This book has a killer premise—literally. Thirteen honors students are given one final assignment: kill their professor by the end of the school year. If they succeed, their student debt is wiped clean. If they fail, they die and get erased from history. It’s intense, and that tension carries through the whole book.

The story follows Fabian, Mia, and Credence, three students who team up to try and survive. Their friendship is one of the strongest parts of the book, and even though the stakes are high, there are some nice moments between them that give the story heart.

The audiobook has three separate narrators for each part and it really brought the story to life! I’d highly recommend listening to this one.

What really stands out is how the book tackles big themes like power, ambition, and the cost of education. It’s a dark academia story that actually critiques academia instead of just leaning into the aesthetic. There’s political drama, grief, violence, and a magic system that’s based on science and logic, but sometimes the explanations are a little hard to follow. It’s one of those stories where you might need to slow down to fully get what’s going on.

The pacing is a bit uneven. It starts strong, slows down in the middle, then picks up again toward the end, but the ending doesn’t hit as hard as it could’ve. And while the world is creative, there are parts—especially with the magic—that feel confusing or underdeveloped.

Still, it’s smart, different, and isn’t afraid to go dark. You probably won’t connect with every character, and you definitely shouldn’t get too attached. But if you’re into stories that blend fantasy, mystery, and real-world commentary, this one’s worth checking out. Just be ready for a bit of a mental workout.