Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for the arc!

Sometimes books can benefit from being shorter. This book could definitely benefit from being longer. It may not have been entirely within the author’s control, but it surely impacted how well the story was developed.

I don’t think the relationship was fleshed out well. The FMC went from wanting to kill the MMC to break the curse, but after learning that they had a Heartstring and there was actually another way to break the curse that doesn’t involve killing him, I guess they just fell instantly madly in love with each other? In short, while we know a bit of why Lucian loves Kiara, we don’t know the other way around.

Although it was entertaining enough to keep the pages turning, the writing itself was quite choppy and monotonous - lacking rhythm and making it hard to stay immersed in the story. The plot points moved on too fast, and while the beginning was engaging at the Academy, the story unfortunately lost traction and my attention by the trials until the end.

An intriguing start to the series! Whilst there were elements of the world building that I thought could have been fleshed out a bit more, I was still fairly gripped with the story from the start and enjoyed the easy flow of the writing style. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book two

This was like Harry Potter but with Fae elemental magic, the concept was cool but the execution was not. Literally everything was like Harry Potter to the point where it didn’t feel original. There was a sorting stone instead of a hat, houses people got sorted into at dorms etc. and the two main characters have rare/extinct powers that attract each other…..I wonder what could happen? 🤨

A lot of it felt very predictable, but it was a quick and easy read. I don’t think I will continue the series.

This book whisked me away into a dark academia world infused with Greek mythology, and I was absolutely here for it. Imagine a magic academy teeming with secrets, where an assassin and a cursed prince find their fates intertwined - talk about a page-turner!

We meet Kiara, a fierce assassin on a mission to eliminate Prince Lucian. But, of course, there's a twist! She discovers latent magical abilities and gets entangled in the very world she was sent to disrupt. The enemies-to-lovers trope is strong here, and while their chemistry is palpable, some readers might feel their relationship develops a bit swiftly. Personally, I would've loved a tad more slow-burn tension (that's just a personal preference) but their dynamic still had me hooked.

The world-building is lush and immersive. The academy's eerie atmosphere, combined with secret societies and a unique magic system involving grimoires, adds depth to the narrative. However, I did find myself craving more exploration into the secondary characters and the intricacies of the Raven Society. Here's hoping future instalments delve deeper into these elements.

One standout aspect is the blend of Greek mythology with the dark academia setting. The nods to Nyx and Erebus add a rich layer to the story, making it feel fresh. The trials Kiara faces are reminiscent of classic myths, each designed to challenge and reveal deeper truths.

On the spice meter, I'd give it a bell pepper; there's definitely romantic tension and some romantic moments, but nothing too explicit. It's perfect for those who enjoy romance without the steam.

In summary, Academy of Villains is a captivating start to what promises to be an enthralling series. If you're into morally grey characters, magical academies, and mythological retellings, this one's for you. I'd rate it a solid 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more!

Academy of Villains is a dark academia fantasy romance that weaves Greek mythology into a magical school setting. The story follows Kiara, a former assassin with a hidden magical gift, who infiltrates a dangerous academy with one mission to kill Prince Lucian, a cursed royal entangled in the kingdom’s darkest secrets. With an eerie atmosphere, secret societies, and an intriguing magic system, the book delivers a suspenseful and immersive reading experience.

The romance between Kiara and Lucian is intense, balancing enemies-to-lovers tension with emotional depth, though their connection feels a bit rushed, especially in the second half. The pacing slows at times due to heavy exposition, and while secondary characters like those in the Raven Society could have been explored more, there’s hope for deeper development in future books. Overall, this is a strong start to what promises to be an exciting series, perfect for fans of dark academia, morally complex characters, and high-stakes romance.

Ever King's Academy of Villains is a thrilling dive into a world where the lines between good and evil blur. The novel's intricate plot and well-developed characters keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning morality and destiny. King's vivid world-building and unexpected twists make for an unforgettable reading experience. This book is a standout in the fantasy genre, offering a fresh perspective on the classic hero-villain dynamic.

Arc review

I haven’t read a book with this concept before and I really loved reading it. It reminded me of divergent and the hunger games and I loved that nostalgia and it made me rnjoy this book even more

I really loved kiara and I love her as a main female character. She is so confident and knows what she wants and she is soo head strong and I loved that.

But highly recommend this book

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for the ARC.

When I saw this novel on NetGalley I couldn’t wait to request it, I adore mythology books (especially one’s that aren’t just a basic retelling) and I will take an academy enemy to lovers book any day of the week. I wasn’t disappointed, the story is an amazing twist on the Nyx and Erebus tale. Ever King created a different magic system that you wouldn’t expect with Greek mythology but it works. They wove in so many little Easter eggs into the story like that kingdom name being based on Odysseus’ home of Ithaca etc. which were so fun to see if you are a mythology nerd like myself. I wish that I could have given this book 4.5 stars because I think it is worth more than 4 stars but it doesn’t quite reach the 5 star level for me. This is because I found some of the writing to be a bit confusing so I had to read a couple sections an extra time to make sure I caught what was happening. This seems to be set up as a series of interconnected stand alone novels, so while there is a cliff hanger for the over reaching story there is a nice resolution for the couple. I can’t wait for book two, I have guesses on which character is which but I will keep those to myself for now.

What the heck did I just stumble onto?? My next favorite series....yes, that's what I just did! Honestly the reader gets pulled into a vibrant, wonderfully fun and equally evil little world. I absolutely loved it from the first line.

Greek mythology meets Magic Academy meets mafia....and you have the book that has a stunning green cover and a story between the bookends that will make you invested in the series.

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. I think fans of Harry Potter.

I appreciate that it does not end on a major cliff hanger but rather leads into the next book - more of a enticement to keep reading for the "rest of the story".

Over all this is a fun read.

The book was really nice even though I would have loved if the story was stretched in multiple books to develop more of the characters personalities and all the things that happen!
All in all good job for a first book, the ideas and thropes were all there, the universe was beautiful and the writing really good! Keep going! ❤️

The cover immediately caught my eye and the quote also intrigued me. It is a cool concept of a story but I feel like it still needs some developing. I liked the atmosphere the story created. It is labelled as "enemies to lovers" but the main characters had an instant attraction towards each other ... The grimoire magic aspect was a new fantasy element to me so I enjoyed that part. Sadly, at the end, I was not really dying to find out how things would be solved. But thank you so much for this ARC!

Hmmm an interesting book. I think it was good....I was disappointed there was no smut, but I think that says much more about me than the author!

A great premise, loved the dark academia world building. The character development was good.

The dialogue was a bit stale, but I was still able to follow along.
The out of academy world was a bit too fast, the character connections happened out of no where and I feel it lost me a little there.

Genuinely a beautiful book, and I can't wait to read the next. But this isn't a fast paced, smutty, modern tale. This is a deeper, slower, tale.

Characters: 2⭐
Plot: 2⭐
Writing Style: 2⭐
Enjoyment: 2.5⭐
Overall rating: 2⭐

What to expect? This book was advertised to me as "Slytherin vibes"

Things I loved?
🔸 I loved the premise. And sometimes I enjoyed the characters. There were a few good lines through the book.
🔸 I do love enemies to lovers too.

What could be improved?
🔸 This author really struggled with show not tell. I struggled to read this sort of writing. That's why this book, for me, was a little gruelling to read.
🔸 This book felt too much like tons of other things I've read and seen. Like at the start they were sorted into four houses and then there was chamber of secrets type thing. And this was just the beginning.
🔸 The characters felt cliche.
🔸 I wish so badly this had gotten a better editor. An honest editor with the authors best intentions in mind.

Books recs if you liked this one?
🔸 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This is a book I'll never stop recommending. There's less romance and it's less full fantasy. But it's set at a school with magical elements and it gets dark. There's mystery and intrigue. And this is one of my favorite books.

Would I recommend this book? No, sorry. I really wanted to like this read. But it just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an honest review.

Loved the dark academia shadow daddy vibe. This book had me hooked in a dark wonderland of magic. I definitely got harry potter ish vibes and enjoyed the instant hook this book gave me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity.

This has all the potential to be great. Great concepts, but needs a little tweaking. A lot of the time, I notice the first books in a fantasy series can be a little lackluster and picks up as the series goes on. That is what I am hoping for this one. Will keep an eye out for the next one in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ever King for the ARC of this book.

Holy cow, I loved this book. I read it in 1 day, barely able to put it down. The magic, the world, the mythology weaved within, and the overall storyline, it was all amazing. Kiara is an assassin sent to kill the Prince to break a curse on the kingsom. Lucian is the Prince, who quickly becomes obsessed with her. As they face-off with each other time and time again, her magic fully awakens. She finds out she's fated to the Prince, and they must find a way to break the curse that holds the kingdom hostage.
This story captivated me. I really hope book 2 can do the same. I'm already on edge for it.


Some tropes to expect:
Enemies to lovers
Fade to black romance (one time)
Very YA friendly
Curses
Mythology woven in

3.75 and in my opinion, a great start for a new series.

I enjoyed Academy of Villains and found it to be a fun and engaging read. The storyline had a familiar feel, blending a darker, grittier Harry Potter vibe with a fierce female main character reminiscent of Aelin from Throne of Glass. If you’re into secret societies, grimoires, and a magic system brimming with potential, this book will be right up your alley.

It did take me a little time to adjust to the characters, but I noticed the writing improved and became less repetitive as the story progressed, which kept me hooked. Without giving away spoilers, the setting changes almost made it feel like I was reading two books in one, and I’m excited to see how the next installment ties everything together.

While we got a glimpse into the academy itself, I’m hoping future books delve deeper into the secret societies and expand on the setting we’ve only begun exploring. I’m also intrigued by the character development and can’t wait to see what roles the side characters—who played prominent parts in this book—will have in the overarching storyline.

Overall, this was a great start to the series, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!

First thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for giving me this ARC!!

Oh my gosh.. so is just something about an assassin sent to do harm that makes me want to read… idk.. This story follows Kiara who accidentally becomes a student at the Academy. This story is very fast paced. Kiara is a strong FMC and is able to handle huge challenges. I love the power that she holds. Lucian is fascinated by her from the very beginning. I did feel like in the beginning there were a few holes that were missing, for example what is this Raven Society? But when it stated what the purpose of it is, I was ohh that’s a cute name for that.

Starmages and Shadowmages - a dance of power, a magnetic pull .. sounds like mates? Or just me? Okay. But it definitely explains the initial fascination. Kiara being the strong FMC awakens the “Heartstrings”. Probably one of my favorite parts of this book.

I don’t know what it is .. or maybe it was how he was introduced but I absolutely loved Kaspian. He had the bad boy vibes. There are few plot twist that had me shook. The curse was explained so well.. it had me hooked. Lucian and Kiara are a strong couple and I loved reading how their magic works in sync together. Overall a recommended read. - review on IG coming soon!!

Academy of Villains by Ever King completely swept me off my feet!

It’s a dark academia fantasy with all the elements I love: morally gray characters, forbidden romance, and a touch of mythology. The story follows Kiara, a former assassin sent to infiltrate a magic academy to kill the prince. But, of course, nothing goes as planned. She discovers her own hidden powers and starts to unravel secrets about herself—and the prince—that complicate everything.

What stood out to me the most was the atmosphere. The academy is so vividly described that I could almost feel the chill of its ancient halls and hear the whispers of magic in the air. Kiara is such a fierce, layered protagonist, and her chemistry with the prince is *chef’s kiss*. Their relationship is full of tension, banter, and just the right amount of angst.

That said, there were moments where the pacing felt a little uneven—some parts flew by too quickly while others lingered longer than necessary. And while Kiara and the prince are wonderfully fleshed out, I wish some of the side characters had been given more depth. Still, those are minor gripes compared to how much I enjoyed this book.

If you’re into dark academia vibes mixed with dangerous magic, morally complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that’ll leave you swooning, this one’s for you. It’s definitely one of those books that stays with you after you finish it—and I can’t wait to see where Ever King takes this series next!

I was kindly gifted an ARC copy of the academy of villains by author Ever King, which is something I will forever be grateful for. What initially drew me into the book was the cover of the book, it gave me Slytherin vibes which I totally love as a huge harry potter fan. The dark and mysterious aesthetic definitely piqued my interest right from the start.

The story also revolves around an academy for mages where students are taught to harness and control their magical powers, all while living comfortable lives. In stark contrast, the mundane—people without magic—are oppressed and treated unfairly. The tension between these two groups creates a compelling backdrop for the story, filled with power struggles and intriguing moral dilemmas.

It follows Kiara, a skilled assassin working for the King, who is tasked with killing the prince—a powerful mage. To carry out her mission, she is sent to the academy, only to discover that she, too, is a mage.

The characters were good, with Bastian, Lucian, and Kiara being my favorites. I really enjoyed the dual POVs from Kiara and Lucian—dual POVs are my favorite!
The plot was meant to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but it didn’t quite feel that way. It seemed more like Lucian fell for her first, and his feelings grew stronger, which I still liked. However, I do wish there had been a bit more banter between the two characters. I wish I got to know more about the characters, I did learn about their background but I wish I got to learn about them more as people especially Lucian's group of friends.

The book was incredibly nostalgic, giving off strong Harry Potter vibes, especially from Slytherin House, which I absolutely loved. It made me really happy (I'm a Hufflepuff, by the way!).

So, my final rating would be 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

Since this is the first book in the series, I understand that some things take time to develop, but I'm definitely excited for the second book. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next and to read more from Ever King.

Thank you again for the amazing opportunity to review and read this book!