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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I was lucky to receive an ARC of Academy of Villains. This is a fast paced story. Chapter 1 was a good start but from Chapter 2 thru the end there is little to no filler.
Even though this is a Nyx and Erebus retelling I felt there was some Harry Potter inspiration. Mages go to a castle and get sorted into houses and no one person knows every nook and cranny of the grounds. There are other things but the sorting stood out to me the most. Even though there are some similarities this is definitely not Harry Potter.
The description says the school is brutal, and while I think it is maybe more challenging I wouldn’t call it brutal. Kiara finding the school brutal would make sense since wasn’t raised as a mage but the other students seemed to have no issues or seemed surprised by how the school is run.
I did enjoy Academy of Villains and look forward to what’s coming next!
Even though this is a Nyx and Erebus retelling I felt there was some Harry Potter inspiration. Mages go to a castle and get sorted into houses and no one person knows every nook and cranny of the grounds. There are other things but the sorting stood out to me the most. Even though there are some similarities this is definitely not Harry Potter.
The description says the school is brutal, and while I think it is maybe more challenging I wouldn’t call it brutal. Kiara finding the school brutal would make sense since wasn’t raised as a mage but the other students seemed to have no issues or seemed surprised by how the school is run.
I did enjoy Academy of Villains and look forward to what’s coming next!
i fear i’ve read better literature on ao3 than this book…
Okay listen. I’m not a literary critic, I review books based on ✨vibes✨ — and the vibes here were amazing.
As soon as gossip girl showed up I was out.
“Academy of Villains,” by Ever King
This book wasn’t bad but very messy, it reads like a fan fict 100% of harry potter with many many things being so similar that you can ignore it. Some of it didn’t bother me because I like fan fict but using names like Bellatrix I think just rubbed me the wrong way. The entire book is harry potter meets throne of glass meets gossip girl. I feel like the plot just bit off more than it could chew and just ended up being messy, just a girl who has all the right skills at all times at the right time and the right place to fix all the problems lol. Not bad, just not my favorite book ever. 3 out of 5 stars.
-Assassin
-Magic
-Magic School
-Harry Potter X Throne of Glass X Gossip Girl
-Greek Retelling Nyx X Erebus
Thank you for the free copy, Netgalley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
4.5 stars
This gave me dark Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl vibes. I read this in one sitting. The world building and character development were great. I enjoyed the side characters as well. I liked the slow burn between Kiara and Lucian. (Closed door)
I'm hoping there's more because I'd like to see more from the characters and this world!
4.5 stars
This gave me dark Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl vibes. I read this in one sitting. The world building and character development were great. I enjoyed the side characters as well. I liked the slow burn between Kiara and Lucian. (Closed door)
I'm hoping there's more because I'd like to see more from the characters and this world!
Academy of Villains is a compelling opening to the Academy series. King skilfully weaves Greek mythology into a magical academy setting. At its heart is Kiara, a former assassin hiding an extraordinary magical gift. Tasked with infiltrating the academy to eliminate Prince Lucian—a cursed royal whose fate is entwined with the kingdom’s deepest secrets—her mission takes unexpected turns.
Kings' world building of the academy’s atmosphere was beautifully crafted as I could visually picture the scenes from her descriptions. The integration of secret societies and a meticulously crafted magic system deepens the suspense and enriches the plot.
A central thread of the narrative is Kiara’s dynamic with Lucian, an intricate blend of enemies-to-lovers tension and heartfelt emotional depth. Kiara’s moral conflict and Lucian’s protective, enigmatic nature add layers to their relationship. However, their bond develops a bit too quickly, missing moments that could have strengthened the emotional impact.
The boys of the Raven Society remain somewhat underexplored, though this seems intentional—likely setting the stage for deeper development in future installments of the Academy of Villains series.
Overall, Academy of Villains' dark academic atmosphere, compelling romance, and morally complex characters make me eager to continue with the next installment, Lessons in Loyalty, releasing later this year.
Kings' world building of the academy’s atmosphere was beautifully crafted as I could visually picture the scenes from her descriptions. The integration of secret societies and a meticulously crafted magic system deepens the suspense and enriches the plot.
A central thread of the narrative is Kiara’s dynamic with Lucian, an intricate blend of enemies-to-lovers tension and heartfelt emotional depth. Kiara’s moral conflict and Lucian’s protective, enigmatic nature add layers to their relationship. However, their bond develops a bit too quickly, missing moments that could have strengthened the emotional impact.
The boys of the Raven Society remain somewhat underexplored, though this seems intentional—likely setting the stage for deeper development in future installments of the Academy of Villains series.
Overall, Academy of Villains' dark academic atmosphere, compelling romance, and morally complex characters make me eager to continue with the next installment, Lessons in Loyalty, releasing later this year.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is one of my favorite fantasy book so far. From the first page it grips your attention, and you don’t want to put it down. I read this book in two sittings. I really love the writing, it was so descriptive and engaging, and you can easily picture the locations, and the settings. I really love the FMC Kiara, she was really strong and stubborn and very likable. I also love the MMC Lucian, and their relationship was so well executed. I really love the other characters in the book, and I think it will have very good found family.
I definitely think that this book gives Harry Potter and Throne of Glass vibes, and I absolutely love that. I think that this book can be read by anyone, despite their age. I love the unique magical system and cannot wait to learn more in book 2. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves:
🤎 Greek mythology - Nyx and Erebus
🤎 He falls first
🤎 Enemies to lovers
🤎 Academic setting
🤎 Closed door romance
🤎 Assassin x prince
🤎 Fated bonds
fast-paced