M.L. Rio

“Secrets carry weight, like lead.”

Okay so I’ll admit my Shakespeare is a little rusty so that was slightly problematic while reading this given how much the focus is on theatre. I don’t think that it impacted the main story too much though. I have to say that I enjoyed the tragic dark element of this story. I loved watching how each of the characters were so close, but at the same time they really hid so many secrets from one another and from themselves.

I liked how the author basically had the events of ten years ago being told in retrospect by Oliver. It added to the vibe that was created and really helped you to know when something was coming, because he could build up to it and then say something ominous. I liked the way it was told in Acts and Scenes because it shows how crucial this part of their lives were.

I have to admit that while on the whole I enjoyed the story I had some issues. I think it was incredibly long when it didn’t need to be. At times important things got lost in things that weren’t even remotely as important and seemed to sidetrack the narrative. I loved the romance dynamic. Mainly because the group is so close it’s hard to distinguish who has feelings for who; for us and them. I wish I had gotten more of a certain couple.

However, my biggest complaint with this book is the ending. I really will try to keep it spoiler free but I just wish the book had ended way before it did, because the ending just cheapened the rest of the book for me and made it almost pointless. However, it was a good story overall and I enjoyed the dark academia vibe a lot.… (lisätietoja)

Mysterious and dangerous occurrences in various seats of learning? Students, and sometimes their tutors, in peril? Murder? Magic? Ghosts? Dusty books in old libraries? Clandestine cults and secret societies devoted to ancient rituals?

As it turns out, I like a nice haunting mystery and I also like dusty books in old libraries.
For the Dark part of Dark Academia, it was great in both atmosphere and setting. Plenty of haunted boarding schools and creepy libraries. As for Academia, I felt like it was more supernatural horror. Which was fine. I think these morbid mysteries are perfect for fall, but compared to the secret history or babel, there was no real academia in this book.

I really liked how The hare and the hound walked the line between the protagonist losing their mind and real supernatural occurrences and how Phobos played with conscience and ambition.
I also liked X House, The ravages and The professor of Ontography. I wasn’t a fan of Pythia with its many fantasy elements and Playing, whose protagonist’s ‘not like other girls and boys’ attitude annoyed me.… (lisätietoja)