I really loved this book with the secret societies, magic and the main character trying to reach her potential. She's often caught between her feelings and pleasing her family and wanting to help her grandfather. Interesting story I couldn't put it down

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

There are no words I can use to convey how much I ADORE this book.

But gravdamn it. I can try.

Andrea Max has created something truly beautiful in The Art of Exile. I can’t even fathom how incredibly talented this woman is: I would study her brain if I could. She has taken old and overused tropes and twisted and manipulated them into something NEW and unique! She has created a world that could rival Harry Potter and makes it INCLUSIVE in a way that HP never was.

Let me explain. Hogwarts had houses based on personalities… Arcadia has guilds based on TALENT. And it’s not exclusive to “magic” users. Arcadia accepts great and exceptional minds: they’re ALL Makers. Not everyone in their community is a Sire (a person with the ability to generate Ha’i or life force.) AND, I’ll do you one better. Once you become a master in your chosen guild, you have the opportunity to join another guild and master that talent. You can become a Master of ALL guilds. (Did I blow your mind yet?)

What I love about this idea of talents and “non-magical” people having talent… is that it truly reaches you deep inside. I could be a hell of a Cipher. I read this book like “oh my gosh, is THIS why my brain is so overly developed? Is this why my brain just works so much more than others? Was I supposed to be a Maker?” This book reaches to those kids who were weird or “gifted” and gives them a sense of belonging.

Now, on top of the above (yes, there’s more), we have an overarching theme of who deserves this grand knowledge that the Makers have? Why are the Makers keeping their society a secret? Doesn’t the provincial world deserve this knowledge as well? To cure disease, save lives, etc? The Art of Exile asks these questions in ways that Harry Potter never did. Muggles were beneath wizards, that was it. I won’t spoil too much about this arc in the book but it’s such a controversial and important topic that has such relevance in today’s society and I love that Max does not diminish its importance in the slightest.

Now, the characters. Ada is my hero. She is this girl who has always felt like she didn’t belong in provincial society but never understood why, why her ability was hidden and why she was ostracized by her Family. When her Family pushes her to infiltrate this magical school, she finally finds a place where she feels that belonging. And I almost cried at some of the beautifully deep moments where she reflects on this. When she’s with Georgie who becomes her best friend and confidant especially. Georgie is such a breath of fresh air in friendship. And her being a woman in STEM? Yes! 🙌 I was sad to see that we didn’t see many Cipher students but Georgie made up for it with her computer skills.

So… the men. You know it’s a good love triangle when you just can’t decide between them! On the one side, you have the older mentor, Michael, who all at once is sweet and nervous and also extremely emotionally manipulative. It felt like he was manipulating MY emotions as the reader. I was entranced okay. On the other side, you have the rude and arrogant Rafe who calls her a Weed and also learns to respect and appreciate her and her abilities. He is the Draco to her Hermione. And at first I didn’t even consider him an option but he wormed him way into my heart and by the end… I think I’m Team Rafe?? I do think it will depend on how the series progresses though!

What else can I say?

Yes, I know.

What I find most emotionally destroying about this book… is that I NEED people to read it. I am not joking about this. The Art of Exile has the potential to blow minds and make all of us start THINKING again. I’m distraught thinking of all the readers who will never find this book because I know it’s not on many radars. And so I will scream about this book from the highest mountains, shout into the voids of the oceans, and throw it at random strangers in bookstores.

Just. Read. It.

Secret societies and dark academia are making a comeback and who are we to deny it? Absolutely loved the technology vibes and the dystopia/fantasy that has been sorely missing from YA lately.

Light Academia, secrets, mystery societies, found family and a love triangle. What more could you want?

The author weaves an adventurous tale following Ada Castle as she plays a double agent of sorts to prove herself to her family. But of course, all is not what it seems, and she has to put together different pieces of the puzzle and discover the truth for herself. Along the way she makes new friends and enemies, and falls into a love triangle with no clear cut choice. Although, I did feel as if the story and many scenes were setting up to lean more towards one than the other. (I won’t pick a side because I never choose correctly, but I’ll see what Ada decides along her journey.)
Overall, I thought that the main character was relatable even in her doubts, insecurities and thoughts. I definitely would love to follow Ada’s story to the end.
After reading this book, I wasn’t sure how to classify it. Is it fantasy, but it’s so science based. Is it sci-fi, not quite because there are so many fantasy elements. I personally think that it’s a delightful mixture of both, immersed in history and art. Either way, I would highly recommend it.