🖤 Nightshade is the dark academia romance thriller you didn’t know you needed—until you can’t stop thinking about it.

Ophelia is an outcast with a plan: uncover the truth behind her parents’ suspicious deaths. But when she clashes with Alex Corbeau-Green—the son of her prime suspect—things get dangerously complicated. He’s as brooding as he is mysterious, and their fiery enemies-to-lovers chemistry is absolutely magnetic.

Expect:
🕵️‍♀️ Murder mystery & high-stakes revenge
🏰 Gothic Scottish Highlands setting
🔥 Grumpy x grumpy romance with forced proximity
🎓 Dark academia vibes with billionaire mafia intrigue
💔 Complex emotions and unexpected alliances

If you love Gothikana or Maxton Hall and crave a suspenseful, sexy story with edge-of-your-seat twists, this one’s for you. Bonus: the print edition includes a POV bonus chapter that adds even more depth to their first encounter.

This was my first Autumn woods book and I wasn't disappointed one bit. I love a good dark academia with a good love/hate grumpy relationship!!! That cliffhanger tho 😭 I will definitely be reading more by Autumn Woods. Thank you for the opportunity to arc read this book!

4/5 stars
2/5 peppers

This is my first book by Autumn Woods and I was not disappointed. Usually dark academia takes me a while to get into them but not Nightshade. I don't know what Ms. Woods did to make this book addictive and a page-turner but bless her for it. Plus I'm always down for a grumpy/grumpy love hate relationship. Although I am a spicy girly the slight tension and will they won't they kept me going. B the way that cliffhanger was rude... because what do you mean I have to wait.

Nightshade was mysterious and yet enchanting all at the same time. If you've never read Autumn Woods, you are missing out especially if you are a dark academia girly and need a new addiction. Thank you Netgalley and Zando/Slowburn for the opportunity to read this delicious book.

WOW
This was EVERYTHING, I'm actually not okay??
Nightshade is a dark academic romance, which bleeds raw emotion, insecurity, mystery and suspense. The two main characters, Ophelia and Alex are equally broken in different ways, Ophelia is left orphaned and finds herself at Sorrowsong University where she meets Alex, heir to a fortune and the caretaker of his entire family.
Ophelia has one goal - to find out who killed her parents, but re inescapable draw of Alex gets in the way.
I cannot express how much i enjoyed this story, it's filled with suspense, a stalker, death and heartbreak whilst we follow a raw and beautiful love story.
They flirt over email and crossword prompts and have such great banter it's just such a delight to read.
Ophelia is so scared to love, and be loved, whereas all Alex wants to do is love her and he cares so deeply.
Book two better come soon, i wasn't expecting the plot and writing to be this good, im so pleased i picked this up !

''It's you who's the sun, Ophelia. I am the moon. You keep me in this tortuous cycle, lighting me up for the shortest time before you disappear again and make me invisible."

"Stop looking at me like that, Alex."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm the only woman on the planet."
His eyebrows shoot up in very convincing surprise.
"There are other women on this planet?"

"One down. Seven letters. First letter O. I've had a long day, and I want her for dinner."

I cannot wait to get a hold of the physical copy of this book i utterly adore it <3

The vibes in this book were absolutely immaculate a perfect blend of dark academia and eerie, atmospheric moments that made it an ideal autumnal read. The setting was richly drawn and the moody, spooky undertones pulled me in right away.

The romance in the first half was a highlight. The slow burn, the yearning and the tension were incredibly well-written I was fully invested. But with all that buildup, I expected a more satisfying resolution. Unfortunately, it fell flat and didn’t quite match the emotional stakes that had been established.

As for the plot, it was engaging in the moment, with a thrilling buildup that kept me turning pages. But ultimately, the payoff didn’t land. The main twist was easy to predict and the ending felt rushed and underwhelming. I did enjoy the smaller twist at the very end it added a nice touch but it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall sense of disappointment.

In the end, this book had so much potential and started strong, but it didn’t quite deliver on its promises.

A great start to a duet.

I will say i found the first few chapters quite confusing and fast-paced. but I'm so glad I carried on. The banter and quick witt between Ophelia and Alex were 5 stars. i just wish we had a lot more of them.

Ophelia can come across as very self loathing at times and I personally don't think it needed as many pages as it did to describe it, however I can see how it was used to help us relate to her.

this is definitely a slow burn, but my god, when they finally get together, it is everything!!!!

"midnight, a hundred years from now,"

i can not wait to read the next part of their story. This does end in a big cliffhanger that will leave your jaw on the floor, so be prepared

Ahhh, I’m such a sucker for a broody bad boy who’s secretly a softie someone hold me, because I’m MELTING ❤️ This book was such a pleasant surprise, I got completely hooked and couldn’t put my Kindle down! 🔥

The story kicks off with Ophelia arriving at the university she absolutely did not want to attend 😤 The only reason she’s there is to prove that Cain Green, a powerful aviation tycoon, was responsible for her parents’ death 💔 And right from the start, she meets Alex... and let’s just say the enemies-to-whatever tension is instant ⚡ Things get even more complicated when she finds out he’s none other than Cain Green’s son 👀

💘 The characters completely won me over

Ophelia, with her fire and stubborn determination, challenges Alex at every turn 💥 And he... well, he’s that mysterious, cold-on-the-outside kind of guy who slowly wins you over with quiet gestures and heart-melting loyalty. ❤️‍🔥

Alex’s relationship with his sisters and his mom is so sweet 🥹 He’s always checking in, protecting them, taking care of everything… he’s a total softie! I wanted to put him in a little jar and keep him forever hahaha 😍 (okay, maybe I’m slightly possessive over him lol 😅)

The chemistry between the two leads? Off. The. Charts. 🔥💫
The tension, the snarky emails full of sarcasm and unresolved longing, the banter, the looks… this is enemies to lovers at its finest 😍 And once you start uncovering their pasts, their traumas, the secrets they’re carrying — it all hits even harder 💥💔

I also really appreciated how the author handled Ophelia’s friendships At first, she keeps everyone at arm’s length, trying to protect herself from getting hurt 😔 At one point, she even says she’s built walls too high to let anyone in, all out of fear of abandonment 💭 It was portrayed in such a sensitive and authentic way. Ophelia’s definitely more of an introspective character, and watching her slowly open up and let people in? That really touched me 💗

🖋 The author’s writing really worked for me too

It’s smooth, emotional, and engaging ✨ The characters’ feelings practically jumped off the page, I felt everything 💭 And the setting? Absolute perfection 🏰 A gothic Scottish castle full of secrets, dark hallways, and a moody atmosphere that fits the story’s tension and twists so well 🌫️ Also… I’m weak for a good university romance setting 📚💘

📚 All in all, I REALLY enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to dive into the next one! 😍 And that ending?! EXCUSE ME, I need answers right now 😭 Until then… I’ll just be here, dying a little inside 💘

💭 If you love dark academia, emotional scars, and layered characters with messy hearts… this one’s for you!

Nightshade was an enjoyable read, filled with secrets, mystery and a dark academia atmosphere. It’s the first in the Sorrowsong University duet, so this book does end on a cliffhanger.

It’s in the heroine’s POV only and there are some great tropes like grumpy-grumpy, hate to love, he falls first, close proximity and a slow burn romance.

There were a lot of elements I enjoyed in this book like the romantic suspense, the murder mystery, the Scottish castle setting and the rich dark academia romance. The writing was also easy to follow and the revenge plot kept me intrigued until the very end. While there were a few predictable moments, I still enjoyed where the story was heading. I loved all the secondary characters as well.

However, the pacing felt a bit weird and just all over the place. Several characters including the hero were also underdeveloped. I would have liked for the hero’s backstory to have been more explored upon.

The romance between the main characters was cute but very much a slow burn. Their banter was nice and I loved how understanding the hero was. I will say though, their romantic development wasn’t the strongest and lacked tension. There was also a lot of fade to black, so not a spicy romance.

Overall, just a quick and pleasant read that I’d recommend to dark academia lovers!

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ophelia's fire and feisty attitude were absolute gold. From the moment her and Alex met she gave him a run for his money. I loved every second of it. I loved Alex's personality, and watching him take care of her through out was perfect. Especially with how much she really misjudges him. I really swooned hard for him.

I loved the dynamic between these two. The banter, and tension were so well done.

I love how broody, and gothic this story is described as being in a Scottish castle. That really demonstrated the perfect dynamic for the mysterious story line. The trauma and background of both of these characters were well thought out. You really got to understand their character and behavior.
I loved the side characters in this book and really hope they get their own book down the road!!!The cliffhanger ending was gold, and has left me so excited for the next book.

Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Dark Academia
Murder Mystery
Scottish Castle Setting


🌶️🌶️/5

"Until midnight."

🖤 Dark Gothic Academia
🖤 Romantic Suspense / Revenge
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Grumpy x Grumpy
🖤 He Falls First and Obsessed
🖤 Rugby Player x Swimmer
🖤 Scottish Castle Setting
🖤 Mental Health Rep
🖤 Himbo mafia heirs

If I could give this one more than 5 stars, I would! I devoured this book! Ophelia Winters accepts a prestigious scholarship to Sorrowsong University in Scotland in the hopes to prove her parents' deaths were at the hands of Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon. What she didn't anticipate was meeting Alexander Green, son of her enemy, the moment she gets to the university. She tries to avoid him at every turn but she soon finds herself the target of malicious threats and Alex may be the only one who can help.

This book is absolutely everything I could want in a gothic academic romance: dark and mysterious castle setting, enigmatic faculty, a delicious hate to love situationship with a man obsessed, all the angst and mental health representation, and feet kicking banter. We also get himbo mafia heirs, lethal ladies, found family, and short rugby shorts! What more could you want??

I absolutely loved Ophelia and Alex. They are both broken and just trying to survive, each with their own secret agendas in order to do so. They gravitate towards each other despite their hatred and their tension is palpable! Their banter, especially in their emails, had me kicking my feet! I couldn't get enough of them!

I quickly had the suspense figured out....until I didn't. That ending rocked me and I'm still in shock. What just happened?? I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

Thank you so much to Zando Slowburn for the advanced copy! 🖤

"Forget dying for her. I'd live for her. I feel like I could overcome all the darkness inside if only it meant I'd get a life in her company in return.”

🌸🩷Nightshade by Autumn Woods🩷🌸

⭐️⭐️⭐️. 75 out of 5: ARC Review

“Fucking hell, Twist, you’re obsessed with me.”

The beginning started off kind of weird. I didn’t really like the pacing because it felt like everything was happening way too fast. It would go from one scene to another pretty quickly. The book was dragged on and I felt like everything was happening but at the same time nothing was going on, if that makes sense. There were some parts that were entertaining but I mostly couldn’t connect with Ophelia’s character and I didn’t really feel the connection between the her and Alex until much later in the book. Her character was draining but I think that was the authors intention? Ophelia would constantly be crying and her emotions were all over the place that it made it hard to like her. I started to really like the book at like 70%. I do wish I could’ve liked this book earlier but for some reason I wasn’t feeling it. The ending did have me hooked tho!!I can’t wait to see what happened in book 2.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this book!

“Love makes a fool of us all in the end”

So, for some reason, I expected this to be a romantasy, but it wasn't at all. Romance, yes, fantasy no. But that did not matter at all.

I am completely invested in these characters and am desperate for the next book. The MMC was surprisingly swoony for such a dark premise.

Definitely recommended.

4.5 stars
This cliffhanger is going to haunt me forever. Or at least until I get the sequel in my hands. I absolutely loved this gothic academia romance with a hint of mystery and revenge. I will devour any book set at a university and this one worked really well for the plot. These characters had me absolutely HOOKED. The banter, the chemistry, the pining, I could go on forever but I just loved them. Alex Corbeau-Green, the man that you are. I had to pause reading to stare at the wall at one point because I was so overwhelmed by the tension, in the best way. I am going to be absolutely feral for the next book so I can find out what happens next for these characters that have lived in my mind rent free since I read this.

Academia Romance at its best

Alex Corbeau-Green, the man that you are. He's not like other guys, he's book boyfriend to the max. (he makes calling her Oliver Twist sexy??)

I've not highlighted a book like this in months.

x Eventually calls her baby
x Sweet misunderstood teddy bear MMC (for her)
x Grumpy/Moody FMC
x All the wit and banter you could ask for
x Scottish University setting
x She's being stalked
x Murder mystery??

The biggest shock for me whilst reading this was how witty and funny it was. I was actually laughing out loud during points of this book. This is in direct contrast to the gloomy setting and tone of the atmosphere throughout the novel. Woods manages to blend sharp wit into a world laced with tension, murder, grief, and mystery, expertly.

The dynamic between Alex and Ophelia is intoxicating. Alex brings charm to Ophelia’s broodiness, and their chemistry is undeniable from that first meeting. Despite Alex’s insistence otherwise, I knew he was a goner—and if there's one thing I love, it's a couple in denial. Their story is fuelled to the extreme; I flew through the pages.

Very if-we-were-villains-esque with less Shakespeare and more romance.

Huge thankyou to Panmacmillan and Netgalley for the e-arc

The concept of the story was super interesting and I had such high hopes for this one - the tropes are right up my alley but this book just wasn’t for me. I felt like it was very cliche and boring. I found myself a bit confused at parts and I just didn’t care to continue reading this one.

Dark academia
Hate to love
Forced proximity
Grumpy x grumpy
Romantic suspense
He falls first
Slow burn

j'ai adoré l'ambiance Dark Academia, le suspense autour de nos deux personnages, les tensions qui grandissent tout comme leurs sentiments et la manière dont on est tenus en haleine. Ophelia est une héroïne qui ne baisse jamais les bras même quand elle est menacée et elle va tout faire pour mener à bien sa vengeance alors qu'elle tombe amoureuse d'Alex... qui est un personnage génial, qui donne tout pour les autres et qui a tendance à s'oublier parfois. L'intrigue a de multiples tiroirs, certains qui vont être réglés dans ce premier tome et d'autres qui restent en suspens et j'ai hâte de lire la suite et fin ! Vivement

“𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙊𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖, 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚.”

Nightshade by Autumn Woods
5⭐️ | 1.5🌶️

-academia
-enemies to lovers
-Scottish castle setting
-he falls first
-slow burn
-murder & mystery
-stalker
-dual POV

This was a perfect dark academia romance with so much banter, tension, mystery and intrigue!

Ophelia seems like she puts off weird vibes but only because grief, trauma and isolation have have worn her down. She accepts a scholarship to an elite university in the hopes of bringing down her parents’ murderer. But things get complicated when she starts getting close to his son, Alex.

“𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”
“𝙄’𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩. “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”

Alex... He’s taken on so much responsibility for his age and had his focus solely on one purpose. Until Ophelia. Every interaction with her brings back a piece of himself. From grey, numb and indifferent to seeing colors and hoping for things again. It’s so beautifully romantic while still remaining dark and fun.

“𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪”
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧?”
“𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚.”

Meanwhile, Ophelia’s stalker has been following her every move and making her time at Sorrowsong University a nightmare. But this only brings her and Alex closer together.

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙, 𝙬𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩.”

I absolutely loved the writing style to this, from the emotion to the chemistry happening over quipy email subject lines. I just need book 2 already 😭.

“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚, 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙙.”

Thank you Autumn, @zandoprojects and @slowburn.reads for the advanced copy! Nightshade releases June 24.

4.5 stars! Dark, moody and addicting!

I tore through Nightshade by Autumn Woods so quickly!! This book hooks fast and doesn’t let go, even if some of the plot points feel a little familiar. But honestly? Predictability didn’t dim the fun one bit. If you’re a sucker for dark academia, enemies-to-lovers angst, and just the right amount of spooky mystery, this one’s got your name all over it.

Set against the eerie backdrop of Sorrowsong University (yes, it’s as gothic and fog-drenched as it sounds), the story follows Ophelia, a grieving, guarded FMC who is on a mission to uncover the truth behind her parents’ deaths. Enter Alex, the broody son of her prime suspect. They’re not thrilled to be working together, but as the secrets pile up and danger creeps closer, their dynamic shifts in ways that are as tense as they are tender. The slow-burn romance hits all the right beats, and the banter? Sharp enough to draw blood.

Where Nightshade really shines is in its emotional depth. There’s a weight to the characters’ inner lives that adds richness beneath the mystery. The author doesn’t shy away from exploring grief, mental health, and identity in a way that feels nuanced and deeply human. It’s rare to find a fantasy that balances eerie tension with such a strong emotional core.

Is it perfect? Not quite. A few dips in pacing and moments where I craved a bit more clarity in the world-building kept this from being a full 5-star for me. But those are minor things in a book that overall left me genuinely eager for the sequel. That cliffhanger? Rude. Criminal, even.

This is a standout debut for fans of moody, character-driven fantasy. If you like your romance slow-burn, your mysteries shadowy (who doesn't?!), and your fictional universities full of ghosts, Nightshade is worth your time. Bring on book two!!

Nightshade is a slow burn and god the tension is so so so good. It’s sexy and mysterious and I went thru all the emotions while reading this story!!!
It’s NOT fantasy, although the dark academia vibes are 🤌PERFECTION, it does not have any other-worldly elements. It does however, have a Uni full of the world’s youngest elite (mafia, models, & everything in between)! The banter was delicious and I licked every bit of it up!

Add to your TBR if you like:
🏰 Grumpy x Grumpy
🖤 Dark Academia
🏰 Swimmer x Rugby Player
🖤 He Falls First 😍
🏰 Mystery & Suspense
🖤 Hate to Love
🏰 Mürder and Cover Ups
🖤 Email & Crossword Banter

She’s an orphaned girl searching for answers on her parents murders. He’s the parent-ified big brother that’s trying to protect his sisters. Oh, did I mention he goes to therapy and is an airline heir?! And his dad is… well, read and you’ll find out 😉!

I didn’t just fall for this story, that cliffhanger pushed me right over the edge and I am barely hanging on and not okay. I need book two like asap!!!!

Book Rating:⭐ 4.5/5
Spice Rating:🌶️ 1/5

I didn’t know what to fully expect going into this book, and OMG, it surprised me in the best way possible! Autumn Woods did such a fantastic job with this slow burn. I was yearning right alongside these characters. The anticipation was absolutely perfect.

Ophelia and Alex were amazing. If I were their age and had to endure even half of what they went through? Nope. Couldn’t be me. I felt all the feels for these two.

And let’s talk about the banter, the author nailed it! Their back-and-forth had me grinning the whole time. This is such a good hate-to-love romance. You’ve got double grumpy MCs who just can’t help themselves, plus all the secrets that created the perfect push and pull.

And that cliffhanger?! I will be sprinting to grab book two, how could I not after that ending?!

If you love slow burns, grumpy MCs, major tension, and serious Dramione vibes, this one’s for you!