Thank you to the publishers, author, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was very intrigued with the premise of this book, and while it was a bit slower for my liking, the last 100 pages had me excited to get to the end to find out what happened. I felt that this was a neat capture of the exploration of drugs and Viking history. While not a fast read for myself, I can see the fascination and excitement some might have surrounding this book.

I did enjoy that this was in first person so that the reader could explore the trips of the drugs along with Finn. Not knowing what was reality and what was in his mind helped the psychedelic feeling and helped readers stay on Finn’s side after each trip. A few twists in the book helped keep me involved in the story and made me feel for the five.

#netgalley #whenwewerekillers

When a circle of so called friends turn deadly. This is the story of five friends from Ancient Scotland with a secret to hold. In a place where privilege counts and and the right backgrounds can get away with anything. Fin learns he is no different from the others, but his own adventures will find him new friends, new fun, new rivalries, and a new passion searching for the unknown. Who can Finn trust, can he even trust himself?

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is an atmospheric dark academia thriller with a twist of historical mystique, drawing heavily on Viking mythology and folklore. The depth of research is evident, especially with the cultural and historical details surrounding the berserker legends, which gave the story an edge and made it stand out. The setting in the Scottish Highlands also added to the haunting, moody vibe that made this a deeply immersive read.

One of my favorite parts was the vivid descriptions of the celebrations and how substances began to influence the characters, gradually pushing them to lose control. These scenes were intense and well-executed, making the sense of transformation feel authentic. Finn’s complex backstory, which reveals the roots of his aloofness, was another strong point, bringing an unexpected depth to his character. And Anna, with her sweetness and charm, offered a welcome balance to the darker personalities in the group.

That said, the writing style, while authentic to the setting, was sometimes overly formal, making it harder to connect with. The pacing felt slow, with much of the plot outside the berserker mythos feeling flat, and many of the characters felt shallow, overshadowed by Finn’s development. Also, while this was presented as a thriller, it often felt more like a sci-fi or fantasy novel, which may disappoint readers expecting intense suspense.

Overall, When We Were Killers offers a unique story for those who enjoy atmospheric dark academia with historical and mythological layers. However, those looking for a true thriller might find the tone and pacing less intense than expected.

** I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review**
This as it states is definately a fever dream full of obsession.
I don't think this was particularly for me, most of the time I didn't even know what was happening.
I loved the Scottish folklore but unfortunately to me it was slow, confusing and rushed at the end.

Wow what did I just read

Awesome book. 5.stars. Totally gripping

Thanks for the opportunity to review

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. When We Were Killers is an atmospheric dark academia novel set in 1990’s Scotland. Themes of friendship, secrecy and early European history are the main drivers. Barrington illustrates that the stark difference in social class that lead to irreversible consequences of all those involved but especially for those that have everything to lose. All breathlessly pacing towards a tragic ending worthy of becoming legend.

It wasn’t terrible by any means but it wasn’t the most enjoyable book I’ve ever read. Dark Academia is somewhat of a new genre for me, initially it gave “Babel spinoff” vibes and I wasn’t mad about it. Part 1 was just very very slow, I’m not someone to not finish a book, but this was really hard at times to keep reading - as much as I appreciate how informative it was, it was very heavy at points.

Part 2 did pick up a little bit, but being so far into the book, it was a little underwhelming. Overall, not a bad read but won’t be in a rush to pick up again unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aries Books for the chance to read the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly had a hard time completing this. A little too weird for me. I pushed through in hopes that it would get better but it was a struggle all the way. It was very confusing and even the ending didn't clear things up for me.

I wasn't a fan of not addressing the characters by name and by the end of the book I was confused as to what happened and who was who.

This is a book you need to read with total focus, not just to sit back and enjoy a good story.

In this novel, Finn, a first year divinity student at the university, hooks up with a group of four individuals who are obsessed with Scotland. It’s not a normal obsession .. and these friends do some not normal things, rituals etc. I enjoyed the plot twists in the book. Although well written, and kept me reading, the style of writing wasn’t my favourite, hence the 4 star rating.

I thought that this would be your typical thriller but the more I read, the more I realised it wasn't and it also wasn't the kind of book I'd usually go for. I absolutely flew through the beginning of the book, but slowed when I reached just shy of the halfway point. I did end up enjoying it a lot more than I expected once I realised what it was really about.

3.5

4 stars for this one, and I wasn’t sure I would like it at all, at first.

Finn Nethercott (because, yeah, people are named that) arrives at St. Andrews University (isn’t that actually a real place and possibly where Prince William and Kate Middleton went to school or am I creating that in my head?) and is immediately absorbed into a new group of friends, Madri, Laurie, Magnus and Hope, four history student obsessed with ancient Scotland. But it’s not all fun and beer pong. There are rivalries within the group, plus odd rituals and the search for an ancient drug. Because I guess our current drugs are simply not good enough. Finn, my friend, please meet heroin.

If you think this sounds like a poor man’s SECRET HISTORY I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. Oh, and no one does heroin.

I see the author uses initials to disguise whether they are a male or female, but the fact that the male characters are described consistently as “men” while the female characters are almost always called “girls” gives me a pretty good idea. Do better, people!

Despite the fact that this is not THE SECRET HISTORY the book isn’t bad at all and I enjoyed it…page turner for those who enjoy dark academia (me.).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this EARC. It isn’t my usual genre but it was very interesting. Finn Nethercott was a first year student at a prestigious university. He joins a “clan” with a bunch of other students that have been going there. They experience with drugs. Magmus wants to figure the correct combination to act like a berzerk. Read it and find out if he ever does
I gave my honest opinion and was not paid to do so

Personally I had really high expectations for this book when I read the description. I feel like I was let down a tad bit. I liked the way that Magnus and his clan were trying to find the “drug” that caused the Viking warrior berserkers to be as fearless, strong and to where they don’t feel pain. And the journey that led them to this discovery by Finn. I also enjoyed the different view points of past traditions and how they brought those traditions into the present day.

However I felt that the book moved very slow for me and gave me a bunch of information at the beginning that I had a hard time keeping it all straight.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

4.5 rounded up! I really enjoyed this one—it's peak dark academia that is so so perfect for fall. It's very reminiscent of The Secret History to me (just trade the ancient Greek for ancient Norse/Celtic/Viking). I loved the rituals, the pagan celebrations, the history, and the search for an ancient hallucinogen—all at a small university in Scotland in the early 90s.

If you love dark academia, mythology, history, secret clans/societies, and moody male main characters, this is it. It's gripping, engrossing, tragic, and vivid, and I honestly learned a ton haha. (The origin of the word "berserk" will stick with me forever!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When We Were K, by new to me author C.F. Barrington, published by Head of Zeus - Aries Books, is a fast paced thriller that leaves the reader breathlessly craving more. Complex, complicated and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Blurb: The salt-scented quadrangles of St Andrews University greet first-year student Finn Nethercott with indifference. It is a place where privilege counts, and those from the right backgrounds can get away with everything.
Finn is quickly drawn into a new circle of friends – four history scholars with the deepest roots of ancient Scotland – who sweep him away on wild adventures to forgotten castles and faerie lochs.
But he soon discovers the darker sides of his new midnight rituals, and a search for a long-lost hallucinogen. And as Finn sinks into a world where he can't always trust what he's seen each night, the group will learn just how dangerous obsession can be.

An enjoyably atmospheric story but I found the motives of the ‘villains’ so implausible as to be ridiculous.

This book just wasn’t for me but, that’s okay! I didn’t get through the whole book because I felt like it took a while to grab my attention and there was a lot of “biblical” talk and that’s just not my thing.

Finn Nethercott arrives at St Andrews University troubled and indifferent to a place where privilege rules and if your background is right you can get away with murder.
He meets four new friends who seduce him into obsession with Scotlands history, faerie and Viking legends and he soon discovers a far darker side to them all.
There are rivalries and a hunt for a hallucinogen that is lost to history, Finn is sucked into something darker and more deadly than he thought possible, unravelling his own history and changing him forever.

I’ve read Barrington’s Pantheon series before and loved his writing style and this book is no different. It’s dark, edgy, punchy and with characters that capture you so that you just want to keep reading. I couldn’t put this down for a second once I’d started!

If you love a bit of dark academia and ‘The Secret History’ vibes then this is the book for you

I'm a sucker for dark academia and this was an excellent version of such, intriguing and deeply divisive characters, a cracking good story and some excellent writing.

I liked the mythology and history entwined into the plot and the setting comes to life vividly. The group dynamic constantly shifts giving the book that lovely unexpected and addictive feel.

It's an entertaining read that would make great television. Paging Netflix!

Ok so I had higher hopes for this but it wasn't, I just think I set my expectations too high.

I liked the prose and there wasn't necessarily a dual timeline, but the narrator, Finn, would talk to the reader at times before jumping back into the story so it gave the feel of sitting in a cabin on a rainy night by a fire while your dad recounted his collegiate days.

This dark academia thriller was definitely heavy on the academia. I have no issue with it being throughout the story (truly I expect it) but I felt that when they got into their studies and started to explain concepts or histories, it went on for a while to the point of boredom. I still found a lot of the information interesting, though I also felt like I was sitting through a lecture. The same goes for the pacing. There were times where we were getting somewhere and then it sort of tapered off until the next ascension. It was hard to stay fully engaged at times.

The concept of this was still quite interesting though! When they were tripping during these "rituals", I felt like I was tripping along with them. I'd be a bit confused at first and have to rewind but I think that meant the author did a good job of creating this altered atmosphere where you feel just as discombobulated as the characters.

Speaking of the characters, I liked how unlikeable they could be. Finn got sucked into this group of pretentious, well-off scholars and you could really feel how excited he was to have been accepted into their circle only to soon begin to regret this decision as bad things started happening.

The chapters were short but the lead-up to the ending that the beginning alluded to still felt like it took a long time. And then on top of that, it also felt a little rushed (though given what was occurring during that time, that's probably how it was supposed to feel).

⚠️ There weren't any TWs listed but just know that the book does touch on familial death, self harm, and a suicide attempt. The topics are touched on and the character does end up sharing both stories. He tells each story once and then it doesn't happen again so I definitely advise you to be mindful if these topics are triggering.

All in all, this was a decent story and was perfect for this time of year.