Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Readers copy for an honest review.


Sigh.

This book has all the right ingredients. Enemies to lovers. Dark academia. Forbidden magic. Political intrigue and strife. All the major ideas to make this a banger. Unfortunately for me it fell completely flat.

Our main character Kiara believes herself to be a mundane and is a part of an elite group of assassins owned by the king. She is tasked to kill the prince while he is at a magic mage academy and somehow in the process gets sorted into a house at the school and is awakened. She is a rare and thought to be extinct starmage. I can't express enough how great this premise is. It's like a mix of Harry Potter meets Zodiac Academy.

Getting through this book was difficult, the pacing was hot and cold, there were parts that lingered that were fairly unimportant while the big moments were written very fast. There were moments I wanted more information of for more time to pass between plot points that could have really benefited from more detail and explanation. The relationship between the 'shadow daddy' and the FMC also fell quite flat for me. There was a very insta love 'my magic is drawn to her' direction in the romance and they quite literally know nothing about each other before the irrational pining starts. I want them to be true enemies and learn the grit about each other before that happens.

Overall it feels like I was watching this book from far above using a pair of binoculars. I couldn't get the full scope of world building. I wasn't able to see the full scope of character development. There were no moments where the view expanded from those tiny binocular lenses and allowed the mind to picture our characters in time or space. I felt as though there was a lot of telling and not showing.

I think that this book would be SO SO great with more rounds of edits and more well rounded character development. I want them to banter. I want them to learn each other's vulnerabilities and subtle intricacies before they head off on a quest together. I just want more.

I love a romantasy that incorporates Greek mythology! This book was very much under my radar but so so good! This grabbed my attention from the beginning, and I felt like it was an easy read to get through and had solid pacing.

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for the opportunity to review this book! This is my honest opinion.

Kiara, a hired assassin, infiltrates a magic academy and discovers that she has magic of her own. Using this to her advantage, she enrols in the academy while staying focused on her ultimate goal: to kill the Prince and break the curse.

The story is compelling, and the writing is easy to follow. The magic system is particularly well done - I loved the concept of summoning grimoires, with each one being unique to its master. However, the pacing of the book is uneven at times, feeling either rushed or overly detailed. For example, the trials felt too quick for my liking and could have been explored in more depth.

Kiara, our FMC, is strong-willed and determined in her mission, and Lucian, our MMC, is the broody, enigmatic prince who becomes fascinated by her. Their romance was lovely! While it doesn't quite follow the enemies-to-lovers trope due to their immediate attraction (especially from his part), there is still palpable tension between them. Was the romance predictable? Yes. But was I still swooning every time Lucian interacted with Kiara? Absolutely yes!

I also wish we had learned more about the side characters, especially the Raven Society. I’m hopeful they will get more attention and development in the next book!

Overall, this is a fun read, perfect for those wanting to dive into the romantasy genre with a dark academia setting.

ARC Review: Academy of Villains by Ever King

If you love dark academia, magical assassins, and a romance filled with tension, Academy of Villains is an absolute blast to read.
The story follows Kiara, a fierce assassin with a mission that leads her straight into a prestigious magical academy—and directly into the path of Lucian, a brooding Shadowmage prince.
Told in dual POV, the book dives into their intertwining fates while unraveling a mystery at the academy that keeps you hooked. Add in some lovable side characters, an intriguing magic system, and a romance inspired by Greek mythology, and you’ve got a recipe for a compelling fantasy read.

It has all the makings of a page-turner—enemies-to-lovers vibes, secret identities, found family elements, and a school setting full of hidden dangers. If that’s your thing, you’ll love this book!

For me, while the story was enjoyable and well-paced, I’ve read my fair share of "shadow daddy" MMCs, so the trope didn’t feel as fresh to me.
But if you’re still into that dynamic, you’ll probably love Academy of Villains a lot more than I did!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
Some books hook you from the first page and don’t let go—Academy of Villains by Ever King is one of them. This fast-paced, addictive read blends Greek mythology-inspired romance, morally grey characters, a fresh take on magic, and an intriguing fated mates connection that kept me turning the pages.



The story follows Kiara, a former assassin sent to infiltrate a magic academy with one deadly goal: kill the prince and end the royal bloodline. But when she discovers she has magic of her own, everything she thought she knew shifts. At the academy, nothing is as it seems, and the prince she’s supposed to kill? He’s about to have his entire world turned upside down by her presence.



What makes this book stand out is its Greek mythology influences woven into the romantic tension and the concept of fated mates, known as “heartstrings.” Once believed to be lost, this soul-deep connection resurfaces in an era of conflict, forcing Kiara and the prince to confront fate, power, and their own desires—reminiscent of the tragic and passionate love stories from ancient myths.



🔥 What I loved:

✔ Greek mythology vibes that add a unique layer to the romance.

✔ Enemies-to-lovers tension done right.

✔ A different kind of romantasy—no fae, but mages and powerful grimoires instead.

✔ A slow-burn romance with minimal spice, perfect for those who love the tension but prefer less explicit scenes.

✔ Surprising plot twists that I didn’t see coming!



❗ What I wanted more of:

➖ Character depth—I wanted to know more about everyone’s backstory, especially the side characters!

➖ MORE STORY—Just as we’re deep in the action, the book ends! That cliffhanger was painful, and now I need book two yesterday.



💜 Final Thoughts:

This book is a fantastic addition to the romantasy genre. If you love enemies-to-lovers, Greek mythology-inspired love stories, and a fresh fantasy world, this one is for you. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! Ever King, please tell me book two is coming soon!



Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was an interesting read! Although there were parts that felt rushed in the book. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the books and especially how he fell first. It didn’t quite feel fully villainous, by the time I got to the end I wasn’t fully affected by the cliffhanger.

Overall good read. I would give it a solid 3.5/5 stars. More than likely will read the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for the arc!

Sometimes books can benefit from being shorter. This book could definitely benefit from being longer. It may not have been entirely within the author’s control, but it surely impacted how well the story was developed.

I don’t think the relationship was fleshed out well. The FMC went from wanting to kill the MMC to break the curse, but after learning that they had a Heartstring and there was actually another way to break the curse that doesn’t involve killing him, I guess they just fell instantly madly in love with each other? In short, while we know a bit of why Lucian loves Kiara, we don’t know the other way around.

Although it was entertaining enough to keep the pages turning, the writing itself was quite choppy and monotonous - lacking rhythm and making it hard to stay immersed in the story. The plot points moved on too fast, and while the beginning was engaging at the Academy, the story unfortunately lost traction and my attention by the trials until the end.

An intriguing start to the series! Whilst there were elements of the world building that I thought could have been fleshed out a bit more, I was still fairly gripped with the story from the start and enjoyed the easy flow of the writing style. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book two

This was like Harry Potter but with Fae elemental magic, the concept was cool but the execution was not. Literally everything was like Harry Potter to the point where it didn’t feel original. There was a sorting stone instead of a hat, houses people got sorted into at dorms etc. and the two main characters have rare/extinct powers that attract each other…..I wonder what could happen? 🤨

A lot of it felt very predictable, but it was a quick and easy read. I don’t think I will continue the series.

This book whisked me away into a dark academia world infused with Greek mythology, and I was absolutely here for it. Imagine a magic academy teeming with secrets, where an assassin and a cursed prince find their fates intertwined - talk about a page-turner!

We meet Kiara, a fierce assassin on a mission to eliminate Prince Lucian. But, of course, there's a twist! She discovers latent magical abilities and gets entangled in the very world she was sent to disrupt. The enemies-to-lovers trope is strong here, and while their chemistry is palpable, some readers might feel their relationship develops a bit swiftly. Personally, I would've loved a tad more slow-burn tension (that's just a personal preference) but their dynamic still had me hooked.

The world-building is lush and immersive. The academy's eerie atmosphere, combined with secret societies and a unique magic system involving grimoires, adds depth to the narrative. However, I did find myself craving more exploration into the secondary characters and the intricacies of the Raven Society. Here's hoping future instalments delve deeper into these elements.

One standout aspect is the blend of Greek mythology with the dark academia setting. The nods to Nyx and Erebus add a rich layer to the story, making it feel fresh. The trials Kiara faces are reminiscent of classic myths, each designed to challenge and reveal deeper truths.

On the spice meter, I'd give it a bell pepper; there's definitely romantic tension and some romantic moments, but nothing too explicit. It's perfect for those who enjoy romance without the steam.

In summary, Academy of Villains is a captivating start to what promises to be an enthralling series. If you're into morally grey characters, magical academies, and mythological retellings, this one's for you. I'd rate it a solid 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more!

Academy of Villains is a dark academia fantasy romance that weaves Greek mythology into a magical school setting. The story follows Kiara, a former assassin with a hidden magical gift, who infiltrates a dangerous academy with one mission to kill Prince Lucian, a cursed royal entangled in the kingdom’s darkest secrets. With an eerie atmosphere, secret societies, and an intriguing magic system, the book delivers a suspenseful and immersive reading experience.

The romance between Kiara and Lucian is intense, balancing enemies-to-lovers tension with emotional depth, though their connection feels a bit rushed, especially in the second half. The pacing slows at times due to heavy exposition, and while secondary characters like those in the Raven Society could have been explored more, there’s hope for deeper development in future books. Overall, this is a strong start to what promises to be an exciting series, perfect for fans of dark academia, morally complex characters, and high-stakes romance.

Ever King's Academy of Villains is a thrilling dive into a world where the lines between good and evil blur. The novel's intricate plot and well-developed characters keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning morality and destiny. King's vivid world-building and unexpected twists make for an unforgettable reading experience. This book is a standout in the fantasy genre, offering a fresh perspective on the classic hero-villain dynamic.

Arc review

I haven’t read a book with this concept before and I really loved reading it. It reminded me of divergent and the hunger games and I loved that nostalgia and it made me rnjoy this book even more

I really loved kiara and I love her as a main female character. She is so confident and knows what she wants and she is soo head strong and I loved that.

But highly recommend this book

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for the ARC.

When I saw this novel on NetGalley I couldn’t wait to request it, I adore mythology books (especially one’s that aren’t just a basic retelling) and I will take an academy enemy to lovers book any day of the week. I wasn’t disappointed, the story is an amazing twist on the Nyx and Erebus tale. Ever King created a different magic system that you wouldn’t expect with Greek mythology but it works. They wove in so many little Easter eggs into the story like that kingdom name being based on Odysseus’ home of Ithaca etc. which were so fun to see if you are a mythology nerd like myself. I wish that I could have given this book 4.5 stars because I think it is worth more than 4 stars but it doesn’t quite reach the 5 star level for me. This is because I found some of the writing to be a bit confusing so I had to read a couple sections an extra time to make sure I caught what was happening. This seems to be set up as a series of interconnected stand alone novels, so while there is a cliff hanger for the over reaching story there is a nice resolution for the couple. I can’t wait for book two, I have guesses on which character is which but I will keep those to myself for now.

What the heck did I just stumble onto?? My next favorite series....yes, that's what I just did! Honestly the reader gets pulled into a vibrant, wonderfully fun and equally evil little world. I absolutely loved it from the first line.

Greek mythology meets Magic Academy meets mafia....and you have the book that has a stunning green cover and a story between the bookends that will make you invested in the series.

This does have romance but not smut. It seems to be appropriate for high school age readers as it reads as a younger YA book. I think fans of Harry Potter.

I appreciate that it does not end on a major cliff hanger but rather leads into the next book - more of a enticement to keep reading for the "rest of the story".

Over all this is a fun read.

The book was really nice even though I would have loved if the story was stretched in multiple books to develop more of the characters personalities and all the things that happen!
All in all good job for a first book, the ideas and thropes were all there, the universe was beautiful and the writing really good! Keep going! ❤️

The cover immediately caught my eye and the quote also intrigued me. It is a cool concept of a story but I feel like it still needs some developing. I liked the atmosphere the story created. It is labelled as "enemies to lovers" but the main characters had an instant attraction towards each other ... The grimoire magic aspect was a new fantasy element to me so I enjoyed that part. Sadly, at the end, I was not really dying to find out how things would be solved. But thank you so much for this ARC!

Hmmm an interesting book. I think it was good....I was disappointed there was no smut, but I think that says much more about me than the author!

A great premise, loved the dark academia world building. The character development was good.

The dialogue was a bit stale, but I was still able to follow along.
The out of academy world was a bit too fast, the character connections happened out of no where and I feel it lost me a little there.

Genuinely a beautiful book, and I can't wait to read the next. But this isn't a fast paced, smutty, modern tale. This is a deeper, slower, tale.

Characters: 2⭐
Plot: 2⭐
Writing Style: 2⭐
Enjoyment: 2.5⭐
Overall rating: 2⭐

What to expect? This book was advertised to me as "Slytherin vibes"

Things I loved?
🔸 I loved the premise. And sometimes I enjoyed the characters. There were a few good lines through the book.
🔸 I do love enemies to lovers too.

What could be improved?
🔸 This author really struggled with show not tell. I struggled to read this sort of writing. That's why this book, for me, was a little gruelling to read.
🔸 This book felt too much like tons of other things I've read and seen. Like at the start they were sorted into four houses and then there was chamber of secrets type thing. And this was just the beginning.
🔸 The characters felt cliche.
🔸 I wish so badly this had gotten a better editor. An honest editor with the authors best intentions in mind.

Books recs if you liked this one?
🔸 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This is a book I'll never stop recommending. There's less romance and it's less full fantasy. But it's set at a school with magical elements and it gets dark. There's mystery and intrigue. And this is one of my favorite books.

Would I recommend this book? No, sorry. I really wanted to like this read. But it just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an honest review.

Loved the dark academia shadow daddy vibe. This book had me hooked in a dark wonderland of magic. I definitely got harry potter ish vibes and enjoyed the instant hook this book gave me.