Unhallowed Halls is everything you want in a dark academia story—mysterious, eerie, and packed with supernatural suspense. From the very first page, I was hooked by all the twists and turns, and the atmosphere was so immersive that I felt like I was right there with the characters. If you love taking your time to really settle into a world and uncover its rules alongside the protagonist, this book will definitely pull you in.
The worldbuilding is rich and unique, blending Greek philosophy with Scottish mythology in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. I was especially drawn to the mix of goddesses and demons. The pacing is great too as things build up nicely and the mystery of the school and its students will keep you guessing, eager for answers. The side characters, with their found-family bond, were such a highlight for me. I loved following Page’s journey as she uncovered why she was even admitted to the academy in the first place.
The book really nails that gothic dark academia vibe, with misty moors, ancient stone circles, quirky rituals, and secrets hiding around every corner. It’s a beautiful mix of magic, folklore, and mystery, making for an unforgettable experience.

Such a great dark academic read, it had great characters and the twists were great, looking forward to reading more by the author.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for this month. Everything about this book breathed my name. The setting, the plot, the cover, the characters. I had my copy pre-ordered for a long time already and then I saw that the book was also available through Netgalley. I didn't hesitate to request my copy and I was insanely thankful that Titan Books granted me a digital review copy. Since I prefer to release reviews shortly before the release date I could finally dive in last week.

There were a lot of things in this book I ended up loving. I was insanely glad that this book didn't just call its students highly intelligent, but allowed them to prove it too. The book was infused with nods towards classic Greek culture. Myths and Legends were mentioned and used as inspiration, philosophers and scientists were quoted and used to figure things out and the author never tries to explain every little detail. You get it or you don't.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the atmosphere of the story. I can't exactly pinpoint why, but it never really felt like I was there. I never really felt the tension and fear. I never really moved to the edge of my seat. Maybe the beginning was a little too slow, with our heroine not really involved in everything, but not really bothered by it either. Maybe the ending was too weird. Maybe the writing just didn't work for me. I just had a hard time feeling much when reading.

Just like I'm not entirely convinced by the plot. There is a lot going on. It's quite bizarre and the more you think about it, it's also quite horrific and gruesome. However, in a way I missed the emotional impact of everything. I guess the writing style of the author simply doesn't fit my reading style. The finale is quite spectacular and action-packed. I'm sure a lot of people are gonna love it. Especially because the characters all get their moment to shine.

I felt a little dissatisfied. I had simply wanted this book to be something it turns out it was not.

I actually loved Unhallowed Halls.
The start of it was very different to the end, in terms of the tone, in my opinion. The first part is very much mysterious because it is essentially Page's journey to figure out what is going on. Whereas the second part, you know what is happening, and it addresses this and goes with it.
I would liked to have explored more of a couple of the characters. But I would 100% read this again and read a sequel or another book in this world.

A brooding slice of dark academia that ruthlessly criss-crosses genre boundaries. After a traumatic incident abruptly severed her connection with her girlfriend and turned her into a pariah, American teen Page is shocked to be offered a scholarship to elite boarding school Agathion College. Tucked away in remote, rural Scotland, Agathion has a reputation for housing “posh fuckups”. Built on a once-sacred, ancient hillside, Agathion seems to have created its own reality. Its pupils are beset by complex rules and arcane rituals: there’s no technology, students must leave personal possessions behind, and even nineteenth-century fiction’s considered too newfangled. Page strives to keep her chequered past a secret but it’s soon clear her teachers and fellow students have their own sinister secrets to protect.

Lili Wilkinson, in an obvious nod to The Secret History, floods her novel with elements taken from Greek mythology and philosophy but adds in copious allusions to Shakespeare and gothic literature from The Mysteries of Udolpho to Northanger Abbey. Although these can be entertaining, the sheer number of references threatens to overwhelm the narrative – and the representation of Greek philosophy can be frustratingly unsophisticated. It also seems increasingly irrelevant, overwritten by aspects of pre-Christian Celtic and pagan belief systems that are instrumental in the transition into fantasy threaded through with strands of cosmic, Lovecraftian horror.

Despite the obvious tropes and mish-mash of influences, I was completely caught up in this, at least until the mystery that dominated the first half was solved. Wilkinson’s cast of characters is pleasingly diverse even if the queer rep could feel a bit superficial at times. There’s some stirring imagery and a wealth of atmospheric, arresting scenes - I particularly enjoyed the startling blend of absurd and grotesque in the banquet episode. But in the second half there’s a disappointing shift in tone and pace. There’s a series of frenzied plot developments and an emphasis on overly detailed, slightly muddled, action sequences. All of which came close to derailing my investment in Page and her fate. All in all, it was still a decent read but it could have been so much more.

Philosophical debates, wrapped up in mysteries with appendages of old magic and a love language of Shakespearean insults.
I loved this book.
From the dark academia aspect of a girl with a troubled past going to a boarding school in the middle of Scotland to the soul-catching talents which emerge within Page there is little left to ask for in this YA novel.
There are definitley a few times which gave me a nostalgic yearning from my time going Philosophy in Uni, one that I welcomed like an old friend.
The plot twists were somewhat predictable in the plot device way however there are some elements that leave you and the characters shocked.
What I loved the most was the natural queerness that lived within Page's world and identity. It did not come as a plot device but a part that was emblazoned on her blazer.

There was one thing that seemed weird though: periods. At the start I wondered if it would be the weirdest plot device and yet it still didn't gain major relevance. Though it was nice for a teenager to have a similar experience to which I experienced growing up. Especially that critique of the weird always adverts which claim that a period is only two table spoons- a thing I feel like an idiot came up with. Yet, apart from this odd detail this book was brilliant.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was gorgeously gothic! A wonderful example of dark academia- dense but throughly captivating. The story rich in detail but still easy to follow. I absolutely loved the world, the lore and the magic!

I read this with my daughter in law and her eldest daughter. My granddaughter thought that it was a bit like the Harry Potter series in setting and tone but had much more of a real modern feel about the characters and their daily lives. I just enjoyed the tale without analysing it too much !

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

From the publisher: “An American teenager joins an exclusive boarding school hidden deep in the Scottish countryside. New friendships blossom, but not everything is as it appears...

Page Whittaker has always been an outcast. And after the deadly incident that destroyed her single friendship at her old school, she needs a fresh start. When she receives a scholarship offer from Agathion College, an elite boarding school folded deep within the moors of Scotland, she doesn’t even consider turning it down.

Agathion is everything Page has ever wanted: a safe haven full of dusty books, steaming cups of tea and rigorous intellectual debate. For the first time in her life, Page has almost managed to make a close group of friends. Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey and Oak help her feel at home in Agathion's halls—the only problem is, they're all keeping secrets from her.

It seems Page’s perfect new school has dark roots—roots that stretch back to its crooked foundation, and an ancient clandestine society. Page quickly learns that not everyone at Agathion is who they say they are.

Least of all her new friends.”




For anyone liking their Dark Academia (very popular at the moment!), this is a book that should tick all the boxes. An outsider wanting to fit in, a strange isolated place of learning, odd academics, companions of different shades, sorcery, magic and ancient rituals. Not to mention stacks of revered books, mountains of food and copious cups of tea.

Really, though, it’s a story that’s about belonging – or a lack of it. Page desperately wants to find stability and safety in her life, after traumatic events earlier in her life (which are described and explained as the book progresses.) She is an outsider, with no friends, separated from her family and starting a new life in Agathion College.  This does all sound rather unpleasant, although Lili makes Page a likeable enough character, albeit with a dark past, for which Page feels very guilty.

In terms of characterisation, generally they are what you expect – the good guys are good, the bad guys less good. It’s an enigmatic collection of misfits and reprobates, all locked away in an isolated school for students on their last chance (what could possibly go wrong?)

I soon realised that this is a book that has themes and ideas similar to that very-well known series, but given a contemporary makeover. This is something that is for more modern readers, perhaps. This is being marketed as a Young Adult novel, although I found it engaging enough for older readers like myself. Keeping with the times, there is an LBGTQ character, there is a trace of sex and same-sex relationships, but nothing too graphic, there is talk of periods and the sort of confusing feelings that teenagers experience, which should make the book relatable to many readers. It’s not off-putting, but it is partly what makes the book different. I was pleased that such details were not heralded as major issues but allowed to be gently nurtured as the plot progressed – we may finally be reaching a point where such details in novels are seen as just part of the general scheme of things, rather than something odd or unusual.

What surprised me most was the smatterings of Shakespeare quoted throughout and the emphasis on Ancient Roman and Greek philosophers and teachers at the beginning – Plato, Diogenes, Socrates are all mentioned. This raises the book up sharply into a novel that makes you think about wider issues - there’s a good dollop of philosophising debate which may make non-Classics readers want to know more, with lots of philosophical points to muse over there.

About halfway through there’s an intriguing twist, which rather turns the plot on its head. The book moves away from being about making friends and a gentle romantasy to something else more akin to a race against time and the resolution of ancient wrongs. The ending is good, although some throwaway comments at the end about what happens next seemed naïve and took the shine off a little for me.

Nevertheless, Unhallowed Halls is a good read in an increasingly crowded niche of the Fantasy genre, with lots of things regular Dark Academia readers will like (and perhaps expect!) and enough originality to make it stand out. I read it very quickly, as it quickly became an un-putdownable read.

I accessed an ARC via NetGalley, so thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me to read this!

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*

Summary: this is a dark academia fantasy book about a girl called Page who received a scholarship to what appears to be a boarding school for ‘troubled youths’. However, we find out that not all is as it seems.

What I liked:
- there is a good amount of LGBTQ+ representation, and there is a diverse group of characters
- there were multiple plot twists which were surprising
- the plot is unique, and I don’t think I have ever come across something similar before so it was refreshing to read!

What I would change:
- the first portion of the book can be difficult to remain engaged with
- the main romantic relationship felt a bit rushed at times
- Page can seem very ‘cliche’ at times

Rating: 4/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc!

I sadly DNFd this book at 26%. It was an easy read but I felt myself getting bored and I didn’t really like page. I don’t think the mystery element was et out really well. The clue being dropped where too literal and then we got what happened out of nowhere. It didn’t sit right with me.

I get that they were their own little clique but then why did Lauren also have other friends?? It doesn’t make sense

As an avid lover of dark academia, magic and all things occult I was ecstatic to get my hands on this book as an arc. It's safe to say I will be following lili for future releases as this was a new favourite from start to finish.

From troubled teens of high intellect, to a mysterious school for them in the Scottish moors with a long mysterious history this book is bound to be a new fave for fans of the academia genre.

I loved this from start to finish, really connecting with our main character feeling out of place and not at home anywhere. Agathion is a new start for her, and a unique mystery in itself with how its teaching follows the words and beliefs of the philosphers. Drawing on Gaelic myth we wind up with a twisted dark academia fantasy full of bloodshed and betrayal, elementals/demons and even a goddess. The historical school of agathion may lie on something much bigger than any of us could anticipate.

From found family, to queer relationships and rep, dysmorphia, and addressing themes such as grief, betrayal and sacrifice this book is deeply emotive. Not only did i love the inclusivity but I thought the harder topics were handled well. Although with topics such as death and violence as well as historic abuse it is vital for readers to check the trigger warnings before delving into this read.

Despite so much tragedy, unity and those you hold dear ultimately succeed - with kindness and sacrifice being the long term messages the reader leaves with.

A teen girl called Page receives a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school set in remote Scotland. The school is built on secrets and has secret societies.
Page has always been an outcasts d has been involved in several magical yet deadly incidents. Wanting a new start Page throws herself into school life. She even befriends a popular group of students. Soon Page learns that everything is not what it seems at the school
It is an atmospheric setting that draws the reader in. The first half of book is stronger and more intriguing. The second part has issues with pacing and some characters needed developing.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

I’ve read a lot of Dark Academia and books set in British boarding schools. It’s been a while since I found one that stood out and was memorable. Well, I found it with Unhallowed Halls.

This book takes those academic and boarding school elements and then blends them with Greek philosophy and Scottish mythology so beautifully to make something that felt interesting and fun to read.

This manages to be dark but not gratuitous, there is violence but not to an extreme and it was all the better for it. I started reading this and I had no idea I was going to become so totally engrossed with this school and the dark secrets it contains. I was absolutely riveted. I loved the conflict between order and logic against wildness and nature. This was so well done.

We have a troubled teen sent to Scotland from Florida to attend a very specific school after an incident. There she’s told she will learn to control herself. However it’s not long before she finds herself embroiled in a mystery and acquiring a new group of friends she’s not sure she can trust.

This did feel a bit YA at times but never to the book’s detriment and I genuinely enjoyed reading this so much!

I found it hard to connect with the characters and story. I tired a few times to really get to it but sadly just not the book for me.

Lili Wilkinson’s Unhallowed Halls is a captivating dive into the world of dark academia, blending the atmospheric charm of a gothic boarding school with the pulse-quickening intrigue of fantasy and mystery. Set in the isolated, mist-shrouded moors of Scotland, Agathion College is a character in its own right—equal parts sanctuary and sinister, its wood-panelled halls and ancient traditions hiding secrets as deep as its foundations.

Page Whittaker, the novel’s protagonist, is a compelling outcast whose desire for belonging is as relatable as her sharp intellect is. Her fresh start at Agathion, following a traumatic event at her old school in Florida, brings her into the fold of a seemingly tight-knit friend group: Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey, and Oak. Wilkinson does an excellent job of crafting these secondary characters, giving each a distinct personality while weaving in layers of suspicion and intrigue.

As Page begins to uncover the dark roots of Agathion—an ancient society tied to demonic magic—Wilkinson’s storytelling shines. The novel balances slow-burn tension with thrilling revelations, pulling readers into a web of mystery that feels both timeless and uniquely modern. The "no-tech" rule at Agathion adds to the timelessness, immersing readers in the classical world of Latin and Greek while reinforcing the school’s eerie disconnect from the outside world.

The prose is richly atmospheric, evoking the chill of the moors and the claustrophobic charm of Agathion’s candlelit halls. Themes of identity, trust, and ambition are skillfully woven into the narrative, elevating it beyond a typical fantasy mystery.

Unhallowed Halls are perfect for fans of dark academia who crave a mix of gothic settings, morally complex characters, and a hint of the supernatural. Lili Wilkinson has crafted a story that’s as intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling, with twists that keep readers guessing and an ending that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review,

This is a dark academia set in Scotland, I thought some of the relationship building was very set-piece and forced but I did like that the plot twists were absolutely not predictable based on other dark academia at all.

Thanks for the arc!

Body-swapping dark academia mystery perfect for young readers looking for a boarding school full of mysteries.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

The book followed an American girl who had to transfer schools. This is because she was involved in a serious incident, at her old school, where it ended her friendship with her only friend, Cassidy. The outcast needed a fresh start. She happened to receive a scholarship offer from a college all the way in Scotland. The Agathion College. An elite (boarding) college, where the riches sent their troubled children. However, there's more to Agathion with its dark roots, and its ancient clandestine society...

One thing that struck out to me was how Scotland was being romanticised. Don't get me wrong, Scotland is beautiful, but the description of it throughout the book was a little too unnatural. Like how tourists would describe it. It's not bad but it gets tiring. Also, people from Scotland are Scottish not British. But at the beginning, the girls on the train described as British. Although it wasn't specified where exactly they were when Page encountered them on the train. Maybe the girls were British travelling to Scotland.

The thing that made me DNF the book was how the characters were written.

First off, the main character, Page. She tried too hard to be the dark academia girly. It's like she got a description of Dark Academia, and made herself fit into it. Dusty books, cup of teas, and kept calling books 'literature'. Her calling books literatures bugged me. It was giving 'I'm not like the other girls'. There were other parts too. The author really wanted us to know that Page was an intellectual and sensitive girl. It felt forceful because all this happened within 10% of the book.

This book was written from Page's POV, and it didn't work well. It made her description of people immature and cringe. For example, she described Cyrus, as absurdly handsome, perfectly made human. Right size and shape...I'm not exaggerating, that was how Page described him.

Then there was the most beautiful girl Page had ever seen...who sat at a table of girls who were beautiful, but not quite as beautiful as the girl was. ..

The kicker was when Page described Oak. He looked like a creature from another world. A fairy prince or a trickster crow in human form...Then she said something similar not that much later in the book, and again. Also, I hate the way Oak was written too. He was that carefree dude who stole big books from the library. He was so insensitive, and made Page cried yet she still followed him for a tour. Strange.

I was excited to read this book when I read the synopsis. Even if I didn't get approved, I would have purchased it. However, after reading this ARC, this book turned out to be a major disappointment. I tried my hardest to read more, but the descriptions of the characters were too repetitive and cringey. It was tough to read. Unfortunately I had to DNF the book at 12%.