This is very ambitious for a debut but it absolutely pulls through. The plot is intricate, the characters are well developed and compelling, there's magic and dark academia themes and it pulls you right in. The format might not be for everyone, it's written sort of like a research paper but I really enjoyed it

I really wanted to like this book! But something about the writing threw me off and didn’t really pull me into the story. The premise was good but not so sure about the execution. Thank you for the opportunity

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Not bad for a debut novel! I liked this, but I did feel like the pacing could use some work. I also felt like the ending left some things not quite as explained or resolved as I would have liked. A little heavy handed on certain themes. Still, an enjoyable “magic school” academia fantasy—I do enjoy that there’s been a few “magic school” novels lately that are set in grad school, with characters in their late twenties/early thirties. Would recommend if these kind of tropes are your vibe, and hopefully she’ll write more books!

Thanks for the eARC, netgalley! All opinions are my own, shared in exchange for the eARC.

5 STAR READ!!! HOLY SHIT this book was amazing. I was NOT expecting it to be as good as it was but it completely sucked me in. This had a little bit of a scary vibe at some points, a really unique magic system, a snippet of romance, and a whole lot of emotion.

Two halves of a magic soul come together in an attempt to solve a magical mystery. How do they stop the attacks?! Ride along with Marcella and Max to find out.

I loved this! From the very first few sentences to the last page it was a great read! i would have preferred more world building and description to help me picture the area we were reading about. I know what New Mexico looks like but the descriptions would have helped. I loved Cella and Max's dynamic and history. I appreciated the supporting characters and their well rounded-ness. I had the assumption given the title that we would have a spring, summer, and winter book to which similar stories in the same book world could be written, but that's yet to be seen. I'd love it though!

I loved the super unique concept this book used to tell the story of Cella & Max. The story unfolds in bits and pieces and readers get the sense that they are reading through first hand accounts, journals, articles and even historical texts. The magic system used is intriguing and the author does a great job of giving the reader snippets of understanding as the book goes on, instead of a large dump of info for world building and magic system structure that can be dry to get through.

The story itself is a mystery within a mystery and that part is very well done. Readers that enjoy academia books and fantasy books will enjoy the unique take on those thermes in this novel. I also love how as the story goes on, our main character is able to heal a lot of hurt she has. You are rooting for her from the beginning and we always love when a story allows our MC to grow and heal!

I will say that I did find have some struggles getting “into” the story so to speak. There were parts that drug on for me. I also read this as an ebook, and I feel like the unique footnotes that are sprinkled in to add to the story kind of fell flat in an ebook format. I feel like this would have been more of an experience with a physical copy vs the ebook.

I do think this is a unique and lovely story, and the reading experience itself was fun and unusual (in a good way).

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This book wrapped its pages around my heart and held it in a chokehold from page 1. I had a hard time putting this book down, much like our FMC, I became obsessed with reading. The world building, the characters, and the magic system was beautifully written. I loved how the little footnotes included different characters POV. There were times I was a little confused when the book was discussing certain theories but was able to work through it. Overall, I loved this book!

I recently had the opportunity to read an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Book of Autumn by Molly O’Sullivan, and it was an enthralling experience. This debut novel masterfully intertwines themes of ambition, privilege, second-chance romance, and ancient magic within a richly constructed world. 

The story follows Marcella “Cella” Gibbons, an anthropologist and dimidium—one half of a formidable pair of magicians whose powers are interdependent. After a tumultuous final year at Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture (and Magic) in rural New Mexico, Cella had distanced herself from magic, academia, and her other half, the charming rancher Max Middlemore. However, when mysterious and dangerous events unfold at their alma mater, Cella and Max are compelled to reunite and confront their shared past to unravel a centuries-old mystery.  

O’Sullivan’s portrayal of Cella is compelling, capturing her internal struggles and resilience with depth and authenticity. Max is depicted as a complex character—both a rugged rancher and a man grappling with unresolved feelings and responsibilities. Their chemistry is palpable, their interactions filled with tension and allure.  

The novel’s pacing is well-balanced, seamlessly blending action-packed sequences with moments of introspection. O’Sullivan’s prose is evocative, painting vivid images of the New Mexico desert and the enchanted school. The plot twists are unpredictable, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover what lies ahead. 

In summary, The Book of Autumn is a standout debut that delves into complex relationships and moral dilemmas against a backdrop of magic and academia. Its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and richly imagined world make it a must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of dark academia and those seeking a story that will linger in their thoughts long after the final page.

This one was so fun! Marcella is finishing at her academy, and things are starting to feel a little bit odd. When Max shoes up with a favor to ask, Marcella realizes that big things are happening and she may be able to help.

4 out of 5 stars – A Dark, Hypnotic Read!

What an intriguing plot! The book was incredibly dynamic and gripping. The author masterfully conveyed the tension and sinister atmosphere of this dark academia setting, making every page feel immersive. The magic system introduced here completely enchanted me—it was so unique and mesmerizing.

I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan of the genre, but the way it was showed in this story won me over. At times, it was so chilling I had to stop reading at night—it genuinely got under my skin!

The protagonist’s personal struggles resonated deeply with me, as I’m sure they will with many readers. The complex relationships between characters, the weight of external circumstances, and the theme of loss all intertwined seamlessly, evoking a whirlwind of emotions.

If I had one small critique, it would be that I wanted more of the main characters’ present-day interactions rather than so many flashbacks. That said, the story reached a satisfying and logical conclusion, and I was truly happy with how everything wrapped up.

I sincerely hope the author continues writing—I’d love to see more. I’ll be eagerly awaiting future releases, ready to lose myself in another beautifully crafted book like this one. Highly recommended!

* Copy provided by Kensington Publishing via NetGalley & 100% voluntary review.

This book was really good, I enjoyed the dark magic academia vibes, the mystery around the school and the second chance romance.
I really recommend it.

The truest speculative dark academia book I’ve read since Ninth House (which this book is compared to). I appreciated the refreshing new setting and older main characters who act appropriately their age. The world-building was “as needed,” which left some lingering questions, though none that felt too much like plot-holes. However, in the end, I was left wanting more: more romance, more mystery, more drama, more magic.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book! The mix of first person narration/ diary entries and informative text/philosophy was a great touch for a murder mystery story.

The idea of the main characters being magically entwined (dimidiums) was really unique — though I did wish we got to see more of it. However, that leads me to my next point which is that the trauma representation was done extremely well. My assumption is because the FMC is so deep rooted in her trauma, that is why we don’t get much on the magic system until the end. As she shuns that part of her life away.

I loved the origin story of when Cella discovered Max was her dimidium! “𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?” — GOLD lol both characters were easy to love for me and had great character growth.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Molly O'Sullivan for letting me read and review this book early.

as someone who ADORED ninth house and atlas six, I thought this book would be right up my alley. it has a beautiful concept and a striking format told through academic papers, diary entries, and foot notes but ultimately, this book missed the mark for me.

the structure is impressive, however, I found the plot itself struggles. the central mystery feels like a series of dead ends and the two leads, cella and max, are framed as the only ones who can solve it. here’s the problem: we’re never given a reason WHY they’re the only ones who can.

neither one are investigators, and despite the story’s promise of magical stakes—they rarely use it. when the magic finally arrives in the last quarter, it’s rushed. add in confusing worldbuilding—like a hidden magic school with ivy league aspirations and frat parties—and it’s hard to stay grounded in the story. in the end, it’s a book with big ideas and bold style, but the execution never quite comes together.

molly o'sullivan's ambitious, beautiful debut, the book of autumn, takes the format of an anthropological research paper, drawing on religious annotations, ancient philosophy, metaphysics, diary entries, and supplemental footnotes to tell the story of marcella gibbons and max middlemore—ex-lovers and two halves of a magical whole—as they're called together once again to investigate a brutal murder and suspected possession at their magical alma mater.

still reeling from the untimely death of her younger brother aaron, her complicated and unavoidable feelings for max, and her desire to keep her painful past far away, cella returns to the school to find an afflicted student who reminds her keenly of her brother and is someone she becomes desperate to help. but as she delves into the web of history, magic, deceit, and power that's begun to weave itself into the school since her departure, cella finds herself in the middle of a harrowing, centuries-old situation that she may not make it out of.

the book of autumn is one of the most refreshing dark academia books i've read in a long time. set in the canyons and ranches of new mexico and brimming with ancient greek philosophy, real historical grimoires, and an aching sense of found family, o'sullivan's debut is a thrilling and emotional tale of grief, ambition, power, magic, and what we're willing to do to our souls for love. fans of magic for liars, ninth house, and the atlas six won't want to miss this one, and i can't wait to see where o'sullivan takes us next!

Thank you netgally for letting me read this
Magic, College, mystery and investigation, this book is well written. From the beginning I didn't want to put it down. Cella returns to her college to help investigate the strange happening after getting a letter. It is good book but it does lack the magic, as in there is barely any in it.

Oh this book! Where do I start? This was one of my ultimate favorites... such a good story, such good characters... it leaves your heart warm after reading it.

The characters are compelling and well-developed. FMC undergoes significant growth, facing internal struggles and moral dilemmas that add depth to their journey. Supporting characters, such as [notable side character’s name] and [antagonist’s name], bring additional layers of complexity, with motivations and arcs that keep the reader invested.

A dark academia murder mystery? A magical university tucked away in the New Mexico desert? A fractured partnership between two powerful magicians forced to reunite? It sounded like my perfect read. But unfortunately, the concept was much stronger than the execution.

Let’s start with the good: the format of this book is certainly unique. Written like an academic research paper, it blends diary entries, religious texts, ancient philosophy, and footnotes into the narrative. It's an interesting and immersive approach that will appeal to fans of The Atlas Six and Ninth House.

However, the mystery itself left much to be desired. The investigation felt like a frustrating series of dead ends rather than a puzzle to unravel. No one wanted to cooperate, and the book kept insisting that Cella and Max were the only ones who could solve the crime—without offering any real explanation why they were the most qualified. And while the tension between them had potential, their relationship never quite hooked me.

And then there's the magic—or rather, the lack of it. For a book that promises ancient magical forces, the first 75% of the story barely touches on any actual magic. When the magic finally kicks in toward the end, it feels rushed and jarring. The pacing throughout the book was painfully slow, and it dragged on for far too long, making it hard to stay engaged. The lack of balance and the slow build-up made the story harder to get through.

Bottom line? This book had a brilliant premise, but unfortunately, the execution didn’t match up. If you enjoy dense, slow-burn dark academia with a unique structure, this might work for you. But for me, it didn’t hit the mark.

Review - 4⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this on NetGalley, thank you!!!

I recommend this for people who like The Atlas Six or Ninth House!
Dark Academia, Magic, and a Secret Society.

A college where magic is practiced finds itself in the midst of a mystery with a murder and a student now in a strange state.

The main character, Cella, finds herself unwillingly drawn back to the college to assist with the investigation of these strange goings on. While investigating she must deal with some trauma in her past that led her to leave school.

This was interesting from start to finish though some of the scientific talk could be a little dense at times. Thankfully there is a glossary to reference that really helps.