It wasn’t the book for me but it was well written! It was just too dark and too far towards horror for me. I think it would be a good title for those who liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman though. This tone and style of the writing felt similar enough to me that I feel like those who liked the one would also enjoy the other.

I did have some issues with this story. The pacing was off at times and Lennon's decision making at times just made me cringe. The ending of the book was good and I was surprised by the villain, I truly didn't see that coming at all.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book. It's listed as a dark fantasy horror, but I found it to not have much in the way of horror, but maybe that is just me. I did enjoy the concept of the of this school. There was a nice blend of the magic (persuasion) story, with the mystery of the schools past and present. As well the added romance between Lennon and Dante. This was the first book I have read by Alexis Henderson, and I will be looking of her other books to read.

I've been going back and forth on how to rate this one. This is my first book by this author and I was excited to dive right in because the premise sounded very interesting. The story kept me engaged, but I was soon disappointed with the story overall. The characters fell flat and the romance between the main character and her potential love interest left much to be desired. The murder mystery also left me wanting more. Although I didn't enjoy the story as much as I would have liked, it did keep me engaged and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an e-ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I would tell you nothing of this book so you go in blind and get the same heart thumping, breath stealing, mind blowing experience I just had. I want that for you. So I will say nothing except yes you should read this.

The vibes: dark academia, magical realism, anti-hero, no one is a good person, superior strategists, there’s never a lull or boring moment, suspenseful, spooky, wild ending

5 Stars and I can’t stop thinking about it. Get in the damn elevator.

Thank you to @BerkelyPub and @netgalley for a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

An Academy of Liars by Alexis Henderson - I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved that the main characters were both smart, powerful and black. However, I was disappointed that the white head of the school had nefarious plans for Lennon. This book is about power, control and the means people will go to to keep it or gain it. 

This is a fairly brutal world where manipulation and persuasion is power, the characters are mostly morally gray and the more the story went on the more I wasn't sure if I wanted it to survive. I did like that Lennon didn't come in immediately knowing how to do what she does - she has to work at it.

Dante is a hard to pin down. I didn't know whether I liked him, trusted him or whether I felt that Lennon should  dump him. There was a weird dynamic between him and the dean of the school that I didn't quite understand why it continued. There were several big things that I felt were holes that were never filled.  For example there seemed to be some significance to Dante's moth tattoos and the pinned moth that he receives as a birthday gift but I just couldn't figure it out.

I was thrilled with the rat uprising toward the end of the book and I was a big fan of the main rat who helps Lennon in the end. 

Overall this was a compelling read, I was definitely invested but I didn't love it and I was left feeling empty. If you are a big fan of Dark Academia novels this may be for you.

I don’t quite know if I liked this book or not. Lennon is a strong character. Her process of trying to figure out who she is and where she fits into the world is an interesting one. Drayton itself is also a twist to the story. A school where people go to learn how to manipulate those around them. This story has its high moments. The ending is especially good, but getting there at times was difficult for me. So personally, this might not have been the best fit. That being said, I do think that readers are going to get swept away in the beautiful world built within these pages.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This one was SO good! I enjoyed the dark academia and the fantasy vibes with one. It was a great read. I highly recommend. Perfect fall vibes,

An Academy for Liars is a delightfully twisted dark acedemia featuring PoC main characters, a diverse cast, and a unique premise. Messy, complicated characters? Mind magic that can influence people? A school hidden inside a pocket dimension? This book was full of secrets and twists and I spent most of it having no idea whose side anyone was on. All of the characters were at least a little bit monsterous, which led me to question everything! Every fan of dak acedemia is going to NEED this book on their shelves.

An Academy for Liars, by Alexis Henderson (Sept. 17, 2024) - Many thanks to Net Galley Berkley, and prhaudio for the free digital and audiobook copies of this gripping, atmospheric read that blends fantasy and reality in unsettling ways. Below is my honest review.

When Lennon Carter answered a phone call in an old phone booth in an empty parking lot, she thought her life was about to end. Little did she know, it was about to begin. The call, congratulating her on her admission to a college she didn't apply to and has never heard of, leads her to a hidden campus in Savannah, Georgia, where she, along with her classmates, has been selected to hone their skills in the power of persuasion. Pushing their minds and bodies to their limits in the pursuit, allies and enemies are revealed, faculty test skills and morals, and the campus is at risk. As Lennon's skills evolve under the guidance of her mentor, she begins to uncover dark secrets about the campus and the sinister motivations of people she thought she could trust.

I was all in for this one from the very first chapter! Lennon was such a compelling character who evolved so much from where we meet her to the book's conclusion. This is a fantasy book but rooted in the real world, which makes the entire story unsettling in an excellent way. She grounds the story of harnessing power not in magic but in training and skill while also making the mundane powerful (elevators and phone booths take on a magical element). While Lennon and her advisor, Dante, are the central characters, Henderson creates a chilling world with magical undertones that make this book feel like an adult, violent take on a Hogwarts-like institution. I really, really enjoyed it!

Tracie Frank narrates the audiobook and does an excellent job with many characters of varying ages and backgrounds.

This book has taken over my life!!!!

I love love loved the world at Drayden Uni, even though I was deeply unsettled the entire time I was reading.

Lennon is a compelling main character and I really appreciated how real she felt.

The author did a phenomenal job weaving this story together, I truly had no clue what was coming on the next page. Also Alexis, thank you for making Dante so hot and mysterious, you popped all the way off with him.

When I tell you I stayed up until 1AM on a work night because I couldn't put this book down......I mean it. An Academy for Liars is literally everything a fantasy, dark academia obsessed girlie like me could ever ask for. The setting is lush and decadently gothic, the characters are morally grey, there's a sprinkling of romance and the fantasy elements combined with the philosophic and moral questions all blend together to create what I can only describe as the most perfect dark academia novel I've read in a very long time. And the cherry on top? The diverse cast, featuring two Black main characters. Dark academia as a genre is historically devoid of diversity, so the fact that this one was so goddamn good and highlighted characters of color made my heart sing even more. If there's one dark academia fantasy thriller you pick up this autumn, make it An Academy for Liars!

WOW! The gothic vibes were everything in this book. I loved Lennon and seeing her character development throughout this book. I also loved the forbidden love of Dante and the forced proximity of that relationship. The dark secrets, the world building, and the characters were AMAZING! I cannot wait to read more by Alexis.

An Academy For Liars has nearly all the hallmarks of a classic Dark Academia novel: a secretive, elite school, morally questionable characters you’ll love to hate, explorations of morality and mortality, and a dark magic system that’s not quite what it seems.
What initially struck me was the similarity to Lev Grossman’s The Magicians—not the whole story, but specifically in how the school is introduced to the protagonist. Considering The Magicians is one of my all-time favorite trilogies, that’s definitely a positive. I missed the sense of longing and wonder I felt when reading it.
There’s a lot going on in this book. The main character is incredibly frustrating, yet you can’t help but root for her. In the first half, it feels like the story is happening to her, but eventually, the dynamic shifts, and she starts taking control. Still, there were plenty of moments where I wished she’d be more active in her own life, take more risks, or stop resisting the power she holds.
I could have done without the love story, but I’m curious to see where it goes in future books. The protagonist tends to define herself by the men she’s involved with, repeating that pattern throughout the story. However, there’s a noticeable shift in her by the end, and I’m eager to see how that develops.
At its core, this is a story about power, control, and the decision to seize both by any means necessary. It’s dark, violent, and shocking—likely not what you’re expecting. Despite my frustrations, I absolutely devoured it, and I think you will too. I can’t wait to return to Drayton!

An interesting dark fiction novel that will leave you wanting more! Characters are well developed and fit with the dark theme by being not entirely good or bad, but still likeable nonetheless. Interesting world building that will bring you into the school for the differently gifted the novel takes place in.

Title: An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
Publication Date- 09/17/24
Publisher- Berkeley Group
Overall Rating- 3 out of 5 stars

Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I did not expect to give this a three star review. I am confident in my choice and I have very complicated feelings about this book which I will layout below.

An Academy for Liars has a strong and solid dark academia feel. I loved being within the gates of Drayton and felt engrossed in the atmosphere Henderson created. Another strong suit is the magic. The magic in this book is really interested and transportive. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book where I really loved the magic and felt it was unique. For comparison, the way the magic works reminds me of The Magicians. The characters work of the idea of persuasion. My favorite things about the story were the magic, atmosphere and the fact they protect rats from harm.

Now to the not so fun part of this review. Clearly, I am not a great writer so I am careful when I comment on others. However, the writing in this story felt very off putting, specifically with the dialogue between characters. As a whole, the characters are pretty well developed but feel so immature. This is a pet peeve for me. The things they argued about, decisions made and fights ensued drove me mad. I almost gave the book 2 stars because of this but felt that the other things I’ve listed truly are a strong suit. The characters just made me angry and frustrated by their words and actions.

Another important element I really struggled with was the overall plot. It is a more character driven plot and take into account what I said above. The plot just didn’t make a lot of sense, not in a confusing way but in a way that felt like “why, why is this being done this way.” I felt that way for a large portion of the book, that only got worse as we went on.

When I first started the book, I thought this was going to be a five star. I loved the atmosphere and dark academia feel. Then sadly, as the book went on, I started to dislike it more. 3 stars honestly feels like a more generous rating, my overall enjoyment was closer to 2 stars but I felt like 3 feels fair. In summary, do with that what you will.

it was really special to read about a place so close to home and recognize some of the locations! savannah is a beautiful city with a lot of history and i felt like this story did such a great job with this setting.

every character in this was so layered and unique. i would honestly love to read a prequel featuring some of the faculty members during their time at drayton. lennon is a fantastic fmc, an absolute badass but i most admired her moral conscience despite her increasingly rising power. dante…my man! absolutely in awe of the complexity of his character!

i loved how something of significance happened in every chapter! i had the hardest time putting this book down to go to sleep and found myself thinking of plot points throughout the day wondering how these characters were going to move forward in their mission. i was thoroughly gripped and that’s the exact feeling i want while reading!

thank you so much for the arc copy!

An Academy for Liars is a dark academia fantasy book featuring a young woman named Lennon who's feeling lost with a broken heart when she is suddenly chosen to attend Drayton College. This school is a magical and hidden place where scholars learn that one's mind can become a weapon for control and persuasion.

This book was so creative and unique from Henderson's previous novels, which I also loved. It had fully formed and complex characters, plenty of action, and mystery. This is the perfect splash of magic with great horror elements mixed in. I want a sequel and didn't want it to end!

Fans of Harry Potter or Fourth Wing looking for a much darker magical read written for adults will enjoy this (there's no wands or dragons, but it's still absolutely great). I will read absolutely anything this author writes and am a big fan of her work. She is such a shining light of talent with her craft.

If you want to get lost in an imaginary world with danger, romance, and interesting characters then this book is a must!

This book was FANTASTIC!! This year is really serving so many amazing dark academia murder mystery fantasy books & this one lived up to that. I loved the twists & turns the book takes readers along. I loved the characters, their relationships with one another, & how complex they all were. I loved the setting & the magic system. This was so unique & so so cool. I loved this SO incredibly much. This was a fantastic read & I read it so quickly!

Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for the eARC!!

An Academy for Liars has a synopsis and cover that immediately gripped my curiosity the first time I stumbled across it and didn’t let go. This reminds me in so many ways of a combination of Vita Nostra and Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and is going to be perfect for fans of fantastical dark academia and magic school settings.

This follows Lennon Carter, a young woman whose life is falling down around her ears when she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to interview at Drayton College. The voice on the phone, disturbingly similar to her own, convinces her with terrible truths only she could know to drive through the night to interview. Drayton is a school for those gifted in the art of persuasion - a rather mundane way to say that those trained here can manipulate the minds of others and some of the most powerful can manipulate the very fabric of the world to suit their whims. The students, who Lennon meets when she is inevitably admitted, come from all backgrounds - some are legacy students, one was a gas station clerk, one was even a nun.

Classes begin in earnest and Lennon must strive to prove herself or be kicked from the program, with her memories wiped. She must learn to control her power to use it not only when her emotions are fraught but when she calls for it, otherwise she’s next to useless to Drayton. And when a deeper power begins to manifest she becomes something worse - a danger. Lennon finds a closeness with her mentor, Dante, who seems to be the only person who might be able to help her control her powers. Getting the hots for someone older and with a brighter star than her own seems to be the norm for Lennon. It’s kind of interesting to see her be somewhat disappointed in herself for falling back into an old pattern and yet doing it anyway.

Lennon is an extremely flawed, damaged character and this manifests at every turn of the page. Her various flings to fill the void, her out of control emotions, and even her own power serve to make her something of an anti-hero. She might save the day, but that doesn't make her a good person (or even really a bad one). I think the story really helps highlight how a person might change and act when they have such dramatic power at their fingertips. Lennon uses her power for her own purposes and advantages, only feeling bad about it after she's done it to someone close to her and then she does it again. 

I really loved An Academy for Liars and it perfectly scratched that fantastical dark academia itch. The students are quite competitive, especially when fighting for a potential place in Logos, the exclusive group of the most promising students. There are flings and rivalries, plenty of classroom scenes, but there are some very personal and even very violent scenes mixed in as well that really help balance the story overall. This is a standalone with an ending that wraps up in a tremendously satisfying way and I have a new desire to go back and check out Alexis Henderson’s backlist.