firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

an academy for liars is the epitome of dark academia and psychological horror — this is gruesome, gorey, and chilling to the bone; a perfect autumn/spooky read but perhaps with the lights on

“Every day for the rest of your life you will wake up and wrap your hands around that thing’s throat and strangle it. Or it will strangle you.”

Lennon’s life is falling apart. She’s discovered her fiancé cheating on her with her only friend. When she runs away in an attempt to end her own life peacefully and quietly, she receives a strange call sourced from an old telephone booth in an abandoned mall parking lot. A polytonal voice congratulates her on her pending acceptance into Drayton College where she will learn the art of persuasion. It turns out magic is real, and it’s embedded in skillful lies. 👄

Alexis Henderson curates the EXACT vibes I wish to read in a dark, brooding, and gothic tale. An Academy For Liars is no exception. I was enthralled with the world building, the magic leveling, the scenery, and the characters. Set in deep Savannah, this book is perfect to scratch that southern gothic itch. 🥀

My reading experience was about the same as it is with any world-building story: I had difficulty getting through the first half where characters and rules were established, but RIPPED through the second half like my life depended on it. If you find yourself struggling with the slow start, I encourage you to keep reading because the rest is so worth it. I will be thinking about this book for a while. 🐀

Thank you to Ace/Berkley pub for this ARC! I’m so grateful to have received an advance copy. 📖

Dark academia is my catnip. Had not heard much around this book yet, and can’t figure out why?! Loved this so much. The way I screamed “run”! Will there be another, please?!

An Academy for Liars Review

An Academy for Liars is currently a standalone dark academia novel written by Alexis Henderson who is a speculative fiction writer known for her dark fantasy and horror themes, and this book fits right in with those themes. An Academy for Liars is set in a secluded university called Drayton which is located in Savannah, Georgia but hidden from all those who do not attend the school. The main character is Lennon, a twenty-something year old whose life is crumbling from underneath her, when she receives a phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam to a school she has never heard of, Drayton. Upon being accepted, Lennon comes to learn that this is a unique school where the students are focused on one area of study, the art of persuasion and using that gift to control others. As the school year progresses, Lennon starts to uncover more and more disquieting secrets about the school she is enrolled in and about her advisor, Dante, who has his own tragic and mysterious past. Soon she will have to depend on her own instincts to determine who she can trust and who may end up betraying her. Overall, this book met every expectation I had for it as a dark academia book, and I didn’t want to put it down.

First, the opening of the book was not an opening I expected based on the synopsis, but it moved quickly with a lot of things happening in quick succession and before I knew it, Lennon had entered Drayton Academy. I felt the pace of the book worked well for the plot, except for a few sections that do read a little bit slower. The main plot where Lennon is attempting to solve the mysteries surrounding both Drayton and Dante was well spaced out, as the author kept feeding small tidbits of information to keep you intrigued and your attention captured throughout. The plot of the book was unique as well, and I have not read a dark academia book quite like it before. It did use a common trope of “The Chosen One” but the way that the author took that and brought her own perspective to it, led to a unique plot. The “magic” system was well developed, though simpler than magic systems you might find in other books. I did enjoy there was a downside for when the characters used their gifts so they were not made invincible.

I enjoyed the two main characters in the book, Lennon and her advisor Dante. The author did a great job of building and developing these two complex characters, and giving them flaws that were also important to the plot of the book. The events that occurred to Lennon in the book had impact on her character as well and you could see Lennon grow and change through the book in a way that felt natural. I did feel that some of the side characters could have been developed a little bit further and felt that would have made this book even stronger. There was some romance in the book, but it wasn’t a strong factor in the plot and did not contribute much to the story, so if you are looking for a strong romance subplot, this will not deliver it.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed reading this book, especially as my first read of September. It is a great book for a crisp fall day. The ending of the book was well thought out, concluding the main plot as well as all the subplots, except maybe one minor subplot (moths!). I gave this book a 4.25/5 and would recommend this to those who want to read a dark academia book with flawed characters, a unique magic system that has consequences and a plot that is filled with rivalries, betrayals and how people respond when given power over others. While this book is a standalone currently, the ending is set up where the author could easily write another book set in this fascinating world, and I hope that the author comes back to this world sometime in the future. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, for providing this book for free in return for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Check out trigger warnings before reading.

4.5 Stars and my eternal thanks for the eARC!

I knew I loved Henderson’s work, but this one was a wild ride from start to finish. Lennon isn’t a very reliable narrator mainly because she doesn’t trust or like anyone around her. But that’s what I like about her, mostly.

I think what solidified my love for this novel was a particular moment at the very end chapter 40 when Lennon is given a choice and we see her make the choice she makes. Living with the consequences wasn’t waved away, too.

I think the only thing that would knock off points is the fact that things happen and the story moves on almost immediately. There’s very little of the characters sitting in the moment. The Amsterdam plot? Fully forgotten after the fact. The faces in mirrors? Never explained.

I am loving the "twist on dark academia" trend that's started the past couple years, and I'd recommend that if you liked books like The Atlas Six and Ninth House, pick this one up. It's easy to read, despite it having quite a few darker elements; there is quite a bit of blood and gore on page, so be aware of that. The pacing was solid and the buildup was great, but for the first 60% of the book there isn't much of a plot outside of Lennon attending classes and learning about persuasion. The last half of the book got more intense, in content and in gore as well. The book had a bit of a forbidden romance but shouldn't be taken for a romantic book by any means. Overall, I'd recommend this for fans of dark academia and "fantasy" (for lack of a better word; perhaps more sci-fi?) standalone.

As a huge fan of dark academia I was so excited for this read and OMG I loved every second it. This is the best dark academia novel I've read this year, and I couldn’t recommend it more. 5 star rating for sure and I can not wait to read more from this author

An Academy For Liars is a thrilling gothic dark academia with horror and scifi aspects. We follow our FMC Lennon as her life is starting to fall apart. Just as she makes the decision to escape a tragic night, she accepts a strange and completely unexpected invitation to study at an unknown university. Nothing is quite as it seems, and powers of persuasion might not be as magical as Lennon first thought they were.

I absolutely loved this novel, and it’s secured a place as one of my Top reads of 2024. The atmosphere, the horror tidbits, the characters, the mystery and deception 👌🏻👌🏻. We also get a smidge of tense forbidden romance 🔥, which was just the cherry on top. The story was gritty and unforgiving, truly exposing human weakness in a way that felt so relevant and relatable. I truly cannot recommend this book enough, and I hope it finds its way to many a spooky season tbr!

Thank you to Ace Books Pub and NetGalley, for the free copy for review.

Sink your teeth into this Dark Academia tale of self-discovery and forbidden love. There's much more to it, but you'll have to read the book to uncover its depths.

In my experience with dark academia, the pacing isn't always the fastest, and "An Academy for Liars" is no exception. But don't worry—it's not an info dump. The author skillfully weaves the world's intricacies into the narrative, enriching each scene with seamless detail.

I have a love-hate relationship with the main character, Lennon. She struggles to understand her actions and decisions, making her a complex figure. While I usually root for the underdog, Lennon doesn't always fit that mold. Her relationship history is questionable and sometimes disappointing, yet her journey toward recognizing her self-worth is compelling.

The love story subplot is a slow burn between Dante, the enigmatic professor, and Lennon, his advisee. Dante's mysterious past and hidden secrets add tension and suspense, gradually revealing the truth about the school and Lennon's role within it.

My favorite aspect of this book is the world-building. The hidden school and its unique magic system centered around persuasion, are complex and elegantly simple. I was pleasantly surprised by the elements of time travel, space travel, and quantum mechanics that add depth to the story.

The ending is nothing short of dramatic and genius in every way!

This was my first book by Alexis Henderson and I really enjoyed it. I was intrigued with the dark academia and magic aspect of it. I thought the gift of persuasion was really interesting and how each of the characters used it and the tests they had to go through. The last 20% had me at the edge of my seat and honestly shocked at what Lennon uncovers. I do wish we had more character development for Lennon and maybe a bit more of her backstory. There were a couple parts in the book that were a bit slow and confusing but other than that it was an enjoyable story.

This would make a great read during the fall and spooky season!

I loved the dark academia vibes in this! Henderson’s writing is incredible and keeps getting better with every book. I really liked Lennon’s character and the school setting was so interesting.

I didn’t love the turn the plot took in the last 40%, it felt like it wrapped up really fast and could’ve been a series instead of a stand alone. I also thought the romance aspect of the book was unnecessary..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Alex Henderson is a brand new author for me - I have a couple of her other books on my TBR, so I was excited to dive in. I think a lot of people will love this one - dark academia full of tension and drama that captivated me. I wish I read this during fall because I think it'd be perfect for that. I loved the paranormal and horror feel to this, it made it so spooky.

Lennon life is falling apart around her and after running away from her latest catastrophe, she takes a phone call from a voice that sounds eerily like and unlike her own. It's inviting her to interview for a chance at attend a prestigious institution, but only the elite can enter and this chance only comes once. So she rushes to an strange address two states away in her ex-fiancé's stolen car for a chance to attend Drayton Academy.
This dark academia thriller is a mix of body horror, intrigue, deception, and existential dread. For fans of all things gothic and creepy, this book will "persuade" you to stay up long past your bedtime, frantically turning pages for the next plot twist!

Dark and no holds barred, this book was dazzling in its violence. I didn’t want it to end!!

This is dark academia at its FINEST!! You have an entire cast of morally gray characters with these strong abilities to do with how they see fit. It’s wild and unruly while being a fully formed educational and political system.

Lennon finds herself invited to this school she’d never heard about through a strange and cryptic phone call. After enduring just one more life fail just previous to receiving this call, she decides to just go for it.

There at this massive campus, she learns through a series of peers, professors and mentors, just what she is capable of and just how important she really is. Specifically with help from her new mentor, Dante, a man she fears and secretly wants, Lennon is out in dangerous situation after dangerous situation, but the immense knowledge she gains about herself and her power is a sight to see.

This doesn’t shy away from the gore, instead falling into it to showcase how brutal the magic and the people who wield it can be. LOVED IT!

I absolutely loved this book, and I won't lie, I keep thinking about it! This book was a dark academia, gothic horror, morally gray characters, a unique magic system, and a bit of forbidden romance. I was sold with these tropes and the book absolutely lived up to the hype. Lennon is the FMC and basically her life is falling apart until she gets invited to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic. I loved the journey Lennon partakes in, as well as the dark and haunting vibes of this book! I absolutely recommend this book to fans of horror and fantasy!

At her darkest moment, Lennon Carter receives a phone call that changes her life. The call? An offer to attend an elite school- hidden in a pocket dimension only accessible to students, faculty and alumni. Lennon passes the interview and entrance exam and starts her lessons at Drayton College, where students are taught in the art of persuasion, using the mind to bend the will of living beings, space, and time itself. Lennon's powers are great and untested, can she learn to control her burgeoning power whilst learning who to trust on campus?
I absolutely loved An Academy for Liars, the perfect dark academia novel for the fall.

Atmospheric and well-written, Henderson crafts an intriguing dark academia tale. While not my personal favorite, this was a great book to get into the fall vibe.

Wow. If you like dark academia with a magical twist, then this one is a DO NOT MISS! The characters are complex and diverse. There is a lot of grey area in these characters, and none are 100% good or evil, which I really appreciate in a novel. The atmosphere is 10\10. I felt like I was on a beautiful old college campus with secret societies galore. While the plot was definitely intriguing, there were some points I would have loved to have more clarification on, which is why it is losing a .5 star. Overall, this was what I WANTED the Atlas Six to be - much more compelling and engrossing. Definitely recommend to fans of Dark Academia.

DNF @ 20% - life is too short to read books that don't suck you in. From the beginning, I was not a fan and it did not keep me interested at all. I love witchy, haunted and spooky books but this just didn't do anything for me.

3.5 stars rounded up tp 4. The MC, Lennon, is hard to sympathize with. Her life is falling apart and she gets this strange phone call from "Drayton University" saying that she has been accepted into their interview process, etc. Only Lennon did not apply. However, she shows up to the interview at the appointed time, takes all the requisite tests and, finally, after "persuading" her new advisor to pick up an inanimate object, is admitted to Drayton, a hidden university where talented people hone their innate psychic abilities. Lennon learns how to open doorways to other places, hidden in space and time.
However, Lennon discovers that she may be the key to saving the crumbling university, as its chancellor is dying and taking the hidden walls with him. The people around her, especially faculty, are not to be trusted and even her advisor, Dante, whom she shares abilities and her hard-earned love with, is keeping secrets. Will Lennon figure out exactly what is going on before its too late.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ace (Berkley Publishing) for this e-arc.*