Think gothic, moody dark vibes - with academia/murder mystery and slow burn romance sprinkled in there, and this is the book for you!
Gumpy sunshine Alex lives up to his name but is fiercely protective of Ophelia and she in turn is slow to trust and lonely. The banter is great, the book could do with a little bit polishing but overall I really enjoyed this!

This was so good!!!! Can I give it six stars?!?

I DEVOURED this ! A dark academia with a revenge plot that will have you on the edge of your seat! With the best romance I’ve read in a while! Cannot wait for the next book!

Romantic suspense has a new bar for me and this was it! It was so angsty and emotionally raw but it was also INSANELY hot. I’m already ready for the next one and can’t wait to request it for my grubby little hands.

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

This book has my heart and I truly think it's my top read of the year, and one of my most favourite books I've read in my life. I finished this a few weeks ago but haven't been able to articulate just how much I enjoyed this book.

We follow Ophelia, our FMC, whose parents die in a helicopter crash, and she’s determined to avenge those responsible. She’s fortunate to be invited to study at a prestigious university where the son of an aviation tycoon — the man behind the company responsible for her parent's deaths — also attends. As she begins to uncover more of the truth, she realises Alex is nothing like his father, and she finds herself falling for him despite every fibre in her being begging her not to. And he feels the same way.

This is a gripping dark academia romance, filled with suspense and stalking and a whimsical, mysterious atmosphere that takes place in a castle. I love the email and text exchanges - it just broke the story up and added a lot of fun to the already great banter between the characters, and really intensified the growth and connection of Alex and Ophelia. I am a huge Sudoku and Crossword geek, and this book just hit the spot playing on that theme. The email exchanges were hilarious, with definitions of words as the subject line in a passive aggressive show of defiance and annoyance towards one another. It's truly just such a fun book, and it will not disappoint readers.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✨ romantic suspense
✨ mystery
✨ dark academia
✨ hate-to-love
✨ slow burn
✨ he falls first

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zando Projects for the eARC of this book. Truly a 5/5 ✨ read and I adored it so much!

Wow, this book was phenomenal! I loved how it was both a romance and a suspense. The murder mystery aspect of the story really held my attention. I was invested in Ophelia’s love story but also wanted to know what happened to her parents!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | dark academia, daddy issues, and a little murder

This was toxic in the best way. Ophelia heads to a moody Scottish university to prove her parents’ deaths were the fault of billionaire Cain Green… only to immediately run into his son, Alex, who nearly kills her (by accident!) on day one. So yeah, things escalate.

Think: murder alibis, forced proximity, anonymous threats, enemies-to-trauma-bonded. It’s giving gothic romance meets mafia-adjacent conspiracy and I ate it up.

Alex is all brooding tension and family baggage. Ophelia? lonely, determined, and ready to burn the world down—until feelings get in the way. The angst?? Immaculate.

for fans of:
• dark academia with actual danger
• “he’s awful but he’s my awful”
• morally gray boys who bleed soft once per book

Would I survive Sorrowsong? no. Would I still go? absolutely.

I am SCREECHING over the ending and so ready for book two!!!!! Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship to Sorrowsong in Scotland in order to prove that her parents were murd3r3d. Sorrowsong is university to the mega rich, the famous, and the infamous. The old school has lots of dark secrets. On day one she meets Alex, sexy rugby player who happens to be son of the man Ophelia blames for her parents de3th. She thinks he’s just like his father and makes him an enemy, but they’re drawn to each other constantly. Alex doesn’t like her at first, but does have a bit of an obsession. This one is a boy falls first and harder story and I LOVE Alex!!! He’s got so much darkness in him, but thrives on caring for others. I was so sad for him when he was dealing with his own d3mons, he had so much on his plate. I swooned so hard for this man 😮‍💨 The banter was really fun between them two. There’s lots of mystery involved and Ophelia has a stalker. Loved the story and the writing so much. It’s incredibly atmospheric.

I had such a good time with this book! The vibes are immaculate — dark academia meets slow-burn romance with a hint of the supernatural. The setting at Sorrowsong University in the Scottish Highlands was moody and atmospheric in the best way.

Ophelia is a great main character — determined, grieving, a little guarded — and I was instantly pulled into her search for the truth about her parents. And then there’s Alex… broody, brilliant, and totally suspicious. Their chemistry had me flipping pages late into the night.

It’s a slower build, but I never felt bored. The mystery kept me hooked, and the emotional tension (romantic and otherwise) made it really engaging. It gave me just the right mix of gothic vibes, secrets, and heart.

Can’t wait for book two — that ending left me needing more ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Rating: 4.5/5

- college romance
- dark academia romance
- she's a swimmer, he plays rugby
- hate to love
- he falls first
- grumpy x grumpy
- romantic suspense
- slower burn
- cliffhanger ending
- 🌶️.5/5
- dual pov

Nightshade wraps so many of my favourite things into one dark, addictive read. The moody Sorrowsong setting and a dash of dark academia perfectly frame the layers of murder and mystery that unfold.

Our main characters actually hate each other—like, she believes his father murdered her parents, levels of hate. It doesn't get more enemies-to-lovers than that. Their banter is razor-sharp, and the forced proximity only turns up the tension. Don't even get me started on the flirty emails—I lived for every single one.

Then there's Alex. He's carrying the weight of the world, but allows himself one selfish thing: Ophelia. Once they give in to the pull between them, he's protective, caring, and sweet in a way that'll have your heart aching. I swear I swooned every time he moved. And the way he steps up as a father figure to his six younger sisters? Game over.

The suspense subplot adds another layer of intrigue and ends in a killer cliffhanger. I saw one twist coming, but by the end, I didn't know what to believe. Bring on book two—I need more of Ophelia, Alex, and their chaotic, lovable friend group.

Huge thanks to Zando for the early copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Projects, for the ARC of this book. Creepy, gothic, dark academia, a complicated love story and the Scottish Highlands - this one is just delicious. Ophelia's tragic life and the mystery that surrounds it are a storyline that is interesting enough on its own. But when you add the attraction of the guy she knows she should hate but can't seem to stay away from, it makes the story a page-turner.

The ultra rich students at the uber exclusive Sorrowsong University have lives most people couldn't even begin to imagine. But when Ophelia gets a special scholarship to attend, she could really care less about anyone other than the son of the man she holds responsible for the tragedy of her life. She doesn't realize the scholarship comes with a stalker set on driving her mad and making her disappear. But what she really doesn't count on is falling for the son of the man she despises and him falling for her even harder.

This is just the first part of their story but I already can't wait for the second part to be published.

A dark academia that has romance and suspense. The pace slowly builds up to a creedence of fast pace mystery. I loved everything about this book. It kept me entertained with it's easy banter and enthralling mystery. I also really liked the characters even the not so nice ones.

Ophelia Winters, a compelling and resilient outcast, arrives at Sorrowsong seeking justice for her parents' suspicious death. The university itself is a character in its own right, steeped in gothic grandeur and shrouded in an unsettling aura of hidden dangers. Woods masterfully crafts a world that feels both alluring and menacing, creating a palpable sense of unease
The central romance between Ophelia and Alex Corbeau-Green is the beating heart of the story. Alex, the son of Ophelia's prime suspect, is initially presented as a cold and untouchable figure, a cruel reflection of his powerful father. However, as Ophelia begins to see through his carefully constructed facade, she discovers a vulnerable and surprisingly gentle soul beneath. The push and pull between them is electric, filled with undeniable chemistry and a constant struggle between their families' legacies and their growing feelings. Their connection feels genuine, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand in their way.
With its captivating plot, complex characters, and atmospheric setting, it's a perfect escape for fans of dark academia romance and thrilling mysteries.

A great dark academia romantic suspense that had intense raw emotions, authentic insecurities, angst, and hilarious email banter. The pacing was great and the writing was very descriptive and definitely set the mood for the creepy/eerie setting in Sorrowsong University. This book may be slightly predictable or cliché for some, but I was still hooked and couldn't put this down (ended on a cliffhanger and I need book 2).

My heart hurt for both Alex and Ophelia—a boy who struggles to feel, and a girl who feels too much. They struggled with their own demons and were complicated in their own messy ways, but I absolutely loved their relationship from the very beginning. Alex's depression and Ophelia's grief were well-written and executed. I loved how their characters complemented each other and how they felt alive in each other's presence. I also loved their relationships with Vincenzo—he was the perfect comedic relief in the midst of all the heavy emotions and tension of the mystery/suspense.

"Until midnight, a hundred years from now"

4.75

I was able to get this ARC through NetGalley.

Holy smokes!! What did I just devour like it was a last meal?? I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s dark, mysterious, evil, sexual and a slow burn romance all in a dark pretty package. I’m going to be on pins and needles waiting for the second book to come out.

Ophelia is at her wits end. Her parents were murdered and she needs to get out the facts that have been buried for years. Getting into Sorrowsong University is just the ticket she needs. As long as she puts in the hard work to keep her scholarshop she can dig deeper into what really happened to her parents on the fateful night their helicopter crashed near campus.

Meeting Alex and falling for the son of her parents potential murderer was not in her plans. Can Ophelia actually trust Alex and the way that he brings her happiness and warmth? Or is he just a version of his father?

I enjoyed this dark academia book a lot! It had all the elements I wanted from a gothic toned dark academia romance. I enjoyed the bantering and some of the flirting was hot! And while I ate up the grumpy x grumpy duo, once they opened up to each other, they really seemed to find their stride. And so while the characters are younger, there seemed to be more casual dialogue going on sometimes but the character development was done well and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for book two to be announced!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sandi publishing for this ARC!

I have no words. I am devastated at the ending…I need to know they are going to be okay 😭

This was one of the most unique and refreshing books I have read in a long time. We see a headstrong female protagonist who had her own goals outside of the other main characters. She was also realistic in her reactions to the incidents that shifted her worldview to that point, needing time to breathe but not staying stuck in her preconceived ideas. It was also incredible to see a male main character who is set up to seem like the antagonist but play out to be fully redeemed while still holding onto that darkness he portrayed from the get go. All in all, this book was a 5/5 stars across the board and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series or by Autumn Woods!

Nightshade took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite the start being a little slow, I really got into the dark academia vibes, the setting, and getting to know Ophelia better.

What this book really nailed was character development. It was fascinating to see how Ophelia and Alex slowly started to have feelings and trust each other. They found someone they could truly rely on, which they hadn't had before. The banter between Ophelia and Alex was one of the best things I've read in this book; they really matched each other's freak (lol), and I enjoyed every part of it.

Alex wasn't what I expected at all, he was actually super funny, kind, and selfless. I totally fell for him as fast as Ophelia did. Ophelia was so strong and determined, and in the end, she was just a girl trying to get justice for the most traumatic thing that ever happened to her. Like I said, their development was pretty amazing.

The side characters were the best for comedy relief, and I also found myself wanting to know more about them. I have to say, I kind of figured out who the stalker was, but even so, I really liked how the author handled those last scenes.

All in all, if you want a slow-burn with mystery, plot twists, and characters you'll love, Nightshade is definitely the book you're looking for.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | five stars

𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬
~ 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝑶𝑹𝑹𝑶𝑾𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝒅𝒖𝒆𝒕

Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship to Sorrowsong University, to find the truth about her parents' murder and to prove that Cain Green orchestrated their murder. Her plan goes off to a rock start when Alex Corbeau-Green almost kills her on her first day --- later to only become her partner in a project and each other's alibi at a murder. She begins to fall for his soft heart hidden beneath the mask of his hard exterior. Tormented by a stalker and growing close to Alex, Ophelia needs to choose to keep Alex safe or execute her revenge that will destroy a family into two.

Nightshade was well plotted and we'll paced. The storyline was emotionally enthralling --- which had me hooked from the very beginning. The diverse and unique set of cast had it's on grip on the narrative, putting difficulty on who trust. The storyline was seamlessly woven into the story, without any breaks or slowed pacing. The emotional stakes were more evident that the physical stakes. The constant nervousness that this book led to be on the edge of my seat. The narrative was woven with twists and turns that you would never expect.

The romantic suspense in the book was very heavy. The book was marketted as a romantic suspence from the very beginning (even when it was independently published). The tragic backstory of Ophelia's parents and the well hidden past of Alex Corbeau-Green unraveling had to be the most heartbreaking moments in the book. Stalking, cryptic emails, eerie noises in the night and a murder on campus suddenly becomes Ophelia's reality as she struggles with finding the right person to turn to for help. 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. Every single page had a new piece of information that would seemingly make it impossible to skip a single page.

Ophelia Winters is extremely misunderstood. Underneath that grumpy and irritated persona is a girl who is missing her parents because they were taken away from her too soon. Deep down, she had a heart of gold and warm natured. She is initially firm in her beliefs and is very suspicious of everyone and everything and uwnllint to consider them other that with acts of hate but she slowly shifts her stance and recognition towards them. Her flaws and insecurities make Ophelia a deeply vulnerable and relatable character for the reader to connect with. Ophelia craving connection and companionship whilst also worrying about befriending the wrong crowd of people, which is likely going to be explored more in the next time installment.

Alex Corbeau-Green is such an amazing character. He's a soft and kind-hearted soul who is solely driven by the goal to keep his family safe. He will do anything and everything to keep them safe from everyone. He has risen so many healthy standards all throughout the book for both real and fictional men that i don't think anyone will be able cross. He's a broken soul who is in charge of making sure the rest of his family aren't going to be broken like him. He might seems arrogant and a jerk at the first few sights but the more you get to know him, the more you see through the little cracks of his mask that he is indeed someone who is looking for genuine love. He is a multi-layered and complex character who is always putting family above all everything.

Their relationship started out in a very murderous yet grumpy start. They both fiercely hated each other so much. Their banter and wit was absolutely hilarious and sorely needed during the many moments. Their email correspondence was written to perfection and left me wheezing with laughter during several occasions. The organic growth of love between them was something i really throughout the book and the soft and vulnerable moments on display truly put their love on the test.

The cliffhanger at the end left me reeling in shock. I don't think I will be able to handle the wait for the next book. This is such an amazing book and I cannot wait grand finale. Autumn Woods' books always hit hard and different. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read this book! Nightshade is definitely one of my top reads for this year!

Nightshade was a pleasantly immersive read—moody, atmospheric, and just eerie enough to keep me turning the pages. The autumn setting is gorgeously written; you can practically hear the crunch of leaves underfoot and feel the chill creeping in with each chapter. It struck the perfect seasonal tone, like a quiet walk through a haunted forest right before sunset.
The plot moves at a steady pace, pulling you in with whispers of mystery and subtle danger rather than loud twists or action. I appreciated the way the tension simmered rather than boiled—never too overwhelming, but always there, waiting.
The characters were solid, though I wouldn’t say any of them completely stole my heart. Still, they felt believable, and I was invested enough to care about what happened to them. The writing itself had a quiet lyricism that suited the mood beautifully.
If you enjoy stories that lean into atmosphere and subtle suspense, Nightshade is a great pick—especially with a warm drink in hand and a storm rolling in outside.