Synopsis
Enrol in this rivals-to-lovers dark academia fantasy of necromancers and gladiatorial combat against eldritch abominations, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and A Deadly Education.
St Penderghast’s is an elite college for necromancers and gladiators, promising glory to those who can perfect the arcane arts of graving or spiring. Graving is the notorious act of raising the dead and shaping their decaying flesh into eldritch abominations. Spiring is divine-fuelled combat against undead horrors in grand arenas, thrilling crowds of thousands.
Halen Kilchoir would kill (and resurrect) anything to study graving at St. Penderghast’s under the guidance of her hero, master necromancer Mortritis. But Hal cannot enlist alone: the only way she can secure admission is to enter a dangerous accord with her mortal rival, Alastair Faulton – accomplished spirer and the infuriating, formidable exiled scion of the great Faulton dynasty. If they team up as spirer gladiators, fighting gruesome creatures in a cut-throat competition, they could both earn their prestigious places at the college.
As Hal and Alastair fight grisly monsters and ghastly peers side by side, mending their years-long feud in the resplendent halls of the college, Hal faces the horrors of graving, spiring, and the revolting prospect of a romance with her own nemesis.
Review
A rivals-to-lovers dark academia fantasy featuring necromancers, gladiatorial combat, and eldritch monsters.
Take Deadly Education and aspects of Gideon the Ninth and turn up the romantasy and you will get this.
The only way Hal can secure admission to her dream university is to enter a dangerous accord (an academic partnership to fight together in trials) with her rival, Alastair, the exiled scion of the great Faulton dynasty.
Either they both get in, or neither.
This is a classic enemies forced together – but are they really enemies or has there been a misunderstanding?
There were a few cheesy lines like: “the breast of the breast—” from Alastair after being told Hal doesn’t wear bras on non-training days. On the whole, however, the simmering, sizzling romance/tension/hate isn’t the main focus.
Staying alive amongst monsters, politics, family feuds, and bullies is at the forefront.
Hal is a frustrating main character in the sense that she cannot read a room. Then again, it adds to the tension and drama.
A very enjoyable time with an ending that has me rearing for book two.
This is the first book of 2025 (September) that has put me in an autumnal, spooky mood.
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