Ratings679
Average rating4
When Alex wakes up in a hospital after her “friends” have all been brutally murdered, she's prepared for her already abysmal existence to get worse. Instead she's greeted by the dean of Yale offering her admission to the prestigious school. Alex hasn't graduated high school and at 20 has had a few dead end jobs and spends most of her time taking and selling drugs. But with her ability she's welcomed into Yale and is introduced to the life of secret societies, magic, and the Ivy League. Yet, everything doesn't go very smoothly and soon Alex is fighting to find answers and to save her life.
This was a mix of fantasy and paranormal thriller. It has serious dark academia vibes to it. There's some magic and some ghosts. It takes a minute to grasp the societies, their roles, and the different people involved. However, once I got those down I rolled through the book. Alex is a strong, female protagonist with many interesting characters surrounding her. There isn't any romance in this. I enjoyed the lack of romance because it allowed me to focus more on the characters as a whole and the different houses and magical aspects of the book. However, I think there's potential for possible romance in the next book. This is a slow burn read. Stick with the first half because the second half is EVERYTHING! Once you get to half way it really picks up speed and events unfold. The ending is spectacular and has me ready for the second book to be released. There is also a tv series being produced.
For fans of Leigh Bardugo's Greishaverse: DO NOT GO INTO THIS BOOK COMPARING IT TO GREISHAVERSE!! It is very different; more of a real world setting, no romance, and more adult themes and language. I have seen a lot of people dislike it because they're expecting more Shadow and Bone, King of Scars, and Six of Crow vibes. You will be disappointed if you are expecting that. However, Bardugo builds a magical world (that's set in the real world) that's immersive and entertaining.