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3.5 

An Academy for Liars

By Alexis Henderson
An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from 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. 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’s going to fail.

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557 Reviews

3.5
Thinking Face“This book took me a while to really find a connection to. But around page 230, I was itching to finish. A lot of the beginning and foundation of this book is built on unresolved cliffhangers but stick it out and I promise the resolution to them is worth it. There were still some questions I had after reading this book but the ending is satisfying nonetheless.”
Child abuseViolenceFeel distantSatisfying conclusionSlow start, strong finishDarkSetting fits the storyDescriptiveOriginal
Thinking Face“I really enjoyed this book as like my first Dark Academia. I will say I feel like this book picks up speed quite fast. Literally 0-100. Starting with the engagement party. Also this is persuasion, not magic. So that was different a persuasion so strong that it can bend the confines of time and reality. This also includes time travel and spontaneous aberrations. Who would have ever thought to create a book like that. Which I will say is haunting!!!! Buckle up for this one because spoilers will be said Lennon baby I just wanted you to stand up so badly. Like I get it you want love but remember you are THAT girl! Even up to the very last chapter it didn’t seem like she truly believed in herself which was frustrating. You had this fire and power and I would have loved to see you really wield it like you did against Eileen. Again she deserved to have her memories snatched away from her but you the chancellor girl. I’ll let it slide. Also what happened with Nadine nothing like we just let her go or did I miss it?!? I will say I have to agree with your sister about you just running away you did it at the end of the book too, until you really stopped to think hmmm did my man really die. Four whole months later 🥴🙄. I was like alright there is my girl. For a second when you went back I thought YOU let him out I was like here we go again! Also would have loved to see more about how the panic attacks started and you running away to punish people baby girl no good. I don’t like that. Wyatt hope you are happy with that girl because LENNON is better than me let me tell you. I would have stormed in that room and asked what was going on immediately. Big sister Carly I don’t know what you were going through but I do hope after the book that the two of you heal and find peace. I did feel for you when you said mom likes me best but loves you more. So there is def a lot going on in their relationship and we didn’t spend too much time on it really. Carly was very strong willed so that makes me think she walked away from her chance at Drayton forever ago and wasn’t really messing with it. Because why else was she so difficult to persuade you feel me?!? Dante baby boy you redeemed yourself but let me tell you something the last like 10 chapters you were on very thin ice 😒 so glad you pulled yourself together and were able to save yourself in the end. I don’t like that you was keeping secrets. Why didn’t you just tell my girl unless you had a tongue tie? You literally couldn’t say something like Blaine couldn’t or you was just choosing not too 👀. You could’ve told her. Maybe it’s me and my trust issues but I was like this 👀👀 the entire book. Also who let you out of juvie big fella 🤔 Blaine baby hmmmm I don’t have much to say to you but you aight. Don’t lie to my girl ever again. Also so we not going to go back to what she did to her husband hmmmm okay. Also why were you loosing so much weight and sneaking around?! I feel like the friendships needed more development for sure! Emerson, honey, I’m surprised that I liked you. Because let me tell you, I did not at ALL in the very beginning. I felt like you were just doing too much without explaining. But I get it you were looking at being replaced so I’ll let’s it slide. Benedict whew…. Glad I trust my gut with you. So sad you ended the way you did. If we being completely honest you did it to yourself. So you reap what you sow. Could have gone about it differently but you like to play dirty without getting your hands dirty. Sad part is your hands were your downfall in the end. Even that beautiful mind of yours was no match. She didn’t have to be another August but you were finna make her one. Suckssss Swayer you sweet baby angel I hope your pillow is always cold and you get everything you deserve in life 💗 also remember your inhaler I haven’t forgotten that since the first time you were introduced! Kieran ehhhh you cool I GUESS. But maybe like less drugs and more water yeah 👍🏾 or or or therapy I like that idea too. Some self reflecting. Not 100% your fault because your parents left you unchecked and in the spot light. But then you became a 5th grade drug dealer so yeahhhhhh maybe no more drugs. CLAUDE GOODBYE GOOD RIDDANCE A PAIN IN THE…. Eileen 🥴🥴🥴🤣🤣🤣🤣 got what you deserved huh. Trying to use her the entire time and look what you got. Kicked out like last weeks trash. Enjoy the cabin baby. 😘 Alec ooof he scared me big time like idk something about him doesn’t settle within me. But he’s gone now too. ✌🏽 Ian oooo well too bad bye Rocco 😏 I liked you until I didn’t giving very much jack from fourth wing. Also why the Moths and who was the boy who gave her the moth why did she drop it? Why did she go back to that time?!? I still need that answer. I think that’s everything I wanted to discuss. If you read all of this. I hope you have a blessed day 😘 until the next one”
AbuseChild abuseDomestic violenceGriefMurderViolenceMorally ambiguousMultilayeredOriginalStrong villain
Thinking Face“I’m really not sure what to think of this one. I liked the magic system, I thought that was really cool. Unfortunately, the character depth was really lacking for me. I wanted to get to know these classmates more. Even our main characters, I feel like we didn’t get enough. For being almost 500 pages we could’ve gotten more. I can’t say I was surprised at the twist. I kind of saw it coming but it didn’t ruin any of the story for me. Again, I’m not sure what to think. I had a good time reading it and the vibes were amazing. Honestly, this was more a vibes book if anything- if that makes sense.”
Limited character growth
Surprised Face with Open Mouth“The ending was really something. The plot and characters gave me some intense whiplash. A shared past of nearing a dead end road just to be given the chance to be something, and the people some of them—all of them—have to or gladly choose to become to keep it. How far they’ll go, where they’ll draw the line if they draw it at all. Drayton was a place of cruelty, invoking a violence to rip and claw to keep their place and their power, its students to be used or forgotten. But for these characters, it was a place lost/abandoned people made each other matter. I liked that they made it something of their own in the end. I don’t know if I ever believed Lennon and Dante as a couple. They didn’t really work, they didn’t have a lot of chemistry, there wasn’t even any real kindness or passion between them but hell, the ending made me believe in them. Power like Lennon’s and Dante’s is bound to corrupt, and it did. Maybe that’s exactly why they worked, they understood each other. Their level of power and subsequent corruption needed an anchor, a place of peace to fight for, an end to their loneliness.”

About Alexis Henderson

Alexis Henderson is the author of House of Hunger and the Goodreads Choice Awards finalist The Year of the Witching. When she's not writing, you'll find her tending to an assortment of houseplants or nursing a hot cup of tea.

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