Fantasy/Romance/New Adult Fiction/Dark Academia
Pub date: 19 May 2026
My rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Summary:
✨ Academic rivalry is beastly . . .🐈⬛
Gwendolynne Chan just needs to get through her final year at Seamere College of Magical Veterinary Sciences. She’s used to being the star healer of magical familiars – except when the obnoxious but annoyingly handsome Harrisford Briggs knocks her from the top spot.
Harrisford Briggs was born into privilege. His father, the Chief Financial Officer of Magecorp, one of the biggest global distributors of magic, expects nothing less than the best from him. And to top it all off, incurable swot Gwendolynne Chan is on track to beat him. The last thing he needs are the strange whisperings of uncontrollable surges of excess magic – because Harrisford can’t help but wonder if his father and Magecorp has something to do with it . . .
When these magical surges cause animals to wreak chaos across London, Gwen and Harrisford are forced to team up. These bitter academic rivals must put aside their duelling feelings of lust and loathing, and – along with Gwen’s snarky cat familiar – save the magical world.
Trigger warnings:
- light gore
- mentions of murder
- depictions of animal birth
- depictions of self-harm
- depictions of surgical procedures
- on-page sexual activity
- discussions of racism
- discussions of class
- discussions of privledge
- non-legal prescription sedative use and alcohol consumption
Review:
“What do you think I am doing? Does it appear as if I am performing a jaunty song and dance?”
This was such a good corporate magic system! It absolutely makes sense that if magic was available in our world it would immediately get corrupted by capitalism. I loved the blend of real life tech with magic and the light (cause it definitely did not feel too dark) academia vibes. I really liked all all the characters (an excellent mix for the supporting cast) individually, but Gwen and Harry didn’t always work for me. For simply being academic rivals their banter was sometimes downright cruel. The familiars (especially Percy) were the definite highlights and I would love to see more mythical creatures in the future!
“Then it’s lucky, isn’t it? That I don’t much value my life?”
I did guess one of the twists about 40% in, but that did not take away from the general enjoyment and the rest of the mystery. There were also a few “Americanisms” (such as, animal pound, city blocks etc) that did momentarily take me out of the story. I’m also not the biggest fan of the “oblivious girl” trope, so I was getting frustrated with Gwen at times. Like girl, you’re the smartest witch at this university have some self respect!
“Or perhaps I’m self-sabotaging, fancying the one person who I hate the most, the one individual who has so thoroughly ruined me. Like a stress fracture that won’t heal because I stubbornly continue to run on it.”
I did not love it as much as I thought I would if I’m being completely honest, but I did consume it in just a few days (and I’m a fairly slow reader!). All in all it was an enjoyable and interesting world, and I will be looking forward to book 2.
“Loving someone is not a trap.”
Leave a Reply