2023
WISE Score
A moody, gothic mystery where the folklore is real, the house is crumbling, and the 'greatest author of all time' might be a total fraud.
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Ava Reid has written a 'dark academia' novel that actually has something to say about the darkness. It’s not just about wearing tweed and drinking tea in a library; it’s a sharp, necessary critique of how women are erased from history and literature.
It’s moody, atmospheric, and deeply satisfying for anyone who grew up on fairy tales but now wants to see them deconstructed. If your kid is into the 'academic rivals' trope but wants a story with actual meat on its bones, this is the one.
Best for 14 and up. It’s a YA/Adult crossover that requires some emotional maturity to handle the themes of systemic abuse and mental health struggles.
It's a heavy, dark gothic novel. While it models resilience and intellectual integrity, it deals with systemic abuse and institutional trauma rather than 'wholesome' cooperation.
The world-building is top-tier. Ava Reid crafts a meta-narrative about a fictional epic within her own story, blending architecture, folklore, and a uniquely damp, eerie atmosphere.
It's a book, so no surprise jump scares, but the content is mature. It features themes of sexual assault (backstory), gaslighting, and the use of 'bitters' as a coping mechanism for trauma.
It's a brilliant critique of the 'Great Man' theory in literature. It encourages readers to question who gets to tell history and how women's contributions are erased.
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