Title: An Academy for Liars
Author: Alexis Henderson
Release Date: Sept. 17, 2024
Format: eBook
Where to Buy: Amazon | Bookshop
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis
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.
My Review
An Academy for Liars was a lot darker than I expected. It was promoted as dark academia, but often that is not necessarily the most accurate description. This definitely had a setting and atmosphere that reminded me a bit of The Secret History, aka the most dark academia ever, and The Cloisters.
Henderson created a really interesting setting and magic system. I loved the idea of a mysterious 25th square in Savannah where this school is located. It is outside of our reality courtesy of the magic system created by Henderson. Basically, certain people are exceedingly good at persuasion. Sure they can persuade people to do what they want, but that’s the most basic skill. Those that are exceptionally powerful can do things like removing specific memories with knifelike precision. Others can persuade matter, like getting a lock to unlock itself or persuading lights to turn on or off. What we learn is that Lennon actually has the ability to command reality. She is like the young man that gave his life to remove the school from reality–meaning she can persuade time and matter.
When it is discovered that Lennon has this skill, she becomes a target and is almost expelled. Luckily, Dante, her advisor, steps in to protect her. He wants to make sure that she is able to build and hone her skills. They dynamic between Dante and Lennon wasn’t exactly my favorite. While he seemed to have her interests at heart, I did not love that he was hiding things from her.
I also just wanted Lennon to be a bit more…independent? We learn very early that Lennon has had a series of “all-encompassing” relationships. Basically, she has a pretty bad habit of throwing herself completely into relationship, being everything that that person needs and then running away when things get bad. I felt like she was doing it again when she settled in on Dante. Henderson definitely tried to show that Lennon was growing. Her relationship with Dante developed a bit slower and Lennon definitely had a bit more independence in this relationship. However, I think I would have enjoyed the character more if there wasn’t a relationship. If instead, we focused on Lennon becoming enough for herself.
The atmosphere is what made this book so enjoyable. I am glad that I read it in October in the height of spooky season. After Halloween I tend to reach for cozy instead of spooky. I think the moral quandary that Lennon felt in practicing persuasion is what really hooked me on the book and gave it the spooky feeling. I loved that Lennon never really embraces persuasion. Sure she uses it on a lot of people, but often she regrets it. Other times while she recognizes it is necessary, she doesn’t go as far as she would have to. As she struggles with the consequences of taking someones will and bending it to her own, she pushes for her classmates to feel the same.
If you are looking for a solid, dark academia book with an innovative (albeit morally gray) magic system, An Academy for Liars may be for you.
