Our girl Willow’s been trained as her dad’s weapon against the Coven that unalived his sister, which lands her in the hidden town of Crystal Hollow at Hollow’s Grove University. Think witchy students, secrets darker than a new moon, and a headmaster, Aleric Grayson Thorne, who’s as warm as an ice storm. And, of course, there’s a bloody past no one’s talking about, you know just a massacre, but no biggy.

I devoured this audiobook, dual POV, a deliciously dark MMC (more morally black than grey!), and all the dark academia, paranormal atmospheric vibes an October read should have. Fair warning: the pace is a little slow to start,  it reads like a 400-page prologue setting up the real action of a series. But once things take off in the second half of the book, it’s a wild ride. And that cliffhanger ending? It left me gasping and ready for more. It’s clear this is just the opening act in a much bigger story, but it makes the slow build worth it. Perfect for spooky season—just make sure to check those trigger warnings cause there are plenty and they are dark!