An Academy for Liars
-
-
4.0 • 21 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.
Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.
Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.
After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.
As Lennon continues in her studies, her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns, for it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption...and it’s a test she’s terrified she’s going to fail.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Henderson (House of Hunger) breaks her hot streak with this disappointing spin on the magical school trope. After recently heartbroken Lennon Carter witnesses her eyeless reflection grin at her in the mirror, she receives a mysterious phone call offering her admission to Drayton College, a magical university in a pocket universe once attached to Savannah, Ga. Drayton trains students in the art of persuasion, the power to force their will "not just upon other human beings, but... upon matter itself." After Lennon gets in, she's desperate to prove herself. She's also desperate for the affections of her adviser, Dante Lowe, the college's youngest tenured professor, who knows more than he'll say about Lennon's gift for manifesting elevators that can cross time and space. Unfortunately, this central relationship reads less like a star-crossed romance and more like a toxic cycle egged on by boundary-stomping Lennon. The time devoted to the romance also comes at the expense of Lennon's relationship with her classmates, rendering the climax—which hinges on how willing Lennon's peers are to die for her—bizarre and unconvincing. Henderson's fans will find something to enjoy in the bloody horror sequences as Lennon discovers the limits of her powers, but others will want to scratch their dark academia itch elsewhere.
Customer Reviews
Captivating
A lost girl receives a call from Drayton University informing her of her admission. She is subjected to a series of questions and an unusual entrance exam that explores various emotions. At school, she befriends Blaine, navigates complicated relationships, and becomes drawn to her enigmatic professor, Dante, who keeps her at arm’s length.
She is not the best student academically but possesses a natural ability that sets her apart from the others: the power to open portals, through space and, eventually, time. Under Dante’s guidance, she learns valuable lessons about the power of persuasion and control. The story focuses on themes of power, manipulation, and imposing one’s will on others rather than traditional notions of magic.
Brown moths appear throughout the book as a recurring symbol of the need for life purification and the slow, unseen destruction of things. In many ways, the moth reflects all the characters, who are each seeking purification in their own way—whether through power, redemption, or control over their circumstances.
As the protagonist hones her abilities, she discovers a darker agenda tied to the university, forcing her to confront challenges that test her strength and resolve. The story also raises compelling questions: Why are certain characters tied to mysterious figures at Dayton? How do past traumas shape their present choices? And what is the true cost of power and control?
Ultimately, this was a captivating read—I couldn’t put it down. The book explores themes of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the pursuit of freedom, wrapped in a world of suspense, mystery, and hidden agendas. However, there were several instances where I felt the author could have heightened the emotional impact of certain moments, especially given the painstaking detail devoted to the gory scenes. For example, moments like finding Dante, Gregory’s heroic moment with Lennon, and Dante and Lennon’s intimate connection could have been explored more deeply. The book features several gruesome escapades that result in the untimely demise of various characters. The tone leans heavily into dark and twisted imagery, which may not appeal to all readers. Potential trigger warnings include: violence, death and grief, mental health struggles (including depression, self-harm, or suicide), animal testing and themes of war.