⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🫑

Holy mother of fuck. This is one of the best books I’ve EVER read.

Everything about this book was 5 stars. The slow burn, the enemies to lovers, the prophesies, the action, the magic… GOD!!!!

There is just so much to say and so little words to describe what this book was.

I truly need time to process because this was just…everything.

When is book2??????

Thank you so much to Ever for the ARC of this book 😭🫶🏻 I will be waiting with bated breath for the next one!!!!

Wow, this book was just right up my alley. A perfect blend of magic, love and thrill. It’s giving me a whole new but familiar are, think Harry Potter and Greek mythology all wrapped in one. Definitely recommend😍

This book just hit the mark for me and while I do feel like I needed a little more world building I still really enjoyed the book and cannot wait for the next one!!
And can I just say .. the way the mmc had me kicking my feet and giggling!! Yes!!

This book is honestly such an incredible vibe. The dark academia setting, the assasain with celestial magic, the greek mythology retelling--everything was so lush and atmospheric it completely sucked me in and I can NOT stop thinking about this world and these characters. I am so hoping that all these guys get their own books and the Academy of Villains becomes a beloved series that spans many works becuase the author has serious outdone themselves and should be lauded for the wonderful and magnificent job in creating such a fascinating book such as this!

This book took me on a whirlwind adventure. The story kicks off quick! It had my anxiety up and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. There are no slow parts or lulls where you wish something would happen. Something is constantly happening or being discovered. Questions get answered, and more questions pop up. There's assassins, magic, a cursed king, friendships, secret societies, and a curse to break. Plus, it's a Greek retelling which adds another layer of fun.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book, Academy of Villains: Lessons in Loyalty.

I want to thank the author for the ARC.
I enjoyed this book. Like what's not to love? Enemies to lovers, secret society and school settings. This book literary starts with: "I´ve been hired to kill the prince." I liked Kiaras and Lucian's characters and enjoyed Ravens club members and I´m quite intrigued with a few of them. What I would like to see more is Kiara being badass she was described as an assassin and I would like to see more of her fight scenes. Also, I think that the trials were a little bit rushed. Overall I was expecting more for the ending but no major cliffhanger. But I´m still going to read next book since I want to get to know the characters and world better.

First of all, thanks for the ARC; it was a pleasure to read this book!

Academy of Villains is a fantasy book about a girl who's been trained all her life to be a Nameless assassin. One day, she is given an assignment: to kill the crown prince of Ithaka and break a dark curse. But it turns out that she must work with him to succeed, and only with his help can she free the kingdom. Can they overcome their initial antipathy? Will they mean more to each other than simple partners?

I was so curious about this book! I adore greek mythology, so it was obvious to me that I HAD TO read Academy of Villains. I had high hopes for it. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. The plot was a bit clichéd, but also action-packed with plenty of twists and turns! The writing style was enjoyable and easy to read, so I finished it quickly.

My biggest problem was with the main characters and their romance. Lucian was way too overprotective. For me he was kinda annoying with this behavior. I know he was so in love with Kiara and wanted to protect her at all costs, but she's been a killer her whole life, and she can defend herself. And that brings me to Kiara. I expected her to be more stubborn, and I thought she would persistently stick to her opinion. She changed her mind from one moment to another, which was a bit disappointing. And now I'm talking about her feelings for Lucian. One chapter, she despised him, and in the next, she made out with him. I would have liked it better if their relationship and how their feelings for each other changed had been more fully developed. So, for me, their love was not as grandiose.

On the other hand, I LOVED the side characters! They were diverse, funny, and interesting. The whole concept of the Raven Society was so exciting. It would have been great to learn more about it. My top three characters were definitely Octavia, Tobias, and Bastian, so I'm really looking forward to reading more about them.

In a nutshell, I liked Academy of Villains, and I can't wait to the read sequel!

If you love greek mythology, enemies to lovers, and dark-light dynamics, and are a fan of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and A Curse So Dark and Lonely, then I recommend Academy of Villains!

I want to start by saying a HUGE thank you to Ever King and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! ❤️

I absolutely loved the premise of this book and thought the celestial magic was such a nice and different touch from other fantasy novels, which mostly focus on shifter or elemental magic. I also liked the original twist on the ‘fated mates’ trope with the heartstrings that were visible and physically connected people. This has SO much potential as an idea, and I really enjoyed it! I also loved the magic academy setting, as I’m a real sucker for that.

Unfortunately, though, this book overall just wasn’t for me. I would have liked to have seen more of the academy & lessons, learnt more about celestial magic, and spent a lot more time on each of the trials. The trials almost felt less like ‘trials’ and more like road obstacles on a journey to the Temple (think Wizard of Oz style). I also couldn’t get past the similarities to other famous fantasy series - like Harry Potter, Red Queen / Powerless, and Throne of Glass. If it had been snippets of inspiration, I think it would’ve been ok, but it was just too close to the plot lines in those series for me to be able to ignore.

I was also disheartened to see that there was a scene with SH in this book and no trigger warnings at the start, at least not in my copy. Readers should please bear this in mind and decide if this would trigger you, protect your mental health ❤️

I think this book would be great for a YA reader or someone who is new to reading fantasy romance, and the world itself has SUCH great potential with the celestial magic! ✨ it just unfortunately was not for me.

The cover initially attracted my attention, and the synopsis further piqued my interest. It presents a fascinating premise, so I encourage continued development of the idea. The protagonist is tasked with assassinating the prince but inadvertently finds herself enrolled in an academy where she uncovers her identity as a mage. Subsequently, she opts to go undercover, although her plans do not unfold as anticipated.

I appreciated the atmosphere, even though the pacing felt rather swift, particularly the rapid chemistry between the characters, despite the slow-burn dynamic (I have a fondness for slow-burn relationships that include numerous stages of animosity). I did not fully perceive the "enemies to lovers" trope, as he seemed to be attracted to her from the outset, yet I continued reading with a mix of curiosity and engagement.

The incorporation of mythology within the narrative was enjoyable, which is certainly a positive aspect. I also found the concept of magic deriving from grimoires, the presence of secret societies, and the inclusion of several appealing male characters to be intriguing, along with the unconventional romantic entanglements.

Regrettably, by the conclusion, I did not feel a strong desire to discover what would transpire next. I had anticipated a deeper exploration of the academy experience, including classes and collaborative efforts that would foster a sense of familial bonds beyond blood relations. While there were elements of dark academia, it did not evoke the same atmosphere as Harry Potter. Although there were aspects of sorting and academic life, it lacked a truly villainous tone.

Love that it is exactly what another review said. That this one is Slytherin coded and is the main reason I requested for it. This did not disappoint!

3.5 stars.

This was a great debut novel. Full of some of all our favourite tropes, mythology and lots of twists.

A great young adult story with fierce romance, found family and interesting magic systems. I really enjoyed the use of grimoires, this is something i've rarely seen for good use so this was a great approach. We saw small amounts of classes but i'd love to explore more of this in the rest of the series.

The pacing throughout was good, my only slight issue was sometimes the dual POVs felt slightly disjointed at times where big moments would happen and when switching to a new POV the tension was cut by going back slightly. I'd like to see history explored in another way that didn't take us out of the current moment.

Overall I enjoyed this and think it's a great read for fans of Harry Potter, Throne of Glass and Powerless. I look forward to the second book.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Netgallery for this ARC. This was a great book to finish off 2024 and I really enjoyed it! I have marked this book 5 stars, I nearly did 4.75 but felt that was being harsh which I will expand on.

Academy of Villains introduces us to Kiara who is a fiesty assassin who is given a new target of Lucian, a prince, however her plans unravel as she sneaks into the academy and makes a unexpected discovery about herself and the prince. Kiara is strong, stubborn and fiesty FMC, Lucian is a dark/shadow MMC who is instantly intrigued by her and falls first.

The underlying story is based on the Greek myth of Nyx and Erebus with the representations of light and darkness, which is a lesser common myth to use in stories and definitely made it more enjoyable for me.

My only second thoughts on the five stars was the fast pace, I am hoping there will a little more world building in the next book to help pace it a little. This is a personal preference and didn't stop me getting stuck into this book though hence the 5 stars. I love the unique magical system and cannot wait to learn more in book 2, and would definitely recommend this series.

Themes/Tropes:
Greek mythology - Nyx and Erebus
He falls first
Enemies to lovers
Trials
Assassin x prince
Fated bonds
Secret societies
Academic setting
Dramione/HP coded
Closed door romance

An assassin on a mission and a cursed kingdom set the stage for a story inspired by the love of Nyx and Erebus—set at Mage academy. Our FMC, a mundane (or so she thinks), harbors a fierce grudge against magic wielders. Trained as an assassin for the King, she’s sent on a mission to eliminate the MMC—but nothing goes as planned.

The world-building shines with elemental and celestial magic, secret societies, and focuses a lot on the opposing forces of light and shadow. The dynamic between shadow and light, tied together first by their mutual attraction is a nice twist on the classic “opposites attract” trope. There is also a refreshing twist on the classic “fated mates” trope, with the bond manifesting in a unique way. I won't say how as I don't want to spoil it for you. However, once it appears, the bonded must face trials, sacrifices, and the challenge of acceptance. While not entirely new, it’s executed in a way that feels both engaging and impactful.

I loved the magic system. The highlight being that spells are summoned through grimoires that adapt to the user’s needs. It’s a fascinating detail, though I wish we had explored more of the academy’s daily life. I was especially intrigued by the enigmatic headmaster and how the secret societies maneuver and influence events on campus, adding layers of mystery and tension to the story.

While the pacing in the beginning is steady, the story picks up momentum around Chapter 13. Which is great, but at times, the pacing feels a bit rushed—particularly in the transition from dislike to love, even with external forces influencing events.

This story leans toward very little spice, with a closed-door approach to romance, but it still delivers a little underlying tension and chemistry between the characters. The slow-burn dynamic is mild yet satisfying, as the connection builds gradually through meaningful glances, charged conversations, and shared moments that spark just enough intrigue to keep you hooked.

Overall, I liked this book. The author ties in mythological symbolism really well, explaining it all at the end, which makes this an enjoyable and easy read. The ending left me excited for the next installment!

Kiara and Lucian are both interesting, strong characters. The very beginning was a little slow but quickly picked up. After we are given so much fascinating information, it felt as if the book should have been longer. I need to know more! Also all the side characters are great. I want to know more about all their heartstrings and what it all means in the bigger picture. Can’t wait for the next book!

I honestly was not ready for this book to end. Once I started I could not put it down. I loved the connection with mythology and magic. Kiara was a FMC that has a lot of challenges and things to overcome. She is someone who doesn't need a man to fight her battles she will do it for herself and is not afraid to show that. The world building was really good. I could see and imagine everything that was mentioned. I enjoyed the plot and never was confused. I like how the magic was explained very detailed. There was a lot of struggles/ battles that they had to work through and I could not get enough! The ending did feel a little rushed but was still such a great read! It is definitely Harry Potter meets Throne of glass with mythology vibes which I loved!! I highly recommend this read!! I can't wait for the next book!! Thank you NetGalley, Publisher, and Author for allowing me to be apart of the ARC team!❤️

I was so excited to read this book! based of the love story of Nyx and Erebus? yes please!

This was fast paced throughout and kept you on your toes. its peek dark academia and a great starter for those just entering into that sub genre. The atmosphere was immersive and was dripping with mystery and intrigue (especially with those secret societies!) the magic system is very unique and i loved how they used Grimoires to channel their magic. The system was easy enough to follow and i wasn't racking my brain trying to figure out how xyz worked.

The spark between Kiara and Lucian was instant and im intrigued to see how that unfolds. Their relationship gave me BIG dramione vibes so potterheads will like this one. Their relationship is very central to the plot and Im hoping in the next book we'll see their connection deepen as it did feel that some parts could have been more fleshed out and we missed out on the impact of some emotional moments.

overall this was a great read and i honestly enjoyed myself throughout. This is definitely worth picking up if you love mythology mixed with dark acadmia and good dose of mystery

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

A huge thanks for letting me review read this book.
I was intrigued by the title and the cover, after reading the description I just had to read it.

Enemies to lovers? Yes, but mildly so.. Because the prince doesn't view Kiara as his enemie, not in the same level as Kiara sees him. I need to say this, it's refreshing to read a story as detailed as this with little to no spice. It seems that almost all new stories need to be bombarded with spice to sell, which isn't necessary.

Kiara is on a mission when she enters the academy grounds, little does she know it's grimoire selection day and she somehow ends up in line to let her magic be read. Magic? She doesn't have any! At least that's what she believes.

The starmage, long believed to be extinct.. Seems to re-enter the world. With zero knowledge about magic and newly being enrolled at the academy, Kiara tries to keep up with her mission, makes friends and learns more about the curse that taunts the lands of Ithika and it's royal line.

The story unfolds at a good pace which makes the reading part extra fun. You get to learn a bit about mythology, a plus in my book. It does give a bit of a Harry Potter vibe but with the duelling being a bit more next level. If you liked Harry Potter, this book is a good one to give a go.

These were the quotes I absolutely adored:
- "If his love is a curse, I'll wear it like a crown"
- "When the world is at its darkest just follow the stars"

Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Setting: 🌎🌎🌎🌎
Characters: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖

What to Expect
-Enemies to Lovers
-Greek Mythology Retelling
-Magic Academy
-Dark/Shadow Magic
-He Falls First
-Powerful FMC

“Love is the frequency of magic.”

This was such a fun read! It had all the elements of a fantasy romance that I love and it felt oddly nostalgic the entire time I was reading. It gave me so many Harry Potter feels as I was getting to know the academy and the classes and as the story progressed, it really set itself apart and had so many unique aspects!

The magic system is really interesting and something I’ve never seen before. There is so much to build on and I can’t wait to see how this develops as the series continues. The plot was high-stakes and kept me engaged the entire time without a ton of fluff and unnecessary scenes. This is perfect if you are looking for a quick and overall fun/easy read in the romantasy space.

The FMC Kiara was someone I could really get behind, I liked that she wasn’t perfect and had some rough edges, it made her super relatable. The MMC Lucian is everything you can expect from a shadow-wielding mage, arrogant, charismatic, but also so very sweet and protective. The side characters are lovable and I can’t wait to see more of them in the books to come.

I think this was a great start to the series and will definitely be continuing this series!

Think Harry Potter vibes mixed with Gossip Girl, then add assassins, dark magic, a shadowy dark magic MMC, and a Greek mythology retelling? This book delivers it all!

Kiara and Lucian's relationship had me hooked, and I’m already desperate for more of the Raven Society boys. Tobias and Kaspian, anyone?? 👀

This story didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. I can’t wait for the next installment!