Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

DNF at 10%, which is my own fault for not reading up on the author. Body horror isn't something I'm jiving with at this current point in my life. The premise is extremely interesting and I'm bookmarking the title to return to at a later date!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ALC and ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are my own.

This was a strange story which wasn't a surprise after reading this author's previous works. Overall, it was a wild ride and the comparison to the Atlas Six was definitely right. Writing style was exactly what I've come to expect from Khaw, very flowery and vivid overall.

Part of me wanted this book to be longer and the writing to be a little less lyrical but that is just a personal preference.

This is not for the faint hearted!! This book went in on the gore and creepiness factor! It starts off bloody and doesn’t let up the entire time.

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. 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?

I LOVE the premise of this so much. It was unique and exciting but it didn’t totally land the execution. I found myself confused at times from the lack of world building and all the time jumps. I enjoyed the characters but they felt shallow I could t fully connect with them. The writing was lovely and atmospheric but it was very lyrical which might not be everyone’s vibe. I enjoyed it in the beginning but it did start to wane on me the more I read. Overall I enjoyed this enough to check out other books from the author!

If you're already into Cassandra Khaw's writing, this is definitely for you. It's full of gore and pain and thousand-dollar words and no one is a good person.

If you're not, give this one a pass.

Since I'm in the former category, I was so excited to see The Library at Hellebore pop up and for once jumped on the read to be done well before publishing day. And wouldn't you know it, for my first foray into dark academia, Library REALLY puts the 'dark' into it... I feel like the next time I try this subgenre I'm going to be like 'or is it dim academia?'

This is a story of mixed timelines, starting with a horror, going back to "Before" for yet, even more horrors (but a slow reveal of live at the Institute), back farther still into why Alessa Li is the way she is... not her magic, that's innate, but just why she's not so connected to her fellow students, and we as readers are sort of put into that same detached watching of these dangers to society (no, but really) (is it an allegory? I mean, I too live in 2025...!) as they either go through the school year ("Before") or horrendous things happen to them as The Faculty sure have an interesting idea of "graduation." There are truly horrible things that happen, and you-reader are not really left, I think, for the most part to be like 'oh noo... not them...' but are instead front seat to these horrible things and half the time in some internal moral human debate about what exactly is deserved. After all, it's not like most of these folks chose to be 'monsters,' but they did choose what to do with what they could do.

Pretty solid 4.5 but I haven't quite wrapped my head around the very end yet.

Thank you SO MUCH to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

Again, Cassandra Khaw does not hold back. Picture the Scholomance series, but a darker, bloodier time.

Told through the perspective of the journal of Alessa, you are launched into the horrors of Hellebore before our narrator sets the scene. As they say- magic is real. This is the story we’re the narrator tells you a little bit more of what happens as you’re learning how you got there. Alessa is what you expect- strong, independent, with her defenses up at first arrival as she’s unexpectedly whisked away to the new school of Hellebore. But after some unforeseen circumstances, 8 students remain in the library at Hellebore.

I enjoyed all the tiny details and imagery given to the novel, from the infliction of dialect to the very last entrails. The plot does feel like it jumps around a little bit, as much fun as it could be, so the pacing was uneven and hard to follow at times. Like a how did we get here feeling. There were a couple of plot points I wanted a why behind that I never felt fully satisified.

Side note- I love anytime we are referencing the 80s movie Society. But no way did this convince me why anyone chose to enroll in this school in the first place.

This book was SO good. The comp is exactly correct this book gives major A Deadly Education (my fave book) vibes crossed with The Atlas Six. This is a dark academia fantasy horror about a school for the magically gifted (calamitous), this school is full of world-eaters and apocalypse-makers. The story jumps RIGHT in with dual timelines to really immerse you in the story.
Khaw brilliantly combines dark academia, body horror, psychological elements, and gore, all tied in with an unreliable narrator to provide a jaw-dropping “can’t-read-it-fast-enough” story.
Highly recommend for all horror fans.

The story is good, but the delivery is awful. It was a DNF after 80% competition.

I had heard good things about Cassandra Khaw's books so I decided to try this book and I am sorely disappointed. The character's are interesting, but not well developed. The storyline skips around and some scenes, like how Alessa gets to Hellebore, are merely glossed over. There's a lot of gore and blood, which is always nice, but I found it overshadowed by the lack of clear explanation. Overall, highly unimpressed.

In addition, if you're a standard reader with a relatively normal IQ, don't read this book without a dictionary. The author uses several "big words" that can't be deciphered with context clues. This was a huge turn off.


Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A dark academia story with a plethora of body horror and gore that will leave you wanting more!

A school dedicated to Antichrists, world eaters and monsters is what awaits you at the Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted. A chance at redemption and a normal life is what is guaranteed after graduation, if you can make it till then. Hellebore’s students are abducted and forcibly enrolled into the program and on Alessa’s graduation day, the faculty goes on a murderous rampage devouring her class and forcing a select few into the library of Hellebore. A fight for survival is triggered as the students learn more about Hellebore’s dark secrets. The school will eat you alive.

This was such a fun novel to read. I got so many vibes from this book that reminded me of “If We Were Villians” and Nevermore Academy from the show Wednesday.

The students introduced through the narrators POV, are all supernatural in their own way and we find out what they are throughout the novel. Our main character Alessa Li, narrates the story in two different timelines: the “before” and the days after graduation. Alessa’s narration and recount tends to make her an unreliable character. She is desperate for answers, and struggles with her past and her nature of being a murderer. Hellebore seems to bring out the darkest in all characters and some grapple with it more than others.

Khaw doesn’t skip out on any body horror or gorey details from the students deaths or abilities. Khaw’s writing is both beautiful, terrifying, and poetic. I’ve read a few of her novels and this one is by far my favorite.

Khaw’s marriage of dark academia and horror brought Hellebore to life. I loved the concept of the school being “alive” and bringing Gods, Monsters and all other supernatural creatures together to survive the carnage of school and life. These children with powerful gifts still going through and dealing with teenage problems gives them such a relatable and human qualities. They also deal with concepts of grief, love, loss and question their own place in the world.

Khaw immerses the reader into a world of mystery, death, and unknown power as we follow its characters through Hellebore and hope to survive the carnage that follows.

The Library of Hellebore drew me in with the promise of dark academia. This story definitely delivers on that aspect with an emphasis on dark. I thought the overall plot idea was interesting, and I enjoyed the different timelines utilized to tell the story. However, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters making ti difficult to stay invested in the story. I thought the audiobook narration by Naudus was good. Naudus captured the messed up vibes of the academy and the stressful position the students were placed in. Overall, I thought the story was fine — not great but not bad either.

The Library at Hellebore is an alternating timeline horror about a girl named Alessa who is kidnapped and brought to the Technical Institute for the Gifted, by the name of Hellebore. This read is gory and mysterious from the jump, so perfect for anyone looking to sink their teeth into something nasty.

For me personally, this did not entice me the way that it needed to in order to ever really become engaged or interested in reading any more. There was TOO much that was unknown, that flipping back and forth between timelines with a stacked cast of characters in a brand new world just left me confused and uninterested. 15% in and I didn't feel I had any better grasp as to who these characters were or why I should care about them. The writing even felt a bit dry. Their relationships to EACH OTHER were becoming a bit more clear, but there was really nothing enjoyable or compelling about the read to drive me forward. That is a bit too far in for me to not care at all and to also feel like I’m having to work for it, not sure if there will be any payoff.

I absolutely love the read Ninth House, so I guess was hoping for something similarly dark and mesmerizing here, but it wasn’t at all giving atmospheric spooky vibes… so ultimately was just not or me. DNFed at 15%. However, I am sure those more into straight gore, or specifically cannibalism, will be more into this. Thank you for the copy to review!

I really wanted to love The Library at Hellebore (dark academia is usually right up my alley), but this one completely missed the mark for me. The writing felt like a disorienting fever dream, overly poetic to the point of confusion (was it secretly written in iambic pentameter?). I had no grasp on the school, the magic system, or even what was happening most of the time. Instead of being immersed in a haunting academic world, I found myself bored and frustrated. Sadly, this just wasn’t it.

Wow, wow, wow. I was sort of hoping for an ending like that so I was excited when it happened. It took me a while to really get into the story because things were so choppy at first, but as the story progressed, questions started to get answered and things made more sense.

Overall, this story was dark as hell. You don't really know the characters so you're looking through their lenses without any emotional attachment. Kind of made it hard to be biased since they were all on the same level to me (maybe Adam a bit worse though).

This isn't usually the type of story I normally read but I appreciated Khaw's writing and would like to read more of their work.

Thanks so much to TOR for the ARC! Solid 3.5 read for me.

Cassandra Khaw writes the most disturbing disgusting horror stories that are also somehow still so beautiful and The Library at Hellebore was no different. The story was a little convoluted at the beginning but once everything started to fall into place I was hooked. The ending was a little confusing but I still enjoyed the storyline overall. Her descriptions of the gore and violence were so well done and terrifying. Overall I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be adding her next book to my TBR.

The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Ambitiously Gifted is the premier college for magic users; not just any magic users, but ones that have the potential to create apocalypses with their power. Some enroll voluntarily, but others, like main character Alessa, are forced to attend. The coursework is grueling, the teachers monstrous, but the light at the end of the tunnel is the promise of graduation. However, graduation day arrives with a catch; instead of a ceremony, the faculty go on a murderous spree, devouring the graduating class. Alessa and a group of her peers manage to escape the massacre and barricade themselves in the library, where they must figure out how to escape their school if they hope to survive.

Khaw throws us in the narrative page one, having us confront the deadly consequences of attending the academy. The narrative does a great job moving backwards and forwards in time giving the readers character insight and keeping the tension high from beginning to end. The stakes are real and the punches are not pulled. The body horror is next-level here, and Hellebore is equal parts fascinating and nightmarish. Vivid and visceral in its prose, Khaw adds a terrifying spin on the magical school trope.

I love what a wordsmith Khaw is. She is an auto-read for me.

This was absolutely lovely and haunting, but I wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to say.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook and Tor Nightfire or the eARC.

The Library at Hellebore follows Alessa Li, a student nearing graduation at The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted — the premier academy for the dangerously powerful: the Anti-Christs and the Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers.

Khaw’s writing is nightmarish and dream-like, filled with cosmic horror and a blend of dark academia and fantasy elements. I sometimes struggled with the time hops on audio. But after switching to the eARC, I was able to follow along more easily. Alessa’s voice and personality really shined through for me, and Natalie Naudus nails her performance.

What to expect:
-dual timelines
-viscera and gore
-strong narrative voice
-monsters and eldritch creatures
-institutional dread

I recommend this for fans of Khaw’s previous work as well as readers who enjoy body horror, monsters, and psychological dread.

My rating: 4.25⭐️

The Library at Hellebore was not what I was expecting based on the cover and the nature of the deluge books with the word "library" in the title that have come out in the last few years. This was a straight-up comedic horror novel.

This may be one of the least character-driven books I've ever read. You don't get to know any of them well, including the MC, and they're all treated as marginally likeable pieces on a game board. There is lots of gore in the form of bodily destruction of all types, so trigger warning there. The story constantly moves backwards and forwards, and I did have a difficult time following it and keeping track of characters. This book wasn't lacking in absurdity!

While this book was not my cup of tea, I think it was fairly well written and those that enjoy this genre will love it.

DNF @ 50% after trying my hardest to make myself finish.

Off the bat, I was not a fan of the journal style; it felt like a poorly done Lemony Snicket. There were constant comments from the FMC to the reader and then often “but I’m getting ahead of myself/but we’ll get to that later” and this to me is… obnoxious. The further into the story you go, the more mixed it becomes; like we lose the journal style of it all, but then all of a sudden the FMC breaks the fourth wall again.

I almost never understood what was being described to me and while it sounded overall gory, the shock factor was lost because I was just… confused. The prose is convoluted, the plot is convoluted, everything is convoluted.

Yes, I was exploring a new genre but the questions were never ending. Are these ‘beings’ based on actual stories/legends/etc? Are we referencing something I should know, or is the author making stuff up? This is not “beginner-friendly” for the genre, that’s for sure.

Ultimately, I tried to read this for weeks, actual weeks, and I can’t force myself any longer. The slump this has put me in is severe.

Part dark academia part cosmic horror. This novel takes you on a visceral body or ride through a school that eats it students.

Book Stats:
📖: 288 pages
Genre: Dark Academia/Occult Fiction
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Format: Tandem: ARC Ebook/ALC
Series: standalone

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 8 hours and 34 minutes
🎤: Natalie Naudus
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Singular POV
Thoughts on Audio:
Natalie Naudus is one of my absolute favorite audiobook narrators. This book was no exception. The voices used to differentiate between the characters were amazing. I feel like they gave a lot of emotion and realism to the characters. The dictation was consistent throughout the book and I never had to adjust my speed.

Themes:
💫: Working together
💫: Survival in the face of poor odds

Representation:
🧟‍♂️: Korean main character

Tropes:
💗: Morally grey characters
💗: Fight to the death competition

🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
Alessa is kidnapped and unfortunately enrolled at hellebore school. A school for the worst of the worst with the promise of a normal life after graduation. But on the day of graduation, the school turns against them and the students must work together to survive.

General Thoughts:
This book is absolutely a wild ride. Told in a series of present day narration and previous day flashbacks, you circle the graduation day of these morally gray students out for their own survival.

The characters are super interesting. A full cast of Ragnaroks, anti Christs and generally deplorable beings. The body horror is visceral and unapologetic. And the story in general is just really well done and compelling.

The writing style is super on par for Khaw. Very lyrical and flowery with vivid imagery. If you are a fan of their writing style currently then you won't be disappointed. It's pretty standard for this author.

The back-and-forth between the two different timelines was a little hard to keep straight in some instances. With the book being of a shorter volume and with very fast paced action It did start getting a little jumbled here and there. But overall, I was able to keep a decent enough grasp to understand what was happening.

Alessa was a great main character. She's very cynical and sarcastic. And I loved that!

Disclaimer: I read this book as a eARC via NetGalley and Tor Nightfire. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars

The nitty-gritty: The dark academia trope is turned on its head in Cassandra Khaw's latest, a bloody feast with Gothic imagery, lush prose and ravenous characters.

Dark academia is having a field day right now, and The Library at Hellebore fits perfectly in that subgenre. However, this isn’t your typical “dark academia” story at all. Cassandra Khaw takes familiar tropes and themes and runs them through the blender from hell, and the result is a bizarre, disgusting and sometimes confusing survival tale. Imagine a mash-up of A Deadly Education, X-Men, and a twisted version of The Breakfast Club (but not really any of those) and you’ll begin to understand the nature of this book, a lush, visceral piece of horror fiction that isn’t for horror newbies. However, if you’re a fan of the author’s gorgeous writing and you appreciate well done body horror, this is going to be a must read.

The story takes place at the Hellebore Technical Institute, a school (of sorts) for monstrous individuals—antichrists, destructive gods, etc—who need to be contained and rehabilitated before being sent back into the world. Most of the “students” are in their late teens or twenties, and most were brought to Hellebore against their will. Alessa Li is a young woman who was kidnapped by the school after she killed her sexually abusive stepfather in a…rather dramatic way. Fast forward to graduation day, after a year of dubious “classes” and getting to know her fellow students, the graduates are ready to get the hell out. 

But instead of the release from the school they were hoping for, graduation day turns into a bloodbath, as the faculty begin attacking and eating the students. Eight students, including Alessa, barricade themselves in the library in order to survive. But they forgot about the Librarian, another ravenous monster who is lurking in the shadows. Even worse, the surviving students begin to turn on each other, and the question becomes: will anyone live though graduation day?

The Library at Hellebore is soaked in blood and viscera and full of uber creative deaths and very dangerous characters, so obviously it’s not for the faint of heart. Each student has unique skills and abilities to disassemble bodies (and yes, I do mean disassemble!), so it’s one of those “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” type of deals. For example, Alessa can literally unzip or unspool a human body from the inside out, while another student named Adam can burst into flame at will and burn whatever is near him. A girl named Minji has (literally) killer hair that can infiltrate your body and well, I don’t have to finish that sentence, do I? You get the idea. And poor Sullivan has a cicada god living inside him, which manifests as cicadas pouring out of his body. As horrific as these abilities are, there’s an air of despair and sadness hanging over the story, since the students are simply victims of their birthright—they didn’t ask for any of this.

The story is told from Alessa’s point of view in two different timelines, before graduation day and the three days after when the eight students are stuck in the library. I am a big fan of dual timelines, and Khaw does a great job of building the tension with this device, although at first it was a bit confusing until you get into the rhythm. In the “Before” chapters we get to know the characters, their relationships to each other, a little about the classes and teachers at Hellebore, and the various alliances that are formed as the students begin to realize Hellebore isn’t anywhere near normal. Alessa is obsessed with escaping from her prison, and that’s exactly what the school is: a prison.

Khaw’s prose is stunning, and I saw another reviewer call their writing “god-tier,” which is the best description ever. I mean, if you’re going to write a story about a room full of people killing each other in horrific ways, at least make sure that it's beautifully and evocatively written. The story takes on a Gothic feel at times, especially when the author is describing the physical appearance of the school and grounds. Inside Hellebore, corridors and rooms move around at will, confusing students and often making them late to class. In one memorable scene, a professor takes her class into the nearby woods for a lesson on one of Hellebore’s artistic motifs, the fig wasp. If you love figs and you aren’t aware of how they grow, be aware that Khaw’s story might put you off them forever.

The story is rather light on plot and world-building, however. We’re told that magic is real and those who display magical abilities are immediately taken to schools like Hellebore. But other than that, we’re only shown what’s happening within the walls of Hellebore—the outside world might as well not exist. I wondered why the faculty is so monstrous and what the source of their hunger is, but I supposed Khaw is leaving it up to the reader to come to their own conclusions.

Instead, the story focuses on the characters. Alessa eventually develops relationships (I hesitate to use the word “friendships”) with the other students, especially the ones trapped in the library, and I loved the tenuous, ever-changing nature of these interactions. Emotions run high, and there’s always the chance that someone will turn on you and kill you in some horrible way.

Bottom line, I loved The Library at Hellebore. File this one under WTF.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.