I recommend this for YA readers who are just getting into dark academia. It's moody and atmospheric with diverse rep and slow-burn mystery, but it may not satisfy upper YA and/or more die-hard dark academia fans.

I did like the intersectionality of the rep. I think students will really appreciate that. However, I personally had high hopes for the plot (maybe too high) as a reader of all things dark academia, yet this one felt rather paint-by-numbers.

In other words, ATCU definitely checked all the dark academia boxes, but in a way that left me hungry for something greater than the sum of its parts. The writing felt overly functional sometimes, and in some places it read a touch too *wink, wink did you catch that reference, reader?*, which took me out of the reading experience. For example, our MC supposedly reads The Secret History to get a sense of what studying at a liberal arts college will be like and I couldn't tell if this was meant as a joke or not. (It did make me chuckle!).

All That Consumes Us is a dark academia read that follows the main character Tara and her journey at Corbin College as she gets accepted into the secret society Magni Viri. I really loved the idea behind this book that Tara was accepted only to achieve others goals and how she fought that stigma tooth and nail and wanted to be more than what people saw. I also really liked the idea of ghosts using the students to accomplish their famous talents and unfinished business beyond the grave. However, this book just didn't feel exciting or atmospheric for me. I never felt that gothic vibe I wanted to feel and there were times where I just felt like the story kept dragging on. It was lacking that extra something I look for in a story. Overall a very original read and I think fans of dark academia will enjoy it!

This book has literally consumed me while I consumed it. This amazing cycle goes on throughout the entire book.
It’s got ghostly spirits, Latin spells, and madness to excel at their courses, the story is a maddening tale of students in pursuit of passion. It captivates the reader’s attention from the beginning. It’s scary and captivating, and the world building is so real & great. You literally can’t separate reality, imagination, hallucinations, or possessions.

Thank you to HarperTeen for sending me an arc of this my way in exchange for review.


This was such a perfect gothic ghost story that I couldn’t let go until I finished. I love the found family aspect and the writing.

Tara gets accepted into Corbin College, but because of imposter syndrome, she doesn't feel worthy. She's lonely, awkward and feels like she has no one. A month into the school year, she gets a late acceptance into Magni Viri, an exclusive secretive academic society. She gets to move into the academy dorm, which is a gorgeous Victorian building with everything she could possibly need. She finally has the chance to be a writer. However, things aren't what they seem. Her stories are dark and she doesn't quite remember writing them. She sleepwalks sometimes and other times she has terrible dreams of being trapped in a coffin. She discovers the dark secret at the center of Magni Viri and has to find a way to escape before it's too late.

This has been described as a gothic, ghostly, queer dark academia book and I'd have to agree. It was so atmospheric and spooky which is perfect since it comes out this October. I devoured this book because I couldn't look away. I was fully immersed in the Magni Viri world. I loved that the characters were complex and diverse. It was a bit predictable at times but I still fully enjoyed every beautifully written line of it. I recommend it if you love dark academia. Perfect for spooky readers who don’t like a lot of gore.

Ah, I needed that.

The atmosphere was well concocted, tense and passionate as it goes for books of this genre. It was very hard to not get sucked in; it was addictive, soothing in how different it is to reality. Which. Is escapism not what we seek?

Tara was a good protagonist to follow. Dependable and unreliable at the same time which was a great contradiction to read about. Her loneliness was palpable, she seemed real, her self awareness was refreshing. Sometimes she made decisions I struggled to understand but it all made sense for her character. All of the supporting characters were well developed and interesting, I loved reading about them. Frankly, I even missed them when they were off page.

Here's the thing. The book sort of felt like it was split in two, just a little? It's kind of like a two-in-one deal for the dark academia genre, which at the same time was what made this book stand out and also kind of detracted from it. One element especially felt like it disappeared from the narrative and I feel conflicted about it because I wasn't enjoying it but it was a major aspect of the story up to a certain point. (My crypticism is on par with the genre, no?).

The romance, though! Great stuff. I enjoyed the progression, especially as it was unusual and I loved the love interest.

Overall, honestly, it's a great dark academia novel with wonderful characters and a clear message which doesn't feel like it's being pushed on you. Definitely worth putting on your tbr.

This was a fun new take on a dark academia storyline! I really enjoyed it, my only upset is I wish it was longer or multiple books! haha I really would have loved to delve deeper into the ideas in the book as they were super fun and interesting!
Highly recommend for a nice quick standalone book especially if you love dark academia or are needing a new fun twist to the genre.

Devoured in one sitting--the atmosphere of Magni Viri as it haunts the campus, its secrets, and the whimsy that makes it easy for Tara to get swept up are rendered beautifully. Her complicated relationship with her mother, her blossoming love and friendships are definitely highlights and strengths of Waters.

I really enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed this author’s previous books. I look forward to reading all the books Waters writes.

This book is a YA dark academia novel with ghosts, obsession, and sapphics. Although you can definitely see that there is a fair amount of inspiration from other works in the genre, as the Secret History alone is referenced by name more than once. This is not really a problem, however, because that means that the characters are more self-aware, and not painfully oblivious to the fact that they have essentially drowned themselves in their passions, as many other characters tend to be (and often very annoying while they do it). I mean, they are still incredibly obsessive over their studies, but less than you typically see. Unfortunately, that means that they don’t have the same twisted morals you would typically see– or at least not to the same extent. In all fairness, that is probably more of a fault of the YA genre more than it is a fault of the book. Also I love how literature such as Carmilla or Shirley Jackson was mentioned, not solely Dracula or other white men only literature.

**3.5 STARS**

I’ve read only one other book from this author called The River Has Teeth and I enjoyed it a lot. When I read the synopsis for this book it sounded so intriguing I had to request it.

I like that this book is set in college because I feel like there isn’t many young adult books set in college, but so many things happens to a young adult after high school. And we see it in this case with Tara who is trying her best to do good in her classes, hoping one day to be a novelist but she is a young woman who has to pay her own tuition and make things meet. Tara doesn’t have a wealthy family to help her pay for school so when she is invited to the secret society, Magni Viri, she feels this is her one chance to realize her big dreams.

The secret society gives the whole story its mystery. There is a backstory with the founding fathers of Magni Viri and we learn about it with Tara who is new to it all. The twist in the story is a good one and so unexpected. I found it creative and definitely gave all the dark academia vibes! Tara lives in a Victorian dormitory, there are woods around her and a graveyard. She also feels like she’s being haunted and obsessed with writing this novel – she feels like she’s becoming someone else which becomes really creepy.

I like the diverse cast of characters but I wish I felt like I could connect to them but I didn’t. I do like how each student had lofty ambitions and being part of Magni Viri was a chance to reach those goals – but at what cost? And was it all worth it to be so consumed by their passions that they would do anything to make their dreams come true.

Tropes: secret society

Why you should read it:
*you want to read a modern gothic horror story
*good twist in the story, dark academia vibes with ghosts, obsessions, strange things happening

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into horror

My Thoughts:

I thought this one was fairly entertaining but maybe a little too slow for me in the beginning and I wish I could’ve connected to the characters. Once everything starts unraveling for Tara is when I got more engaged and I was trying to figure what was going on with these Magni Viri kids. I like that it’s a college setting and it has a diverse cast. I thought the twist in the story was good and I like how the characters question if everything they are doing to achieve their goals are worth it.

**review will be posted on my blog in October 2023**

All That Consumes Us focuses on Tara, who dreams of being a writer and being part of Magni Viri, the prestigious academic society at Corbin College. (If you ask anyone else on campus, it might also be a cult.) She did not get accepted when she first applied to the school, instead entering the English teaching pathway while working two jobs to make ends meet. After a tragic accident, Tara is invited to join the society where she receives free room and board, tuition, and a stipend. She can finally rest and write and have real friends, all that she has ever wanted; however, she quickly finds that perhaps there is more happening at Magni Viri than she could have ever imagined.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best book I have read this year. I absolutely could not put it down. I love, love, love so much about this book. With its focus on gothic literature, its discussion of class divides in academia, and Tara Boone, the main character, I already know this is a new favorite of mine. Erica Waters never disappoints! It's spooky, queer, beautifully written, and absolutely a book you shouldn't miss!

College is nothing at all like Tara Boone hoped it’d be. Coming from a poor background with no familial support, Tara has no choice but to get a campus job and settle as an English Ed major. But what she wouldn’t give to be part of Corbib’s elite student society, Magni Viri—like Meredith Brown, the brilliant, poised writing major in Tara’s classes. If only Tara had gotten picked to be in Magni Viri instead of Meredith… if only Tara could just get lucky for once.

Then a terrible tragedy changed everything—Tara might just get her wish after all. But at what cost? Because rumors are circulating of what kind of society Magni Viri really is. Is it just an organization that boasts hardcore studiousness, or a cult like everyone secretly suspects?

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I was completely blown away by this book! Firstly by Tara because of how relatable she is and how well I thought she was written. Then of course Meredith, Magni Viri, the secrets that slowly poured it… There were some really powerful themes in this book, namely revolving around talent and ambition. It really brings a fresh perspective on how to differentiate between the two. I also thought the paranormal twist was a brilliant spin on dark academia - the two concepts perfectly married together by Waters. Amazing job by her, hands down. I HIGHLY recommend!

Other things I loved:
- Tara’s writing struggles
- her need to question everything
- the Sunday parties
- obsession/daydreams of Meredith
- Tara & Polly
- Wren!
- the spin on everyone’s “talent”
- Cicada
- WWG & JB
- mausoleum scene
- justice sweetly served

Many thanks to Netgalley and to Erica Waters’s publishing team for allowing me to read this!

Erica Waters is the queen of queer gothic horror and All That Consumes Us proves it. This is a wonderfully well-plotted story with characters that you can't stop watching. More, please!

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters is a creepy, dark academia book that would make the perfect Halloween read! The story revolves around Tara, a student at Corbin College who has just been asked to join an exclusive society. She is now one of the Magni Viri, an elite group of students who get special privileges in the school. Now, she can focus on her creative writing. But whenever she starts writing, bad things start happening. It's like she's losing her grip on reality. Can Tara discover the secrets behind the Magni Viri before it's too late?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from the Prologue:

"This is it, the last time you’ll kiss me. I want to burn it into my heart, inscribe every touch so that later, in that dark place, I’ll be able to run my fingers over the memory, feel the worn grooves of it against my skin. A spell for not forgetting,a spell for not disappearing.
It’s midnight, and the moon is a pale sliver in the black velvet sky, less luminous than your eyes. The long fragrant branches of a weeping willow reach and sway, forming a lover’s canopy around us, so that I can almost forget the others who circle us with their burning candles, their chanting voices. You reach out a too-warm hand to cup my cheek. My breath hitches."

Overall, All That Consumes Us is a gothic YA story that will appeal to fans of the recent YA release Wolfwood or the Point Horror books from the 1990's. One highlight of this book is the creepy gothic setting, which is full of secret societies, mysteries and secrets. Another highlight of this book is that it is dark academia, which is one of my favorite tropes. I absolutely love reading about spooky happenings in Victorian buildings late at night. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA horror in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in October!

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters
4.75

A secret society at a small liberal arts college is more than it appears. What would you do to summon and hold creative genius?

This book was atmospheric, spooky, and kept me on the edge of my seat. It conjures up a whole new meaning of the phrase, “ghost writing.” Is fame and renown more important than living your own life?

Loved this gothic, spooky modern day read!

Dark academia is a genre I will always adore. Erica Waters' reliably beautiful prose lifts this darkly gothic tale that I would absolutely recommend.

I like Erica Waters' style and other works, but this was just alright. Something about this story just felt too predictable and I felt like I'd already read similar stuff before. Still, a decent read, especially for young adults.

Dark academia is my jam! This was very very good I had to know what happened next and how it ended. So good!
I just reviewed All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters. #AllThatConsumesUs #NetGalley
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The concept of this story was really great, but I felt as though the writing was a little awkward. I am all for inclusivity, but this felt like forced inclusivity. I did not believe that any of the teenagers were actually teenagers.