Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me an arc of this book.

This book has such a great theme and I found it quite interesting. Some parts were hard for me to get through, but that may just be me because I need to be in the right mood for this type of book. Overall, there was good banter, enemies to lovers and parts of it truly reminded me of HP. I think so many people would enjoy this and really have a good time reading it! :)

This is a fun YA fantasy read. The magic system and world are well developed and interesting. The dark academia setting mixed with secret societies, and a Greek mythology retelling kept me immersed in the story. Great read for those looking for enemies-to-lovers, academia setting, secrets, and magic.

Ever King’s Academy of Villains is an enthralling dark academia fantasy romance that blends a magical school setting with Greek mythology. The story follows Kiara, a former assassin with hidden magical abilities, as she infiltrates a dangerous academy. Packed with trials, secrets, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, the book delivers gripping twists and an immersive world. Fans of morally gray characters, intricate magic systems, and complex relationships will find much to enjoy. It’s an exciting start to a promising series.

Dark academia and a enemies to lovers book is a yes for me! Was it any good? Yes, I like Kings writing style. It has a nice pace and the banter is so much fun. I would love to read more about the magic system, but maybe that will be explained more in the next book. Because I really hope there is a next book. I need to stay some more time in this setting.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ever King, and the publisher for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.5 stars

I devoured this story. I loved all the elements in this story: the school for mages, secret societies, an evil king, and a strong FMC. The only things that would have made it even better were more about Kiara’s lessons in class, more inner dialogue, and longer. I wanted more of the story. I can’t wait to continue the series.

If you're a Harry Potter and/or The Serpent and the Wings of Night fan, you will more than likely enjoy this one too.

This book has:
• Dark Academia
• Enemies to Lovers
• Shared room / one bed
• Magic!! And lots of it!
• A cliffhanger

This book is quite fast-paced compared to other similar books. The Enemies to Lovers happens quite fast (imo). But for the first book it definitely gets to the point and leaves you wanting to read on to the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for this ARC.

I would like to give this book 3.5 stars but it won’t allow me to. I was unsure at first if I would like this book, but honestly, I really enjoyed it. The plot was beautifully written and I enjoyed following the story of the characters. I look forward to reading the next book.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and has your attention the whole time. Character development is wonderful & sets up the future of the series nicely.

Dies war das 1. Buch, welches ich von der Autorin gelesen habe. Cover und Klappentext haben mich neugierig gemacht und ich wollte direkt in die Geschichte eintauchen. Da das Buch relativ kurz ist, hatte ich anfangs die Befürchtung, dass eventuell zu viel Inhalt in relativ wenig Zeit gepresst sein könnte und sich die Handlung dadurch sehr schnelllebig anfühlen würde beim Lesen. Dies war jedoch überhaupt nicht der Fall. Ich konnte mich sehr gut in die Geschichte und die Charaktere hineinfühlen und fand den Plot gut ausgebaut. Der Schreibstil ist einfach gehalten und auch die Fantasy- und Mythologie-Aspekte sind so eingebaut, dass ich als Leserin nicht mit Fakten überschüttet wurde. Beide Hauptcharaktere gefielen mir sehr und haben sich gut ergänzt. Der MMC hat mit einem Fluch zu kämpfen, ein Schattenmagier und flirtet neckisch mit Kiara, der FMC - zusammengefasst also alles was ich an MMCs liebe. Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat, war, dass die Autorin Szenen mit viel Spannung und Action so geschrieben hat, dass ich beim Lesen die Emotionen der Charaktere sehr gut mitfühlen konnte und ich das Gefühl hatte Teil der Handlung zu sein. Spice technisch war es ein toller Slow Burn, mit ganz wenig Spice am Schluss, der jedoch nur sehr oberflächlich beschrieben wird. Da wünsche ich mir für die nächsten Bände definitiv Spice Szenen, die mehr ins Detail gehen. Alles in allem fand ich die Geschichte sehr gelungen und freue mich, vor allem nach dem offenen Ende aus Band 1, auf die weiteren Bänder dieser Reihe.

This was the first book I read by Ever King. The beautiful cover and the blurb of the book intrigued me and made me want to read the story immediately. As the book is relatively short, I was initially worried that there might be too much content crammed into a relatively short space of time, which would make the plot feel very fast-paced when reading. This was not the case at all. I was able to empathise with the story and the characters very well and liked how well developed the plot is. The style of writing is kept simple and the fantasy and mythology aspects are included in such a way that I, as a reader, was not overwhelmed with facts. Both main characters are sympathetic and have good chemestry with eachother. The MMC is cursed, a shadowmage and likes to flirt shamelessly with Kiara the FMC - sums up everything I like about MMCs. What I particularly liked was that the author wrote scenes with lots of suspense and action in a way that I could really empathise with the characters' emotions while reading and felt like I was part of the scene. Regarding the spice it is a great slow burn with a little bit of spice at the end which unfortunately is not described in much detail. I would definitely like to see Spice scenes that go into more detail in the next volumes. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the story which left me wanting more at the end. I am looking forward to more Books of this series.

I had a great time reading this book, but I felt a time it was getting a tad repetitive! Overall a super enjoyable book that had me contenting to turn the pages !

When Harry Potter smashes into Percy Jackson and Throne of Glass, you get Academy of Villians. This book was a fantastic introduction to Ever King's fantasy world. There are some normal trope types in the book but also some really unique concepts such as the magic system and settings. Give this book a read!

If you say Greek Mythology you're basically yelling my name. I've been reading those myths ever since I was twelve and it's an old love that never disappears completely. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley I had to request a copy and luckily the author granted me one. I even got a message on my instagram to tell me that I was approved. I was really excited about reading this book and therefore fit it in as soon as I could.

What I absolutely loved about this book was the magic. Although we haven't seen everything yet, the author is luckily not boring us with loads of info dumps, I like the idea of a grimoire appearing when you need it and spells being shown when you need them. I also loved the whole idea of star mages being eradicated for their unique powers and seeing what happened to the world when this magic was eventually brought back.

For me the amount of Greek Mythology could have been a little more. I understand that this is a retelling and the plot does reflect this tale quite nicely, but the world could have felt a little more Greek. Maybe the descriptions just didn't work for me. Maybe I just wanted some more familiar sights and elements. In a way the author built a more original fantasy world, while I was somehow hoping for a more classical world.

However, the characters and their journey absolutely made up for that. I have to admit that the part where the characters actively hate each other doesn't last very long. I therefore wouldn't really call this a haters to lovers. The author did find a way though to build up tension between the characters without giving us too much before the characters are ready for it. I'm also really excited that the next book will star another couple. The waiting for them to fall in love is, after all, the best part!

this book is so good and addictive, I love the plot where our main character tries to kill the princ at the academy but then get’s enrolled in the academy itself where she finds out she is a mage as well. I really liked the setting, but that is pretty easy when it’s set at an academy I really like those boos. the romance did move pretty fast I did not mind that because I love them and their banter. and it’s pretty enemies to lovers. the mythology was good maybe would love to see even more in book two. the magic is fun and for me original, love the secret society and the characters themself. maybe I would have liked to see more academy stuff like different classes.

- dark academia
- enemies to lovers
- mythology
- trials
- badass female main character

will post mine other reviews on Monday December 2 of 2024 on instagram and tiktok

Academy of Villains is a thrilling dive into a world where magic and mayhem collide, delivering a dark academia fantasy with layers of romance, mythology, and intrigue. Ever King weaves an enchanting tale inspired by the Greek myth of Nyx and Erebus, creating a unique narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

The story centres on Kiara, a former assassin turned undercover mage, who infiltrates a ruthless magic academy with a mission to end the royal bloodline. But her journey takes an unexpected turn as she uncovers hidden powers within herself and becomes entangled in a web of forbidden secrets, dangerous alliances, and a romance that blurs the line between destiny and desire.

King’s world-building is atmospheric, capturing the eerie yet captivating essence of a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin. The interplay of Greek mythology with dark academia tropes feels fresh and compelling, making the book stand out in its genre. Kiara is a strong, multifaceted heroine, and her internal conflict between vengeance and love is beautifully portrayed.

However, the pacing in some sections feels slightly rushed, particularly in the transitions between action-packed scenes and character-driven moments. A deeper exploration of secondary characters and the mysterious headmaster could have added more depth to the narrative.

Despite these minor critiques, Academy of Villains is a gripping start to what promises to be a mesmerizing series. Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romances, hidden truths, and magical academies teeming with secrets. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these characters in the next instalment!

Available now from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

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the concept of academy of villains was promising – i enjoyed the magical elements and the shadow daddy vibes, which added a darker allure to the story ✨

however, the romance didn’t quite hit for me. the enemies-to-lovers trope fell flat as he seemed to fall for her way too soon, and i found myself not fully invested in their relationship or rooting for them to end up together 🥹

the pacing was a major struggle

there were moments bogged down with unnecessary details that didn’t add much to the plot, while other parts felt overly rushed—so much happened in the span of days, sometimes within a single chapter, making it hard to stay grounded in the story

that said, the addition of secret societies added intrigue, and the classic one-bed trope with some forced proximity moments was a fun touch

4.75⭐ if you guys know anything about me, its that i LOVE myself a greek retelling and this is no different. im also not someone who can picture books easily in my head as read but this story and these characters came alive as a movie in my head and i devoured this ARC in two days.

just picture this: darker fantasy, antihero MC's, harry potter-esque world building, slow burn fated enemies to lovers, and chosen one FMC. these are the perfect ingredients for a fantasy book.

our FMC is Kiara, an assassin sent to kill Prince Lucian, our MMC (romantic right?) Kiara was such a badass magic warrior girly and seeing her development in her trust in Lucian and her own powers was just 🤌🤌

Prince Lucian... *screams in book boyfriend* your honor I fear I love this man. like how are you a prince of a corrupt kingdom with shadow powers yet also a cutie?? and this man was DOWN BAD for his girl. their relationship and bond was so precious because they are both such complex characters and i just love them.

I don't read fantasy that often but best believe I will be returning for this sequel and I would loveee to read more of the Raven Society boys and their bonds.
this book is criminally underrated and anyone who likes magic and romance should pick this up!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley , the publisher, and Ever King for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Academy of Villains by Ever King grabs your attention right from the first page. This fast-paced, captivating upper YA dark academia novel draws inspiration from the Greek mythology love story of Nyx and Erebus, with plenty of mythological Easter eggs sprinkled throughout.

The story follows Kiara, our fierce female protagonist and an assassin who discovers she is a starmage, gifted with celestial magic. The male lead, Lucian Darking, is the Crown Prince of Ithaka and a shadowmage wielding dark, cursed magic. Their dynamic leans heavily into the Enemies-to-Lovers trope, with Kiara determined to kill Lucian in order to break a dark curse that haunts the Kingdom of Ithaka. However, Lucian is instantly captivated by Kiara, and despite being opposites in almost every way, their connection is undeniable. Without giving too much away, the plot takes us on a thrilling journey as they meet at the Academy and set out to unravel the mystery of the curse.

Academy of Villains offers a darker, grittier take on Harry Potter, combined with the rich, complex world of Greek mythology—a heady and intriguing blend. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to dive into the next installment. Below are a few quotes that really resonated with me, giving a taste of the magic and tension you can expect from this book.

“They’re coming for her … And I’ll be damned if they touch her”

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

“Nothing stays the same, not forever. The sea teaches us that. You may think you know the course of your journey, but the current has a way of shifting beneath your feet”

“Sacrifice is often the price of change”

“I won’t let fear or doubt hold me back. I am the one they should fear”

“As long as there’s breath in my body, nothing will touch her. Nothing will take her from me. If she hates me for it, so be it. Curse, or no curse, I’ll burn the whole world down before I let her fall”

“If his love is a curse, I’ll wear it like a crown”

“Loyalty can be a fragile thing easily swayed by ambition and fear”

4.75 ⭐

I loved the concept of mages and the academy followed in the story. It was similar to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with the set up except for the things like the magic systems and the characters being teenagers.

The book is said to be "Nyx and Erebus Greek Mythology Retelling" but I'm not really familiar with that myth so I don't know how in line it was to it. However, the plot had me hooked right from the beginning. The 2nd half of the book gave Reckless vibes which I enjoyed a lot.

At some places, I felt like things weren't explained better, like when Lucian's friends reacted some way to something he said and I didn't get why it was a big thing. Small things like that, which made me want to reread the part to understand better. Other than that, it was a good one. I would very much like to read the next one in the series when it's out.

Academy of Villains - by Ever King

I enjoyed this read, an interesting world full of culture and an interesting new magic system. A packed dark academia fantasy with trials and lessons, this was a great start to the series. I read this in one night and couldn't put it down.

Kiara and Lucien are drawn to each other and I absolutely loved their romance and characters both together and apart. So interested in hearing more about the Raven Society too! The closed door romance was well written and went well with the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.25! Okay, this one was a BIG surprise! The title and cover caught my attention and I’ll be forever grateful because I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. It was such a fun read and it reminded me a lot of the feeling of watching Harry Potter for the first time. I loved the characters, the friendships and especially the romance. I’m a sucker for a well-done enemies-to-lovers and I felt this one nailed it. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to everyone!