Enemies to lovers? Yup. Light academia? Absolutely. This book had so many of my favorite things—secret societies, magic, found family, and a love triangle that didn’t feel forced. Andrea Max crushed it.

The culture and magic were totally intertwined and Ada was a great main character, and her friendships felt real and earned. Also, Rafe? Total favorite from the moment he showed up—snarky, protective, and the perfect balance to Ada.

I do wish the world had been a bit more fleshed out. There were a few spots that left me feeling like I missed something. But overall, I was hooked and can’t wait for the sequel.

Omg I enjoyed this book so much! Honestly I don’t know what I was expecting but this was better than I thought it would be! This book gave us everything- light academia, fantasy with romance and mystery subplot. As far as the romance goes we have enemies to possibly lovers? As well as forbidden romance and possible love triangle lol. It’s a lot of possibles but there ended up clearly being two men who had an interest in our FMC. The mystery of this book was figuring out how you could trust as there were other ppl working behind the scenes. Ada came to the school under false pretenses but ended up falling in love with the school and the people. I love how she also unexpectedly ended up “finding” herself. It is at the school where she realized her true power and just how special she was. It’s sad that she had to leave her own home to discover her greatness bc at home she was made to believe she wasn’t great or special.

I am a lover of learning and consider myself lifetime learner, so I’m finding I’m really liking the academia genre! If you are someone who is a lover of the arts, sciences and even some history- then you will love this! The Genesis sounds like an amazing place! I want to apply to the Genesis as well! Sign me up as a student! I enjoyed the references to the renaissance era with mention of all the artists and more! There were also Ancient Greek reference as well.

It got really good and the story took off once the guild ceremony occurred. I absolutely loved seeing Ada selected and having her pick of which guild she’d join! For me, I’m team bioscience. I will say that the way it ended, I’m curious if there will be a book 2. My suspicion is that there will be, and if so, I’ll be reading!

A heartfelt thank you to @andreatothemax and @simonteen #SimonTeenInfluencer for the e-book and @simonaudio for the #gifted audiobook!

This debut novel is excellent. It seamlessly blends elements of light academia, secrets, mysterious societies, found family, and a captivating love triangle.

The author masterfully intertwines academia, romance, and politics, delivering a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The prose is beautifully crafted, making for an effortlessly enjoyable read, while the plot unfolds in a clear and compelling manner. The worldbuilding is immersive and expertly executed, drawing readers into its enchanting depths. With a brisk pace and action-packed storyline, the book keeps you on the edge of your seat.

At the heart of the story are relatable teenage characters, each on their own path to mastering their magical abilities. Ada, in particular, embodies the struggles of adolescence—starting as a self-doubting young girl but ultimately embarking on a transformative journey toward adulthood. While there is a love triangle, it was secondary to Ada’s mission.

The narrator brings this vibrant cast to life, skillfully crafting distinct voices for each character, making their experiences and emotions resonate deeply.

If you're a fan of fast-paced adventures set in magical societies within an academic backdrop, look no further—this book is available now.

Ada has spent the majority of her life being told she was unexceptional. So when she's kidnapped in Italy and rescued by the (very charming) recruiter for the elusive Genesis Institute, she finally can prove her worth to her family by infiltrating the school and collecting its secrets.

The Genesis Institute feels like a utopia to Ada. Functioning on perfect, sustainable technology, the members have cured diseases and revived age-old mythical creatures. As she learns more and more about the advancements Genesis has made, she gets angrier: Why haven't they shared their technology with the rest of the world?

Bent on changing that, Ada secretly collects information to report back to her family. But the nature of Genesis nurtures Ada's talents, enables her creativity, and starts to make her doubt her anger. Now, Ada has to choose a side: Her family and the world they claim to help, or the Genesis Institute and its flourishing society.

I could yell about this book to anyone who will listen!! The Exiles of the Genesis Institute are founded on a blend of mythology and science, including Jewish culture and mysticism! With two Jewish main characters, I'm going from page to page with a bright smile because finding Jewish Fantasy in YA is like uncovering a diamond in dirt.

Max has crafted a diverse, intricate world filled with political intrigue, whimsy, and societal questioning. I am so glad this book found its way to me, and I cannot thank Simon Teen enough for publishing this novel and, coincidentally, for seeing through the valuable representation during Jewish American/Canadian Heritage Month.

Very unique premise, immense world building and action packed! Absolutely enjoyed, but the last 10% was confusing. I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books for a chance to read and give a honest review an advanced copy of this book

A unique YA novel, The Art of Exile, will be popular with all audiences that enjoyed the Harry Potter series as well as the Twilight Saga. Ada is a young woman who belongs to a Family of secrets and special abilities. She receives an invite to a special academy where she begins to realize not only her talents but also abilities. Torn by her loyalties and her secret mission, she finds much more than she bargained for. The first in a series, I look forward to the next installment! Five stars for a gripping novel.

Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this, and Happy Release day to the author!

The Art of Exile had me intrigued from the start. This YA fantasy had a unique spin and story line that kept me engaged throughout it. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

This book had high-stakes secret societies, morally murky missions, and a really cool spin on history. The stakes kept me hooked and I loved the Renaissance meets sci-fi vibes.

My only struggle? The writing style didn’t totally click for me—but to be fair, I read Robin Hobb right before this. So… maybe it was just me.

Would recommend if you like:
✨boarding school chaos
✨ethical dilemmas with a side of romance
✨secret knowledge and power vs privilege

This will be a very niche read for those that like to dabble in academia themed books, due to the heavy art influence. But, once you get past that you will enjoy a great mystery with a good set of characters.

The Art of Exile book review ✨

Thanks, Simon Teen, for the arc! #SimonTeenInfluencer

THE ART OF EXILE by Andrea Max is the first book I’ve read that is categorized as light academia. Does that mean I know what light academia vs. dark academia is? No. I just know I like academia books—light or dark. And this world that Max has created makes me wish I could be part of it because it was like stepping back into the old fantasies from when I was younger.

A magical school that can only be arrived at by a magical train. Students are separated into guilds and play a team sport with their guild, which the whole school gets excited about. It felt like coming home in a new, exciting way.

Let’s not forget to talk about the characters. I’m usually not a big fan of love triangles, but this one entertained me. I think it was because it was a girl falling for a teacher and also having an enemy feeling for a student (like a Dramione's enemies plot). The tension and snarky comments from all three are so good! The whole book, I was like, “Kiss, kiss, kiss! I don’t care who, but kiss now!”

I really enjoyed this one, and I need the second one immediately after that cliffhanger! Definitely pick it up!

THE ART OF EXILE is out tomorrow, 5/13.

💭 This book has many beautiful art descriptions, so do you have a classic art piece you would love to see in person? (Or have seen?) I was shocked at how tiny the Mona Lisa is!

#TheArtOfExile

Wow! As soon as I saw this cover I was immediately intrigued. This was super fast paced and so interesting from beginning to end. Reading this book felt like you were there with all the protagonist navigating all their adventures and intrigue.

Ada Castle has always been judged by her family, she is the only one without any special abilities. Or so she thought. The book opens up with us meeting Ada in a really big predicament, she has been kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location. What we start to notice is that as her stress levels go up something in her body changes dramatically. After luckily being rescued, her life will never be the same again. Not only she finds out she has special abilities, she will have to sneak in to one of the most secretive schools ever to exist. This felt like reading The DaVinci Code, full of secrets, secret societies and hidden super powers.

Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting: 5.00⭐️
Plot: 4.00⭐️
Themes: 4.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4.00⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.75⭐️
Overall rating: 4.25⭐️


Ada and her family is part of secret society who wishes to bring the Makers, another secret society of descendants of the exiled Renaissance masters, into the public eye to share and steal their long-lost arts and sciences. She is tasked with infiltrating the academy called the Genesis Institute. But her web of lies begins to unravel when one of her new friends goes missing she must choose who she would be willing to betray; the family she loves or the school that has helped her discover her true potential.

For a YA novel, this was a great introduction into this contemporary fantasy world. The world building was fantastic. There are a lot of moving pieces in this story and there are layers upon layers to unfold. Andrea Max does a great job with explaining everything that you do not feel overwhelmed with the story.

Ada is a great FMC and the two MMC, Michael and Rafe, are great potential love interests who fall on both sides of the spectrum of good and morally gray. This whole story was giving me Cassandra Clare Shadowhunter vibes, but with science and art. Book one is a fantastic start to what I feel is going to be an amazing series.

Thank you to Simon Teen for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could definitely see this having a very niche audience. I thought the concept was really unique, though personally a map or an index or something would have been very helpful. Perhaps that will come in the finished copy.

I forget how messy teenagers can be and Ada sure is messy. 🤣 I was very wary in the beginning and really throughout most of the book about her and Michael and their growing…friendship? Relationship? She seemed to like him romantically but it was giving ick because she’s 17 for a majority of the book while he is 21. Things are sort of “okay” toward the end when she turns 18.

I thought it was interesting that Ada felt drawn to Rafe even though he was and continued to really be a bit of a douche to her. I really struggled to understand Ada and Rafe’s relationship too. Friendship? Romance? Just…not sure.

This book also really throws punch after punch in terms of when you think you have everything figured out, there’s one thing after another. Lots of layers to this already intricate and secret society and world. This book also leaves on a pretty huge cliffhanger, so there’s definitely gotta be a sequel.

Delightful fantasy with rich and unique world building (seriously, it was so fun!), an explosive love triangle, and a high-stakes plot that kept me turning the page. The last chapter ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I’m excited to read the sequel!

I am.speechless this book was so amazing and stunning and so dang fantastic. I really like Ada alot she has a lot on her plate with infiltrating Genesis Institute so she can report back to her family their secrets. And loving the way Genesis Institute let's her be herself and grow. Also Rafe is so yummy and swoonworthy. The whole plot of those book is great and im really looking forward to the second book in the series.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ada is a 17-year-old member of the Families—a historic order dedicated to uncovering the secrets of a mysterious group of exiles. These exiles are rumored to possess scientific knowledge and innovations that could solve many of society’s problems, and the Families aim to share this knowledge with the world. For generations, they have tried—and failed—to gain access to the exiles’ society. But Ada, who possesses a rare and unique ability, manages to secure an invitation to the Genesis Institute, the gateway into the exiles’ world. Enrolling as a student, she begins working undercover to expose the secrets of this hidden society. However, the deeper she delves, the more she begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the world around her.

The Art of Exile is a YA light academia sci-fi/fantasy novel that’s marketed as The Atlas Six / Legendborn meets The Da Vinci Code. Personally, though, it felt more like Harry Potter meets The Memory of Babel (from the Mirror Visitor series)—a niche comparison, I know, but the most apt comparison I could come up with nonetheless.

There’s also a love triangle with two distinct dynamics: the first is a Vampire Academy-esque forbidden romance between student and teacher (though thankfully, the age gap is smaller), and the second is a strongly Dramione-coded enemies-to-lovers romance.

I have a lot of strong feelings about this book. Overall, I found the story incredibly engaging—I was hooked almost immediately and became deeply invested in Ada’s mission, the mysterious Genesis Institute, and the secretive Maker society. Watching her attempt to infiltrate the world of the exiles on behalf of the Families added tension and intrigue that kept me turning the pages.

Unfortunately, as the story progressed, it started to lose focus and ultimately derailed for me in the final quarter. It felt like the author had many compelling ideas but struggled to choose a clear narrative direction, resulting in a jumble of competing plotlines. While this is understandable in a debut novel, it left me feeling a bit frustrated as the reader.

That said, I still really enjoyed the book and will definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s released!

'The Art of Exile' is an ambitious and richly layered YA debut that fuses secret societies, Jewish folklore, and the pulse of academic intrigue into something wholly original. Andrea Max introduces us to Ada Castle, a fiercely intelligent teen who infiltrates an underground institution known as the Genesis Institute - a place where exiled artists and scientists, long thought lost to history, preserve dangerous knowledge and magical tech.

What stands out most is the depth of the world building. Max crafts a hidden world where history is reimagined through the lens of exiled brilliance, and the magic system - rooted in invention and myth - feels refreshingly distinct. Ada's internal conflict between loyalty to her family and growing admiration for the Makers gives the book emotional weight. The romantic subplot (yes, there's a triangle) is present, but it doesn't overwhelm the story's central arc.

Though the pacing takes a few chapters to find its rhythm, the payoff is worth it. With smart prose, thoughtful cultural representation, and high-stakes twists, this is a strong start to a series that promises even more to come.

➸ 4.5 ⭐️

Another super entertaining and addictive book—I must be on a roll.
Up until the last 5 chapters I did not think I was going to round it up but those last pages were so good and everything came together so nicely—I absolutely loved it.

The art of Exile had a bit of everything—fake dating, love triangles, sci-fi and fantasy elements, light academia, secret societies, prophecies, hoverjousting tournaments, found family—and with blending elements of Renaissance history, the story reminded me of The Temptation of Magic combined with Jewish mythology.

This was such a fantastic debut!
There was a lot going in the book and the pacing was great.
I loved the secret world of the Makers and the magic system.

A major thread running through the story was the ethical dilemma of resource management: the morality of hoarding versus sharing, the potential consequences of either choice, and how history has shown that even well-meaning efforts often get derailed by greed, capitalism, or power. Closely tied to this is the question of whether the end truly justifies the means—whether sacrificing a few for the greater good can ever be morally defensible.

I really appreciated how this novel weaved in so many important themes and thought-provoking topics.

Ada, our MC, was such a genuine character—she was funny, witty and brimming with self-doubt and a touch of self-righteousness. Her voice resonated with the genuine complexities of being seventeen, making her journey both compelling and relatable.

The messy love triangle was oh-so-entertaining, I couldn't look away. I'm not usually a fan of those as I always find myself rooting for one of the LI over the other and I get annoyed when the FMC can't decide. But AM fit it seamlessly into the plot and I loved the complicated relationships, complex feelings and forbidden romance. (I already know who I am rooting for and my GODS Andrea, let them kiss in the next book!!!)

The ending was sooooo good!! As I mentioned the last few chapters were the reason for the rounded up rating sooo that should tell you something. I suspected a lot of the big twists revealed toward the end and yet there were still things that surprised me.
I'm already eagerly anticipating the next book, I can't wait to see where AM will take us!!

Eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you to Simon Teen for an arc of this book.

DNF @ 30%

I thought this dark/light academia book would be perfect for me -- but I struggled to get into the book from the very beginning. And in this case, I think it was definitely me who was having the problem. I felt that it read very young, even though the characters were on the older side. Still, it just felt awkward at some points.

I definitely think this will work for other readers, it just didn't work for me.

I was so excited for this book. The premise sounds really cool and I absolutely love the comps for this title. But oh my GOD this was so cringy. I had to DNF really early on because the main character was so immature and her thoughts in just the first couple of pages were like reading what an adult thinks a high schooler’s diary would sound like. I have seen amazing reviews for this so I’m sure it gets better but I can’t waste my time on a prose that’s not for me.