Book Review: An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Ace Books (September 17, 2024)

Length: 464 pages

Author Information: Website

Before I begin, I’m prefacing this review with the caveat that I can be extremely tough on my critique of dark academia and magic school fantasy. While I love the genre, I’ve also become very picky and demanding on account of having read so much of it. Keeping this in mind, it’s possible I would have enjoyed An Academy for Liars a bit more if I hadn’t expected so much, but what didn’t land for me might actually work for you.

The novel follows Lennon Carter, a young woman struggling to keep her life from unraveling. She keeps falling for the wrong people and for the wrong reasons, and is about to commit her life to living a mistake when a mysterious phone call interrupts her pity party for herself in the middle of an empty parking lot. The voice on the other end of the line sounds like her own, inviting her to Drayton College, a hidden school of magic accessible only to those identified to possess special abilities. Drayton boasts a curriculum that enables its students to tap into and hone their talents in the dangerous art of persuasion—a technique that involves using one’s mind to exert their will over others.

With nothing to lose, Lennon accepts Drayton’s offer and comes under the guidance of Dante, a young but highly skilled professor. She is quickly thrown into the cutthroat environment of the academy, where students viciously compete for limited opportunities to advance. Tensions rise further when it is discovered that Lennon possesses the rare ability to open portals, a skill crucial for transportation. This new revelation makes her both valuable and a target, as some members of Drayton’s council believe she’s either too reckless or unprepared for such a huge responsibility. In order to gain control over her powers and avoid being kicked out of school altogether, Lennon must endure grueling tests of skills and determine who she can truly trust.

I’ll be honest—An Academy for Liars was ambitious entry into the dark academia genre, but it didn’t exactly blow me away. While I was drawn to the dark atmosphere, the premise itself felt somewhat lacking in originality, to the point that it gave me feelings of déjà vu. I was hit with the nagging sense that I’ve read this story before, or one of its many variations, the most recent one coming to mind being Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six (which was already quite derivative). Even Drayton’s specialty, the art of persuasion, is a concept I’ve seen crop up a lot in fantasy, and the novel didn’t offer much new depth or insight into it as a magic system.

That said, the world-building had its moments. The bulk of the story takes place within the confines of the college, which admittedly restricts its broader connection to the outside world, but the internal drama and intrigue help make up for some of these limitations. High levels of conflict and the ever-shifting alliances between students keep things on edge, introducing chaos, fierce rivalry, and cruelty. As you would expect, things go horribly wrong. And violently bloody.

In terms of characters, my feelings were mixed. For one, Lennon was not a very likeable protagonist. She’s impulsive and stubborn, and not in a charming way, making ill-considered decisions and questioning authority like an obnoxious child. It’s hard to feel any sympathy for her when she has been repeatedly warned about her behavior and doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes. I was also skeptical of Dante, who is a more interesting character but still gave me ick vibes. I really wish the romance between him and Lennon had not been so prominent, as it was a distraction from the main storyline and dragged down the pacing.

All in all, An Academy for Liars was a “solidly okay” book. Though it wasn’t bad, nothing about it wowed me either. Still, I think it would be a great pick for casual readers who enjoy the dark academia genre, especially those looking for a more mature spin on the school of magic trope. The characters and world-building didn’t exactly click for me, but your mileage may vary, and ultimately, the book ended up being an interesting if somewhat uneven read.