Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

While this is a solid debut, I felt as though I was wanting something different based on the title. However, I will never turn down a book that is dark academia plus magic and mystery. The genre was enjoyable, however I felt myself wanting more depth. I am not sure if it was from the main character or storyline, but I was yearning for something more. Also, the setting didn’t sit well with me with the atmosphere and the insinuation from the title. I was expecting something different.

If you like magic and dark academia, it’s certainly a fun little read.

Not quite what I was expecting from a book called The Book of Autumn, I thought a magical world and maybe a witch in perhaps, autumn? But we find ourselves with some magicians in a boiling hot university in New Mexico in more of a who done it style.
It’s certainly original, very enjoyable and well written

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
4.75/5 Stars

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Tropes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
📖 Second Chance
🐎 Unique Magic System
📖 School For Magic
🐎 Fmc Forced To Return To A Past She Doesn’t Want To
📖 Slowwwww Burn
🐎 Mystery That Needs To Be Solved

𓂃🖊Notes and Highlights-

ˋ°•*⁀➷” Some places never let go of you. They slip inside your pores, cling to your neck like a leech. And though you fight like hell to break loose, there's no stopping it. The place is part of you now. It’s in your blood.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷” A lesson better learned sooner rather than later, I thought. Sometimes the most someone could give you wasn't enough, and you had a choice. Make yourself small to accept that love, pretend it was all you needed, or realize you were worth far more and leave to find it.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷” Maybe, if we could solve this case, if we could figure this out together, shed see that we weren't so gosh-awful together. Maybe this time, she’d stay.”

💭 Thoughts-
I loved this book, I thought it was so unique and fun and just an overall just a great read! It had everything I was looking for in a good fantasy mystery book (even if I don’t really know what to look for in a good fantasy mystery book…)

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Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

The Book of Autumn is a gripping dark academia fantasy with a unique magic system and atmospheric New Mexico setting. We follow Cella, a grieving researcher who returns to her magical college to investigate a student’s murder alongside her ex, Max—who also happens to be her magical counterpart. Their push and pull was really engaging and kept me interested throughout.

I will say the ending left me wanting a bit more magic and romance, but overall it's a solid debut! Recommend to anyone who might want to try dark academia in a New Mexico setting—it's different, for sure!

The Book of Autumn is an eerie, enchanting mystery that lingers long after the last page. It's the ideal read for fall and the "spooky season." Fans of authors like Olivie Blake and Adrienne Young will find a lot to love here.

Cella is called back to her old magical alma mater—Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture—to assist in a strange and unsettling investigation. Returning to New Mexico and the college grounds, she’s forced to work alongside Max, the other half of her magical bond, to uncover the truth behind the recent disturbances.

Told through footnotes, firsthand accounts, and references, the novel reads more like an immersive case file than a traditional story. The magic system is both inventive and convincing, and the characters are richly developed, each wrestling with their own burdens.

Make sure to add this one to your TBR—it hooks you from the very first chapter.

This was an immersive story with an interesting format. I liked that the writing oscillated between FP POVs and diary entries. I think that the trauma representation was really accurate and well executed, but I wish we had more depth into the magic systems.

The Book of Autumn is a haunting, magical mystery that will stick with you. A perfect fall “spooky season” read. If you enjoy authors such as Olive Blake and Adriane Young then you will enjoy this book.

Cella must return to her former magical college, Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture to assist in an investigation. Upon her return to New Mexico and the college, she must work with Max, her magic’s other half to figure out what has been going on.

The book is written with footnotes, first hand accounts and references throughout, making feel like more of a case study than a traditional novel. The magic is very unique and believable. The characters are fleshed out and dealing with a lot.

Add this book to your TBR! It’s gripping from the first chapter!

I really enjoyed this story. I felt like the book was extremely well written. It pulled me on from the beginning and held my attention throughout. I would have liked to see a more in depth magic system because while the the different ways people were able to aquire magic was explained very well, we never really saw what people were doing with magic. Overall this was a great read.

A lovely and unique debut novel with an Olivie Blake vibe!

I enjoyed the quirky research paper style writing, journal entries, and annotations, as well as trying to solve the puzzles along the way. The magic was interesting, and the characters felt well fleshed out and relatable.

4 out of 5 stars for this well-done mystery!

I had to read this one in the daylight. Spooky mystery set in a new magical school.

A relatable FMC who is on an adventure to find herself and where she belongs in the world.

This book was not what I expected—and I mean that in the best way. The Book of Autumn blends dark academia with desert mysticism in a way that feels both deeply original and strangely familiar. Set in rural New Mexico at a magical college that somehow makes cattle ranches and arcane rituals coexist, the setting alone made this worth the read. It’s not your typical ivy-draped East Coast campus, and that change of atmosphere gave the story a unique texture.

Told through a case study format with footnotes, excerpts, and documentation, the narrative style took some getting used to—but once I adjusted, I really appreciated how it added a sense of realism and depth. The magic system was grounded in research and lore, and it felt lived-in, like there was a long academic history behind every spell and source. I especially enjoyed how real occult texts were woven in. It gave the world an authenticity that’s often missing in magic-heavy books.

Cella and Max, the estranged magical pair at the center of it all, brought a great mix of unresolved tension and emotional weight. Their history is messy and full of sharp edges, and while I wished we got more insight into Cella’s background, especially as an Indigenous woman, what was included hinted at a deeper well of story that I’d love to see explored further.

The themes—grief, memory, power—were handled with nuance. Cella’s journey felt raw, and watching her slowly reconnect to her past and her community was both painful and hopeful. I wouldn’t call this a fast-paced book, but it’s one that lingers and asks you to sit with it. And honestly, I’d read the fictional academic paper that Cella and Max put together by the end.

In short, The Book of Autumn surprised me. It’s dark academia, but not the kind you’re used to—and that’s exactly why it works.

As a reader, The Book of Autumn by Molly O’Sullivan completely swept me away with its haunting atmosphere, complex characters, and beautifully woven magic system. From the very first page, I felt immersed in the dark academia setting, and the emotional weight carried by the protagonist, Cella, deeply resonated with me. Her relationship with Max was tense and heartbreaking in all the right ways, layered with past pain and unresolved longing. I loved how O’Sullivan used the New Mexico desert as more than just a backdrop—it became a living, breathing part of the story. The mystery at the heart of the novel kept me turning pages, but it was the depth of emotion and the nuanced exploration of grief, power, and memory that stayed with me long after I finished. I am excited to read more from this author in future!

The Book of Autumn by Molly O’Sullivan is a richly imagined fantasy that stands out for its unique take on magic and a world that feels both fresh and lived-in. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is its intricate world-building, which immediately draws you in and keeps expanding in fascinating ways.

At the heart of the story are characters who struggle deeply with the bonds that tie them together—both magical and emotional. Their journey to find their own identities while trying to stay connected adds a powerful emotional layer. I really appreciated how the book explored the tension between personal growth and shared destiny, without offering easy answers.

The mystery driving the plot is also well-executed. It kept me turning the pages, eager to unravel the truth alongside the characters. Even when things got difficult for them, their determination to work together and solve the central crime was compelling and inspiring.

Overall, I give The Book of Autumn 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a thoughtful, engaging read with strong emotional stakes and a world you’ll want to revisit.

Molly O’Sullivan writes a complex and fun to read
story. The Book of Autumn has a main character FMC of Dani who is at the center of everything. The other characters have very different views on Dani. I would recommend Molly O’sullivan The Book of Autumn to other readers. The primary genres of General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Sci Fi & Fantasy. Tropes the writer focuses on are not mentioned in available information. The book is recommended for readers
who enjoy Adrienne Young, Olivie Blake, Erin Sterling, Hazel Beck, and Leigh Bardugo’s.

A unique take on magic and the way it is accessed and harnessed.

I loved the setting and that it wasn’t the typical magic academy/dark academia building. I would’ve loved more chapters on its interesting magical history.

I thought the character of Cella was well developed and I wanted to know her story and history. Max was a bit less developed and felt more like a side character and I didn’t feel like I knew him well or felt much for him by the end. Maybe it was the Kindle format and I missed out on the footnotes from his point of view at the time they would be in the physical book? (On the Kindle they are all at the end of the book).

I was thoroughly into the story and could’ve read on for more. I’ll be looking forward to the authors next book!

Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐

No matter where I was, he always found me.

So I absolutely loved this book. It was a very interesting take on dark academia. Rather than being written in prose, The Book of Autumn is written as a case study that includes footnotes, references and primary sources.

The Book of Autumn follows Cella as she returns to her (magical) college to investigate the murder of a student. She is reunited with Max her ex and her literal other half. As they investigate, they find more questions than answers.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a very interesting take on dark academia. Rather than being written in prose, The Book of Autumn is written as a case study that includes footnotes, references and primary sources.

Her return to Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture (and Magic) means her return to rural New Mexico. Most of the dark academica I’ve read has been east coast based so the ambience and setting of New Mexico was a breath of fresh air. This might be the first dark academia book that mentioned horses and cattle but it was incredibly authentic to both Cella and Max. I will say that I would have loved learning more about Cella’s background as an indigenous woman; it was mentioned in passing but I would have loved more.

As the book unfolds, we see Cella struggling to deal with the loss of her brother. The way she deals with grief is unhealthy but so achingly real. Watching her refind her footing as she stops running away is poignant. She reconnects with the community that she could have had if she wasn’t running away.

On top of the beautiful setting, the magic was well written and had a lot of accuracy. I loved the idea of the two magical colleges and their different approaches to magic. The focus of Cella and Max’s research was fascinating and honestly I’d read that research paper as well. Also, bonus points to Molly O’Sullivan for doing her research; multiple books they found as they researched are real books written by real occultists. It added a depth to the academic side of the paper that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall I enjoyed The Book of Autumn and highly recommend it. Even the cover art took a deviation from the expected. The cover included the traditional dark academia colors we’ve come to know and love but with the imagery of New Mexico. Bulls over snakes. If I had to sum up the book I’d go with unexpected .

Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I was intrigued by this one since I love dark academia and magic but it just didn't capture my attention. I kept trying to push through but I was frustrated by so many footnotes. It drives me nuts when footnotes have important aspects of the plot when they are so clunky on kindle. I didn't feel much connection or chemistry with the characters at all.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really cute and atmospheric book. There was a jarring difference in the quality of the prose vs dialogue. I almost wanted the whole book to just be prose.


Really reminded me of the Old Kingdom series in the first few chapters!

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

This dark academic murder mystery set in new Mexico was uniquely written in the form of an academic research paper.

This book wove together mystery, magic, and romance. This books premise was sooo interesting, but I did find myself struggling with the execution.

I did enjoy the prose and hkw descriptive the author was. I enjoyed learning about Cella and Max as well as the inner monolog. I had intermittent issues with the pacing and I felt there were certain things that the reader was just supposed to take for fact (why were Cella and Max only able to solve this mystery?).

Overall it was a good book and for those that enjoy dark academic genre it was worth the read.