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Lessons in Trickery - Hekate & Hermes
by Ever King
Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?
You'll be utterly addicted to the electric chemistry and dark twists, leaving you obsessed with this villainous world.
Synopsis
A dark academia romantasy inspired by the Greek mythology love story of Hekate and Hermes. In a kingdom where magic is slowly disappearing, an evil king hunts witches, brands their kind as traitors, and forces mages to serve under his endless rule. But the king hides many secrets, and one of them, when unearthed, will shatter the balance of power and unmask the mythic monster the world once mistook for a god. Bellatrix Bane, a witch hiding among mages, never meant to fall for her enemy. After a Heartstring binds her to Skymage Dorian Mistfall, her destiny becomes a death sentence. The witches curse her to die by the Death Sands, an enchanted hourglass that will stop her heart when the final grain falls. They give her one chance to survive: seduce Dorian, betray him, and steal his secrets before her time runs out. She will need his help to find a gate concealed by ancient magic, revealed only by a locator spell requiring bones, blood, and ashes from the bloodlines that sealed it. As Titans stir in the mountains and rumors of a lost heir spread through the realm, witches, mages, and the Starmarked Seven brace for a magical war that will decide the fate of their world. - Academy of Villains is an epic dark fantasy saga with interconnected romance stories that follow one continuous plot. Each book features a new couple inspired by a Greek mythology love story, but the series should be read in order to experience the full fantasy arc. This series is for fans of character-driven romantasy and dual POV storytelling. *This novel contains mature themes, and some violence. Recommended for readers 17+.
At a Glance
4.64 ★ GoodreadsTop TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.
MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.
Book Details
Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.
4.64 ★
Page CountHow long the commitment is.
438 pages
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.
2026
Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?
Romantasy
PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.
M/F
POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).
Dual POV
Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.
Slow Burn
AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.
FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.
Standard
Narrator Count
Single
TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.
Mood & Vibe
MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.
FMC: morally gray fmc sign in to unlock
intense / passionate sign in to unlock
dark academia / gothic sign in to unlock
addictive read sign in to unlock
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