Thanks for the E-ARC

This book had such a strong start, and I was immediately drawn in by the cover and intriguing premise. A deadly assassin infiltrating a mage academy? Sign me up! Kiara, one of the Nameless and sworn to eliminate magic, is sent to kill Prince Lucien but accidentally gets mistaken for a student. She soon discovers she’s a mage herself—the very thing she despises. From there, she must choose between her mission and her newfound powers.

The atmosphere was compelling, and I really enjoyed the mythology, secret societies, and grimoire-based magic. There were also some interesting love ties, though I expected a stronger enemies-to-lovers dynamic. While the romance was labeled as slow burn, the attraction kicked in quickly, making it feel less like a true rivalry.

Unfortunately, as the story progressed, my excitement faded. The academy setting, which had so much potential, felt underused. I wanted more classes, teamwork, and a deeper sense of dark academia. While there were elements of school traditions, the villainous atmosphere was lacking. By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t eager to continue the series.

Despite its intriguing premise, the execution left me wanting more. Hopefully, the sequel delivers on the potential!

Hooked from the first chapter.

I loved this book! It was an incredibly fast-paced and enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. I was thrilled by this retelling of Nyx and Erebus. It brought a fresh twist to their story, and I found myself completely captivated by the world-building and character dynamics.

The magic system in this book was incredibly unique. I especially enjoyed how the grimoires were central to the use of magic—it added a sense of mystery and depth to the magical elements. The way magic is handled in this world felt both powerful and carefully structured, and I’m excited to explore more about the mages and their abilities as the series progresses.

The setting had a wonderful blend of academia and secret society vibes that really drew me in. The atmosphere created a sense of intrigue and adventure, making each chapter feel like a thrilling discovery. On top of that, the romance was everything I hoped for! The enemies-to-lovers and fated mates storyline was beautifully done, with tension and chemistry building throughout the book. And, of course, who can resist the allure of another swoon-worthy "shadow daddy"?

This book is perfect for readers who love Greek mythology, fantasy, and romance with a dash of mystery. Fans of The Atlas Six or Throne of Glass will likely enjoy this series, especially those who appreciate complex characters, magical world-building, and slow-burn romance. It’s also a great fit for readers 18+ who enjoy mature themes mixed with thrilling twists and dynamic relationships.

If you haven’t yet picked up Academy of Villains, now is the perfect time to start with book 1, especially with book 2 coming out soon! This series promises even more excitement and twists to come, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC—I thoroughly enjoyed every page!

A dark romantasy filled with inspired from greek mythology? Count me in!

This book was perfectly paced, it didn’t mess around with info dumping or taking to long to get into the story.

Kiara is of course my favourite character being a fierce and badass assassin, very reminiscent of throne of glass.

There were very high stakes and I was on the edge of my seat reading this. Unputtdownable!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it was super quick and easy read. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and I really loved this Nyx and Erebus retelling!

The magic system felt unique, and I loved the use of the grimoires for their magic. I look forward to learning more about all of the mages throughout the series.

The academia and secret society vibes were really fun in this one. We also got a really beautiful enemies to lovers/fated mates storyline. Plus, who doesn’t love another shadow daddy to swoon over? 😉🥰

Now is a great time to read book 1 of Academy of Villains before book 2 comes out in June! 🌌

Thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for the chance to read this ARC!

I loved this one!
We have a dark academia world full of little Greek myth details interwoven into a background of power and secret societies and I was captivated.
A dual POV of Kiera and Lucian sweeps us into a world that is similarly split between mundanes and mages, rich and poor, oblivious and oppressed. Kiera’s detailed focus on the mission at the beginning soon expands into wonder as we see through her eyes the magic but also corruption of the world! I really really enjoyed Lucian’s interactions with the Raven Society – often the mcs are alone fighting a war they are unsupported in but Lucian has the support from his peers allowing him and Kiera to split of taking one part of the quest.
I feel like I have barely stepped into this rich world and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

This book combines 2 of my favourite things, dark romance and Greek mythology, and my hopes going into this were high. I really liked the cover and blurb when requesting this arc.

The romance and chemistry between the main characters delivered everything i hoped it would. The pacing was fast and I found it easy to stay engaged.

Im very interested to see what the next book brings

The entire premise was very intriguing. I love re-imaginings of stories, and Greek Myths are my current obsession. The book grabs your attention immediately and wraps you into the story. The world building is good, ideas kept simple, but explained enough so that you get the full picture of their world and how magic works there. I love the idea of the grimoire and how it appears at their sorting ceremony. The main characters felt developed enough to actually care about what happens.

Where this lacks is speed. I felt that the pacing was a bit rushed, like it could have been 500 pages longer and I’d devour it. At this pace, it’s shorter but felt like things were progressing way too fast. All of a sudden they found two keys already, she’s best friends with someone she’s know for maybe a week, they battle with the big bad to solve the problem with barely a month passing? It may have been longer, but when he says ‘I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time’ I thought that was crazy, it has barely been a month!

That being said, I will 100% be reading the next books in the series. I want to know more about the world, and explore the characters more. I also want to see o how we ultimately defeat the big bad. Honestly, great book, just give us more! With all the long fantasy and romantasy out there now, we’ll read it!

In a world where magic is fading, an unstoppable tyrant expands his empire, leaving ruin in his wake. Orphaned children without magic are molded into deadly assassins, while those with power are forced into a brutal academy, trained to serve under his iron rule.

Kiara, once the king’s most lethal assassin, is given one final mission—eliminate the prince and end the royal bloodline. But when she infiltrates the academy, everything changes. Because the magic she was taught to destroy? She has it. Now, she's caught in a deadly game. The Cursed Prince is more than just a target—he’s a temptation. Secret societies lurk in the shadows. The headmaster holds dangerous secrets. And as students begin to vanish, Kiara must decide: fulfill her mission or unravel the truth before it’s too late. With enemies at every turn and a romance that could either save or doom them all, Academy of Villains is perfect for fans of dark academia, slow-burn tension, and morally gray characters who walk the line between love and betrayal.

My thoughts:

The romance between Kiara and Lucian is the beating heart of Academy of Villains, a slow-burn, tension-laced relationship that straddles the line between enemies and lovers. Their dynamic is filled with angst, fiery clashes, and undeniable chemistry, but at times, their bond develops in a way where some emotional moments don’t hit as hard as they could.

The novel opens strong, weaving an intoxicating blend of dark academia, political intrigue, and high-stakes action. But as the story progresses, the pacing varies—some plot threads feel aimless, while others don’t get the depth they deserve. The secret societies, especially the Raven Society, offer intrigue, yet they could have been explored further.

That said, Academy of Villains delivers gripping moments, a hauntingly rich atmosphere, and enough twists to keep readers hooked. It lays a strong foundation for what promises to be an electrifying series. Fans of dark fantasy, magical school settings, and morally complex characters will find much to love here. And with its mix of danger, romance, and rebellion, this book is sure to leave readers eager for the next installment.

This was a great romantasy!

I loved the opposites attract/ 'I hate you but for some reason I'm also attracted' romance (it didn't feel like an actual enemies-to-lovers). The pacing was great and the writing style wholly comfortable.
I did kind of struggle with all the terms and names at the start, but it really settled and kept me hooked! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series!

This unfortunately wasn't for me. It wasn't original enough and had a few phrases that were too similar to other well known books. It was easy to read but I found it difficult to get into and a bit boring.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc!

I rate this book 4 stars! It's an easy entertaining YA read with tons of action.

Room for improvement: the storyline and world-building can be improved. The pacing is also off sometimes. It could be a bit more streamlined. It went from fast-paced to slow-paced back to fast-paced.

A retelling of the Nyx and Erebus myth set in dark academia. Kiara, a trained assassin, is tasked with killing a prince. However, when she is accidentally discovered in the academy she lies and says she’s supposed to be there. Surprise she actually has magic. It’s enemies to lovers, interesting world and magic and of course high stakes because now she , has to decide if she kills the prince or works with him to try and save the world. Solid book 1 of a series. 3.5 stars.

The worst assassin in the world attends the kingdoms boarding school for mages with an unbelievably slack security system and its very own Gossip Girl.

The story starts off with our FMC, Kiara, on a mission to eliminate the Crown Prince, who resides in a school of mages. Somehow Kiara is able to just slip into this highly exclusive school of some of the most powerful magic users in the entire kingdom and lands in their version of a Hogwarts sorting ceremony. They mistake her for a student (how??) and she is revealed to also be a mage. She then just starts taking classes and only after a few days does the Headmaster ask her, ‘how did you get into this school?!’ 🤨


It started off pretty strong and I was entertained; it’s an easy book to read. This book is by no means a literary masterpiece and so I tried to just enjoy what it could offer me. However, as the story progressed there were various elements and plot holes that made me roll my eyes. The dialogue became pretty cheesy towards the end, with lines such as “Let’s show him what we’re made of!” said in earnest, during an intense fight sequence.

Unfortunately, this book isn’t for me. The first red flag for me was at the end of the first chapter where, I shit you not, the MMC says “There you are. I’ve been waiting for you.” SOUND FAMILIAR??? Almost too uncanny. And you’d never guess what - he is also a shadow-daddy.

My main genres are thriller and horror, so I like to switch it up with some fantasy here and there, and this absolutely hit the spot. If Harry Potter and The Magicians had a darker, more morally gray cousin, this would be it. It was action packed and well paced, with some romance thrown into the mix; the storyline kept me hooked the entire way through.

My only real complaint is that I wanted more. I know there's a second book in the series, and I’m not sure how much it follows the original characters. Either way, I’ll be picking it up.

I DNF’d this book at around 20% as it wasn’t working for me. It felt like it was trying too hard to be Harry Potter. It didn’t interest me enough to keep reading.

The Magic system in this book was really fascinating, especially the grimoires and the way they become more powerful and carried the more they are used. The nods to Greek mythology are fun to spot, and the overarching themes of trust, sacrifice and love make my heart sing. Especially because both main characters start out semi-unlikable and hellbent on achieving their own goals DESPITE the other, their own personal journeys through those themes feel really poignant and lovely. I think there’s a lot we as a society can learn from Kiara and Lucian, about really listening to each other and trying to see from the other perspective - and then joining forces instead of fighting to the death. I’m interested to find out what happens next!

Very cool magic system, and I was really intrigued by the idea but something just fell flat. I didn't feel connected to the main characters and was expecting more of the academia side of dark academia. I'll still be watching out for book 2 to find out what happens next!! 3.5 stars rounded down

Firstly, the cover on this is absolutely beautiful and I am absolutely obsessed with it !

The story was a whole vibe from start to finish and I loved it ! .

I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone who loves to read !!

Take Harry Potter, mix it with Greek mythology, add some elements of Zodiac Academy but make it for teens and you obtain this book. I like the concept of this, but the execution fell a little short for me. There were a lot of details that quite didn't add up for me, and it made me sad because I really wanted to love this book.

This book is marketed as dark fantasy, but it is not really dark. Considering the FMC is an assassin and the MMC is a prince with shadow magic, I was expecting more violence or trauma than this. It was more gothic than it was dark, in my opinion. I would say, the main element is the love story. It is an enemy-to-lovers, fated mates love story where he falls first. It was cute.

Other than that, the magic system was interesting but I wish it was detailed a little more. I had questions sometimes when they were using magic that were not answer in this book. Maybe they will be answered in book 2 or 3.

I think a 13-15 y/o that just started to read fantasy might enjoy it, but as an adult who read a lot of fantasy it did not resonate with me, unfortunately. I would recommend it to teens, especially if they want a book set in a magical school with secret societies and elements of the Greek mythology.

This book was absolutely amazing I devoured It 🩷

I got a delayed ARC but It was worth It

It was an Easy read, I loved the World building, the characters, the way the relationship between the protagonists develops, the plot 🤌🏼🤌🏼

I think it's a book for young people and adults at the same time who like fantasy itself with a bit of romance.