I really enjoyed this one! It's got the perfect gothic setting, an incredible romance, some mystery, and a book boyfriend that I won't be forgetting anytime soon! I need the second book ASAP!

Romance. Suspense. Yearning. Found family. Nightshade has it ALL IN SPADES! Alex is the heir of an aviation company in the US and Ophelia has lost everything. They both end up at Sorrowsong- a university that basically educates the offspring of the most corrupt people in the world. It is in Scotland and has major Harry Potter vibes with houses etc, but no magic. Alex and Ophelia continue to get thrown together and eventually form a found family with some of their other friends. Ophelia is trying to avenge her parents' deaths and also has a deadly stalker lurking on campus. Alex is trying to raise his six sisters from afar while his mother is in a mental health crisis and his father is working.

Alex and Ophelia are both so miserable and attracted to each other. I loved reading how they understood each other. However- this book does end on a heartbreaking cliffhanger, but I know it will be worth it! I will be waiting for Nightshade 2 to come out with bated breath!

Thank you NetGalley and Zando for this ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That cliffhanger just brought me physical pain <3

I went into this book completely blind and had SO MUCH FUN. A dark university setting where all of the students are from dangerous families (mafia, drug lords, evil CEOs).

Fast paced an entertaining all the way through. Started off where I thought the vibe would be enemies to lovers but morphed into “he hates how much he likes her” to “he fell first & is down bad”

Sooo fun

Oh wow! This story had a near-poetic quality to it. I absolutely loved all the literary references sprinkled throughout, and the banter between Alex and Ophelia was everything. I seriously need a Vincenzo in my life. The concept behind NIGHTSHADE was fantastic, and Autumn did a brilliant job weaving the plot together. Without giving anything away, I was genuinely caught off guard by that late revelation…so well done.

That said, something felt a bit off for me pacing-wise. Certain scenes had a “fade-to-black” feeling, like in romance novels, or they would appear and disappear so suddenly it was jarring. It’s hard to put into words, but there were moments where I found myself wanting more… more depth, more buildup, more resolution.

Still, what a strong debut. My personal feeling of “missing something” doesn’t take away from the story as a whole. The emotional connection between Alex and Ophelia, both individually and together, was beautifully done. I devoured NIGHTSHADE in one sitting and cannot wait for book two.

Tropes:
Dark academia
Murder Mystery/thriller
MMC has daddy issues
Mafia adjacent



I am excited for book2! It is already on my TBR list. I absolutely love the banter between Ophelia and Alex. I was laughing at Alex’s responses to Ophelia. I loved their interactions with one another. Alex’s character development? Flawless.

It was a slow start for me but after the 30% mark, I instantly fell in love with the two. I can’t wait to see what book2 has in store

Really enjoyed this and I am patiently impatiently waiting for the release of the 2nd book.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book!

Thank you to Zando and NetGalley for this ARC. This book delivered exactly what it described. Dark academia, enemies to lovers, mafia vibes. I was here for all of it. Was the ending a little predictable? Sure! Will I be continuing the series? Absolutely. Alex was a golden retriever in a black cat’s body. Thank you to Autumn for a fast paced great read.

Cliche? Maybe, but I ATE IT UP. Autum did an amazing job being able to make something that is common and turn it into something unique yet comforting at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I’m honestly surprised how much I enjoyed this one! There’s not a ton of plot or build up for the romance, but I really loved their chemistry. The banter was top tier and I was giggling a few times. I also really enjoyed the setting/ vibes of the book as a whole. I cannot wait to see where book 2 goes because the cliffhanger killed me!

Charlotte + Alex

-dark academia
-romantic suspense
-enemies to lovers
-grumpy/grumpy
-murder mystery

phewwww this one is gonna really take us thru the ringer with this cliffhanger! but the tension, angst & the banter between these two is so raw & pure! & their character development, both separate & together is written so beautifully! it's a great ride!!

This book started off a little slow for me but I'm so glad I stuck with it! Alex is a top tier book boyfriend! And the banter between him and Ophelia was 10/10. But I would not recommend reading this in public. The ending had me sobbing on an airplane. I need book 2 ASAP!

I'm an absolute sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope, and Nightshade did not disappoint.

Corrupt CEO's, awful parents, covered up murders, mafia besties, secrets, betrayal, mental illnesses, and a romance you just can't help but root for. A broody, depressed, sweet, caring man who doesnt think he's worthy of love but would do anything for his sisters and his mother and a sassy, emotional, independent woman out to avenge her parents untimely death. Wires cross, world's coincide, and I lapped up every twist and turn.

While the writing was occasionally quite repetitive, there were some real gems throughout the book that spoke to me. A particular favourite being: "Just surviving is achievement enough" because isn't that just the reminder we all need to hear sometimes.

Alex truly had me kicking me feet at times, and the way he and Ophelia bickered and flirted together - especially the email subject headings and the crossword clues - had me cackling.

I sort of predicted the big reveal near the end of the book a few chapters prior, but it was still tense and tied a few loose ends together. That is, until the damn cliffhanger ending came and unravelled them all over again.

Genuinely very excited for book 2, genuinely very annoyed I now have to wait for it.

Loved this spooky atmospheric dark academia, the character development was top notch and what kept me reading, the pace was a little slow but I really enjoyed reading this!

4.5!
Dark Academia isn't usually a favourite of mine but Nightshade was so a pleasure to read.

I found it a little tricky to get into at first but the character development and relationship between Ophelia and Alex sucked me in and kept me rooting for them. I loved how the tone of Autumns writing matched the mood/weather/overall feel of the book so consistently.

Nightshade is spooky, suspenseful, emotional, and fast paced!
Excited to have it in store and see what comes next from Autumn, Alex and Ophelia!

Thank you for this advanced read to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.
A soft dnf/pause for now, so the middle rating, I don't feel anything else would be fair. I am definitely in the minority here but this one just didn't click with me, could be the reading slump or simply I am not into dark academia in general. This was probably my best attempt with the subgenre yet. The characters were interesting and the tone/atmosphere were right and combined mystery and wit well.
I think my biggest issue was that the beginning was abrupt and a lot of background felt missing. In general I think it needs better flow and transitions so that the plot moves more organically and we feel tension and urgency.
But overall I think it would be a great read for people who like dark academia/mafia/university romances and I am glad that I had the chance to try it.