Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the digital advance reader copy.

A little background: I loved Henderson's "The Year of the Witching". I enjoyed her "House of Hunger". I saw that this new one was a dark academia story, and I was here for it.

The dark academia part kept me reading.

24 year-old Lennon is called to be a student at the unusual Drayton College, a place of study for those who can persuade others, sometimes even to the point of changing reality.

Despite the dangers at the college, Lennon comes to believe it is home for her.

When she uncovers its dark history and the plans for her future, she realizes that all was never as it seemed.

However, this book moved away from the dark academia part too soon for me and into a tragic, complicated romance. This is less my cup of tea.

This doesn't mean that Henderson doesn't do a fine job, and if you're looking for a horror-romance, this would be perfect for you.

It just wasn't for me. I wanted more of the Drayton College experience - the classes, the friendships, the rivalries, the politics. And that was there, but it was far overshadowed by Lennon and Dante's will they/won't they, should they/shouldn't they, who will survive romance.

Again, just not for me, but I hope Henderson keeps finding new readers and keeps writing, because I think her stories and her voice are engaging, and I'll be looking forward to the next.

*language, violence, sex

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author (Alexis Henderson) of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger. 24-year-old Lennon Carter's life is about as twisted as you can imagine. First, she spent 8 weeks in a psych ward. Second, she believes she sees a version of herself in the mirror, but isn't sure. Next, she discovers her fiance is actually cheating on her with a woman named Sophia. Third, just when Lennon is looking for a way out of this life, a mysterious phone call sends her to a mysterious place called Drayton College.

Drayton College is 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. Drayton is a mixture of school life with the usual bullies, magic study with numerous twists, and horror in a way that felt cinematic.

Lennon struggles mightily throughout the book until she figures out what she's here for and why her abilities are not like anyone else's at the school, except maybe Dante. The only voice of reason seems to be her sister who she promptly dismisses in the most damaging way imaginable. This is, at the core, a story of power and corruption. How much power can one have without it totally corrupting everything you believe in? Lennon isn't a hero or a villain. She wants to be better after her life felt like it was spinning out of control. She must grapple with who deserves to hold power, how we decide to use it, and whether good v evil is an innate choice. Is persuasion an act of force?
Can she trust herself with this power?

4 ✨

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this dark academia novel. The imagery, the world building and the storyline were all chefs kiss! Dante & Lennon were interesting main characters that you absolutely loved and rooted for.

I could see this becoming a Netflix series. I would love to see that happen.

Such an interesting concept of a world that moves through space and time with people acting as fuel with their power of persuasion for the walls around the school.

Despite an intriguing start that really pulled me in with the mystery of a call out of nowhere, directions to a school that shouldn't exist, and powers that the recipients of said call didn't know they possessed, this definitely lost traction along the way. And by that I mean the atmosphere was working overtime to try and make up for a cast of characters I felt nothing for and a very thin plot that had absolutely no tension or stakes or, for me, sense.

And don't even get me started on one of the weak interpersonal conflicts that we then spend too much time agonizing over once it's done. Or the romance that had absolutely no legs to stand on. And then the big climax? I mean.. there was one small element once we got a peek behind the curtain that I did sorta like but honestly it wasn't enough to salvage this. And despite how uninvested I was, I feel like I have a whole host of unanswered questions; or rather, it feels like certain things that were dangled in front of us to add to mystique and uncertainty were never revisited and I'm annoyed by the lack of follow-through.

Ultimately, I don't know if it was the writing that failed to pay out the promised dividends or what but clearly I'm just not meant to enjoy the labour of this author's offerings because this makes for strike two and I don't think I'll be coming back for a third.

I'm really disappointed but considering all the appealing ingredients that make up this story I'm sure other readers will be satisfied by the meal it makes.

Premise: Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart, until she receives a mysterious phone call congratulating her on making it to the interview phase at Drayton College, a prestigious institute hidden from the public and dripping with magic and secrets. Lennon soon finds out that she has a unique gift making her valuable to Drayton, and is soon immersed in lessons in how to master the art of persuasion. Along the way, Lennon makes friends and enemies, harnesses her power, and discovers secrets of this new world she’s found herself in.

I started this book on my flight home from London, knowing that the perfect way to end my trip was to propel myself directly into my long anticipated 🍂fall TBR🍂.

This was seriously the perfect book to pick up. I quite literally could not stop reading it, and flew through it in less than 24 hours, despite being sick AND jet lagged from my trip.

It was the perfect mix of dark academia, magic, horror, time travel, psychology…there are so many nuances packed into this story, and the way it was executed really worked for me. There’s romance, there’s murder, there’s corruption, and so many things in between.

I’m curious if Henderson will write a sequel, or at least some sort of companion novel, because there are so many mysteries left to be uncovered here. I’d love to know more about the backgrounds of Drayton students, and what gives them these abilities. I want to know more about the moth motif, and how it plays into Dante’s past.

I don’t know if this book will be for everyone, but it was certainly for me. I’d love to read more from this world in the future, and am looking forward to picking up Alexis Henderson’s backlist soon, too!

The nitty-gritty: Despite a strong dark academia vibe and some interesting world building elements, An Academy For Liars lacked a cohesive plot and likeable characters.

“Lennon was no hero. And she wasn’t even sure she had the spine to call herself a villain.”

I had high hopes for An Academy of Liars, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me, although there were elements I really enjoyed. Lots of readers seem to enjoy it, though, so perhaps I wasn’t the right audience.

The story revolves around Lennon, a twenty-four year old woman who just caught her fiancé cheating on her. She flees her engagement party after walking in on her best friend and soon to be husband Wyatt in bed together (the nerve!) and winds up at an abandoned mall. When a nearby payphone starts ringing and she answers it, she’s surprised when the person on the other end invites her to apply for a spot at an exclusive, secret school called Drayton College. With her personal life in shambles, Lennon decides to make the trip to Utah and takes part in a very strange application process.

When she is accepted into the Academy—a school where select people are chosen for their natural abilities of persuasion—Lennon is thrust into a competitive and dangerous environment, where each student’s progress is closely scrutinized. Lennon turns out to have a rare talent for “calling” elevators, the students’ main method of travel from place to place. With the help of her advisor Dante, she works to hone her skills in order to prevent a disaster. Drayton Academy is in danger, and Lennon might be the only person who can save it.

I’ll start with the positive. I loved the dark academia vibe that Henderson created, with the mysterious Drayton College and the even more mysterious teachings of persuasion. As the story progresses, we learn more about the origins of the college, and trust me when I say there are plenty of dark and violent things going on behind the scenes. The College exists in a sort of time warp, where no one knows about it unless you are a student or a faculty member, so right away there is a mystique to Drayton that made me want to find out more.

The act of persuasion itself is also very dangerous. Students are taught various mind control techniques and must use them against each other as practice. Physical injuries such as bloody noses, broken bones, terrible headaches and more are just part of the deal if you decide to become a student, and I liked that the stakes are so high for Lennon and her fellow classmates.

I also want to mention the romance, which I thought was going to be more prominent, but it turned out it was a very small part of the story. Lennon is attracted to her advisor Dante, but it’s Dante that keeps her at arm’s length, even though you can tell Lennon really wants to hook up with him. I was relieved that the story didn’t focus heavily on their romance, and the few scenes that did deal with their relationship were nicely done.

But I did have some issues. First, the world building was very confusing at times and didn’t feel completely thought out. I didn’t really understand what the whole point of “persuasion” was. Why are these students learning to control others? What do they do when they graduate? Are they ultimately evil tools for the higher ups at Drayton? Even the students at Hogwarts studied for specific jobs that made sense, but I never got the feeling there was a goal for when you graduated from Drayton.

I also didn’t understand how “calling elevators” fit in with persuasion. I guess Lennon could “persuade” an elevator to appear out of nowhere? But that doesn’t really make sense either. I loved the elevator idea, though, an interesting mode of transportation that can take you long distances in only a few seconds, but I wish it had tied in with the main focus at the school, learning the art of persuasion.

There are also quite a few plot holes, like the moth on the cover of the book, for instance. I still have no idea what the significance of the moth is. Dante is covered with moth tattoos, but the reason behind them is never explained (unless I missed it). 

I also struggled with the characters’ ages. When I think “college” I think of 18-22 year olds, and I had a hard time wrapping my head around people in their mid-to-late 20s who are living in dorms with a roommate, going to parties at night, and attending classes. (I get it, you can go to college at any age! But for this story, that didn’t work for me.) The characters themselves are pretty immature and acted exactly like college kids: lots of drama, drinking, and doing drugs. And unfortunately, I really didn’t like Lennon at all. She ignores everything her professors tell her to do, refuses to stop asking questions when it’s none of her business, and is extremely rude. She annoyed me a lot, and her fellow classmates weren’t much better. Lennon, as we learn late in the story, is also a special snowflake, and I had to roll my eyes when her special powers are revealed.

I did like the end, however. The last few chapters are exciting and even scary, and we learn some things about Dante that made him much more interesting. Parts of An Academy For Liars were very well done. If only all the various elements felt more cohesive, it would have been a much better story.

With thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

Look, I got to be honest here. I really didn't like this book too much. I didn't hate it; I just didn't love it. I truly thought that this book was going to be more fantasy than dark academia. However, I was wrong. It's more of a dark academic read than fantasy. And I don't like to read dark academic books. I don't like them. Trust me, I tried before, and it's not for me. If I knew that this book was more of a dark academic read, then I would not have picked this one up. Sorry, not my type of book to read.

Thank you @prhaudio and @berkleypub for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review . I could not stop listened to this audiobook. I was all in!
Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for an arc in exchange for an honest review. Dark Academia is always a yes for me and this gave all the dark vibes.
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Lennon’s life is falling apart and when she gets a mysterious phone call she heads to Drayton college to take a mysterious entrance exam. A secret world, a handsome advisor, power and corruption captivated me for the entire book ! Add this to your list for #spookyseason !
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This one was a wild ride! It is dark and twisted and mouth dropping. I actually would have loved more character development and gotten more background especially on some of the teachers. Overall I really enjoyed this one!

The worldbuilding was unique and the magic system interesting. It definitely gave all the dark academia vibes but I had no idea what to expect because there was a lot going on. The pacing was very slow until close to the end, when it picks up and you feel the chaos, so I struggled to stay invested in the beginning. I also found it difficult to connect with any of the characters because no one was particularly likable. This makes sense for the plot, one of the characters even says that none of them are good people, I just prefer to have a character I really root for when reading. There's a bit of forbidden romance here but the romance aspect isn't that focused on or important except in that the building connection between Lennon and Dante is a key component, so if you're expecting a lot of romance: don't. I think if you're a big fan of dark academia, this is a good addition to the genre if you don't mind a slower pace. And it's nice that it's a standalone because by the time you get to the end you want to know how it all turns out.

2.5

I received a digital arc from Berkley Publishing/Ace via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I wanted to love this. It started out great! But by 60% I was pretty bored.

I didn't care for the characters, and really wanted to, but there wasn't much depth to them.

It was written in 3rd person POV - which isn't my favorite.

And I don't really understand the "liars" aspect except from one line in the entire book.

This was a fun dark academia by Henderson! They are quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. The vibes were all pretty good, at times a little slow/hard to follow but interesting.

I am a huge fan of Alexis Henderson's other books, The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger, so I had enormous hopes for this one. Unfortunately I think I'm just burned out on books about magical schools for talented students. I wasn't crazy about the idea of "persuasion" as a talent from the start, but I gave it my all.

This is for fans of Catherine House and Vita Nostra!

The book begins with our main character Lennon Carter as her life crumbles before her eyes. We briefly meet the irrelevant ex-boyfriend (whose name I don’t remember because he doesn’t matter) and start our journey to Lennon’s breaking point where she questions the point of life. And then the phone rings. Her invitation to Drayton College, a school of magic hidden from reality and time itself.

As you progress throughout this story you’ll meet some of the most peculiar and fascinating characters that have also arrived at Drayton College during extremely low points within their lives. The professors all seem to have something to hide, especially the unattainable and mysterious Dr. Dante Lowe.

My favorite part about this book was the magic system itself: persuasion. I felt like persuasion was a form of charmspeak from Percy Jackson but explained in a highly technical and almost scientific manner. I loved how each individual’s psyche depended on the strength of their will and how they could overcome another’s advances to bend that will while also attempting to attack someone else’s mind. It was very complex and I consumed every detail.

Alexis Henderson’s An Academy for Liars dives headfirst into the dark academia genre, a setting rife with secret societies, cutthroat rivalries, and the tantalising allure of forbidden knowledge. On paper, this sounds like a winning combination for fans of gothic fantasy. However, while the novel offers an interesting premise and some truly intriguing moments, it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.

The story centres on Lennon Carter, whose life is at a standstill when she receives an unexpected invitation to Drayton College—a magical university hidden in a pocket universe, offering training in the art of persuasion. Persuasion at Drayton isn’t just about convincing others; it’s about bending the very fabric of reality to one’s will. With the help of her enigmatic advisor, Dante Lowe, Lennon hones her abilities while uncovering the dark history of the institution and the true extent of her power.

Warning, there are mild spoilers ahead.

Let’s start with the positives. Henderson’s strength lies in creating a vivid and atmospheric setting. Drayton College, with its shadowy halls and air of mystery, is the quintessential backdrop for a dark academia novel. The secret societies, magic trials, and academic rivalries feel familiar but are executed well enough to keep readers engaged. The novel’s exploration of power—how it corrupts and what it demands in return—is compelling, particularly in a setting like Drayton where ambition knows no bounds.

The magic system in An Academy for Liars also stands out for its uniqueness. Persuasion as a form of magic, the ability to impose one’s will on others or even on the material world, is a fascinating concept. It raises some thought-provoking questions about control, manipulation, and morality. The moral dilemmas that arise from using such power give the novel a philosophical edge, forcing readers to reflect on the potential consequences of wielding such abilities.

That said, the book falters in a few significant ways. One of the most glaring issues is pacing. There are stretches where the story drags, bogged down by an overabundance of exposition or repetitive introspection from Lennon. This sluggish pacing is compounded by a romance subplot that, while promising at first, quickly loses its appeal. Lennon’s relationship with Dante, her brooding and morally ambiguous professor, never quite clicks. Their dynamic feels forced, and the emotional stakes of their romance are often undermined by awkward dialogue and unconvincing chemistry. In a novel that centres so much on relationships and power dynamics, this is a major drawback.

Furthermore, the secondary characters, while interesting, are often underutilised. Lennon’s classmates, who should play a significant role in her journey, are overshadowed by her intense focus on Dante and her personal struggles. This becomes particularly problematic during the novel’s climax, where Lennon’s peers are expected to rally around her in a way that feels unearned and hollow. Without more meaningful development of these relationships earlier in the story, the climax lacks the emotional weight it should have carried.

There’s also a lack of clarity in some of the novel’s key plot points. There were a few times when I was reading that I realised something had just dropped off and never returned. While the complexity of a novel is often a selling point, the plot points often didn’t fully connect which leaves the payoff unclear and unsatisfying.

In the end, An Academy for Liars feels like a missed opportunity. It’s an enjoyable read with a solid premise and some standout moments—particularly when it delves into the darker aspects of power and persuasion—but it ultimately falls short of delivering on its initial promise. Fans of dark academia may still find plenty to appreciate, but the uneven pacing, underwhelming romance, and lacklustre character development prevent it from reaching the heights of its genre.

A thriller that was a little difficult to wrap my head around, but nonetheless, fascinating. The story centers on Lennon, a woman struggling in her relationship and in life. When she gets a phone call saying that she has been invited to apply at the mysterious Drayton College, she takes that as a lifeline. When she arrives on the campus hidden in Savannah, she quickly realizes this is no ordinary college and her classmates and professors are much more than they seem. What Drayton is offering is lessons in Persuasion - not exactly magic, but very close to it. And it is a dangerous power, one that Lennon has to learn to master, before it ends up hurting her.

As I said before, a bit confusing at times, but overall interesting and once I hit the second half, very hard to put down. I always look forward to Henderson’s novels - this one once again did not disappoint.

Chilling

Straight up, chilling.

That is the one word I will use to describe this banger.

An Academy for Liars

Alexis Henderson, has knocked it out of the park with this sure to be bestseller.

This was my first time reading a book by Henderson, and I was curious as to why they never ended up on my radar, imagine my surprise when I found two very different books, House of Hunger and The Year of Witching. Well, after concluding An Academy of Liars and having my mind blown, you better believe I purchased both books.

Henderson has a very unique writing style that will plunge you right into another realm. Everything is intriguing. The words flow across the page so gracefully, you will fly through before realizing you just finished.

WOW, just WOW.

Check out this teaser :

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

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.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alexis Henderson, and Berkley Publishing Group: Ace for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I had high hopes for this after seeing several rave reviews, but I'm not sure of my true feelings upon completion. This book REALLY works in parts and REALLY doesn't for me in others. In terms of dark academia, Henderson can write the heck out of a setting!! I am dying to visit Drayton, and every time the school was described, I felt like I could see it clear as a picture. I loved the overall vibes of the novel and seeing Lennon progress in her studies; it's definitely a great, darker read for fall. However, the world building felt so messy and incomplete to me. As I preface everything, I'm not a ~huge~ reader of fantasy, so this might just be because I don't have a ton of familiarity with the genre, but there seemed to be tons of loose ends. What was with the moth symbolism? Random reveals, details, and relationships happened way too late for the pacing of this book, which already felt super long at times. I also felt that Lennon and Dante were always held at an arm's length from letting the reader know more about both of them individually. I actually really liked them and their relationship, but I think it's because that was the most developed storyline! Which to me is unfortunate because there is a lot of really interesting and original content here, and I think the premise works as a whole. I just still am confused about what exactly this book was about/how their powers worked/how they developed or trained them aka so I'm literally puzzled about essentially the whole book. So it might be a personal thing because clearly I've seen lots of great buzz! But I think the book could have worked better with a little more editing of some of the filler and a little more addition of basic world buidling.

DNF @26%

I am just not getting into this book. I appreciate how unique it is, and I love a dark academia vibe, but I feel like I’m missing something?

I was going to put it down for a bit and come back to it, but I don’t think I will. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn’t work for me

I adored the dark academia vibes of this book, so for that reason the parts during which Lennon and her classmates are navigating Drayton College were the most engaging to me. I was less interested after the climax occurred and everything fell apart--plus the Lennon-Dante pairing felt off to me--but Alexis Henderson does gothic fiction SO well.