2.5 stars

I enjoyed this book but it is, by no means, a good book. There is a ton of potential in there, there are some good things (that are really good, too) but on the whole, this book is just bad. You have to suspend your disbelief, and then suspend it again, and again, and again. And it seems like it is out of laziness, because a lot of the issues could have been resolved pretty easily.
This book is also pretty similar to Zodiac Academy, minus the bullies. Mind me, if we speak about personal enjoyment, I enjoyed this one way more than the other series, but if we speak about things well done, well, the other series wins without questions.
I will try with a bullet list, because it seems a tad more easy to explain things:

1)At the beginning of the book the author says “There are no heroes in this story” and when we meet the MCs for the first time, this seems to stand true: she is an assassin who is there to kill the prince, he is a prince with his friends, and the group seems full of badass people who are up to no good. (again, if you have read Zodiac Academy, the male characters are really similar). But as the story progresses, we lose the “we are all bad” aura, and since the characters find themselves involved in a quest (let’s call it that) to save the kingdom and the magic against the bad king well… they are heroes. They may not be the “knight in shining armor” kind of hero, but still, they are the good guys, no questions.
So why? It’s not just bad that the first thing we read is a lie, but the change in tone has no reason to it. Why do you start one way and then do such a radical change?

2)There are so many plot holes in there that it is like trying to navigate the story walking on Swiss cheese. I don’t really want to make spoilers, but I will just name one or two. Kiara is an assassin who is recruited to kill the prince at the Academy. This Academy is a magical school where all the young mages are sent, it is a highly protected place (even royalty attend it and all the rich scions of the biggest families of the kingdom), it has wards everywhere and they are the strongest you can imagine. Evidently, the wards do not stop assassins, only magic. Why? How do they work? It wasn’t possible to create wards against people who were not supposed to be there? They have all the magic of the world and… assassins just walk past them like that? Sure, they have to evade the patrols but still, it doesn’t seem like hard work infiltrating this place!
And then Kiara fails in her first attempt and she finds herself in the sorting ceremony, with no easy way out she takes part in that and… oh wow, she has magic! So she now is a student of the Academy. Not only that, but she is the special one, the one with the kind of magic nobody else has (obviously) and everybody goes along with that. Don’t they have a list of the people who were supposed to start the year there? A number of expected people? Something? Sure, at one point the headmaster figured out that there was something strange here, but not right away, like some weeks after she was enrolled. How is that possible??

3)We are told a lot of things. We don’t see them. Like, this academy should be something really harsh, where only the fittest survive (think like Fourth Wing kind of place) but all we get is some sentences overheard here and there like “Ehy, did you hear that once this professor let the students be eaten by the bests??” “Sure, but the headmaster told to keep an eye on things because it was bad for public relations” or something like that. (These are not direct quotes, but the kind of dialogues our MC overheard are like that). And there are a lot of elements that are inserted in the story that aren’t really developed or explained.

4)The sheer waste of potential. We have some intriguing characters, all the prince’s friends sound pretty amazing in their own right, and they are not the only ones, there are a couple of students we met who are intriguing as heck. The point is, if without showing us a lot of them around, the author manages to create something so interesting, how great things would have been if they received their share of attention? And we have a magical school with some really cool lessons! But we just see them the bare minimum and then… that’s it. It would have been great to explore that world and that school!

It is just that we have so many plot holes and so many things that don’t really work if you stop and think about them. And this is what makes a book a bad one. There are no excuses. That said, I have to admit that I enjoyed it. Because, well, first and foremost, I was in the right mood for it and this helped a lot. But there are good things in there, mind me. The writing is compelling, and the world the author creates is beautiful. There is such beauty between these pages! And I think that this is also what made things so bad: the author obviously is good at creating worlds and magic and characters, so why the plot is just a big hole with something around it??

My rating is 2.5 stars, but I round it up at 3 because I still enjoyed it, I was pretty mad from time to time, but I wasn’t tempted to DNF because it was compelling and I was having fun, somehow.

This book started out really strong and I had high hopes, but at some point it went flat and I started to lose interest.

Kiara is one of the Nameless, aka the King’s Assassins. Lucien (AKA the Prince) is away at school for mages and while Kiara is there to kill him, she’s mistaken as a student and “sorted” in a ceremony eerily similar to a very famous wizarding school ceremony. (IYKYK) While at school, discovers she’s actually a mage, the people she hates most in this world. She basically has to decide if she wants to give up her mission to kill the prince and study magic or continue with her original goal - kill the prince and get rid of magic forever.

The end was just…boring. I guess I expected a lot more. I am hoping the series picks up more in the next book! Thank you to Ever King and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was very interesting and kept me engaged throughout. I would definitely recommend to other romantasy readers and finish this series!

I love a book with quality world building and this one did not disappoint. WE are taken immediately into the Academy by why if Kiara, one of The Nameless who is an assassin. What Kiara isn’t ready for is what she finds once she gets inside and her resolve for murder is called in to question. As she and the prince she is meant to murder embark on a journey together they may be able to change the fate of their world. With roots in Greek mythology this story is a page turner, I read the whole thing 448 pages, in one sitting! I am more than ready for book 2!

~Thanks to NetGalley and Ever King for the ARC!~

3.5 stars

“He was the darkness I craved, and I was the light he couldn’t escape.”

First few chapters were slow and not much action but when the actin starts it gets good! It’s definitely more of a young adult/under 18 vibe to me having read some really high level fantasy books but I thoroughly enjoyed the world and story line. Love the dual POV (that’s always a fav of mine). Action/fight scenes are well written. Note: I thought this was written for a younger audience the way the writing style is. But then there was a bell pepper spice scene and a closed door scene that threw me for a loop.






++++Spoiler Alert++++






Random notes as I was reading:
—A few times the princes friends said they overheard something or saw something that put the princes life in danger. But they don’t mention it for days. Even though they are supposed to be his body guards basically??
—Sometimes when there is a “revelation” they move on too quickly in the conversation. I want more discussion/details!
—WILD that those with magic and those without have a different version of history and what is currently happening in their worlds
—The king has Many secrets!! He’s the bad guy but I wanna know what it issss.
—“Don’t play the hero and leave me behind.”…“I don’t want to face this darkness alone anymore. I can’t keep pretending I’m okay when I’m not.”…”Then stop pretending. You don’t have to hide it. Not from me.”
—The writing could use a bit more polish and transitions. Felt like sometimes there wasn’t enough detail and sometimes there’s too much.
-Overall enjoyed the book!

✨ARC Review✨
Thank you NetGalley and @authoreverking for the arc!
I loved this book! Devoured it pretty quickly. It’s as if Harry Potter was a dark fantasy romance about an assassin. Wrong place right time vibes. Loved the enemies to lovers and the intrigue between the MMC and FMC. Such a cool magic system and I loved the setting of a magic academy. And I’m also a sucker for anything Greek mythology. Definitely recommend for any fans of Harry potter, lovers of trials and fantasy. Thank you again so much for this book! I can’t wait for the next one! 🙏🏼❤️

This book gave me major Shadow & Bones vibes. I wanted to love it but it fell flat in certain areas.

For starters, the romance doesn’t kick in until halfway through, which made it hard to stay engaged at times. The relationship between Kiara and Lucian felt a bit forced. From the moment he saw her, Lucian seemed completely starstruck in a way that didn’t feel natural—it was clear he was meant to be her love interest, but the progression felt rushed and lacked chemistry.

That said, the magic system was phenomenal. The idea of magic taking form and a living grimoire providing spells to its mage was so fresh and imaginative. I wanted to see even more of how it worked and its potential within this world! The subplot about secret societies and their rivalries was also intriguing, and I’m hoping future books explore their dynamics and history more deeply.

However, I wish the world-building had been more fleshed out. The fantasy setting felt underdeveloped, with only surface-level details about the environment, cultures, and societies. There was so much potential to immerse readers in the world, but I never felt fully grounded in it. It’s a missed opportunity that could’ve made the story much more captivating. I don't often say this but I wish the book was like 200 pages longer to add more background.

Surprisingly, I found myself more drawn to the connection between the twins than the romance. Their bond and unique way of communicating fascinated me. Adding Tobias’s POV could have enriched the story and brought more depth to their dynamic—it was easily one of the most compelling parts.

The pacing also left a lot to be desired. The first 60% of the book dragged, with most of the action packed into the last 40%. By the time the story picked up, it was hard to connect with what was happening.

I really wanted to love this book and, for the beginning, I really did. As I got further into the story, I disliked the FMC more and more. Kiara is supposed to be a trained, deadly assassin but it just was not believable at any point. She behaved very immaturely and was very naive. I often have this problem in YA books so I can forgive it since it is more of a me problem. My biggest issue was how repetitive the writing was and there were some cheesy, borderline cringey, lines. Beside these two things, I did enjoy the story and learning about the magic in this world was very interesting. The second book in this series is supposed to be an Adonis and Aphrodite romance so I am hoping that it follows or focuses on different characters. If so, I will be very excited to read it. I love mythological retellings and while this was not my favorite, I still had a good time.

I really enjoyed the plot in this book. The enemies to lovers, the side characters, the adventure aspect, it just made the book as a whole really easy to like. The only real issue I had with the plot was the predictability. Personally, when I'm reading a romantasy book, I want subtle clues to what's going to happen next. This book had parts (not the whole thing, some of the plot twists did surprise me) where I felt like it was dropping hints that just made the plot too obvious for my liking. I also did have some issues with the working. It felt slightly repetitive and unsophisticated. Overall, this book was very enjoyable though.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

I really enjoyed this one! It was a quick read set in the dark academia world. I found myself rooting for Kiara and Lucian and after the cliff hanger at the end am looking forward to the next one. I did think Lucian’s friends could have been a bit more developed but am hopeful that comes in the next book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

DNFed after 5 chapters. Things were not adding up and it’s only the beginning. I have so many questions.

Kiara, our protagonist, is an assassin. She infiltrates a school with a magical barrier to kill a prince. Okay, how did she through without any magic? Then she “finds” the prince after stalking him for a few days (or rather he finds her). Again, how did she stalk him? Did she get through the barrier multiple times? How did someone notice her stalking him if she’s a very good assassin?? Then they both end up attending a ceremony (similar to the Harry Potter house sorting)??? She just walks into the ceremony and NO ONE QUESTIONS HER? THEY EVEN SORT HER INTO HER?? And now she finds out she’s a rare type of mage. So now she’s enrolled in the school? WHAT. HOW? And then she’s placed into a fighting class that requires you to have knowledge on how to use your magic but again, no one questions her place in the academy??

I hope other people like this more than me, but I have better books to read.

4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🫑 a good time - I enjoy an academy setting and trials with some cutie moments sprinkled in

Thank you Netgalley, Ivymoon Publishing, and Ever King for providing me with an e-ARC to review!

I really liked this one and can’t wait for book 2!
I felt the book’s pace overall was pretty steady from the get go. You learn a little bit of Kiara’s back story and how she got to be an assassin, and she infiltrates the academy pretty quickly into it. She has good character growth. The magic kept me interested - the way the characters have to use a grimoires to channel their magic isn’t something I’ve come across (at least so far). And I appreciated the dual POV chapters, it was so cute to see Lucian’s POV to Kiara 😂
Definitely YA - not much spice (just a couple steamy kiss scenes), with tid bits of romance throughout.

I couldn't get into the way it was written.The plot had so much potential (although, nothing original) considering it was giving major dark harry potter vibes but the execution was just not it. It felt like we were shifting from one point of the plot to another but nothing was tying up.

The characters were bland and the amount of times i rolled my eyes over the dialogues, ugh. im not even kidding, my eyes hurt from all that exercise.

Normally, this would have been a dnf but I pushed through it somehow.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Academy of Villains is everything you want in a dark, twisty fantasy. It’s set in an academy that trains the next generation of villains, so you know it’s going to get messy—and it absolutely does. The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are so morally gray, you’ll be questioning who the “good guys” really are. It’s the kind of book that makes you root for the antiheroes, even when they make questionable decisions. The story has plenty of twists, and it’s full of tension, mystery, and betrayal. If you love books where nothing is what it seems, Academy of Villains is definitely worth checking out.

thank you for arc read

I read this book via NetGalley.

Summary: This book is a fantasy book about a young female assassin who goes to an academy of mages, all with different types of magic in an attempt to murder a prince so she can break a curse. There are lots of interesting plot twists, and we see the relationship between the two main characters develop.

What I liked:
- interesting character development
- I love when the MMC pines for the FMC!!
- I love how much detail there was about the different type of magic
- the pace is great. I was excited to get back to reading this after a short break
- the world building and descriptions of the places were amazing and really helped me to picture this in my head

Review: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

*Academy of Villains* by Ever King is a dark and enchanting twist on Greek mythology, blending the drama of a perilous magic academy with an electrifying romance. The story follows Kiara, a former assassin who infiltrates the academy to kill the cursed prince Lucian, only to discover she possesses magic herself. With secret societies, dangerous trials, and a looming prophecy, the stakes are high, and the tension is palpable.

The book’s setting is richly atmospheric, with a sentient academy and a unique grimoire-based magic system that adds a fresh twist. The dual POV of Kiara and Lucian provides insight into their complicated emotions and evolving relationship, though the "enemies-to-lovers" progression felt a bit rushed at times. Still, their chemistry sizzles, and their bond is compelling.

While the plot is fast-paced and packed with twists, it occasionally sacrifices deeper character development and world-building. I wanted more time to explore the academy’s inner workings and the intriguing mysteries hinted at. Despite these minor drawbacks, the book’s dark academia vibes, morally grey characters, and mythological influences make it an addictive read.

If you’re a fan of magical academies, forbidden romance, and dark fantasy with a mythological twist, *Academy of Villains* is a promising start to the series. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the next installment!

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/5 🌶️

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What to Expect:
💚Enemies to Lovers
🔮Morally Grey (Anti) Heroes
💚Shadow Daddy
🔮Magic Academies
💚Secret Societies
🔮Powerful FMC’s
💚Trials
🔮Mystery with Clues
💚Greek Mythology
🔮Dark Romance
💚Warriors

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"Academy of Villains" by Ever King drew me in with its promise of dark academia vibes, a magical academy steeped in secrets, and a romance inspired by Greek mythology. From the very first page, Kiara’s journey as an assassin infiltrating the academy gripped me. The world-building was absolutely enchanting, and with its magic system tied to grimoires and the academy’s eerie, it almost seemed like a sentient presence. I particularly loved the layers of mystery and suspense woven throughout the story, from hidden societies to forgotten prophecies, which kept the pages turning one after the other.

The romance between Kiara and Prince Lucian was equal parts tension and tenderness. Their fated bond, built around magical heartstrings, added emotional weight to their interactions, though I admit the "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic felt a bit rushed. Still, their chemistry shined BRIGHT, and the dual POV brought depth and emotions to/from both characters. Beyond the romance, I was of course, charmed by the found family vibe within the secret societies, particularly Kaspian’s charm and Tobias’ unique representation with hand signals, which brought in a broad arrange of life to the cast.

While the pacing was action-packed and kept me hooked, it did sacrifice some world-building and character development along the way. I wanted to see more of the academy’s day-to-day dynamics and delve deeper into the mysteries hinted at—like the missing keys and other heartstring bonds. Despite these quibbles, "Academy of Villains" is an engaging start to the series. If you’re a fan of magical academies, morally complex characters, and a dash of mythology, this book is worth picking up. I’ll be eagerly awaiting book two!

Harry Potter x Gossip Girl. She did not have to go so hard with this omg I don't know why more people aren't talking about this book???? We jump into it and from page one I was eating this up. Absolutely loved it!

I really enjoyed this book and I thought that the magic system was unique and the premise very interesting. It is indeed senior school Harry Potter (sorting ceremony, yay!), dark academia, enemies to loves with a twist of greek mythology, trials and a sprinkle of Gossip Girl, brilliant. Kiara is a wonderful MFC and her romance with Lucian well executed in development. The pace was perfect and we are definitely left invested in how the story continues. The Heartstrings are a fresh and original take on fated mates.
The only things that didn't work for me was how quickly Kiara mastered her magic (I felt it all happened too quickly, especially considering that she's the most powerful of them all). I would also have loved to find out more about her past with the Nameless and how she became a skilled assassin, I felt that aspect went a bit underutilised. And finally, there was a bit too much talk/ inner monologue about how K&L need to be in this together and trusting each other, I am not dismissing the need for these conversations/thoughts, I just felt like it dragged on a bit too much 9maybe a tighter editing could benefit this bit of the story).
Overall, super enjoyable, highly recommend and can't wait for the next installment. A huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.