4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️
0 💧

Plot! Wow there is so much going on with this book. Make sure that you give this all your attention when reading because it’s so in-depth, It gave me high fantasy/Harry Potter/Greek Mythology vibes. There is no lull, this book filled every single chapter with awesome magic, beautiful sceneries and interesting characters. It has a magical academy, secret society’s, cursed kingdom, assassins, forbidden love and so much more. This book is listed as YA, but what it lacks in spice, it makes up for with love. I was swooning so hard. Lucian is my dark prince.

*The Nameless, they called us after stripping us of our identities.

*But tonight, it ends. This isn’t about revenge—it’s about justice.

*If his love is a curse, I’ll wear it like a crown.

This book had a Harry Potter/throne of glass feel. There was quite a bit of repetition. The characters were so easy to connect with right away, can’t wait for the second book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Firstly thank you for the arc read.

The book kicks off straight away with our female main character, a Nameless assassin having to infiltrate a magical school to kill the Prince. She quickly discovers she’s actually a mage something she’s always hated.

This book gives Harry Potter vibes right from the off with a sorting ceremony and magical houses. This continues with the students having lessons like Care of Magical beasts. I love Harry Potter so this was fun for me! I also loved the use of a grimoire for their magic, it added a nice change to the usual style of magical system we get.

The mythology references in the book was good and it wasn’t too much. It added a good element to the story.

I liked reading this book, I got through it quickly and it kept my attention, with the writing being compelling with the startings of beautiful world building for the future books.

However this book is by no means a perfect. There is so much potential with this book but I feel like there is a missing depth to it. It felt a little like there were lots of plot holes and missed chances for more. I hope as this is the first in the series we will slowly over time get more and more and it will get better and better.

I loved everything about this book, the world around it. I would definitely would want to read it again in a year. The love interests have been make me giggle and kicking my feet’s

I would recommend 💖

This is good but not great. I think the issue is that while reading you keep encountering similarities to other popular fantasy series. It can be distracting but it also forces comparison. And in comparison Academy of Villains does live up to those other books. A couple of areas I saw that felt inspired:
Initially there is a sorting based on magic
There is some similarity in the class names that are used - Care of Magical Beasts
There is a basilisk type creature later on the book
One of the types of magic are ShadowMage
And there are affinities - sort of a secondary magic

I enjoyed the story overall but felt like it could use some more development and more character depth. Something that will distract from all that comparing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m rating Academy of Villains by Ever King a 3.5, but for the sake of star ratings, and because I don’t think it deserves a lower score, I’m rounding up to 4 stars. The atmosphere and concept of an enemies-to-lovers dark academia story immediately made me a sucker for this book. The blend of Greek mythology, dangerous magic, and secret societies created an intriguing and immersive setting that kept me engaged.

Kiara’s journey as an assassin-turned-mage, thrown into a ruthless academy where she must choose between vengeance and a greater destiny, was gripping. The worldbuilding and dark themes were well done, and the tension between her and the prince added an enticing layer to the story.

However, I found the character development a bit rushed, which made the emotional moments and relationships less impactful for me. I wanted more depth in the connections between the characters, especially since the premise set up such high-stakes relationships. If the story had slowed down to allow for more organic emotional growth, it could have been even more powerful.

That said, the book still delivered an engaging read with a compelling atmosphere, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. I want to thank NetGalley and Ever King for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you love dark fantasy with an intense setting and mythology-inspired storytelling, Academy of Villains is worth checking out!

Omg I want more! Like right now!! This story is amazing, the world building the characters the details the back story all of it. I’m officially obsessed with this I need the next book like right now.

Academy of Villains is exactly what it sounds like, you get mystery and a lot of questions In my opinion things pick up quickly. What had me sold on this was the description it’s definitely Slytherin-coded and I loved every moment of it!

It’s a dark fantasy romance that takes place in a school what more can you ask for? Oh and there’s the MMC whose name is Lucian who you’re gonna end up falling in love with! The MFC Kiara's is 🤌🏻 she’s a strong independent person, you’re gonna be rooting for her for this whole book

There’s secrets, a love story, and trials. I would recommend this to anyone who loves magic, fantasy, romance that involves enemies to lovers and of course Slytherin or anything that feels like Harry Potter this is for you guys.

Thank you NetGalley and the author ever king for allowing me to be an arc reader for this I’m glad I got to experience this world and the characters I can’t wait for book two!!

Ohhhh this was a good one! The author was generous enough to grant my request for a copy on NetGalley (even though the book came out in Oct 2024) and I hate that I *just* now read it. We have magic, we have grimoires, trials, gods, curses, secret societies and more. It had so much going on and I just wanted more. I wish it was longer so that we had more world building, more of the history of the curse, Kiara coming into her power, more yearning and relationship building between the MMC and FMC. The second half of the book felt a bit rushed trying to get all the info we needed to prepare for book 2 in this series. But overall, I'm a fan and will definitely read the second book!

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the world building was good and I adored the characters. The plot was slow in some places but otherwise the pace was consistent. I feel like this was a good introductory book to some of the other books I enjoy (which is nice).

Overall, I thought this book was really good for what it is and look forward to the next book in the series!

Thanks for the E-ARC

This book had such a strong start, and I was immediately drawn in by the cover and intriguing premise. A deadly assassin infiltrating a mage academy? Sign me up! Kiara, one of the Nameless and sworn to eliminate magic, is sent to kill Prince Lucien but accidentally gets mistaken for a student. She soon discovers she’s a mage herself—the very thing she despises. From there, she must choose between her mission and her newfound powers.

The atmosphere was compelling, and I really enjoyed the mythology, secret societies, and grimoire-based magic. There were also some interesting love ties, though I expected a stronger enemies-to-lovers dynamic. While the romance was labeled as slow burn, the attraction kicked in quickly, making it feel less like a true rivalry.

Unfortunately, as the story progressed, my excitement faded. The academy setting, which had so much potential, felt underused. I wanted more classes, teamwork, and a deeper sense of dark academia. While there were elements of school traditions, the villainous atmosphere was lacking. By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t eager to continue the series.

Despite its intriguing premise, the execution left me wanting more. Hopefully, the sequel delivers on the potential!

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!

A dark romantasy filled with inspired from greek mythology? Count me in!

This book was perfectly paced, it didn’t mess around with info dumping or taking to long to get into the story.

Kiara is of course my favourite character being a fierce and badass assassin, very reminiscent of throne of glass.

There were very high stakes and I was on the edge of my seat reading this. Unputtdownable!

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!

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!

This book combines 2 of my favourite things, dark romance and Greek mythology, and my hopes going into this were high. I really liked the cover and blurb when requesting this arc.

The romance and chemistry between the main characters delivered everything i hoped it would. The pacing was fast and I found it easy to stay engaged.

Im very interested to see what the next book brings

The entire premise was very intriguing. I love re-imaginings of stories, and Greek Myths are my current obsession. The book grabs your attention immediately and wraps you into the story. The world building is good, ideas kept simple, but explained enough so that you get the full picture of their world and how magic works there. I love the idea of the grimoire and how it appears at their sorting ceremony. The main characters felt developed enough to actually care about what happens.

Where this lacks is speed. I felt that the pacing was a bit rushed, like it could have been 500 pages longer and I’d devour it. At this pace, it’s shorter but felt like things were progressing way too fast. All of a sudden they found two keys already, she’s best friends with someone she’s know for maybe a week, they battle with the big bad to solve the problem with barely a month passing? It may have been longer, but when he says ‘I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time’ I thought that was crazy, it has barely been a month!

That being said, I will 100% be reading the next books in the series. I want to know more about the world, and explore the characters more. I also want to see o how we ultimately defeat the big bad. Honestly, great book, just give us more! With all the long fantasy and romantasy out there now, we’ll read it!

In a world where magic is fading, an unstoppable tyrant expands his empire, leaving ruin in his wake. Orphaned children without magic are molded into deadly assassins, while those with power are forced into a brutal academy, trained to serve under his iron rule.

Kiara, once the king’s most lethal assassin, is given one final mission—eliminate the prince and end the royal bloodline. But when she infiltrates the academy, everything changes. Because the magic she was taught to destroy? She has it. Now, she's caught in a deadly game. The Cursed Prince is more than just a target—he’s a temptation. Secret societies lurk in the shadows. The headmaster holds dangerous secrets. And as students begin to vanish, Kiara must decide: fulfill her mission or unravel the truth before it’s too late. With enemies at every turn and a romance that could either save or doom them all, Academy of Villains is perfect for fans of dark academia, slow-burn tension, and morally gray characters who walk the line between love and betrayal.

My thoughts:

The romance between Kiara and Lucian is the beating heart of Academy of Villains, a slow-burn, tension-laced relationship that straddles the line between enemies and lovers. Their dynamic is filled with angst, fiery clashes, and undeniable chemistry, but at times, their bond develops in a way where some emotional moments don’t hit as hard as they could.

The novel opens strong, weaving an intoxicating blend of dark academia, political intrigue, and high-stakes action. But as the story progresses, the pacing varies—some plot threads feel aimless, while others don’t get the depth they deserve. The secret societies, especially the Raven Society, offer intrigue, yet they could have been explored further.

That said, Academy of Villains delivers gripping moments, a hauntingly rich atmosphere, and enough twists to keep readers hooked. It lays a strong foundation for what promises to be an electrifying series. Fans of dark fantasy, magical school settings, and morally complex characters will find much to love here. And with its mix of danger, romance, and rebellion, this book is sure to leave readers eager for the next installment.

This was a great romantasy!

I loved the opposites attract/ 'I hate you but for some reason I'm also attracted' romance (it didn't feel like an actual enemies-to-lovers). The pacing was great and the writing style wholly comfortable.
I did kind of struggle with all the terms and names at the start, but it really settled and kept me hooked! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series!

This unfortunately wasn't for me. It wasn't original enough and had a few phrases that were too similar to other well known books. It was easy to read but I found it difficult to get into and a bit boring.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc!

I rate this book 4 stars! It's an easy entertaining YA read with tons of action.

Room for improvement: the storyline and world-building can be improved. The pacing is also off sometimes. It could be a bit more streamlined. It went from fast-paced to slow-paced back to fast-paced.