Holy cow, I loved this dark academia meets horror novel from Erica Waters so much. I had the hardest time putting it down at night and the growing horror/ tension building was top top notch.

Tara is a freshman at elite Corbin College and has spent the semester feeling inadequate, lonely, and exhausted. But when another student dies suddenly of an aneurysm, she’s offered a spot in the coveted group Magni Viri. The society covers tuition, plus room, board and a living stipend. The other students are like a family and the director offers one on one independent studies to bolster the creative genius of the group. Finally, Tara feels like she can belong - she has friends, a girlfriend, time to write, and creative spark. But soon, it starts to seem the secret society isn’t quiet what it projects. Tara is having nightmares, waking in a coffin, doesn’t remember writing her beautiful novella, and sleepwalking. She’s determined to figure out what - or who - is causing the darkness in Magni Viri, no matter the cost.

This book hits perfect Gothic dark academia vibes, with the characters and setting seemingly ripped from all the best southern gothic novels. Even when, occasionally, I figured out what was up before Tara, i still felt the growing horror she did, the perfect amount of chills. This is for you if you like:
💀gothic horror in the vines of Shirley Jackson
💀dark academia setting
💀a mystery
💀secret societies
💀queer love & representation
💀found family
💀badass heroine who figures out her worth
💀parties in cemeteries

Erica Waters has recently shot to the top of my preferred horror writers list, and All That Consumes Us comes out in mid-October, JUST in time to creep you out during spooky season!

I am fully convinced that Erica Waters can do no wrong when it comes to this new wave of Southern gothic literature. ALL THAT CONSUMES US was another novel of hers that I just couldn't put down. I especially liked the idea of "what would you do to escape your past/poverty/circumstances" and the way Waters explore that question while also handling topics like socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, and substance abuse in a delicate yet upfront manner.

dnf @ 40%
This was very mediocre to me. I did think it would be a very intriguing book. Sapphic dark academia is so far up my alley, but the writing lacked and it felt very dull. I didn’t care enough to continue to figure out what happened, I was just bored.
I did like the setting, and if you like YA, you should try this. It just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t bring myself to finish it when I wasn’t enjoying it.

This book is the perfect blend of dark academia, loneliness, and the corruptible need to be remembered after death. It is everything that dark academia strives to be, and it excels in the moody, gothic atmosphere of the genre. Plus, it throws in some ghosts and a sapphic romance, which sealed the deal on me falling head over heels for it.

I fully admit that I was drawn to this book by its very eerie cover. I did not research much about it, but I was intrigued by the mention of a gothic story set at a college. I guess I was hoping for something supernatural along the lines of Harry Potter or The Magicians, with a mystery element, but that was unfortunately not what I got.

The story follows a freshman girl named Tara, who is struggling to find her place at school. After some curious events, she is invited into the prominent, extremely selective and secretive academic society on campus called Magni Viri. This opportunity is everything Tara could ever dream of, but she soon discovers a darker side to the organization, as her fellow students seem to be all consumed in their independent studies to a potentially deadly degree.

The premise of the story is captivating, but overall I found the writing to be lacking. There is a definitive atmospheric feel to the book, a general foreboding that puts you on edge throughout. I kept trying to figure out exactly what kind of book I was reading as I was reading it. Is it a mystery? A crime novel? A ghost story? I guess you can say that the constant questioning plays into the gothic style, but it was a distraction for me. I also did not really like the characters, particularly the main character Tara, which made it difficult for me to have a vested interest in her story. The book does have diverse representation, including LGBTQ+ characters and romance.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙏𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢-𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 (𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚). 𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠'𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

I feel like this is the perfect dark academia book for teenagers! The characters do behave like their ages (even though it can be frustrating at times, but to be honest, that's how teenagers normally act) and their behaviors felt realistic.

At times, however, I felt like I couldn't wrap my head around the writing style. There were moments where it was atmospheric and mysterious, and then it fell into something that I think is more appropriate from the MG genre (specifically how the characters were introduced in a sort of tell instead of show way. it kinda broke the flow of the narrative for me).

Overall, I think this is a good entry into the dark academia genre for younger audiences. I feel like there may be some mixed responses from 21+ audiences, however.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The moment I saw this book was a queer ghost story, I was already sold. But the fact that it's also got immaculate gothic horror vibes that only get stronger and spookier the further into the book you read, the found family trope, a dangerous and secretive academic society, and *screams* dark academia dragged me so far into it that I put everything else I was reading on hold for the most part to fly through this one. And I was *not* disappointed.

Tara Boone, having spent most of her life in a backwards town taking care of her mother rather than the other way around, seizes the opportunity to leave her directionless life behind when she's excepted to Corbin College, her eyes set on the full scholarship and promised family-like relations of Magni Viri, the extremely exclusive academic society on campus. But when she isn't accepted into Magni Viri and life at college turns out to be far more difficult than she'd anticipated with no friends or social life to speak of, she finds herself dragging her feet through each day just trying to get by while taking classes, working two campus jobs, and trying in her minimal free time to work on her writing.

But everything changes one night after what she labels a failed reading of one of her short stories, and in the coming days, she finds herself invited to join a suddenly vacant spot in Magni Viri and being ushered into the life she'd wished for so desperately. Suddenly, she has time to work on her writing, she's meeting a host of new friends, and she feels connected with the other Magni Viri students and the society itself, like she's a part of something bigger. Too bad even the good feelings from all of that can't keep her afloat once the nightmares and apparent sleepwalking start, making her feel as though she's getting little to no rest for days at a time. And when it seems like everyone around her understands what's happening to her but won't fill her in or help her, it's up to Tara to solve the mystery and save herself from whatever is slowly consuming her.

This book is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year so far. A study in modern gothic horror, the atmosphere was cold and dreary and just the right amount of spooky and haunting even in the lighter moments. Erica Waters has a way of weaving words together that dragged me right into the story alongside Tara and all of her friends, the story kept me guessing almost until the very end on exactly what was going to happen, and the characters were diverse and well rounded and flawed and felt *so real* that I wanted to be friends with them myself. I would also sell my soul for a chance to read the novel being written throughout the book, Cicada, just for the experience of reading those words as well.

But I think what ended up personally drawing me into All That Consumes Us most of all was how much I found myself relating to Tara. A young girl who dreams of being a novelist (with a love of Jane Eyre and other gothic literature) from a small town spending her life taking care of everyone but herself, wishing for something more for her future and distancing herself from her past to get to where she needs to be, struggling constantly with finding a community and with feeling like an imposter in her own skin...it was the first time in a long while that I've connected so deeply with the protagonist of a novel that I could so fully understand the decisions they made.

I love Waters' books and this lived up. Dark academia usually doesn't interest me, but this story had so much intrigue, friendship, and ghosts! It keep me riveted until the end.

I love a book where the main character wants to be a writer and such passion leads to wishes or dangerous decisions that can only take us down a dark path. A great book for the spooky season and a rainy day.

It's not unpredictable, but I prefer a novel that keeps us on the edge, turning the page to know when the characters finally will figure out what we already know than having silly or shocking plot twists.

This dark academia (setting in College) is a great homage to the gothic novels and classics that I'm a fan of and some are even mentioned throughout the book. It's a psychological thriller for most of it and has a good crescendo of action up to the end.
I don't mind that for most of the book, Tara is by herself trying to figure out the secret behind the group of geniuses that now she is a part of. It's told in the first person, so that keeps the other characters at a distance.
It's a mystery, but also a race to survive, relating to new friendships, love interests, LGBTQ+ characters, betrayal, courage, ghosts, past stories...

I like the ending. Again it was as charming as the classics we still love nowadays. The romantic interest didn't pull me away from the story. It was a good balance.

This is my first contact with this author's writing and work. I found it smooth, read it almost in one sitting, and made me curious about past and future projects.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the e-ARC.

This is a dark and gothic book, that took me in deep. A very thought provoking book and pulled up many emotions.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I like everything Erica Waters writes. The River Has Teeth is my favorite book of hers - full of swampy sapphic horror that kept you engrossed from the first page to the last. All That Consumes Us gave me a very similar feeling, if you throw in some ivy-covered mausoleums and a creepy gothic campus.

All That Consumes Us is a story about a girl with no friends, no family, and no money trying to make it as a college student. When a mysterious (and rich) secret society enters the picture and offers her all her dreams and more, for just a tiny price, how can she say no?

I loved a lot of this story. I loved the setting, in particular. It was extremely spooky at times, and I loved the feeling of fear and confusion that permeated the book. The campus was a big star of the show, and really did provide an incredibly disturbing background. I loved a lot of the side characters - Wren, Dr. Hendrix, bless you - and was ultimately really happy with the book.

If you like sapphic gothic horror, this book is for you.

Anything Erica writes is perfection! Hands down. 🙌🏻
I can’t wait for this book to be on my shelves.
10/10 would definitely recommend

This was such a fun read for me! The author has a way of writing that just sucks you in to the world. I found myself saying "five more minutes," just to find it's 30 minutes later because of how entranced I was with the writing. The characters are all so unique and fun in their own way; Wren is seriously the sweetest little bean and I will defend them to my last breath.
I enjoyed the gothic/spooky tones, the language and the descriptions really made this story. I remember holding my breath during the more intense moments, I really felt what the characters were experiencing.
I definitely want to read more from this author, Erica's style just gives me that desire for more!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
This book was atmospheric and filled with tense moments that really put a focus on the dark academia and mystery surrounding secret societies. I thought the story was well-paced and the loneliness of the main character relatable as she was by herself at college. It was a overall good young adult horror coming of age novel that was suspenseful and enjoyable to read.

The opening of this book caught me off guard, deviating from my expectations. However, many other aspects of the plot were quite predictable, making it easy to anticipate the unfolding events from the moment the initial threads were introduced. It surprised me that Tara didn't piece things together immediately.

Nevertheless, the author, Waters, excels at creating an atmospheric setting, which was evident in this book. Even before entering Magni Viri, the world of Corbin College is established with an aura of fog, prestige, and tradition. Magni Viri adds an extra layer to this ambiance, with its Victorian mansion that exudes both elegance and creepiness. The natural surroundings also play a role, with cicadas, bats, forests, and fog contributing to the mood and setting. Personally, I enjoy eco-horror and Southern Gothic themes, so I would have appreciated a more pronounced incorporation of nature as a character. However, considering the book's genre of dark academia, the existing elements are fitting.

Magni Viri, as previously mentioned, is steeped in secrecy and tradition. Only inducted individuals have set foot inside the dormitory, and rumors circulate around Corbin College that Magni Viri students engage in dark rituals. There is a good balance between the academically and artistically intense aspects and the supernaturally strange elements within Magni Viri. The students are talented and devoted to their fields of study, sometimes to an unhealthy extent, which contributes to the story's atmosphere.

Our protagonist, Tara, is fortunate enough to be inducted into Magni Viri with a focus on writing. It should be everything she desires since her dream is to become a writer. However, imposter syndrome and peculiar occurrences plague her as the semester progresses. It bothered me how insecure Tara was. She applied to a prestigious academic group and wanted it desperately, yet she constantly doubts her own worth and questions her place. You either believe you are worthy of prestige or you don't—there's no room for wavering. Fortunately, others offer her this advice, although she struggles to follow it. It is good to see Tara gain some confidence by the end of the book, but it would have been preferable to witness this development earlier.

Although there is an ensemble cast, the main characters are Penny, Tara's sort-of girlfriend, and Wren, her roommate. Jordan, Neil, and Azar are other freshmen in Magni Viri, while senior Quigg appears several times as well. Most people are welcoming to Tara from the start, except for Neil, who initially keeps his distance. Wren, a music major in Magni Viri, is a supportive roommate and friend, but it becomes apparent that she has her own secrets. Wren acts as one of the catalysts for the plot's progression.

Penny, studying bats in Magni Viri, quickly becomes close to Tara. She helps Tara realize that she is not the only one from a disadvantaged background in their prestigious program, becoming both a stabilizing force and a source of increased self-confidence.

I must admit that Tara's anger at people for keeping things from her was justified, despite the overall difficult situation. Nevertheless, I believe they could have made a greater effort to inform her of what was happening.

One downside of this book is that the characters remain somewhat one-dimensional. While they possess distinct personalities and quirks, we do not delve beyond the surface level with any of them. Having completed the entire book, I find myself with little to say about the characters, which is disappointing considering the ensemble cast's involvement in the plot.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this arc!
HELLO, attention my Dark Academia bbies—boy oh boy do I have something for youuuu 🥰
This is YA (our MC is 17 but she’s in college), dark academia, horror…thriller. Soooooooo good.
This genre is super hit or miss for me but this story really gripped me—I was so intrigued by the setting (I got really invested in Tara’s gothic lit class? Sign me up)!
I was a little off put by Tara’s obsession with Meredith—she idolized her and hated her and then I realized that’s just like. Normal 17 year old behavior? So just try to give her a little grace 😂
Her friends in Magni Viri (the super secret fcked up society of brilliant students) were so wonderful and I’m so so glad she made those connections (& Penny🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺).
In the end I feel the book was tied up well, it doesn’t feel like anything was left out of place, and this is simply a fantastic Halloween read and I can’t wait to see it on everyone’s October reading lists 🥰

I was terrified for half of this book. Erica Waters pulls you deep into the psyche of 17 year old Tara who is fresh into college and all alone. With no friends and no family Tara longs for nothing more than to belong. A dark academia through and through this brought all the right energy (or maybe wrong because I’m a coward).

4.5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: ghosts, dark academia, light horror, college settings, mystery, LGBTQ+ characters

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 6/27 and will be posted to my review blog 6/28 and to Instagram 7/5.

This book actually surprised me with the opening, which was different than what I'd expected. That being said, a lot of the other plot points in the book were very predictable and it wasn't hard to figure out what was going to happen/going on as soon as the first threads were laid. I was actually kind of surprised Tara didn't put it together immediately.

That being said, Waters does a good job with atmospheric writing and that really came through here. Before we're even inducted into Magni Viri, the world of Corbin College is set with fog and prestige and tradition. Magni Viri adds an additional layer to this, and the Victorian mansion is both elegant and creepy. The natural surroundings come into play somewhat too, with cicadas, bats, forest, and fog all playing at least somewhat of a role in creating the mood and setting. I'm personally a fan of eco-horror and Southern Gothic, so I would've liked a bit more of nature/setting as a character, but the genre of this book is dark academia, so what's here fits the bill.

Magni Viri is, as mentioned, steeped in secrecy and tradition. Only people who have been inducted have set foot inside the dormitory and there are whispers around Corbin College that students in Magni Viri perform dark rituals. There's a good balance in Magni Viri of the academically/artistically intense and the supernaturally strange. The students are talented and are dedicated to their fields of study, sometimes to an unhealthy level, which contributes to the vibes of the story.

Our main character Tara has the fortune of being inducted into Magni Viri with a concentration in writing. Her dream is to become a writer and so being able to join should be everything she wants, but imposter syndrome and strange goings-on plague her as the semester progresses. It kind of bothered me how insecure Tara was. She applied to a prestigious academic group and wanted it with everything she had....but then she constantly doubts her own worth and questions her place. Like, you either think you're good enough for prestige or you don't, you can't waffle in the middle. Luckily, this is also kind of the advice Tara gets from other people, though she isn't too good at following (or trying to follow) it. Tara seems at least a little more confident by the end of the book, which is good, but it would've been nice to see it a bit earlier.

There's a bit of an ensemble cast, but the main people are Penny, Tara's kind-of girlfriend, and Wren, Tara's roommate. Jordan, Neil, and Azar are other members of the freshman Magni Viri class, and senior Quigg comes up a few times we well. Most everyone is immediately inviting to Tara, though Neil is a bit standoffish at first. Wren is a music major in Magni Viri and is a good roommate/friend, but clearly has something else going on. Wren is one of the catalysts for things getting started plot-wise.

Penny is in Magni Viri studying bats and she and Tara are almost immediately close. Penny helps Tara to understand that she isn't the only one in their prestigious program to have a disadvantaged background and she acts as somewhat of a stabilizing influence on Tara while also helping to increase her self-confidence.

I will say, as annoying as it was, Tara was justified in being angry at people for hiding things from her. Obviously it was a bad situation all around, but I still kind of think they should've tried harder to tell her what was going on.

One of the downsides of this book is that all the characters are just sort of there. They each have their own personalities and quirks and what not, but I didn't really feel like we got much past the surface level for any of them. Having read the entire book, I don't really have a ton to say about anyone, which is kind of disappointing for a book with an ensemble cast who all end up caught up in the plot.

5 out of 5 stars!

**HUGE thank you to HarperTeen for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

When a student unexpectedly dies, freshman English major Tara is offered her place in a prestigious academic society -- one that's rumored to be a cult. But when she starts receiving disturbing phone calls, dreaming of being buried alive, and writing dark tales in her sleep, Tara starts thinking there may be something even more sinister at work.

Rep: bisexual main character; sapphic love interest with unspecified disability/autoimmune disease; side characters include a Black man, non-binary person, trans man, and Iranian lesbian

Content warnings: death of a teenager, bullying, aneurysm, neglectful parent, underage drinking, abandonment, self harm, blood, knife wounds, and murder. Cancer, medical debt, transphobia, getting kicked out, historical misogyny, suicidal ideation, and abortion are all briefly mentioned.

Each book Erica Waters writes gets better and better, and this is her at her finest. I genuinely couldn't put this down. "All That Consumes Us" is the sapphic, dark-academia ghost story I've been longing for for years.
Waters created the spookiest autumnal atmosphere and I wish I could transport myself there. Despite the gothic vibes, it reminded me of my own time at college. I related a LOT to Tara’s fear of not being good enough, to her anxiety about making friends, to her struggle to keep up with course work. Somehow I found myself nostalgic for the late nights and incredibly niche research projects. And like Tara, I was also a first-generation college student! I really appreciated that representation.
This book is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I can’t wait for it to be published so I can grab a physical copy.

This book absolutely scared me and I loved it. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this one and I didn't want to put it down. I am always skeptical of dark academia as a genre because it usually feels like it's trying to be too smart, but this one was perfect. I think it's a great intro into dark academia or for fans of "Bunny" or "A Lesson in Vengeance".