Plot: The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the academy for the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, world-eaters and Apocalypse makers. On graduation day , the faculty go on a ravenous rampage feasting on Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and her classmates escape the carnage.


Positives: This plot sounded amazing to me, and is a good fit for people who love dark academia, horror, and dark stories. The violence and gore was highly entertaining and I ate that up. Most authors stay in a safety zone when it comes to violence, so this was very refreshing and fun for readers who love gritty writing.

Feedback The prose was not easy to follow, it was very flowery and there was a bit too much of it to truly make sense. There were so many huge words I felt I needed a thesaurus to make it through the book. Because of this the writing did not always flow smoothly.
For sensitive readers I would consider putting a list of Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book, as it is fairly graphic in violence.

This book was so fucked up, but I didn't want to put it down.

The horror aspect of it was incredible; it does a really good job of balancing its gore, body horror, and more existentially horrifying aspects. I loved the characters and Alessa especially was a very interesting narrator. The novel bounces through various points in time to put together a whole story and it while it did get confusing at times, it was clear by the end of the story that the confusion was very intentional. It was incredibly well done.

Not necessarily a negative for me in particular, but I'd be a little remiss to say this book is for everyone. Cassandra Khaw gets a lot of criticism for writing like they have a thesaurus and a dream in front of them, and that's definitely prevalent in this book. I'd also be aware that this is more a very gorey horror novel with a dark academia setting more than it is a dark academia novel in the horror genre, if that makes sense.

My first impression came from her novella Nothing But Blackened Teeth, and honestly, I wasn’t impressed. But since it was just a novella, I decided to give her another shot with a full-length novel. Finding out she was writing a dark academia story sounded right up my alley.

Khaw introduces some truly fascinating characters, but something I’m learning about her writing is that it’s just too fast-paced for me. Just when I want to sit with the characters and get to know them, they’re already off doing the next thing. I kept wanting more time in their world, more development, but the narrative doesn’t slow down.

I really wish this was a series because I wanted to dive deeper into the characters and the school. But, unfortunately, the faculty was eating everyone... so I never got the chance. I'm famished for more from Khaw and a little unsatisfied.

One day, I will remember I don't like horror. Partly because I enjoy characterization, instead of gore. Partly because I prefer world building over jump scares. And one of these days, I may start picking books based on premise instead of cool titles and gorgeous covers.

This was my first take on the world of Cassandra Khaw, and it was a great first impression! I really enjoyed the imagination that went into this and the way the story was told.

The premise of "The Library at Hellebore" is what roped me in initially. "The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers." What a start, right? It captured my attention immediately, and I'm not even a big horror or dark academia fan.

The dual timelines were a bit of a challenge at first, jumping between Alessa in the beginning, navigating brand new surroundings after being kidnapped and forced to enroll in the academy to the current timeline where relationships are fully formed as they're closing in on graduation. Eventually the two kinda catch up enough to where it makes more sense and is easier to follow along.

Really my only complaint is that the school is more of a background setting rather than more involved in the story. It was less tropes from dark academia, and more focus placed on the story of survival and the relationships, but it was enjoyable nonetheless!


This is a 4/5 recommendation from me, for the horror fans with an appreciation of dark and twisted, gruesome, with a touch of dark academia 🖤

I think this is a case of it's not the book it's me. I usually don't mind books where they throw you straight into the story, but this one just lacked any real world development, and I just didn't get along with the authors writing style. DNF @20%

The Library at Hellebore is a dark and creepy horror story. The gore and body horror are great. The setting at a creepy school adds to the suspense and mystery. The author does a great job of mixing horror and fantasy to create an interesting story. Horror fans will like this book.

This book gripped me, but I did not finish it and quit rather early on, as the writing style itself was an...acquired taste and really did not lend itself to the genre very well. I want to be showed things, not told, and as so far as I got through the book, everything was simply told, nothing was described unless it was cringey gore, and the main character was absolutely insufferable in her demeanor.

CW: gore, body horror

This book was super weird.

In the usual Cassandra Khaw way, there is a lot of messed up things happening in this book, and a lot of gore/body horror.

Alessa is magic, but we don't really find out what kind of magic until quite a ways along in the book. But it starts with her having magically brutally murdered her roommate (like, there are bits *everywhere*), and no one is really surprised, because murder is just kind of the norm at the Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted. Overall, Hellebore is a pretty hellish place, with grotesque looking professors, courses that don't make sense, and meat men who act as security, assistants, and any other sort of menial position, and absolutely no way out. But Alessa has a small group of, maybe not friends, but like-minded students, who she's able to maybe rely on when things completely go to shit and they get trapped in the library at Hellebore.

The book jumps back and forth between the current time and "before", which is basically everything up to the beginning of the book. It can be a bit difficult to follow, so I highly recommend binging the book, so that everything is really clear in your mind.

This likely would have been a five star read for me, except that I got to the end and there wasn't really an answer? It was like 'hey, were you paying attention?' and I don't think I was paying quite enough attention, because I was a bit lost. I am definitely going to reread this one, because I have a decent number of questions and I need to figure out what I missed.

I think this might be Khaw's most accessible title to date? At least from what I've read (Nothing But Blackened Teeth and The Salt Grows Heavy). Though definitely gird your lions, because this is a wild ride.

Interesting writing style that I don’t think was for me. I felt like the book blurb really spoke to me but the actual book didn’t translate. Might try a reread in the near future.

The Library at Hellebore is a queer dark academia mixing magic, a school setting and body horror. This book is not for the faint of heart.

A whirlwind of fantastical horror in a dark academia setting, delivered in Khaw's signature lyrical style. It's both a relentless ride of arcane torment and wandering musings on rage and power. I liked it while also muttering wtf for a few days afterwards. This is an experience to say the least but no one creates worlds and horrors like Khaw. In a league of it's own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance eARC of The Library At Hellbore written by Cassandra Khaw.
This is the second book I’ve read by Cassandra Khaw, and I have learned that her writing style is just not for me. That being said, I’m sure there are plenty of readers that will pick this one up and devour it.

I honestly don't even know what to think about The Library at Hellebore, I'm pretty sure I'm still processing what I just read.

I think that the teachers may have attempted to digest me because my brain is goo!
This is a two readings book if ever there was one. I immediately want to double back, armed with tabs and a book about old gods and mythology. The decadence of even the most horrific of scenes...
Cassandra Khaw's writing is perfection!

When magic returns with all its chaos and carnage, the world needs a place like Hellebore: an institute to shape youths with hideously dangerous talents into useful members of society. That's the story, anyway. In reality, they get a year of random coursework and winnowing, then the faculty eats them. Alessa and a handful of classmates escaped their graduation to hide in the library, but the reprieve is temporary. Both the flashbacks and the present are full of exquisitely rendered violence and body horror. On the other hand, there's very little sense of the larger world and how anything at Hellebore works apart from with maximum bloodshed.

Khaw dives into the world of dark academia with "The Library at Hellebore," but with her personal brand of horror. As usual, the writing is superb, and the plot is put together well. It's easy to get drawn into the story. Khaw fans and dark academia lovers will love this book.

Title/Author: The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw

Page Count: 288 pages

Publisher: Tor Nightfire

Format: Hardcover (special editions available)

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Salt Grows Heavy, Breakable Things (short stories)

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781250877819

Release Date: July 22nd

General Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Dark Academia, Magic

Sub-Genre/Themes: Body Horror, "fight to the death", Cannibalism, Campus/Students, Morally grey characters

Writing Style: Dual timelines, "before & present", if you didn't enjoy the lyrical/stylish prose of 'The Salt Grows Heavy', you most likely won't appreciate here--I love it. I delight in seeing new words and looking them up. The tone/vibes are different though

What You Need to Know: : "The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers.
Hellebore promises redemption, acceptance, and a normal life after graduation. At least, that’s what Alessa Li is told when she’s kidnapped and forcibly enrolled. But there’s more to Hellebore than meets the eye. On graduation day, the faculty go on a ravenous rampage, feasting on Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and a group of her classmates escape the carnage. Trapped in the school’s library, they must offer a human sacrifice every night, or else the faculty will break down the door and kill everyone.
Can they band together and survive, or will the faculty eat its fill?"

My Reading Experience: I just enjoy being in Cassandra Khaw's imagination and storytelling style. I'm a fan. This review will be slightly skewed toward my personal preference for Khaw's very stylish brand of dark fantasy/horror.
I love the premise of The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted, a secret school filled with diabolical minds capable of dangerous students.
"Every single item was embossed with Hellebore’s heraldry: fig wasps and the school’s namesake threaded through the antlers of a deer skull, its tines strung with runes and staring eyes."
Can I have a tattoo of this? Also, I will never eat a fig again, ever.
My only complaint is the school is really more of a setting/battleground and not a fully developed magic system or curriculum. That was the only failed expectation--I was excited to see how Khaw would put a unique flourish on trad Dark Academia tropes but the focus is more on relationships between students and the survival story--which is fine, I'm not mad about it. (dropped a star though)
At first, the dual timelines are challenging--we go back in time to "The Beginning" to watch the MC, Alessa, navigate her new surroundings after waking to learn she has been kidnapped and forced to enroll in a secret academy.
Then there are chapters that fast forward in time where Alessa already has fully formed relationships and we're inching toward graduation day.. Eventually, the past timeline catches the reader up enough to where the present chapters make more sense.
The kill scenes and the body horror are unmatched in the genre. I read certain scenes with my jaw dropped open in shock and awe. Khaw's imagination is wickedly clever and disgusting. I love it! I had so much fun with this book.

Final Recommendation: For horror fans who appreciate twisted, gruesome and intricately detailed deaths/kills, a touch of dark academia--more of a setting/vibe instead of a deep dive into the academia elements, themes of cannibalism, morally grey characters, strong (sassy) female protagonists, video game "final boss" battles (imagery), survivors banding together & group dynamics.

Comps: Hunger Games + The Faculty, An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

I enjoyed this a lot more than Nothing but Blackened Teeth and The Salt Grows Heavy. This truly felt like a fever dream. Alessa was the perfect unreliable narrator. I really enjoyed the non-linear storytelling, but it was jarring at first. This book feels like how the word squelch sounds; it's gross and weird and filled with righteous rage. I don’t want to give too much away, but the political commentary and themes are explained with such nuance that they don’t feel like force fed morals. I truly enjoyed this.

There was a glitch with this book title. I could not upload, or read a copy of this book through NetGalley. So, I cannot review it.
Pennsylvania Literary Journal: Spring 2025 issue: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-spring-2025