I really enjoyed this book. This is the first time I have read anything from Tara O'Toole, and I was not disappointed. This was a fantasy themed book filled with magic in a interesting way. Once the book got going, I couldn't put it down. The story was well written, and the characters planned well. I definitely recommend this book to fantasy readers. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Tara O'Toole

Dark academia, secret society, trials, and a unique magic system - say no more. This book was so much fun and I was locked in from the beginning.

This book is short at just over 300 pages but packs so much in it without you feeling like you are being rushed. The storylines weave together and have a way of leaving you surprised, as I definitely fell for every misdirection which I loved.

The magic system and elements surrounding the secret society do have some holes that make you want to know more but with the nature of it being a short book, you just roll with it and add to the story's mystery and overall enjoyment.

By the end, I was attached to our little SOS crew - they were funny, witty, and super clever lawyers, and found myself really warming to them. It's hard to build so many characters in such a short time but the author did a brilliant job. I hope we get to continue going on adventures with them in future books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tara Toole for this amazing ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I thoroughly enjoyed this magical mystery! The magic system felt unique and easy to understand follow and as a fantasy lover, I actually found it very refreshing to not have the magical element of the story take from and center of the plot.
The mystery had me trying to put pieces together throughout the whole story. I genuinely did not see the twist coming. That said, I felt the big reveal fell a little flat and felt a tad unrealistic.
I so badly wanted to give a 4 star review, but just couldn’t because of the last few chapters- I still look forward to book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fiadh needs to find her missing cousin. That's the plan. But when she manages to snag a spot at the elite Heron Early, the best a solicitor apprentice could hope for, she finds herself involved with a secret society that deals with magic, making it all the more difficult to look for her cousin. In the midst of it all are her classmates, some of whom she considers friends and others enemies, and a very strict boss.

It was a brilliant read.

Until it wasn't.

Let me explain: the first half of it is impeccable. It's perfectly paced, it's wonderfully written, and the characters talk more like humans than any characters I've read about in a while. They're funny, they're annoying, they're unpredictable and they feel like real people. They talk about law, sure, and it sounds a little bit stilted, but a close friend of mine talks about law sometimes and it always sounds stilted. The plot is marvellous, too - you might be guessing what's going on, as are the characters, but it doesn't take away from the joy of finding out.

For all intents and purposes, the first half of this deserves more than five stars. I was glued to the page, pushing responsibilities aside, wanting nothing more than to read just one more chapter.

And then... It was as if it became a different book. The writing seemed choppier, the characters' dialogue was filled with exposition, the tension was gone and it went from a perfect pace to rushed. I was dying to find out how things would develop between Fiadh and Keefe, only to find myself not caring when they did. It was disheartening - a book I loved became a book I couldn't care about in the span of a few chapters.

Things got better towards the end. The villain was a letdown, but it made sense - to an extent - and it would be fine, if it wasn't for the grand speech. It all felt quite forced, even with the magic involved, and I just wanted to get to the end. It was a far cry from the book I began reading.

Still, the concept is brilliant. The magic system is unique, makes sense, and I would've loved if it was explored more. Perhaps this would've worked better as two shorter books, with more content added, or just a longer book overall - the second half felt like it was missing something.

Still, I would recommend this, because despite the second half, the first one is <i>absolutely</i> worth reading. I mean, I was ready to buy a copy of the book if I could, just to have it on my shelf to remind myself of how much I loved it. I still might do that.

Tara O'Toole has a great future in books, that much is certain. I'll be sure to check out what she does next - especially if it's something similar, because dark academia seems to be her strong suit.

There are multiple aspects of the book's setting that help lend to a twisty tale of mystery and intrigue: the dark, rainy isle of Ireland, a secret society of soliciters who don bronze animal masks, and at the core of it all a girl's hunt for her beloved missing cousin. Once the story kicks off, the pacing is a go at 100mph, making this book a thriller that was hard to put down. Note, I normally don't even care for thrillers! But the fantasy, dark academic, and characterization folded in helped capture my attention in a way not typical for the genre.

There is a cast of characters where each really holds their own. You get the sense that the others in Fiadh's cohort are not there simply to be in the background as padding, but truly are praticipants in their story and develop along with it. I'd say it's best to go into this book as blind as possible, as is the way when comes to books that contain mysteries, but if you like the sounds of what I've mentioned I'd recommend giving it a try!

Thank youNetGalley and Tara O'Toole for this arc in exchange for my honest review :)

The Lost Apprentice was a wonderful fantasy meets dark academia read,

The magic system was wonderful and the story/plot has been so well thought out/written.

Thank you for letting me read.

I read this book via the ‘read now’ feature of NetGalley.

Summary: This book is a cosy mystery book about a group of apprentices inside a law firm, and the FMC is attempting to get information about her cousins disappearance. There are a few interesting things that happen along the way.

What I liked:
- every character was so loveable and funny
- the love interest relationship was so sweet
- there were multiple plot twists which made me literally gasp
- the pacing and length of the book was great. I really enjoyed it from start to finish!

Review: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

The cover of this book pulled me in, and the story within matched the dark academia vibes immaculately. It was easy to immerse myself in Fiadh’s world as she took risk after risk to solve the puzzle of how her cousin disappeared. I like that you don’t need to know much about solicitors to follow along.

I personally loved the animal masks, it added a lot to the anxiety of the anonymity. Anyone could be behind each mask and since they were animals now it felt as if they were suddenly not confined to human expectations of decency. Quite exciting.

This book also introduced just the right note of levity in each section. Overall the plot is intense, but the characters and some of their choices were humorous to me along the way.

I want to keep this review spoiler free, so I will not give away what moves it into the fantasy genre, but it was a delight to unravel and I was satisfied with the reveal.

**The only thing I would change about this book is the one sex scene. I typically love scenes like this, as long as the plot is strong, but this particular one felt like it didn’t fit with the rest of the story. I wanted it to happen, but when it did something in the language felt detached. I wasn’t moved by it how I expected to be.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, it was a pleasure.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was very easy to read and kept me thinking about it throughout the day. Tara did a great job balancing the normal aspects with the fantasy aspects in this book. A few parts seemed a little out of place but she brought it together at the end. It was exactly how I would have imagined a secret society hiding and using magic in our world would be. I also loved how she was descriptive enough that you could picture everything going on but didn’t get bogged down and heavy with it. I would absolutely recommend this book and will be reading more of her works.

Fiadh Whelan is determined to figure out what happened to her cousin and best friend, Muriel. After Muriel goes missing and her coworkers claim she had a mental breakdown, Fiadh is convinced there's more to the story than that. She jumps on the opportunity to apprentice at the same solicitor firm Muriel worked at and is surprised to discover the existence of a secret society. One that might just help her find the answers she's looking for.

I absolutely love academic books about secret societies and magic! Ninth House and The Atlas Six are two of my favorite series, and I absolutely dove headfirst into this book. It fell slightly flat for me but was overall decent. The magic in this book was so interesting, and I wish it was explored more! I felt like it was briefly explained, and then the characters just sort of... knew how it worked? There was no trial and error, no "training" of sorts. They just suddenly knew what to do.
The characters were lovely, Brigid is absolutely my favorite, but Fiadh was a bit boring. She really had no personality other than finding out what happened to her cousin. And the chemistry between her and the love interest felt off. Everything seemed rushed, but I like the overall concept of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for access!

A scrumptious autumnal read. The Lost Apprentice was atmospheric and sucks you into its dark bowels of magic, folklore, and secret societies. While I found the world building especially to be lush and rich in blending familiar settings to the folklore and magic, I found the pacing to be a little confusing and plot convoluted especially in the first third of the book. I loved the inclusion of Irish history and also GO WOMEN IN LAW!!
Absoloutley reccomend for people looking for a dark academia fix, this lovely gem is perfect for you!

Secret society? Dark academia? Usually I would say give me 14 of them, but for some reason I could not get into this one and DNFed at 32%. I actually liked the writing style, but I could not, for the life of me, get interested into the characters or the actual plot. Would I be interested to try another book by Tara O’Toole in the future? Yes, because I did actually liked the writing, as I mentioned, but the story per se just wasn’t for me in the end. Another thing that I want to point out is the “swan-man” reference which I did not find relevant after the first chapter.

This book have such a cool dark academia, Gothic horror vibe, and the short chapters make it a quick read. I just had a hard time keeping up with the characters, and sometimes they feel two dimensional. However, the author does an excellent job of delivering a rich, atmospheric setting, so if you enjoy books where the vibe takes center stage this could be a great fit for you

Oh wow - I really don't even know what to write. This book absolutely blew me away - the suspense, the secrecy, the "visions", the hiding, the history, the romance - all so incredibly well done and I can honestly say that I was absolutely blown away.

The characters, oh the characters; Fiadh stole my heart from the beginning & her overpowering love for her cousin Muriel was just a beautiful thing. There were times where I thought that it was more guilt than anything else leading her on the path she took, but when it really comes down to it - you do feel guilty when something has happened to one that you love, but that does not make the love any less important. The rest of the characters were all phenomenal in their own ways, and I truly loved the found family that was found within them - they all needed each other for it all to work out the way it was meant to.

I don't want to say much about this one, as I don't want to give anything away - go into this book blindly if you can, and just get ready for all of the twists & turns & fun along the way!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for this absolutely incredible arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost Apprentice by Tara O'Toole is a fast-paced, quirky, and hilarious tale that keeps you guessing and wanting more. I could not put the book down from the moment I started reading. O'Toole's descriptive language mesmerized me, immersing me in Ireland's landscape. This book has everything from a mysterious disappearance, secret societies, romance, hilarious and loveable characters, and magic. The first 30% of the book can be a little confusing as O'Toole creates the setting in a short period of time and leaves some holes that left me curious and wanting to know more. The great thing about this book is that the holes or aspects that O'Toole left out or included add to the quirkiness of the story. You just have to accept what's given to you and roll with it. I really hope there are squeals to this book as I want to know more about the magic system and the characters who really made the story wonderful to read. Each character is funny, intelligent, and vibrant, banding together to face a series of emotional and physical challenges.
Thank you, Tara O'Toole, for a fantastic read, and thank you, Net Galley, for this early-release copy.

☆ ☆ ☆.

This one took me by surprise, I was looking for a quick read to finish in an evening and I definitely chose well with this one, it was fun, witty and quick paced!

This story was good, there’s a fantasy aspect to it but not too much to the point where it gets complicated and the magic system itself is fun and original, the mystery part is also interesting and kept me hooked throughout the story. The plot is your typical YA novel plot but it’s done very well, it’s very fast paced with quick chapters so you get right to the point of it which I appreciate in a novel this short, there’s a lot of dialogue in between the characters which I also thought was great. The characters itself were well written they each get their own witty personality with their own backstory that are all interesting and actually add to the story,I enjoyed this novel and I’m glad it was not just another “pretty cover and dull story”.

Now onto the parts I enjoyed a bit less, the villains fell a bit flat for me as their motives were quite unclear, I will say that it did not give me “dark academia” vibes at all, I know the author tried to instaure it with the uniforms, the victorian mansion with stained glass and some other stuff that I can’t remember for the life of me right now but it just did not serve the dark academia vibes I was promised. I also could’ve lived without the “spice” part, I think it was totally unnecessary and felt forced,it actually did not add anything to the relationship of the characters involved and last but not least… feck,really ? you have character of twenty years of age and older and they say feck ? I did not buy it.

Anyway, it was fun I liked it, it’s YA, it’s quick and actually good plus you can read it in a day so thank you netgalley for giving me free access to this book I had a great time.

“The Lost Apprentice” was kind of a great mix of dark academia, mystery, and fantasy. It kept me hooked right from the get go.

The story is set in a Dublin law firm, just one of a handful involved in a secret magical society, with games of power and deception happening behind the scenes.

Fiadh is an interesting protagonist. She’s determined and clever, and driven to solve the mystery of her cousin’s disappearance. I really enjoyed the weird tension between Fiadh and one of the other apprentices - Keefe. It added some interesting dynamics to the story.

The magic system, which has a basis in legal deeds and contracts, felt original and it played well in the plot. The book reminded me a little bit of The Atlas Six with its own Irish twist.

I enjoyed the mysterious atmosphere and the tension between characters, and it had just enough twists and turns. I’m rather hoping for a sequel!

If you like dark academia and magic, then you should read this!

The Lost Apprentice by Tara O'Toole presents an intriguing premise, blending mystery with adventure in a world where secrets and hidden talents drive the narrative. The story centers around a young protagonist discovering their powers while navigating the complexities of their world, but the execution falls short in some areas.

The pacing of the novel is uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others rush through important moments. The characters, while likable, are somewhat one-dimensional, and their development is not as deep as one might hope for in a story like this. The world-building, though creative, feels underexplored, leaving many questions unanswered that could have enriched the plot.

While The Lost Apprentice certainly offers some enjoyable moments and has potential, it doesn't fully deliver on its promises. It's a fun read for fans of the genre, but it lacks the depth and complexity needed to make it a standout. A solid three stars—entertaining, but not groundbreaking.

The Lost Apprentice is a perfect mix of dark academia, mystery, and magic, set against the lush, atmospheric backdrop of Ireland. Fiadh joins a cutthroat legal apprenticeship to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s disappearance after he joined the program the year before. The magic system is unique and plays a key role in the mystery, making it an exciting part of the story.

The characters are rich and complex, each one flawed but deeply interesting. The group Fiadh becomes involved with is dynamic and full of tension, with relationships that keep you guessing. The Irish setting adds to the book's dark, immersive tone, and I really appreciated that Tara O’Toole included a pronunciation guide at the beginning. She also weaves in some Irish (Gaelic?) throughout the story, which I found fascinating and made me want to learn more about the language, especially since it’s part of my roots.

I read this book in one sitting. The pacing is spot-on, and the twists kept me hooked—I fell for every misdirection! It’s rare for me to stay so utterly confused, but this book pulled it off brilliantly, and I loved every minute of it.

If you’re into mystery, magic, and a bit of romance, this is definitely worth the read. It’s fast-paced, twisty, and completely absorbing—highly recommend!

Wednesday meets Suits in this light fantasy story about a woman who is searching for answers as to what happened to her cousin who went missing for 6 months. I don't really know what to say about this book... I love secret societies as much as the next person but this was so droll that when it picked up in the last 20 odd pages, I was glad it was almost over. For the right person, I am sure this book would be amazing, but it just wasn't for me.