Great book with an amazing plot. It’ll keep you hooked from the first page to the last. A must read for lovers of fantasy

There are no heroes in this story'

An assassin sneaks into the castle to try to kill the prince and break the curse upon her people only to stumble into a magical sorting ceremony and discover she has a previously thought extinct type of magic. She accidentally reignites the magical bond of love between two people and finds herself bound to the Prince. The prince and the assassin learn that the only way to break the curse is to pass three trials, but they have to do it together.

Honestly, I feel like this book needs some more editing and development. The story and the premise of the book are great and I think it has real potential, I just didn't really like the writing. The beginning feels like we've jumped in mid series or missed a few chapters at the beginning. The world building is minimal and needs more character backstory or even description. I never really felt like I got to know our characters below a surface level. Why do the secret societies all hate each other and are always fighting? I feel like I'm missing something here. None of this is explained. They're all supposed to be Villains and the bad guy but they steal food to give it to starving children and they're off risking their lives to break a curse? Doesn't sound like bad guy behaviour to me.

There was no happy wrap up at the end of book and no massive cliffhanger either. Both of which I'm okay with. I really liked the secret scrolls - it's giving magical gossip girl and I am absolutely here for it. I wish there had been more 'school' because I'm greedy and the few classes we had just were not enough for me.

Tropes include:
- insta love AND slow burn?
- enemies to lovers but not much of the enemies
- only one bed
- fade to black, no real spice

Enemies to lovers. Fated mates. Elemental magic. Greek Mythology. Trials.

The premise of this hooked me from the get go! It’s giving Harry Potter meets Throne of glass.
The academy setting is really cozy, interesting and nostalgic.
I love the magic system - that the magic chooses you- and that each persons grimoire is uniquely their own and inaccessible to anyone else.
The male friendships within this book are brilliant and I love their interactions as a group.
There’s a lot we discover throughout the book with Kiara and Lucian, as both dismantle the views they had of the world and uniting towards a common goal. As a reader you piece it together at the same time.

There’s an interesting moment where as a reader I questioned whether Kiara’s integrity would be swayed when she realised as a mage she could reap the rewards of the system that tried to destroy her. Similarly Lucien refuses to look the other way once he realises the truth, though he’s not currently impacted by the suffering in his kingdom. Both protagonists continue down the hard path, despite the personal risk. This is always inspiring, in fantasy and in life.

Things that could be improved
- The friendships between the women are less fleshed out. Clearly they’re not as well established (eg length of time) which is fine as Kiara is the new kid on the block. I would’ve loved more details about Octavia and her life.
- Some of the passages are almost “over described” and the internal monologue can sound a little too formal which can pull you out of the plot

Bonus point for
- Bastian, hilarious
- Mavros, who doesn’t love an old man who speaks in riddles?
- some really poignant, hard hitting passages towards the end of the book.
- The questions left unanswered makes me want to read the next instalment immediately!

This book was really good but it definitely felt like the storylines were rushed a bit. I am excited to see how the author continues the stories with new characters but in the same universe.

“In that moment, it hits me - he was the darkness I craved, and I was the light he couldn’t escape.”

This was a magical and fun journey and I found the plot gripping and the writing immersive. The vibes are definitely giving Harry Potter mixed with Zodiac Academy and I loved the unique magic system and well established characters and relationships. The romantic part of the story felt natural and well developed and I loved the enemies to lovers trope. This was very much a fade to black romance but that’s what I expected going in, and it was very tastefully done.

I did find that there were certain parts of the story that felt slightly rushed and could have been further developed, but this didn’t happen often and overall I found the story flowed well and I certainly can’t wait for the next instalment!

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the ARC!

This story IMMEDIATELY hits in the ground running from the very first page, jumping straight into the action. While I do adore the wonders of world building, it was refreshing immediately being absorbed into this new, fantastic world.

This has the most immaculate dark academia vibes. Anyone who is a Harry Potter fan will fall in love with this book as it feels very nostalgic with a mature storyline. As a true Hufflepuff, it feels like I am moonlighting as a Slytherin, and it feels delectably naughty.
I will always be a sucker for a dual POV, and I really enjoy that both of our MCs are morally gray. It really adds a new perspective and depth that I don’t often get from the fluffy romances I read.

I admire the strength of Kiara. I will admit though, the whole book does amp her up like she is an exceptional assassin, however, the number of times she was caught, or she was being followed feels like the complete opposite. I still love my girly though.
I was swooning for the mysterious, protective nature of Lucian. I also am obsessed with his Raven boys. Surprisingly, I do think I was more infatuated with Kaspian or Atticus.

I know that the author has stated that this was the first book in the series and that “each book in this dark academia fantasy romance is inspired by a Greek mythology love story. Prepare for hidden secrets, powerful spells, and heartfelt relationships.” That makes me think there will definitely be a story for each Raven boy, and I cannot wait. I am absolutely desperate and completely feral for the next book.

First off, thanks for the ARC!

The cover caught my eye, and then the annotation intrigued me too. It's a cool concept, so keep developing it!

She’s supposed to kill the prince but accidentally ends up in an academy where she discovers she’s a mage. Then she decides to go undercover, but things don't go as planned.

I liked the atmosphere, even though everything seemed to move pretty fast, especially the quick spark between them, despite the slow burn (I love slow-burn relationships, with lots of hate stages). I didn’t really feel the "enemies to lovers" vibe since he felt drawn to her right away, but I was still reading with this face: 😏🤭

I enjoyed the mythology in the story, so that’s a plus.

I also liked that magic comes from grimoires, there are secret societies, and a few hot guys, plus the love ties are a bit unusual.

Unfortunately, by the end, I wasn't really dying to find out what happens next.

I expected to see more of the academy stuff, classes, and teamwork to witness the creation of a family that's not blood-related. There’s a bit of dark academia, but it didn’t give off Harry Potter vibes. Sure, there’s sorting and school stuff, but also it lacked a villainous atmosphere.

- Easy to read
- Academia
- Love connections
- From "gotta kill you" to "you’re mine, I’m yours"
- Trials
- Shadow daddy
🏫🗡❤️‍🔥✨️🌑

3.5/5⭐️
1/5🌶

Fated mates
One bed
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Academy fantasy
Harry Potter vibes

"Love is the frequency of magic."
This story is inspired by the Greek myths of the gods Nyx and Erebus, who were the goddess and god of night and darkness, respectively.
For a first time author, I thought this story was very well done. I enjoyed it, and the story flowed well. I really loved how protective and attached Lucian was to Kiara!
I only have two minor critiques. First, I wish the story had played up Kiara's background as an assassin a bit more. Second, there needed to be willing suspension of disbelief to account for how events in the story played out just perfectly. You know, how things just happen to be in the right place at the right time all the time? I got around it by attributing it to fate.
🌶️/5 just kisses with one fade to black scene.

This book was shockingly good! I chose the book based on the title and cover and boy am I glad I did. This book is for people who like dark academia Romantasy with a magical school and a Greek mythology retelling. It is about an assassin Kiara who has to survive in a dangerous academy and discover it secrets. I plan to pick up the next book as soon as I can and recommend this to everyone.

Read this if you like a dark academy YA romantasy!
A magic schoole with action and adventure - oh and did I mention romance?

This blew me away
A prince with dark powers, an assassin with a lost power, lot of secrets and an epic quest. It's a some what unique magic system with all the academy vibes you need and defently action-packed!
A well written, all comsuming and captivating fantasy world!

This book is giving Harry Potter and Percy Jackson vibes...

Post on IG 14. January 2025 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! The tension, twists and turns are everything! I love the romance between Kiara and Lucien and how they get through everything thrown at them together. Every page I turned was full of adventure, romance and friendship and I couldn't stop reading! The adventure is addictive and I found myself wanting to know what happens next after every page. Ever King is a fantastic writer and I cannot wait to read book two!

I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys romantasy.

Thank you Net Galley, the publisher and Ever King for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I received the arc for Academy of Villains, I was intrigued to jump in as it was described as Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl - and they’re not wrong, in some cases they’re too right.

In the opening of the story we’re following a nameless assassin who’s been sent to unalive the prince, Lucien, but when the assassin arrives at the academy she’s quickly discovered by the Prince and a professor of Herbology… who guides them to a sorting ceremony… it felt a little too similar to Harry Potter in places - Kiara (assassin) and Lucien are are sent on a quest with three trials seems very triwizard tournament to me…

However, the writing was good, Ever King has a lovely style, she’s built a brilliant world and I loved the mage aspect and the different types of magic - I loved the fated mates with heartstrings and the combining of the magic and how it changed Kiara and Luciens magic into something new… I’d have loved to see more of the lore.

There are references to secret societies, I’d like to know more about them too, and how they come into play… and more bubbles, but next time please sign them xoxo 🤣

A good, albeit familiar, romantasy with a touch of spice towards the end.

ACADEMY OF VILLAINS - Ever King

🥷🏻 Kiara es una asesina. Su misión es matar al Príncipe Lucian y liberar al reino de la maldición que lo asola y de la opresión de los Magos. Para ello, se infiltra en la Escuela de Magia y, tras fallar en su propósito, descubre algo increíble. Ella también es una maga, pero de una clase que se creía desaparecida. Una Starmage. Eso hará que se le echen encima las Sociedades Secretas, el Rey Oscuro, más asesinos... y el propio Príncipe Lucian, con quien tendrá que colaborar si quieren sobrevivir en la Academia.🥷🏻

💫 Ever King nos trae un popurrí de elementos de muchas historias, que ha sido capaz de ensamblar bajo la premisa de la Leyenda Griega de Nyx y Erebo (Dioses de la Noche y la Oscuridad). Yo lo llamaría una mezcla de Harry Potter (protagonizada por Slytherin) y Black Clover (por los geniales Grimorios), con enemies to lovers, toques de Gossip Girl, y todo con referencias a la mitología Griega por todas partes. 💫

Mi reseña es gracias a un ARC facilitado por @NetGalley, por cierto.

¿Y qué tal? Pues tiene sus cosas buenas y sus cosas malas, está claro.

✅ La acción es trepidante e incesante. Las peleas de magos, los asesinos, las pruebas la descripión de la magia es BRU-TAL.
❌ Pero también hay que saber manejar los tempos. Y no puede ser que haya tal nivel de intensidad durante el primer tercio del libro. Hay que dejarlo respirar.
✅ Las Sociedades Secretas, en concreto, la Raven Society, que a la vez son los colegas de Lucian, son muy graciosos y a la vez unos cabrones.
❌ Falta un poco de infodump sobre el Worldbuilding. Muchas de las cosas se descubren una vez los personajes han llegado al punto.
✅ La novela está llena de pequeños easter eggs, referencias a otros mitos, a otras obras, y creo que es un homenaje.
❌ Adolece de los clichés típicos de enemies to lovers. Incluso el de "Sólo hay una cama". Pero bueno, sabíamos a lo que veníamos.

Entretenidísima, pero si llega a tener 100 páginas más para gestionar el ritmo, le daba 5 estrellas.

Valoración: 🧙🏻‍♂️🧙🏻‍♂️🧙🏻‍♂️➗ (3 Dumbledores y medio)

The first time I read this author and I did enjoy it. This gave me dark Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl vibes. This does have romance but not smut. It seems to be appropriate for high school age readers as it reads as a younger YA book. The world building and character development were great. I enjoyed the side characters as well. I liked the slow burn between Kiara and Lucian.

Such a good story... I loved every single detail in this story... the plot, the characters, wowww!!! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

A sorting ceremony ✅
Harry Potter style school but students and teachers that actually unalive each other ✅
Slow burn ✅

I absolutely loved Academy of Villains. The characters and plot are well written and held me hostage for a weekend.

I need book 2 asap!!

Academy of Villains is if you wanted a slightly darker version of Harry Potter that meets Black Clover. This was giving me major if 'Slytherin were the main point of view versus Gryffindor' vibes. Let’s not forget the nods to the retelling of Nyx and Erebus’ Greek Mythology Love Story. If you’re not fully paying attention you’ll miss many clues. I, however, was just super excited to see this retelling done as Nyx has always been one of my favorite Goddesses.

I did not get bored of this novel and found it evenly paced. There was something new in every chapter which I thought would get overwhelming but I surprisingly did not see it as such. The Bromance is bromancing. The mysteries, the vengeance, and the betrayals were 'yes, thank you'. The romance between our leads is a bit of a slow start but will become more flourished about halfway and I know that might take a bit for some readers to get through but I promise, it’s worth it.

The Raven Society? I hope you all get your own novel.

I’ll be looking forward to book two.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC for an honest review.

This book was a super fun read, like a dangerous Harry Potter meets throne of glass…. But unfortunately it’s fade to black.
It’s definitely more YA centric than adult
The FMC sounds and acts like a teen (she is annoying and wishy washy sometimes)
The MMC sounds and acts like a 30 year old man, so he’s kinda out of place. He’s a little too touch her and die. I’m with you forever. “my life and heart in your hands” for it to feel believable that he’s a teen.

The biggest reason this isn’t a five star is the same reason that I had issues with the first few books in the throne of glass series. The FMC is hyped up as this tough as nails,kill anyone, do anything assassin, but then she’s weak and fumbling through 90% of the book, and basically relies on the men around her to take care of her. There’s only one scene where she isn’t bumbling her way to survival.

The world is also kinda off, or maybe it’s not explained well, I don’t know if they’re going into some sort of space time Vortexx every time they go through these trials, but how are you walking for less than a day and seeing a part of the country you’ve never seen before? You would literally be able to see that from a window of this massive academy.
So it kind of concerns me that all of these characters have no idea that most of the country is in ruins and people are starving and dying, being killed left and right when it’s literally 20 miles away.

I definitely wish we found out more of the back stories, not just of the mains, but the side characters as well.
The idea that the MMC has this strong group of friends around him is really cool, but we know almost nothing about them and how they are related or close to him.
The FMC is starting to have friends, but again we know nothing about them.

The professors definitely remind me of Hogwarts, they can be tough, but they are still supportive of the students learning their magic, and I’m definitely a sucker for a magic Academy! If anything I want more of the magic Academy

The book does and in a cliffhanger, but it’s not an unhinged cliffhanger like iron flame 😂

Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice. .5 🌶️
Humor 😂
Crying ❌
Kicking feet ❌

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars

This gave me dark Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl vibes. I read this in one sitting. The world building and character development were great. I enjoyed the side characters as well. I liked the slow burn between Kiara and Lucian. (Closed door)

I'm hoping there's more because I'd like to see more from the characters and this world!

Ok this met my expectations and the pacing was wonderful, it didn’t mess around one bit.

Kiara is fierce and determined, this character and the plot dynamic really gave me Throne Of Glass vibes which is amazing because I miss the feeling that book gave me.

Lucian is broody and well connected as the prince which also leaves him trusting few people, especially Kiara.

The romance, magic and evil plaguing this realm created some HIGH stakes. I’m so excited to find out more about the magic systems and what it will take to bring the villain of this story down.

Tropes/themes included are: enemies to lovers, curses and greek mythology.