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An Academy for Liars

3.4(38)
Hardcover€25.50Paperback€19.50
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About the book

'Saturated with violence, desire, and power. It's a book with blood on its lips, and I loved it completely.' ALIX E. HARROW

'This darkly gorgeous story is a lavish feast for fans of gothic horror. One of my top reads of the year!' SUNYI DEAN

'Alexis Henderson is one of the best Gothic writers out there.' HANNAH WHITTEN

'Dark academia stunner infused with Henderson's signature style - it's lush, atmospheric, imaginative and impossible to put down.' RACHEL HARRISON

'A modern-day Anne Rice, Henderson has a gift for creating a world engorged with desire and death.' THE NEW YORK TIMES

Lennon Carter's life is falling apart.Until she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to sit the entrance exam for somewhere very few have heard of - 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 is special. She possesses the innate gift of persuasion: the ability to wield her will like a weapon and to use it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.
After passing the gruelling exam, Lennon must now learn how to master this devastating power.
While persuasion takes a heavy toll on her body and her mind, she is captivated by all that surrounds her - her studies, Drayton's lush, moss-draped campus, her brilliant classmates and, most of all, by Dante, the charismatic adviser who both intimidates and enamours her.

But as Lennon becomes more adept at wielding her uncanny abilities, she uncovers more about the unsettling history of Drayton and Dante's tragic and violent past, and is increasingly disturbed by what she finds.

For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption and darkness . . . and it's a test she's terrified she is going to fail.

Editions (5)

ISBN9780857505552
PublisherPenguin Life
Publication Date10/24/24
Pages320

Reviews & Ratings

38 ratings

8 reviews

3.4

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  • selfonashelf
    selfonashelf

    191 Followers

    4.5

    To me it was less horror and more Dark Academia, but that just made me like it more. Real cool dark vibes, unique magic system, and the end..... Great characters and oh....Gregory. In the middle I was afraid the plot lost itself, but it all came together in the end.

    Sep 30, 2024

  • josiscupofcoffee
    josiscupofcoffee

    56 Followers

    5.0

    "that she’d made the grave error of mistaking the want of closeness for closeness itself. But one was not a sufficient substitute for the other." I was craving a dark academia read and the plot of a hidden school in the heart of Savannah, accessible only to the chosen that are taught the art of persuasion was intriguing. Also this book is more on the adult side, so no petty high school drama. It was a long story and yet I wished it wouldn't end. The characters and their backstories, the paranormal and horror elements and the tension building kept me hooked throughout the book. And then there is the betrayals, lies, secrets, academic politics, backstabbing and the very unique magic system. All of the multiple storylines merged perfectly at the end leaving no plot holes or unanswered questions, creating an epic ending! The book itself is so complex and even though I finished it a couple of days ago I can't stop thinking about it and the experience I went through reading it. And lastly I loved the little rat revolution that was thrown in there. Gregory you will not be forgotten.

    May 4, 2025

  • faanielibri
    faanielibri

    208 Followers

    3.0

    Das war.. wild. Ich bin richtig zwiegespalten, wie ich es finden soll. Einerseits war es sehr spannend und wegen des einfach gehaltenen Stils sehr schnell zu lesen. Außerdem habe ich viel am Stück gelesen, das hat das Leseerlebnis auch sehr intensiv gemacht. Aber andererseits waren da Figuren, die man kaum bis gar nicht kennenlernt. Somit hatte ich keinerlei Gefühle gegenüber den Charakteren, egal ob sie litten oder liebten. Die Geschichte wollte meiner Meinung nach auch zu viel, selbst wenn die einzelnen Aspekte sinnvoll in die Story eingebaut wurde. Gefallen hat sie mir aber nicht wirklich, auch wenn ich sie in Rekordzeit gelesen habe. Die Idee dahinter ist allerdings grundsätzlich ziemlich cool, Gedankenmanipulation finde ich sehr spannend. In besserer Umsetzung.

    Jan 13, 2025

3 of 8 reviews

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