Thank you for the ARC. 🙌✨

I really enjoyed this, it had suspense, mystery and banter-y romance. (Loved the emails)

I would have finished this book faster if life didn’t get in my way.

It was a little predictable, but I ate it up anyways. I was curious how it was going to end since it’s going to be a duet, and I need book 2 now please 🙏. As soon as things were looking to good to be true with the mystery solved and loved found. Bam, heartbreak and a new mystery.
I need to know what happens next for them.

Nightshade by Autumn Woods merges dark academia with romance in an atmospheric tale set against the backdrop of a Scottish castle. This compelling story follows a female protagonist driven by revenge and grappling with an orphan complex, as she becomes entangled with a powerful empire inheritor in a narrative tinged with stalker elements.

The novel expertly weaves in poetry references throughout, adding depth to its dark academic atmosphere. While the romance falls on the lighter side of dark, it maintains enough edge to keep readers invested in the unfolding relationship.

The book successfully delivers an engaging experience that will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy their academia with a gothic twist. With its strong character dynamics and atmospheric setting, Nightshade proves to be a compelling read that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the sequel.

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK

I have been in a bit of a reading slump the majority of 2025 and this book DRAGGED me out of it kicking and screaming.

I was hooked from the first chapter. I loooooved the FMC and the MMC and I felt their characteristics were fleshed out and consistent through the entire book which sometimes can be rare. It really made the book easy to feel immersed in.

The spooky gothic academia vibes were IMMACULATE while still maintain the “modernized” feel. Like they mention social media and not once did it take me out of the story or feel out of place which was astounding.

Like I genuinely don’t have anything negative to say about this book I loved it so much.

THE ENDING HURTSSSSSSSSSS LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO

Thank you so so much Slowburn & Autumn Woods for this early copy I had so much fun reading this book!!!

I had a hard time with this book. I really wanted to get into it, but it was lacking the dark, atmospheric feeling I seek out in dark academia books. I was so excited about this book since a lot of my mutuals have loved this, but it just wasn’t for me.

Nightshade by @autumnwoods.author

Allow me to SCREAM about this book for a moment because it was absolutely addicting perfection! The characters, the university setting, the creepy vibes, all excellent! Alex is the dreamiest, most drool worthy MMC 🤤 and Ophelia is a strong girlie and they are so hot together. I was giggling and kicking my feet several time throughout this book. The one liners and their banter… so good. After that ending, I cannot wait for book 2! 😍

Read if you love:
-dark academia
-mafia vibes
-clue/whodunnit murder mystery/cover ups/stalkers
-creepy Scottish gothic mansion/university
-super sexiness (but not toooo spicy. Hot and tasteful and not at all cringe!)
-depression/mental health rep
-rugby player/swimmer romance

This was exactly as good as I thought it would be! The dark academia vibes and spooky Scottish university setting were immaculate. Alex and Ophelia made me laugh out loud, swoon, giggle, cry. The pacing was perfectly tortuous and I literally could not wait for them to get together. Their relationship was messy and heartbreaking but they were so perfect for one another.

This was such a page turner and the mysteries had me in suspense the whole time. There are stalkers, murders, coverups, oh my. While one of the big reveals wasn’t a huge surprise, the ending was definitely a shock. I cannot freaking wait to read the conclusion of Alex and Ophelia’s story!

Thank you to Zando and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ARC review, all thoughts are entirely my own.

I was HOOKED from the beginning y’all. I think I read 60% in one day I just couldn’t put this book down, obsessed may summarise how I felt about this!

The premise of this book follows Ophelia, a girl who lost her parents to an accident and she is trying to find out who caused it. In order to do that she went to study at Sorrowsong University - a gothicly described university. Whilst there she meets Alex and I won’t tell you much more - you’ll need to read it to find out as I don’t want to spoil.

I just really loved Alex as a character also (not only because he has rugby player thighs), he had so many layers and so much depth to him and I just need more of him. I will say, I felt the romance between the two rushed when they finally hit it off. My other comment is I would have liked a little more about Ophelia overcoming the traumas she’s been through (therapy or something) especially as a result of some of the things that happened in this book.

I am DYING for the next book, I need it now!! (This did end on a cliffhanger).

4.5⭐️

Oh my! I loved this book so so so much. I’m so thankful I got the opportunity to read it.

Nightshade is a Dark Academia & Romance book. The main character Ophelia goes to this prestigious school to get revenge after her parents death and ends up meeting Alex, the sweetest most caring man EVER.

I have no words. I ate this up. The things that Alex said and did had me swooning and Ophelia is such a strong female character.

I guess the ending has a trope that I don’t enjoy as much and that’s why my rating goes down half a star. But basically I NEED the second book. NOW. Help.

Thank you SO SO much for this ARC!!!

Okay I reaaaaally enjoyed this book. Although the characters are young, their stories are well developed (and tragic) and I felt like I knew the characters really well. I appreciated the small amount of spice and felt like it made sense when it happened.

I’m interested to hopefully see more of the group dynamics between Alex’s friends, and hopefully see Alex spend some more money on Ophelia next time hehe.

I’m really excited to read book 2!!!

i was truly enamoured by this book. it was so incredible — the setting, the tension & banter, the characters, the feelings— all so perfect! truly one of the best books i have ever read. the writing is stunning, atmospheric and so humorous, i laughed out loud so much and had to sit back and stare at the wall multiple times to just soak in the masterpiece that is autumns writing.

i laughed (a lot) i cried (a lot) and i loved the book (a lot) the writing was exceptional and so so stunning, i was hanging on to every word and couldn’t bare to put the book down!

the humour was PERFECT i cackled so many times at how relatably dorky and herself ophelia was and how alex completely matched her energy. their interactions through email/texts was my favourite thing ever and so fun to read! they were so compatible and their chemistry was SO HOT. no word of a lie i was giggling and kicking my feet constantly😭

i loved their dynamic from the beginning and was so glad that their banter and teasing stayed when they got together! honestly such a perfectly matched and written couple i am obsessed with both of them!

i loved how deeply we got to know alex and ophelia, their characters were so distinct and uniquely written that i felt so connected to them, and all of the side characters were so well developed too! eike & belladonna hmu pls xoxox

i related to both ophelia and alex on so many levels, they just really felt like real people and i loved that so much. reading their relationship start from hate (validly might i add) to becoming so soft and beautiful made me heart melt!

two heartbeats helping eachother🥹

the plot line?? don’t even get me started on how insane it was!! i was on the edge of my seat and so so intrigued! the setting and descriptions made it even more magical and i fell so deeply in love with sorrowsong and its secrets

i don’t want to spoil any quotes but i swear i highlighted the whole book😭😭 it was beyond amazing and easily a new forever favourite of mine!!! infinite stars i cannot recommend it enough & am SO excited for book two!!!

i could talk forever about this book and how much i loved it. infinite stars!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! 🤯 This book deserves all the stars. ⭐️

A Dark Academia Romance filled with suspense, revenge, mystery, and a breathtaking love story. To say my mind is blown is putting it lightly.

The author did a phenomenal job at creating the perfect atmosphere. The characters are perfectly developed and the plot is actually the main star.
I couldn’t put it down. It kept me invested and captivated from page one.

CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ENOUGH!!

Tropes:

Hate to Love

Forced Proximity

Dark Academia

University Setting

Grumpy x Grumpy

Murder mystery

Romantic Suspense

He Falls First

Nightshade is book one of a duet and follows Ophelia and Alex at an elite university located in Scotland. His father is somehow responsible for the death of her parents and she wants revenge.

I ate this up. It was such a good and well paced hate to love romance. I love when two broken characters fall in love and help each other heal. Ophelia and Alex are complex characters you want to root for. There is also mystery within the plot that was entertaining. I do wish the side characters were utilized and fleshed out more but I did like them. Can’t wait for book 2.

I loved this so much and it's perfect for a romantic suspense.
If you like:
*dark academia
*Enemies-to-lovers
*he falls first
*found family
*grumpy x grumpy
*low spice
*Scottish castle setting
Then this is the book for you!

I’ve been seeing this book everywhere, so I was really happy that i got the arc :) This books was so fun to read!

Gothic Scottish rainy castle that is sad girl spring's wet dream >
Tall dark handsome tattooed green eyed love interest >

My enjoyment journey of this book: stumbled in the beginning, then ran full sprint, then stumbled and fell at the end.

On the outside it checks so many boxes for me, but the execution wasn't a fav. Mainly the characters felt recycled, the dialogue didn't feel authentic to how they would actually speak. Didn't know the FMC Ophelia was Scottish until it was explicitly stated because she didn't read as a Scottish/British character with the diction choices.

Spice was fade to black but murder was in full color.

If you are a fan of extremely slow burns, dark academia, Hogwarts house vibes, broken characters falling for each other, tension, and angst, then this is the book for you.

This is a beautifully written book with characters that are multi layered. Ophelia is sad, lonely, and angry, but she still wants to be loved and accepted. Alex is depressed and angry with the weight of the world on his shoulders. This book is a master class in character development.

It started out a bit slow for me, but as I kept reading, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. There were some things that pulled me out of the story a bit. Why is Ophelia going to swim in the tarn when the temperature is in single digits? Why is Alex wearing rugby shorts outside in December in Scotland? But? That plot twist and cliffhanger at the end? Sign me up for book two right now!

What a hidden gem! Never heard of this author before and I generally have lower expectations for indie published stuff because I am aware that a lot of them are not able to have editors on-board, so it's only fair to go into these books with a very open-mind.

But this was truly an amazing book. The plot was plotting, the romance was romancing, the gothic academic setting was giving. The author stated she wanted to the book to feel like fantasy while not being one and she nailed that! The vibes were certainly there.

Ophelia enrolls into Sorrowsong Uni hoping to avenge her parent's death, she finds herself becoming closer to the son of her parents' murderers and finds a stalker hot on her tails and very much wanting to bring her down. This was so fun, creepy and spooky to read. Her and Alex had such a healing relationship and I adored the side characters- I just know Vin is gonna have such a sad back story. It was half enemies-or-rivals-to-lovers, but not intense enough to classify fully as either. But the tension was still present nonetheless. The mystery was interesting, but I do think it could have been stronger in terms of leaving clues for readers to follow etc. The writing was simply wonderful. I was laughing at some of the stuff Ophelia saying, absolutely loved her dry humour.

𝙵𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 : 🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 : 🫑

𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 : academia | hair washing | he falls first | found family | praise kink | slow burn | broken girl x broken boy | murder mystery

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚎 : “Until midnight, a hundred years from now.”

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯 : FIRST - that cliffhanger was just rude. Second, this book made me cry. I’m in love with Alex. Holy wow. The words that come out of his mouth. & you know I love a broken boy. Especially a broken boy who falls apart for her.

Oh, Ophelia. My poor sweet girl. You deserve better. You deserve more. You deserve him. So many things to say. So many thoughts. So many things I can’t say because spoilers.

I really loved this book. It’s a true slow burn. & I just love the characters, story, and plot. It was refreshing and unique. Download the book. It’s worth it, I promise.

This one personally was not for me but I know it was be really enjoyed by a lot of other readers, could be timing for me reading, however I would still promo and share about it because I know others will like it.

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"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."

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 359 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Autumn Woods
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Zando
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 24 June 2025

What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
— First Person X Dual POV
— Dark Academia
— Elite Scottish Highlands University
— Swimmer X Rugby Player
— Academic Rivals
— Hate-To-Love
— Slow Burn Romance
— Grumpy X Grumpy
— Murder & Mystery
— He Falls First
— Found Family
— Angst & Yearning

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: murder & attempted murder, stalking, sexually explicit content (low spice), anxiety & panic attacks, drowning, violence & injury, depression, suicide ideation, grief & family loss, declining mental health (side character) and graphic adult language.

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Nightshade is the first instalment in the Sorrowsong University duet by author Autumn Woods. I was immediately drawn into the journey that unfolds as the chemistry and sparks between our two main characters felt palpable from their very first interaction. The length of this story is fairly standard by being under 400 pages and I honestly could've happily read a much longer book had it been the case. Nightshade felt very well paced with its emotionally gripping storyline and varied cast of characters with their own distinctive personalities which left me feeling enraptured from beginning to end. It felt seamless to invest my time into the journey that we follow about two young adults who are feeling broken, vulnerable and unsure about their place in a world that would seek to destroy them. The compelling narrative voice of our two main characters offered a unique perspective into the ongoing mystery that plagued the lives of students and professors alike. The emotional stakes within this book are high which constantly left me feeling nervous and on the edge of my seat as I eagerly wanted to know what would happen next. Full of twists and turns that I never saw coming, Nightshade has quickly solidified itself as a favourite read of the year that has me counting down the days awaiting news on the second instalment in this duet.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
I'm very much in my 'Romantic Suspense' era right now so I immediately knew that I would become obsessed with Nightshade from the very first page... which I was obviously right about. I was instantly overwhelmed with the feeling of intrigue to follow the journey of a young woman on a path of revenge after the tragic death of her parents is deemed an 'accident' despite signs of foul play. Ophelia Winters knows who is responsible for the loss of her parents and spends several years curating the perfect plan to ruin his life... a plan which must unfold where it all began. Sorrowsong University. What is supposed to be an (almost) effortlessly laid out plan with clear goals in mind immediately becomes muddled when life at the prestigious university becomes deadly as Ophelia finds herself catching the attentions of an unknown individual who takes greats pleasure in taunting her. Stalking, cryptic emails, eerie noises in the night and a murder on campus suddenly becomes the reality of Ophelia's life as she struggles with finding the right person to turn to for help. The last person she should look towards for comfort and support is the spoiled son of the very man she seeks to destroy and yet, not all is always as it seems. I absolutely adored the plot in Nightshade as its allure and unpredictability are largely to credit for my inability to put the book down. The twists and turns left me constantly feeling on edge as I struggled to determine who Ophelia could trust and what characters she had to watch her back against. I genuinely couldn't pinpoint who I suspected the stalker to be until I neared the end of the story when all of the missing pieces began to connect, and in the end I was left visibly in shock as revelations began to bring the story full-circle. There is not a single aspect to the story that felt lacking in purpose as I got the sense that every new chapter would unravel necessary information which would help to support the development of our varied cast of characters. The story within this book is honestly effortless as it developed with ease and I'm basically clawing at my walls in eager anticipation on news for the additional instalment to this duology. Nightshade is sheer perfection and I'm very confident that it'll remain one of my favourite books of the year.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Ophelia Winters is the president of the 'misunderstood club' and I cannot fully articulate just how much I've fallen in love with this sad, grumpy and angry young woman who been forced to endure so much at too young an age. I really understood why Ophelia perceived her actions to be just and I loved getting to know her character better as her perception of the truth began to feel challenged in time with the plot. Her character development was written to perfection as she never becomes trapped into one image or another, and instead shows a steadfast willingness to grow and adapt. Ophelia is initially firm on her beliefs and is unwilling to consider that there is more to the elite crowd that she finds herself living in close proximity with, however I enjoyed getting to explore the mental shift and recognition in Ophelia's mind as she found herself desperately in-need of powerful allies to consider friends. Her banter and quick wit constantly left me grinning, especially throughout the moments she is seen battling against the modern invention best known as technology. A young, intelligent woman such as Ophelia being so hopeless at technology really shouldn't feel as hilarious as it was... but honestly I loved how something so simple can add so much light and depth to her character. I imagine it must feel hard to not want to root for Ophelia (I wouldn't know) because what I loved the most about her character was the inner strength and resilience that she somehow managed to possess. Life refuses to give her a break as she is forced to endure hardship time and time again, however Ophelia refuses to give up and somehow finds the strength to keep moving forward with her path day-after-day. Her flaws and insecurities make Ophelia a deeply vulnerable and relatable character for the reader to connect with, and honestly I just felt the urge to reach through the pages and give her a hug. Ophelia's trust issues play a large role throughout the story as this largely dictates how she approaches friendships and relationships for the duration of the book, however I loved getting to see this evolve over time as the people in her life proved themselves to be honest and worth crumbling emotional walls for. There's no denying that when Ophelia loves, she loves hard and steadfast. Her loyalty and determination make her a valuable friend to have and I loved getting to see Ophelia prove herself just by staying true to character... with a few minor white lies. Her abandonment issues showcase Ophelia craving connection and companionship whilst also worrying about befriending the wrong crowd of people, and honestly at this point I'm just anxiously waiting on book two so that I can finally see this wonderful girl find the joy in her life that she desperately deserves and needs. I'm an Ophelia Winters defender from now until the day that I die.

I would like to personally thank the author for the creation of Alex Corbeau-Green whilst simultaneously cursing the fact that I'm yet again in-love with another fictional man who will never love me back. Oh, Alex. What a tortured, sensitive and broken soul this wonderful character turned out to be. Upon first introduction Alex easily comes across as the spoiled and arrogant son to the very man that Ophelia is trying to ruin, and I have never been more happy to be proven wrong in all of my life. Alex is such a multi-layered and complex character who at his core puts family above all everything and everybody else. His loyalty is absolute without transaction and there is no denying that is it family where all of Alex's priorities lie. The way he constantly rushed away to be present for his younger sisters and struggling mother during moments of crisis tugged on my heartstrings... but all I could think about was who was looking after him? Alex is so quick to place the needs of others above his own to the point that his own self-care felt negligent, and all I hoped for was for him to find somebody who would do what he felt like he couldn't. Put his wants and needs first. Show him that he is as deserving of receiving the love that he reserves so fiercely for his own loved ones. Alex is such a vulnerable and gentle-hearted soul underneath his 'spoiled rich boy' persona which is proven time and time again based on his actions. Actions speak louder than words... and there was nobody in this book speaking more loudly than Alex Corbeau-Green. I loved getting to see his carefree and witty side come to the surface during his interactions with a certain frustrating redhead. To me, these interactions showcased a glimpse of the young man Alex could potentially become had his shoulders become free of all of the burdens placed upon him. I really hope we get to see more of 'happy Alex' in the final book because as much as I love pain and angst... I'm really rooting for this beautiful boy to find his joy and fight to keep it. His kindness and selflessness are indisputable, and there's no denying the way the ending of the book unfurled broke my heart into a shattered array of pieces that may never be whole again. Not to be impatient but the release of book two is when? I'll be counting down the day eagerly awaiting to hear more news from the author when she is ready to share.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Messy, chaotic and yet vulnerable is the best way for me to encapsulate the relationship development between sad boy Alex and angry girl Ophelia. The way that Ophelia hated Alex so fiercely without fear of making it known so in turn, Alex hated her back out of pure spite and principle was truly hilarious. Poor Alex was beyond baffled as to why the feisty redhead he nearly ran over with his car on the first day of the school year seemed to hate him so ferociously despite having never met prior to that incident. Their banter and wit was absolutely hilarious and sorely needed during the many moments of strife and uncertainty which took place at the gloomy Scottish University they currently reside in. Their email correspondence was written to perfection and left me wheezing with laughter during several occasions. That certain scene where Ophelia finds herself underneath Alex... much to his enjoyment? Hilarious. My personal preference when it comes to relationships is a slow burn approach and I was being fed during Nightshade. The burn was burning as the dynamic between Alex and Ophelia was filled with delicious angst, unwanted attraction and sizzling chemistry that both characters desperately wished away. Seeing them trying to desperately deny themselves was equally amusing as it was frustrating. All I could think was "and this is when they kiss" and "just kiss it out already!!" as the author masterfully dangled their longing in front of my very eyes. However at the same time there is absolutely nothing that I would change about the wat Alex and Ophelia approached their relationship. It was raw, authentic and inexplicably them which just made so much sense. Everything about the romantic progression between the pair felt purposeful and earned, and the result in the end was something beautiful built on trust and reward. The way they began to lean on and trust in each other had me kicking my feet in giddiness, and honestly there is no denying that Alex and Ophelia have became one of my favourite book couples of all time. I'm really rooting for these two to make it out of their tragic situation unscathed, so please can we all be really nice to the author and send her nothing but complimentary words to make this a secured thing. Alex and Ophelia hold my very heart within their fictional hands. I just love those two broken idiots with everything I have. That is all.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Autumn Woods I'm going to need you to lock your doors because I'm coming for that book two manuscript. What do you mean it ends this way? What do you mean I have to wait to find out what happens? You have a reader for life because my god has this book and its characters consumed my every waking thought and sometimes even my dreams. If you're a fan of Romantic Suspense or are looking for a recommendation to get into the genre... then look no further. Nightshade is not only one of my favourite books of the year but is now also one of my favourite books ever. This book was everything that I needed and wanted from it and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the next and final instalment to the duet.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.