An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson is a dark academia contemporary fantasy, with some gothic horror vibes. Sometimes the best books are the ones that are hardest to quantify in terms of an exact genre, and that is definitely true with this book. It falls into many categories and does justice to them all with a fascinating plot, alluring characters, and an atmospheric campus setting.
Lennon Carter is a little bit of a mess. She’s a college dropout, and her mental health issues have made her unable to have a job. She’s engaged to an older college professor, who’s perfectly happy having her play housewife. On the night of their engagement party, Lennon is gets ready, and looks in the bathroom mirror. She sees something strange, a reflection that doesn’t match the rest. But she pushes it out of her mind and goes downstairs to play the charming professor’s wife. And then her whole life falls apart.
Just when she thinks there is no hope for her, she receives a very strange phone call, inviting her to interview for admission at Drayton College. She’s never heard of Drayton before, but she accepts. Lennon has nothing left to lose. She drives straight to the interview and discovers that Drayton is a magical college, hidden in the historic district of Savannah, where students learn to hone the one thing they all have in common — the ability to manipulate using persuasion.
When she passes the exam, she starts classes at Drayton and begins to master her power. But she’s also deeply uneasy with her newfound abilities, and it begins to take its toll. Her advisor, Dante, is mysterious and just her type, further complicating her feelings about her new position. As her studies continue, she discovers a dark side to Drayton College and the power they all have and finds herself in a precarious position in this complex world.
An Academy for Liars sets out with a very intriguing opening and immediately hooks readers with Lennon’s captivating character. All of the characters in this book are quite interesting, with secrets and layers and quirks that will keep readers guessing.
After the initial opening, there is a bit of a lull in the plot as Lennon and the reader get acclimated to Drayton College, but it’s only slow for a chapter or two. Then things really got going, and I could not put this book down for anything.
This book is perfect for Atlas Six fans. It has a similar vibe to the first two books in the series. There’s almost a found family element, but not in the way it’s normally found. Like Atlas Six, it looks and feels a little different, a little more competitive, and a little darker.
I am partial to a dark academia fantasy. Leigh Bardugo‘s Ninth House is one of my favorite books of all time, and An Academy for Liars hits that same feeling for me. It’s a fascinating exploration of power and sacrifice, betrayal and love. It is my favorite of Henderson’s books so far, and perfect for a spooky season dark academia read.
Writing: 5
Spice: 1
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