I absolutely LOVE this series! It quickly became one of my all time favorite reads and I cant wait to get my hands on book 3! Ever King has a way with words that just grabs you by the collar and embraces you with her fantasy world. The characters are easy to route for and love. They are relatable and you find yourself smiling as you read, just waiting to see what will happen next. If you're looking for a book to devour THIS SERIES IS IT! I cannot recommend this series enough!

DNF 10%
Though I read, and enjoyed book 1 of Academy of Villians, I unfortunately couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the second book enough to complete it.

I absolutely LOVED Lessons in Loyalty by Ever King. This is the second book in the Academy of Villains series and it did not disappoint.

This book picks up right where book 1 leaves off. It's a fast paced romantasy with Greek mythology twisted in and follows the characters Lyla and Bastian's (Adonis and Aphrodite). It's filled with strong loveable main and side characters, excitement, political intrigue, danger, magic and this book has some added spice thrown in which I was all for.

••”𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥”

Lyla Stark, a mage at the Academy of Magic and guardian of the golden apples, is about to learn that in the kingdom of Ithaka, nothing is as it seems. And when a Heartstring binds her to Bastian Lightcroft, his darkest secrets will shatter everything she thought she knew about magic, loyalty, and love itself.

Read if you like:
Greek Mythology retelling
Strong FMC
Morally Gray MMC
Rivals to Lovers
Touch her and die
Fated Bonds (Heart strings )
Secret societies
Villain gets the girl
Magic Academy
Light Spice

Ever King has done it again, and it's even better than the last book! I love this author and I am addicted to this series. I cannot wait to have it complete on my shelf to admire when it's all fully complete. We are talking dark academia, trials, Fated Mates, touch her and 💀 vibes. If you enjoy Mythological Retellings this is your book! I can't wait to see where the next one leads!

This sequel was everything I wanted and more. The worldbuilding felt even richer this time around, with the magic system, dark academia vibes, and Greek mythology woven seamlessly into the story. Lyla and Bastian completely won me over. I was rooting for them the whole way through. I loved getting both POVs, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.

This series just keeps getting better, and I can already tell it’s going to be a new favorite for me. If you love dark magic, secret societies, fated bonds, and morally complex characters, you’re in for a treat. I devoured this book and I’m already desperate for book three.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I was so excited to read this and see where Bastian and Lyla's story went. I loved them in the last book, so I was really into their story this time. The author did a great job with their relationship, you could totally feel the tension and connection. I also really enjoyed the magic system and world-building it kept me hooked. The author mixes exciting adventures with danger really well. And I loved having both of their perspectives, it gave a great insight into their thoughts. I've loved this series so far and can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to Net Galley and Author Ever King for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lessons in Loyalty is a breathtaking sequel that deepens the worldbuilding of the Academy of Villains series while pulling the reader into a devastatingly addictive romance.

Where book one had me firmly attached to Kiara and Lucian, this second instalment surprised me with how much it made me care for Lyla and Bastian. In book one, I disliked him entirely. In book two, Ever King peels back his armour to reveal a layered, conflicted character who is equal parts dangerous and vulnerable. His internal conflict—keeping secrets he cannot share while aching to be worthy of love—makes him one of the most compelling MMCs I’ve read this year.

Lyla shines as his opposite: graceful, untouchable, adored by many but belonging to no one. Her quiet resilience and vulnerability form the perfect counterbalance to Bastian’s sharp edges. Together, they are volatile, magnetic, and impossible to look away from. Their connection carries notes of possession, tenderness, and inevitability—two people who know they should stay apart, yet cannot stop themselves from being pulled together.

Ever King’s writing is lush and immersive, full of lines that stay with you long after you close the book. The mythology of Aphrodite and Adonis weaves beautifully into the academy setting, and the added layers of secret societies, cursed bloodlines, and found family continue to enrich the overarching series arc.

The romance here is fated, enemies-to-lovers perfection, balanced with mystery, loyalty, and the reminder that sometimes the bravest act is daring to love when the world insists you shouldn’t. The ending sets up book three flawlessly—raising the stakes without feeling unfinished—and I am both excited and nervous to see where the story takes Kiara, Lucian, Lyla, and Bastian next.

A five-star read for fans of romantasy with bite: secret societies, magic academies, protective love interests, and the kind of enemies-to-lovers chemistry that leaves you ruined in the best way.

Book #2 was just as good as number one. Seeing the story through two new characters but still having the original leads was genius. This is my adult Harry Potter. I just can't get enough.

“He makes me forget that the first bite is always the sweetest before the poison takes hold.”

✅ Unique magic system
✅ Strong FMC
✅ Steamy romance scenes
✅ Dual POVs
✅ Engaging world building

Wow, I absolutely devoured the first book in this series and the second was more than I could have hoped for! The world that Ever King is building here is rich and magical and both the main characters and the side characters are so well fleshed out. The story flows naturally, the dual POVs keep the pace fast and the romance is perfect.

Ever King is such a talented writer who has clearly listened to readers feedback after book 1 and fleshed out all the bits that we wanted more on and set the third book up so well - I am DYING to read it! 🥹 give me all the Dorian and Bellatrix vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

lessons in loyalty- ever king🥀

well if academy of villains didn’t already have me hooked… i suppose lessons in loyalty has made me an addict… because this series?! incredible😮‍💨

bastian & lyla’s story is full of betrayal, deception, conflict, denial, love & loyalty, throughout the good and the bad. when things got tough, each character was tested and let’s just say… it was left to fate. BUT this story portrays that love conquers all, even when you want to fight against it.

not only do these books speak of magic roaming through the cursed kingdom of ithika, the books feel like magic whilst reading them. the scenes are described so beautifully, you can’t help but get lost within the magic systems🤩

whilst i’m all for the shadows & celestial magic… bastian is a spiritmage and i found something so beautiful in that power that has has at his expense.

i loved how the mmc in this book, whilst portrayed as strong and resilient, is actually the most vulnerable one. lyla doesn’t back down from the hardships she comes to face regardless of it going against her moral standings. to stand by someone in the darknesss when it’s needed the most, is truly the most beautiful thing a person can do.

this book is a reminder, that it is okay to seek help when it’s most needed. it’s okay to have someone shoulder the burden that you bare. you don’t need to fight alone❤️‍🩹

i cannot wait for book 3!😍😍😍

•★ ★ ★ ★ ★
•🌶️🌶️🌶️

•available on ku: ☑️

thank you @authoreverking & @netgalley for approving the arc!🤩

Thank you to Ever King for an ARC opportunity!

I was worried I would miss reading about Kiera and Lucien, but Lyla and Bastian didn’t disappoint. The sassy banter between the two and I loved watching their relationship grow through the book - the heart string magic still gets me 😭

“Flower girl”????? Yeah, so bye. It makes me GIGGLY.

These books are greek mythology retellings which I’m not super familiar with so I don’t have any opinion as to how “good” or “accurate” the retellings are, but they are easy YA reads regardless!

Lessons in Loyalty is the second installment in the Academy of Villains series by Ever King. The story follows Bastian and Lyla, a Greek mythology retelling of Adonis and Aphrodite. I loved this so much and book one was hard to beat! The dual POV in the story telling, romance, and the unique world building is top tier. If you love found family, dark academia, Greek mythology retellings, secrets societies, and when the villain gets the girl..this series is 100% for you.

Loved this so much more than the first book in the series! This couple had a little bit more character development than in the first book. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Definitely a step up from book 1! I did like Lyla and Bastian better than the first couple. The story flowed better and was ease to follow along. I do think this would have been even better as a spin off rather than a continuation of the first book. Other than that I look forward to book 3!

"A villain’s path is often paved with the best intentions."

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the E-arc! 💜

Now I loved book 1 and I thought Lucian and Kiara were my favorite couple but omgggg Bastian and Lyla are making it HARD! Am I changing my mind? Idk yet 🤷🏻‍♀️ The dual POV in the story telling, romance, and the unique world building is top tier. If you love found family, dark academia, Greek mythology retellings, secrets societies, and when the villain gets the girl? This series is 1000% for you. I’m hooked completely and book 3 couldn’t get her fast enough. Well done! I can’t wait to see where you take this series. I’m completely obsessed 🤩

Lessons in Loyalty is the second installment in the Academy of Villains series by Ever King. The story follows Bastian and Lyla, a Greek mythology retelling of Adonis and Aphrodite.
Lyla Stark is probably one of my favorite FMCs I’ve read in a while. She is soft and sensitive, but refuses to be underestimated and is always working on becoming the strongest version of herself.
Bastian Lightcroft is a dark, lost soul and I love that about him. (Also, cheers to Ever King at breaking the “blonde MMCs aren’t hot” stereotype with this one!) He definitely has his morally gray moments but you could tell at the end of the day, he did what he thought was best to protect his friends and family.
The relationship between Lyla and Bastian has “will they/won’t they” vibes and steamy chemistry.
If you’ve read the first story in this series, you will be able to tell that the tone in Lessons to Loyalty is a bit darker and definitely spicier. The intrigue is heightened as we peel back more layers of the mysteries that the academy holds.
Many thanks to Ever King and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book is for you if you enjoy:
•grumpy x sunshine
•rivals to lovers
•found family
•fated mates
•angsty love
•multiple POVs

Unfortunately this book was a dnf for me about 30 percent in. I wasn't drawn to the story, and the chemistry between characters felt forced. I feel terrible about dnf-ing book two after enjoying book 1 thoroughly.

Enemies to lovers fans—you’re about to eat well.

This time, the spotlight is on Lyla & Bastian (Adonis & Aphrodite reimagined), and I knew from book one that their chemistry was going to explode. The tension? Unmatched. The banter? Sharper than a blade. And Bastian? He’s giving “touch her and you die” energy with just enough softness to make you melt. & I’m here for it!! 😊

What I love about this series is how the female characters are always unapologetic badasses❤️‍🔥. Lyla holds her own, and watching her dynamics with Bastian shift from enemies to reluctant allies to something much more was addicting.

The title Lessons in Loyalty couldn’t be more perfect. Loyalties are tested. Lies unravel. Truths surface. And in the chaos, you finally see who the true king really is. And now we also have more clues on how to break his curse over the kingdom.

By the end, I was on the edge of my seat—Ever King doesn’t let up. The character growth between Lyla & Bastian feels like it’s setting the stage for something even bigger, and I’m desperate to see how it all ties into the next installment: Lessons in Trickery. Which comes out this fall! 💜

If you’re craving dark academia, Greek myth retellings, enemies-to-lovers tension, and characters who fight as hard as they fall in love, this series deserves your attention.

Thank you @authoreverking for the ARC! I’m officially hooked for the long haul!

I didn’t think it was humanly possible to improve on perfection but Ever King said “hold my ambrosia.”

Academy of Villains: Lessons in Loyalty somehow takes everything I loved from the first book dark magic, forbidden romance, morally grey hotties, and secret societies with trust issuesand cranks it up. I laughed, I gasped, I yelled “WHAT?!” into the void more times than I care to admit. The only thing I wish it had more was classes and more layout I think saying that I need book three more than Bastian needs therapy.

Kiara knows that she needs to find the other starmarked warriors as they could help fight the king. She knows that she can’t give up or else everything is lost. Will she be able to save Lucian from the darkness?
Bastian knows that he has to be careful that none of the other ravens find out that he is doing the king’s dirty work as he will lose everything that matters to him. He knows that he should keep away from Lyla Stark but he is drawn to her. But can he keep the darkness from her?
Lyla knows that she needs to help Kiara with finding the other pendants as there are more out there but she finds herself falling for Bastian. Will he be her heartstring? But will Lyla accept him once she learns the truth about his past and what he has had to do?
Will the ravens be able to stand together against the king? Will Kiara & Lucian be able to stand & fight against the king before everything is lost?
The ravens all have their secrets but they will all stand with Lucian.
A great read in the series. Enjoying the developing storyline’s of each character. Can’t wait for the next book to be released.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review