I absolutely adored this new dark academia novel from Henderson. Creative, brutal magic set in mysterious Savannah. Full of gothic atmosphere, cannot wait to recommend this to everyone!

2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

After she catches her husband having an affair, Lennon leaves and soon receives an invitation to study at Drayton College, a secret institution where students learn the art of persuasion. There, she meets many interesting people, including her mysterious advisor Dante. Drayton College is full of dangerous secrets, but Lennon learns that she may be the key to saving them all.

I wanted to love this book, but I found it a bit hard to get through. I love the premise and the world is quite unique, but I had a difficult time connecting with the main characters. The writing was great and you would likely enjoy this book if you love dark academia, mystery and horror.

Thank you to Alexis Henderson, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For dark academia fans--this is an absolute must read (and coming out just in time for spooky season, mind you!!!). This was a WILD ride that I am only mildly embarrassed to admit scared the 💩 out of me at points.

First and foremost--this was my first Alexis Henderson book somehow, and it absolutely will not be the last. Her writing in this is stellar, and I am inclined to believe based on this book and everyone else's high praise of her other novels that they are all just as top tier as this one.

The world was vivid and engrossing. Everything was clearly painted and it felt like watching a magical, haunting, horror leaning fantasy film. I found myself on multiple occasions getting totally lost in this book and forgetting that I was even reading at all, which is a feeling I'm constantly chasing. If something can make me not want to pick up my phone and scroll TikTok endlessly (except for when I get scared and have to go watch cute animal videos to decompress in this book's case), we've got a winner on our hands.

The story was not MY perfect fantasy story, which legitimately is the only reason I am not rating this higher--I sometimes can tire of the magic school setting (I know I'm super in the minority there) and dark academia isn't really my usual/preferred aesthetic. This book suffered from both of those things in my eyes--it was a fantastic story that I'm certain is going to be a BANGER for many, but just sits at really good for me due to it not being my personal cup of tea aesthetically and certain tropes feeling a bit overdone.

That said, if you are a magic school setting fan, a dark academia fan, and/or horror fan--I implore you to read this book. It's spooky, it's trippy, it's got a touch of romance (but not overdone/cheesy IMO), it's got a really interesting magic system, magic schools, secret societies, and so much more. 3.75 stars rounded up. 👻

Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading, however--it is dark in every sense of the word.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When I first finished this book my rating was sitting somewhere between 4-4.5 stars, but considering that I am still thinking about this book days later I think she warrants a 4.5 ️

This book had all of the dark & twisted elements I was looking for in a Dark Academia, and I really loved the entire concept. I already know this is going to be a huge hit for spooky season, and it was the perfect way to dip my toes into Fall. The very first chapter had me reeled in with sort of an eerie and almost creepy vibe to it and I quickly became obsessed with further exploring the secrets of this world. In tandem with the dark academia setting this book also gives a bit of a gothic/horror aesthetic with a secret society of secret societies and a morally grey character.. or two.

I especially appreciated the world building! I felt like I was attending Drayton College with all of the atmospheric details. The Historic Savannah, GA setting just felt so perfect. The magical elements also just felt so unique and immersive with the art of persuasion and altering reality at the focus. The psychological aspect had me constantly questioning what was real and who I could trust.

There are some elements of romance, but they seemed to take a back seat to the plot which I appreciated. I wasn't necessarily obsessed with their relationship together, but loved them as MCs. The dark elements of this book were just so consuming, and I thoroughly enjoyed being kept on my toes. If you're a lover of dark academia and eerie/twisty vibes this will be a great option to add to your fall tbr.

Do you ever feel fascinated and deeply invested in a book but then finish the book and realize you didn’t really like it that much? That was this book for me. \

An Academy of Liars is a really captivating dark academia book with tons of dark atmosphere. I loved the plot and the originality of Drayton College. The problem was that the characters were just predictable and underdeveloped. After finding her fiance cheating on her, Lennon receives a mysterious phone call that she has been accepted to Drayton College. Lennon discovers that Drayton is a hidden university for students with the ability to influence others. The concept and the university itself was very interesting. I loved the ethical conversations regarding persuasion and the magical elements of the story. I really enjoyed the first half of this book as Henderson spent a great deal of time building an interesting setting and world.

Where this book lost me was in the characters. Lennon leaves a disastrous relationship only to fall into another relationship and while she is forced to grow and learn on her own, I still felt her relying heavily on the men in her life. Lennon and her love interest (not putting the name for spoiler reasons), had very little chemistry and I wanted more from their relationship. The friendships that Lennon developed at Drayton also felt flat. I just didn’t believe that these characters were friends.

Overall, I had a good time with this book and the vibes are perfect for fall. Also, a standalone novel is always nice! I did love the writing and plan to read Henderson’s other work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing/Ace Books for providing me with an ARC.

This was amazing. Henderson’s writing is just breathtaking. I love how she writes the setting of all her books, especially here. You can feel the anxiety and of Lennon throughout the book. And Dante is amazing 🥰

I love dark academia and I haven't read one in a while so I was really excited to dive into An Academy for Liars. This book had EVERYTHING I was craving! Rivalries, secret societies, magic, and morally grey characters. It's dark and haunting too made it even more incredible. Now I want to go back and read the author's backlist which I'm sure I'll be doing quite soon. If any of this sparks your interest then this is a must read!

I originally gave this 5 stars. I loved the characters. They felt so real and complex. The plot was exciting. There was gore which is always great. I very much could not put it down.

But after sitting on it a few days, I feel like there were too many plot holes so I'm dropping it down to 4 stars (which is still a fantastic book!)

<spoiler>What's with all the moths? That keeps getting teased but not really answered.</spoiler>
<spoiler>Where did she go in the elevator at the party. Obviously the kid was Dante but why did the door disappear? Why was it "darker" than normal? Why didn't she run into anyone else? It reads like she was in a parallel universe and not just back in the past but then we never get anything else about it.</spoiler>
<spoiler>The scary thing that was chasing them that felt like a potential villain of the story was just Dante's mind recreating August? He isn't even real, he just exists sometimes? That was super disappointing.</spoiler>
<spoiler>At some point they said if she passes out, her elevators would close. But then she does pass out, and they don't. If it's because Dante's still alive, then why are we pretending we don't know if he's alive?</spoiler>
<spoiler>If she was struggling to keep the elevator open, why not just come back again later instead of risking nearly chopping Dante in half at the end of the book?</spoiler>

Anyway, Gregory is the best and that's what's important.

I had to give the story a moment to really grab my attention but after a few chapters was so immersed that I could put it down!

This book is one of a kind, and the writing is amazing. Alexis Henderson's writing blends romance, scholarly language, and mystery to create a dreadful setting that captivates the reader. The dark atmosphere is convincing and expertly handled. It might be one of the best dark academic novels I've read in a long time.

Lennon was a fantastic character, and I appreciated that she struggled in school and didn't start out with extraordinary power or intelligence before finally picking up the skills and developing her abilities. The story of power and corruption is both disturbing and fascinating here. I adore good characters who undergo this metamorphosis, therefore I really enjoyed how the main character got corrupted by this power.

Though there were several different narratives, everything came together flawlessly at the conclusion, leaving no loose ends. Although there is some romance and strong sexual tension in this book, it is much more than that. A satisfying storyline that doesn't overshadow the romance throughout the novel is balanced beautifully.

I'm excited to see what this author comes up with next. If you enjoy dark academia and flawed characters, as well as a lot of action, this is the book for you.

✨Dark, Captivating, and Haunting✨
I am honestly still trying to wrap my head around this book as I write this review; so with that being said it might be a little bit of everywhere. Dark academia is not usually my go to genre but I was extremely intrigued by the title, the cover, and the synopsis of this book. When I got accepted for the arc, I was so excited that I immediately dived in. On top of that, this was my first book by Alexis Henderson. Have you ever read a book that you know you enjoyed because you can't stop thinking about it after you read it, but it is so hard to put into words why because the book itself is so complex. This is that book for me and this book is not perfect: sometimes the pacing felt slow to me and I had trouble connecting to the characters at times. However, since I finished it I have not stopped thinking about the book and the experience I went through reading it.

Our FMC, Lennon's,life is falling apart when she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic. With nothing to keep her from saying no she goes to find out she has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion. She has the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.
Under the mentorship of her mysterious and morally grey advisor, Dante, Lennon's abilities to control her magic grows. Throughout her studies, she begins to uncover the dark and haunting past of Drayton College and how her advisor is intertwined with it. Lennon's power continues to be pushed and forced causing her to feel the darkness that comes with it. Questioning herself, can she overcome her power and at what cost?

♟️Unique Magic System
♟️Rivalry
♟️Dark Academia
♟️Hint of Forbidden Romance

If you are a lover of dark academia, gothic/horror, morally grey characters, secret societies, the things people will do for power, and the costs associated with it than this book is everything you are looking for and more. Henderson's writing paints a vivid atmosphere that makes you question reality. The unique magic system of persuasion is what makes the book so complex but also riveting and compelling. I was consumed by the dark and haunting vibes of this book. At times it makes you question the darkest parts of yourself as you follow the moral dilemma's and decisions of the complex and morally grey characters. I would definitely recommend this book and the overall reading experience.

Please check your trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and Alexis Henderson for early access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a very long time since I read a Dark Academia book that felt so rich, so deep, so real.
Lennon Carter's life was going from bad to worse. Until she got the mysterious call from Drayton College, in a late night abandoned phone booth. She felt she had nothing to lose in showing up for the unusual entrance exam, so she followed the directions that led her to a world she had never known existed.
She learns things about the world and about herself she never would have believed, and comes face to face with a fight against evil like nothing she could have imagined.
This book is unique, and the writing is beautifully done. I've not read a book in many months with characters I've rooted for - and characters I've hated - quite as strong. I will be reading all of this author's past work and waiting in anticipation for more in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book

Loved the book! For me personally it was a little difficult to get fully invested at the beginning but once a few questions were answered I was fully invested.
A perfect spooky season read!

I am forever hunting for a good fantasy standalone! An Academy for Liars promises a rich dark academia read with morally gray characters, unique magic systems, and mysteries on mysteries. It certainly delivered! It very much reminded me of Olivie Blakes’s types of fantasy books like The Atlas Six series.

My favorite aspects of this book were its horror elements, tension, and characterizations. Standing out in this genre is really tough and Henderson crafted an incredibly compelling read. Despite being on the longer side, I could not put it down. I love the way everything came together and felt very satisfied with the ending. While I love a standalone, I wouldn’t mind revisiting this world again.

Highly recommend to all fans of dark academia but with adult characters rather than YA.

I loved the premise of this book, but it needed more character development and world building. I will still read the sequel because I think this concept has great potential, but overall I was a bit disappointed in the this book.

An Academy for Liars reminded me a lot of the Magicians at the beginning – Lennon gets an invitation to take the entrance exam for a college she never applied to. Her life is in shambles, so why not? The exam feels strange and nonsensical, and at the end she is told she passed and welcomed to Drayton, a strange school hidden in the heart of Savannah, secret and shielded from the outside world. AWESOME.
It turns out that some people can wield the power of persuasion in a mystical way, and everyone here is learning how. There’s a hot, young, broody professor and secrets behind every door, of course. Nothing is ever the way it seems at first, even Lennon’s powers. And some of those secrets pose her a very real danger.

I’m giving this a 3.5/5. It was very engaging and I sped through it. I love the secret school, the powers, and the mysteries were set up really well. The romance felt a little flat to me, and I didn’t really see where it came from, other than two hot people together. What did they see in each other that they loved? Not sure, but I AM a sucker for hot professor trope, so ok, I’m here for it! I think what I most wanted was more exploration of the implications of this kind of magic. What do students do once they graduate? There’s a couple lines about how no one who does this kind of thing is really a good person. I’d like to read more about the ethical concerns here. Is this an entire school of selfish, terrible people? How are they affecting the world at large? I’d have loved a duology to allow this to breathe a bit and reach out into those areas, and I think that’s where the comparison between this and The Magicians really falters. I think I’d call this dark-academia-lite, only because the magic and world outside of the direct story seem vague.

Even if this doesn’t get that full world building treatment, the story at the core of this is highly entertaining. Lennon is a great flawed protagonist and a good way for the reader to enter the story and experience Drayton. If you like morally gray characters, then rest assured, there’s pretty much nothing BUT morally gray here! I enjoyed this, and would recommend it to others looking for some dark academia.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced digital copy of this in exchange for my honest review!

3.5/5

This was an incredibly interesting book with a lot of good ideas, but at times, I felt the execution fell short. I wanted to love this book with my whole heart. I really did.

The prose is very different than a lot of other books, which was big plus. However, because of this, sometimes I did find myself quite confused with the places and people (and there's a lot of characters to remember). I loved the idea of a secret school nestled within a big city, hidden away but easily accessible. The secluded school, the secret society, the student rivalries and friendships - it's all there and done pretty well.

Lennon was a good protagonist, though she certainly wasn't without her flaws. I liked her well enough and I found the dynamic with her family one of the most interesting (and honestly, heartbreaking) parts of the book. Dante was our other main protagonist, and while there was plenty to like (young but hot professor! takes a keen interest in Lennon! somehow is almost always where she needs him to be at the right time! heroic but secretive!), it's also where the story started to feel a little flat. I wish I could say the romance elevated this book, but actually to me, it brought it down a little. The conversations between the two were often odd and the whole house/island storyline felt so jarring compared to the rest of the book.

There were plenty of side characters and really liked (or at least, found interesting) a lot of them. They grounded the story and kept it totally from being the Lennon-Dante show.

The ending was exciting. A little rushed at times but overall, a good conclusion. It was a nice change that this was a standalone.

Overall this was a good back that had me barely wanting to set my Kindle down. However, at the end of the day I felt a little underwhelmed and wished a few things had been written differently.

This was deeply unsettling right from the start. The best dark academia book I’ve read in a long time. Henderson creates atmosphere unlike any other author I’ve read. This really solidified her as an auto-buy/favorite author for me. Detailed settings, complex characters and unique, but familiar, plot devices make every one of her books addictive. The tension in this was thick, the mystery engaging, the romance was forbidden and the end was perfect. I really loved this.

An Academy for Liars
by Alexis Henderson
Pub Date: Sep 17 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.
Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.

As Lennon continues in her studies, her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns, for it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption...and it’s a test she’s terrified she’s going to fail.

The thing about me is, I live for dark academia. Unfortunately this dark academia book wasn't for me.

While meant to be a dark academia setting, it felt much more horror or gothic to me. I was looking for something a bit more magical and atmospheric and that isn't what I got at all. I can look past that though for some amazing characters, but the characters fell flat and overall were one dimensional to me (other than the FMC).

I can see someone who is much more into a gothic style novel enjoying this one, but it missed the mark for me!

Dark academia, mind powers, rivalry, questions of morality, murder, romance.

In this novel, we follow Lennon as she finds herself pulled into a mysterious university that teaches the powers of persuasion. She finds herself with a natural but unreliable talent for persuasion. What follows is a wild ride with schoolmate rivalries, faculty alliances, and dark secrets.

I could see the character arc, but I never knew where the plot was going, making for a thrilling read. The persuasion powers and class exercises in persuasion were so fascinating.

This reminded me so much of The Magicians (in a good way) with the hidden/cloaked university and our main character learning how to harness her powers while figuring out her own sense of morality.

4.25

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.