Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this EARC. It isn’t my usual genre but it was very interesting. Finn Nethercott was a first year student at a prestigious university. He joins a “clan” with a bunch of other students that have been going there. They experience with drugs. Magmus wants to figure the correct combination to act like a berzerk. Read it and find out if he ever does
I gave my honest opinion and was not paid to do so

Personally I had really high expectations for this book when I read the description. I feel like I was let down a tad bit. I liked the way that Magnus and his clan were trying to find the “drug” that caused the Viking warrior berserkers to be as fearless, strong and to where they don’t feel pain. And the journey that led them to this discovery by Finn. I also enjoyed the different view points of past traditions and how they brought those traditions into the present day.

However I felt that the book moved very slow for me and gave me a bunch of information at the beginning that I had a hard time keeping it all straight.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

4.5 rounded up! I really enjoyed this one—it's peak dark academia that is so so perfect for fall. It's very reminiscent of The Secret History to me (just trade the ancient Greek for ancient Norse/Celtic/Viking). I loved the rituals, the pagan celebrations, the history, and the search for an ancient hallucinogen—all at a small university in Scotland in the early 90s.

If you love dark academia, mythology, history, secret clans/societies, and moody male main characters, this is it. It's gripping, engrossing, tragic, and vivid, and I honestly learned a ton haha. (The origin of the word "berserk" will stick with me forever!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When We Were K, by new to me author C.F. Barrington, published by Head of Zeus - Aries Books, is a fast paced thriller that leaves the reader breathlessly craving more. Complex, complicated and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Blurb: The salt-scented quadrangles of St Andrews University greet first-year student Finn Nethercott with indifference. It is a place where privilege counts, and those from the right backgrounds can get away with everything.
Finn is quickly drawn into a new circle of friends – four history scholars with the deepest roots of ancient Scotland – who sweep him away on wild adventures to forgotten castles and faerie lochs.
But he soon discovers the darker sides of his new midnight rituals, and a search for a long-lost hallucinogen. And as Finn sinks into a world where he can't always trust what he's seen each night, the group will learn just how dangerous obsession can be.

An enjoyably atmospheric story but I found the motives of the ‘villains’ so implausible as to be ridiculous.

This book just wasn’t for me but, that’s okay! I didn’t get through the whole book because I felt like it took a while to grab my attention and there was a lot of “biblical” talk and that’s just not my thing.

Finn Nethercott arrives at St Andrews University troubled and indifferent to a place where privilege rules and if your background is right you can get away with murder.
He meets four new friends who seduce him into obsession with Scotlands history, faerie and Viking legends and he soon discovers a far darker side to them all.
There are rivalries and a hunt for a hallucinogen that is lost to history, Finn is sucked into something darker and more deadly than he thought possible, unravelling his own history and changing him forever.

I’ve read Barrington’s Pantheon series before and loved his writing style and this book is no different. It’s dark, edgy, punchy and with characters that capture you so that you just want to keep reading. I couldn’t put this down for a second once I’d started!

If you love a bit of dark academia and ‘The Secret History’ vibes then this is the book for you

I'm a sucker for dark academia and this was an excellent version of such, intriguing and deeply divisive characters, a cracking good story and some excellent writing.

I liked the mythology and history entwined into the plot and the setting comes to life vividly. The group dynamic constantly shifts giving the book that lovely unexpected and addictive feel.

It's an entertaining read that would make great television. Paging Netflix!

Ok so I had higher hopes for this but it wasn't, I just think I set my expectations too high.

I liked the prose and there wasn't necessarily a dual timeline, but the narrator, Finn, would talk to the reader at times before jumping back into the story so it gave the feel of sitting in a cabin on a rainy night by a fire while your dad recounted his collegiate days.

This dark academia thriller was definitely heavy on the academia. I have no issue with it being throughout the story (truly I expect it) but I felt that when they got into their studies and started to explain concepts or histories, it went on for a while to the point of boredom. I still found a lot of the information interesting, though I also felt like I was sitting through a lecture. The same goes for the pacing. There were times where we were getting somewhere and then it sort of tapered off until the next ascension. It was hard to stay fully engaged at times.

The concept of this was still quite interesting though! When they were tripping during these "rituals", I felt like I was tripping along with them. I'd be a bit confused at first and have to rewind but I think that meant the author did a good job of creating this altered atmosphere where you feel just as discombobulated as the characters.

Speaking of the characters, I liked how unlikeable they could be. Finn got sucked into this group of pretentious, well-off scholars and you could really feel how excited he was to have been accepted into their circle only to soon begin to regret this decision as bad things started happening.

The chapters were short but the lead-up to the ending that the beginning alluded to still felt like it took a long time. And then on top of that, it also felt a little rushed (though given what was occurring during that time, that's probably how it was supposed to feel).

⚠️ There weren't any TWs listed but just know that the book does touch on familial death, self harm, and a suicide attempt. The topics are touched on and the character does end up sharing both stories. He tells each story once and then it doesn't happen again so I definitely advise you to be mindful if these topics are triggering.

All in all, this was a decent story and was perfect for this time of year.

This book was an ARC from NetGalley. I should start off by saying Dark Acadamia is not my favorite genre. To summarize this book was not for me. The narrative was very bogged down and felt mentally heavy to get through. This story is about a group of college students seeking to recreate a psychedelic high then Vikings in the 10th century experienced and people die. That is it. That is the entire plot. Hence the one star rating. #netgalley #whenwewerekillers #darkacademia #magicmushrooms

Thanks you NetGalley for the ARC.
2⭐️

I love dark academia so I was so excited for something akin to The Secret History or If We Were Villains but something fell short for me. The story felt all over the place and it was so difficult to follow. I’m not sure I have felt more lost in a book than I did reading this. I could never quite pinpoint what was happening and what I was supposed to be learning for each interaction and inner dialogue. I like the setting, the idea of a secret “clan”, even the characters were likable but the story itself and the way it was written wasn’t working for me. Maybe if I pick it up and give it another try again I’ll feel differently.

This book had some plot twist and the end is semi unexpected. It didn’t start off a little slow but picked up the pace the more I kept reading. So over all I’d say you should read this book!

Maybe I needed to be in a better headspace to enjoy this fully. I found the characters pretentious but not in a good or fun way. There was so many parts that felt like it dragged, overloaded with too much information.

If you're a fan of dark academia with some weird vibes you might like this. This is another one I'll have to give another chance to another time. It wasn't bad but it wasn't...my favorite.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this unbelievable arc!

After reading If We Were Villains and absolutely falling in love with it I have been searching for similar books and I am so grateful I came across this one. It is exactly what I was looking for. Fast paced, easy to read, twisty, intriguing and a brilliant thriller! It is also my first C.F.Barrington read and definitely won’t be my last.

The suspense & psychological aspects, mixed in with the clever plot line made me want to keep reading long after the story had ended. It was so detailed and captivating without going over the top and being confusing or boring. The characters and setting were expertly crafted and I could not get enough of it! C.F.Barrington really knows how to grip an audience and keep you at the edge of your seat. The twists were so perfectly planned and thought out, it really kept me guessing through out which I loved.

Would highly recommend to anyone who loves Dark Academia, twisty on the edge of your seat thrillers or anyone looking for that perfect autumn thriller read. Can’t wait to read more by this author

I LOVED the Scottish, dark academia vibes in this story! Its perfect reading for fall! For some reason, I just didn't connect with any of the characters, and it did seem to drag at times while giving A LOT of descriptions of college life. Other than that, I SO enjoyed this! I will try to read more by this author. Loved the writing style!

“When We Were Killers” is a dark academia thriller set against the backdrop of St Andrews University in Scotland. The story follows Finn Nethercott, a misfit first-year student who finds himself drawn into a new circle of friends—four history scholars with an obsession for the ancient roots of Scotland.

Upon arriving at St Andrews, Finn is greeted with indifference in an environment where privilege reigns supreme. He quickly becomes entangled with his new friends, who lead him on wild adventures to forgotten castles and faerie lochs. However, as he delves deeper into their world, he uncovers darker elements: deadly rivalries, midnight rituals, and a frantic quest for a long-lost hallucinogen.

As Finn navigates this treacherous landscape, he grapples with trust issues and the unsettling realization that obsession can have deadly consequences. The narrative unfolds through gripping dialogue and richly developed characters, exploring themes of toxic friendship and the complexities of ambition within an academic setting.

The novel combines elements of psychological intrigue with historical references to Celtic and Viking mythology. It critiques societal structures that enable wrongdoing while maintaining an atmospheric tension throughout the plot. The vivid descriptions of the Scottish landscape enhance the eerie beauty of the setting, making it integral to the unfolding drama.

Overall, “When We Were Killers” is positioned as a must-read for fans of dark academia and psychological thrillers, promising a captivating exploration of friendship and ambition intertwined with suspenseful

Be careful what you wish for - a tale of blind obsession, friendship, ego, wanting to belong, and dealing with loss. The road twists and turns, control is lost, and living with the aftermath can change everything. A tense and addictive read, don't expect any HEA ...

We start the book with Finn getting to St Andrews where he intends to study divinity. Finn has a past and the author writes Finn as a brooding hero who in his first day meets many of the characters that will change his life forever. It’s such a skill to make so much happen in so little pages and yet keep me thrilled.

The book continues and the cast of characters splits, those from Divinity and those who seem to follow their own divinity. Sumptuous details about Celts, Viking’s and Pagan festivals and observances take this book from a dark academia to a well researched and breathtaking thriller with heavy history.

The ending of the book feels a little rushed, I would have liked to have a better understanding of how all the characters did after the events, but that is probably personal taste.

I couldn’t recommend this book more, it has everything you could want AND a search for an ancient hallucinogen. I don’t think you’ll read that sentence again.

I received this book from Netgalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, which this is.

Dark academia fans, if you’re on your second or third reread of "The Secret History" and "If We Were Villains" to satiate your desire for a moody fall girl read, look no further than this book.

Reminiscent of both the best and most tragic dark academia novels, Barrington will take you instead to the early nineties at the prestigious St Andrews university, where the tragically-inclined Finn Nethercott has just become a first-year student. With dynamic and vulnerable characters, gripping dialogue, and intellectual intrigue, "When We Were Killers" surpasses even the highest demands for this gothic and melancholic genre.

With one of the best opening lines in a novel I’ve read this year, Barrington cements this novel as a new dark academia must-read in the upcoming season.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc, this book will be published March 6, 2025.

Scottish ride where we are met with unique characters and interesting mythology.
I enjoyed this spin on dark academia with Celtic and Viking elements which makes a stand out in the genre that kept me gripped until the end as we delved more into the insanity that comes with such mythology.
Interesting premise, however, I would have liked to have more hints about what the whole story was about instead of the ending feeling quite rushed. Another element I wish we had more of is the multi layers of the side characters that I thought were swept up within the wider narrative. However, I was gripped throughout and enjoyed this as my first arc.