Unfortunately I did DNF this book. I just couldn't really get into the storytelling and the characters. I really like the plot, so maybe I'll try it again at a later date.

I wanted to love this as it had all the components I love in an academic enemies to lovers romance. Unfortunately though, something about it just didn't click. It's nothing I can put my finger on, it just didn't do it for me and I probably won't read the next one.

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy to review.

4.5/5 stars! 🌟
woweee! this was everything and more! I wasn't sure if I was up for another college romance, but I loved the dark aesthetic to the book. the gothic building, gargoyles, the dense rain and fog, miserable weather set the scene perfectly. The main characters were incredible too. I loved Ophelias attitude 🤣

also, Where can I find myself an Alex? 😁
The ending was a brilliant cliffhanger. Who is it?! I need book 2 now!

This is the first dark academia book I’ve read and it definitely got me interested in reading more books in the same genre. The tension, yearning, and slow burn between the two main characters was *chefs kiss*. I always love an enemies to lovers story. This book had a good mix of romance, mystery, and intense scenes which kept the story very interesting. I would be curious to learn more about the history of Sorrowsong university, specifically how students from Nightshade house usually end up missing or dead. I also like that this is a duology as most books are part of a 4+ book series nowadays. I feel like this story has had a good arch that it can be wrapped up in 2 books well. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next one!

This book was exactly what I needed. It is dark, moody, gothic, atmospheric, and creepy. Alex was the perfect soft boy for Ophelia. I loved watching him absolutely melt for her. Of course, it was a little predictable in places, but I never mind that. I enjoy feeling smart thinking I solved the whole mystery. It does end on a cliffhanger which was absolutely infuriating (in a good way) and I can't wait to absolutely devour the second book as soon as I can get it in my hands!

Admittedly, it took me a minute to fall into the story, but once I did, Nightshade took over every corner of my brain space. I will not know peace again until I have the next book in hand. The dark academia vibes really came through perfectly, though in ways I didn't necessarily expect. The plot was so engaging that I couldn't even hope to get Ophelia and Alex out of my head. Their undeniable chemistry had me obsessed from the start and "until midnight. A hundred years from now." is one of those lines that will still resonate within my soul 40 years from now. I really appreciated how both characters gave each other the space and support to grow beyond their pasts. The balance of suspense, emotion, and romance was truly spectacular, and I loved the way that each contributed to the story in such an unforgettable way. There was some spice present, but it was reserved enough to prevent overshadowing the greater picture of Alex and Ophelia finding that safe space with each other. I am more than invested in their story and am absolutely obsessed with finding out what happens next!

Okay, if you're into dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, and a side of murder mystery, you have to read Nightshade!

Ophelia Winters is at this super elite, gothic university in the Scottish Highlands, not for classes, but for revenge over her parents' death. She immediately clashes with Alex Corbeau-Green, the son of her prime suspect. He's a monster hiding beneath a beautiful façade, but also, he’ll burn the world down for her. Swoooon.

Their dynamic is everything: hate-to-love, forced proximity, and he falls first! When a stalker shows up, Alex becomes her unexpected ally, and their chemistry is just chef's kiss. Can she really destroy his world when she's falling for him?

It's sexy, suspenseful, and totally atmospheric. Think Gothikana meets Maxton Hall with a murder plot. Seriously, get ready to be obsessed.

This book had me hooked from the start. Can I have book 2 ASAP please? I felt for the characters every step of the way, the pace was great and I couldn’t put the book down! The level of romance mixed with the mystery and suspense was great and always had me wondering what would happen next. I loved their relationship and how he fell for her first. The multiple POV really added to the story too. The mysteries keep you on your toes and wanting to see what happens next. The ending too?! Ugh, I don’t want to wait for the next book!

I received this as an e-ARC from NetGalley. This review is entirely my own.

I liked the dark academia vibes and the mystery elements to it. But it wasn’t super wow or anything. It’s solid though, and has good intrigue and mystery, and both characters were likeable. It was fun watching them banter.

Overall, not a literary masterpiece but you’d enjoy it if you’re into dark academia, romance and conspiracy.

Nightshade is the first book in the Sorrowsong University duet and is set in an old castle in a very misty Scotland.

The story follows Ophelia, who is accepted into the prestigious Sorrowsong University, where she hopes she will find answers to the mystery surrounding her parents death. Unlike the spoiled rich students Ophelia is on a scholarship and is an outsider due to her lack of wealth and connections.

Ophelia’s plans for revenge are complicated by her growing attraction to Alex Corbeau-Green, the son of her prime suspect in her parents death! She wants the person responsible for her parents death to face justice but can she go through with it if it means destroying Alex too?

I liked the mystical atmosphere of Nightshade; a castle University in the cold and misty Scottish highlands, shadowy libraries and references to classic literature, it all added to the dark academia feel of the story.

While I found Ophelia somewhat boring Alex had a more interesting backstory and I’m keen to read more about him. He’s tall, dark, athletic and handsome, but he’s also tortured and broody. I adore the way he takes care of his sisters and also shows up for Ophelia. He shows time and again that he’s nothing like his father.

Despite her unfortunate circumstances Ophelia is strong and determined, but she’s also vulnerable and somewhat naive.

My favourite part of the books was the banter between Ophelia and Alex, their email exchanges were hilarious! The only thing I didn’t love was the ending! I can’t believe I have to wait so long to find out what happens next!

TO BE CONTINUED?!?!

My jaw is on the floor!!! This was the perfect spooky read with so many twists and turns. I was giggling and kicking my feet at Alex & his obsession with Ophelia.

Can’t wait for book 2!

Dark academia, forced proximity, university shrouded in mystery. Secrets and murders. Enemies to lovers and revenge plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it was a strong 4 stars for me. Both the murder mystery and romantic storylines were well executed in a way that kept you glued to the page.

Ophelia is a strong, determined but also vulnerable FMC who is not afraid to be different. Watching the story unfold and Ophelia have to choose between her anger and need for revenge and the developing relationships she valued showed a level of “real” that added depth and complexity to the book. Alex comes across as your typical rich play boy at the start of the book, but as you get to know him more you understand that a lot of that is a show.

I was engaged in the mystery the entire way through, and whenever I thought I knew what was going on, another piece of the overall puzzle was revealed which had me straight back to wondering what was going on.

At one stage in the book I did feel that the relationship between Ophelia and Alex suddenly jumped in a way that had me flipping back to check if I had missed anything. Other than that it was an amazing book and after that cliffhanger I cannot wait for book 2!

A huge thank you to the amazing author Autumn Woods, Zando and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Nightshade in exchange for my honest review.

"𝑶𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚, 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒄𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆."

Special thanks to @zandoprojects @slow.burnreads @autumnwoods.author & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC and physical copies.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕️

✍️🏼 Enemies to lovers
✍️🏼 Dark academia
✍️🏼 Mysterious murders
✍️🏼 Revenge
✍️🏼 Grumpy x grumpy

So we all know im always going into books blind. We'll this one was sent to me and I read the dark academia part and the rest went out the window.
Ophelia is plagued with guilt of her parents passing and is bound to find the truth with a side of revenge. Alex happens to be part of that by familial qualities, yet she can't put a finger on what draws her to him.

I've come to love a good romantic suspense every once and a while and watching this story unfold had me glued to the pages. The academia setting really added to the ambiance, and im living for it.

I mean WOW just WOW, I was emerged into the world of Sorrowsong and I didnt want it to end. Im pining for book 2, more than I've ever wanted a second book in a series. Holy shit was that amazing.

But the last sentence 😭😭😭😭😭😭

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:


ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ What's a genre you recently read that is out of your norm, but you ended up loving?

.
.
.

#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #darkacademia #romanticsuspense #swoonworthy #autumnwoods #nightshade #slowburnreads #zando #netgalley #topreadof2025
.

This book was a rollercoaster right from the start to the end!! I need the second book like right now!! I'm obsessed with Ophelia and alex!! This book had all the vibes. It reminded me why I love dark academia books so much. The tension between the charcters was immaculate. please go read this book rn if you haven't yet!

Such a great book! The ending leaves you hanging with heartbreak. Need the next book AsAP. I could not stop reading trying to figure out what is going to happen next. “I will love you with the same intensity that you hate me”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Twisty, Tense, and Surprisingly Emotional

Nightshade is a dark, slow-burn romantic suspense that totally sneaks up on you. It’s part murder mystery, part love story, with just the right amount of grit and heart.

The mystery is well done—tense and layered, with enough red herrings to keep you second-guessing. But what really stands out is the chemistry between the main characters. The romance feels earned and believable, with just the right mix of tension, tenderness, and unresolved baggage. Nothing insta-love here, thankfully.

The writing is gorgeous without being overdone, and the darker tone fits the story perfectly. My only gripe is that the middle slowed down a bit, and a couple of side characters could’ve used more development. But overall, it’s a great read

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to Autumn Woods and everyone at Netgalley and Zando for giving me an ARC of this book and the chance to review it. This book chewed me up and spat me out as a little ball of pain on the floor—see that ball? That’s me. I want to scream, I want to cry, I want to shake the psychopath who thought making this a duet was a good idea because that cliffhanger left me feral. Why did I think I deserved peace? Emotional wreck on public transport. 5⭐️ for the damage alone. We follow Ophelia Winters, who accepts a scholarship at an elite Scottish university, determined to prove her parents' death was the fault of aviation mogul Cain Green. Her plan? Simple—keep her grades up, stay under the radar. Easy. Until the mysterious man who nearly kills her on day one turns out to be Cain’s son. Enter: Alex Corbeau-Green. A monster in disguise… or so she thinks. Loneliness has been Ophelia’s only constant, but when anonymous threats and strange things start happening, she wonders if she can really survive Sorrowsong alone. Between a project partnership and becoming alibis in a murder case (yes, really), staying away from Alex becomes impossible. And when she starts falling for the soft heart beneath his cold exterior? That vengeance mission gets complicated—fast. This book is dark. Dark academia, slow-burn, Scottish Highlands gothic energy—and it delivers. The mystery and suspense of it all was incredible and just added to the tension and atmosphere. Check your triggers: there’s grief, suicidal thoughts, depression (especially with Alex), and a whole lot of emotional carnage. And yet… it’s stunning. The setting? Beautiful. The pacing? Perfection. The chemistry? SCREAMING. They don’t even get together until 60% and by then I was feral. The spice? 10/10. These two are soulmates, full stop. Alex is the blueprint for “if she asked him to jump, he’d say how high.” And Ophelia is a badass with trauma and a grudge and absolutely no chill—and I adored her. Just when she starts to love, everything goes to hell. Why can’t they just be happy??? Even the side characters were full of life and added so much. I’m obsessed. I'm wrecked. I’m ready to sell my soul for book 2. Bring tissues. Bring rage. 10/10 recommend.

From the very first page, Nightshade had me in a chokehold. Rain poured down as we followed our FMC along a winding, isolated road towards a looming, gothic university. The setting was eerie, atmospheric, and deliciously moody. Everything I want when diving into a dark academia mystery. I went in intrigued by the enemies-to-lovers trope and the haunting university backdrop, and came out absolutely obsessed!

What truly anchored me to the story was Ophelia. She’s determined and angry, fueled by grief, but she hasn’t lost her heart. Her pain, especially over the mystery surrounding her parents deaths, felt deeply layered. Watching her unravel the truth while trying to stay grounded in the promises she made to them hit hard. I love that she never felt like a caricature of the “tough girl”. She’s angry, yes, but she’s also vulnerable, curious, and so real.

And then there’s Alex. Broody. Brilliant. Burdened. He plays the role of aloof, cocky love interest so well, but underneath it all is a young man trying to hold his fractured family together. He’s not just a love interest. He’s a caretaker, a protector, and a boy with a breaking heart.

Together, Ophelia and Alex lit up the page. Their back-and-forth dynamic was addictive, the tension was top tier, and the emotional payoffs? Chef’s kiss. I wouldn’t just call this a romance, it’s a story about two broken people slowly beginning to understand that they’re not alone in their pain.

The mystery element keep me fully engaged. The pacing was sharp and the reveals were perfectly spaced out. I flew through chapters needing to know more. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, a new piece of the puzzle would shift and deepen the stakes.

Grief, legacy, and found family are strong undercurrents throughout. Both Ophelia and Alex are navigating personal losses that have reshaped who they are, and the story explores what it means to carry those burdens and still try to reach for something (or someone) more.

And let’s talk about the setting! The writing painted a world so vivid I could feel the damp chill in the air, hear the echoes in Sorrowsong’s ancient halls, and see the silvery mist rolling across the tarn. The university wasn’t just a backdrop. It shaped the tone, the characters, and the plot itself. I could have stayed in this world for so much longer.

The cliffhanger ending left me gasping. I’m not okay. I’ll be (im)patiently waiting for book two!

If you’re into dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, and atmospheric mysteries that keep you guessing, Nightshade by Autumn Woods needs to be on your radar.

Thank you to Zando publishing, author Autumn Woods, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this title.

Omg! This book was so good. Literally gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes and I’m loving it.

I loved the plot and the FMCs quest for revenge but her internal battle as she develops feelings for the OPP. The tension and the angst were heavy with this one. That forbidden love and enemies to lovers (even though it was a one sided beef) was so hot 🥵. And Alex? Omg Alex was funny as hell! He has me literally laughing out loud the entire book. His banter was top notch but the way he cared for and loved Ophelia was even better. He’s literally everything a book boyfriend should be.

This book has it all! Revenge, drama, angst, spicy romance, secrets, betrayal, mystery, and more.

4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this! Fun, fast paced, and full of tension. Plus the stalker mystery added another element that drove the plot. Can't wait to read the next one!