This story was a slow-burn for me. I was a bit meh for the first third of the story, but then something gripped me. And it was not the Dark Academia setting - although this was enjoyable too - but the characters of Briar and Seb and their journey. They're not just hero and antagonist, but they're on a voyage to exploring identity and driven by a wanting to belong. Briar returns to the elite Temple School of Thaumaturgy not as a student but as a temp worker sorting through the attic, only to discover that their childhood best friend Seb has transformed into someone powerful and almost unrecognizable. The way they navigate this new dynamic, uncovering the school's dark secrets and their own place in its hierarchy, was absolutely compelling. The slow reveal of the magic system, the hidden truths in forgotten attics, and the emotional weight of Briar's search for belonging all came together beautifully. Briar's determination and Seb's complexity made their dynamic gripping, and the non-binary MC and the commentary on queerness in a structure of power and hierarchy really gripped me. 4/5 stars. Thank you to @NetGalley and @avonbooks for the eARC! #TheUnmagicalLifeOfBriarJones #Bookstagram #NetGalley