Ever King’s "Academy of Villains" delivers a thrilling dark fantasy romance with a unique twist, weaving elements of Greek mythology into a magical, high-stakes world. Inspired by the love story of Nyx and Erebus, the novel follows Kiara, a trained assassin with a thirst for vengeance, as she infiltrates a magic academy to assassinate the prince—only to uncover shocking truths about herself and the kingdom she seeks to destroy.

The setting, with its cruel academy and sinister secrets, feels like a blend of "Zodiac Academy"’s darkly competitive atmosphere and the magical intrigue of *Harry Potter*, with the added allure of Greek mythology. Kiara is a fierce, determined protagonist whose discovery of her own magic and reluctant connection to the cursed prince create compelling emotional stakes. The presence of secret societies, magical bonds, and a shadowy headmaster adds layers of suspense that keep readers hooked.

However, the pacing of the story, particularly toward the end, feels rushed. The novel introduces a richly developed world and complex characters, but the conclusion wraps up too quickly, leaving some threads underexplored. Given the depth and potential of the story, it feels like it would have benefited from a duology or trilogy format to fully unpack the rich world-building and character dynamics.

Despite its rushed ending, "Academy of Villains" is an engaging read for fans of dark fantasy romance who enjoy morally complex characters, forbidden love, and mythology-inspired magic. If you’re drawn to stories with a mix of vengeance, love, and destiny, this standalone novel is well worth diving into.

This is an electrifying, fast-paced fantasy that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go. As the first book in the series I’ve read, I’m thoroughly impressed by the authors storytelling and world-building, and I’m eager to see where this adventure goes next.

The story centers on Kiara, a skilled assassin given the seemingly impossible task of killing the prince. However, her mission takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she has magical abilities—powers she never knew existed. This revelation shifts everything, and she finds herself caught in a dangerous alliance with Prince Lucian, the very person she was sent to kill. Together, they must face a dark force threatening their world, embarking on a high-stakes quest that will test their strength, trust, and loyalties..

Kiara is a standout protagonist tough, resourceful, and deeply human in her flaws, which makes her easy to root for. Her evolving relationship with Prince Lucian adds rich layers to the story, full of tension and chemistry that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The romance unfolds slowly but feels completely earned, adding emotional depth to an already gripping plot!!

Academy of Villains by Ever King ARC Review

Firstly thank you to the author Ever King and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC! This is book 1 for the series, and is a fantastic romantasy read.

This book is a Nyx and Erebus Greek Mythology retelling with unique magic systems, enemies to lovers, fated bonds, hidden magic, self-discovery and so much more. The author has created a gripping world where the morally grey take the centre stage, with beautiful blends of dark academia vibes and a thrilling dose of deception and danger. WIth its captivating plot and flawed characters I was captivated.

The book is set in a vividly imagined academy where students train their magic, compete for power and survival in an unknowingly cruel world. The world-building is rich, with the academy itself feeling like its own character with its secrets and deadly politics that are as compelling as the students that navigate its halls.

The characters shine throughout the story, each one with their own unique struggles and complexity. The main characters' journeys were very compelling, ripe with clever maneuvers, vulnerability and inner conflict that made them relatable despite their morally grey inclinations. The rivalries and alliances between some of the students added a layer of intrigue as no one's true intentions can be trusted completely.

The plot developed at a good pace through most of the book, filled with twists and turns that keep me invested in the story. However towards the end of the book, the plot elements felt slightly rushed or underexplored. This I felt was mostly surrounding the main characters adventure to complete trials, with them being abrupt and under-whelming. I feel as though this would have been better suited to being in the next book in the series, to allow this book to set the foundations of the series.

Academy of Villains is a great read for fans of romantasy, dark academia, morally grey characters and enemies to lovers. The author has written an exhilarating and wildly entertaining tale that has left me eager for the next instalment in the series.

Academy of Villains is a fun YA fantasy adventure. It’s obviously the first in a series, but does not end in a cliffhanger. Kiara is an orphan raised as an assassin for an evil king. Lucian is the prince with the ability to control shadows and is living in the Academy, a school of magic the wealthy families. Kiara, sent to kill the prince, instead discovers her latent magical abilities. This is a fun fast read.

Actual Rating: 4.5☆

Academy of Villains is a dark academia romance inspired by Nyx and Erebus.

The story begins with one of the Nameless hired to assassinate Prince Lucian at the Academy of Magic. She makes a careless mistake and finds herself at the sorting ceremony where the mages elemental magic are revealed. When she is called upon the platform, a stone pillar reacts to the magic she is unaware of even possessing. She is what she hates most, a mage. Kiara's element is celestial and believed to be eradicated many years ago. As Kiara learns how to use her magic, she awakens a magical thread that may alter her original mission. Kiara might need the prince alive to save the kingdom.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The concept of this story was so interesting, and I enjoyed it way more than I was anticipating. This is a series I plan on devouring!

I loved the magic system. The mages receive their grimoire based on their elemental magic. The grimoires start out blank, and when needed, the spells appear to the user of the grimoire. To everyone other than the owner of the grimoire, it stays blank. The mages elemental magic also has a beast form. I loved Kiara and Lucian's beast forms! The mages also have an affinity, for example, healing or being able to know when someone is being dishonest.

Lucian is our shadow daddy, and I love him. He is respected as the prince and feared for his element. He is a Shadowmage. He possesses cursed, dark magic that he spent years learning to control. When he meets Kiara, his control falters. He was aware that Kiara was planning to assassinate him, and he was exhilarated. Like, this man had a fancy lamb chop dinner awaiting her, as if it were a date and not her sneaking into his room to assassinate him. As we get to know him, he is actually so sweet, caring, and genuine.

The imagery during battles was beautifully written. I could easily visualize Kiara's celestial magic: her starblades slicing through the air, stars shooting down from the sky, exploding in a glowing light as they hit their opponents.

I highly recommend this book if you love dark academia, trials, secret societies, and elemental magic.

dark academia • dark fantasy • dark romance • enemies to lovers • greek mythology • magic • retelling • romantasy • secret society • self discovery • shadow daddy

*A sweet thank you to NetGalley and author for approving me to review!*

My very first ARC review ever and this book really exceeded my expectations!

3.8/5

“Love is the frequency of magic.”

Full of all the tropes we love, Academy of Villains has so much to offer, to think about and to discover. This was jammed packed with complex fantastical concepts: secret societies, magic systems, prophecies & fate. This story follows Kiara, a Nameless assassin, who was hired to kill the dark prince, Lucian, to stop their kingdom’s curse. Little does she know she’s about to embark on a much bigger adventure filled with dark secrets, magical discovery and fated mates.

The Magic Academy itself has very gothic-Hogwarts vibes and does have some parallels/similarities to Harry Potter. I would’ve loved more of *something* that wasn’t quite there, but I seriously can’t wait to learn more about this world. The beginning of the story felt rushed, this is a very fast paced book: good & bad. There are so many things going on at once. I definitely feel like things need to be flushed out more and need more depth, but expecting great things & more world-building in the sequel! The writing style is super entertaining and kept me wanting more and more!

Kiara & Lucian: I do feel like Kiara switched gears too quick with her feelings for Lucian - but it could also be something that her heartstring really influenced in her. There was enemies and then there was lovers, it happened very quickly, but the banter was fun! Lucian is just so sweet and a lot of his dialogue made me giddy!

“I want her in ways that’ll erase that defiance, that hatred from her eyes. I want her to look at me differently. To see me. To want me. To need me.”

I LOVE the secret societies, can’t wait to meet more of them and get more depth on all the Raven Society boys.

I never thought I would read something that would make writing an ARC review so easy, it was a great read and I’ll definitely be reading the sequel!

“In that moment, it hits me-he was the darkness I craved, and I was the light he couldn’t escape.”

Be sure to check this out on Amazon to support the author!

Academy of Villains by Ever King
4 stars

Did I choose to read this book based of the cover alone? Yes, yes I did. Do I regret my choices? No, not even a little bit.

After page 3, maybe 4, I was absolutely hooked on this book. Like it was so fast paced that you couldn’t put it down even if you wanted to. It kept me intrigued but also kept me questioning, which is a win.

One of the biggest things about this book is the world building and descriptions. Jesus. I can’t even explain how absolutely flawless everything is because if the descriptions. It was so beautifully done and I am in utter awe of King. There was not a stone left unturned with how beautiful this was. From the bigger locations to the smaller more detailed descriptions, all of it was flawless. For a new author, King is really going to be one to watch with the amount of detail that’s used throughout.

Kiara is out strong, badass FMC who is tasked with killing the Prince of Ithaka. She is strong willed and just such a strong character, the way King portrayed her is brilliant and I have no complaints about her at all. Fantastic. Now, the Prince, Lucian. My oh my, I need him. Like now! Every single thing about him is just *mouth watering* phenomenal. He is the one we want but cant have. Typical.

Anyway, back to the review - fantastic, must read, brilliant.

Book Review: Academy of Villains by Ever King

Academy of Villains by Ever King is an exhilarating, fast-paced fantasy novel that will have readers hooked from the very first page. As the first book I’ve read in this series, I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by Ever King’s writing, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world they’ve created.

The story follows Kiara, a skilled assassin who has been tasked with an impossible job: to kill the prince. However, things take an unexpected turn when Kiara discovers that she possesses magic—something she never knew she had. This revelation shifts the entire course of her mission, leading her down a path that intertwines with Prince Lucian, the very person she was supposed to eliminate. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to defeat a dark and powerful force threatening their world.

One of the standout elements of Academy of Villains is the incredible world-building. King has created a rich and immersive universe filled with magic, political intrigue, and fascinating characters. From the moment Kiara enters this world, readers are transported into a realm that feels both familiar and wholly unique. The atmosphere is dark and suspenseful, keeping the tension high and the pages turning. The balance between action, mystery, and character development is skillfully maintained throughout, making it a page-turner that’s difficult to put down.

Kiara is a compelling protagonist—strong, resourceful, and flawed in ways that make her feel real and relatable. Her dynamic with Prince Lucian adds a layer of complexity to the story, with tension and chemistry that keeps readers eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The romance is slow-burn, but it’s the kind of connection that feels earned and organic, which adds emotional depth to the narrative.

I also want to highlight the author’s ability to blend high-stakes action with moments of introspection. The quest to defeat the dark lord is thrilling, but it’s the inner growth of Kiara and Lucian that truly elevates the story. As they uncover secrets about their pasts and their powers, they are forced to confront their own beliefs and make tough choices that will shape their future.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Academy of Villains. It was an absolute pleasure to read this book, and I look forward to the next installment in the series. If you’re a fan of fast-paced fantasy with a strong, complex heroine, an intriguing plot, and a richly developed world, this book is a must-read. Ever King has crafted a captivating start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Incredible blend of dark academia, romance, suspense and magic, I didn't realise this was YA when I requested, I don't read a lot of it (for no reason I just tend to sway towards adult) but this was fantastic, some YA can feel TOO young but this felt believable and authentic, loved the pacy plot, it's giving Slytherin X Chilling Adventures of Sabrina vibes will definitely be reading more by this author!

I really enjoyed this book and I am so grateful to being given the arc of this book in return for an honest review, I was so excited about this book and it really did live up to my expectations!

I quite often choose books based on their covers. Sometimes I am disappointed and some other times I find great stories and new authors.

Academy of Villains has a gorgeous cover and I decided to request a copy on NetGalley even though I rarely read YA. I am glad I did it.

The world building in this book is perfect. The characters are strong and mature and their growth is noticeable. The plot is good and still developing.

I also loved the connection to Greek mythology.

I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for this ebook! This is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I am a big fan of Greek mythology and love how this book is inspired by it. Definitely gives Dark Academia vibes and I thought there was a nice blend of magic, romance, and suspense. Definitely would recommend to fans of the romantasy/fantasy genre!

Magical adventure like no other!

The nameless trained her. Her mission is to kill the Cursed prince, not find a name for herself and explore magic she didn't think she had.
The prince didn't even know he was cursed. When a star mage arrives after many years, his world is turned upside down. Not only is she the complete opposite of everything he was raised to believe, but they have a connection unlike any other. Their heartstrings connect.
Will he hand her over to the King or will he fight for their future with her?

I loved the magic system in this book! and the idea of the star mage! I'm genuinely curious about the world prior to the disappearance of the star mages.

Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you for the arc!!

After seeing this cover and reading the description, I was so stoked to read this book. Kiara (fmc) is a trained assassin who is tasked with killing the prince but ends up finding out she is a rare mage that has to face trials and tribulations while dealing with emerging feelings for the one she was tasked to kill.

As for the romance, I feel so conflicted. Personally I am a slow burn girly, but I also blush and kick my feet knowing when the guy catches feelings fast and falls hard which occurs in this book. I would have liked to see more development between characters but this is not a deal breaker for me. The enemies to lovers trope is solid, and the tension between Kiara and Lucien is *chef's kiss*.

As for the challenges the main characters have to face, this also develops in fast succession and if you like a quick read this is okay, I am someone who likes full details and drawn out plots but this is just my own personal take.

Overall, I am glad I was able to read this book and I do look forward to the second book. Academy of Villains ends leaving a perfect opening for a second story and I am excited to see where Ever King takes this story. If you like a mix of Harry Potter, Throne of Glass, and Zodiac Academy, this book is for you!

✦ Academy of Villains ✦

A 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 inspired by the 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙈𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 love story of Nyx and Erebus.

I found this book to be an enchanting, sweet tale that weaves together romance, Greek Myth, magic, and dark fantasy elements anchored by the pursuit to destroy the curse on the Kingdom. The author had me hooked from the first sentence: 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦. I mean!?!

Kiara – not magicborn. Orphaned, captured, and stripped of her name and identity and trained as an assassin for the King’s guard. Book begins with a mission gone wrong, and fate has another plan for her.

Lucian – Crown Prince of Ithaka. Powerful shadowmage with cursed, dark magic.

I just loved the love story between Kiara and Prince Lucian. It wasn’t insta-love, they grew into their bond and trust. Their scenes consisted of chin lifts, one bed, steamy kisses, deadly trials, and great banter. I loved the portrayal of the heartstring bonds; it was magical how the author described them. I could truly picture it. I loved the character growth in the book. Both the FMC and MMC grew individually as well as together. I like that most of the story took place at the magic academy but the story doesn’t focus on the academy aspect too much. The focus is on the bond between our powerful Shadowmage Prince and Starmage FMC. Also, I enjoyed the side characters tremendously.

“𝘒𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘢,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, “𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Hidden secrets, powerful spells, revenge, and heartfelt relationships, you would be remiss to not add this one to your tbr!

Thank you @netgalley for a copy of Academy of Villains!

Map: yes!
Pub Date: 15 Oct 2024
Rating: 4.5/5

I love books that revolve around kingdoms, magic and greek mythology. So I had to request this ARC on @netgalley

The book aspects:
⚔️: the fantasy is a 5/5
🪄: the magic system is a 4/5
♥️: enemy to lovers, the romance is cute and charming 5/5
🔥: There wasn't really spice in it (slowburn), well definitely some breathtaking kiss scenes. So 2/5
👥: The characters are all amazing. The MC's were badass but Idk why Tobias has a special place in my heart (I will explain) 5/5

Review 📄 :
The first line of this book says it all "I've been hired to Kill the prince".
Kiara, the nameless, the assassin has always hated the Cursed King and all the mages of the kingdom. So when she was hired to kill the prince and free the kingdom from the dark shadows that roams around it, she couldn't be more ready. As Kiara went to fulfill her assignment in the Academy where the prince stays, she was forced to undergo the sorting ceremony for new students. The result changed everything, if not for any, Kiara herself is a mage and not just any but one of the rarest that was believed to be out of existence. But despite that our badass MC was determined to kill the prince and save the kingdom, yeah because mages are still arrogant assholes. Kiara decided to stay as a student and understand everything about this academy, full of secrets, until she discovers that there is another way to save the kingdom with support of her enemy, the prince. Sadly only one of them is predicted to last, But who?
.
My opinion:
As a potterhead I can approve that there was a little bit of Harry potter vibes in this, obviously the sorting ceremony. But I also felt a bit of Bridgeton vibe to be specific lady whishledown vibes, the gossip bubbles scene.
As I mentioned above that Tobias has a special place in my heart, I kinda ship him with Kiara. I found their interaction scene cute and funny, all that "you are not mine but Definitely my type", I melted. You guys take lucien, Tobias is mine!!
I need the next book rn!! I'm so excited to know more about the Raven society especially Tobias.

At the very beginning, I loved this book. It was just hitting right. But then a lot of things started happening. Some of them felt aimless, some felt out of place, and one particular scene felt so out of character for one of the MCs. Moreover, I didn't feel like I knew the characters as people. Even though I knew their backgrounds and some thoughts, I still couldn't learn who they really were. The ending left me disappointed since all their trials didn’t have a sufficient payoff.

Thank NetGalley, publisher and author for providing me with ARC copy

This is like every one of my favorite books mixed together with a greek mythical mix to it... I do wish there was more background on characters and felt like I wanted more detail about certain parts of the book. Otherwise I did enjoy this! Thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for the ARC of this book!

If you love Zodiac Academy without the spice and Harry Potter then this book is for you.. I loved the way that the characters grow throughout the book and realise that together they're stronger.. doing what they must to save the kingdom from the Curse and finding themselves along the way.. the storyline and the trials were brilliant and I really enjoyed the flow throughout.. I can't wait to find out what comes next..

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

academy of villains by ever king is the first in the fantasy series which is inspired by greek mythology.

this story follows kiara, a nameless assassin with no magic, who has been tasked to infiltrate the magical academy to kill prince lucian whose family is linked to a curse that has plagued the lands that cost her her parents. she detests magic and mages for her loss and wants vengeance. however, in her efforts, she is forced into the mages sorting ceremony at the academy and discovers she is actually a mage herself and one of the most rare mages.

while she keeps her true identity to herself, she is still onto her plan of killing lucian. she learns more about the academy, secret societies, how to wield her magic and finds herself conflicted with not only her mission and her hatred for all things magic but how she feels with her own magic and most importantly, the prince himself.

this story amazed me from the get go. i honestly enjoy fantasy books set in dark, academic settings and throw in some greek mythology for extra layer of intrigue and… just wow. it’s fast paced with an amazing magic system and world building that feels so atmospheric. the trials at the end? on edge the entire time.

kiara is a badass and strong-willed FC despite her tragic backstory which only adds to the layers of her. her indecision mixed in with self discovery was written so well as she learns more about her own magic and how it influences her mission. lucian made me giggle many times with his sarcasm and broodiness. he is intrigued by kiara from the beginning and wants to know who she is and what her intentions are. (bonus points for being a shadowmage). their chemistry was insane as they both juggling their motives and feelings, conflicting at many times. his protectiveness and her learning to accept his help? their back and forth? the development? just chefs kiss. overall, i am obsessed and i need the next one tomorrow.

if you like harry potter, zodiac academy and throne of glass then this book should be on your TBR. !!!