Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Netgallery for this ARC. This was a great book to finish off 2024 and I really enjoyed it! I have marked this book 5 stars, I nearly did 4.75 but felt that was being harsh which I will expand on.

Academy of Villains introduces us to Kiara who is a fiesty assassin who is given a new target of Lucian, a prince, however her plans unravel as she sneaks into the academy and makes a unexpected discovery about herself and the prince. Kiara is strong, stubborn and fiesty FMC, Lucian is a dark/shadow MMC who is instantly intrigued by her and falls first.

The underlying story is based on the Greek myth of Nyx and Erebus with the representations of light and darkness, which is a lesser common myth to use in stories and definitely made it more enjoyable for me.

My only second thoughts on the five stars was the fast pace, I am hoping there will a little more world building in the next book to help pace it a little. This is a personal preference and didn't stop me getting stuck into this book though hence the 5 stars. I love the unique magical system and cannot wait to learn more in book 2, and would definitely recommend this series.

Themes/Tropes:
Greek mythology - Nyx and Erebus
He falls first
Enemies to lovers
Trials
Assassin x prince
Fated bonds
Secret societies
Academic setting
Dramione/HP coded
Closed door romance

An assassin on a mission and a cursed kingdom set the stage for a story inspired by the love of Nyx and Erebus—set at Mage academy. Our FMC, a mundane (or so she thinks), harbors a fierce grudge against magic wielders. Trained as an assassin for the King, she’s sent on a mission to eliminate the MMC—but nothing goes as planned.

The world-building shines with elemental and celestial magic, secret societies, and focuses a lot on the opposing forces of light and shadow. The dynamic between shadow and light, tied together first by their mutual attraction is a nice twist on the classic “opposites attract” trope. There is also a refreshing twist on the classic “fated mates” trope, with the bond manifesting in a unique way. I won't say how as I don't want to spoil it for you. However, once it appears, the bonded must face trials, sacrifices, and the challenge of acceptance. While not entirely new, it’s executed in a way that feels both engaging and impactful.

I loved the magic system. The highlight being that spells are summoned through grimoires that adapt to the user’s needs. It’s a fascinating detail, though I wish we had explored more of the academy’s daily life. I was especially intrigued by the enigmatic headmaster and how the secret societies maneuver and influence events on campus, adding layers of mystery and tension to the story.

While the pacing in the beginning is steady, the story picks up momentum around Chapter 13. Which is great, but at times, the pacing feels a bit rushed—particularly in the transition from dislike to love, even with external forces influencing events.

This story leans toward very little spice, with a closed-door approach to romance, but it still delivers a little underlying tension and chemistry between the characters. The slow-burn dynamic is mild yet satisfying, as the connection builds gradually through meaningful glances, charged conversations, and shared moments that spark just enough intrigue to keep you hooked.

Overall, I liked this book. The author ties in mythological symbolism really well, explaining it all at the end, which makes this an enjoyable and easy read. The ending left me excited for the next installment!

Kiara and Lucian are both interesting, strong characters. The very beginning was a little slow but quickly picked up. After we are given so much fascinating information, it felt as if the book should have been longer. I need to know more! Also all the side characters are great. I want to know more about all their heartstrings and what it all means in the bigger picture. Can’t wait for the next book!

I honestly was not ready for this book to end. Once I started I could not put it down. I loved the connection with mythology and magic. Kiara was a FMC that has a lot of challenges and things to overcome. She is someone who doesn't need a man to fight her battles she will do it for herself and is not afraid to show that. The world building was really good. I could see and imagine everything that was mentioned. I enjoyed the plot and never was confused. I like how the magic was explained very detailed. There was a lot of struggles/ battles that they had to work through and I could not get enough! The ending did feel a little rushed but was still such a great read! It is definitely Harry Potter meets Throne of glass with mythology vibes which I loved!! I highly recommend this read!! I can't wait for the next book!! Thank you NetGalley, Publisher, and Author for allowing me to be apart of the ARC team!❤️

I was so excited to read this book! based of the love story of Nyx and Erebus? yes please!

This was fast paced throughout and kept you on your toes. its peek dark academia and a great starter for those just entering into that sub genre. The atmosphere was immersive and was dripping with mystery and intrigue (especially with those secret societies!) the magic system is very unique and i loved how they used Grimoires to channel their magic. The system was easy enough to follow and i wasn't racking my brain trying to figure out how xyz worked.

The spark between Kiara and Lucian was instant and im intrigued to see how that unfolds. Their relationship gave me BIG dramione vibes so potterheads will like this one. Their relationship is very central to the plot and Im hoping in the next book we'll see their connection deepen as it did feel that some parts could have been more fleshed out and we missed out on the impact of some emotional moments.

overall this was a great read and i honestly enjoyed myself throughout. This is definitely worth picking up if you love mythology mixed with dark acadmia and good dose of mystery

A huge thanks for letting me review read this book.
I was intrigued by the title and the cover, after reading the description I just had to read it.

Enemies to lovers? Yes, but mildly so.. Because the prince doesn't view Kiara as his enemie, not in the same level as Kiara sees him. I need to say this, it's refreshing to read a story as detailed as this with little to no spice. It seems that almost all new stories need to be bombarded with spice to sell, which isn't necessary.

Kiara is on a mission when she enters the academy grounds, little does she know it's grimoire selection day and she somehow ends up in line to let her magic be read. Magic? She doesn't have any! At least that's what she believes.

The starmage, long believed to be extinct.. Seems to re-enter the world. With zero knowledge about magic and newly being enrolled at the academy, Kiara tries to keep up with her mission, makes friends and learns more about the curse that taunts the lands of Ithika and it's royal line.

The story unfolds at a good pace which makes the reading part extra fun. You get to learn a bit about mythology, a plus in my book. It does give a bit of a Harry Potter vibe but with the duelling being a bit more next level. If you liked Harry Potter, this book is a good one to give a go.

These were the quotes I absolutely adored:
- "If his love is a curse, I'll wear it like a crown"
- "When the world is at its darkest just follow the stars"

Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Setting: 🌎🌎🌎🌎
Characters: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖

What to Expect
-Enemies to Lovers
-Greek Mythology Retelling
-Magic Academy
-Dark/Shadow Magic
-He Falls First
-Powerful FMC

“Love is the frequency of magic.”

This was such a fun read! It had all the elements of a fantasy romance that I love and it felt oddly nostalgic the entire time I was reading. It gave me so many Harry Potter feels as I was getting to know the academy and the classes and as the story progressed, it really set itself apart and had so many unique aspects!

The magic system is really interesting and something I’ve never seen before. There is so much to build on and I can’t wait to see how this develops as the series continues. The plot was high-stakes and kept me engaged the entire time without a ton of fluff and unnecessary scenes. This is perfect if you are looking for a quick and overall fun/easy read in the romantasy space.

The FMC Kiara was someone I could really get behind, I liked that she wasn’t perfect and had some rough edges, it made her super relatable. The MMC Lucian is everything you can expect from a shadow-wielding mage, arrogant, charismatic, but also so very sweet and protective. The side characters are lovable and I can’t wait to see more of them in the books to come.

I think this was a great start to the series and will definitely be continuing this series!

Think Harry Potter vibes mixed with Gossip Girl, then add assassins, dark magic, a shadowy dark magic MMC, and a Greek mythology retelling? This book delivers it all!

Kiara and Lucian's relationship had me hooked, and I’m already desperate for more of the Raven Society boys. Tobias and Kaspian, anyone?? 👀

This story didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Academy of Villains by Ever King
5 out of 5 stars
What a fun book! If you love the magic of Harry Potter and the action and mythology references in Percy Jackson, you should read this book! The setting is dark and magical. There are Secret Societies and unexpected alliances. The enemies-to-lovers romance is light and age-appropriate for the characters (older teenagers).
Kiara is an assassin who was sent to kill Prince Lucian at this school. One night, she sneaks in and comes face to face with the prince, but something is stopping her from killing him. As Kiara is about to leave, she is spotted by a professor, who mistakes her for a student. She discovers her magical powers through a series of events, enrolls in the school, and trains to become a mage. Kiara can keep tabs on Prince Lucian by enrolling in the school, but they discover they are connected in other ways.
This is an interpretation of the Greek Mythology love story of Nyx, the goddess of night, and Erebus, the god of darkness. In Greek Mythology, Nyx and Erebus fall in love to create a balance of night and day.
I enjoyed this story's depiction of the goddess of night's powers. I also wanted a theme I noticed towards the end of the book, that you don't have to face your inner darkness alone. Seeing Kiara and Prince Lucian's interactions in the labyrinth was fun but heartwarming too.

3.5 stars.

Academy of Villains is the debut novel of Ever King. A Greek inspired retelling of Nyx and Erebus ignites the mind and imagination with this modern tale. In this story, we follow Kiara and Lucian, one a Prince, and the other, an assassin sent to kill him. But in a twist of Fate, Kiara finds herself with a power she never knew or considered she would ever possess; Magic. With a curse in need of breaking and more challenges than she considered she would face, Kiara sets off on a journey that will leave us with unanswered questions in preparation for the next installment of this series.

Have you ever finished a book and immediately missed it? I’m genuinely sad I had to leave this world and adventure behind! I feel like this is the book I wanted Throne of Glass to be. The magic system was fascinating, the banter is hilarious, the tension is palpable, the side characters are all interesting, and the journey is enthralling. I can’t wait for the next installment!

If you like magic academia, prophecies, assassins, secret societies, cursed kingdoms, enemies to lovers (who are actual enemies), witchcraft, and Greek mythology…run, don’t walk, to add this to your TBR.

Read this book!!! I couldn't put this down. The characters are perfectly written, the development of the two main characters is beautiful. I can't wait for book 2. I love all of the Raven boys. I absolutely loved this book from cover to cover.

This was an engaging and thrilling read that completely draws you into a unique world of magic. I liked the concept of the academy training the different mages in various subjects like battle and magical creatures.

The author does an excellent job of building this world making it feel real and immersive, all the characters are well developed, each with their own distinct personalities and backstories that add depth to the story.

Speaking of characters, my favourite was Kiara, and that might partly be because I have a cat called Kiara 😂 but it’s mainly because I love her strength, determination and courage. She doesn’t back down, even when she feels like she’s at a disadvantage, she powers on like a boss and I LOVED it. Her growth throughout the book is incredible too, going from an assassin thinking she has no magic at all, to suddenly having magic and accept that and grow with her power was amazing to see.

However, the pacing was uneven for me and felt slow. While the detailed world building and character exploration are incredible, there were moments that did feel slow and I wasn’t as invested as I’d like to be. Despite this, the books strengths far outweighs its weaknesses as I still throughly enjoyed it.

Overall, I really liked this book, an amazing fantasy with an incredible concept, if you like books about magic, mages and a slow burn romance (and of course more) you’ll love this.

Thank you for the ARC copy of this book!

I am so happy I got to read this book! The title is what got me, but then reading the blurb made me exited to read it also! However, I do not think (currently) that the title fits with the book... It is an academy of Magic and learning how to harness that magic, but not how to be a villian... There is obviously a lot more to this series still to come as so many questions were left unanswered. But even with them being unanswered, so much happens and the story actually carries on quite well.

I do like the unexpected things that happen throughout the book such as the lifelines pairing them with their perfect match, and her having a thought to be destroyed type of magic. There is so much more to come of this series and I can not wait to dive into the next book!

I’ve been seeing this book floating around social media for a little while and when I seen that there was an opportunity to read this through NetGalley I jumped at the chance.

This is such a fun book with a fun twist on mythology (with an extra helpful little guide at the end if you’re not up to speed like I was).

I really liked the academy setting - I’m a sucker for any academia based plot. A stabby FMC who was trained as an assassin is always a positive addition and then the classic shadow wielding MMC who is starry-eyed over the girl trying to kill him. You really can’t go wrong with all of the above.

The first half of the book I thought did a really good job with the world building. It wasn’t overly complicated, it gave enough information but also showed the reader rather than just including a history lesson.
The second half was quicker, a lot happened in a shorter time period and parts felt slightly rushed.

The side characters I probably could have done without most of them just because we got a lot of information without much content from them but I can see them being more involved as the books progress so I am excited.

Thank you to Ever King and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book free.
This is my honest opinion.

If you were a fan of Harry Potter when you were younger I guarantee that you will love this book! Adademy of Villains has everything from deadly trials and curses to banter and burning sexual tension.

The writing style had me hooked from the start, the world building was intruiging and easy to understand. The romance - closed door - had me kicking my feet and screaming into my pillow.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Love, Fated Bond

I need to know what happens next! Book two cannot come fast enough.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. This was just not for me. I just didn't understand a whole bunch of stuff, it just didn't get explained very well and I was very confused.

Kiara is an assassin sent after the prince. But she doesn't kill him. She can't. She doesn't want to? Finding herself immersed in the academy with magic she didnt know she has, Kiara is now in a position where she's learning about her magic, and about the Prince.

While she discovers more about herself she also realizes that her magic has implications for all mages, not just her, and it could be both wonderful and catastrophic.

Thank you NetGalley and Ever King for providing me with a copy of Academy of Villains, in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy dark academia, mixed with YA Romantasy and trials, then this one is for you! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and found it easy to follow. This story had me hooked from the very start. I was especially fascinated by the unique magic system, with the use of grimoires as a source of magic being such an intriguing concept. I would love to learn more about the characters, especially the boys of the Raven Society and I suspect (and hope) we will in further books.

Overall, I enjoyed this debut and I'm excited to see what the author has in store for the series!

This was a fun and captivating read – I can’t wait for the next book. We meet Kiara, an assassin who tries to take out Prince Lucian, the heir to the throne, to try to break the curse on the kingdom. I love the ties to mythology in the book and the twists/unexpected surprises that Kiara and others face. The story has me hooked and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series unfolds. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.