4.5 ⭐️

Lovely Dark and Deep takes place in a magical high school on an island with 3 schools of magic and lots of representation including autism, POC, immigrant, and queer. It follows a group of outcast students, called the Red Stripes, who are close to being expelled for either breaking rules or being too "powerful." If they get expelled they lose their magic forever; otherwise they get a magical license. The book's plot revolves around investigating the island's forest, looking into the disappearance/deaths of a few students including Syndey who is Faith's (FMC) best friend and the reason she got Red Striped, and what happened to the school when it was founded by Ellery. The world reminded me of Harry Potter. For example, magical people whose parents are nonmagical are called mundanes. However, I think it had better world building for what mages can do after graduation.

There is a lot of representation and I think it was all handled well. Faith is a baby gay and an immigrant who came to America from the Philippines when she was a child. I loved that there was one romantic relationship in the book, and it was between two of Faith's friends. The non-verbal autism representation was excellent. Alex writes everything she wants to say in a notebook for others to read, her friends are all considerate about her differences, and they handled her meltdown really well.

I hope this book has a sequel. I'm not ready to leave this world, and I want to see what comes next for this found family. I would love for Cari to find her sister and explore more what it means to lose your magic forever.

This hit that really classic YA boarding school vibe like nobody’s business and I am not mad about it!!

I really liked Faith as a main character. She was a really interesting character with a lot of depth and realistic flaws, and I felt like I understood her motivations and why she made some of the bad choices that she did. The side characters were all really well done too, and I liked the way that Faith’s friendships with the other Red Stripes progressed. The magic system was nothing unique, but it was entertaining and I enjoyed it.

The plot was really interesting and I feel like it set things up really well for a sequel, which I would for sure read. I want to know more about this forest and I want to know if there’s other sentient landforms to meet!

Overall: nothing absolutely spectacular, but a really good spooky YA dark academia that hit exactly how I was hoping it would.

Lovely Dark & Deep is the kind of YA dark academia story that pulls you in slowly—quiet and atmospheric at first, then completely sweeps you away as it goes on. Set at Ellery West, a secret school for magic hidden on the misty coast of Washington, this book grabs you right from the start with a unique magic system that's neatly introduced. The school’s color-coded uniforms (Naturalists = green vines, Artificers = silver geometrics, Luminaries = gold starbursts) are a great way to break down the system, and I loved how clearly everything was explained. It made it so easy to dive into the world without feeling lost or confused.

But the real magic here is the characters. Watching Faith—marked as a Red Stripe and ostracized after a tragedy in the forest—fight for her future was raw and real. I especially loved the way the story layered her personal growth with the friendships she builds among the other "dangerous" students. There’s such a deep, complicated sense of belonging that grows between them. It’s messy and beautiful in the best way. Faith learning to trust herself and control her anger, Alex navigating their identity and social dynamics—there’s just so much heart in their journeys. The inclusion of authentic autistic representation and LGBTQIA+ characters added such depth and richness to the story, making it even more meaningful.

I didn’t give Lovely Dark & Deep a perfect 5 stars simply because the pacing slowed down a bit in the middle for me, but honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters long after finishing the book.

My first ARC! This was such a fun, fast paced read. I loved the characters and the representation was great!! The dark academia vibes were amazing and the magic system was so interesting. Thank you netgalley!

I love the cover of this book! Faith needs to graduate so she can keep her magic. Students who fail out, have their magic taken away forever and she can’t let that happen to her!

Throughout the story, Faith learns to put herself first and finds a good group of friends. I think it was a wonderful story. A little slow but I think it’s wonderful inclusive the story was.


Thank you NetGalley, Elisa and Simon and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I was super excited to read this book. I thought the magic system and the world building was interesting and unique. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, so it made it a bit tough to really get into the book. Cool concept. I just don’t think it was my cup of tea.

My Top 5 Reasons to Read "Lovely Dark and Deep" by Elisa A. Bronnin

1. 🧙‍♀️ That Classic “Magic School” Vibe—with a Twist

If you’re a fan of magical academies (hi, fellow HP lovers), Lovely Dark and Deep delivers a similar setting with a fresh spin. Ellery West, the hidden island school for magic, feels like a dark, misty secret—and you’ll want to enroll immediately. But don’t expect whimsical spells and talking portraits; this place comes with shadows, secrets, and real consequences. When students fail? Their magic is stripped away. Forever. No pressure.


2. 🚫 The Red Stripes = Misfit Magic Awesomeness

Say hello to the "bad kids" of the magical world. After a tragic incident in the forest, Faith finds herself branded with a red stripe on her uniform—a mark that screams “dangerous” and exiles her from normal student life. But as she bonds with the other outcasts (who totally give off Suicide Squad x Breakfast Club energy), the story leans hard into one of my favorite tropes: misunderstood outsiders proving they’re more than what the world says they are.


3. 🧠 Neurodivergent, Queer, and AAPI Rep

One of the standout strengths of this novel is its inclusive cast. Faith’s neurodivergent perspective is treated with care and authenticity, reflecting the author’s own experience. With queer, LGBT+, autistic, and Filipino/AAPI rep seamlessly woven into the story, readers from all walks of life can find themselves in these pages. It’s the kind of representation we need more of in YA fantasy—organic, meaningful, and powerful.


4. 😲 The Twist You Didn’t See Coming

Without spoiling anything: yes, the story may start with some familiar tropes, but don’t be fooled. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the final act threw a curveball that gave the book new life. That twist—and how it reframed everything before it—really helped set this book apart and made me appreciate the careful plotting behind the story. Major props to Elisa A. Bonnin for that satisfying payoff.


5. 🫶 Found Family Feels

At its heart, this is a story about connection—how people heal when they find others who truly see them. The Red Stripes might be broken, isolated, and feared by others, but together they create something stronger than magic: loyalty, love, and friendship. If you’re a sucker for found-family dynamics like I am, you’ll fall hard for this crew.


⭐ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Lovely Dark and Deep may feel familiar in places, but the strength of its characters and its final twist make it worth your time. It’s a moody, meaningful YA fantasy with just enough darkness and heart to keep you hooked.

A fantastic dark academia witchcraft story! A found family, a sexuality discovery, and an empathetic reflection of immigrant stories.

Elisa A Bonnin is easily a must-read author for me after 'Lovely Dark and Deep' and 'Dauntless.' While in common fiction settings, her voice is original and compelling, keeping the reader locked in on the story.

In 'Lovely Dark and Deep,' her isolated witch academy isn't necessarily new, but the magic system and a separate community for "bad" students is. I loved how we were set up with prejudice against this separate home, only to break down our assumptions with the progression of the story and main character.

Tie it up with a mysterious, environmental magic that's fighting back, and you have the recipe for a perfect spooky evening read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC copy of this book!

This book is lovely, magical, and heartfelt. I have no point of comparison for this book but I loved the way it talked about the magic systems in the school. It focuses more on the main character's troubles but it is still a good introduction to the magic within the story. The theme of friendship in the story is one of my favorite aspects while reading it. I like how it has mentions of romantic love but focuses more on friendship and family love.

Another aspect I loved to read is the way the main character is not your cliché hero and is not annoying to read (even being an adolescent.) The way the characters (even the bully or "villain") interact with each other was so smooth that I felt like I knew them or that everyone knows them from their school experience. The story flows a lot better with how well written the characters are and all they add to the plot.

The main conflict seemed like it kept changing but only because of all the implications and new information we learn about it. But I like how it was "resolved."

I'll be waiting to read more (if it has a continuation in plans.)

Lovely Dark and Deep is the book I want to recommend to people from now on who are looking for something like Harry Potter, but way less problematic. It truly has everything: found family, representation galore (LGBTQ+ characters, a non verbal character with Autism, and most of the characters are POC), magic and a magic school, spooky woods, and atmospheric vibes.
You can tell that this story is deeply personal and it really resonates. Faith's journey of acceptance is powerful on so many levels. Her background not only as a magical outcast, but also as an immigrant infuses the story with new life and perspective. She is such an easy character to root for and love - really all the characters are. Elisa A. Bonnin creates such an endearing group of misfits. The relationships between the Red Stripes are what really makes this book.
I love the world building and magic systems. Bonnin paints such a clear picture of the world and the way magic works. She doesn't explain everything, but she also doesn't need to. Everything you need to know is contained within the story and you can also imagine what comes before and after (but I would happily read more books outlining Faith's first 3 years at Ellery West, especially so we get to see more of her and Sydney).

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! It had a good mix of mystery and found family and just a little bit of a horror aspect that made it feel unique.

Faith’s arc throughout the book about learning to put herself first and finding a group she fits in with the Red Stripes was wholesome.

The Red Stripes and their dynamics was hands down the best part of this book. The standout is the bond that forms between Faith and Alex, the way they were able to understand and trust each other was really well-written.

The only part of the book that I wanted to have a little more depth is the school itself, the setting had a little bit of a cardboard cutout feel. The other students are brought up a lot but they just felt like props. And while I understand the schooling and student body aren’t a big part of the story, it would’ve added a little more depth to the story.

Overall, really did enjoy this one and recommend it.

3.5/5 stars
*Review Contains Spoilers*
This book was pretty good! The mystery element was really well and the author was really good at creating suspense as the characters got closer to unlocking the mystery behind the forest.
I also really enjoyed the characters. Faith was a good protagonist to follow and I got attached to all of the Red Stripes. They all felt developed enough not to just seem like extras to flesh out the setting.
My biggest problem with this book is that some ideas didn't feel developed enough. The idea of the forest being a living entity that was basically the victim of colonization, themes of fixing past mistakes, and Faith's arc of self-acceptance and learning to be her own person all felt like they should've had more time to cook. It didn't drastically disturb my enjoyment of this book, but by the end I felt like we need more time to discuss these ideas. Not to mention who Faith ends up with by the end. This book probably would've benefited from some more pages.
But overall I found this a fine, YA fantasy that had great atmosphere and a good mystery.

The acclaimed school for magic has always been home for Faith. After an international move and a childhood spent adjusting to a new culture and a new language, Faith feels like Ellery is the only place she can be herself. That is, until Faith and another student walk into the forest, and only Faith walks out.

Marked with the Red Stripe across her uniform that designates all students deemed too dangerous to attend regular classes, Faith becomes a social pariah, an exile of Ellery West. But all she has to do is keep her head down for one more year so she can graduate, and get to keep her magic. Because when students fail out of Ellery West, they have their magic taken away. Forever. And Faith can't let that happen.

Except terrifying things are happening to students, and the dark magic that was unleashed in the forest still seems to be at work. To stop it, Faith and the other Red Stripes will have to work together, risking expulsion from the magical world altogether.

I liked reading this book. The storyline was very enticing and I enjoyed learning about the magical aspects set in this world.

i received this arc from netgalley in exchange for a review.

this was cute, but it wasn't my thing. i think there was too much going on with side characters for me to feel fully invested in our main character, faith. which is unfortunate, because i loved that faith was filipino.

i liked the school setting, but there were a lot of things i noticed that i thought could have been more efficient in this book. the writing was just fine! i did enjoy the easy flow.

i also feel like this title was mismatched. i sometimes forgot what the title was when i was reading the book, because i did not think the title was fitting. it should have been called siren island, or the forest wants you. something like that.

"Lovely Dark and Deep" is a young adult dark academia book featuring a found family and an engaging magical system. It reminded of Harry Potter, and I enjoyed it from the start.

Faith finds herself at Ellery West, a magical school hidden away on an island invisible to outsiders. After a tragic incident, she is forced to join the Red Stripes, an ostracized group on the brink of losing their power. However, something in the woods continues to claim lives, and the Red Stripes risk losing their power to uncover the truth.

I enjoyed the storyline and the magic system, and I was intrigued by what was really happening at the school and in the woods. However, the pacing could have been better as it felt rushed and yet slow in parts. The friendship between Faith and Sydney could have been expanded upon prior to the incident, and the relationships with Red Stripes could have been more developed. This was a fun YA story with a lot of potential, but it felt like it fell a little flat. There were too many social issues included just to seem relevant, and a trans character thrown in unexpectedly. It seemed to detract from the story rather than enhancing it.

Thank, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved how creepy and atmospheric Lovely Dark and Deep was.  It's got a really neat magic system, a great found family vibe, and an eerie forest. Faith and the other members of the red stripes who became her friends were the real standouts in this book for me. I was really invested in everyone's story arc. I also need to add that the forest was super creepy. I really like how the author gave the forest personification. It really added to the whole horror vibe. This was such a thrilling read with a bit of mystery. I was invested until the very end.

3.5/5 stars

A charming and atmospheric YA gothic contemporary fantasy that does the found family trope so incredibly well. With a beautifully eerie setting that practically breathes on its own, this book nails the dark academia aesthetic while still feeling unique and heartfelt.

One of my absolute favorite things about this book is its diverse and genuinely well-done representation. The inclusion of LGBTQIA+, autistic (nonverbal), and Filipino culture feels authentic, and I loved how it touched on cultural differences and the complexities of growing up between identities. While this is a gothic story filled with shadowy forests and whispered dangers, at its core, it’s a coming-of-age tale—one that celebrates differences rather than erasing them.

The found family aspect is fantastic—this is the kind of friend squad I desperately wanted as a teen. Their dynamic, their struggles, and the way they band together despite being branded as outcasts? Amazing. The mystery kept me engaged, the magic system was fun, and while the darker aspects could have been explored with more depth, I still adored the overall vibe of this book.

That said, this does read on the younger end of YA, so some of the more complex themes don’t get as much focus as I’d have liked. But honestly? That’s a small critique for what is ultimately an almost cozy gothic story. If you’re looking for a book that wraps you in a spooky, misty atmosphere while leaving you with a warm, satisfied feeling by the end, Lovely Dark and Deep can be that for you.

Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Book Tours, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Interesting dark academia style story with secret societies and craziness happening. The plot seems to have a great foundation but the characters are very very flat to me. I found them very one dimensional and very easy to read and Faith's interaction with her new found family is very meh as well. Like things are happening but the connection isnt there to me. The world building and magic are very well done and I love the flip back and forth from present to past to learn more about Faith and her friend. But this story sadly was not for me. I would recommend for younger teenagers or those new to urban fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read this book!

I didn't manage to read this one before the book actually came out, but it's one of my most highly anticipated and I can't wait!