Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me an ARC via NetGalley!

I requested this book on NetGalley because the blurb was intriguing, and the book is exactly as described. There are many different parts to this story; slow burn romance, magic powers, dark academia, plot twists, and lots of tension and angst. The FMC is very relatable and the way she is written is very lifelike, so it’s easy to get attached to her. Every character has their own personality, and they are all so different in their own ways. There were some parts of the book that felt slow at times, so the pacing is maybe slower than I would have wanted. The last 20% of the book was my favourite, and I wish we’d had more time with the trials as it felt a bit rushed towards the end. I love a slow burn book, as well as forced proximity, both of which this book delivered. It was a really enjoyable book overall!

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

✨ Think Hogwarts and Fourth Wing but with real adults as the MCs ✨

The book has some loved tropes but they are more subtle than we usually see:
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Bonds
✔️Found family
✔️Chosen one
✔️Reluctant hero

I have conflicting feelings for both the FMC and MMC. The FMC, while 29, kind of acts and speaks like a teenager but I understand why. Meanwhile, I can't decide if I love or hate the MMC 😂

The focus is mostly on character development, setting the scene for future books in the series and it ends on a cliff hanger.

I want to be honest here and say this wasn't what I thought it'd be.

I was really looking forward to an older FMC who took her life experiences and maturity back to the magic school that obviously she suffered some trauma from. However the FMC read quite young and this frustrated me when I really wanted her to handle interactions with past bullies etc differently.

I have to say, the plot was eventful and had brilliant moments of action and tension.

The romance could've been a little clearer as I wasn't sure if it was an Enemies to Lovers, Love Triangle, Hidden Identity and because there were so many different elements, it distracted from the main through line at times.

I loved the villain being someone she knew - strong Harry Potter vibes here.

I am not sure why but this felt so slow and boring. Although the main character is almost thirty she acts like a 15-year-old.

I liked the idea of a fantasy book with an older lead but she doesn't feel older she reads as still very young. This book also read very YA so I feel like having an older FMC was a box check and not intentional.

I really wanted to enjoy this but it was very slow and honestly not a lot happened. The “big plot twist” happened very early on and there wasn't much more excitement after.

When I read the blurb I assumed she goes rogue or maybe becomes more of a villain but I feel like that might be more apt for the series, not this book.

This book had all the dark academia, magical, urban fantasy vibes, and is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Shadowhunters and Fourth Wing!

The story follows magical school dropout and cat burglar Harlow as she navigates being dragged back to Neverthorn at the age of twenty-nine as she's told she could be the 'chosen one' to defeat the uprising villain, Nocta, whom she has a chilling connection with. It's all very cliché but in a comforting way, reminding me of the older, classic YA stories despite this being for older readers. I enjoyed the found family trope with Harlow's other classmates who have also been sent back to Neverthorn, and Opie, a young teen Harlow has taken under her wing.

The romance in the book was so slow burn, and the characters still aren't really anything yet. Typhon, the brooding and moody professor reminds me of Xaden Riorson a little, and I was kind of hoping for more romantic scenes, it fell a little flat for me in that aspect of the book. There's hints at a possible love triangle too with Liam, another professor, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

The mystery kept me reading, the world building can throw you off at times with the magic system and terminology, but like all fantasy books once you get into it everything is easier to understand. The cut throat classes and training was well written, and every magical element was whimsical as can be. I did find the writing a little childish at times, especially with the language ban at the school which restored to students using other words to swear, and at times Harlow's attitude just wasn't necessary, but she's had it hard, so I can understand why she's the way she is. My jaw literally dropped at some of the plot twists towards the end, and of course the book leaves on some massive cliffhangers, which both sucks and rocks.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend for a high stakes story, giving fantasy fans something they'll be sure to devour!

4/5 🌟

When you read the book before it’s even published and you’re already gagging for a sequel, that’s when you know it’s been a successful read.

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅. 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚.”

Neverthorn was a fun, fast-paced and spellbinding dark academia fantasy that kept me hooked until the very last page. Our FMC Harlow is extremely likeable, she’s loyal and determined, and her likability really comes in handy as it means we’re introduced to lots of characters - and Harlow’s band of besties are just as enjoyable. I love Fable with all my heart 🥹

If you’re a fan of found family, deadly competitions, and strong character development, Neverthorn may just be the next book for you. Many thanks as always to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy!