31 January 2025
An Academy For Liars Review And Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 17 September 2024
How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library
Where You Can Find An Academy For Liars By Alexis Henderson: Amazon Australia* | Kobo US* | Kobo Canada*
Content & Trigger Warnings: Drug use, cheating, suicidal ideation, death, alcohol abuse, grief, violence, horror, gore, blood, domestic violence, relationship with a minor, child abuse, murder, animal abuse, student professor relationship, vomit, coercion
An Academy For Liars Summary
Lennon Carter’s life is spiralling.
After a series of personal failures, she receives a mysterious phone call inviting her to take an entrance exam for Drayton College — a hidden magic school nestled in the heart of Savannah, Georgia.
What’s the catch?
Lennon has the gift of persuasion, a rare and dangerous ability to bend others to her will. It’s the kind of power that can corrupt even the purest heart, and as Lennon soon learns, it comes with a heavy toll on the body and mind.
Drayton’s campus seems idyllic, but beneath its enchanting facade lies a world of secrets.
Lennon’s fascination with her adviser, Dante, adds a layer of complication, as their relationship teeters between forbidden romance and toxic manipulation.
The deeper Lennon dives into her studies, the more disturbing truths she uncovers about Drayton’s history, its students, and her own power.
The stakes rise when Lennon discovers that persuasion magic is linked to a sinister legacy of control and violence.
The ultimate challenge?
Master her abilities without succumbing to corruption. But in a school full of liars, manipulators, and hidden agendas, is that even possible?
Is An Academy For Liars spicy?
It’s a very low level of spice. There are a few explicit scenes but they aren’t overly detailed and more fade-to-black.
Memorable An Academy For Liars Quotes
Good lies are rewarded with belief. Great lies are rewarded with conviction. In my experience, persuasion is a great lie, well told.
Anyone who gets tattooed on their hands is an idiot.
You're dangerous.
It’s easier to lie when you don’t know the truth.
Lennon was no hero. And she wasn’t even sure she had the spine to call herself a villain. She was just a coward. And she was very afraid.
An Academy For Liars Review
An Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson is dark academia at its finest — lush, haunting, and brimming with tension.
If you’re like me and you like anything dark and witchy, you’ll want to check it out. This one has particular emphasis on the dark.
I’m honestly surprised that it only has a 3.5 star rating on Goodreads. But with all the trigger warnings and the horror and gore elements, I can see how it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
What I Loved:
- The gothic, Southern setting is a character in itself. I’ve never been to Savannah, Georgia, but this book makes me want to visit for all the spooky vibes.
- The magic system of persuasion feels eerily plausible — less “expelliarmus” and more “psychological warfare.”
- The tension throughout the story is palpable, with subtle horror and thriller elements that kept me hooked.
- The morally gray characters and magic system are fascinating. It brings to light questions about mind control, influence, and how these can be used for good or evil.
- The ending of the book was very satisfying, even down to the final sentence.
What Could Be Better:
- The pacing lags in the middle. Around the halfway mark, I wasn’t sure where the plot was heading, but the last third flew by.
- The romance between Lennon and Dante had moments of intrigue but also felt unsettling at times, which may be intentional but made it hard to root for them.
Before You Read:
This book covers many dark and heavy topics. Please read the content and trigger warnings before picking it up!
Final Thoughts:
If you love dark academia with a magical twist, An Academy For Liars is for you.
The ending was satisfying, and while it didn’t quite reach 5-star territory for me, it was close.
I’m already adding Alexis Henderson’s other books, The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger, to my TBR.
An Academy For Liars Book Club Questions
- What were your favourite and least favourite moments in the book?
- There are many content and trigger warnings for this book. Were there any in particular that you found difficult to read?
- What did you think of the dark academia setting?
- Do you think the location of Savannah, Georgia added to the setting?
- What did you think happened to Bennedict?
- What did you think of Lennon as the main character? Did her flaws make her more relatable or less likeable?
- What did you think of Dante as a character?
- What did you think of the romance between Lennon and Dante? Was it intriguing, unsettling, or both?
- Which character did you find most compelling, and why?
- Many of the characters are morally gray. Do you think they ultimately made the right choices in the end?
- What did you think of the magic system?
- Do you think it’s ethical to use the power of persuasion?
- If you had the power of persuasion, how would you use it?
- If you could open an elevator to any place or time, where would you go?
- Were you surprised by any of the reveals or the ending?
- Have you read any of Alexis Henderson’s other books?
- If so, how would you rank An Academy For Liars?
- If not, are you interested in reading the others?
- How does this book compare to other dark academia or gothic fantasy novels you’ve read?
- If An Academy For Liars was adapted into a movie, which actors would you cast for each character?
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