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Cover of Lessons in Trickery - Hekate & Hermes

Lessons in Trickery - Hekate & Hermes

by Ever King

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy·Academy of Villains #3
4.6 on Goodreads (151)

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Ending

reveal ending

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+.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.64 ★ (151)

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.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

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.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
fairytale retellingmentor/student dynamics charactersvillain gets the girlsecret heir/royaltydark academia romancegreek mythology retelling
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintensemysteriousbroodingseductiveatmospheric

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

sharpimmersivedarkatmospheric

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden knowledgemorally complexslow descent into darkness

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

morally gray fmcwitch/magevengeful / revenge-driven

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray mmcrogue/scoundreldark/tortured soul

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

mutual piningslow burnenemies to lovers

Spice Details 🌶️

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Spice Level 4

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionatekink-heavy / BDSM focusanimalistic / primal

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

power exchange softteasing controlpossessive/protectivedirty talk (sweet/playful)

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

bdsm elementspower exchangedominatrix relationshipdegradation (light)bondage/restraint
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (10)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
murderviolencedeathacademic pressurebdsm elementsdark romancefound family (positive)morally grey themespower imbalancewar
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

dark academia / gothic

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

academy / campus

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

witches/wizards/warlocksgreek mythology beings

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

addictive readthe angst deliveredobsessed

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

autumn

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcamping triprainy weekendcozy evening

Academy of Villains

Academy of Villains

#1 Academy of Villains

Lessons in Loyalty - Aphrodite & Adonis

#2 Lessons in Loyalty - Aphrodite & Adonis

Lessons in Trickery - Hekate & Hermes

#3 Lessons in Trickery - Hekate & Hermes

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy
PagesHow long the commitment is.438
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2026
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.64 ★ (151)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Academy of Villains #3
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