Fabian is attending one of the most interesting schools ever. A professor that is a devil that is summoned each year is not only the teacher, but the main lesson. It’s kill or be killed between the students of the honors class and the professor.

There is a very diverse group of students and so many twists and turns. The need to find out how to kill the professor is so intriguing that it makes the whole book really engaging. Plus, its fast pace makes it really easy to get hooked on.

Well, that was WILD FUN!

Things I liked:
-The overall premise. BRING IT ON!
-The structure (3 POVs that don’t alternate).
-The Professor (and Pendleton). I feel sorry they had to deal with these kids. But also loved how they did want to see them succeed

Things I wished were better:
- The twist. In my opinion …. It wasn’t a twist. Felt like the book tried to make the twist mean more than it really did.
- The ending. Very anticlimactic. It’s thematic in terms of dark academia, sure, but IMO the premise promised a vicious showdown and a devilish clash of wits.
- The explanation of severance and entire idea of the overworld. It was both very hand-wavy but also central to the intricacies of the magic system and certain plot points.

Things I didn’t like:
- The students’ overall approach to the honors class. Felt they kept trying to take short cuts rather than put their heads down, come to class, ask questions, study.
-Euphemia in particular. I grew frustrated with her views on the honors class and the Professor. She had so many thoughts of her own that she never listened to what the Professor was saying /behind his words / – he was in fact giving her all the info she needed to pass the class, but she was very myopic in her motivations and aims and then sulked and blamed others for the decisions she made – something the Professor does call her out on.

In my opinion, the Professor did no wrong. He TRIED to teach y’all. LOL.

I am a sucker for a dark academia/magic school story, and this one absolutely hits the ground running—so much so that my notes from reading are mostly just “oh I’m loving this! I LOVE this!” That Devil, Ambition is pure unhinged fun. Fabian is a year away from graduation in a magic school. Along with his friends Euphemia and Credence, he’s ready for their final honors class. Which, oh, begins with the summoning of a devil who will be their teacher for the year. Their only assignment is to kill the Professor Devil before the end of the year—a task which, if passed, will grant Fabian his pick of jobs and his full tuition (which is MASSIVE) reimbursed. If he fails, they’ll murder mother, who serves as his tuition loan collateral. Are you in?? Yeah, I thought so. All the characters are fucked up, harboring dark secrets, driven by their personal desires and determination. That Devil, Ambition is an absolute ball, a delight, a joy—if you’re a dark magic school sicko like me who likes stories about young people doing high-stake murders and having Emotions about it.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⅓ — i don't have the words to describe how brilliant this is. turning the last page left me with the kind of emptiness i usually feel after finishing a four season tv series. that's how invested i was. the section one ending hit me like a freight train, and everything that happened after continuously left me reeling.

my favorite thing about fantasy is almost always the worldbuilding/magic system, and that devil, ambition had an entirely unique, intricate universe. i loved the science-y bits sprinkled in, as using real-life terms to describe things made understanding the magic system easier. the whole severance thing is genuinely so interesting, i need to see it in live action.

and don't get me started on the actual plot. thirteen honors students have to kill their immortal devil professor to pass or die trying. like yes, give me more immediately. it's paced excellently—just when you think you've seen everything or you're getting bored, something insane happens.

the characters are bewitching as well, of course. there's three point-of-views, but instead of alternating, they each get one section and one term. usually, when books are structured like this, i miss the first character and can't get used to the later ones, but credence and euphemia were even more engaging than fabian. they were all so distinct, and i loved seeing how differently they each approached the situation. and then seeing each of them slowly come to the same realization about the school and have three different breakdowns? i love angst. each new pov unveiled whole personalities the other characters didn't know. like fabian's euphemia vs. euphemia's euphemia? excellently done.

note: i don't know who did the blurb, but this isn't even remotely similar to either asid or gallant, in either writing style or narrative, so don't open it expecting that. but if you like all of us villains, you'll absolutely love this.

Linsey Miller’s That Devil, Ambition is a captivating exploration of ambition, morality, and the price of power. With a richly crafted world and a protagonist who is both ruthless and deeply human, the story examines the fine line between dreams and destruction. Miller’s sharp prose and intricate plotting make this a must-read for fans of dark, character-driven fantasy. A gripping tale of ambition that lingers long after the final page

While this was well written, the just non stop bleakness of it really took me out of it. The pacing should work but instead of that heart racing feeling of what will happen next, I just kinda sighed.

Welcome to the Stellarium, a school for magicians but with a particular honors class. Every student accepted in the honors class has one year to kill their devil of a teacher or be killed themselves.

This book is dark academia by the very definition. It’s bleak. It’s depressing. As each student gets picked off one by one in horribly shocking and graphic ways, you lose more hope that any of them will actually survive. It was written fabulously but such dark themes are just not for me.

The magic school vibes were very lacking, and the actual magic used far too theoretical and intellectual to hold the average reader’s attention for long. In short, I imagine it will have a pretty niche audience.

I have read dark academia in the past and even watched darker animes or television shows, but something about the poor students losing their hope and constantly grieving not only their futures but the unfairness of it all just jarred me in the worst possible way.

I have been a big fan of Lindsey Miller’s since I discovered her Disney series from the prince’s povs but I don’t think this was the book for me. The writing is solid but the mood just brought me down and reminded me too much of how awful the world of academia can be.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC! That Devil, Ambition is an unrelenting, brilliant exploration of dark academia at its most raw and devastating. The author doesn’t hold back.

The academic setting is immersive, pulling readers into its atmosphere while grappling with heavy, thought-provoking themes. What stands out most is the book’s refusal to merely critique academia—it focuses instead on how ambition corrodes, how students break under pressure, and how the pursuit of greatness can destroy from within. Its exploration of death is equally compelling, examining mortality, its trivialization, and its transformative power.

The prose is sharp, the characters nuanced, and the themes unforgettable. The ending lingers, offering a delicate sliver of hope amidst the darkness.

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC. I feel super conflicted on how to rate this book. I both liked it and disliked it. I loved the first third and I loved the friendship between Fab, Mia, and Credence. The magic system was super interesting and the dark academia aspect was well written in the first part. I enjoyed following along to see whether the characters would survive and be able to graduate. However, the plot unraveled a bit towards the end, while I liked the revelation and the scheming, the end felt a bit anticlimactic.

Book:
THAT DEVIL, AMBITION by Linsey Miller
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the earc (Jun 3)

Review:
3.5⭐
Honestly, this book was just so so. Told across three pov's, THAT DEVIL, AMBITION follows Fabian, Credence, and Euphemia as they embark on a journey to try and kill their professor in order to have their student loans forgiven---basically. As the days pass, and attempts are made, each of them bear witness to what won't work, what will get them killed. When it seems like all hope is lost, [REDACTED] takes matters into their own hands. Will the honors class succeed???
THAT DEVIL, AMBITION was one of those books I was so excited for. Dark academia mixed with magic and mystery---yes, please. However, there were moments when I was bored, especially towards the beginning because it felt drawn out and like nothing was happening. I powered through and devoured the second and third part. I couldn't get enough as the action grew greater, days dwindled down, and the professor still lived.
Then came the third part. OMG. All the revelations were shocking. What [redacted] was doing, the professor's secret, etc. That part was jam packed. Nonetheless, this was very,very long. There were times where I was bored and wanted it to be over, which led to me skipping a bit toward the end. All in all, though, this was an interesting read.

What started out as honestly pretty promising ended up being just... okay. I feel like the central premise is very fun. Something akin to the manga Assassination Classroom, but a little different. This book's strength, I think, was its adherence to its theme: the price of education (both literal and figurative) and how that specifically pertains to class. This is the case of a dark academia book that is less vibes (though they are there) and an actual critique of how the higher education system preys on the vulnerable in order to further its own gains. For the most part, the book follows this theme closely, but, unfortunately, I do feel like it kind of started to lose traction towards the end.

Although I appreciate what the book explored, I feel like I was left largely... dissatisfied with the ending. That, and I feel like the world-building was a little confusing at times, especially in regards to the magic system. I never felt, even at the end, like I really understood the whole of it. If the magic weren't used often, I might not have taken as much of an issue with it. Seeing as it features quite prominently, I definitely wanted a bit more clarification on the nuances of the magic system and how that pertains to the world-building. Plus, the pacing, too, was a little off. Other than an interesting start, things kind of dragged until the halfway point, then they picked up a little, but actually ended up dragging towards the end.

Overall, very fun premise with some great themes that unfortunately fell a bit short for me. If you like dark academia, though, I'd still recommend picking it up because it feels like an actual critique of academia as opposed to other novels in the same genre.

Miller’s writing is sharp, dark, and immersive, pulling you into a world where nothing is as it seems, and every move could be your last. The magic system is brutal but fascinating, and the tension is relentless as the trio grows increasingly desperate to find a way out. It’s one of those books where you can’t help but turn the pages faster, your mind spinning with all the twists and turns. It’s dark, it’s smart, and it’s not afraid to make you question everything you thought you knew about loyalty, ambition, and survival.

I was hooked from the first chapter. The story follows a trio of gifted students. Fabian, Credence and Euphemia. They are part of an elite honors class consisting of 13 students. Their final assignment is to kill their professor. If they succeed, their student debt is forgiven. However, if an assassination attempt fails or the professor is alive at the end of the year, their lives are forfeit.

I thought this was a brilliant story. It was dark and real and didn’t hold back. It was also a bit of a mystery thriller in the sense that we as readers are wondering how the students will kill the professor and if they fail how will he kill them. I loved the characters and the world building. We really see a sweet friendship between the trio and you can’t help but root for them. I thought the pacing was great and as the year progressed we and the students start to feel the pressure of their task. We see many students lose their lives and themselves. I thought it was a great blend of fantasy and dark academia elements that also related to real life. I thought the author did an amazing job discussing heavy topics such as death, power, ambition, and critiquing institutions without ever feeling preachy.

Definitely don’t get attached to anyone in this story Linsey Miller doesn’t hold back. This is truly a gripping dark academia book that had so much packed into it. Political intrigue, magic, a queer normative world and magic system, death, grief, violence, and secrets. Highly recommend this unique and immersive book.

Bleak and demoralising. Or in other words it's sadly school.
First initial vibes was the last episode of Wednesday but make it darker. A lot darker actually. I wish I had someone in my life to tell me if they felt the same a about this.
Despite a cast of characters that were initially hard to root for you couldn't help but feel for them in one way or another. They are all smart, talented and pushed so far to the edge you just want to help them.
The grand mystery of how to kill the Professor was interesting. It kept me engaged in the story and the answers to some of the big questions were too well done. Absolutely loved it.
Euphemia was my favourite character by far.
This is honestly such a great fall read. Paced well, strong characters, chilling atmosphere. The book was a little on the graphically gorier side for me but Linsey Miller has a content warning on her Goodreads if anyone is interested.

I think I need to come to terms with the fact that dark academia just isn't for me. It's a me problem, not the fault of That Devil, Ambition by Linsey Miller, which is a really fantastically written and truly DARK academia for the YA audience. No character is safe, so don't get attached. I love a good cutthroat (literally, in this case) competition in a school setting, and the fantasy aspect and magic system here was both interesting and creepy.

I just think I try too hard to understand the academia part and then feel stupid when I don't (no science/math brain here), so I end up not enjoying the book for what it is. You don't need to understand any of the science to understand the story so again, a me problem. Therefore, I'm rating the book on the writing, atmosphere, characters, and quick and exciting plot pace rather than on my personal enjoyment.

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of a mix of assassination classroom and hunger games. I felt attached to a lot of characters and hurt when they hurt. I would love to see a sequal to this to see if the manage to overcome the system.

Another academia story that was perfect. I'm really excited for more people to get this book into their hands.

This was such a great dark academia story, it had that plot going on and enjoyed the overall story being told. The characters felt like they were meant to be there and in this academic setting. Linsey Miller has that style that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of this story.

With every book, Linsey Miller knocks me off my feet. The way she uses a fantasy and horror lens to examine the very real questions we are faced with. And the answers are never held back in both their terror and their desire to shape the world for the better.

This book grapples with reality of academia, of the way it embraces students only to chew them up and spit them out, and to then have the audacity to hold out its hand for payment for the struggle. Yes, it's a dark academia book because it's about a class of students tasked to kill a devil before the last day of class or they will all die themselves. But it's also a dark academia book because it's about how these institutions degrade and erode the most vulnerable students in the name of offering them a "chance." It is all kinds of brilliant and I absolutely adored it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc! Wow. This was both incredibly fucked and incredibly well done. Here are some things that rocked my socks:

-The author pulls absolutely no punches here. They really take it there, and it’s gorgeous. There’s so many moments that left me REELING and staring at the wall. Never again will I underestimate YA; I was clutching my pearls.

-When reading this book I felt like a student myself. I was also trying to guess on how to kill this devil. If I had a beard I’d be stroking it. Basically, this book is both a thinker and HEAVY on the academia. I truly felt like an intellectual.

-This book was incredibly immersive. The world building was simplistic, but well done. The author’s prose also leant to an incredibly atmospheric reading experience. This, along with other things I’ll mention later lends to a story that truly showcases the best of what dark academia has to offer

-This book excels in its themes, and again, truly showcases what dark academia is supposed to be as a genre. Too often, dark academia books almost singularly critique the institution itself. That Devil, Ambition does do that, but it focuses more about how academia destroys a student’s psyche than how corrupt the institution is itself. I’m glad this book took this route tbh, because solely critiquing academia itself is a bit oversaturated. Luckily, this book was a breath of fresh air. In That Devil, Ambition, we see students crumble, become monsters, lose themselves, damage themselves and others irrevocably. We get a few in-depth character studies that are all distinct and fascinating.

-to add to my last point: this is also a book about the topic of death. How young people think they’re unkillable. How we would change our actions if faced with soon and imminent death. How death affects people differently. How death can change a person. The trivialization and sensationalism of it. How it can be romanticized. And, of course, how death is not only external but internal. Again, this book is truly an academic’s book. There are many quotable and powerful lines in here.

-We also have the theme of change. I’ve found many different interpretations we get if it during this book. I don’t wanna spoil anything though.

-keeping it as vague as possible, I loved the ending. The ending lends itself to a slice of hope amongst darkness and depression. This is not a happy book, but its ending was evocative and well done. Amongst all the bleakness and depression is a bit of hope (very apt that I read this right before the election 😍).

-my only nitpick is some repetition in the beginning. Someone take Fabian to church.

In summation: yes. This book was the shit, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time too. Just complete and utter fierceness; now I’ll have the check the author’s backlog. -4.5 stars