Getting an early chance to read one of my most anticipated 2026 releases did not disappoint!
I was immersed from the first page by the world-building, which introduces some complex characters, deep themes, and unexpected humour – all wrapped up with a unique magic system and the intriguing social hierarchies of a magical boarding school.
Both Briar Jones and the Temple School of Thaumaturgy are not as they first appear. The fantastical, ‘dark academia’ environment which Briar (and the reader) might have imagined is quickly revealed to have dark undercurrents.
I loved seeing how Briar’s wry sarcasm and humour belies a depth of emotion (and trauma) which is gradually revealed as the mysteries of the plot thicken, along with romance and queer ‘found family’ in unlikely places.
The book disrupts your expectations of its nostalgic, fantastical setting and brings together a rogues gallery of personalities who grapple with trust, guilt, and their responsibilities to themselves and each other.
I found it refreshing to have a non-binary protagonist whose gender identity is established from the outset, their coming out and experience of gender is not a major plot point as we meet them in medias res. But, it still subtly informs the choices Briar makes and how they interact with their peers. As a viewpoint character, they are funny, compelling, flawed, resolute. I felt I was rooting for them from the outset.
I found that thematic discussions – of class and privilege, sexuality and relationships, violence and trauma, guilt and resolution – were deftly handled and cleverly extrapolated through the lens of the thaumaturgy magic system itself.
Lex writes such life-like, nuanced characters who make mistakes but, importantly, take action to make things better, not just wishing for a magical fix-all. The plot ties together in a satisfying conclusion which left me wanting more from these characters, and reads as a rallying cry for the importance of perseverance, forgiveness, friendship and community.

Well that was. Surprisingly dark, twisted, and terrifying. And oh so addictive...

This book sucked me in right away and refused to let go, despite the fact that things turned so dark I often needed a break.

As plotlines go, this was fairly familiar: magic school, houses, initiations, privilege...

BUT

Briar hasn't seen their best friend since he took of for magic school seven years again. After years, they finally manage to get a temp job at he school, and can't believe how awful things are at the prestigious private school. And when I say awful, I mean full-on psychological and physical torture awful. And their best friend? Well. He seems to have become the villain. But uncovering just what is going on has Briar questioning the meaning of good and evil, and everything in between...

I really loved the setting and the creepy atmosphere, the take on magic was original, the resolution unexpected.

If you love your fantasy dark and twisted, don't miss this one!