Dnf‘ed at 25% I really wanted to like this book. From the comp titles and the blurb it sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book was just so incredibly dry. I felt disconnected from all the characters, and I just couldn’t keep going once I reached the university part. I know lessons can be dry and boring, but that’s not what I want from the worldbuilding in my Fantasy book.

I read the arc of The Ellyrian Code by B.F. Peterson. This is an interesting dark academia fantasy. we are following primarily four first year students at Eshtem University. The students are initiates and are training to join the Order of the Edrei and become guardians of magic and dragons, keepers of peace, and servants of justice. There is some borrowing in the world building as there are Farseers and the 'elves have left middle earth' stories here. The writing is good and I like the characters, but the magic system needs more explanation and the world building, while not info dumping - a definite plus, but we could have used more detail. There are dragons - just a little bit, as we are focused on the first year students/initiates and the dragons are for graduates. This is the first book in a series, so I am definitely interested in reading what comes next. I need to thank Net Galley and Angry Robot for my advance Reader Copy. This book comes out June 24, 2025.

This was fun and I had a great time with it. Really enjoyed it while reading but later felt a lot of inconsistencies
3.5 stars?

Dive into this thrilling fantasy novel that takes the classic idea of elite magical training at a fancy school and gives it a fresh twist. With its complex characters and a hint of political intrigue, it’s a must-read for fans of the genre. Meet Jadon, Christina, Jenne, and Diar, four friends entangled in a web of loyalty, love, and mystery. Each of their stories adds a unique take to the plot.

World building particularly Eshtem University is amazing. You can’t help but be drawn to the idea of dragon-riding and spellcraft, but there are also grueling trials, intense competition, and unsettling hints of the Order’s darker secrets. B.F Peterson keeps you on the edge of your seat, revealing the characters’ assumptions and allegiances as the story unfolds.

If anything, the middle chapters feel a bit slow. The plot sometimes drags with perspectives that can be highlighted less. The emotional stakes are still high, and the ending is great. It leaves you wanting more, which is a good sign for a sequel!

This is more than just another magic school story—it’s a deep, character-driven fantasy that explores the real meaning of justice in a system that’s stacked against you.

4.5 ⭐️

Right from the first chapter, the Ellyrian Code gave me Fourth Wing vibes, from the dragons (who are mostly hinted at and remain a mystery)(the reasoning I will touch on in a moment), to the rigid academy setting, class divides, and an intriguing touch of magic through “projectors”, “intuiters”, etc. Even the chapters have tiny lore dumps at the beginning of the chapters that are important to the story. But that’s where the comparison to Fourth Wing stops. The Ellyrian Code is Fourth Wing’s more serious, more mysterious cousin.

The writing is super sharp and mature, and felt like a very real and immersive fantasy world. Eshtem is a school, but it never really felt safe or lighthearted. There was always a sense of something happening just off page. The author did a great job of keeping me locked into the unease of the school, balancing political undercurrents and the class divisions, and with a sense of something much darker happening just beyond the school walls.

The story is told through 4 rotating POVs, and while their story arcs remain somewhat separate at first, I genuinely enjoyed each main characters story development, even though I still have many questions. Their individual struggles were very distinct, yet you can tell that they are all on a collision course for something much bigger. The occasional overlap of their stories built a really fantastic slow burn anticipation for when they finally do begin to come together.

This book didn’t shy away from exploring cruelty. The bullying in particular made me a little uncomfortable in some spots, though it did serve a very clear purpose in how well it showed just how deep the class divide runs in this world. There was very little “tell” and a lot of “show” in how the social hierarchy played out, and it added an interesting layer of tension to every interaction in the book.

The pacing of this book sits somewhere between slow and medium, and there were moments I struggled to stay invested. The plot took a back seat multiple times to the world building and the establishment of the schools systems. Still… I really enjoyed how IMMERSIVE the story was. Even with multiple POVs, the story was really cleverly told from the students perspective. You the reader are discovering things right along with the stufents… never ahead, and never quite sure what the Master Dreis (the teachers) were truly up to. This is the main reason why I don’t believe we get to see many dragons in this book.. or magic, for that matter. No first years have developed their magic, and they don’t have access to the dragons yet, so why would we the reader see them? I think this all really added to the mystery and appeal!

There’s no romance (yet 👀)… That’s clearly being saved for future books. Instead, this book lays some massive groundwork by way of political intrigue, strict laws and expectations, and young characters navigating their new places in the world.

If you’re looking for a book that contains fast action, and swoon-level dynamics, this book may test your patience. But if you like the element of tension that sits just beneath the surface, complex and layered worldbuilding, and that feeling that the REAL story is just getting started, you’ll want to get into this book and stick around.

I’m already planning a re-read of this one, and dying for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC and opportunity to share my review. This was one of my favorite reads of the year.

I really wanted to love this book, and the blurb sounded like something I would loved to have read.
I really struggled with the pacing and found it quite slow. It was also really hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level as it shifted to different POV’s so much. The book follows the POV of four different characters, mentioning their group of friends as well as other students so it can get confusing.
However, a positive was that I really did like the way that B.F. Peterson writes, and I would definitely give any future books a try.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this return of an honest review.

Full disclosure I'm not 100% done with this book but oh my gosh I'm devouring it as fast as I can! But since release day was yesterday I wanted to just say I can already tell this book is going to be a five star for me. I love the complexity and layers of the world and the way the characters stories intertwine. I can't wait to come back and update this when I'm done.

The blurb about this book sounded right up my alley. I love books focused on academia, plus dragons! What's not to love?! Unfortunately, the start was just too slow for me and I found myself having a hard time getting into it. I may pick it back up later, but for now, this book was a DNF.

This was obviously a plot with a lot of thought behind it. I feel like there is a strong set up for events to happen, and some of it is very intriguing. It didn't really expand upon these events in a way that made them feel like they were going to be explored further, though. It felt like we were introduced to a conflict and then abruptly dropped in favor of something else.

There are multiple character POVs, and each shares a unique perspective that helps to flesh out the university setting. I enjoyed that there was a wide berth between each character so that the reader could get a feel for what the university was like at each level. The characters seemed to have conflicting motivations and actions, with one example being a highborn character who has dreamed of going to this university abandoning it to solve a mystery that they just came across a week before. The characters lacked depth and weren't relatable. It was hard to tell if they were in their 20s or teenagers, as they seemed to swivel back and forth in maturity. Sometimes it felt like there were two versions of each character.

The university also felt very inconsistent. Outside ranks were supposed to be left behind upon entering, but the higher-born initiates were treated better than their lower-born counterparts, which was a little frustrating with it's inconsistency. I also would have loved to see more dragons. Perhaps they will come later on in the series, but for now, it felt like a missed opportunity. Also, I was confused on the magic abilities. People joined to learn magic, but only a few actually learned?

Overall, I think the premise of this book is solid, but it could have done with more clarification. I would have loved a bit more world-building and explanation to the castes and magic systems. I would have loved to see more dragons and to have had more consistency throughout the novel, from the characters to the university. As I said, I may pick this back up later on once more in the series are out, as I have a sneaking suspicion that this book will be better if read within the context of a series that has already released versus one still being written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for sharing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This book is a mix of the danger and dragon school elements of Fourth Wing, mixed with the academia and character elements of The Atlas Six in the best possible ways. The characters are what make this story stand out for me so much. They help to build up this fantasy world full of people from all different social classes that can come together at Eshtem University and vie to be a part of the Edrei, an elite order of dragon-riding, magic-wielding peacekeepers. We do not really get to see much of the dragons in this book and so much is built and hinted at for the future of this world that I cannot wait for the second book of this series to hit shelves already!

4.5 stars rounded down

Thank you to @angryrobotbooks for my copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

If you enjoy a good political fantasy with a university vibe this is the book for you! In the beginning we meet High Prince Jadon who is faced with stepping into his father's shoes as a pawn in their political charades. Fast forward- The story follows the students at Eshtem University all fighting to be part of the Order of Edrei-an order made up of elite dragon-riding, magic-wielding peacekeepers. This story is filled with multiple pov's where the reader can easily get lost with all that is going on- for example the book begins with a day in the life of Jadon and then moves right into Christina's in the next chapter. Once you get a grasp on each character's backgrounds and how they motivate their choices throughout the book- there is a lot to love!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Ellyrian Code is an ambitious and immersive fantasy that weaves together magic, conspiracy, corruption, privilege and honour.

What to expect
- Dark Academia setting
- Magic
- Ruthless class system
- Polarised society
- Institutional corruption
- Character driven
- Dragons (!!)

Society is beginning to fracture within the rigid confines of class and honour based system. There are three powerful types of families that rule over the land: Blood Houses, War Houses and Gold Houses. Each house has noble and common houses that have sworn fealty to them.

The Edrei were established to maintain peace, order and justice. The creation of the Edrei was for altruistic and honourable reasons.
They are an elite order of magic wielding, dragon riding protectors of peace and justice. They are supposed to exist outside of these constraints. Anyone can apply to become Edrei. Names, Houses, blood sworn loyalties are not permitted beyond its gate. The reality is much different. Those in power create the rules, but only the low born pay the price. Low born initiates have to work twice as hard to avoid being removed from the programme. High born, or royal, initiates flout the rules and rarely face consequences. Rules that appear neutral have a disparate impact dependent on the initiate, or Drei’s, loyalty, blood, station, gender and connections.

Told through multiple points of view, the story follows a cast of flawed but compelling characters as they enter their first year at Eshtem.

Jadon, the son of a War House High Prince feels caged and bored by his duty and position. He is clever, calculating and rails against authority. Jadon has huge potential to grow into a better man and leader than those before him.

Christina is a princess from a blood house.
She’s lived a sheltered life but a chance encounter with a stranger has rattled her faith in the order. She is innovative, determined and idealistic. Christina has integrity and is guided by her morals, even when they diverge from societal norms.

Christina and Jadon start to unpick the truth they have been taught to believe, to question the society that has put them on a pedestal.

Diar is a low born initiate sworn to Christina’s house. He is kind and loyal but can be naïve. He is sworn to Christina’s house, Jadon’s roommate and quickly growing close to Jenne. As their training progresses Diar finds himself torn between his education, loyalty, love and survival. He makes friends quickly but often finds himself in trouble because of them.

Jenne is a complicated figure with a shadowed past that even she is afraid to uncover. She is brave, determined, smart and capable. She is not afraid of challenging others in spite of their position or class.
The characters are flawed and authentic. They each possess something another could benefit from learning.

Magic manifests in the Edrei almost exclusively ranging from projectors, intuiters and dreamers. First years don’t generally interact or even see Dragons.

We follow our characters as they progress in their training, juggling their studies and the complex, politics of Eshtem. Not everything is as it seems at Eshtem. The game is rigged. Though the Edrei preach honour and unity, a deeper truth emerges: those in power bend the truth, erase dissent, and silence those who would challenge them.
Conspiracy and corruption fester beneath the surface at the university. There are rivalries, secrets, and shifting alliances.

Powers thought long dead are rising again. Prophecies point to a dark threat looming. There are those in power willing to defy the code, capable of manipulating memory and erasing information from historical records.
The Edrei aren’t ready to face the enemies of old. If the truth isn’t uncovered, they never will be.

The novel explores the tension between ideals and intention vs the harsh reality and the way this can be corrupted. Exploring themes of power, corruption, institutional discrimination, loyalty and morality. At its heart, this is a story about learning to see their world for what it truly is—and daring to change it.

There’s so much potential with further books in this series and I look forward to reading them. The dragons don’t feature heavily yet, so I can’t wait to see more of them. There’s a large cast of characters after and world building in terms of politics, religion and history. This is a little disorientating at the start but you’ll quickly find your feet.

I do think that whoever is comping this to Fourth Wing is doing the book a huge disservice. This is NOT going to be fun for the Fourth Wing readers, and you're just going to end up with a lot of disappointed DNFs. Add to that the number of Brandon Sanderson fans who might actually like this style of high fantasy who won't pick up a book that is described as Fourth Wing x The Atlas Six, and it just feels like that tag line is setting this book up to fail. It's not fast-paced, modern feeling, absolutely not romantasy. There are also nearly zero dragons, so if you are looking for a dragon-rider fantasy, this is not it.

Honestly, to the extent that this book has romance (VERY BARELY), I really feel like it shouldn't have and it would have been better without that plot line, which seemed to serve only to highlight the anti-sex puritan vibes of one of the characters. Instead, what we get is a LOT of discussion of different political factions within a world with very deep world building that is not really explained (maybe in a later book?), magic that is not really explained (maybe in a later book?). This is not character-driven either, as most of the characters (other than Jadon) are given minimal backstory, development, or motivation. As a reader who primarily likes character-driven work, this is definitely not for me, but I know there are plenty of people who enjoy that style of writing.

So, who would actually enjoy this book? High fantasy readers who like classic plot-driven fantasy with an emphasis on complicated politics and near-zero romance. If you loved Lord of the Rings, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss (but hated the sex and cursing), this might be enjoyable to you. Lots of mild violence, gender essentialism, class conflicts, and very slow moving political intrigue. I would describe the overall plot as "utopian school turns out to be very not utopian after all, with a hint of unsolved mystery about the depth of the corruption of the school's ideals."

The concept initially drew me in but I found the world building hard to digest and understand. I liked the academia setting and it has a lot of potential, however, the first few chapters didn’t pull me in enough to want to continue reading. I think readers who like complex world building and multiple points of view mixed with a magic university setting will be interested in this story.

This debut delivers in depth of perspective but doesn’t quite hit the mark for me.

What I Liked:
- The multiple POVs—Jadon, Jenne, Diar, and Christina—offer solid insight into the competitive and political dynamics at Eshtem University. Their varied backgrounds and internal conflicts bring real emotional depth to the story
- The political intrigue and campus drama are strong. There’s a crisp layer of tension as clues about corruption within the Order begin to surface
- Character development is thoughtful—each student’s motivations and backgrounds feel distinct and well-constructed which are interwoven throughout the story.

What Didn’t Quite Work:
- The pacing wavered for me—moments dragged with dense world-building, while the climax rushed through key revelations
- The magic system and class/dragon lore felt under-explained. I wanted more clarity and impact from such epic elements

Overall:
The Ellyrian Code is an engaging, character-driven epic with standout political drama and layered viewpoints. If you're into rich POVs and campus intrigue, you’ll find much to enjoy here. But if you are craving a crisp pace and clearer world mechanics, this one may demand more patience.

Thanks again to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC. I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes from here!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! I just finished it this morning and am already so curious to read the sequel.

The Ellyrian Code is a thoroughly enjoyable epic fantasy, set in an elite military academy where trainees study to become various kinds of magicians and dragon riders, depending on their abilities. The academy is cut-throat, and the threat of expulsion constantly hangs over the students' heads. The story follows four first-year students from very different backgrounds as they tackle academic challenges while also trying to find their place among peers who don't see them as equals - Ellyrian society is highly divided by Houses. Meanwhile, a mystery is woven through the plot, involving each character in some way - something that could pose a threat to all of Ellyria.

I really enjoyed getting to know each character and seeing how they navigated their first year. The story spans an entire academic year, which made it feel quite fast-paced while still offering solid insight into their experiences at the school. I particularly enjoyed Christina and Jadon’s arcs so far, especially the way they confront the seemingly inescapable classism embedded in the school system.

The world itself is intriguing - I don’t think it’s been explored to its full potential yet, but I’m sure more is coming in future instalments! The first book introduces different types of magic and hints at the dragons, which I'm especially excited to see more of in Book 2.

The mystery that lands in the protagonists' hands, in one way or another, has me very curious. I love that the characters aren’t all close friends or connected to the mystery in the same way; it makes the unfolding plot feel more natural and layered. The inclusion of extracts from letters and textbooks at the start of each chapter adds a great touch - giving hints at what’s to come, and what hasn’t yet been said aloud.

I look forward to finding out what comes next for these characters and their world! This is a book I’d definitely recommend to fans of military and political fantasy.

If you’ve read Fourth Wing and enjoyed it’s premise but are looking for something with a little less romance and a little more academia, politics and plot, then you should pick up the Ellyrian Code. B.F. Peterson has plotted a powerful and strong story of the first year for four young in initiates at Eshtem University, in their training to join the Order of the Edrei and become guardians of magic and dragons, serving justice and keeping the peace.

Eshtem University is a harsh, challenging and competitive environment, where all students are supposedly treated as equals, competing to learn and perform in challenges and competitions, whose objective is to cull the weak and retain the strong for the protection and benefit of the kingdom. Of course, it’s not as simple as that, external class structure and politics influence, even within the walls of Eshtem University and factor into everything from socialising to lecturer favoritism from the start. Meanwhile, there are other external factors, conspiracies and mysteries, rebellions and uprisings that must be addressed as our cohort of students fight to attain their objectives.

Unlike Fourth Wing, this story doesn’t plunge into the action and there isn’t an overwhelming love affair that drives decision making and action but, there is action, and politics, and class warfare and more, all of which can be a little challenging to keep track off but, somehow isn’t a chore and really pulled me in. I found the world-building in this story to be really strong, founded on a solid core of class structure, religion and politics that truly provides a strong foundation for a series that I’m hopeful will bring in more dragons and even more development of what appears to be an interesting and intriguing magic system.

The core characters in our cohort, Princess Christina and Prince Jadon – young royalty from rival houses, plus Diar and Jenne, from a lower class structure bring depth and contrast to the story. Diar’s family are pledged to Christina’s house, whilst Jenne lost her memories just before joining the university. All have their role to play in challenging the inherent preference that the nobles are given, but also in challenging the reality of honour and equality of a University that prides itself on it’s egalitarianism.

A strong start to what looks like a great epic fantasy series, full of mystery, friendship, adventure and maybe a little romance.

Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I struggled to connect with the characters, many of whom felt reactive or underdeveloped. The school system at Eshtem also didn’t make much sense, and the way misogyny is portrayed felt oddly unexamined. Dragons are mentioned but barely present—maybe more to come later?

I did enjoy the ending and see potential in the series, but this one was a bit of a slog. If you love intricate, character-heavy fantasy and don’t mind a slow start, it might be worth trying.

3.75! This fully gave academic, political, magic school chaos with dragons… kinda (they barely show up until graduation, so manage expectations). It’s definitely Fourth Wing’s brainier, more plot-heavy cousin. The world-building is super rich (class systems, royal Houses, conspiracies) and while it’s a lot to take in at first, it works. I won’t lie, the magic system needed more explaining and the pacing is slow, but the tension, mystery, and subtle drama kept me hooked. The Easter eggs at the start of the chapters? Actually important, don’t skip. It’s not perfect, but the potential for what’s coming next is huge!!

"Fourth Wing meets The Atlas Six in this epic fantasy set in an elite university, where four students test their mettle to become part of an elite order of dragon riders." - Well, this sounded like something I was very curious to read!

The fantasy world of the novel is rich and it took some concentration to keep it all in my mind; there are a lot of political and religious worldbuilding, which creates a solid base for a series. But I was more interested about the young characters, starting their path in Eshtem University, and how their destinies are braided together.

Youth are allowed to study there as equals, regardless of their backround; so there are a young prince Jadon and princess Christina from the rival House of his, as well as more regular people Diar and Jenne. All that matters is their ability to learn and master the wished skills - and a small mistake in wrong place may cause them expelled. Jenne, which has lost her memory before arriving to the university, still notices how the teaching masters differ the nobles.

Everyone wish to be accepted to the special elite of Order; to become dragon-riding, magic-wielding peacekeepers. But is there really true honor in the Order, or has the corruption found it´s way in this ancient institute?

Enjoyed reading this book, full of suspicious wondering, mysteries, friendship and a bit of romance. Maybe a bit of slowly build start for the series, but an interesting one. Recommending it for friends of epic fantasy and dragons!

NetGalley & Angry Robot, thank you for the gifted eARC!

3.5/5 - rounded up to 4 for the review!

Thank you so much for providing me with an arc copy of this book - I knew from the blurb alone that this would be something of great interest to me and I'm happy to say it definitely still is! I cant wait to pick up a copy of this book and read the finalised physical copy, would love to see some special editions of this too considering how beautiful the original cover is!

Onto the book itself;
I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding we see in this book, in general, a college/university setting and places similar are some of my absolute favourites - the familiarity of schools mixed with the presence of the dragons was super exciting to me and also comfortable and easy to settle into at the same time.

I did find that initially I found it pretty hard to settle into the story and found myself a little bit lost in new names/places etc. for the first few chapters as everything gets thrown at you a little too fast but once you're able to get to grips with all the names and everything happening, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

Super excited to see the possibility of future books - I would really like to see these characters again!!