Very grateful to have gotten this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked immediately. Not only by the first chapter, but rather by a casual note to the reader beforehand that encompasses wit and intrigue in a few simple lines. All the way to the end, this book had me in its teeth.

Lexi, our FMC, is desperately trying to figure out what really happened to her mother despite the muddled truths and the cost that may come to her. She is not particularly memorable at first, but rather acts as the conduit through which the story happens. The further into the mystery she gets, the more she blossoms.

Our MMC is absolutely delectable. August is broody surrounded by his own brand of intrigue. I actually found myself wanting to know more about him more than I wanted to learn about Lexi. The way I squealed whenever he spoke to Lexi, the absolute YEARNING. The looks, the tension, the everything!! The tortured soul he is, so beautifully written.

The side characters are exciting in their own regard and I found them likable and they had great depth.

The overall pacing is excellent, just enough was going on that I didn’t want to put it down, but not so much that it felt busy. I did find that there would sometimes feel like there was a disconnect within transitions, but still the plot stayed steady. I think the book itself was longer than it needed to be, but it did keep my interest especially in the second half. I didn’t want to put it down.

The writing is beautiful, poetic but still accessible. Haunting with an insurmountable tension. The theological questions that are put forth are a refreshing perspective without being overwhelming.

Highly recommend for an immersive experience and true dark academia.