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.

Lennon is a woman whose life is thrown upside down when she answers a mysterious call and finds herself at Drayton studying the art of persuasion. Life doesn’t get any easier as she falls further down the rabbit hole of her teachings at the mysterious college.

This dark academia book had a grip on me and I was up to 2am finishing it.
Although this book is set in recent years (it even references the Canadian wildfires that cast NYC In smoke) it is hauntingly eerie and atmospheric in places. The opening alone is dark and creepy.

This is a multi layered story of manipulation and betrayal where people are constantly battling for power, not only amongst students but the faculty itself. I found myself unable to tear myself away from the pages for too long because I needed to know what was happening next.

I liked the lead character of Lennon and her character development is great. Her willingness to blindly follow instructions without question for a good half of the book (hey let’s drive 8 hours to this place I’ve never heard of on my own because a phone call told me to) did annoy me slightly but took nothing away from story.
The book has some great characters but I did find the teachers to be the more interesting ones with more depth than the students.

This is the first book from this author I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing style. The stories pacing flowed beautifully and descriptions were on point. Since finishing I’ve added her previous books to my wish list for next pay day

Thankyou to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for sending me the ARC ebook for review

I took a risk requesting An Academy For Liars, my love for Alexis Henderson overrode my wariness of dark academia- for me the 'dark' is never quite dark enough in these titles.

At the 20% mark nothing much had really happened aside from Lennon's bizarre induction to the school and a few vague character intros. In fact it wasnt until the 45% mark that the plot took off with a bang!

The biggest postive for An Academy Of Liars is it's unique focus, the power of persuasion- not only over people but reality itself. Although a secret school hidden by magic isn't exactly original and the world impact of such a power existing is only vaguely alluded to, the story is contained entirely to the school and a handful of students.

The pacing picks up throughout the second half with a few twists and some decent bloody scenes but overall I was looking for more menace, more reasons to care about the characters.

An Academy Of Liars follows well trodden tropes with a morally grey love interest and a 'chosen one' arc. I'm sure fans of the genre will be pleased, I'd prefer more of Henderson's debut style, The Year Of The Witching remains number one for me.

I enjoyed this. I found the plotting a bit inconsistent at times but overall liked the story and found myself really looking forward to going back to read it

Your next dark academia obsession.
I haven’t felt this way since reading Vitra Nostra, The Magicians, or Middlegame! This also reminded me of the moral complexity and interpersonal entanglements of the Atlas Six!

After discovering her fiancée’s infidelity, Lennon receives a strange phone call inviting her to be interview at Drayton College.
From there, Lennon learns she is one of the rare individuals who possess the heightened ability to persuade the natural world into complying with their will. Gifted individuals who can force their will on both individuals and matter itself.

Enrolled in the College, Lennon learns how to focus her ability, as well as discovering the depths of her own psyche.

Lennon doesn’t want to be a hero or a villain. she just wants to be better. However, she must grapple with who deserves to hold power, how we decide to use it, and whether good v evil is an innate choice. Is persuasion an act of force?
Can she trust herself with this power?

"I just want to matter. But everyone who matters hurts people. It's like you said.. all of us tramping on the bodies of others to get to a place where we don't actively hate ourselves."

This is also a tale of toxicity. Lennon is drawn to older, unavailable men. Escaping her fiancée at the start, we quickly learn she places she self-worth on who she can attach herself to.
This leads to a complicated relationship with her advisor, Dr Dante Lowe, one of the most powerful to come out of Drayford. She is caught between two opposing instincts of attraction and fear.

This is dark, powerful, and charged.
Check trigger warnings for depression, suicide, panic attacks.

Thank you to Random House books for providing me to the physical arc in exchange for a review!

3,75 ★
I will say that this was quite a unique read and one that I'm having a hard time putting into words for this review. I’m very conflicted by this book. First, I loved the dark academia vibes and setting. Drayton College trains those who can bend the mind of others and reality itself through one powerful tool ; persuasion. I loved that magic specificity, if you can call it that. Though, it was also confusing at times.
I was surprised by the plot. While I did see some of the twists coming, others completely caught me off guard.
I loved Lennon and wanted to protect her from any harm, sadly, she was running towards it willingly. I also loved the side characters, especially Blaine. Also, shout out to Gregory the rat. He deserves some recognition!
Now to the things that troubled me! Character-wise I loved Dante too but some part of his background felt wrong (by that, I mean his past relationship which I found really fucked up - check out the trigger warnings, always!). It has the student/professor trope which I’m not a fan of (hate it even). The age gap (for the main duo at least) is appropriate in the sense that she is mid twenty and he’s early thirty and it is consensual but still, not my cup of tea. That’s totally on me tho, I should have done my research (sometimes I don’t want to know too much of a book before getting into it and well, that’s when it happens). Basically, I loved the characters as individuals, their complexity, how they fit in all of this but I wasn’t much into the romance aspect of this book and I did even found it sad that Lennon didn’t felt like she deserved better than this in the end. Even tho I love dark academia, I often struggle with some of the characters/relationships portrayed and that one wasn’t an execution sadly.
Overall, I enjoyed reading An Academy for Liars for its magic system and universe. Alexis Henderson’s writing was very good!

NetGalley review:

A dark, twisted, shocking, horrifying, gripping, story that will surprise you at every turn and get you thinking about who you can really trust and how much you can trust in yourself.

It gave me stranger things vibes along with goosebumps also.

I loved this book! It's an amazing mix of dark academia and fantasy all wrapped up in an intriguing story.
A perfect read for autumn, curled up in a blanket with a candle and a cup of tea.

Oh, how excited I was to receive this ARC… unfortunately, An Academy for Liars just wasn’t for me. I loved the concepts behind the story, but that’s where my enjoyment ended. All of the characters felt flat and one-dimensional, the mysteries weren’t exactly mysterious, and plot itself crawled along at a snail’s pace.

I also really hated how Lennon tried so hard to reestablish her identity separate from her romantic partner just to end up being defined by a new man. Including a student/teacher trope didn’t help either (if this was marketed, I totally missed it, because I wouldn’t have requested the ARC had I known it was a key factor in the book’s romance plot).

Overall, I was left bored and disappointed. But hey, at least I was able to cancel my preorder!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.