Nilufer's Updates

Nilufer is currently reading 'Bad Honeymoon'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:21:26 -0700

Nilufer is currently reading Bad Honeymoon by Jessie Garcia

Nilufer added 'Darling, You're Next'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:20:06 -0700

Nilufer gave 4 stars to Darling, You're Next (Paperback) by Marlee Bush
Hmm, okay, this one is good. Not five-star, earth-shattering, life-changing, shouting from the rooftops good, but definitely good enough for me to round up my 3.5 stars to 4. We have solid character development, an alluring mystery, toxic relationships, gaslighting, addiction, mental health awareness, and all those delicious domestic-thriller vibes that make you question everyone’s intentions.

The story revolves around Maren, who meets a charismatic stranger after spraining her leg during a nighttime run. Then, because apparently the universe has a very questionable sense of humor, she runs into him again at a grief counseling group she has recently started attending after losing her father.

The gorgeous stranger is Topher, who owns his own construction business and is grieving the death of his fiancée, Abby, who supposedly died in a tragic accident. But when Maren becomes acquainted with Bea, another young woman from the counseling group, and Bea’s partner, she begins hearing unsettling details that make her question whether Abby’s death was really an accident.

Topher was a person of interest.

And apparently, Abby wasn't the only woman who had a complicated—and potentially dangerous—relationship with him.

Suddenly, Maren has a much bigger problem than grieving her father or recovering from her injury. What if she has fallen for a monster? What if Abby was pushed to the edge by years of emotional damage and simply couldn't carry the weight of her past anymore? What if her death is connected to other people? And, perhaps most importantly, what if Topher has been innocent all along?

Maren needs answers, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes that finding it might put her own life in danger. Now she has to figure out whom she can trust before she ends up sharing Abby's fate.

What I loved most was the connection between the different POVs and the clever wordplay the author uses throughout the story. Those details aren't simply decorative; they create an interesting connection between Maren and Abby and give their voices an additional layer of meaning. I particularly enjoyed Abby's perspective. Her voice stayed with me much more strongly than I expected.

I really felt for her. Her struggles, loneliness, difficult history, attempts to stand up for herself, and determination not to repeat her mother's tragic pattern made her incredibly sympathetic. I wanted to reach through the pages, give her a giant hug, and basically beg the universe to give this woman ONE break. I kept hoping for some miracle that would allow her to escape the cycle she was trapped in.

The biggest weakness for me was that the major twist was a little too easy to figure out. I suspected it fairly early on, so unfortunately, the final reveal didn't give me the huge OMG WHAT?! moment I was hoping for. But knowing where things were heading didn't completely ruin the experience. If anything, I continued reading from that perspective, watching the characters and their decisions through the lens of what I suspected.

The ending wasn't particularly surprising either, but thankfully, it was satisfying enough. The pacing was generally strong and kept me moving through the story quickly, although I felt the second part slowed down a little and became somewhat more stretched than necessary. Fortunately, the conclusion eventually brought everything together nicely.

I also appreciated that the story doesn't rely solely on the mystery. The toxic relationship dynamics, manipulation, addiction, grief, emotional vulnerability, and questions surrounding mental health give the thriller more substance. The romance itself has that uncomfortable “should I be attracted to this person or running in the opposite direction?” energy, which definitely adds to the tension.

So, if you're looking for a fast-paced, addictive domestic thriller with an alluring mystery, toxic romance, psychological manipulation, and Tell Me Lies-style relationship chaos, I think this could be a very good fit for you.

Not a five-star call-everyone-I-know-and-tell-them-to-read-this-immediately thriller for me, but definitely an entertaining and intriguing read that kept me invested until the end.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this fast-paced, intriguing domestic thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I’m always grateful for.

Nilufer is currently reading 'Ashes of Austen'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:19:54 -0700

Nilufer is currently reading Ashes of Austen by Zoe Blake

Nilufer finished reading 'Darling, You're Next'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:19:19 -0700

Nilufer finished reading Darling, You're Next by Marlee Bush

Nilufer added 'My Husband's Family'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:47:42 -0700

Nilufer gave 5 stars to My Husband's Family (Hardcover) by Kristina Kamen
My dear bookworms! I had the most amazing weekend burying my head in this highly entertaining, deliciously twisty, dryly funny, and completely addictive locked-boat mystery! And yes, I said locked boat, because although we have all the delicious ingredients of a classic locked-room mystery, this one takes place aboard a mega-yacht anchored off the Amalfi Coast. Forget the peaceful Italian getaway—this honeymoon is about to become a bloodymoon!

And can we please make some noise for Kristina Kamen, because THIS is a debut! 👏🏻🔥 I can absolutely have my shouting-from-the-rooftop moment here because she came out swinging and nailed it! She takes all the familiar thriller ingredients, mixes them with family power games, social-media drama, dark humor, and a very juicy murder mystery, and somehow makes the whole cocktail ridiculously fun to consume.

Think Succession meets Death on the Nile, with a little The Perfect Getaway energy, Murder Mystery without the slapstick, and interrogation scenes that occasionally gave me Only Murders in the Building vibes. Even the cultural clashes between the Italian investigators and this outrageously wealthy American family—French wine versus Italian gags, questionable leather shoes, and all—gave the story some wonderfully unexpected comedic relief.

Basically, what do we have aboard this yacht?

Newlywed bride? CHECK.
Honeymoon? CHECK.
Billionaire family dynasty? CHECK.
Mega-yacht? CHECK.
Succession battle? CHECK.
Murder? CHECK.
Everyone trapped together? CHECK.
Secrets, betrayal, manipulation and enough family resentment to sink the yacht? CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!

And then—someone dies.

What makes the setup even more delicious is that the story doesn't simply give us one mystery to solve. There are two major games being played simultaneously. On one side, we have the battle for the Wexley family throne: who will become the next CEO of this enormous empire? Behind the perfectly polished family image are manipulation, alliances, secret negotiations, leverage, betrayals, strategic marriages, and people quietly positioning themselves for the biggest prize.

On the other side, we have the murder.

And the two mysteries keep feeding into each other.

The story moves through different perspectives and timelines, gradually revealing what happened before and after the death. The Italian police aren't buying the family's convenient explanations, and once the yacht becomes a crime scene, nobody gets to simply pack a suitcase and disappear. Inspector Moretti starts pulling at threads, and every testimony seems to create three more questions.

Even better? We don't immediately know who the victim is.

YES. 👏🏻

That little decision kept me flipping pages because I wasn't only trying to figure out who killed whom—I was desperately trying to figure out WHO WAS KILLED in the first place! Every new revelation made me rethink my theories, and just when I thought I had finally assembled the puzzle, Kristina Kamen happily came along and kicked the entire puzzle box down the stairs.

Now let me introduce you to this beautiful collection of questionable life choices!

First, there's Rebecca, the newlywed bride who initially appears to be our obvious central character. She's thirty-three, has recently left her job to travel the world with her new husband, Preston Wexley, and is about to become part of one of America's wealthiest families.

Except... joining this family comes with a few complications.

Rebecca has a secret past that she desperately doesn't want interfering with her shiny new life. And when an unexpected person from that past enters the picture—or rather, threatens to enter the picture—her carefully constructed marriage suddenly looks much more fragile.

But here's the thing: Rebecca may be the bride, but she is absolutely not the most dangerous person on this boat.

That honor might belong to Savannah, her mother-in-law.

Savannah is the kind of woman who doesn't simply plan a wedding. She plans everything. From wedding details to what happens inside the yacht's cabins, she likes control served with her morning coffee. She is calculating, intimidating, and constantly playing several chess games simultaneously while everyone else thinks they're playing checkers.

And because apparently this honeymoon wasn't already complicated enough, Savannah has brought along her own 26-year-old secret in the form of an Italian bartender named Gianluca.

Because why not add a little extra chaos to the family cruise? 😂

Meanwhile, her ex-husband Roger seems more interested in his much younger pregnant wife Pamela and their impending twins than in the family succession battle—at least on the surface.

Then we have Tavi Rose, aka Octavia Stevens, the glamorous influencer dating Preston's older brother Brad. At first glance, everyone assumes she's just another superficial social-media girlfriend who will eventually be discarded once Brad gets bored.

But Tavi is MUCH more interesting than the family gives her credit for.

She's observant, clever, and clearly has an agenda of her own. And the more we learn about her, the more I wondered whether she might actually be one of the smartest people aboard this yacht.

Then there's Jacqueline, Preston's ex-fiancée and a fiercely ambitious executive within the Wexley empire. Imagine voluntarily attending your ex-boyfriend's honeymoon because you have your eyes firmly planted on the CEO position.

Girl, I respect the audacity. 😂

Jacqueline isn't there to sip champagne and reminisce about old times. She's playing her own long game, with her father Albert quietly maneuvering behind the scenes. And Albert has ambitions of his own for the company, including dragging his estranged, party-loving son Langford back into the family business and pushing the Wexleys toward a much more automated, AI-driven future.

Then there's Preston, the golden child who assumes the CEO position is practically waiting for him while other members of his family are quietly cooking up plans behind his back.

Basically, everyone has an agenda.

Everyone has something to lose.

Everyone has something to hide.

And unfortunately for all of them, one of them is about to become a corpse.

What I especially enjoyed was watching the polished billionaire-family façade slowly crack. These people may have designer clothes, expensive champagne, private yachts, and enough money to buy practically anything they want, but money clearly can't purchase emotional stability, healthy communication, or a functional family dynamic.

If anything, it seems to make the dysfunction more expensive.

The investigation adds another delicious layer because the crew's testimonies don't exactly make Inspector Moretti's job easier. Everyone remembers events differently, everyone has reasons for being somewhere they shouldn't have been, and every explanation seems to contain a tiny little but...

And while the mystery kept me guessing, I also loved the sheer entertainment value of watching this family implode in increasingly spectacular ways.

There are betrayals.

There are hidden relationships.

There are succession games.

There are secrets from the past.

There are people lying through their perfectly whitened teeth.

And there is a dead body.

What more could my thriller-loving heart ask for?

The pacing also worked beautifully for me because there was always another question waiting around the corner. Every time I thought, Okay, now I understand what's happening, another piece dropped into place and forced me to reconsider everything.

And those twists? Delicious.

I wasn't always right—and honestly, thank God, because being right all the time would make reading thrillers incredibly boring. 😂

By the time everything started coming together, I was sitting there mentally interrogating every single character like I had somehow been promoted to Inspector Moretti's unpaid assistant.

Could Moretti uncover the real killer?

Will justice actually be served?

Who is going to inherit the Wexley empire?

And perhaps most importantly...

Can Rebecca's honeymoon survive this family?

Let's just say I wouldn't recommend accepting an invitation from the Wexleys even if the yacht comes with an unlimited champagne package.

This is the kind of thriller you should read with snacks nearby, your favorite drink within reach, and absolutely nothing important scheduled afterward, because once you get aboard this yacht, you're not getting off until the final page.

Ship ahoy! Bon voyage! 🚢🍷

I know when you hear Amalfi Coast honeymoon, you're probably imagining sunshine, limoncello, gorgeous Mediterranean views, romantic dinners, and Instagram-worthy sunsets.

Well... this book gives you all of that.

Plus murder.

And honestly? I had a fantastic time.

For a debut, I was seriously impressed by Kristina Kamen's ability to juggle such a large ensemble, multiple agendas, a complicated family hierarchy, a murder investigation, and enough interpersonal drama to keep the yacht permanently on emotional fire. She clearly understands what makes this kind of thriller irresistible: put a group of people with secrets, ambition, money, and grudges in an enclosed space and then take away their ability to escape.

I have to give a very special thank-you to Kristina Kamen for trusting me with her precious debut. This was such a fun, clever, entertaining introduction to her work, and I am absolutely adding her to my auto-approved thriller authors list. If this is what she can deliver with her first novel, I am genuinely excited to see where she takes us next.

Welcome to the thriller world, Kristina. You made quite an entrance—and I am already waiting for the next voyage! 🥂🔪🚢

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Nilufer added 'Alma Vampires'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:47:35 -0700

Nilufer gave 4 stars to Alma Vampires (The Icarus University, #1) by Elena Armas
My dear romance lovers, apparently my toxic trait is that you can put a broody, filthy-rich, morally questionable vampire in a book, give him a mysterious agenda, throw in an heiress with trust issues, forbidden attraction, supernatural secrets, and enough yearning to set the entire campus on fire—and I will be there. Happily. Willingly. With absolutely no intention of seeking help. 😂🧛🏻‍♂️❤️

And because this is Elena Armas stepping into paranormal romance, did I have expectations? Absolutely. Did she understand the assignment? Oh, she understood it.

Alma Vampires is such a delicious genre mash-up: college romance, vampire mythology, billionaire-family intrigue, inheritance drama, mystery, danger, attraction, and enough sexual tension between Valle and Hadrian to make me question whether the university actually has any functioning air-conditioning.

Valle Cepeda's life goes from I am just trying to survive college to surprise, you are now the heiress to a massive fashion empire belonging to the mother who abandoned you practically overnight. Because apparently inheriting a fortune isn't stressful enough without also discovering that there are people who very much want something from you—and potentially want you dead.

Enter Hadrian Cruz.

Oh, Hadrian.

Sir, I have questions.

You are wealthy, mysterious, intimidating, secretive, possessive, potentially dangerous, carrying approximately a century's worth of emotional baggage, and offering protection to a woman who has every reason not to trust you. And somehow the answer to all of this is still: yes, please continue. 😂

He has that delicious I don't know whether this man is going to save me or ruin my life, but unfortunately I'm interested in finding out energy that paranormal romance readers live for. There is something deliciously old-fashioned about his vampire persona while still giving us enough modern attitude to make him feel like a proper Elena Armas hero.

And Valle is not simply sitting around waiting for her mysterious vampire savior to solve everything for her. I really enjoyed watching her navigate the absolutely insane transformation of her life. She has spent so much of her existence dealing with abandonment and unanswered questions, and suddenly she's forced to confront not only her mother's legacy but also the possibility that practically everything she thought she knew about herself may be incomplete.

Her relationship with Hadrian is where the book truly came alive for me.

The chemistry. THE CHEMISTRY.

These two could probably stand on opposite sides of a room and generate enough electricity to power Icarus University. Their attraction has that delicious combination of curiosity, distrust, frustration, fascination, and why am I thinking about you again? energy.

But what I enjoyed even more than the physical attraction was the yearning. Hadrian doesn't simply look at Valle and think she's pretty. There is clearly something deeper pulling him toward her, and the mystery surrounding why he is so connected to her makes their romance much more intriguing.

I also loved the way the book plays with the question of whether Hadrian is actually the monster everyone should fear—or whether the real monsters are the people surrounding Valle.

Because nobody in this story seems to be telling her the entire truth.

And that brings me to the part I wanted MORE of.

I enjoyed the paranormal mythology, but I desperately wanted the supernatural world to take up more space. There are clearly much bigger secrets underneath the surface, and whenever the story pulled back the curtain even slightly, I immediately wanted to know everything.

The fashion empire/inheritance storyline also felt like it had much more potential than the book ultimately explored. Valle suddenly inheriting this enormous legacy could have opened the door to even more corporate intrigue, family politics, and high-stakes drama. Instead, the romance and university storyline naturally take center stage.

And honestly? I didn't hate that because I came for the vampire romance and stayed for Hadrian, but I still found myself wishing the world-building had been allowed to breathe a little more.

There were also moments when the story slowed down for me, particularly when there was so much information swirling around that I wanted the plot to simply MOVE. Some of the mythology and revelations could have used a little more explanation, while other moments felt like they were taking the scenic route.

But the final stretch?

HELLO?!

Those final revelations absolutely woke me back up and reminded me why I had been happily consuming this entire supernatural soap opera in the first place. 😂 The ending left me with exactly the reaction a first book in a series should produce:

EXCUSE ME, WHERE IS BOOK TWO?

I need answers.

I need more Hadrian.

I need more Valle.

I need more vampire mythology.

And frankly, after the things this book reveals toward the end, I need to know what kind of chaos Elena Armas is planning to unleash next.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about the experience, too. It occasionally gave me that delicious early-paranormal-romance feeling where everyone is mysterious, everyone has secrets, the heroine is surrounded by supernatural danger, and the most questionable man in the room is somehow also the one she can't stop staring at.

Basically, my inner teenage vampire-romance reader woke up, grabbed a chair, and refused to leave.

😂🧛🏻‍♂️

Overall, I had such a fun time with this. It isn't a flawless paranormal world for me—I wanted deeper mythology, more exploration of the Alma empire, and a slightly tighter middle—but the romance absolutely worked, and when Elena Armas writes chemistry, she knows exactly how to make me keep turning pages.

A very special thank-you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this highly delicious paranormal romance from one of my favorite romance authors with me in exchange for my honest review. Elena Armas, you officially convinced me that I apparently need billionaire vampires in my reading diet now. I accept this new lifestyle. 🖤🩸📚

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Nilufer added 'Just in Time'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:47:19 -0700

Nilufer gave 4 stars to Just in Time (Paperback) by Emily Wibberley
⏳🚕 4 stars

I’m officially convinced that if New York City taxis could actually take us through time, I’d never complain about traffic again. 😂 Just in Time is such a charming, clever take on time-travel romance, and coming from one of my favorite real-life writer couples, I knew I had to jump in.

Gwen and Ian couldn’t be more different. Gwen uses her ability to go back and fix every mistake, chasing an impossible version of perfection, while Ian keeps returning to the past to help the people he loves. Naturally, when these two start crossing paths through different moments in time, things get deliciously complicated.

What I loved most was how the romance slowly becomes more than attraction. Their shared secret gives them a kind of understanding nobody else can offer, and watching them realize that constantly rewriting life might actually prevent them from living it was genuinely touching. There’s plenty of humor and sweetness, but also some surprisingly emotional moments about regret, control, family, and learning to accept an imperfect life.

The time-travel mechanics occasionally made my brain do a little emergency reboot 😂, and I wanted even more romantic payoff in places. But the NYC atmosphere, the playful premise, and the emotional character growth kept me completely invested.

Basically: magical taxis + New York + two people who desperately need to stop fixing yesterday and start enjoying today = a very enjoyable romance.

I’m giving this one 4 stars and happily recommending it to anyone who loves whimsical romance with a little magic and a LOT of second chances.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this engaging romance from one of my favorite real-life writer duos in exchange for my honest review.

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Nilufer added 'Love Interest'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:47:02 -0700

Nilufer gave 4 stars to Love Interest (Paperback) by Chloe Liese
Chloe Liese has done it again, and honestly, at this point, I should probably stop pretending I can resist an ARC from her. 😂

Love Interest is such a warm, clever, emotionally satisfying romance, but what I loved most is that underneath all the swoony moments, it’s really a story about finally realizing you deserve to be the main character in your own life.

Helen Holloway has perfected the art of being everyone’s person—the dependable librarian, the one who shows up, takes care of things, remembers everything, and somehow always manages to put herself at the very bottom of her own list. I wanted to hug her, shake her, and occasionally yell, “Helen, PLEASE choose yourself for once!” Her journey from constantly accommodating everyone else to figuring out what she actually wants was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.

And then there’s Sam Cartwright. Oh, Sam. 😂 A brooding, arrogant, bestselling thriller writer who apparently decided his natural love language would be being extraordinarily irritating. His first interactions with Helen had me absolutely living for their verbal warfare. Their emails especially? Gold. The kind of exchanges where you can practically hear the eye rolls through the screen.

But what makes their romance work is that the snark eventually gives way to something much more tender. They don't magically fix each other. Instead, they slowly become people who make it easier for the other to be honest, vulnerable, and—most importantly—less afraid of asking for what they need. And THAT is the kind of romance I adore.

I also loved how Liese lets these characters have actual lives outside the romance. Helen’s responsibilities, family dynamics, emotional exhaustion, and complicated relationship with being “the reliable one” give her arc so much heart. Sam, meanwhile, has plenty hiding beneath that prickly exterior, and watching those layers gradually come off was delicious.

And can we talk about the library + struggling author + forced collaboration setup? As a lifelong book lover, obviously I was sold before page one. Add witty correspondence, a grumpy writer, an endlessly giving heroine, undeniable chemistry, emotional growth, and Chloe Liese’s knack for making fictional people feel like people you could actually know, and I was DONE.

This isn't just a “they annoy each other until they kiss” romance. It's about two imperfect people learning that love doesn't require them to become someone else. Sometimes the right person simply gives you enough courage to finally become yourself.

Funny, heartfelt, romantic, occasionally painful in that good emotional way, and completely addictive, Love Interest reminded me once again why Chloe Liese remains one of my favorite romance authors.

Four very enthusiastic stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this unputdownable, swoony, and absolutely delightful new Chloe Liese romance with me in exchange for my honest review

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Nilufer added 'Deadly'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:45:31 -0700

Nilufer gave 4 stars to Deadly (Darkly, #2) by Marisha Pessl
My Darkly obsession clearly wasn’t finished, because the moment I had the chance to jump back into this world, I didn’t even pretend to resist. I grabbed it and dove straight in.

Returning to Arcadia, Poe, the Darkly universe, its sinister games, outrageous wealth, glamorous locations, hidden histories, and that delicious sense that absolutely nobody is telling the whole truth felt like meeting an old obsession again. And honestly, I was ready for another five-star, mind-bending ride.

Was it as spectacular as the first book? No. For me, Darkly was one of those rare YA mysteries that felt almost impossible to put down—impeccably constructed, hypnotic, atmospheric, and completely addictive. This sequel didn't quite reach that same level.

I think my biggest issue was that everything felt a little too fast. There is SO much happening: Poe disappears, Arcadia follows the trail to France, a mysterious game resurfaces, an old murder starts connecting unexpected dots, the Darkly empire once again casts its enormous shadow, and suddenly we are running from one revelation to another. I wanted more time to sit inside the mystery, investigate the clues alongside Arcadia, and let some of those deliciously suspicious characters breathe.

The French Riviera setting brings an entirely different flavor to the Darkly universe. Give me glamorous hotels, old scandals, mysterious murders, eccentric wealthy people, secret games, dangerous puzzles, and characters who may or may not be completely insane, and I am absolutely seated. The whole thing has that delicious Grace Kelly glamour meets deadly game-night chaos energy, and I loved wandering through it.

I also have to admit that my emotional attachment to these characters did a lot of heavy lifting. Even when the plotting felt rushed or some pieces didn't have quite enough room to develop, I genuinely cared about what happened to them. I wanted Arcadia to find Poe. I wanted answers. I wanted the gang back together. And apparently I wanted to be dragged through another ridiculous, dangerous Darkly game because here we are. 😂

There were moments when I wished the story trusted its own mystery a little more instead of racing toward the next big reveal. But the twists, danger, conspiracies, games, and sheer imaginative madness kept me entertained enough that I couldn't exactly complain while I was frantically turning pages.

So, no, this wasn't the immaculate five-star experience its predecessor was for me. But did I have fun? Absolutely. Did I still get completely caught up in the Darkly machinery? Yep. Do I want more from this universe? Greedy reader says YES.

I'm rounding my 3.5 stars up to 4 because, ultimately, my love for these characters, the deliciously chaotic plot, the atmosphere, and the sheer entertainment value won the argument.

Darkly may not be done with Arcadia yet—and clearly, it isn't done with me either.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Delacorte Press for giving me the opportunity to jump back into the Darkly world and devour this highly anticipated sequel in exchange for my honest review.

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Nilufer added 'An Academy for Liars'

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:45:09 -0700

Nilufer gave 5 stars to An Academy for Liars (Hardcover) by Alexis Henderson
As a die-hard fan of dark academia and an avid follower of the author’s previous works, the intriguing plot of a hidden school in the heart of Savannah, accessible only to the chosen, teaching the art of persuasion, was irresistible. I dove into this adventure without hesitation.

The journey was long, yet I wished it wouldn't end. The story's progression, pacing, characterization, backstories, tension-building, balance of horror and paranormal elements, and a forbidden teacher-student love story captivated me entirely. It felt like I was reading an entire trilogy because there was so much happening: betrayal, lies, academic politics, secrets, and backstabbing. However, despite the multitude of storylines, everything merged perfectly at the end without leaving any plot holes. I have to admit, by the conclusion, I screamed “Run” so loudly that my house nearly shook. Thankfully, no mysterious elevator appeared, but the epic ending left me exhilarated.

This is the best dark academia novel I've read this year, and I couldn’t recommend it more. I hope the author writes a sequel because some details about the main characters' pasts could further illuminate why they are the way they are and what traumas drove them to their powerful states, beyond just being born that way.

Here’s a quick summary of the plot:

Lennon Carter, recently withdrawn from school and hospitalized after enduring psychological trauma, finally found love and got engaged at 22. But when she catches her fiancé with her best friend, she leaves, driving his car. Stopping at an empty mall lot, contemplating ending her life, she hears a call from a mall phone booth. Answering the call, she realizes it's for her, summoning her to Drayton College to participate in an entrance exam. This magical school is hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Despite the incredulity of an unsolicited invitation and an eccentric phone call, she drives eight hours, rides a magical elevator to the administration, and meets the charismatic and intimidating professor Dante. In his early 30s, covered in tattoos, he exudes smart bad-boy vibes and becomes her advisor.

Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, her new classmates—who become her first real friends—and Dante’s protective, mysterious charm make her feel at home. However, as she discovers her new powers, she learns that something more sinister threatens Drayton's existence. She must use her powers to protect the school but risks being destroyed by them. Additionally, some at the school have secret agendas to thwart her control. Can she harness her abilities without falling victim to the school's power plays? Read more to find out!

I’m giving this book my highest dark academia rating and eagerly await more works from this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing dark academia thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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