I liked the idea of researching Scottish/ English/ Viking history. It gave me outlander vibes. A group of friends at school form a "clan" together to test and discover drugs that they believe the vikings took to be "mad" and have incredible strength on the battlefield. No one was suppose to get hurt but 2 nights go terribly wrong suddenly. The consequences are dire. I was hoping for more history, and romance. Certain parts were a bit confusing and not completely cohesive. A little more mystery would have been nice as well.

I love dark academia so I knew I'd probably love this and it delivered.
I loved the setting of 'Sallies' at St Andrew's University and the surrounding Scottish area, I really felt transported and I got a clear picture of where Finn and the clan were. So on that note, the clan, I found them to be an interesting group and they each had their own personalities and role to play. Hope and Finn were my favourites and I grew to dislike Madri. I found her to be quite shallow and single track minded.
History and mythology are also some of my favourite subjects so to have the two intertwined really added to the plot.
The writing was incredible and I found myself really immersed in this book.

When we were killers was a bit of a slow burn. But it was a very intriguing storyline, I did not know exactly where things were going but when things finally fell into place I understood!
The main character was a bit elusive but as the story progressed I really started to feel for him and like him.
This dark academia story was woven in a captivating way that really made you need to know what was going on and where things were leading! Really enjoyed this story! Thanks to netgalley and Head of Zeus for the arc

The storyline had potential, but the execution didn’t quite resonate with me.

The book tells the story of Finn, a theology student that has lost his faith due a troubled past. Finn’s life is divided between his studies and friendship with Anna; and his other friends, a.k.a the clan, which meet at night in historical places, drink and do drugs in the quest to find the berserkers secret. The clan is obsessed to find a drug that will explain how some viking warriors would go crazy at battle and do not feel pain.
I really enjoyed the setting of St. Andrews and Scotland. I also found very interesting the folklore discussed throughout the book. The dark academia vibe of the book is also great for the current fall weather.

What I disliked most were the characters and some of the plot decisions. The author seems to over-glorify the main character, Finn, idealizing his traits in a way that feels like an extension of their own self-perception. Meanwhile, the other characters are overly simplified, reduced to archetypes that serve the story without much depth.

Finn is portrayed as a humble guy trying to keep the peace, with his bad choices excused by a dramatic past and unrequited love. Unsurprisingly, Finn’s love interest is the “perfect girl,” whose only reason for not fully returning his love is her grief. The idea that she might simply not love him back doesn’t align with the author’s vision of Finn as a heroic figure.

The supporting characters fare no better: one woman is a saint, another a “sexy crazy witch,” while the male characters include a spoiled rich guy, a stereotypical fraternity bro, and a bland “story guy” whose purpose only becomes apparent near the end.

The plot decisions also felt skewed in Finn’s favor. His mistakes are framed as stemming from his good intentions and troubled past, while other characters’ bad actions are simply because they are “bad.” Even when the story includes shocking or gory events (trigger warnings below), Finn is conveniently uninvolved—it’s always someone else. I might have respected the narrative more if Finn had been made responsible for at least some of these events.

Lastly, the open ending left me unsatisfied. While the past storylines are resolved, the future remains ambiguous. I personally dislike open endings because they leave things incomplete. As a reader, I dedicate my time and attention expecting a complete story, not 90% of one.
T
rigger warnings include but are not limited to: violence, rape, suicide, gory details of death of both animals and humans, death, death of a child, and drug use.

Is hard to recommend a book that I disliked. However if something on my review piked your interest I would fully support you reading this book. I will always be open to hearing different opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

An intriguing thriller set in St Andrews university in the 90's, slightly reminiscent of The Secret History. The novel follows a mixed group of students
whose obsession with myth and legend takes an increasingly dark turn.

Well researched, there are some fascinating and enjoyable in-depth sections on various mythologies mixed with some strong characterisations and a well thought through plot. The characters were all well-drawn and complex, if some highly unlikeable, the privilege and naivety of university students are well painted.
A geat story, highly recommend.

I was kindly provided my first ever ARC copy by the publisher at NetGalley, thank you for this opportunity. I hadn’t heard of this author before but my word, I was blown away by this dark-academia thriller. Gripping, tense, incredibly descriptive and beautifully written. I was captivated from the very first page. As a fellow Scots, Barrinton done a fantastic job with the magical but darkly setting of When We Were Killers. I was suspicious of the characters but drawn to them like the mmc Finn Nethercott. This is an unsettling yet quite moving read, I felt I was there with the characters at times. My jaw hit the floor for the last 30% with twists you will not see coming. 4.5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

DNF @ 25%

I had high hopes for When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington, but unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me, and I ended up not finishing it at about 25%.

One of the main issues was how much it reminded me of If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, another book that didn’t resonate with me. The focus on history and Christianity played a significant role in the story, but these themes aren’t areas of interest for me, making it hard to stay engaged.

Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters. They felt distant and unrelatable, which made it difficult to invest in their stories or motivations. Without that emotional connection, the plot didn’t hold enough intrigue to keep me reading.

While this book might appeal to readers who enjoy dark academia, historical narratives and complex explorations of faith, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. If you’re not drawn to these themes or prefer more relatable characters, this may not be the best choice for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book and I am not someone who puts a book down unless they really don't enjoy it. This book was slightly different from my normal genre but the synopsis was interesting. It sounds strange but it's written as the main character being a man and just his side normally it's a mixture but that might have had something to do with it. The book I had to make myself read until halfway then I really got into it. The viking and faeries elements were interesting but some of it took some brain power. Not something I have before bed. I then finished this book whilst away and really got into it.

When We Were Killers fits squarely into the genre I like to call Yes I Too Read The Secret History At A Formative Age And Have Never Gotten Over It, and my god does it do it more brazenly than any other I've seen.

It has all the basics:
★ I am a smart guy who escaped a depressing past to go to a whole big set piece of a university
★ I met this group of friends and they are hot and weird but they're letting me hang out with them yay
★ I have a couple of normal friends to contrast with the hot weirdos
★ I am studying something esoteric within the smallest department ever
★ My weird hot friends are obsessed with ancient cultures and their preferred party drugs
★ There is an annoying guy who keeps causing problems
★ Anyway it's been thirty years and I'm still thinking about all of this

Oof. The big plot difference here is that the MC is center stage for the bacchanal (again, I too have thought of that Secret History Canon Divergence AU), which is Viking berserkers here instead. So, not a wild sexy animalistic romp through the countryside, more of a...violent raping and pillaging thing, is what they're trying to achieve. I guess. There's a brief moment where this connects with the main character's tendency towards rage, but then that's never brought up again.

Sometimes a work makes you see another work more clearly by failing to do what the other work does. (AMAZING sentence, self. Nailed it.) But like, with TSH you got these buttoned-up hot nerds who dress like 1960s Ivy League squares even though it's 1985 and are studying something fancy and irrelevant and as the book goes on it becomes clear that they're all stewing in a cauldron of intermittently repressed queerness, incest, and latent sociopathy, so OF COURSE this will have all led into something that would, just for one night, let them be what they are. Of course they would seek out an experience that would get them out of their own heads, out of the library, into the wilderness where they can howl and fuck and rip things apart unburdened by the constraints of their own sanity. I get it.

Whereas the group here...they're just kinda doing it as like, a hobby. The ringleader who's desperate to find the berserker drug is apparently just rebelling against Mommy. There's no there there. And the MC isn't even really friends with these people in a meaningful way, they don't really hang out much outside of their drugged out cosplay parties, and he never makes a move on the one he has a half-assed crush on either despite multiple opportunities.

The MC being a Divinity student could have been an interesting element, especially given the religious aspects of the holidays/ceremonies they were celebrating/attempting to replicate, but bizarrely these two aspects were just...never really connected. Imagine being so interested in religion that you decide to get a whole weird degree in it and then having an opportunity to get right in the thick of ancient religious practices and just being like "so what are we getting fucked up on tonight, lads?!".

In the afterword the author talks about how this book had to be cut down massively from the original draft, I think by like a third of its total length. I fear he may have accidentally edited out things like meaning and narrative connections and themes. I went into this with an open heart because I liked The Secret History too but I just don't know about this one, man. Missed opportunities in here.

My thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC.

While this book was good and entertaining it wasn't for me. There's nothing wrong with the book. I throughly enjoyed reading it, but the characters didn't leave me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

A frightening read, starting college and drawn into a clan to explore the effects of drugs to find the Jarl true calling. A family tragedy a love story builds with devastating ending.

This book was really challenging to finish. I had a hard time with it. It was really confusing and all over the place. Never good when you cannot follow along! I think it could use a really good edit, and maybe if things were clearer, it might be better? Not sure.

Thank you Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the copy.

I received an early copy of this book via @netgalley and was intrigued by the premise. A dark academia story set in St Andrews in Scotland. The book takes place during the 90’s and follows a group of university students searching the ancient Scottish countryside for Viking secrets. However the story takes a turn when they end up creating some deadly secrets of their own

This is a fairly fast-paced thriller with hints of The Secret History/Saltburn (not those hints 🛁). It deals with themes of loss, guilt, privilege, rivalry, social class, obsession, drug-use and murder

There’s plenty of in-depth historical information in this book, mostly about St Andrews, the university grounds and Vikings. I didn’t dislike the detail, but sometimes it took me out of the story as I felt like I was occasionally slipping into a non-fiction book

I had a lot of time for the main character Finn. He was working through a lot of emotional turmoil after losing his family as a child in a tragic accident and he was looking for acceptance and a place to belong. Unfortunately for him, he ended up finding a pretty terrible group of people to spend time with. That is where I struggled a bit with the story. The group started out academic and fairly harmless, but things escalated pretty quickly and got out of control. At multiple points I was left thinking, leg it!!

There were some nice tense moments and the story flowed from chapter to chapter with a dream-like quality. I would have liked a little bit more background on the other members of the group, particularly Madri as her reactions to situations felt very extreme, I kept anticipating some sort of further reveal about her character, but sadly it never arrived

The ending felt a little rushed, particularly as everything was building to an exciting atmospheric showdown. It was a real shame that it ended prematurely - I would have liked more!

Overall I enjoyed the story and the world that Barrington built, I would have just liked a few more pages on the characters, perhaps an extra chapter on their friendship developing and also for that ending to be given the time it deserved

Review based on an ARC copy kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley. I thank the publisher and the author for this opportunity.

Within the stone corridors of St Andrews University, where the scent of the sea mingles with centuries of history, unfolds a story that captures Scotland's deepest essence, weaving together tradition, mystery, and darkness.

The narrative follows Finn Nethercott, a first-year student who finds himself thrown into a world where privilege rules and the boundaries between reality and folklore become increasingly blurred. His encounter with four history scholars, obsessed with Scotland's ancient roots, pulls him into a spiral of increasingly dangerous adventures.

One of the book's most fascinating aspects is the exploration of the protagonist's spirituality, masterfully interwoven with Scotland's diverse cultural traditions. Through Finn's eyes, we discover a rich mosaic of influences: from the Gaelic to the Vikings, from paganism to animism, to Christianity. In particular, Laurie's character shines through his ability to narrate these multicultural traditions with contagious passion and an aura of mystery that significantly enriches the plot.

The setting is simply magnetic. Ancient fortress ruins and mist-shrouded lochs create a mystical backdrop where legends of faeries seem more real than ever. The author's evocative prose paints these landscapes with precise and suggestive strokes, immersing the reader in an atmosphere dense with mystery and ancient charm.

The characters are portrayed with great mastery: figures with sharp edges harboring complex emotional depths, revealed gradually through sharp-edged dialogues that alternate between wit and frustration. Their characterization contributes to creating an atmosphere of constant tension, where nothing is as it seems.

As the story progresses, the layers of complexity multiply. What begins as an apparently simple tale of university friendships transforms into a deeper exploration of obsessions, rivalries, and midnight rituals, culminating in the search for an ancient hallucinogen that could change everything.

However, there are some less convincing aspects. The narrative rhythm is uneven, with some sections proceeding more slowly than others, creating a reading experience reminiscent of a roller coaster. Despite the plot always being interesting, not all parts maintain the same level of narrative tension.

Despite these minor flaws, the book remains highly recommended for lovers of dark academia and those who appreciate stories that blend historical and supernatural elements. The author succeeds in creating a work that, while not always keeping you glued to its pages, leaves a lasting impression thanks to its unique atmosphere and the depth of its themes.

An atmospheric thriller that masterfully blends history, folklore and suspense, pulling the reader into a hypnotic journey through the mists of Scotland's most ancient and mysterious realms.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for approving this ARC for me to enjoy. I was not familiar with this author or his previous works before picking this up, and had only the description to go by. I am only 20% finished with the material, but my low feedback rating compels me to respond to what I’ve read so far. This author is clearly educated, much like his characters and has a wonderful vocabulary. A few words, I had to highlight and look up. I love learning, so this is a good thing for me. I also noticed the author also has a passion for traveling and that comes across in his characters as well. Places of European historical significance play a huge role in this story, I can tell already. The prose is taut, smart and moves along quickly. I will update my rating once I’ve finished. Great work, C. F. Barrington!

Five friends. One deadly obsession.

This book had if we were villains on psychedelic drugs vibes it had my interest from the start. I really enjoyed it.

Source: Netgalley for an honest review.

1 ⭐️

DNF @ 30%

This book is suggested for those who are fans of “If we were villains” by ML Rio. That’s what initially pulled me this book.

Unfortunately, at 30%, and I can finally say that I am bored beyond measure. Though most of the Shakespeare in ML Rio flew over my head, I was at least interested in the characters and what was happening to them. This book seemed to be “if we were villains” in an alternate universe. Not only does the plot resemble each other. But so do the character dynamics.

I read in another review that they believed only people who were a fan of religion would be a fan of this and as a religious person I’m here to say that isn’t true. 😂 The book does discuss history and Christianity in detail. There was definitely a lot of research done for this book which I can appreciate but even so it still wasn’t enough to keep my interest.

Though this book wasn’t for me, I’m excited to see what this author will be releasing in the future and will definitely give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Oh my goodness - what a long winded tale of the, generally, over-privileged! I kept going (barely!) in order to give an honest review. By the end, I wish I hadn't wasted hours of my life I could have spent doing something more interesting....like ironing...

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that blends elements of crime, mystery, and psychological tension. The story follows a group of characters whose dark pasts come to the forefront when they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions. Barrington's writing is gripping, with well-drawn characters and a plot full of twists and moral dilemmas that keep readers on edge. The exploration of guilt, redemption, and the blurred line between right and wrong adds depth to the story. While the book’s darker themes may not be for everyone, When We Were Killers offers a compelling and suspenseful read for fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction.