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An Academy for Liars

By: Alexis Henderson
Narrated by: Tracie Frank
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Until she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to sit the entrance exam for somewhere very few have heard of - 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 is special. She possesses the innate gift of persuasion: the ability to wield her will like a weapon and to use it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.
After passing the gruelling exam, Lennon must now learn how to master this devastating power.
While persuasion takes a heavy toll on her body and her mind, she is captivated by all that surrounds her - her studies, Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, her brilliant classmates and, most of all, by Dante, the charismatic adviser who both intimidates and enamours her.

But as Lennon becomes more adept at wielding her uncanny abilities, she uncovers more about the unsettling history of Drayton and Dante’s tragic and violent past, and is increasingly disturbed by what she finds.

For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption and darkness . . . and it's a test she's terrified she is going to fail.

©2024 Alexis Henderson (P)2024 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

'Alexis Henderson turns her incredible eye for the upsetting to academia, and delivers a campus novel saturated with violence, desire, and power. It's a book with blood on its lips, and I loved it completely.' (ALIX E. HARROW, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January)

'Alexis Henderson is one of the best Gothic writers out there.' (HANNAH WHITTEN, author of For the Wolf)

'Dark academia stunner infused with Henderson's signature style – it's lush, atmospheric, imaginative and impossible to put down.' (RACHEL HARRISON, author of Cackle)

What listeners say about An Academy for Liars

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Such a thrilling read!

Oh my goodness, what a ride!
This is my first venture into dark academia and also my first experience of Alexis Henderson's writing and I was not disappointed on either front.

This book was dark and it was graphic which is a factor of why I loved it.

The main character, Lennon, is admitted to a mysterious college where she masters the art of persuasion. At first, the plot looks like a solid but predictable story about a school that teaches enough morally questionable things that something is bound to go wrong. In fact, it quickly becomes apparent that the power of persuasion can easily get out of hand, with serious consequences. However, everything turns out to be much darker than I expected at first, and the situation becomes complicated on many levels. The final twist at the end is a masterstroke; all the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. I must also mention that the book is very fast-paced—I was never bored for a moment or felt like I was reading a novel that was almost 500 pages long.

In addition to the engaging plot, interesting world-building, and good pacing, what makes this book stand out are the fantastic characters. Not only Lennon, but also her fellow students and faculty, are a group of colorful, multi-dimensional personalities. I appreciate this because it is not easy to write secondary characters in such a way that they do not seem like phantom figures who are merely tools to advance the plot. The book has a lot of "found family vibes," which is great. There's also a romance in it, but I think it's very well written because it's actually relevant to the plot and doesn't overshadow the other elements of the story.

The author throws twists at you then more twists on the twists all of which keeps you holding your breath to find out what will happen next

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, in one go... Until 4:30 in the morning... and I recommend it to all dark academia fans but also to those like me who this was a new genre for.

Thank you again to Bantam and Penguin Random House for sending me this book.

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Any book that has me on the edge of my seat about the wellbeing of a rat is a win for me.

I thought I had it all figured out, but with twist after twist, I was wrong every single time. As always, Henderson really nails that gothic vibe that just hooks you right from the start.
 
I love that we’re diving right into Dark Academia with this one and it perfectly toes the line between the more believable parts of academia, and the fantastical elements. Its magic system is really unique too and manages to make the consequences of the magic believable and constantly present.
 
Lennon is such a relatable protagonist, and her journey is both gripping and thought-provoking. I knew Lennon was my girl when she casually compared someone to a rat, and it was only uphill from there. In fairness, all of the characters are really complex and well rounded, and you’ll find yourself second-guessing them and their intentions on and off as the story goes on.
 
Henderson has delivered yet another instant favourite for me, and I’m really excited to see what comes next.
 
The narrator is excellent and if you love a good mix of suspense, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural, this book is definitely worth picking up. Just be prepared for some late nights because you won’t want to stop it!

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