The Art of Exile

Academy of Muses #1

by Andrea Max

Legendborn meets The Da Vinci Code in this “inventive, compelling” (Kirkus Reviews) light academia contemporary fantasy and “whirlwind romp” (Publishers Weekly) following a teen who infiltrates a secret school for the descendants of exiled Renaissance masters to steal their long-lost arts and sciences.

Steal from a hidden utopia.
Fake date your nemesis.
Don’t fall for your mentor.
And whatever you do—don’t get caught.

For centuries, Ada Castle’s family has searched for the Genesis Institute: a secret utopia where the descendants of exiled Renaissance masters study arts and sciences so extraordinary they feel like magic. So when Ada is rescued from an attempted kidnapping by the institute’s handsome, brilliant, and completely off-limits recruiter, she seizes the chance to infiltrate the school and finally steal its advancements for the rest of the world.

To access the institute’s most guarded knowledge, Ada must earn a place in its elite guild system under the guidance of the recruiter-turned-mentor she’s quickly falling for. But when a new friend disappears, she’s forced to fake a relationship with the school’s most dangerous—and dangerously attractive—student, who’s convinced she’s a spy and is determined to prove it. Which is a problem, because there’s a reason Genesis has managed to stay a secret for centuries…and they will kill to keep it that way.

As devastating revelations come to light and Ada’s understanding of right and wrong starts to blur, she must choose who to betray—the family whose mission she has always believed in, or the school that has completely reshaped her beliefs…and her heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Audiobook, Dark Academia, Fiction, Romantasy

448 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Mella aka Maron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

There are no words I can use to convey how much I ADORE this book.

But gravdamn it. I can try.

Andrea Max has created something truly beautiful in The Art of Exile. I can’t even fathom how incredibly talented this woman is: I would study her brain if I could. She has taken old and overused tropes and twisted and manipulated them into something NEW and unique! She has created a world that could rival Harry Potter and makes it INCLUSIVE in a way that HP never was.

Let me explain. Hogwarts had houses based on personalities… Arcadia has guilds based on TALENT. And it’s not exclusive to “magic” users. Arcadia accepts great and exceptional minds: they’re ALL Makers. Not everyone in their community is a Sire (a person with the ability to generate Ha’i or life force.) AND, I’ll do you one better. Once you become a master in your chosen guild, you have the opportunity to join another guild and master that talent. You can become a Master of ALL guilds. (Did I blow your mind yet?)

What I love about this idea of talents and “non-magical” people having talent… is that it truly reaches you deep inside. I could be a hell of a Cipher. I read this book like “oh my gosh, is THIS why my brain is so overly developed? Is this why my brain just works so much more than others? Was I supposed to be a Maker?” This book reaches to those kids who were weird or “gifted” and gives them a sense of belonging.

Now, on top of the above (yes, there’s more), we have an overarching theme of who deserves this grand knowledge that the Makers have? Why are the Makers keeping their society a secret? Doesn’t the provincial world deserve this knowledge as well? To cure disease, save lives, etc? The Art of Exile asks these questions in ways that Harry Potter never did. Muggles were beneath wizards, that was it. I won’t spoil too much about this arc in the book but it’s such a controversial and important topic that has such relevance in today’s society and I love that Max does not diminish its importance in the slightest.

Now, the characters. Ada is my hero. She is this girl who has always felt like she didn’t belong in provincial society but never understood why, why her ability was hidden and why she was ostracized by her Family. When her Family pushes her to infiltrate this magical school, she finally finds a place where she feels that belonging. And I almost cried at some of the beautifully deep moments where she reflects on this. When she’s with Georgie who becomes her best friend and confidant especially. Georgie is such a breath of fresh air in friendship. And her being a woman in STEM? Yes! 🙌 I was sad to see that we didn’t see many Cipher students but Georgie made up for it with her computer skills.

So… the men. You know it’s a good love triangle when you just can’t decide between them! On the one side, you have the older mentor, Michael, who all at once is sweet and nervous and also extremely emotionally manipulative. It felt like he was manipulating MY emotions as the reader. I was entranced okay. On the other side, you have the rude and arrogant Rafe who calls her a Weed and also learns to respect and appreciate her and her abilities. He is the Draco to her Hermione. And at first I didn’t even consider him an option but he wormed him way into my heart and by the end… I think I’m Team Rafe?? I do think it will depend on how the series progresses though!

What else can I say?

Yes, I know.

What I find most emotionally destroying about this book… is that I NEED people to read it. I am not joking about this. The Art of Exile has the potential to blow minds and make all of us start THINKING again. I’m distraught thinking of all the readers who will never find this book because I know it’s not on many radars. And so I will scream about this book from the highest mountains, shout into the voids of the oceans, and throw it at random strangers in bookstores.

Just. Read. It.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4/5 Stars
🪄 YA Contemporary Fantasy Romance Debut

Okay, this book? Delightfully chaotic in the best way. Imagine getting kidnapped in Italy, dragged into a secret high-tech magic academy, and suddenly discovering a whole new utopian society. That’s The Art of Exile - a glittery mash-up of Renaissance vibes, magical academy, sci-fi gadgets, and YA angst with enough secret societies to make Dan Brown sweat.

Let’s break it down:
Was it a little hormone-heavy? Yes.
Was the romance a bit dramatic? Also yes.
Did I inhale it anyway like a bag of cheesy popcorn? Absolutely.

Ada, our girl, is smart, sarcastic, morally conflicted, and just trying to figure out if she’s saving the world or accidentally dismantling it. I LOVED the ethical dilemmas and how the story didn’t shy away from showing both sides of the “share the utopian magic tech or hoard it for yourself” debate. And honestly? The worldbuilding was super impressive for a debut - the Genesis Institute feels like Hogwarts if it ran on solar panels and intense existential dread.

Also - the romance? Whew. A love triangle where both options actually make sense. It’s messy. It’s dramatic. And yes, I’m fully invested.

🔥 Tropes Checklist:
• Fake dating & love triangle (and it’s actually GOOD)
• Secret societies
• Magic school
• Renaissance tech + hoverjousting??
• Found family
• Gripping ethical dilemmas
• Jewish mythology rep & 🌈 LGBTQ+ rep
• YA characters being so YA (bless them)

This book is the YA fantasy starter pack with feelings - and it totally sticks the landing. The pacing dips a little in the middle, and yeah, the romance is loud, but overall? It’s a fantastic debut with serious series potential. Utopian/dystopian hybrids are my jam, and this one delivered.

100% recommend 🔥

[Anna Makowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like magical schools, hidden societies and messy teenager crushes? Did the concept of a Renaissance man ever fascinate you? Then you should read this book.

This felt like a homage for classics like Harry Potter and Sailor Moon. The protagonist, Ada, reminds me of Sailor Moon by being clumsy, boy-crazy, fairly bad at school subjects but talented at an obscure sport. The setting reminded me of Harry Potter with the hidden train / train station, school in a remote hidden place, Guilds similar to Houses and Hoverjoust sport which takes the same focus as Quidditch including the House Cup / tournament between the Guilds. We also have a colorful cast of side characters including a quirky lesbian best friend, a young prodigy, a Black senior student who helps Ada catch up, a mandatory bully snob, helpful and unhelpful teachers, etc.

The main plot centers Ada spying on the hidden world of the Makers on behalf of some secret society her mother belongs to. This raises a moral dilemma for Ada, is one secret society better than the other and why the world can't just become an utopia. There is a good amount of social commentary that's likely to resonate with the readers, especially if you have negative experiences with American healthcare. There's also an emotional arc of Ada dealing with her insecurities and feeling like she's a black sheep of her family and must desperately prove her worth, which I feel is a universal theme in YA.

The prose is well written, the plot is easy to follow, the worldbuilding is accessible, and Ada represents many common traits of teenagers: thinks she's oh-so-adult when she's 17, talks back, is very hormonal, flukes at school, but in classic YA manner turns out to have a very rare and in-demand magical power.

Recommended for fans of love triangles, magical schools, secret societies, Renaissance art & famous historical figures, and readers who feel nostalgia towards YA from the days of Fallen and Divergent.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books & Netgalley for the ARC.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

everyone’s too sexy hot it’s so unfair booooo

[Devorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S LAUNCH DAY!!! The book is finally out. She worked so hard on it, and I'm so lucky to have had the chance to witness the whole process. I re-read it a few weeks ago when she gave me a lovely copy of the finished book - it was so cool to get a chance to hold an actual physical copy in my hands. The book is even more captivating than I remembered. There have been several rounds of edits since the last time I read it, so here are things I noticed on the re-read:

1) I forgot how adorable Hypatia is.

2) Ada is sooo thirsty. It's actually hilarious to hear her thoughts.

3) In general, Ada has such an amazing, awkward, fun voice. She's a real live teenager.

4) The descriptions are so creative. Like when Ada is described as "looking like the Picasso version of herself."

5) Michael is just so perfect, and he will always have my whole heart. (Not really perfect, seeing as what happens in the last chapter - but I guess we'll see).

6) I cried during the scene with Hilde. WE WILL NOT LOOK AWAY.

7) The pacing is so good that I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep.

8) Even an ideal society has its flaws. The sometimes subtle and sometimes overt superiority that the Makers feel over the rest of the world is so insidious. The way Rafe puts animal blood and "Philistine" blood on the same level . . . even Michael, who loves the Provincial world, is so self-righteous and demeaning sometimes without even realizing it. I understand the Makers needed to develop this attitude in order to survive. But let's just say, Rafe would have to improve a lot, not just in how he treats Ada, but in how he treats the rest of humanity, for me to respect him.

Absolutely cannot wait to read the sequel!!!!

02/22/25 AHHH!!! Cover reveal!!! Isn’t it beautiful? Everyone add it to your to-read list and pre-order on Amazon!

04/11/24
First thing’s first: you are the best. I love you. Your book is amazing — you put so much of yourself into it. It’s a masterpiece. The renaissance masters would be proud.
I’m so proud of you.

I feel so, so lucky to have been around to witness your writing process, the last-minute changes, the deleted scenes, all of it. The effort you put into every scene’s setting. The careful thought that went into every bit of world building. The characters who faded away without making it into the final version, and the new ones who burgeoned and expanded their way into becoming part of the story, who grew into their roles, who turned from sketches into real, breathing people with wants and motivations and personalities.

Ada’s voice is so real. She speaks like a friend. Or like someone you want to be friends with. She is funny and wry, insecure in the most painfully relatable way. Ada’s desire to make her mark on the world, to achieve something significant, to live her real potential, is something that I think your readers will connect with. Because isn’t that what so many of us feel — like time is passing too quickly before we can really use it? But you actually did. You wrote this novel. You became the artisan, the storyteller, the crafter of something beautiful.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this funny, twisting, atmospheric, contemporary YA adventure. I can’t wait for the sequel and for the world to partake of the hidden world and enjoyable characters Andrea Max has created!

[h i n d]

The Atlas Six meets The Da Vinci Code yes please

[Veronica ☽◯☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➸ 4.5 ⭐️

gravdamn, this was so entertaining

"His mouth trails up to nip at my ear, and everywhere we touch is on fire. Not the licking flames of a candle, but the destructive blaze of a forest in flames."

Another super entertaining and addictive book—I must be on a roll.
Up until the last 5 chapters I did not think I was going to round it up but those last pages were so good and everything came together so nicely—I absolutely loved it.

The art of Exile had a bit of everything—fake dating, love triangles, sci-fi and fantasy elements, light academia, secret societies, prophecies, hoverjousting tournaments, found family—and with blending elements of Renaissance history, the story reminded me of The Temptation of Magic combined with Jewish mythology.

This was such a fantastic debut!
There was a lot going in the book and the pacing was great.
I loved the secret world of the Makers and the magic system.

A major thread running through the story was the ethical dilemma of resource management: the morality of hoarding versus sharing, the potential consequences of either choice, and how history has shown that even well-meaning efforts often get derailed by greed, capitalism, or power. Closely tied to this is the question of whether the end truly justifies the means—whether sacrificing a few for the greater good can ever be morally defensible.

I really appreciated how this novel weaved in so many important themes and thought-provoking topics.

Ada, our MC, was such a genuine character—she was funny, witty and brimming with self-doubt and a touch of self-righteousness. Her voice resonated with the genuine complexities of being seventeen, making her journey both compelling and relatable.

The messy love triangle was oh-so-entertaining, I couldn't look away. I'm not usually a fan of those as I always find myself rooting for one of the LI over the other and I get annoyed when the FMC can't decide. But AM fit it seamlessly into the plot and I loved the complicated relationships, complex feelings and forbidden romance. (I already know who I am rooting for and my GODS Andrea, let them kiss in the next book!!!)

The ending was sooooo good!! As I mentioned the last few chapters were the reason for the rounded up rating sooo that should tell you something. I suspected a lot of the big twists revealed toward the end and yet there were still things that surprised me.
I'm already eagerly anticipating the next book, I can't wait to see where AM will take us!!

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really entertaining read! It took elements/m that we’re familiar with — Harry Potter like houses (one of the love interests definitely gives Draco vibes), mythical creatures, “magic” abilities— and turns it on its head to still create something unique.
Ada is sent as a spy to this magical academy, coming from a secret society in the provincial (human) world. But what she finds out there has her thinking that neither side is entirely right and swaying in her allegiance.
The world building is well done, blending magic culture with NYC and an island. I could definitely see this as a movie.
As for the love interests, I would say there’s technically three but really two. Kor I feel was more of a childhood crush that will never manifest into anything. Michael is a forbidden love in that he’s a teacher and a few years older. There’s also a lot of secrets there and he’s a bit emotionally manipulative but he does obviously care for her. And then there’s Rafe— our Draco archetype, who viscerally hates her at first but slowly starts to thaw— we even get a fake dating scenario from them. By the end of the book, I think I am Team Rafe but with the ending there is clearly more we are going to see and unveil.

I can’t wait for book 2! I think this is going to be an incredible series.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for having me on the tour and the gifted copy, and the author for an incredible journey!

[Eden]

DNF @42%

This wasn’t bad. The writing was fine, and the story started interestingly. Where this book lost me was how dense the world-building was. So much was explained about the world that didn’t really matter, and the things I wanted to know weren’t explained.

Also, the character interactions were weird. So many people trusted the MC immediately. For a society trying to hide itself, that seemed impractical. Where this book really lost me, though, was the insta-lust between the MC and another character, but then he turns out to be a professor at this secret science school?? He’s only a few years older than her, so that 1)didn’t make sense and 2)was obviously just meant as a barrier so they couldn’t instantly be together.

Not a bad book, but not one I was excited to pick up again.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Denae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I enjoyed this book so much! Honestly I don’t know what I was expecting but this was better than I thought it would be! This book gave us everything! This is a light academia fantasy with romance and mystery subplot. As far as the romance goes we have enemies to possibly lovers? As well as forbidden romance and possible love triangle lol. It’s a lot of possibles but there ended up clearly being two men who had an interest in our FMC. The mystery of this book was figuring out how you could trust as there were other ppl working behind the scenes. Ada came to the school under false pretenses but ended up falling in love with the school and the people. I love how she also unexpectedly ended up “finding” herself. It is at the school where she realized her true power and just how special she was. It’s sad that she had to leave her own home to discover her greatness bc at home she was made to believe she wasn’t great, special or that she had to hide what made her truly unique and powerful!

I am a lover of learning and consider myself lifetime learner, so I’m finding I’m really liking the academia genre! If you are someone who is a lover of the arts, sciences and even some history- then you will love this! The Genesis sounds like an amazing place! I want to apply to the Genesis as well! Sign me up as a student! I enjoyed the references to the renaissance era with mention of all the artists and more! There were also Ancient Greek references as well.

It got really good and the story took off once the guild ceremony occurred. I absolutely loved seeing Ada selected and having her pick of which guild she’d join! For me, I’m team bioscience. I will say that the way it ended, I’m curious if there will be a book 2. My suspicion is that there will be, and if so, I’ll be reading!

[Kara&Nanouk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this was really cool and I loved all the art references but somehow it just felt majorly overwritten. The worldbuilding and descriptions were too much at times and I felt myself skimming over certain parts. I didn't want to skim because I honestly loved how much this focused on art and music but phew, sometimes it was just too much to take in.
On top of that, the main character started grating on my nerves about halfway through; Like girl, make up your mind. Honestly, she became less and less likeable as the book went on.
By the end, I was just ready for the story to be done with.

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased because I majored in art and I loved art history, especially renaissance era... but I enjoyed this book a lot! The setting is so good, I like how the author mixed everything from history, art, science, etc into something amazing. Ada is such a lead, and Michael is cute and all but RAFE! I love all the characters tho haha and how their choices affect the storyline. Excited to read more of them in the next book!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The Art of Exile by Andrea Max is a first person-POV YA science fantasy. Ada is an untrained Sire, a magic user, and has received an invitation to attend an academy to hone her skills and join one of the Guilds. But she has another motive besides learning magic: she has been recruited by her family to take the Alchemy Guild’s information and bring it back to the provincial world to help fix society.

There are three love interests: Kor, the childhood friend, Rafe, the annoyed-to-lovers archetype, and Michael, the slightly older guy who is forbidden fruit because while he’s only three years older than Ada, he is a teacher and she’s a student. While one of the love interests seems to be completely out of the running by the end of the book, I can say that I’m not entirely positive who Ada will choose in the next books or if she will have to choose at all. One of the love interests is depicted as Bi/Pan and not the biggest fan of monogamy, so this could end in a poly relationship and I’m here for that.

The Guilds act as specialized houses for learning magic, with some focusing on art others on the sciences. Students do not simply choose the Guild they join; they have to do a presentation and the Guild masters will offer a spot and then the student will choose from among the offers (if there are multiple). In a lot of ways, it’s similar to applying to multiple colleges and they look at your application and decide from there, so this will probably resonate with teen readers who are in the middle of applying to higher education.

This is definitely more of a science fantasy rather than a straight sci-fi and the ties to real world scientific figures keeps it from being purely fantasy. Like many YA fantasy and sci-fi, the plot ties directly back to real world issues as Ada wants to take the information she believes the Guilds are keeping to themselves and help others. When she confronts Michael with this, he doesn’t disagree with her but mentions that the provincial world hasn’t historically handled having that kind of knowledge handed to them well. I found this to be believable because some of what we have done with science has been horrific, to say the least, and I have no doubt that if magic is real, that the Guild of Mages has been asking themselves for centuries if we can be trusted.

Content warning for mentions of cancer and assault

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy with a sci-fi bend and readers of science fantasy looking for a book exploring Jewish traditions and mentions of interfaith backgrounds

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @simonteen #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

Book friends — The Art of Exile by Andrea Max completely took me by surprise. No really, it blew my mind! This was my first read by Andrea, and let’s just say I’ve officially laced up my running shoes so I can sprint to grab whatever she writes next. Seriously… this book was an absolute blast.

I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with this world. Secret schools? Check. Houses with actual personalities (yep, you read that right — houses with attitudes). Magic, talent rankings, gifted characters, loveable weirdos, heart, humor — it’s all here, and somehow it just works. It gave me major Harry Potter-meets-secret-society vibes with its own fresh, original spin that made it feel totally unique.

I don’t think any review I write will fully capture how much fun this book was, but if you’re a fan of fantasy, magic, secret societies, or just stories that feel wonderfully different from anything else out there, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I’m already itching for a reread just to soak it all in again. And thank goodness this is book one because I am hooked. Bravo, Andrea Max — you’ve got a new fan over here! 5 big, sparkling stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewish Fantasy? Check. Enemies to Lovers? Check. Light academia? Check. This book was so good! I loved how Jewish the storyline was and how central it was to the school and the magic system. Andrea Max nailed the concept. My one thing was that I wish the world were flushed out a smidge more. There were points where I felt slightly lost or thought I was missing part of the story. I feel like that will develop further with the sequel. But besides that, I was so invested! Ada was a great female main character, and I enjoyed her perspective throughout the story. I felt seen with the Jewish representation, and honestly, could use more of that in fantasy. The new friendships were also well done. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Rafe. I knew from the second he showed up that I was going to like him. He was snarky, but protective, and his personality was the perfect contrast to Ada's. The book took me on a journey, and I liked that it was set in a made-up world alongside our modern one. The fact that this was a debut has me loving it even more, and I'm so excited to see what Max will do next! Thank you to SimonTeen for the ARC to read and review!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. The summary was fascinating and it delivered on that and more. The world system was easy to understand and learning about all the secrets and intricacies at the same time as the MC was the best way to make everything digestible and fascinating. And of course it allowed for some amazing twists and surprises. So many gasp worthy moments. And the characters! Ugh I loved them so much because they were so multifaceted and interesting. The writing did a beautiful job of helping the reader feel like they were on this journey with the MC and that ratchetted up the tension as the story built. The pacing kept me hooked because not only did I want to know how the adventure would go, but I also wanted to learn everything about the Makers and what they could do. The ending chapters had my head spinning and I cannot wait for more!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was the best way to go. Not only was the narration fantastic, bringing all the intense emotions to the forefront, but each character had their own distinct voice which was brilliant.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A secret society of magic users and a school where they go to train sounds pretty great, but it just didn't land for me. The world-building felt overdone to the point of being boring and a lot of the details weren't really important to the plot. I found this to be bogged down, especially in the first half of the book.

I also didn't enjoy the love triangle, it just seemed like Ada and Michael didn't have much chemistry and I'm not a fan of teacher/student in a high school setting. Rafe seemed like a better choice, especially once they spent time together.

This went on too long and I was ready for the ending. Hopefully others like it more!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for the copy.

[Katie | niftyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks, Simon Teen, for the arc! #SimonTeenInfluencer

THE ART OF EXILE by Andrea Max is the first book I’ve read that is categorized as light academia. Does that mean I know what light academia vs. dark academia is? No. I just know I like academia books—light or dark. And this world that Max has created makes me wish I could be part of it because it was like stepping back into the old fantasies from when I was younger.

A magical school that can only be arrived at by a magical train. Students are separated into guilds and play a team sport with their guild, which the whole school gets excited about. It felt like coming home in a new, exciting way.

Let’s not forget to talk about the characters. I’m usually not a big fan of love triangles, but this one entertained me. I think it was because it was a girl falling for a teacher and also having an enemy feeling for a student (like a Dramione's enemies plot). The tension and snarky comments from all three are so good! The whole book, I was like, “Kiss, kiss, kiss! I don’t care who, but kiss now!”

I really enjoyed this one, and I need the second one immediately after that cliffhanger! Definitely pick it up!

THE ART OF EXILE is out tomorrow, 5/13.

💭 This book has many beautiful art descriptions, so do you have a classic art piece you would love to see in person? (Or have seen?) I was shocked at how tiny the Mona Lisa is!

#TheArtOfExile

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I was wrong.” He grins. You are totally my type.” 😏

What an amazing debut novel! I’m so obsessed with this world and the characters. Andrea weaved together the perfect blend of academia, romance, and politics! This book had a solid foundation of elements from other stories that I love but it added such unique aspects that I truly fell in love with it.

The love triangle was done so well and Ada definitely has a tough choice to make. Both Michael and Rafe have positive character traits but they also each have their own flaws! I think deep down I’m on Team Rafe though!

This was such a powerful story and had aspects that I felt are really relatable to what we’re seeing in the world today. The last 10% of this book was such an emotional roller coaster and I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the next book!

If you love light academia, secret societies, science/magic, love triangles, found family, enemies to lovers, fake dating, and mentor x student, then this book is for you! The Art of Exile releases on May 13, so be sure to check it out!

Thank you so much to @simonteen for an advanced copy! 💙

[-ˏˋjamieˊˎ- · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a fun time! i love magic schools. the writing was a little more ya-angsty than i would’ve preferred, and the love triangle was just okay for me, but maybe i’m just not exactly the target audience anymore. i did like the magic system though, and the secret society + guilds concepts were interesting!

[KMart Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my reads for Jewish Heritage Month!

This is pure fun; a refreshing, smart twist on the secret magic school trope that actually feels new. In a world where magical academies often feel overdone, this one stands out and actually recaptured a little of the magic of my youth. But honestly, It starts out feeling like a typical YA fantasy setup. But as the story unfolds, it reveals layers of hidden depth that make it stand out. I wasn’t sure where it was going at first, but then the book really comes into its own. And the themes play out in such a thoughtful, unexpected way.

Ada has always struggled with not being good enough, so when she’s chosen for a mission, she’s eager to prove herself. Her voice has plenty of internal drama and sarcasm, but what really makes her work is how much she grows throughout the story. She’s thrown into this hidden magical school when most of the students look down upon her and has to navigate espionage, romance, self-doubt, and some ethically murky decisions.

The romantic subplot doesn’t overpower the main plot but it was a super fun aspect of the story. Bonus points for twists that I didn’t see coming and some genuinely emotional turns; especially when centered around Ada’s sense of belonging and family loyalties. I do not want to spoil anything, so I’m trying to keep things really vague here.

If I had one minor gripe, it’s that it is quite young adult. I hope the second in the duology dives a little deeper and gets a little darker. But that is a personal preference.

Secret societies, lots of twists and turns, and steeped in Jewish culture. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something fun but also thoughtful.

Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.5

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon Teen for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review
The opening of the book was interesting enough to catch my attention with Ada’s undercover mission at the museum and a cute meet-and-greet with a stranger who shares her interest in history. This book was an intriguing read with elements of dark academia, secret societies, dash of magic, mysterious schools, internal betrayls, kinda love triangle (not a fan) and as usual some horny teenagers. It gave me Percy Jackson and Harry Potter vibes, especially the blend of fantasy and the real world. The world-building was complex, and it took me a really long time to settle in and get hold of all the characters. It was a bit tricky to keep track of different types of guilds, their magic, and how powers work. I wish we could get more insight into the magic system and the academia part.

Ada started as a self-conscious teenager who thought she was not good enough. Her journey was interesting to watch. She grew throughout the book (still made stupid decisions), but the love triangle didn’t work for me, and it didn’t seem to contribute much to the story. I wish the book had focused more on her journey to explore power, not on exploring cute guys. Michael had a lot of potential as a character, but he didn’t get much focus. On the other hand, I didn’t like Rafe’s character, he was your typical snobby fantasy royal who took satisfaction in bullying his opponents.

I saw most of the plots and twists coming once I got hold of all the characters. The first half had a lot of details, but the second half of the book really pulled me back in. The pace was quick, and a lot of action was happening, as well as secrets were unraveling.

Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this. The magic, history, and romance elements were engaging, but the side plots seemed unnecessary. Would I pick up the sequel? Probably.

[Rebecca Danzenbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly imagined world with surprised around every corner!!

So very enthralled by this story that kept me guessing until the very end!!! This coming of age/coming into power story is perfect for fans of stories featuring magic schools, renaissance history, and sizzling love triangles. Give this gorgeous tale a read or listen!

[Shateau · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ARC from NetGalley. The story really consisted of everything but the kitchen sink, and the world building and story suffered because of it. While a good attempt was made at building out the primary world, it still did not fully translate, and everything else just remained at a high level. There were a lot of loose ends left at the end of the book and half built storylines that didn't add value. This story could benefit from a lot of focus and simplification, allowing more time to be spent building out the world.

[Kirika Loria · Rating 3 out of 5]

je ne sais même pas commencer cette review. au debut jai trouve ca trop enfantin l'héroïne est plutôt naïve. si vous voulez un mélange dharry potter avec une société secrète dans le future avec un soupçon de romance/ flirt cesr du ya hein...

lunivers est plutôt simple mais bien plutôt bien developer entre mélange de myth et de réel. lecture pas prise de tête lets goo

[Courtney]

DNF @ 59%. I’m really sad about this because the book had such a STRONG beginning. Like serious da Vinci code vibes, which I LOVE but only with some high tech involved! Even though it was giving da Vinci code vibes, it still felt like a unique read and I loved the direction it was going in. However, at some point I started to zone out in the middle and was being bogged down by a lot of information that I’m not sure was 100% necessary.. and I kind of lost my way? I don’t like the feeling of dragging myself through a book which is ultimately why I decided to pick it down. That’s not to say that maybe one day I won’t pick it back up and give it a whirl again!

[Mary Gael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael you are a LOOOOOSERRRRRR

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

Ok, I need to go on a little rant here, but first, here is the things I liked about the book. I found the world building to be very unique. I enjoyed the history of the different guilds. My favorite park was Georgie. In terms of things I didn't enjoy, for me the first thing to get to me was the FMC, Ada. Her inner quippy remarks just felt out of place rather than a funny line to ease the more serious moments. My biggest issue though, was that I felt like the ending was better than the rest of the book. Which, doesn't make me want to read the sequel. There was just so much momentum built up to the last moment that I wish could have been explored or questioned more throughout the book, that when it finally happened it felt like a fast ending in a slow paced book.

[Saanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️