2 stars

With a fantastic setting as this one (a magical/spooky school) I was expecting something equally interesting but unfortunately what I got was a messy plot with not that surprising plot twist (they were telegraphed from the start) and what's worst, characters that were flat and one dimensional.
Personally, I didn't like Lennon. She's supposed to be in her mid-twenties, but she's so childish at times that it was frustrating. Also, the romance and the chemistry between Dante were nowhere to be seen.
The rest of the characters, I didn't care about them, to be honest.
The book I feel was both fast-paced but slow burn, and that didn't help it either.
It makes me so sad this didn't work for me because I was really excited about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really unfortunate case where I had been greatly anticipating this novel as soon as I found out about it (an adult magical school book? please and thank you!) but it ended up falling so short of my expectations.

For me, the main issue was characterisation. There were multiple instances of a characters main goals and motivations shifting almost immediately just to create conflict and push the plot along. They basically got the Daenerys treatment, as I genuinely believe that said characters would have ultimately acted the way they did if given a longer time for resentment to stew however it currently reads as a complete 180 in their personality.

The further I got into the story, the more I couldn't help but wish this were allowed either a larger word count to fully flesh the characters and the world out, or (and in my opinion this would have been the best course of action) that this had instead been the first book in a duology.

This had so much potential for greatness, but it unfortunately missed the mark for me.

3.5 stars

The premise of this book is so good, but taking one star away for the bad start and shaky pacing, and half a star for how little I connected with Lennon, the main character.

Overall, I felt I needed to know how it ended, but I would have liked to see the story and characters fleshed out more, even if that meant a duology.

A young woman joins a mysterious university where students learn to bend people to their will. Certainly a unique and interesting premise, written with a dreamlike quality, but this feels like a first draft rather than a final manuscript. It lacks an understanding of itself - is it a campus novel, a fantasy for Harry Potter fans still waiting to receive their letter into their twenties, a musing on the possibilities and ethics of control? There's too much exposition, a bland writing style, lots of underdeveloped and generally unlikeable characters, a strange amount of sex. With a bit of honing it could be great but as it is, not one for me.

3.5*

Sadly this started out really strong, 5* potential, but slowly descended as it became more messy and hard to follow.

The idea of Drayton and the darkness of it started out as intriguing and gripping. However I found as the book went on that I didn’t really care for any of the characters. The relationships between them felt 2D, and there was no real tension or draw between the love interests, I felt.

I read an ARC of this so I understand there may be some mistakes - but in the final 25% of the book there were no less than 8 huge grammatical errors. The wrong name used for a character and the wrong your/you’re to name a few. There was also use of commas in places where there should’ve been the word “and”, and the amount of times a characters legs went “soft” beneath them was countless.

The premise is REALLY strong here. I love the setting, I love the rage and sorrow and description of Lennon’s psyche before Drayton and during the first couple of semesters. The fact this setting and some of the prose is so strong is what has made me give 3.5*.

Now, for some not so great stuff.

Spoilers ahead:

I truly do not understand how any of the “plot twists” or betrayals make sense in this book.

Right at the start of the induction they are told that William had to give his life in order for the Drayton gates to stay open. So why is Lennon surprised when it is revealed that her as a replacement would also be expected to make this sacrifice? They’re literally told this information! I’ll cede that they didn’t know he was currently alive and suffering to do so, but she’s training up to be the “replacement gatekeeper” already having been told that William gave his life… this is a huge plot hole imo as I wasn’t surprised at all by any of the reveals in the climax of the book because of this.

Any betrayals also felt lacklustre. I just didn’t feel any connection between these characters, whether it was Blaine or Dante or any of the other side characters that felt kind of useless and second-thought.

We have zero answers for why Lennon kept seeing Dante as a child, or what the significance of the moths are (other than there being a moth in the prison cell at the end..?). What was the first gate she opened where Dante as a child was in logos house? was it to the past? Or a different dimension? Why did it even matter, and why were the faculty afraid of her and Dante said to not mention it?? I can only think he was trying to spare her of her fate by not letting her say this, but again, it makes no sense that Eileen would expel her for that? Lennon even brings this up to Dante and he just says they are afraid and the quakes hadn’t happened yet, but for me this is a very flimsy excuse and just doesn’t make sense.

We also had this big reveal for Dante being some kind of psycho supposedly but Lennon does…nothing with this information. It’s not even brought up again. But also, I’m frustrated and confused at the fact she was so horrified and felt betrayed that he had this horrible past - literally everyone in the book has done horrible things along the same vein (she had just killed Ian, Blaine basically killing her ex husband, then her again killing Benedict). It felt like this was meant to be some big shocking reveal but it really fell flat.

A lot of the scenes felt rushed as the book went on. The first half was so so strong, but the plot started to fall apart and the setting wasn’t strong enough to make up for it. I didn’t feel the stakes and I didn’t feel afraid of any of the “bad guys”, or afraid FOR any of the good guys.

Overall it’s a good setting but the plot really falls apart after the halfway mark.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Talented individuals find themselves called to the mysterious Drayton College, a moss-covered campus, to study the art of persuasion, aka, mind control. Our main character, Lennon, is one such individual and here we follow her on a journey of obsession, power, secrets, and lies. This was a really unique work of dark academia which cleverly interweaves fantasy and horror. The setting was perfection, the pacing was good, and the end had me screaming!

🖤 Check this out if you enjoy the following 🖤
- an academic setting
- morally grey characters
- forbidden romance
- unique world building and magical systems
- fantasy meets horror

Pub date: 24th October 2024

I’ll definitely be reading whatever Henderson writes next! Thank you @netgalley!

This is Alexis Henderson's finest work so far and I say this as a fan. Dare I say it is *the* dark academia release of fall 2024.

Henderson managed to create the perfect blend of everyone's favourite dark academia tropes and creating a world that truly felt new and innovative. I loved watching our protagonist Lennon fall in love with and then become disillusioned with Drayton College.

The writing kept me on my toes the whole time, I never wanted to put the book down. Lennon was a compelling protagonist from the start and, as an additional bonus, the romance made me swoon! Plus, if you know me you know I love a rat side-plot.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh take on dark academia that is perfect for spooky season.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year so it's with a very heavy heart that I have to give it a low review. Don't take this as it being a bad book however! I think it was more of the hype and my personal taste that made this a miss for me. I couldn't get behind the plot and I never really became attached to any of the characters. I've read Alexis Henderson's other books and really enjoyed them but this one felt so slow! Even when things were happening I just couldn't get invested. At some point I realised I was just reading it to get it finished.

I would definitely recommend this book to those that like lighter horror or school settings. For me it just wasn't to my tastes. I'm excited to see what she releases next though!

I loved reading this book. Dark academia isn’t a genre that I pick up often. Despite starting slowly and being not very engaging in the first few chapters (prior to Drayton), I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m glad that I pushed through those initial chapters because the story kept getting better throughout. I could barely put it down. There was so much intrigue and mystery, betrayal, lies by omission, friendship and growth that I felt almost as though I was there with the characters watching the events unfold. The ending was beautiful and left so many questions that I’m desperate to hear more!
⭐️I received an ARC of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily⭐️

The start of An Academy For Lairs starts off promising. It has the dark, gothic aspects that’s expected from a dark academia novel. The mystery of Drayton College and Lennon’s chance to interview will have you intrigued, hanging onto the mystery, but this excitement is short-lived. Rather than the excitement of figuring out the mysteries of Drayton College, as you progress through the book, you will be left feeling as if there was no clear plot structure. It’s a shame, as Alexis Henderson isn’t a bad writer; they just seemed to lack focus and direction with An Academy For Lairs.
As the main character, Lennon’s life is a bit of a mess prior to arriving at Drayton. Plagued with her own mental health issues and her struggling within this new world, there isn’t much else to this female lead. Lennon is suddenly the key to the survival of the school, with no real information about how she progressed throughout the book. Lennon often prioritises her crush and desire for her forbidden teacher romance with her advisor Dante, but that is the only relationship she puts any real time in. Dante is the mystery man of the book, and when he is first introduced, he is intriguing and one of the bigger draws of the novel, but Lennon’s fascination and the unnecessary, excessive plots that appear to be thrown in at the at the last minute have no real impact on the plot.
The romantic relationship between Lennon and Dante does a lot to hinder the book’s enjoyment. Rather than delving into the dark academia plots, Henderson makes the forbidden student-teacher relationship the focus and dynamic of the plots (and there are many) that does nothing to engage the reader. There is no chemistry between the characters; instead, Lennon often comes across like a teenage girl experiencing her first crush, while Dante spends most of the novel either avoiding her or keeping Lennon at arm’s length. When things come to a quick and sudden head and the two spend the night together, there is nothing that draws you into their romance, and yet after they are together, that's how Lennon draws her strength.
The lack of chemistry, or any sort of dynamic, between Lennon and any other character could be put down to the fact that Henderson is fond of time skips and incredibly short chapters. Getting to chapter 50, you would feel as if there had been some direction with the storytelling, but whenever something intriguing happens, Henderson ends the short chapter (some are even four pages long) and begins the next with a time skip. Having this repeatedly happen had me second-guessing if I had missed essential parts of the story, but no, these are just explained within the time skip. This stops the reader from fully indulging into the mysterious world of Drayton College and the complex moral questions that should have been the focus of the novel, not the romantic dynamics of a student and her teacher.
An Academy for Lairs lacks a clear plot structure, similar to Lennon’s own characterisation. The novel's focus on the forbidden student-teacher relationship with advisor Dante and the lack of chemistry between Lennon and other characters hinders the reader's enjoyment. The novel's excessive plots and time skips, along with the romantic dynamics between Lennon and her teacher, impede the reader's immersion into the mysterious world of Drayton College.

I’ve seen this book in so many highly anticipated lists and now I get why.

The dark academia vibes are just chef's kiss.

I will be getting a physical copy when it comes out!

Lennon has her life completely screwed over. Her fiance is a dick, she has no prospect for a future, nothing to hold on to. And then she receives a strange call, letting her know she has a shot to get into Drayton (a place she has never heard of), she just needs to be in for her interview the very next day.

Drayton is definitely something. Lennon discovers she has a power she didn’t know about, and is here, along with her classmates, to learn how to foster and control it. But there’s a dark side to said power, a side that scares Lennon. And soon she’ll learn there’s a dark side to Drayton.

An Academy For Liars comes out on the 17th!

Thank you @netgally and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.


Review will be posted on instagram and amazon on a later date.

This dark academia novel was truly dark! Despite often feeling frustrated, annoyed, and disappointed by the characters and the twists and turns, the story was so compelling that I couldn't stop reading.

This was my first book by Alexis Henderson, though I realised I already had her earlier works on my TBR! In a nutshell, the premise follows Lennon, a 24-year-old woman who's hit rock bottom, as she's mysteriously invited to interview at a school she’s never heard of. What she finds is a creepy academy where everyone has had a tough life but possesses unique talents, learning to manipulate and control others through sheer willpower.

The story is filled with an unsettling atmosphere, strange classmates, and disturbing professors. Events spiral into a rollercoaster of twists that were sometimes hard to keep track of, yet somehow it all worked together in a compelling way. Perhaps I haven’t read enough of the dark academia subgenre to know exactly what to expect, but the stakes in this book were sky-high, and it got disturbing very quickly.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it, but I found myself reading into the early hours of the night! This book is perfect for Autumn, and a great pick for readers who enjoy unsettling stories in academic settings.

4/5 ⭐

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the idea and concept of this book! But.... it felt very fast paced, especially at the beginning and it got quite confusing as to the why's and how's of what was going on.
This first half of the book, nothing really happens, then around 45%, it all starts happening.
The execution of the idea wasn't done very well, a few plot holes and parts that didn't make sense.
I'm glad I stayed with the book till the end, it was a lovely ending!

I was disappointed that I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped!

Alexis Henderson's writing just PULLS me right in every time and I genuinely feel like I'm transported into her worlds!!

If you pick this up you'll be transported into a world with a secret society that holds the power of persuasion... (imagine if our world leaders had the power to make you do anything they wanted... yep)

You'll also be introduced to a main character - Lennon - that has great progression throughout the story. She doesn't start off over-powered and also doesn't have any idea of this secret society so you get to learn it alongside her, even though what she's (we're) told might not be the entire truth...

I just cannot put into words how well Alexis Henderson creates such a dark atmosphere that's full of dread, mystery, and so captivating.

If you pick this up, here's what you're in for:
-Dark Academia
-Betrayal
-Morally grey characters
-School setting
-A rat revolution
-Secret society
-Hint of forbidden romance
-Mystery

I just had such a great time with this and Gregory will not be forgotten!!

-Sarah

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Dark, Lush, and Mesmerizing*

"An Academy for Liars" is a gripping blend of dark academia and supernatural intrigue that pulls you into a world where power and persuasion are everything. Alexis Henderson crafts an atmospheric, gothic tale that feels both fresh and familiar, with all the eerie charm of a magical college hidden in Savannah.

Lennon Carter, the protagonist, is flawed but relatable, and watching her navigate the eerie halls of Drayton College while grappling with the weight of her abilities was completely engrossing. The pacing starts slow, building a rich and moody environment, but picks up dramatically in the second half with twists, secrets, and some intense moments of blood and betrayal.

I loved the unique focus on the power of persuasion as magic—it added a psychological depth to the story. The morally grey love interest and "chosen one" arc may tread familiar ground, but Henderson's writing style, lush descriptions, and haunting atmosphere kept me hooked.

Though it took a while to get going, once the plot kicked in, it was hard to put down. Fans of dark academia and those who enjoy complex, morally ambiguous characters will really enjoy this. Definitely a must-read if you’re into gothic fantasy!

(Note: Be prepared for some intense violence and dark themes.)

I'd say this is more of a 3.5 rating.
Dark academia is usually hit or miss for me, and I'm still trying to decide with An Academy for Liars. I found the novel started off quite slow and picked up more towards the end, but I feel like it would've felt a little tighter if it was at least 50 pages shorter.

I loved the idea of persuasion, and Lennon was a good morally grey character, if slightly undeveloped. I found myself flying through the last chapters and enjoyed the developments at the end.

A Dark Academia Must Read

This book is a lot to take in.
Trigger warning for physical and psychological violence and abuse!
BUT it is also a truly fascinating read, engrossing and addictive as the power the main character Lennon wields.
If you are looking for a campus-based further education magical realism dark academia feast, this is it.

Down-trodden and riddled with anxiety, Lennon receives an acceptance call to study at Drayton College.
The catch? She didn't apply.
But as she discovers the very real power of her mind, she also realises that the school and its faculty have more layers and secrets than anyone has a right to.

The magic, if you want to call it such, is based on psychological strength, which reminded me a little of Patrick Rothfuss' Alar system in the Kingkiller Chronicles. But worry not, that is where the similarities end.

Lennon, the protagonist, is very much flawed but I found her relatable and her flaws very reasonable.

The plot is a little slow at the start but so intricately woven that you won't notice how well all of the seemingly random things play into the complex climax.
I would have wished for maybe a little more time for said climax, as it was very dense, but that makes the book even less put-downable.

Grab a hot drink of your choice, let the rain batter the windows and get sucked into this brutal, intriguing world of power and possibilities!

I was so hyped for this one, and so disappointed by it.

The vibes were off, the atmosphere didn't really gel with the writing style, and the atmosphere was something I loved in Henderson's previous books. It felt almost blunt, simplistic in a way, and just didn't really give off the dark academia, creepy vibes I think the author was going for,

I also felt the characters were extremely one dimensional, even Lennon never really felt developed, and I'm a reader who struggles with stories where the characters aren't developed enough. In fact, now that I think about it, the book in general was under developed, the magic system, the characters, the plot. It all felt a bit lumpy and disjointed and I ended up DNF'ing at around 50%

Well written and imaginative. I found the storyline original and creative, the pacing was a little slow at times buy overall a good book.

»An Academy for Liars« was my first book by Alexis Henderson and even though I didn't end up loving it, I'll definitely pick up her other books because I really liked her writing.
At the beginning I was really intrigued by the story and our main character Lennon. The whole vibe is very unsettling and weird which was exactly what I wanted from this book. However, I wish we would have learned a bit more about the world/school Lennon is going to because the fantasy aspects have such an interesting concept but there's little to no explanation. You just have to kinda roll with it which isn't my favorite kind of story.
I also think the characters stay pretty one dimensional or it was more like I couldn't really grasp who they are and especially the relationships - friendships as well as romantic entanglements - stayed pretty flat. This was one of these books that's telling you a lot when I would have liked to be shown a few things.

But as I said, I really liked the writing style and the vibes. I'd think this would be a great book for people who enjoyed Olivie Blake's »The Atlas Six« because there are certain similar elements, namely the school aspect and who weird it is and how little it explains the world to you.