I've been craving a captivating MM dark academia novel that truly immerses me in its world, and this book exceeded my expectations! From the haunting opening pages, I was hooked by its atmospheric tension and thought-provoking themes. The narrative masterfully explores profound questions about human existence, delving into the intricacies of consciousness, the search for meaning, and the constraints of our mortality. With nuance and sensitivity, it navigates complex topics like faith and moral ambiguity. While I felt the characters' bond could benefit from added depth, I'm eager to see their relationship evolve in the next installment.

thanks to netgalley for providing me an e-arc!

this was interesting, but at times was so slow in revealing information that it lost some points for me. the two main characters are interesting, doing research together of sleep paralysis and out of body experiences and realizing they are in over their heads once it was far to late. their perspectives are unique and the way that each POV is set up is character building in itself. watching the pressure mount was tense and interesting as these characters quickly fall in and out of a relationship was fun!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Rose & Ink Publishing for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.

I'm really grateful that luck was on my side and I got a copy of Risen Apes, because I found one of my favorite reads of the year in its pages and characters. I'm still reeling from that ending, which left quite emotionally devastated, to be honest, so I hope this review makes any sense😂 And now, without further ado, let's get onto it.

As usual, first, a little "what is this book about?" section, where I tell you that Risen Apes is a standalone dark academia novel, with some fantastical elements, where two young men, Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han, get accepted into Vale Academy, a place that draw them both due to personal circumstances. Damianos, who survived a near death experience and, since then, has questions not for this world that eat at him and have make him socially distant; and Rickter, who battles every night with sleep paralysis that makes him appear dead to others or just fully asleep if they don't pay him even a second thought.
These very different personalities will have to join forces when they get pulled into a web of secrets and dangers surrounding the academy: students gone without a trace, class-assignments bordering on lethal, and whatever perils Damianos and Rickter feel like pushing their bodies through while studying the metaphysical.

For a standalone that promised such an ambitious world and plot, it was very well done, delivering enough world building details through the chapters until we get the whole picture and can understand it all, complimenting and embracing the characters in a way that they flourished in the academic grounds. Vale Academy is a place for great minds to develop and share theories with others alike, a place for the characters to build new relationship and get answers to their questions; but it is also a character of its own, having secrets, creating dangerous or hopeful environments and showing itself to us little by little. And those are the settings I loved the most in these type of books.

The characters were as amazingly crafted as well. This is a dual POV novel, the narration shared between Damianos and Rickter, both in first person, which tend to be complicated to master if you don't give the characters very easy distinguishable voices, but Vana Elaire (auhtor) manages to do that perfectly, and so the two are easy to follow in their theories and personal chapters, even when they were in each other spaces all the time.
Though, I have to be honest and say that my favorite of the pair is Damianos, with his calm demeanor, a great mind that always ends up picking on things no matter how much it takes him and his kindness toward others. Rickter was too much of a cynical and individualist for me to like him too much; that's not to say that he is a bad character, not at all, he is three dimensional and well-develop, with a believable personality that I just don't like😂
The good thing is, that these two together can accomplish anything they set their minds too, and that's what I'm gonna highlight from the whole book: Damianos and Rickter's relationship. The initial weariness of not knowing each other, to the finding an alike soul and mind in the other, to the developing friendship, to the tension and the side glances when the other's not looking, to trusting each other with their lives... to everything and beyond. I was rooting for them the whole time.

Risen Apes is a wonderful example of how to create tension, of all types, hinting at romantic and sexual possibilities between the characters and making the readers want them to end together. I'm said reader, not going to lie. More authors could learn from Vana and their book and implement some of these aspects into their books to better their romances, because I've read other works recently that couldn't have had worse romances even if they have tried, really😕
Anyway, back to our book in hand, the emotional roller coaster of Damianos and Rickter is what kept me glue to the pages, so much that I read the book in two days. Between that and the mysteries at Vale Academy, no matter what else I was doing, I kept thinking about Risen Apes and how much I needed to finish it, so I kept coming back to it until I reached the end. Which left me with a lot of answers, some questions and wanting to rewind back to a happier time.

Unfortunately, as much as I loved "Risen Apes", I can't, in good conscience, give it five stars. Because the ending felt rushed, things were happening between and to the character, but we were jumping ahead, skipping days and skipping the consequential emotional impact of it all in Damianos and Rickter, which was quite weak in my opinion given everything they've shared so far into the story. There are books that I consider sin from being too long and need trimming, well, not this one; this is the contrary case, it could have benefited from being longer, better developing that ending and reveling in it, giving the emotional punch we (the readers) deserved and I'm pretty sure no one would have complained.

And I know I've said I was left emotionally devastated by how their relationship develop between Damianos and Rickter, and that is going to haunt me for a while, but the rushed end gave me whiplash when I was still coming to terms with it, so of course I'm gonna complain about it, because I believe that it could have been better.

But, I'm not gonna blame the author entirely, because this could have been their full decision and kept it no matter what others said, or someone else could have forced them to keep it this short in detriment of the story suffering for it. Anyway, it's my only true issue with "Risen Apes", the rest was amazing, with an evocative prose and a challenging message, Risen Apes is perfect for fans of dark academia that also like to have their ideals debated and are in for a ride both intellectually and emotionally.

Risen Apes by Vana Elaire is a philosophical and gothic tale that blends the Metaphysical with science and academia. From the beginning, the secrecy surrounding the Vale adds the mystique and allure of the story along with the compelling natures of Damianos and Rickter. Each is intelligent but come together from different directions. The bond between them and the relationship weaves an intriguing narrative.
What the story does well is blend together secrets and how the pair delve into the power of the mind in the search for the truth. And yet, what they find leads to a truth that could be more dangerous than they expect. I also love how each character encounters and delves into the nature of reality. And when they do discover that illumination, I like how it twists and warps the connection between them, leading to an ending that will make you want more from these characters and this world.
If you like philosophical and gothic stories, this one is fascinating. It is all about both connections and bonds but also secrets and truth, about the metaphysical and the nature of reality. And at the end, you might question what you would do with the dangerous truth the pair discover, would you take the dark approach or would you want to create a beautiful world? I love how the story ends without a true resolution to that question, leading the reader to determine which is the better answer. This is a powerful and intriguing novel with intense ideas.

What a weird book. There were some parts I really enjoyed and there were some that I hated. 

Let's start with what I liked, so basically the first half of the story. The introduction of our characters, the idea of this super closed-off school, the mystery of the missing student, and especially the chemistry between our main characters Rickter and Damianos. It all created this fascinating book that I couldn't stop reading. There's a lot of discussing philosophy and metaphysics, building up to the big reveal in the second half of the book.

And that reveal is not what I expected, I like to keep my reviews spoiler free, so I will just say that it's surprising, and for me, it doesn't match the rest of the book. The sudden change in the behaviour of Rickter and Damianos also doesn't make sense for me. They spent most of the book talking with each other, and now they cannot keep their calm and discuss everything? 
And the missing student plot... These two geniuses really didn't connect the dots sooner? 

This whole books feels like the author had a great idea for a story but couldn't figure out how to actually write it. There are few supporting characters, but they only appear for the plot to proceed or to show how smart Rickter is. The plot seems too similar to Schwab's Vicious series (but the characters here actually do something with their attraction to each other), the whole doing risky experiments together only to be divided by their beliefs... The problem is that Vicious does all of these much better (except for the mcs acknowledging how much they want each other) so I rather reread that series than go through Risen Apes again. The ending suggests that there will be another part of this story, but I don't think I will read this.

Risen Apes by Vana Elaire is a highly philosopohical novel that questions the human condition, and what lies beyond it. Vana Elaire really dove right into it with this one as we get to know two highly complex characters that exist on two sides of the same coin. A central question in the novel is "are we fallen angels or risen apes?" This question conjures a pondering on our central telological existence as biological or spiritual and the novel further illustrates this by juxtaposing the many faces of humanity against each other in a closed, dark academic setting. I fell in love with this book and cant wait to talk about it more.

This books sounds lika so much fun but sadly is a bit boring. My problem with some dark academia books are the pretentiousness of the characters and the dialouge. It's too philosophical and makes the plot, that would have been so good, dread along.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

""We are born of risen apes, not fallen angels."

This was absolutely delightful to read. I usually hate comparing books but this felt a lot like The Atlas Six in some ways. There's a lot of time spent discussing theory; of philosophy, of mysticism, of people, of the world. In Atlas Six the theory is meant to explore the world to reveal the character (at least in my opinion). Here, the theory is used to explore the character, and slowly reveal the world.

In my notes, while reading, I put down at chapter 10, Rickter and Damianos were already anomalies in each other's lives. Instead of feeling rushed it feels inevitable. Reading them orbit each other and then finally come together was climatic. Reading them fracture was just a devastating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for a ARC of this book.

Risen Apes was an experience that left me with more questions than answers, but in the greatest way possible. From the first page, I was drawn into the gothic world of Vale Academy, where science and the supernatural are constantly at odds and nothing is ever quite as it seems.

The tale follows Damianos Eaton, a man haunted by a near-death experience, and Rickter Han, a cynical supermodel who suffers from sleep paralysis. Their paths converge at the academy, where the line between science and the supernatural blurs. As they go deeper into their studies of astral projection and metaphysical phenomena, they discover alarming truths about the academy's evil past. The suspense is palpable, with the boundary between reality and the paranormal continuously moving, creating an unsettling, evocative environment.

What I liked best about Risen Apes was its philosophical undercurrents. The story is about more than just mystery and suspense; it also questions the nature of truth and knowing. It made me think about how much we're prepared to risk in search of answers, especially when those answers could cost us more than just our sanity. The characters' psychological depth was riveting, with Damianos and Rickter dealing with their own inner torment in genuine and authentic ways.

While the novel does explore darker issues such as suicide, death, and sexual material, it does so with purpose and never feels gratuitous. The stakes feel personal, and each twist in the story made me question the fundamental nature of what was going on at Vale. The tension gradually rises, drawing you deeper into the mystery, and the ending is both satisfying and haunting.

Risen Apes is not for the faint of heart, but it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys dark academia and metaphysical thrillers. The combination of atmospheric language, philosophical concepts, and suspenseful storytelling kept me flipping pages well into the night. If you're seeking for a novel that will make you doubt reality, this one is definitely worth reading.

“Risen Apes,” by Vana Elaire

A M/M academy relationship with supernatural aspects to the plot was interesting. I liked the main characters and their relationship. I liked the book and the plot over all but it’s a little too religious and philosophical for my taste. It was a good book though, just not something I would read again. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Academy
-Supernatural
-M/M
-Religious/ Philosophical

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

e-ARC from NetGalley.

This book just ruined my life. I am in shambles. I don't know what else to say except that I am in pain.

Every dark academia I've read brings characters together with these moments of wholesome, innocent intimacy and slow-blossoming friendship, only to twist them into something sickening and unrecognizable. And this was no exception.

I fucking hate dark academia.

I loved Damianos. I loved Rickter. I just ... I don't understand, but I also do, and that's the most devastating part. I feel like I'm going through a breakup. I want to scream and cry and push them all down flights of stairs.

If I fling myself into the abyss, this book is why.

The premise of this book was extremely intriguing, a dark academia novel that explores inner turmoil and themes like sleep-paralysis and out-of-body experiences. It touches on complex thinking about our human consciousness, the purpose of life and the limitations of our existence. It also tackles topics like religion and differentiating morals, which were handled with care and precision, offering depth on these topics and exploring them accordingly.

However, I think the plot of the story was very ambitious which therefore made it quite confusing at some times. It takes a while to get into for a 300 page novel, which isn't necessarily bad but some aspects therefore felt rushed. There is some amazing groundwork laid but I think it could benefit from some extra work and editing. Vana Elaire her writing style is good, although it feels a bit young at times, there is definitely talent.

The two main characters, Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han were interesting to say the least. I enjoyed their dynamic but as characters themselves they fell a bit flat to me. They did compliment each other and their journeys nicely, however their characters alone, for me, could have been fleshed out a bit more. There was definitely interesting groundwork laid for these characters to be intriguing, complex and interesting, but I think the author left some of this lacking. Maybe we will see more character growth and development in the second book, I wish they were made a bit more complex and compelling in this novel. The side characters felt like they were only there to further develop the plot, sadly they didn't feel like entirely fleshed out characters of their own. Maybe because of the ambitious plot there was not enough time to develop these side characters adequately

I do have to admit I liked the dynamic between the main characters, I enjoyed their relationship development, even if it felt a bit fast, but that could be a personal preference. I do think their relationship develops nicely, as their dynamic is unique and they compliment each other quite nicely. I enjoyed their differentiating beliefs and morals, and how they co-existed and created a bond despite their different beliefs.

I want to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, as I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this novel. However, in its current state, it was not for me. I might, if there is a second book, will pick up the sequel to see how the author develops the story from that ending.

2,5 stars.

3.75⭐️ this book felt like a really confusing movie that i had to go on reddit after to read fan theories after. in the best way.

disclaimer i think yall should go into this with little to no information so you can be as bamboozled as me🫵🫵

this book definitely was nothing like i expected. going in i expected a suspense filled dark academia book with romance. this book gave me almost no romance but tons of suspense and dark fantasy themes but im not mad about it. this book gave me very much 'vicious' by v.e. schwab vibes which i LOVED that book and this book had my brain spinning (and made me feel slightly too stupid for this😭😭)

i loved the writing style of this and the dual pov was done so well. both rickter and damianos were clearly differentiated in their povs and i loved both of these characters. also i thought this book would have more romance-y themes and be a little dark academic rivals-to-lovers it was more the opposite. BUT THEY HAD SO MUCH CHEMISTRY💥💥💥 as much as it hurt my romantic heart to watch these characters go from friends to lovers to rivals, i loved the progression of this story (though i felt the ending was *slightly* rushed)

i dont have major complaints except for the pacing felt weird like it was slow towards the middle and really fast towards the last 15%. also in that last 15% i felt like the characters changed into completely different people and the choices they made didnt seem like the people they were at the beginning. besides that i enjoyed the characters and the plot and the world of vale academy.

i dont know if this story has more to it cause it kinda left me wanting more so i hope there is another installment in this series or this universe because i need to see where these two end up. i fear i am invested...

Rated 4.5/5 stars!

This is a criminally underrated dark academia book that may very well have given me an existential crisis.

We’ve all heard of rivals-to-lovers, but what about lovers-to-rivals? Can two academics undergo the same research and still have different answers? Immediately we’re circling Damianos and Rickter, their constant tension proving an inescapable draw that fits right into the allure of the academy. We’re drip-fed uncertainties and weird situations that are easy to shrug off in the allure of the school, before realising we’re in too deep.

The writing itself is subtly clever, adjusting sentence structure and tone to reflect our characters - Damianos’ rambling sentences, Rickters curt and to-the-point assessment of the world around him. It’s easy to get caught up in their constant theorising and projects, and truly holds a level of magnetism I think most fans of dark academia stories long for.

I loved this book, and if you loved Vicious by VE Schwab or An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson, then you will too, no doubt.


Note: this contains a couple of explicit (though not prolonged) M/M scenes, one minor explicit F/M scene, and heavy themes of death/near death experiences/self exit

This was a really well done novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page. I was invested in what was happening and thought the feel worked with this type of the genre. Vana Elaire has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

The book started really good: finally a good dark academia with the right settings and tropes. I loved how it built up.
Then at like 80/85% the plot disappeared and changed. It was fast and anti climatic as hell. The ending? Very fast and not thought enough. I felt like the author had a concept and not the ending for it.
It was a five star read dropped to two after the ending

You can find my review on ig @mrs.brekker_ and on StoryGraph

Vana Elaire has created a dark academia novel that will be impossible to put down. I did not know very much before going into it, and admittedly, the title sounds strange and not entirely appealing: "risen apes" doesn't sound like a sophisticated topic, does it?
However, from the very first pages, I was hooked. This reads easily, and at the same time, it stops you in your tracks and makes you reflect on our reality, our mortality and our consciousness.
If you enjoyed Olivie Blake's "The Atlas Six", this is up your alley, but with more dialogue and more twists (in my opinion).

The novel follows the dual perspectives of Damianos and Rikter, two young men who have recently been accepted into the elusive and prestigious Vale Academy, where the bounds of consciousness and reality are constantly being pushed. Damianos suffered a near death experience that has left him with numerous questions about his permanence in this world, as well as consciousness and our minds. Rikter has sleep paralysis, which plagues him almost every night. They come to Vale for different reasons, but they find it impossible to stay away from each other.

Damianos and Rikter's chemistry never felt forced, it felt like destiny. Drawn together in mind and body, by their ideas and by their bodies. This dark academia novel felt different than others, as it operates on complete other metaphysical level compared to "The Atlas Six" for example. While criticism of the environment is still present, that's not the focus and for good reason, the focus is much broader than that. I would almost categorise certain parts of it as sci-fi, so do with that what you will.

i absolutely adore a dark academia and the setting of this book brought me so much comfort. absolutely phenomenal <3

thank you to netgalley and rose & ink publishing for the arc~

"we were born of risen apes, not fallen angels"

this was my first read of 2025, and it did not disappoint. i found myself itching to continue damianos' and rickter's stories. the premise follows them as they attend the mysterious vale academy, a school that studies the metaphysical, NDEs/OBEs, and human consciousness, to name a few.

i won't delve too deeply into the plot, bc i feel like it's one of those stories that you need to experience yourself with little to no background. the chemistry between our MCs was palpable. i started to kind of hate rickter towards the end, but when i finished the book and thought about it, i was like OHH i get it now lmaooo

This book took a bit for me to get into, but once I did, I was hooked!

Our main characters, Damianos and Rockter have been accepted into a highly secretive school, Vale Academy, where the boys start working with human consciousness and somewhat paranormal experiences.

There is a lot to unpack with this one, and some twists you won’t expect. I’m hoping there will be a second book, because there were several issues that weren’t really tied up at the end of this one.

If you were a fan of the Matrix movies, this would be a good book for you to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.