The Ellyrian Code was a surprise read. I picked it up because of the "university" setting and the comparison with Fourth Wing (Which I read when it was released). Honestly, I'm not sure the comparison does this book any justice because for me it's very different.

This is more fantasy than anything else. There is a subplot romance but light. There may be more in the next book (maybe?). It's not an easy read, it's dense, filled with details, morals, ethics, code (that's the book name, so that was expected). If you think it's a light dark academia read, don't read; you will be disappointed.

It takes a few chapters to grasp who's who, what are the characters' dynamics but then it flows and it works very well. I really liked most of the characters. I do like a good naive hero (Driar), and an overly confident prince (Jadon). I disliked Jenne from the first to the last page. I will leave you to make your mind if you read the book, I'm neutral to Christina, but I think I might love her in book 2.

It's a good book. Pick it up if you like
- More fantasy than romance (as I said, subplot)
- To think about what you read
- Try to discover conspiracies
- Complex characters and varied cast
- Different magic system
- It has dragons!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and AngryRobot for this ARC of The Ellyrian Code.
The Ellyrian Code held a lot of promises for me from the description; Dragons, light romance, tension between classes and political groups. The problem was that felt like I was reading 2/3 different stories rather than one book, with some of the characters barely interacting until the last 5% of the book. I do think this book is a great prequel for a larger series, I just hope that the next books answer several questions and see these main characters develop and interact more.
With that said, I enjoyed the world building and the politics as well as the issues the characters faced. I think that some aspects of the story could have been improved and many questions were left unanswered (why does Jenne not have a memory?) but I imagine these will be elaborated on in future series. I only think more could’ve been elaborated on with this backstory as it felt sort of like an add-on and not a main character point for her. Why is she not more concerned/ trying to figure stuff out about her past except her name and the fact she’s not a royal?
Overall I do think this series has a lot of potential and I will be picking up the next book in the series.

This was a spell binding story that will have you hooked start to finish!! It pulled me in just the way fourth wing did and I haven’t had a book that did that in a long while!

This book has so much world building that you will feel like you are right there with the characters! These individuals are a tad reckless, but that does not mean everyone loves or hates our main character!

The story is not like anything that I have read before, which was really cool to see as often fantasy takes parts of other worlds to build their world up. This one felt like a whole new world, it had a culture, a religion, a whole language and more!

Overall, this read is absolutely perfect for anyone who enjoys a lower and world building, heavy fantasy novel!

This book was quite hard to get into, the plot seemed rushed and there was too little world building for my taste. The characters felt unfinished and I did not have any emotional connection to them. I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately I was left dissapointed.

The writing style wasn't for me - it made it quite difficult to enjoy.
This one was hard for me to get into from the first chapter - there were too few details, Hazaar wasn't a compelling character, and I didn't care if the dragon took him away or he was caught. I was mostly confused.
This continued on, where I simply couldn't find it in myself to care about the characters and what happened to them. They felt very one dimensional to me.

I feel like this book was a good one that just wasn't for me and the comps didn't do it any favors. While The Ellyrian Code definitely shares aspects with Fourth Wing and The Atlas Six such as dragons and university, the tone and worldbuilding of The Ellyrian Code is very different from its comps which led me to believe it would be different than what it was. The style of writing is more on the high fantasy side and the worldbuilding was, for me, a bit hard to follow. The magic system seemed complex and I was left with a lot of questions about it. For someone who reads high fantasy often, I'm sure these wouldn't be issues, I just didn't get a good sense of that beforehand.

Character wise, I did like how diverse the cast was in terms of their backgrounds, opinions, and morals. It was fun getting to experience each of their POVs, especially once all of the characters began to interact with one another.

My favorite aspect of the book was the complex politics and class system and I think that was the most interesting part as it influenced all of the characters' actions and motivations. I do think that if this book was marketed as more of a dark academia with high stakes politics instead of a Fourth Wingesque romantasy, it would actually have been a much more enjoyable read as the focus would be less on the somewhat secondary romance.

It generally felt as though the book was trying to pack a lot of plot and background into a relatively short book, and I feel as though the reading experience would have been better if the story was slowed down in a way that let things develop more naturally. The story itself did feel very original though, which was nice to see as sometimes the magical school trope can feel overdone.

I personally didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected, but for someone who enjoys epic/high fantasy and wants to read a fantasy book with dark academia vibes and dragons, I would recommend this, as the reading experience may be much better!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

"The Ellyrian Code" is not your typical easy-read romantasy, but rather a complex high fantasy that rewards patient readers. Initially skeptical, I found myself completely drawn in as the narrative unfolded around four distinct characters—privileged prince Jadon, idealistic princess Christina, ambitious commoner Jenne, and conflicted Diar—whose intersecting stories create compelling tension.

What makes this book stand out is its deep exploration of ethics, morals, and socioeconomics set against corrupt politics and an intriguing magic system. Peterson crafts a world where dragon-riding elements enhance rather than overshadow thoughtful examinations of institutional corruption and personal conviction. Though the dragon content left me wanting more, the rich character development and the mystery of the world kept me fully invested. By the end, I couldn't put it down and found myself eager for a sequel to continue Christina and Jadon's story and discover what challenges year two at Eshtem University might bring.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book and was really excited to receive this ARC.
I think the high fantasy elements were done well and I enjoyed the school setting, and I think this was done in an original way.
I was a little confused throughout the book, the houses and multiple povs at the start of the book can be a little overwhelming and I would have like more background or setting the scene, as I found I was a bit lost in the first 15%.
There was plenty of mystery, adventure and political drama to keep me turning the pages and some bits I was confused on did become clear towards the end. I think this gave more game of thrones vibes than atlas six but also a mature fourth wing-type story too.
It was well written and I am looking forward to a physical copy so I can reread and annotate this time. I think book two will be a good read as the premise is well set.

Book started off feeling like I should know all these characters/world/setting which set the tone for me for the rest of the story. Very confusing. Had a hard time connecting with the characters.

To be honest when I first started the Ellyrian Code, I was a bit unsure if I would like it.
I kept going and fell deep into the world and characters.

If you are looking for an easy-to-read Romantasy this is not that.

It is, however, an intriguing world, with interesting characters, an unexplained magic system, corrupt politics, and deep dive into ethics, morals, and socioeconomics. This is definitely more for the High-Fantasy lovers.

As I kept reading and got deeper into the world and characters, I could not put it down. The mystery of the world and the need for understanding kept me engaged and fully invested. The main Characters are all so different and their story lines had me enthralled. The touch of dragons, of course, wasn't enough, and I cannot wait for more.

I do hope there is more to come. I am not done with Christina and Jadon's story and I really want to see how year two goes.

I'm not sure that this one was for me unfortunately. I was sucked in by the claim that it'd be great for lovers of Fourth Wing, but it was definitely more focused around the academia side and politics, rather than the romance. Because I'm a romantasy girlie that meant that this really wasn't for me.

The multiple POV's did take me a little while to get through, they did start to connect by the end but it was a bit of a hard slog to get there in places.

There was dragons, there was politics, and it's definitely Dark Academia, with the underlying plot of romance - so if that's your vibe then you'll love it. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and B. F. Peterson for giving me the opportunity to give it a go though :)

This book has Fourth Wing vibes but is based more on the university, politics, and there’s less romance, more academia.

The book also centres on 4 characters POVs so it has depth and range, you’re able to get an underlying tone that’ there’s something going on that will be discovered.

The romance is definitely not the focus so if you’re looking for a romantasy you’re in the wrong place.

The Ellyrian Code is a high fantasy novel with a touch of dark academia. I began the book with high hopes, particularly as it was marketed as a fusion of Fourth Wing and The Atlas Six—two books I admire. Unfortunately, my reading experience didn’t quite live up to the promise. The storytelling felt clunky and overly verbose, which detracted from the flow. The pacing was uneven, making it hard to stay engaged, and at times I found myself genuinely confused by the sheer volume of ideas the author was attempting to juggle. It seemed as though they were trying to accomplish too much at once, leaving the world-building feeling unfocused and somewhat fragmented.

Nonetheless, there were elements of the story that held my attention. The idea of a class system and royal hierarchy provided an intriguing backdrop, and the inclusion of multiple main characters added some depth and variety to the narrative. These aspects showed promise, but I found the overall execution lacked cohesion, and I struggled to connect with the story as much as I’d have liked. There is, however, a vein of political intrigue running through the plot, which might resonate with readers who enjoy complex social dynamics and power plays.

While the concept of The Ellyrian Code had all the makings of a compelling fantasy, it fell short of delivering the immersive and gripping experience I was hoping for. That said, the book may still appeal to those looking for ambitious fantasy with multifaceted themes. It’s worth exploring if you’re intrigued by the blend of high fantasy and political drama, even if the execution isn’t entirely seamless.

Tropes:
Dark academia
Dragons
Politics
Multiple POV


I wouldn’t categorize this as romantasy but more high fantasy with a subplot of romance. I enjoyed getting everyone’s POV however you get more of certain characters than others. All the POVs start connecting by the end

I personally did not vibe with the book and it took me a long time to get through.

Thank you, Angry Robot Books and Netgalley, for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted this one to work for me. I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and was even more excited when I saw that the description was claiming "Fourth Wing meets Atlas Six". But as I started reading, it was pretty clear that while the idea is there, the execution just wasn't happening.

I think the author was trying to do too many things at once. There were four main characters, but some had a lot more page time than others. And the characters didnt really interact with eachother all that much? Christina and Jadon were kind of on their own islands with Diar as the link between everyone. But because of that, there were four different friend groups and three different political factions to follow and learn about. I think this all got in the way of following the plot, which felt pretty aimless for most of the story. I think there was just far too much happening for either the plot or characters to be fully developed. It felt messy and underdeveloped. Stylistically, the writing felt repetitive at times and probably could have used another round of edits.

Thank you, Angry Robot Books and Netgalley, for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

B.F. Peterson's "The Ellyrian Code" is set in Eshtem University, a place where Ellyrian students are prepared to become part of the elite Edrei. Promised with epic fantasy and dragons, we're offered only a little. We follow four students (Jadon, Jenne, Diar and Christina) who all carry their own luggage to the university and have to undergo all kinds of challenging competitions.

Amidst their survival through these classes, there's also some political drama going on. This is also the story's strongest point.

On other aspects, there's much room for improvement:
- A lot is going on, which is fine if you explain it more in-depth. But now, all character arcs, world-building, politics, storylines, etc., felt too overwhelming. This also made it quite difficult for me to understand the different classes and the overall magic system of the world.
- I wish that we saw more of the dragons, dragon-riding, or the relation between the Ellyrians and the dragons. Now, I kinda missed that dynamic.
- The pacing throughout the story was rather off sometimes. Sometimes tit felt action-packed and other times real slow on the wrong moments. I would've understood it better if there were more conversations, rather than descriptive events.
- I missed the feeling of reading an 'epic-fantasy'. The overall setting was rather moody and grimly conveyed, creating a darker image of the epic fantasy. Now, if you like the more dark side of fantasy, and this is a great plus, but I thought it would be more light and magical.

Besides all the fuss and confusion, some other things were really strong in this book:
- Originality! Though it blends classic elements such a different houses and their political drama, and where the kids have to clean up their mess, the book still manages to make it original.
- The characters were well-written and had thought-out backgrounds. Also, how they operated individually and collectively was well crafted.
- As I mentioned, the political intrigue is definitely its strongest point. With spectacle battles, competitions, and thrilling adventures, the book will give you an adrenaline kick!

All together, the story didn't entirely meet my expectations, but I do see some potential for further writing. With a few changes in the technicalities, the story itself can become magically fantastical.

Okay, is it a little early to be posting this review? Maybe. Am I going to do it anyway? Yes, with the intention that it encourages you to add this book to your TBR 👏🏻 so here is my spoiler-free review of The Ellyrian Code by B.F. Peterson

Genre:
Epic High Fantasy with a dash of Dark Academia

Fav Quote:
Redacted for now 😉 will update upon publication

What I Loved:
* What hooked me initially was the comparison to Fourth Wing AND The Atlas Six, two books that I sincerely enjoyed/devoured. How could I not read something that was the love child of my favourite genres?? However, what kept me going was the Game of Thrones vibes, which was a pleasant surprise.
* In essence: elevated Fourth Wing, accessible Game of Thrones, smattering of dark academia with compelling POVs
* The characters!!! I think I’m in love with Jadon 🤭 and Christina, the princess you are 🙌🏻 Each of the main characters were unique and compelling in their own right. I’m truly excited to see how their stories coalesce.
* Keep in mind, this is only book one. Which I am actually thrilled about because we’re in it for the long haul! With how much I enjoyed the story and character development in this one, I know the later books in the series are going to deliver. Plus I’ve been itching for a new high fantasy series with an epic scope and I think this might just fill that slot.
* This stopped my reading slump in its tracks and I feel like that speaks for itself.

For Fans of:
* George RR Martin
* VE Schwab
* Samantha Shannon

Thank you so much to Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for this eARC! The Ellyrian Code releases on 24 June 2025.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DNF @ 9%.

I should now better than to let the publisher recommendations influence me to read a book. This book starts very slow and I'm not interested enough in the characters to keep going. There was also a very unnecessary rape story at the beginning that left a bad taste in my mouth. You can't compare this book to one with strong female characters and then throw that in there and treat it so inconsequentialy. I won't be picking this back up.

Rated 2 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to Angry Robot for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for The Ellyrian Code.

I was really excited to read this ARC. The premise is super interesting but I was soooooo confused the entire time. I really wish there was more background with the different Houses and the magic system. I kept on thinking I missed something, but then after I reread some parts I realized that nothing was actually explained? I’m really hoping that either the finished published copy had a glossary of some sort or there’s A LOT more explained in book two.

The characters were kind of difficult to really connect to, but I enjoyed Christine’s POV the most. I felt like her character was the most flushed out, but by the end you see why the other POVs were important.

I really enjoyed the school setting, and the high fantasy elements the story had. There was enough adventure, political intrigue, and mystery to keep me reading. Upon release, I would like to reread to see if things click a little more. I am looking forward to the rest of the series to see how things conclude.