A story that is partially about demons, and partially - in no small part - about the administrative duties of a school? The latter doesn't sound like it would be the most compelling, but, well-

(Benoit Blanc "It compels me though" gif)

A very high 4 stars. This was so well-crafted and well-written; Emily Tesh writes in such a confident manner, everything feels intentional. Even the pacing, which was not traditional in some ways, worked well in building this sense of uncertainty and chaos for some parts. And really, like a demon incursion is going to wait until the end of the school year just for pacing?

I went into this expecting it to be less fucked up than Some Desperate Glory, more pastoral (if you read this book, you'll see this word choice is fitting and intentional). And it's definitely less fucked up than that - but most things also fall into the "less fucked up than Some Desperate Glory" category, so I suppose that's not saying much. I think this book might get classified as "cosy" once in a while, just because there is quite a bit dedicated to the day-to-day workings of the school, and the not-so-dark academia, so you can get lulled into a false sense of coziness, sure, but let's not forget: constant threat of demons.

The story follows Saffy Walden, a 38 year old director of magic at a magic boarding school and also an expert on invocation, which is the branch of magic dealing with demons. Walden is such a complex, rounded, real character - maybe it's because I'm not far off from her age, but I found her relatable and also found that kind of relatability really refreshing! So, so much of this story is on the strength of Walden as a character, and I loved her.

The secondary characters, from Laura to the student group to, yes, even Mark, were all very well done, with personalities and complexities of their own, so I obviously got attached to all of them. (And did get Walden's romantic predicament, if I'm being completely honest - both of them 😏)

The magic system was another standout! Just the details and the thought that obviously went into it - from the invoking to the demon world to the demons themselves. It definitely added stakes to a book that otherwise was a lot of school ins and outs, and man, was there tension in some of the scenes. The whole School House section? Edge of my seat.

The only thing that didn't work quite as well for me was, unfortunately, how the book ended. I thought it wrapped up a bit too quickly, especially the climax in the penultimate chapter. There is one specific moment where I made a status update about how things were getting horrifying, and then . . . that ball kind of dropped. I'm not saying I want body horror but I'm not not saying th- I DIGRESS. I did think the climax resolved itself a bit suddenly, and would have liked a bit more specifics about one part that could have got horrifying, let's just leave it at that.

All in all, Emily Tesh has easily become one of my read-immediately authors, and with how creative and just plain GOOD her first two novels have been, I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is one of the best dark academia books I've read. I adored the boarding school setting, but told from the perspective of a teacher instead. Walden's commentary had me chuckling throughout and I found the magic system fascinating to read about. I thought Some Desperate Glory was an excellent book but ET has outdone herself with this new book

I’ve read dozens of dark academia books, but this is the first one that focuses almost entirely on the experience of teaching and being a teacher. I really enjoyed it—it's well-written, thoughtfully crafted, and genuinely stands out from what the genre has delivered so far.

Plot-wise, the book is an interesting example of a situation where one seemingly small decision from the past, when exposed to additional external factors, spirals into large and complex outcomes, both miraculously good and disastrously bad. The story is grounded in the academic calendar of Chetwood Academy, a prestigious boarding school that teaches magic, with all the characters serving as educators within its walls.

This book perfectly blends elements of magic with the real-life dynamics of the British educational system. Surprisingly, what I enjoyed most wasn’t the magical aspects—though those are absolutely fantastic, and the demon-fighting scenes are genuinely impressive—but rather how authentic and grounded the main character’s life as a teacher felt, even within the walls of a magical school.

The story is clearly well-researched, and it's obvious that Emily Tesh draws from her own experience as a Briton, an Oxbridge alumna, and an educator. Dr. Saffy Walden, the FMC, is the Director of Magic, yet she faces the same challenges many teachers encounter: trying to do her job well while working within a system that doesn’t always support her. She’s 38, single, and caught in that liminal space—neither “young” nor “old”—which adds depth to her personal journey as she tries to balance work and life. I also appreciated the subtle yet pointed commentary on how women are often perceived differently than men in the same age/professional position.

If you’re expecting a book mostly about magic, you might want to adjust your expectations. This is primarily a novel about the experience of being a teacher, with a poignant yet spot-on commentary on the institutional challenges educators face. It’s the kind of book that will stick with you long after you’ve finished it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I requested this as soon as I saw it was available, having loved the authors previous book (Some Desperate Glory). This new offering did not disappoint and has firmly established Emily Tesh as one of my favourite authors. I loved almost everything about this book, characters, story and worldbuilding. I appreciated the attention given to the actual process of teaching magic (it is very obvious that the author has a teaching background here) however, I will admit that for some people the frequent mention of the tedious side of teaching and the exploration of inequalities within the education system may be a bit too much. The ending was very satisfying. Highly recommended for those who like dark academia!

The covers are gorgeous, especially the UK edition. That hot pink!

This review has spoilers.

The first 1/3 was exactly what I thought I would be reading - a magic school from the perspective of a teacher - and I adored it.
The imp in the photocopier who ate chocolate digestives! The "oooh, enemies to lovers??" with Laura. A butch lesbian love interest (practically unheard of)! A centuries-old demon summoning!

There's a big ol' demon fight at the school and a spur-of-the-moment kiss (and me, maybe foaming at the mouth).

Then, after the fallout from the demon shenanigans and Laura getting canned and leaving....... I don't even know what happened.

Actually, no - nothing fucking happened.

Nothing happened apart from excruciating minutiae about being a teacher. Nothing happened apart from a posh smarmy dickhead being introduced and oh of course Saffy starts fucking him. Nothing happened apart from bungled in-your-fucking-face social commentary.

Finally, finally, the plot starts moving. The Phoenix takes over - but in the milquetoastiest way possible. There was no build up. Saffy realises oh hang on, this pompous knob is actually up to no good and also he's shagging the 23-year-old.

And then, yeah, the teenagers save the day, and gosh the Phoenix would've got away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!

Two stars, only because of how much I loved the opening.