Alexis Henderson’s An Academy for Liars dives headfirst into the dark academia genre, a setting rife with secret societies, cutthroat rivalries, and the tantalising allure of forbidden knowledge. On paper, this sounds like a winning combination for fans of gothic fantasy. However, while the novel offers an interesting premise and some truly intriguing moments, it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
The story centres on Lennon Carter, whose life is at a standstill when she receives an unexpected invitation to Drayton College—a magical university hidden in a pocket universe, offering training in the art of persuasion. Persuasion at Drayton isn’t just about convincing others; it’s about bending the very fabric of reality to one’s will. With the help of her enigmatic advisor, Dante Lowe, Lennon hones her abilities while uncovering the dark history of the institution and the true extent of her power.
Warning, there are mild spoilers ahead.
Let’s start with the positives. Henderson’s strength lies in creating a vivid and atmospheric setting. Drayton College, with its shadowy halls and air of mystery, is the quintessential backdrop for a dark academia novel. The secret societies, magic trials, and academic rivalries feel familiar but are executed well enough to keep readers engaged. The novel’s exploration of power—how it corrupts and what it demands in return—is compelling, particularly in a setting like Drayton where ambition knows no bounds.
The magic system in An Academy for Liars also stands out for its uniqueness. Persuasion as a form of magic, the ability to impose one’s will on others or even on the material world, is a fascinating concept. It raises some thought-provoking questions about control, manipulation, and morality. The moral dilemmas that arise from using such power give the novel a philosophical edge, forcing readers to reflect on the potential consequences of wielding such abilities.
That said, the book falters in a few significant ways. One of the most glaring issues is pacing. There are stretches where the story drags, bogged down by an overabundance of exposition or repetitive introspection from Lennon. This sluggish pacing is compounded by a romance subplot that, while promising at first, quickly loses its appeal. Lennon’s relationship with Dante, her brooding and morally ambiguous professor, never quite clicks. Their dynamic feels forced, and the emotional stakes of their romance are often undermined by awkward dialogue and unconvincing chemistry. In a novel that centres so much on relationships and power dynamics, this is a major drawback.
Furthermore, the secondary characters, while interesting, are often underutilised. Lennon’s classmates, who should play a significant role in her journey, are overshadowed by her intense focus on Dante and her personal struggles. This becomes particularly problematic during the novel’s climax, where Lennon’s peers are expected to rally around her in a way that feels unearned and hollow. Without more meaningful development of these relationships earlier in the story, the climax lacks the emotional weight it should have carried.
There’s also a lack of clarity in some of the novel’s key plot points. There were a few times when I was reading that I realised something had just dropped off and never returned. While the complexity of a novel is often a selling point, the plot points often didn’t fully connect which leaves the payoff unclear and unsatisfying.
In the end, An Academy for Liars feels like a missed opportunity. It’s an enjoyable read with a solid premise and some standout moments—particularly when it delves into the darker aspects of power and persuasion—but it ultimately falls short of delivering on its initial promise. Fans of dark academia may still find plenty to appreciate, but the uneven pacing, underwhelming romance, and lacklustre character development prevent it from reaching the heights of its genre.
An Academy for Liars is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.
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, and the way her mentor’s tragic and violent past intertwines with it. 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 is going to fail.
