Reviews - Academy of Villains

129 reviews for:

Academy of Villains

Ever King

3.84 AVERAGE

mikalouisexo's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ARC REVIEW

Hooked from the first chapter.

I loved this book! It was an incredibly fast-paced and enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. I was thrilled by this retelling of Nyx and Erebus. It brought a fresh twist to their story, and I found myself completely captivated by the world-building and character dynamics.

The magic system in this book was incredibly unique. I especially enjoyed how the grimoires were central to the use of magic—it added a sense of mystery and depth to the magical elements. The way magic is handled in this world felt both powerful and carefully structured, and I’m excited to explore more about the mages and their abilities as the series progresses.

The setting had a wonderful blend of academia and secret society vibes that really drew me in. The atmosphere created a sense of intrigue and adventure, making each chapter feel like a thrilling discovery. On top of that, the romance was everything I hoped for! The enemies-to-lovers and fated mates storyline was beautifully done, with tension and chemistry building throughout the book. And, of course, who can resist the allure of another swoon-worthy "shadow daddy"?

This book is perfect for readers who love Greek mythology, fantasy, and romance with a dash of mystery. Fans of The Atlas Six or Throne of Glass will likely enjoy this series, especially those who appreciate complex characters, magical world-building, and slow-burn romance. It’s also a great fit for readers 18+ who enjoy mature themes mixed with thrilling twists and dynamic relationships.

If you haven’t yet picked up Academy of Villains, now is the perfect time to start with book 1, especially with book 2 coming out soon! This series promises even more excitement and twists to come, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC—I thoroughly enjoyed every page!

fantasy_fables's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it was super quick and easy read. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and I really loved this Nyx and Erebus retelling!

The magic system felt unique, and I loved the use of the grimoires for their magic. I look forward to learning more about all of the mages throughout the series.

The academia and secret society vibes were really fun in this one. We also got a really beautiful enemies to lovers/fated mates storyline. Plus, who doesn’t love another shadow daddy to swoon over? 😉🥰

Now is a great time to read book 1 of Academy of Villains before book 2 comes out in June! 🌌

Thank you to NetGalley and Ever King for the chance to read this ARC!

damselindelight's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I loved this one!

We have a dark academia world full of little Greek myth details interwoven into a background of power and secret societies and I was captivated.

A dual POV of Kiera and Lucian sweeps us into a world that is similarly split between mundanes and mages, rich and poor, oblivious and oppressed. Kiera’s detailed focus on the mission at the beginning soon expands into wonder as we see through her eyes the magic but also corruption of the world! I really really enjoyed Lucian’s interactions with the Raven Society – often the mcs are alone fighting a war they are unsupported in but Lucian has the support from his peers allowing him and Kiera to split of taking one part of the quest.

I feel like I have barely stepped into this rich world and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Romance Rating: Smokey/Fade to Black
Violence Rating: Level 3

Content Warnings

wornoutbookmark's review against another edition

2.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The premise of this book caught my attention, but I quickly lost interest as I was reading. Many of the events in the book didn't make sense to me, and it felt like the characters were protected by plot armor. The world-building was extremely limited, and the conflicts weren't as fleshed out as they could've been. I'm not sure how to explain the pacing...but plot really dragged while also feeling rushed at the same time? Nothing happened for a majority of the book, and I was getting so impatient while reading through the repetitive internal monologues. Although the book is described as a dark fantasy romance, it felt rather superficial and juvenile to me. I was super unconvinced by the romance; how can two characters fall in love when they've barely interacted? I also didn't feel connected to any of the characters and wasn't able to become invested in the story. The writing was fine and easy to read, but it was tough to get through due to what is mentioned above.

Thank you to the author for providing me with the ARC.

khwills's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

twistedbooknook's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

via Netgalley - My main genres are thriller and horror, but that can get mundane so I like to switch it up sometimes, and this absolutely hit the spot. If Harry Potter and The Magicians had a darker, more morally gray cousin, this would be it. Action packed and well paced, with some romance thrown into the mix; the storyline kept me hooked the entire way through.

I really wanted more, though. I know there's a second book in the series, but I’m not sure how much it follows the original character. Either way, I’ll be picking it up.

thechaoticbookcase_y's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Magic system in this book was really fascinating, especially the grimoires and the way they become more powerful and carried the more they are used. The nods to Greek mythology are fun to spot, and the overarching themes of trust, sacrifice and love make my heart sing. Especially because both main characters start out semi-unlikable and hellbent on achieving their own goals DESPITE the other, their own personal journeys through those themes feel really poignant and lovely. I think there’s a lot we as a society can learn from Kiara and Lucian, about really listening to each other and trying to see from the other perspective - and then joining forces instead of fighting to the death. I’m interested to find out what happens next!