This book was a wild ride. It touched on so many issues and talked about hope and trust and friendships. And showed them in the light that some are given there way due to their “status” and glow some people have to fight to be seen and heard and yet despite those differences they can still come together. It was fantastic!

I fell in love with H. G. Perry's writing with this book. The story was very interesting and made me really like the characters! I think my favorite was Eddie, he was such a wonderful friend to Clover and was very always so kind.

Once I really got into the book (around 10% in) I couldn't put it down I went out release day and immediately purchased the book because I loved it that much! I can't wait to dive into more of this authors work in the future!

If you love to read about faeries, school of magic, friendship, and a magical government with secrets then you need to read this book! It takes place before and after WW1 when a normal girl named Clover learns magic to save her brother. When she is accepted into the University she meets three friends whose lives become connected in ways they couldn't ever imagine.

The first 30% of the book was a little slow (but still good!) with all the plot building, but the rest of the book you will not want to put down. I was blown away with how well the world building was done and how many plot twists there were. I became so invested in all the characters that the ending was heart-wrenchingly perfect to me in every way. The friendships and relationships in this story were so well written that you will feel for every one of them. I am excited to read other books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and and review this arc! Loved it!

my heart hurt so much throughout reading this ❤️‍🩹

clover hill is a scholarship student at a magic university in hopes of finding a cure for her brother who was wounded in WWI with fae magic. despite her humble upbringing, her sharp wit and academic interest garners the attention of a nepotist group of classmates and together they form a close knit quartet of friendship that will be tested and strained as they seek answers regarding the fae/human segregation laws.

while this book packed the most delicious world into its pages, i had some issues feeling completely bought in mainly due to slow pacing throughout and lack of character depth. i felt like a lot of “telling” how characters felt toward each other occurred but far less action taken to “show” those feelings to hold any weight. the plot is extremely intriguing and while i wish the magic system was explained more, i still felt spellbound by the overall atmosphere.

i think there are some very thought-provoking themes to take away from this reading experience: classism, colonialism, intellectualism, etc. books that make you reflect upon your own humanity are so impactful and this one did exactly that in its own way.


read if you like:
— babel by r.f. kuang
— if we were villains by m.l. rio
— the secret history by donna tartt
— a study in drowning by ava reid
— saltburn

The doors to faerie country have been closed since a catastrophic attack @ the end of the Great War. Cover Hill just wants to break the faerie curse on her brother. What she discovers will uproot everything she knows about magic.

I’ve been a fan of Parry’s since I was introduced to The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep as a gift three years ago. And this one is a solid contender for being my favorites of her work.

She is so skilled at such strong, compelling character work even when I dislike a character. I felt like I truly understood most of the characters and their motivations. And amazing and breathtaking word building. Every little glimpse we saw of how magic works, at the different types of faerie. It all just whet my whistle.

There was a bit of a slow start, but I was so engaged in learning along with Clover I didn’t mind too much. And finally, finally, I have a story where a society is built on something unjust, and the resolution actually satisfied me instead of leaving me feeling frustrated.

I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Kingston Cycle by CL Polk or the Emily Wilde series by .Heather Fawcett

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Redhook Books for this arc!

The entire time I was reading this book I couldn’t help but think of it in “what if?” Ideas. What if the Harry Potter series was through Hermione’s POV? What if Neville was included into the trio’s adventures? What if Draco was actually rather nice in some ways and Dramione was a thing for a hot second? What if Hogwarts had a college counterpart that focused on faerie magic? And finally: what if Emily Wildes’ Encyclopedia of Faeries got with Babel and had a wild threesome with Harry Potter for a night? This book is the answer to all of these questions and man was it a ride! 🌿

The story follows Clover, a young woman who finds herself thrusted into a hidden world where magic is real and faeries are just as dangerous (if not more than) as the folktales say. I found her character rather interesting as someone who, while being a lover of learning and research, is rather naive and doesn’t really ask the big question of “why?” I loved the found family element that she has with Alden, Eddie, and Hero. It definitely took me back to my own college days of staying up way too late and spending time together goofing off when we really should’ve been studying. The evolution of their friendships felt natural and not at all weird for the events that these four go through. 🥲

I did find myself thinking the first half trudged on for a bit, making me want to speed read til something big happened again, but I had to stop myself multiple times since I knew that the first half was setting up for the rest of the novel. 😅

This is my second book by Parry and she has a wonderful way of making the magical world feel like something both tangible and realistic. I would honestly like to classify her work as magical realism because of just how well she writes all of this in her stories. I also love how Parry weaves prejudices into her tales without it feeling like it’s trying to prove a point. This element definitely fit wonderfully in the dark academia genre and man I loved the final reveal that this book had! 🤯

All in all, this should definitely be for those who enjoy dark academia, found family, and dangerous faeries who you really shouldn’t double cross. Big thank you goes to Orbit (love you besties! ❤️) and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to Parry for once again crafting an incredible historical fantasy that makes faeries and magic feel like a natural element in historical fiction. 🖤

Publication date: October 22!

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️

3.75/5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, and there is quite a bit to like. The world-building is stellar and transports you to Camford and beyond. The magic system and the narration employed by H.G. Parry were also great. It was just so slow! I usually would have dropped this book at 40%, but, like I said, I wanted to like it and I, fortunately, did start to enjoy the read around 60%, which is too far into the book to capture a reader. The characters were complicated and I didn't love any of them. I might have had a few heartstrings pulled in the final "battle" of the book, but I had a tough time connecting with any of the characters, only feeling sympathy toward Eddie at any given time.

Overall, if you enjoy scholarly reads with twists of magic and the untouchable, invincible egos of young adults, this is a great read to dive into. Just be prepared for the pacing issues.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Redhook Books, and H. G. Parry for allowing me access to an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

I enjoyed this dark fae/academic/friend group story. Parry has a certain way of telling compelling tales and this was no different. Setting g this magic infused story after a World War where a country is recovering and there are obvious class lines even in an esoteric world where magic can be taught, Parry sets a bar for herself here and I believe she reached it.

Clover enters a world where she is seen as unworthy because of where she is from and her lack of a Family lineage. She goes to Camford for herself and her brother and there is pulled into a group so very different but where she fits. Through the years their friendship evolves and changes and soon they are pulled apart and the fight with the fae comes to a head.

I love how Parry plots the changes in their friendship and what choices led to it. A story that cements that it is not class or familial history that leads to the collapse of friendships, but secrets and lack of trust.

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H. G. Parry was a very whimsical, magical story.
A wonderfully written historical fantasy novel.
This delightful tale is full of secret scholarship, faerie curses, and the deadliest spells of all.
The world-building was nicely done. It was easy to understand and there was no info-dump, which was nice.

Thank You NetGalley and Redhook for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I am not sure why I thought this would be closer to Emily Wilde but I was definitely wrong. This is closer to Babel without the discussion on colonialism or racism (or rather, with significantly less discussion), and less grim as well. But there is definitely a lot of class politics, sexism, violence (though not overly graphic), and tension.

I really liked a lot of the set up, the main character, the plot with the dyad and the complexity of the other characters. However, I struggled a little with the pacing. The first half of this book and the second half are almost like two different books, with a significant departure in pace, tone, vibe, etc. Thr first half, I was struggling to keep interested and waiting for something to happen; the second half, I felt like so much was happening there wasn’t time to really explain the implications of some of it, with several big reveals. All in all a very interesting book that I will continue to think about.

This book was a wonderful surprise! And really has landed within my top 5 best books of 2024.

Clover Hill learns about magic and when her brother comes home from the front at the end of WWI, hit with a fatal fairy curse. Determined to put things right, she gets herself to Camford, a magical school for mages but is disappointed that fairy magic is now banned. Like a typical dark academic story, she quickly makes friends in this new, rich and magical world. All sorts of dangerous activity ensues. But when things are opened that can never be put back, can Clover and her friends handle the fall out?

This story is beautifully spun against the backdrop of the end of WWI and the beginning of the roaring twenties. Mixed with an idyllic magical school and blossoming friendships, I couldn't put this book down. The book is a bit long, but I didn't mind it, and most of the time couldn't put it down.

Happy to have found this author and will definitely look for her other books!
A big thank you NetGalley and Redhook for this ARC!

This book was so wonderful. Clove, Alden, Hero, and Eddie are such fantastic, distinct characters. I really enjoyed this one. I loved the descriptions of a magical 1920s Oxford/London, as well as those of Clover's home in Pendle Hill and Alden's at Ashfield. The concept feels so original and I'm so glad I got a chance to read this!!

This is 100% a five star book. It’s amazing. I’m genuinely sad that I finished it a moment ago. The plot seems similar to Harry Potter at first, but the book quickly moves beyond that into a unique, fantastic, magical world all its own.

Four young friends meddle in things they shouldn’t. Isn’t that always how it goes? They must come together years later to fix their mistake.

I really, really hope there is a sequel to this.

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for an electronic copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

H.G. Parry is now a favorite author of mine.

When I read the synopsis for The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G. Parry, I felt like it would be the perfect book for me. I was thrilled to receive an ARC, and as I started reading, I was confident I’d love it.

Unfortunately... I’ve decided to DNF it.

I struggled with the decision to stop, so I turned to other reviews for guidance, and they gave me a clearer idea of where the story was heading. I read a few reviews that indicated the plot was focusing on themes that I was expecting and I realized this book wasn’t going to align with my hopes.

One reviewer said, “It’s possible that The Scholar was never meant to be about the relationships between the characters, but rather a study of inherited power, in which case it succeeds quite well. And some readers will love it for that exact angle. Unfortunately, I need more emotional depth to really enjoy a book, so while this was a good read, it wasn’t a favorite—and that’s okay.”

That review really helped clarify why the book wasn’t clicking for me. I had expected a deep, emotionally charged friendship between the characters, given the unique dynamics and intriguing personalities introduced early on. But by the 35% mark, their connections still felt surface-level. I was hoping for a bond that would transcend time and nature—something that would make their eventual reunification brimming with tension and heartache. Not only does it seem like that isn’t where the plot is headed, but even if it had been, the lack of emotional weight so far would have made it hard for me to connect.

Another review described the book as “Babel, but with faeries,” which that reader loved. While I can see how that comparison would appeal to others, it confirmed for me that this book wasn’t what I had anticipated.

In the end, while The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door didn’t meet my personal expectations, I believe it will resonate with readers looking for a unique story about power and friendship. It just wasn’t the kind of emotional journey I was hoping for.

This was one of my favorite reads of the year so far! I loved the historical setting and the fantastical elements. Clover was such an interesting main character. I really liked the combination of dark academia and faeries, too. The second half of the book took a darker turn than the first half, but if anything that was more exciting. I like H. G. Parry's writing style a lot, and this book was a lot different than the others I've read by her. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door tells a complete story, but the worldbuilding is so detailed I think another story set in this world would be a lot of fun.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door is the latest historical fantasy offering from H.G. Parry, and it’s a fairly enjoyable read overall. It evokes similar vibes to recent reads like Babel and Emily Wilde in the fantastical academic angle, although without the use of footnotes (Thank God…as much as I enjoyed them in those books, I’ve begun to dread seeing them, especially in books I got ARCs of).
The world building intrigued me, from the setting and structure of the Camford school to the incorporation of faerie lore into the narrative. I also generally enjoyed the way this was all juxtaposed against post-WWI Britain, and its society of haves and have-nots.
The characters took a while to get to know, but ended up being a standout. Clover is a commoner who ends up being able to attend Camford in search of a cure for her brother Matthew, who survived a faerie attack that resulted in the deaths of others. She was immediately sympathetic in her “fish-out-of-water” narrative, but I also gradually came to like her friends, Alden, Hero, and Eddie who she got to know over the course of the book. All of them form a supportive found-family unit, and while I can’t say I found any of them particularly interesting as individuals, they’re delightful as a collective and support system.
With this book being so long, the plot and pacing are its main weaknesses. Not a lot happens in the first half, and this is in large part due to the fact that the first two “parts” of the book occur in 1920 and 1921, respectively, with a time jump to 1929 in part 3. That part got the most engaging, when all my questions started to be answered, and while I am grateful for the first two parts for how they fleshed out Clover’s character, I do wonder if some of it could have been streamlined to flow easier. However, pacing is not an uncommon complaint for me with Parry’s work, with an earlier duology also being plagued by this issue, especially in the first book.
In spite of my issues with this book, I mostly enjoyed this book overall, and would recommend it to readers looking for a dark academia fantasy.

This is the story of Clover Hill and her journey through the magic world post WW2. Her brother, Matthew is cursed by a Faerie on a battlefield. A stranger named Sam shows up at her home and tells her and her mother the truth about magic and the Fae. Clover learns the hard way about the dangers of magic and what it can do to someone.
When the curse more and more from her brother, she is determined to find a cure. She attends a magic school on full scholarship, willing to do whatever it takes to cure her brother. She learns even more disturbing truths about magic and friendship the hard way, as she walks into the mysterious and deadly world of magic.

I loved the premise of this book. I think the writing and the world building is a little different from other fantasy books based on faerie lore. It focuses more on the human viewpoint instead of whimsical fantasy. I wish it had been more dark academia, there was a lot of character building while they were all in school, but it didn't focus a lot on the classes or the education system.
The characters were very real and different from each other. They were all driven by their own personal needs and desires.

I really enjoyed The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door! In certain ways, the first part has a Harry-Potter-for-adults vibe, when a young non-magical woman finds out there are old, powerful magical families in England and around the world whose children attend a special magical school and finds herself attending.

However, this story is far, far from fan fiction. The main character Clover and her friends are strong, well-rounded, unique characters, and I very much enjoyed having the chance to follow them on their journey as they pursued forbidden spells to try to save members of their families and then uncovered some deep secrets that threatened the very existence of magic in the human world. And did I mention the writing is gorgeous?

Highly recommend.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

The premise of this had me SO excited! An academia book with a magical university, a curse to research, and faeries meddling.

The very bones of the story are reminiscent of many other books, with the MC who doesn't come from money or power, but works and fights to get a place, and a dark secret that is known about and covered up by the rich powerful people. It is the way it's told, the characters themselves, and the details that make it unique.

I found the first 2 parts to be longer than necessary, given their slow pace and lack of story progression compared to the second half of the book. There is also a kind of jarring time skip that I really wasn't feeling until reading later parts of the book.

At first I thought it would be a light academia, but as you get further in it leans more towards dark academia. I didn't particularly like Clover, the MC if I'm honest, which is fine and not necessary for me to enjoy a book. I really liked Hero and Eddie, they were such wonderful characters and brought a joy and light to the story.

Overall I enjoyed this, it's not one that I think will really stick with me but it was an interesting book and I couldn't put it down once I got past the slower parts. 3.5 rounded up!

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC of this book.

This book makes me wish we could rate things with half stars because if I could I would rate this book 4.5 stars. I am rating it 4 stars because I think my few issues I have with the book just keep it from reaching 5 stars.

The author has written an amazing example of a dark academia novel. It is based in England in the time after WW1 and before WW2 starts, it is an alternative history / urban fantasy book so the story is based in the real world it is just that magic is a fact not a fantasy. It is written in the style of a memoir where the narrator is looking back on their life and telling their story. I don’t always enjoy this style because it can be hard to really sink into the world of the story but I didn’t have that issue with this book. It is hard to say more without accidentally spoiling something given the number of mysteries and twists in the book so I will just say if the premise sounds like you would like it then you would probably would.

The main issue I had with this book is that the pacing sometimes seems off. While the majority of the time it flows well there are a few spots where it drags on and a few where it feels rushed. The book is worth reading even when you are feeling the dragging though because the payoff will lead you do text your book bestie and drinking your wine.