MY GOD, WHAT A RIDE!
I finished this book in one sitting and morphed into a truly obsessed individual over the course of this story.

The setting was so deliciously dark and haunting, making my skin crawl and my heart yearn for a moody autumn night in Scotland. Beautiful descriptions of Sorrowsong University almost made it feel like I was walking the dimly lit halls besides Ophelia and Alex. I was so immersed in this story that i momentarily forgot to eat or do anything really.

Speaking of Ophelia and Alex, I loved them from the beginning. Ophelia carved out a piece of my heart and build a home inside it. Just like Alex, I wanted to comfort her and tell her that everything will be alright in the end - even though my girl can't seem to catch a break. The depiction of her grief and her all-consuming anger at the world was something a lot of people will (sadly) relate to and every scene where she felt helpless and not worthy of love felt like a punch to the gut. She is a nuanced character with many layers and I was rooting for her from the beginning.

I had to get used to Alex in the very beginning. The author did a fantastic job into making me believe he was just an arrogant prick living off of daddy's money, but every chapter we got to know what was hidden behind the irritatingly good looking facade and in the end, my heart ached for him just as it did for Ophelia. These two throughly are my ride or die. (Can you follow fictional characters into battle? Asking for a friend.)

The overall storyline was interesting and gripped my attention from the very first chapter. I predicted some of the plot twists, but the way they were revealed still left me speechless and THE ENDING??? Diabolical.

Give me Book 2 right now, Miss Woods. I beg you.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC!

Nightshade by Autumn Woods is a dark academic romance at an isolated, prestigious Scottish university. The story follows Ophelia Winters who is investigating her parents’ death. She knows her parents death is caused by Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon. She just needs to prove it.

When she arrives at Sorrowsong, she meets his son, Alex. She wants nothing to do with him and believes he’s exactly like his father, a monster. Despite that, she keeps crossing paths with him and their sharp banter slowly turns into something much more.

Alongside her investigation, Ophelia begins receiving anonymous threats. As the threats escalate, Ophelia finds herself unsure of who to trust, not even Alex. Yet, their connection deepens, rooted in shared pain and dark secrets, and turns her world upside down.

*Nightshade* blends suspense, mystery, and romance into a story with a gothic setting, witty banter, and morally grey characters. Autumn Woods keeps the reader on edge until the very last page with a heartbreaking twist. This is a must-read for fans of slow-burn romance with a sinister edge.

This was such a fun and emotional read! This was my first time reading a book in the dark academic subgenre, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The beginning was a little slow, but once the plot picked up, it was impossible to put down. I loved all the details about the university and the gothic setting. The main and side characters were all very interesting, especially the children of influential mob families.

I especially appreciated the mental health representation. The fmc struggles with deep-rooted grief and abandonment issues, while the mmc deals with depression; both were portrayed with care and nuance. I loved the way their relationship evolved, and how Ophelia had to truly learn to trust Alex.

I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because certain plot elements felt underdeveloped and could have been explored in more depth. For example, the investigation Ophelia conducted before arriving at Sorrowsong, as well as how it continued throughout the story. Besides that, there were moments when Ophelia uncovered information for her investigation, but it often felt unstructured and a bit too convenient.

The first twist at the end didn’t come as a surprise, but the second one caught me off guard. After this ending, I’m desperately in need of the second book in the duet. I’m also a little traumatized and in need of someone to talk to about this ending.

Some quotes I loved:
“𝙃𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩? 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.”

“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙗𝙮’𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮. 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.”

“𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙤, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

“𝙊𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩. 𝘼 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧.”

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚?”

“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.”

I was not ready to love this book as much as I did. Total dark academia vibe, with that mix of drama, tension, and just the right amount of chaos. Alex and Ophelia, pls that yearning, like the way they look at each other like they want to fight and kiss at the same time. I was obsessed. Their banter had me smiling like a fool, and the slow burn was perfect. I kinda guessed a few twists but didn’t see that ending coming the way it hit. I loved the messy emotional moments, higly recommend. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

5 ⭐️ an amazing read. loved the whole vibe of this book, why haven't i read more dark academia yet?
it is also one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers).
However the FMC has a total hatred towards Alex in the beginning. but he fell first at the moment he saw autumn before going to school together.
Autumn did not want to engage in anything. to do with Alex due to his family but this soon then changed.

The other background characters in the are soooo funny in the book and i hope that they will make a return in the other book.

THE NEXT RELEASE FOR 2 IS IN 2025
i am so ready for this next book 🤩

thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book for the ARC!

This book is filled with tropes you’ve seen before—moody girl, rich mysterious guy, elite school drama—and at first, it all feels very predictable. But somewhere along the way, it hooks you. What starts as a cliché setup slowly unravels into something surprisingly gripping, with just enough twists and mystery to keep the pages turning.

Ophelia and Alex may seem like stock characters at first, but they evolve into more complex, messy individuals as the story progresses. Their chemistry is undeniable, especially in the buildup before they actually get together—arguably the most fun part of the romance. The cast of supporting characters is equally entertaining, even if they fall into familiar archetypes.

Despite a few overly convenient plot points, the pacing is tight, and the story takes some genuinely unexpected turns. Just when it feels like you know exactly where it’s headed, the drama escalates and the twists start landing. It’s the kind of guilty pleasure that’s hard to walk away from—even if you roll your eyes a few times along the way.

And yes, the book ends on a juicy cliffhanger that sets things up perfectly for a sequel. If you're into angsty, over-the-top drama with a touch of mystery, this is a ride worth taking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Autumn Woods for being able to read this advanced copy.

Normally I don’t read many books where the characters are in their early 20s, however, this one pulled me in.

The initial banter between the characters instantly got my attention. I like how you almost get this gothic Harry Potter with “Gossip Girl” type wealthy students, vibe in the beginning.
Mix in some “whodunnit” and intrigue.

I enjoyed watching the FMC, Ophelia, really kind of come out of her shell and find what she has been looking for. The slow burn was chefs kiss.

While I didn’t instantly know “who it was” right as we neared finding out, I had a sneaking suspicion that turn out to be correct. I didn’t see the plot twist with her mom though.

That ending though 😲

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it. So glad this is a duet!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT’S HOW IT ENDS?!?

I can’t get over the fact that that’s where it ends. I just stared at the words “to be continued” in silence for a few minutes, then stared at the wall. I don’t accept that ending! I wish I didn’t read an ARC of this book simply so that I could wait until right before the next book comes out to read this one. I’m in despair waiting for the next book, and only a few minutes have passed since I finished it.

Alex and Ophelia are some of my favorites now. I need an Alex in my life. The enemies aren’t enemies for long, but the tension between the two of them is soooo good. I ate it up. There were few points where I literally squealed which was horribly embarrassing but I loved it.

This is dual pov but first person, with the pov alternating between the fmc and mmc. They’re both so incredibly broken and real, and it made me love them even more. They each need someone who really sees and understands them, and I want to give them both a hug.

So, with the plot, I figured out the ending from the beginning, but I was wrong until very close to the end about how it would go down. The mystery of who the stalker was stayed a mystery to me for almost until right before it’s revealed, and I was a little shocked and yet not. It made so much sense. Until my jaw dropped open at the surprise.

Alex, don’t you dare do what you’re thinking about doing.

Now, a collection of some of my favorite quotes:

“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.”

"Wherever you want, love. It's home if we're there."

"You can repay me by not strangling me again."

“He looks at me like I've asked him to pluck the moon from the sky and bottle it for me.”

Thank you to Zando Projects and NetGalley for an ARC of what is now one of my favorite books of the year. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

This book is an absolute blast, fast-paced, addictive, and genuinely hard to put down. I was hooked early on and totally invested in the main couple from the start. Vin is a standout side character who adds a fun, dynamic layer to the story.

I think the story has so much potential to shine even brighter with more immersive, original imagery.

The ending leaned a little predictable—but honestly? I loved it anyway. It hit the right emotional beats and left me excited for what’s next. I’ll definitely be grabbing book two, and I have a good feeling about it being even better.

I enjoyed this one and thought it was a unique take on a university-based fantasy book. Fans of Zodiac Academy, Gothikana, and Fourth Wing will likely enjoy this, even though it differs in its own way and does not detract from those stories. The chemistry between the two characters is based on their hate for each other in the beginning, which we all know turns out to be sexy in the end. If you are looking for a romantasy with a side of murder mystery and suspense, this is the one for you!

Read if you like:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- romantic suspense
- dark academia romance
- Gothikana x ZA
- University setting
- grumpy x grumpy
- murder mystery
- he falls first

Nightshade by Autumn Woods had me in a complete chokehold from the very first chapter. I devoured 78% of the book in one sitting before my 5AM alarm forced me to put it down - otherwise, this would’ve been a one-sitting read, no question.

This is the first book in a planned duology and follows 21-year-old Ophelia, who’s grappling with the grief and mystery surrounding her parents’ murder. Determined to prove their deaths were orchestrated by Cain Green, a powerful American aviation tycoon, she accepts a prestigious scholarship to a renowned university in Scotland. What she doesn’t anticipate? A stalker, falling for the son of her parents’ alleged murderer, and needing an alibi for the murder of her roommate.

Nightshade is a genre-bending gem, part Gothic, part Thriller, part Romance and all blended together flawlessly. While it’s not quite a dark romance, it is a modern-day Gothic Thriller with strong romantic threads. The atmosphere is stunningly immersive, and I was especially obsessed with how the author wove Scottish Gothic architecture into the university setting. The contrast between Ophelia’s humble upbringing and the world of high-society students was handled in a grounded, relatable way.

And the characters? Utter perfection. Even the ones who didn’t survive left a lasting impact. This story delivers serious found family vibes, which is exactly what Ophelia needs after suffering such profound loss - not only were her parents murdered, but their entire existence seems to have been scrubbed from the world. Autumn Woods captures grief and resilience with such raw emotion that it’s impossible not to feel it in your bones.

Ophelia is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in a long time. She’s clever, quietly fierce, and deeply loyal. I loved the little details that made her feel real - her love of sudoku, crosswords, biscuits and tea, and her dry, grumpy humor. She’s resilient, heartbroken, and completely unforgettable.

And then there’s Alex Green. I’ve been struggling with some of my latest reads, with the male lead lacks depth, but Alex is a revelation. The son of the man Ophelia believes is behind her parents’ death, Alex is far more than the rich, charming surface he shows. His own trauma runs deep, and watching Ophelia slowly begin to trust him especially as it becomes clear he hates his father even more than she does, if is absolutely captivating. This is the definition of a “he falls first” romance, and Alex’s unwavering devotion to making Ophelia feel safe and cared for had me grinning and sobbing in equal measure.

Was it predictive? Yes. Do I want to read 100 more books exactly like this? Absolutely I do.

And that ENDING? It shattered me. I’m not okay. I need Alex and Ophelia to be happy. I need book two more than I need air!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I picked this one up thinking I was in for a magical academic fantasy. Instead, I ended up reading what felt like a Harry Potter fanfic that got lost on its way to Wattpad. The four "university houses" (and I use that term loosely) were clearly supposed to be a big deal—but they added absolutely nothing to the plot except a weak attempt at world-building.

The romance angle also fell incredibly flat for me. The chemistry between Ophelia and Alex felt forced and rushed, and I never truly bought into the emotional connection that the book was trying to build. Their conversations read less like two university-aged adults and more like overly dramatic high schoolers in a fanfic argument thread. On top of that, the character and setting descriptions were underwhelming. I wanted to be transported and feel immersed, but everything felt a little too surface-level, like the narrative was leaning on familiar tropes instead of carving its own path.

I knew early this one would be a DNF, and yet I held on for way too long, hoping for even a flicker of originality. Unfortunately, I just got a reheated mess of every overused fantasy-romance cliché under the sun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for giving me a copy of this book. I am straight up crazy for Dark Academia, it’s my favorite genre and I just devour it – so I was the MOST excited to get this book. I am half-Scottish, and obviously spent a lot of time there as a child, so I loved that we’re in an eerie Scottish castle, it truly did bring me back. I loved Ophelia and Alex, their slow burn, twisted with a stalker and murder mystery… until, Autumn Woods, Ma’am, what did we do at that ending? Book two, right now. Please and Thank you.

Okay, first of all I read it all in one sitting. I’m always down bad for a gothic setting, and a spooky university is top tier. There were a lot of clichés going on, but I liked them. The push and pull between Ophelia and Alex was so good. I’m still concerned about the not the good kind of stalker situation going on cause it got a little scary. But Alex was so sweet to Ophelia, brb I’m still sobbing about the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC!

I’m actually obsessed. Why is this book so perfect??? Like, I’m unwell. Fully emotionally attached to these characters and that ending??? Nope. I need book 2 yesterday. There are TOO MANY adorable, soul-crushing quotes and moments in here, it’s unreal.

"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."

I. AM. NOT. OKAY.

I live for dark academia romances, and the moment this book gave me eerie mysteries and soft, slow-burn love, I knew it was going to be a fave. The banter? Top tier. These two had me actually giggling at every scene together. And the EMAILS?! Comedy gold. I really hope we get more of those in the next one.

Ophelia could be so clueless at times, but honestly? She’s been through so much that I just wanted to jump into the book and shield her from everything. Abandonment issues, trust issues, lonely girl who just wants to be seen and loved? Yeah, she’s officially on my “too real” character list.

Alex was such a pleasant surprise. He actually cared for her. With everything going on in his own world, he never took it out on her,,,,none of that cold, cruel MMC energy. He just genuinely wanted to love her, and I respected that so much. Also, only SIX chapters from his POV out of 29? That feels borderline illegal. I needed more of his thoughts. His voice was so gentle, so full of quiet devotion.

“Ophelia, my love.”
Yes, I melted. Fully.

Ok I'm done now

Oh my god...that cliffhanger is going to plague my every thought for the foreseeable future. Like I'm expected to just carry on with my life as if I'm okay???

I finished this book at like 1:30 AM, and I have not stopped thinking about it. This was one of those books that I felt in my BONES, and it has moved onto my list of infinity star reads.

Romantic suspense + dark academia + quest for revenge + slow burn + hate to love + possibly the best and funniest banter l've ever read + immaculate tension + absolutely
delectable (and tasteful) spice = a recipe for perfection.

The incredibly glorious Alex Corbeau-Green launched himself onto my all-time favorite MMCs list almost immediately. He is the ultimate caretaker, but he wouldn't hesitate to burn down the world for Ophelia. Ophelia—Twist, fish food, sugar—I can't decide if I want to be her or be with her. (Alex is not alone in his love for redheads.) Her personality is so relatable, and she had me laughing constantly.

Obviously, I am obsessed with this book. I regret not picking it up sooner, but I also think I read it at the perfect time. I want to extend the biggest thank you to Slowburn/Zando for sending me a digital copy of this book to read and share my thoughts on before the paperback release on June 24th (my birthday is the day before, so for my gift, I want you all to go buy a copy)!!!

(P.S. I am now on the hunt for all editions of this book, so help a bestie out.)

I really enjoyed this book. I stayed up to read this way too late because I had to know what happened. I love a good revenge based plot and I love an enemies to lovers trope and Nightshade gives this to you in spades. I found the plot twist to be really well done and the cliffhanger will have me thinking about it until the next book in this series comes out. I haven't read a gothic academia book in a long time and this book sucked me in from the very first page. I felt like I could picture myself at Sorrowsong University because of the descriptions the author used. Autumn made this story feel eerie basically the entire story and I ate it up! I cannot wait for the second book and I'm counting down the days until I can learn the answers to the cliffhanger that this story was left on. Overall I really enjoyed this book and was so happy to receive an ARC copy! Thank you for gifting me this book.

Sadly not for me. I found the writing to be immature. It sounded like a person who wanted their writing to feel important. DNF

Apparently, this follows the mob-affiliated students at a university, but these characters feel VERY high school to me. And it's a pretty dark book, content-wise, so that's weird.

I think the characters are just really childish and that's why they come across as quite high school feeling. The communication issues are horrendous and quite annoying (and repetitive), and the relationship building didn't really have any building to it. It just happened all of a sudden and everyone was like "okay, we're a thing now." It was very weird.

Both the pacing of the relationship and the actual story was very strange and choppy as well. And the mystery reveal was quite predictable too.

I really really wanted to love this, I've been craving another mafia/university story for a while now. This, sadly, did not hit the mark for me though.

This just wasn't for me. I can see a lot of people enjoying this though! I think my tastes just don't match up with this story, stylistically.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Okay, it's been two days since I read this book and I am still thinking about that ending. I don't think I've ever ventured into the world of dark academia that did not have a fantasy component but this was a perfect intro into it. I loved the way the enemies to lovers unfurled, and the amount of time and devotion that was put into making that transition. But this book, while every minute was captivating was all about that last 25%. This had me on the edge of my seat trying to piece together the puzzle, and just when you think you've figured it out...THAT ENDING.

I am so glad I saw the fan art of this book and requested it on NetGalley, Autumn Woods, I need book two!!!

OH THIS DID NOT JUST END THE WAY IT DID.

A short summary of my thoughts reading this book: Okay, I like the vibes. Alex is hot. That roomie is a biotch. Aw, poor Ophelia. OMG, heated banter - we love, ahh I'm not fully invested yet, Vincenzo is FUN *wink, love that tension still, okay what's going on, omg WHAT IS GOING ON, I AM INVESTED, I AN INVESTED, OMG THE SLOW BURN, OMG YES, OMG I LOVE. OMG HOW TF IT GONNA END LIKE THAT???

This book took me for a ride.

Storyline: A+
Characters: A+
Banter and Tension: A+
Suspense and Mystery: A+
CLIFFHANGER: A+ (well, really an F, cause I'm mad)
The book: A+

I love a good dark academia romance and this served. At first, I was just vibing and letting the book do its' thing. I wasn't initially hooked but when I got hooked, I GOT HOOKED.

Alex and Ophelia are star-crossed lovers in the darkest way. Two people who feel so deeply and so darkly but see the good in each other. They need each other. I loved their personalties and their overall character development *wink *wink...iykyk

I loved how different they are yet they are one in the same. I admire both of them for their strengths and all they've been through. The slow burn of their feelings and intimate moments were worth every moment of waiting.

Just when you think you know what's going on, Mrs. Autumn Woods was like "ahhhhh jk"

I was truly at the edge of my seat and eating up every second of this book.

I seriously need book two like NOW, PRONTO. The aesthetic of this book are 🔥 The vibes of this book are 👌 My feelings of this book are 😩😍