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A review by sff_reads
Academy of Villains by Ever King
4.25
Review first posted at FFA: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-academ...
Academy of Villains is the kind of story that pulls you in with its dark academia setting, a unique magic system, and a romance inspired by Greek mythology (Nyx and Erebus). From the moment I heard about it, I was intrigued, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts. The writing itself was engaging, and the author created a really interesting world with floating mage lights, ancient libraries, and a magic system centered around grimoires. The magic felt refreshingly original and contributed to the immersive atmosphere. The idea of the academy being somewhat sentient was an additional feature that I loved as it contributed to developing the atmosphere.
Beyond the magic, the romance also stood out. It was built around the concept of heartstrings (fated magical bonds between two people) and handled with care and nuance. The found family dynamic within the secret society really shined. Each member of that group felt distinct and not just a cardboard cutout best friend. Kaspian? Obsessed. Atticus was a close second. I also loved Tobias and the representation that he communicates with hand signals.
In all, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. King excelled at writing tension between the two main characters, and the banter between the main characters and their friends was spectacular. I'm always excited for the rediscovery of magic that was once thought to be forgotten so I devoured these parts to the story. I thought the story was paced very well throughout and there was a good balance of action with introspective moments mixed in-between. Themes of destiny, self-discovery, fate, and sacrifice were central to the narrative and executed with a deft hand.
The synopsis seemed to promise a little more than the book delivered on. One missing student mentioned on page and a couple of vaguely ominous conversations felt insufficient. There's also a lack of real conflict or villainous acts within the academy setting itself besides that one student who has it out for Kiara. The sudden introduction of the trials felt abrupt, pulling focus away from the academy and its mysteries. While they propelled the story forward, they might have been better suited for a sequel, allowing this book to set more of a foundation into the academy’s secrets and dynamics.
There were some aspects that I needed to see expanded on such as the mystery surrounding the keys, the other societies searching for the keys, and other heartstring bonds being formed. Details like the missing scone, the trail of crumbs, and the eerie underground encounter hinted at deeper mysteries. While these threads didn’t fully unravel by the end, they added enough mystery that kept me eager to discover more in future books.
Despite these issues, the intriguing world and compelling characters left me curious for what’s to come. Academy of Villains suggests even greater things in future installments with its blend of magic, mythology, and romance. The author kindly provided me with a review copy of this book, and all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. A huge thank you to the author for reaching out and sharing this story with me
Academy of Villains is the kind of story that pulls you in with its dark academia setting, a unique magic system, and a romance inspired by Greek mythology (Nyx and Erebus). From the moment I heard about it, I was intrigued, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts. The writing itself was engaging, and the author created a really interesting world with floating mage lights, ancient libraries, and a magic system centered around grimoires. The magic felt refreshingly original and contributed to the immersive atmosphere. The idea of the academy being somewhat sentient was an additional feature that I loved as it contributed to developing the atmosphere.
Beyond the magic, the romance also stood out. It was built around the concept of heartstrings (fated magical bonds between two people) and handled with care and nuance. The found family dynamic within the secret society really shined. Each member of that group felt distinct and not just a cardboard cutout best friend. Kaspian? Obsessed. Atticus was a close second. I also loved Tobias and the representation that he communicates with hand signals.
In all, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. King excelled at writing tension between the two main characters, and the banter between the main characters and their friends was spectacular. I'm always excited for the rediscovery of magic that was once thought to be forgotten so I devoured these parts to the story. I thought the story was paced very well throughout and there was a good balance of action with introspective moments mixed in-between. Themes of destiny, self-discovery, fate, and sacrifice were central to the narrative and executed with a deft hand.
The synopsis seemed to promise a little more than the book delivered on. One missing student mentioned on page and a couple of vaguely ominous conversations felt insufficient. There's also a lack of real conflict or villainous acts within the academy setting itself besides that one student who has it out for Kiara. The sudden introduction of the trials felt abrupt, pulling focus away from the academy and its mysteries. While they propelled the story forward, they might have been better suited for a sequel, allowing this book to set more of a foundation into the academy’s secrets and dynamics.
There were some aspects that I needed to see expanded on such as the mystery surrounding the keys, the other societies searching for the keys, and other heartstring bonds being formed. Details like the missing scone, the trail of crumbs, and the eerie underground encounter hinted at deeper mysteries. While these threads didn’t fully unravel by the end, they added enough mystery that kept me eager to discover more in future books.
Despite these issues, the intriguing world and compelling characters left me curious for what’s to come. Academy of Villains suggests even greater things in future installments with its blend of magic, mythology, and romance. The author kindly provided me with a review copy of this book, and all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. A huge thank you to the author for reaching out and sharing this story with me