this had all the pieces for me to LOVE but unfortunately just didn’t keep my attention. I have it a second chance and was still uninterested, hopefully this finds its audience!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review

Unfortunately, I had a very hard time getting into this book and keeping my attention in it. I'm sure it'll find its audience--it just isn't me. I finally DNF'd about 50 pages in...

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, though.

This book starts off with an intriguing premise: a young woman joins a prestigious Dublin law firm as an apprentice, secretly hoping to uncover the mystery behind her cousin’s disappearance—who also worked at the same firm. Add in some secret societies, cryptic trials, wax-sealed magic, and a suspiciously charming Swan Man… and you’ve got the setup for something delightfully strange.

The early parts of the story had a compelling, almost dark academia vibe—law firm politics, hidden clues, a found-family friendship group—but somewhere along the way, things got a little too wild to follow. The plot began to spiral into a mix of magical realism, legal fantasy, and elaborate secret rituals involving masked figures, sacred stones, and soul-draining “deeds” signed with wax seals.

While the ideas were ambitious and entertaining at times, the tone felt inconsistent. The characters are in their early twenties but often read much younger, and the frequent use of legal jargon made certain sections hard to follow unless you’re familiar with that world. I found myself confused about the intended genre and target audience.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 55%—not because I didn’t appreciate the imagination behind it, but because I genuinely couldn’t figure out where it was going or what the central focus was meant to be. That said, readers who enjoy eccentric magical secret societies, dramatic group dynamics, and offbeat law firm mysteries might still enjoy the ride..

Dark academia tale with an attempt of romance with a meet cute moment. The book felt quite linear to me without much development.

The Lost Apprentice has an interesting premise and I was absolutely hooked by the pitch of "dark academia does a graduate recruitment scheme", combined with a setting in modern Ireland and incorporation of the Irish language. Unfortunately, the book is full of overwrought, almost entirely purple prose, uneven pacing, and lack of sufficient character/plot development.

I was not enthused by this book. It was marketed as dark academia and yet… that was not the vibe I was getting. The “meet cute” at the beginning was boring. Also that the FMC keeps calling him “swan man” for the rest of the book along with his name made me cringe so hard. Writing was bland, repetitive and all over the place. 1/5 ⭐️ Did not enjoy.

This book at times reminded me of the dynamic between the scooby doo gang, and as someone who will forever love that tv show, i loved this book. At first you think it was going to be a mystery surrounding the legal sector, well aren’t you in for a shock. From the cultism and secret societies seen throughout the book? I was hooked to say the least.

A fast paced read with the perfect amount of twists and turns mixed with the short and snappy chapters, which made the book impossible to put down.

I do recommend this book if you are into this type of mystery with the side and twists of cultist aspects and magic.

I always love it when authors come up with unique magic systems. Tara O’Toole based her magic on dark deeds which ties in perfectly with the setting of law firms, apprenticeships and the mysterious SoS society.

I wish the mystery of cousins disappearance was more fleshed out. The only reason Fiadh chose to apprentice in this law firm was to get close to people and find out about her cousin, but it often felt like her mission took a backseat. We only came across a few clues guiding us in the right direction during the better part of the book, and then everything happened in the last quarter.
The pacing really picked up then and key moments of the story weren’t given appropriate attention.
Fiadh finds her cousin, who is under a spell, but this is resolved right away. She is going to be kicked out of SoS society, but again it was fixed immediately.
I would have liked to see the final parts of the book having more time to develop and play out, see longer and more complex solutions to problems (especially with the dark deed affecting the cousin).

Even though I had some problems with the pacing of the book and the way some things were resolved, I still really enjoyed reading this book. I finished it really quickly and the atmosphere really drew me in from the start.

The Lost Apprentice is a perfect mix of dark academia, thrill, and magic, set in Ireland. The story follows Fiadh, a law apprentice, as she attempts to solve her cousin's disappearance case and win a place in a secret society. O'Toole's characters are rich and complex, each one flawed but interesting. A book full of tension and comedy, The Lost Apprentice is a quick read that is hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for the eARC!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was ok. It had some interesting ideas, but everything happened so quickly and it felt a little preachy with all of the stuff about a work life balance. If you want a shorter read with a more modern take on magic this is an ok book.

Thank you Netgalley and Tara O'Toole for access to this Arc!

I loved the story being set in Ireland, hadn't expected the way the story would go but overall a good read!

I read this book in a day and stayed up until 1am to finish this book, I could not put it down 😭 It had me hooked right from the start and the pacing was perfect, I just had to know what happened next. Love how the author somehow made a really complex plot so easy to read!

unfortunately i didn’t finish this; there were quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes and this ultimately became too distracting for me. but the content was very entertaining if not a little boring; the setting was super fun, but everything was part of the ‘tell’ camp rather than the show. just a little slow for me!

This book follows Fiadh as she tries to uncover the truth behind her cousin Muriel’s mysterious disappearance six months ago. To investigate, she joins the same internship Muriel had, only to find herself entangled in the darker world of the Society of Solicitors (SoS). Now, she must balance her internship, the secrets of the SoS, and the search for Muriel.

✔ Fast-paced and engaging mystery – The premise is intriguing, and despite some flaws, the story keeps you turning pages. The short, bingeable chapters make it an easy read.
✔ Secret societies & cult dynamics – The SoS adds an eerie, shadowy layer that keeps things interesting.
✔ Irish influences – The use of phraseologies and Irish Gaelic gives the book a distinct atmosphere.
✔ A surprising touch of magic – Unexpected but oddly fitting, the magical elements complement the legal thriller aspects in a unique way.

Where It Fell Short:

❌ Uneven pacing & lack of buildup – The story starts strong, but the mystery surrounding Muriel’s disappearance lacks clues and development. After a long stretch with little progress, major revelations are suddenly crammed into the last 15% of the book, making the ending feel rushed and chaotic.
❌ Weak Dark Academia elements – While set in an academic environment, the internship and class aspects feel underdeveloped. The setting ends up feeling secondary rather than integral.
❌ Inconsistencies & logic gaps – Some timeline inconsistencies and dramatic leaps in logic weaken the narrative. Characters sometimes jump to conclusions without sufficient reasoning.
❌ Underdeveloped characters – Some characters feel one-dimensional, and Fiadh’s expectations about friendships and loyalty can feel questionable. Additionally, the overuse of the nickname “Swan Man” instead of using Keefe’s actual name feels unnecessary.

Final Thoughts:

“The Lost Apprentice” has a strong concept and an engaging setup, but its execution could have used more polishing. A more structured buildup to the climax, stronger character development, and a better integration of the academic setting would have made this a standout read. As it is, it’s a decent, fast-paced mystery with potential, but it doesn’t quite reach its full promise.

⭐ 3/5 – An entertaining but flawed read.

Thank you NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for the ARC!

While I enjoyed the dark academia setting and mystery, I found that the plot could have been more cohesive. That said, I did enjoy the complex characters!

I'm torn about this book. I liked the magic system and the dark academia setting, but it just didn't spark or keep my interest.

The Lost Apprentice is the kind of book that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s got that perfect mix of dark academia, mystery, and magic, all set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Ireland.

Fiadh isn’t just another ambitious apprentice—she has a mission. Her cousin vanished after joining this elite (and ruthless) legal program, and she’s determined to find out why. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that the truth isn’t just buried—it’s protected by something far more powerful than law. The magic system is fresh and brilliantly woven into the mystery, making every revelation even more intense.

And the characters? Messy, flawed, and completely compelling. Fiadh’s circle is full of tension, shifting dynamics, and relationships that make it impossible to tell who’s friend or foe. The Irish setting only adds to the book’s immersive, almost eerie tone, and I loved that Tara O’Toole included a pronunciation guide (lifesaver!). The bits of Irish language scattered throughout made the world feel even more vivid and left me wanting to learn more.

I couldn’t put this one down. The pacing is razor-sharp, the twists are relentless, and just when I thought I had it figured out—bam, another curveball. It’s been a while since a mystery kept me this hooked.

If you love fast-paced, twisty stories with magic, tension, and just the right touch of romance, The Lost Apprentice needs to be on your list.

I loved this so much! The build up to the secret society was perfect. I loved each character, the secrets and mystery that surrounded everything and I really enjoyed the atmosphere to this book!

such a great read!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What caught my eye was the cover. I think it reflects the themes/vibes present in the story. The concept is there. You can see it as you read. There is mystery that (initially) engages curiosity. Though this story wasn’t what I thought it would be, the potential is there. I’m rooting for author and can appreciate the time they put into this work.

I think this has a really interesting premise, I love mysteries but ultimately this failed to keep me interested. The mystery aspect of the book felt like an afterthought, instead the secret society takes main stage. I think the author could have found a better balance between the two to make the story more cohesive. There was also a lot of focus on the legal profession which is not something I’m not well versed in. I skimmed through some of those parts because I don’t feel like they contributed to the overall story.