Immortal Consequences by I. V. Marie is book one in The Souls of Blackwood Academy.
This book did not disappoint!
Y’all! So intriguing!
The mystery, dark academia, and magic was freaking phenomenal!
It was basically everything I want in a YA fantasy book!
Did it keep me glued to the pages? Did it keep me up at night until I finished it? Am I dying for the continuation of the story? Yes, to all of the above!
I was swept into the story from the very first page. I immediately loved the magic, the world-building, and the characters.
A thrilling dark academia fantasy read that was utterly amazing.

Where do I even begin with this book, the story was so well written and the characters so well developed. From the first chapter it had me hooked and the chapters were short and we got to see the thoughts of all six of the main characters. I had some twists figured out but others just came out of nowhere, it was an easy to read and very descriptive so I could easily picture and follow what was happening. Honestly, the author did such a good job cannot wait for book two in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Childen’s/Delacorte, and Ms Marie for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I’m definitely not the first to pick up on this, but there are some strong Atlas Six vibes here, but make it YA. Wren and August, rivals, tons of repressed longing and tension, sort of friends but also sort of enemies; Emilio and Olivier, two friends whom everyone else assumes are lovers but are too afraid of losing each other to take that last step, and Irene and Masika, two damaged girls who don’t know how to be friends trying to be best friends. There’s some other teens too but it’s clear that THESE are The Six. All the teens at Blackwood Academy are dead; they reap souls and learn how to navigate the Ether with Magic. Each year the best of the students is selected to choose between Ascension - full access to their Magic, no chance of forgetting their humanity, and a solidified position at Blackwood - or crossing over into the unknown. This year, though, things are different: 12 students will be competing for this chance. Winner gets the choice and losers get… eliminated. The entire afterlife might be at stake though as a rebel group, the Demien, are looking for a way to bring down Blackwood for good.

The author pulled off the 6 POVs pretty well. I had my favorite amongst the characters and amongst the pairups too, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. I definitely felt the tension between the characters - of various types!- was well handled. I particularly liked the trials when the characters had to confront painful elements of themselves and their pasts. The Magic and the world building was a little confusing at first but I caught on by the time things picked up. This is a solid upper YA that adults could easily get caught up in too. I’m very interested to see where the story goes from here (rooting for you, Wren and August!!!! Sssssshhhhhhhh 🤫) so I’m looking forward to book 2.

Dark. Twisted. Addictive. 💀🖤
I just finished Immortal Consequences by IV Marie, and WOW—this book had me hooked from page one.

If you love morally gray characters, forbidden romance, and high-stakes supernatural drama, this one's for you. The world-building is rich, the pacing relentless, and the tension between the leads? 🔥🔥🔥
Let’s just say… “enemies” has never felt so intimate. 👀

IV Marie writes with a sharp, lyrical style that’s equal parts poetic and savage—perfect for fans of dark fantasy who aren’t afraid to dive deep into obsession, revenge, and redemption.

What a unique concept! I loved this book. Dark academia mixed with the afterlife. Sprinkle in trials, a dark secret society, romance and friendship. It was wonderful. I loved the multiple points of view of this book. Each character had such a distinct personality that it was so easy to differentiate them all. Oh and you said you wanted more yearning right? Then you really need to meet August. Trust me on that one.

Once the trials started, and the secrets began to unfold, I could not stop reading. I loved the twists and turns throughout, and I can't wait to learn more from this world. I definitely recommend Immortal Consequences!

Wow wow what a completely unique and captivating world! I was completely immersed from start to finish and didn’t want it to end, I desperately need the next one immediately. Dark academia mixed with a little enemies-to-lovers and a whole lot more. All told through six POVs that is beautifully done. You'd think it'd get messy but it works out so well and I love all the characters! Despite the complexity of the magic system, the plot remains engaging and easy to follow. Holy smokes, bring on book two!

･ﾟ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ·˚˖‧
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒔, 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪!

❝ Grief isn’t the villain. It just wants to help you remember that despite losing someone, despite the sadness and heartache and pain . . . there was also once love. ❞

╰𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎╮

✦ Name: Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie
✦ Pub Date: 29 Jul 2025
✦ Rating: 4,5/5
✦ Genre: YA fantasy dark academia
✦ POV: 6 Povs
✦ Spice: 0,5/5
✦ Age: 14+
✦ CW: De*th, Bl*od, Gr*ef
✦Representation: LGBT+ characters

࣪ ִֶָ 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘 ·˚˖

In this place beyond life but not yet at the edge of death, six young souls find themselves at an academy where eternity is at stake. Each of them has been given a second chance, but the price will be high.

·˚˖ 𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 ˖˚·

Honestly, I just want to say that I really loved it! Can I have more, please? I devoured this book, it read so easily, it was written in such an engaging way, and it had that flavor of a well-written story, wow...

While I was stuck on one theory, I completely forgot the obvious one, so when it hit me, I teared up in shock, and then I straight-up cried at another twist. But after that, it got easier to breathe. Why would you do this to me 😭

·˚˖ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 ˖˚·

I got attached to every single character. The only thing that annoyed me was how they all thought they were unworthy or didn’t matter, like, come on, you all think the same way, but you all deserve love and kindness! Someone wrap up August and Olivier, please 🤭

I really liked that we got chapters from six different characters, and I could see each of their perspectives! And what’s more, I actually enjoyed reading all of them, which doesn’t happen often.

࣪ ִֶָ ⊹ 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 ·˚˖

↠ Magical academy (but in the afterlife)
↠ Dangerous trials
↠ Academic rivals to lovers
↠ Do they want to kiss or kill each other?
↠ Dark academia vibes
↠ Pining! Longing! Yearning!

A magic school in purgatory holds a contest for a chance to Ascend or Pass Over. Six students find themselves in the middle of a competition for their future, but playing the game will change everything they know about the afterlife.
This multi-POV gauntlet will take you deep into the between of life and death. These friends, frenemies, and passing acquaintances are faced with trials that challenge more than their magical abilities. Will what they learn about themselves help them rise above or pull them into the depths of the Ether?

This one is lots of fun for the multi-POV lovers. It has Atlas Six feels and romantasy elements while being more accessible for younger audiences. With the themes of death and pain along with angst and steam (not spice) I would gladly give this to upper mid/upper teen readers. I really love the unique setting and worldbuilding. It feels familiar with teens in a magic school but the purpose and backdrop make it unique. The six characters all have their own reasons for wanting to win, and their internal struggles and personal growth shine alongside the fast-paced challenges. Lots of twists and surprised around every corner have you guessing till the end.
Sometimes the writing fell flat, I thought the beginning was really jumpy, but smoothed out as soon as the action started in Part Two. There are a lot of common literary phrases that make it feel a little blah, contrasted with word choices that give the feeling like it’s trying really hard to be fancy but missing the mark. Overall, the characters and the plot have me hooked and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

What a fun and unique story! I had a lot of fun with this book! The magic system was pretty interesting and unique. I’m hoping we get to learn a little more about it in future books. I liked how the setting took place in the afterworld, I haven’t read many books in this type of setting before so that made it really fun for me.

I thought the plot was captivating, there were a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t catch on immediately so it was fun trying to guess where the story line was going. I will say with how many points of views we get throughout the book, it was hard to follow certain characters and there were some characters that I favored over a few others so having the point of view change almost every chapter was hard to get used to. I do understand why the author chose to write this way and it did add to the uniqueness of the overall storyline.

Overall I enjoyed the book and the plot twist at the end and am excited to see what comes next!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You’ll enjoy this if you like:
•Sci-Fi/Fantasy
•Afterworld Setting
•School Setting
•Unique Magic System
•Multiple POVs

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading dark academia, dark/deathly trials, magical systems, LGBTQ rep, slow burn romance, great character development, multiple POVs (6 exactly) and it’s fast paced.

What if I told you there was an after-life school, where you would be taught to shepherd lost souls. Oh, and nothing is really exciting at the school for many many years, other than the yearly Decennial trials. The winner will earn the right to ascend and join the magical elite, or they can choose to pass into the afterlife. However, there is one thing you should know: after years of being a reaper you start to lose a piece of yourself, and you start to forget the only way to overcome this is to win the Decennial trials or to embrace the darker side.

This book was fun, and even with multiple POVs, I didn’t feel as though I was lost and that is all due to the way that the author handled all of the characters differently and also that they were all interwoven together. I loved that each character had their own distinct voice and each of them developed throughout the book at their own pace. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and I don’t know if I have any favorites because each of them was so well written that I found myself able to connect with all of them in different ways. I loved the plot and the eerie setting vibes that I was getting from the school and the trails, oh and I can’t forget even the teachers (well some of them are just creepy lol). I loved the whole not knowing who the villain is and who the good guys were because each character is written in depth, and each of them have their reasons or another. I do have to say that I didn’t see that ending at all and the character who was hiding something. Oh, and that cliffhanger, that was something else and I need the next book soon so I can put pieces together.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🫑

Let me set the scene - I was doom scrolling through Netgalley as one does.. and here comes in, a upper YA, dark academia fantasy - set in the afterlife/purgatory with a super pretty book cover. It was an immediate request for me, and to my surprise I got it!

So .. Welcome to Blackwood Academy! It's a legendary school located.. well you guessed it -- in the afterlife, where students are fated to spend the rest of eternity shepherding lost souls. Once you enter the academy's gates there isn't a way out - except for Decennial. (bum bum bum)
What's the Decennial, you ask?

Well, it's a cut-throat I mean .. once-in a life time, magical competition.. I mean celebration, with only one survivor.. I mean victor. The victor who survives.. I mean pass the trials gets a choice to either join Blackwood's magical elite or cross over to the mysterious Other Side.

This year, six of Blackwood's top students have been chosen to face the Decennial trials. But how what happens when they aren't really the only one's playing the game..

Listen I ate this up, dark academia lives in the sweetest parts of my heart and this delivered. We have six, yes SIX POV's and while this may actually be the most POVs I've read in a book thus far, I actually loved it. Each character continued to build up on the story, or their past and while I didn't find myself getting confused, I did find myself being like WHERE IS 'X's chapter every now and then. Though some more background on the characters would be nice, this is a series and I imagine we shall learn more as we go (at least I hope so). These characters are complicating, and all have their secrets, fears and dark pasts and don't judge because, you think you may hate someone, until you don't. You think someone's a sweetheart until well, they aren't.. The tension, the pining, THE BANTER was HIGH and if I'm not a sucker for some good tension & banter than I don't know what I am.

Did I mention it's release day! Go enjoy this dark academia, dark trials, magic, LGBTQ+ rep, slow burn, with loads of tension, banter, rivals oh.. and there's a ball.

-- Quotes --

"You may be a top contender," Wren said with a tinge of bitterness, "but so am I."
He shrugged. "I suppose you're right. But... I reap souls faster than you. Which, despite your annoying capacity to consistently get high marks, actually means something in the grand scheme of things."
"Well. I'm sure I'm not the first girl to tell you this, but faster isn't always better."

--

Emilio chuckled. "How much time do you have?"
"For you?" Olivier signed. "An eternity."

--

"Find me. Wherever you are, wherever we end up, don't stop looking for me."

--

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review. #ImmortalConsequences #NetGalley

Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC.
This story was a wild ride with all the POVs. Nothing says dark like a school for the dead stuck in purgatory. The beginning of Immortal Consequences starts slowly as you get to know all the characters, but once you move into the games and trials portion of this story, it picks up. The story weaves back and forth between their magical lessons and the Decennial trials for a sole (soul) victor. There are blossoming friendships and relationships, but I'm so team August and Wren because August is just so intense.

I thought the choice to have six different narrators for each character was going to be too much, but in the end, it was great! Finding narrators who can bring life to so many characters is hard, but each of them really did a fantastic job. Each chapter is a single character's POV, but within each chapter, you have conversations with the others, and this is where you need to have narrators who shine.

If you're a fan of:
Enemies to Lovers
Secret Society
Dark Academia
Games and Trials
Plot Twists
You'll love this story.

• multi POV
• dark academia
• set in the afterlife/purgatory
• deadly trials
• rivals to lovers
• found family

I was captivated from the very first page. This book pulled me in, in a way that one hasn’t in so long. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review 🖤

I love books with multiple POVS. Reading this story from 6 characters POV was really fun. I loved getting to know each student and knowing their secrets when the others didn’t! For a debut novel the author did an excellent job of starting to build the world within Purgatory. I enjoyed getting to know my way around Blackwood Academy and trying to figure out the secrets of the Ether. The dark academia vibes were just what I was needing. I have been getting more into fantasy and romantasy books this year and this book just continued my new love for these genres! I love when a book can stir up multiple emotions, create nostalgia and allow readers to dive into something completely new to love. I found myself totally caught up reading this book especially during each of the trials. The pacing of the writing was perfect for me and I loved that there were twists that I didn’t see coming! The ending left me happy, devastated and needing book two! I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next with these students and this magical world within the afterlife.

This book would be great for teens, YA and adults who are looking to immerse themselves in a dark and mysterious new world!

Magical Academy (in the afterlife)
Dangerous Trials
Six POVs
Lies & Betrayal
Academic Rivals to Lovers
Kiss of Kill each other?
Dark Academia Vibes
Pining, longing, yearning

I like the unique take we get with the world. A school for those no longer living. We quickly find out that they are essentially like Soul Reapers which gave me a Bleach vibe and that was actually pretty neat thing to compare to. Our characters tend to come in pairs such as Wren and August, Olivier and Emilio. Irene and Masika. Our group are all wanting to be the one who can be chosen at the Decennial. This gives them the choice to be either Ascended and stay at Blackwood forever or they can let their soul rest and for eternity on the other side. Our characters group by group get introduced and meet up together to witness something none of them should have. Follow the characters through the deadly trials they must all partake in but not everyone can win....

I found out about on Amazon when I pre-ordered it Apr 16. I was actually SO EXCITED to get this as an eARC through NetGalley! I love that we get a world set in Purgatory, deadly trials and we get Multi-POV. I don't read much in the YA category anymore, but this was a really good read and a perfect book for in between some of my other reads.

I've seen this recommended for those that enjoy Atlas Six and that makes me even more excited to go and read that book now as it sits on my bookshelf. If you're looking for a YA book that has a unique world setting of being like a soul reaper, deadly trials and being set in purgatory this is a book I'd recommend. This has yearning and tension, great character interactions and it's also got a gorgeous deluxe edition!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Delacorte Press for the gifted eARC of this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book. I don’t even have words for what I went through while I read it. I was so pleasantly surprised by how individual and unique each of the characters were and the romances were perfect. My stress level was through the roof for most of the book since there are so many untrustworthy characters but it made the payoff at the end so worth it. I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and author I.V. Marie for the opportunity to read an ARC of Immortal Consequences in exchange for an honest review.

A twisty, dark academia fantasy set in the shadows of the afterlife? Yes, please.
Immortal Consequences had me intrigued from the very first page with its haunting premise and the eerie, otherworldly setting of Blackwood Academy. A school in purgatory where only one student can graduate and escape which is through a brutal magical competition called the Decennial.

I absolutely loved the world I.V. Marie created here. It’s rich, atmospheric, and wholly original. The concept of a magical boarding school nestled between life and death is not only captivating but also refreshingly unique in the YA fantasy space. The stakes feel real and dire, which only heightens the tension throughout the novel.

The characters are layered and distinct. Six students, each with their own motivations, secrets, and complicated ties to one another. The shifting POVs give readers a chance to dive deep into each of their perspectives, and while this may be a bit much for some readers, I found it added depth and emotional weight to the story.

That said, I did find the pacing a bit slow in the beginning. The buildup takes its time, and it took me a while to feel fully immersed in the plot. But once it picks up, it’s impossible to look away. The tension, the stakes, the rivalries, the slow-burning connections, it all comes together beautifully!

Overall, Immortal Consequences is a dark, enchanting, and smartly crafted fantasy that surprised me in all the best ways. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series!
I give the book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie is a story about reapers in the afterlife. It follows the lives of six reapers at Blackwood Academy when they’re getting ready for the Decennial competition to become an Ascended. But this year’s competition is different. Will they have what it takes to survive?

I really enjoyed this book. It took me a bit to get into the story as it started in the action, and it took me a bit to grasp the background of the world and still left me with a few questions. However, once I got to know the characters a bit more, I was sucked into the story and didn’t want to put it down. I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Let me preface this review by saying that I’m going to need someone in the entertainment industry to adapt this book into a television series as soon as possible. I want to see this story come to life on the screen more than anything else I’ve read this year. As a former film student and industry professional, I can already visualize this adaptation in my head.

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie is a dark academia novel that takes place at Blackwood Academy, a school that exists between life and death in purgatory. Every ten years, prestigious students are chosen to participate in a competition that grants the winner an opportunity to permanently ascend into the school’s leadership and retain his or her soul for eternity. When a new student arrives at Blackwell with mysterious shadow magic, there is a disruption to the balance of the afterlife and the stakes of the contest increase. The contestants must figure out how to restore order in the Ether and save their own souls at the same time.

I.V. Marie seamlessly combines the atmosphere of dark academia and the paranormal in this book. The concept of Blackwell Academy and the world-building of the Ether in her story are thorough and intriguing. So much so, that I really think readers can buy into this portrayal of the life after death that she has created. Marie makes everything regarding the afterlife make sense, which is not easy to do with a topic that is entirely based on the unknown.

Aside from the setting, the characters in Immortal Consequences are very well-developed. For a multiple-POV story, I am so impressed with how much depth we get from the entire cast. All of the main characters have extensive backstories, dynamic relationships in the present, and unique personalities. They are strong as stand-a-lone aspects of the story, but also integrate incredibly well with each other in the plot. Having gone to boarding school myself, Marie perfectly captures the camaraderie and rivalry that occurs amongst students living together in an elite and ambitious environment.

Both the romantic and platonic relationships in this book are so endearing. Many types of relationships are well represented in the story. There is soul connection, LGBTQIA+ relationships, familial bonds between siblings, etc… I think readers will find themselves equally invested in all of the characters’ relationship storylines because they are so emotional and moving.

Immortal Consequences does not shy away from important, yet sensitive themes. It addresses them in a gentle and honest way. It explores the idea of death and the afterlife, traversing and fear of the unknown, acceptance of one’s circumstances, and grieving former lives. There is a found-family aspect to the story, and the book also addresses trauma, survival instincts, and empathy.

I have to give this book five stars and more if I could. The vibe was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children mixed with a little bit of The Hunger Games. I highly recommend adding this to your fall TBR, especially if you like books with high stakes, emotional depth, and magical settings. I expect this to be one of the best dark academia novels of 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and I.V. Marie for allowing me to read this copy in advance.

I.V. Marie’s debut novel was amazing! I couldn’t put it down! It was my last 5 ⭐️ read and I promise it will be your next one! Think the ultimate dark academia in the afterlife where students compete in dangerous competition to get out of an eternity of reaping souls. Complete with *chef’s kiss* angsty rivals to lovers, lies and betrayal, twists and turns that will shock you and an unbelievable ending that will leave you wanting more!

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:

💜 Dark academia
🖤 Rivals to lovers
💜 Multi-POV
🖤 Dangerous trials