The secret society is a particularly engaging element of the story. Its mysterious nature and the adventures that unfold provide a thrilling backdrop to Cal's personal journey. The intrigue surrounding the society adds layers of excitement and suspense, making for an enjoyable and immersive reading experience.

However, the predictability of the plot slightly detracts from the overall impact. it’s still engaging to see how the narrative unfolds and reaches its conclusions. The journey to the climax is as important as the destination, and Milman’s writing keeps readers invested despite the familiar path.

3.5/5

Thank you so much to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for providing me with this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The comparison to The Honeys is spot on, although I do with there was more of a horror aspect here. Although the kidnapping plot is disturbing, I feel that adding a horror element would have complemented both the tone of the writing and the dark academia atmosphere.

That said, the core of this is fantastic. Cal is a genuinely lovable lead character, and I enjoyed being in his POV. In contrast, Luke is immensely unlovable and more often than not - just plain annoying. However, I can understand the attraction there, which is great character building.

Overall this was an entertaining, enjoyable and mysterious read.

I don’t really know what to say… I’ll always pick up a queer book, especially dark academia and thriller. This one just fell a little short for me. While I love the concept there was just a lot to unpack