Born with magic in their blood they must learn how to wield it . . . In a mysterious college a student will find that the hardest lessons are learned outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

'Saturated with violence, desire, and power. It's a book with blood on its lips, and I loved it completely.' ALIX E. HARROW

'This darkly gorgeous story is a lavish feast for fans of gothic horror. One of my top reads of the year!' SUNYI DEAN

'Alexis Henderson is one of the best Gothic writers out there.' HANNAH WHITTEN

Lennon Carter's life is falling apart.

Until she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to sit the entrance exam for somewhere very few have heard of - Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah.

Lennon has been chosen because - like everyone else at the school - she is special. She possesses the innate gift of persuasion- the ability to wield her will like a weapon and to use it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the gruelling exam, Lennon must now learn how to master this devastating power. While persuasion takes a heavy toll on her body and her mind, she is captivated by all that surrounds her - her studies, Drayton's lush, moss-draped campus, her brilliant classmates and, most of all, by Dante, the charismatic adviser who both intimidates and enamours her.

But as Lennon becomes more adept at wielding her uncanny abilities, she uncovers more about the unsettling history of Drayton and Dante's tragic and violent past, and is increasingly disturbed by what she finds.

For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption and darkness . . . and it's a test she's terrified she is going to fail.

'Dark academia stunner infused with Henderson's signature style - it's lush, atmospheric, imaginative and impossible to put down.' RACHEL HARRISON

'A modern-day Anne Rice, Henderson has a gift for creating a world engorged with desire and death.' THE NEW YORK TIMES