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Fox Hunt
Behind closed doors at England’s most ancient university, a circle of privileged students enter into a dark pagan ritual—one that holds tantalizing power and comes at a terrible price.
When practical, unassuming second-year student Emma Curran wins an exciting research fellowship, she is ushered into the glittering debauchery of the University elite. There, she falls for the devastating, aristocratic Jasper Balfour, leader of the all-male Turnbull Club: a shadowy secret society that has created centuries of Britain’s leaders, power brokers and history-makers.
One night, the Turnbulls propose a sinister little game: a fox hunt. The women run. The men chase. And Emma finds herself fleeing for her life through the streets, hunted by the boy she loves.
Torn from her ordinary life and trapped in a dangerous, otherworldly realm, Emma awakens transformed. No longer mortal, she's become something beastly. And now she must summon every ounce of cunning and ferocity to save herself.
When practical, unassuming second-year student Emma Curran wins an exciting research fellowship, she is ushered into the glittering debauchery of the University elite. There, she falls for the devastating, aristocratic Jasper Balfour, leader of the all-male Turnbull Club: a shadowy secret society that has created centuries of Britain’s leaders, power brokers and history-makers.
One night, the Turnbulls propose a sinister little game: a fox hunt. The women run. The men chase. And Emma finds herself fleeing for her life through the streets, hunted by the boy she loves.
Torn from her ordinary life and trapped in a dangerous, otherworldly realm, Emma awakens transformed. No longer mortal, she's become something beastly. And now she must summon every ounce of cunning and ferocity to save herself.
652 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2026
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9993 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
September 15, 2025
4.0 ★— What a ride this was! The Fox Hunt almost feels like it could be split into two very different halves, with the second one being where the story really hits its stride.
The book follows Emma Curran, a student at a prestigious university dominated by the wealthy and privileged. Emma has always been on the sidelines, sticking to her small circle, until she meets Jasper Balfour, who perfectly embodies the rich, beautiful elite. Drawn into his world, his friends, their secretive Turnbull Society, and its strange rituals, Emma gradually begins to uncover a darker side to things she never expected.
I’ll admit, I felt a bit bored after the initial introduction to campus life, Emma’s first meeting with Jasper, and her slow integration into his friend group. She’s portrayed as somewhat naive and easily influenced, which I found frustrating to read at times. While I know this characterization was an intentional choice by the author and necessary for the plot and Emma’s eventual transformation, personally, I prefer heroines who are a little sharper or grittier. Emma falls into the trappings of the quintessential “trying to belong” main character falling in with the wrong crowd. As such, as a reader, I always felt a little like I was watching an impending disaster (which I basically was!) as Emma was drawn deeper into the Turnbull Society and its workings.
The story really picked up around the halfway mark, when the more fantastical elements that had been lurking in the background finally came to the forefront. This is when I became fully engaged, as the mysteries surrounding the university’s strange occurrences began to unravel. From this point on, the book felt much more compelling, especially as Emma descended further into this eerie, magical underworld and began to change in a marked way.
Additionally, this is when I felt myself get more interested in the world-building, so much so that I often wished the author had dug deeper into the lore and mechanics of the magic at play and given more insight into the hidden depths of world she presented. It all felt so rich and ready to be explored further!
The book also focuses on some weighty themes: classism, misogyny, privilege, and the way power sustains itself within old institutions. For the most part, this is threaded into the story in a way that makes sense, though I sometimes felt the execution lacked a bit of nuance.
I especially felt the lack of nuance when it came to Turnbull Society. Its rituals and history felt so steeped in clichés that it wasn’t all that exciting to see everything unraveled as the story went on. And that’s my biggest criticism with the book: while the fantastical aspects of the story shone, the university’s society and the darker parts surrounding it felt a little too familiar. Its history leaned so heavily on an amalgamation of all the common “dark secret society” tropes that much of it came across as predictable. This made certain aspects of the book less exciting and caused Emma’s time spent in this world to feel similarly trite and not very original. I kept wishing the author had given Turnbull Society more unique characteristics to make it stand out from other dark academia stories.
All that aside, I still had fun with this book overall, and I’d be very interested in a sequel. There’s so much more to explore in this world and in Emma’s story! I’d love to see where it goes next.
___________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.
The book follows Emma Curran, a student at a prestigious university dominated by the wealthy and privileged. Emma has always been on the sidelines, sticking to her small circle, until she meets Jasper Balfour, who perfectly embodies the rich, beautiful elite. Drawn into his world, his friends, their secretive Turnbull Society, and its strange rituals, Emma gradually begins to uncover a darker side to things she never expected.
I’ll admit, I felt a bit bored after the initial introduction to campus life, Emma’s first meeting with Jasper, and her slow integration into his friend group. She’s portrayed as somewhat naive and easily influenced, which I found frustrating to read at times. While I know this characterization was an intentional choice by the author and necessary for the plot and Emma’s eventual transformation, personally, I prefer heroines who are a little sharper or grittier. Emma falls into the trappings of the quintessential “trying to belong” main character falling in with the wrong crowd. As such, as a reader, I always felt a little like I was watching an impending disaster (which I basically was!) as Emma was drawn deeper into the Turnbull Society and its workings.
The story really picked up around the halfway mark, when the more fantastical elements that had been lurking in the background finally came to the forefront. This is when I became fully engaged, as the mysteries surrounding the university’s strange occurrences began to unravel. From this point on, the book felt much more compelling, especially as Emma descended further into this eerie, magical underworld and began to change in a marked way.
Additionally, this is when I felt myself get more interested in the world-building, so much so that I often wished the author had dug deeper into the lore and mechanics of the magic at play and given more insight into the hidden depths of world she presented. It all felt so rich and ready to be explored further!
The book also focuses on some weighty themes: classism, misogyny, privilege, and the way power sustains itself within old institutions. For the most part, this is threaded into the story in a way that makes sense, though I sometimes felt the execution lacked a bit of nuance.
I especially felt the lack of nuance when it came to Turnbull Society. Its rituals and history felt so steeped in clichés that it wasn’t all that exciting to see everything unraveled as the story went on. And that’s my biggest criticism with the book: while the fantastical aspects of the story shone, the university’s society and the darker parts surrounding it felt a little too familiar. Its history leaned so heavily on an amalgamation of all the common “dark secret society” tropes that much of it came across as predictable. This made certain aspects of the book less exciting and caused Emma’s time spent in this world to feel similarly trite and not very original. I kept wishing the author had given Turnbull Society more unique characteristics to make it stand out from other dark academia stories.
All that aside, I still had fun with this book overall, and I’d be very interested in a sequel. There’s so much more to explore in this world and in Emma’s story! I’d love to see where it goes next.
___________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
”So she was free. Because she had just become the most dangerous weapon of all. A person with nothing to lose.”
i think this book was trying to do too many different things at once and failing to go into depth with any of it. the book starts out very dark academia— secret societies, missing girls and weird rituals but then it takes a turn towards the middle that leaned heavily into the fantasy realm and the execution of it was sloppy. the fmc Emma was a bit of a push over and naive to the point that when she started to seek revenge, it didn’t have the emphasis it needed to. so many things aren’t explained, only touched on and then we’re supposed to just go along with it. the one good thing i will say is that the writing was actually beautiful and atmospheric.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hachette Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
i think this book was trying to do too many different things at once and failing to go into depth with any of it. the book starts out very dark academia— secret societies, missing girls and weird rituals but then it takes a turn towards the middle that leaned heavily into the fantasy realm and the execution of it was sloppy. the fmc Emma was a bit of a push over and naive to the point that when she started to seek revenge, it didn’t have the emphasis it needed to. so many things aren’t explained, only touched on and then we’re supposed to just go along with it. the one good thing i will say is that the writing was actually beautiful and atmospheric.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hachette Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
January 31, 2026
I went into The Fox Hunt with high expectations. The marketing campaign was deliciously enticing and promised me a read that I would go absolutely feral for. This is what I wanted. Okay, the pastels?
And this is what I got… an identity crisis lurking behind a stunning cover.
For the first 30 percent, this book presents itself as purely dark academia. Secret societies. Elite students. Power dynamics. A sinister boys’ club vibe with a enticing front-man that screams “this will end badly”. And honestly? I was rooting for Emma and Jasper for a while there. I thought we were getting a twisted academic story about corruption, privilege, and survival.
And then the book did a 180.
Suddenly we are no longer in dark academia territory, because that part gets completely dropped, and we pivot hard into fantasy. Enter the Night City, a layered, imaginative world with an intriguing magic system built around five houses. The concept is genuinely cool, and the Night City itself is one of the strongest elements of the book. I wanted to explore it more. I wanted to sink my teeth into its rules, politics, and bargains. We get introduced to the mysterious Robin who might just be my favorite character even tho I feel like I know next to nothing about him.
Then there is also a revenge thriller/horror simmering in the background. A victim wronged by frat boys. A promise of blood, justice, and payback. Except… that revenge plot does not really kick in until about 75 percent into the book, and when it finally does, it is wrapped up fairly quickly and then discarded like an afterthought.
Each of these stories could have worked on its own.
– A dark academia novel about a secret society? Yes please.
– A fantasy centered on the Night City and its magic system? Absolutely.
– A revenge-driven descent into darkness? Sign me up.
But by trying to be all three, the book ends up not fully executing any of them completely…
Plot points are introduced only to be dropped almost immediately, never to be mentioned again. We get a found family of students… only for them to fade into the background and be replaced by another found family of girls. Emotional connections never really have the time to breathe, which meant I never truly cared about the characters the way I wanted to. At some point I caught myself sighing an actual “for fox’s sake” out loud, and that was probably the point of no return.
Which makes this extra frustrating, because the premise is genuinely interesting. The ideas are there. The ambition is there. The execution just did not come together for me. It felt like the book could not decide what it wanted to be, and as a result, neither could I as a reader.
That said, there was one quote that absolutely hit and reminded me of the story’s potential:
“So she was free. Because she had just become the most dangerous weapon of all. A person with nothing to lose.”
That line goes hard. I only wish the rest of the book had leaned into that same clarity and conviction.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
And this is what I got… an identity crisis lurking behind a stunning cover.
For the first 30 percent, this book presents itself as purely dark academia. Secret societies. Elite students. Power dynamics. A sinister boys’ club vibe with a enticing front-man that screams “this will end badly”. And honestly? I was rooting for Emma and Jasper for a while there. I thought we were getting a twisted academic story about corruption, privilege, and survival.
And then the book did a 180.
Suddenly we are no longer in dark academia territory, because that part gets completely dropped, and we pivot hard into fantasy. Enter the Night City, a layered, imaginative world with an intriguing magic system built around five houses. The concept is genuinely cool, and the Night City itself is one of the strongest elements of the book. I wanted to explore it more. I wanted to sink my teeth into its rules, politics, and bargains. We get introduced to the mysterious Robin who might just be my favorite character even tho I feel like I know next to nothing about him.
Then there is also a revenge thriller/horror simmering in the background. A victim wronged by frat boys. A promise of blood, justice, and payback. Except… that revenge plot does not really kick in until about 75 percent into the book, and when it finally does, it is wrapped up fairly quickly and then discarded like an afterthought.
Each of these stories could have worked on its own.
– A dark academia novel about a secret society? Yes please.
– A fantasy centered on the Night City and its magic system? Absolutely.
– A revenge-driven descent into darkness? Sign me up.
But by trying to be all three, the book ends up not fully executing any of them completely…
Plot points are introduced only to be dropped almost immediately, never to be mentioned again. We get a found family of students… only for them to fade into the background and be replaced by another found family of girls. Emotional connections never really have the time to breathe, which meant I never truly cared about the characters the way I wanted to. At some point I caught myself sighing an actual “for fox’s sake” out loud, and that was probably the point of no return.
Which makes this extra frustrating, because the premise is genuinely interesting. The ideas are there. The ambition is there. The execution just did not come together for me. It felt like the book could not decide what it wanted to be, and as a result, neither could I as a reader.
That said, there was one quote that absolutely hit and reminded me of the story’s potential:
“So she was free. Because she had just become the most dangerous weapon of all. A person with nothing to lose.”
That line goes hard. I only wish the rest of the book had leaned into that same clarity and conviction.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 1, 2026
At one of England’s most secret soaked universities, power isn’t earned it’s taken through rituals no one talks about. When quiet, observant Emma Curran wins a coveted research post, she’s pulled into the seductive, dangerous world of the elite and straight into the orbit of Jasper Balfour, the beautiful, ruthless leader of a hidden society. What begins as intrigue and forbidden attraction turns into something far darker when Emma discovers the truth behind their traditions. One night, a brutal game is called the women run, the men hunt and Emma is forced to flee from the boy she trusted. Thrown into a surreal, savage new reality, Emma must shed who she was to survive, awakening something wild and dangerous inside herself.
This book wrapped me in velvet dark academia and then slowly sharpened its teeth. Set inside a glittering university this story leans into sisterhood, feminine rage, and survival in a world designed to break girls who don’t belong to it. There are rituals that feel like they’re watching you, secret circles that trade in devotion and fear, and a shadowed realm beneath the city that hums with old magic and hungers. FMC Emma is messy, brave, lonely, and deeply human, and watching her harden from uncertainty into quiet ferocity was incredibly satisfying. The first half takes its time building atmosphere with lots of fog, candlelight, whispered promises and the second half dives into a city of night blurring the edges of fantasy and mortals. And while I wanted a bit more clarity on how some of the magic works, the emotional tension and eerie beauty kept pulling me forward. By the end, I was completely caught in its grip, aching to know what secrets this world was hiding.
If you love secret societies, haunted cities, morally grey characters, women who fight back, and dark academia then this atmospheric debut novel is absolutely worth sinking your teeth into upon its release on Feb. 24th, 2026.
Thank you again NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book wrapped me in velvet dark academia and then slowly sharpened its teeth. Set inside a glittering university this story leans into sisterhood, feminine rage, and survival in a world designed to break girls who don’t belong to it. There are rituals that feel like they’re watching you, secret circles that trade in devotion and fear, and a shadowed realm beneath the city that hums with old magic and hungers. FMC Emma is messy, brave, lonely, and deeply human, and watching her harden from uncertainty into quiet ferocity was incredibly satisfying. The first half takes its time building atmosphere with lots of fog, candlelight, whispered promises and the second half dives into a city of night blurring the edges of fantasy and mortals. And while I wanted a bit more clarity on how some of the magic works, the emotional tension and eerie beauty kept pulling me forward. By the end, I was completely caught in its grip, aching to know what secrets this world was hiding.
If you love secret societies, haunted cities, morally grey characters, women who fight back, and dark academia then this atmospheric debut novel is absolutely worth sinking your teeth into upon its release on Feb. 24th, 2026.
Thank you again NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the very first chapter, I felt completely unsteady in the best possible way — I truly had no idea where this story was going to take me 🦊✨. I went in expecting a more “traditional” dark academia tale: a simple girl dragged into a wealthy, secret society and hunted for sport. And while it starts with that familiar tension, it quickly unfolds into something far richer, stranger, and more magical than I ever anticipated.
Suddenly we’re in a world layered with enchantment — magical animal-like beings, a hauntingly beautiful library, dangerous bargains that feel almost fae-touched, and this simmering, powerful current of female rage 🔥📚. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a heroine step into her strength in a world that underestimates her. The atmosphere felt lush and sharp at the same time — dark academia wrapped in fantasy and teeth.
And the villain reveal? I genuinely did not see it coming 😳. That twist made the emotional payoff at the end even more satisfying. Watching the true antagonist face consequences was one of those “yes, this is exactly what you deserve” moments 👏🔥.
Even though there isn’t a sweeping romance at the center of the story, I didn’t miss it. What we get instead is something that felt just as powerful — found family, trust built slowly, and a journey toward self-love and self-acceptance 💛. Those emotional beats hit harder for me than a love story would have.
I also want to highlight the audiobook narration — it was beautifully done 🎧✨. The narrator brought real emotional weight to the story, especially during the more intense and vulnerable scenes. The performance added depth and atmosphere, making the magical elements feel immersive and the emotional moments feel raw and genuine. It truly elevated the experience for me.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. If you love dark academia with unexpected fantasy twists, magical libraries, dangerous secrets, and emotionally satisfying endings — this one is worth your time.
#TheFoxHunt #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the very first chapter, I felt completely unsteady in the best possible way — I truly had no idea where this story was going to take me 🦊✨. I went in expecting a more “traditional” dark academia tale: a simple girl dragged into a wealthy, secret society and hunted for sport. And while it starts with that familiar tension, it quickly unfolds into something far richer, stranger, and more magical than I ever anticipated.
Suddenly we’re in a world layered with enchantment — magical animal-like beings, a hauntingly beautiful library, dangerous bargains that feel almost fae-touched, and this simmering, powerful current of female rage 🔥📚. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a heroine step into her strength in a world that underestimates her. The atmosphere felt lush and sharp at the same time — dark academia wrapped in fantasy and teeth.
And the villain reveal? I genuinely did not see it coming 😳. That twist made the emotional payoff at the end even more satisfying. Watching the true antagonist face consequences was one of those “yes, this is exactly what you deserve” moments 👏🔥.
Even though there isn’t a sweeping romance at the center of the story, I didn’t miss it. What we get instead is something that felt just as powerful — found family, trust built slowly, and a journey toward self-love and self-acceptance 💛. Those emotional beats hit harder for me than a love story would have.
I also want to highlight the audiobook narration — it was beautifully done 🎧✨. The narrator brought real emotional weight to the story, especially during the more intense and vulnerable scenes. The performance added depth and atmosphere, making the magical elements feel immersive and the emotional moments feel raw and genuine. It truly elevated the experience for me.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. If you love dark academia with unexpected fantasy twists, magical libraries, dangerous secrets, and emotionally satisfying endings — this one is worth your time.
#TheFoxHunt #NetGalley
February 24, 2026
3.5* Dark academia thriller meets folk tale in this unique and secret filled debut.
The Fox Hunt was not at all the book I expected it to be. It's got secret societies, hidden cities, fierce women and fantastical creatures, all while exploring topics such as elitism, classism, privilege and misogyny. It's gritty, original and went places I couldn't have foreseen. While I would have liked a little more depth to the cast of characters, the second half of the book saw the world building find its footing and I'd definitely been intrigued to see more of this city and its hidden stories in the future.
The Fox Hunt was not at all the book I expected it to be. It's got secret societies, hidden cities, fierce women and fantastical creatures, all while exploring topics such as elitism, classism, privilege and misogyny. It's gritty, original and went places I couldn't have foreseen. While I would have liked a little more depth to the cast of characters, the second half of the book saw the world building find its footing and I'd definitely been intrigued to see more of this city and its hidden stories in the future.
March 4, 2026
3.5! The Fox Hunt started as a fast paced, slightly twisted story set in a dark academia setting. I loved how the story kicked off and was reading almost like a mystery/thriller.
Our FMC Emma has lived her whole life pleasing other people, but becomes enthralled by a new group of elite friends when she gets offered an exclusive fellowship. Emma meets Jasper, the president of an all-male secret society and seems to become under his spell and thrown into the whirlwind of the Turnbull Club.
I really loved the first part of the book and imagined it turning into a high stakes thriller. However, the second part of the book found its grove as an urban fantasy as we were introduced to the magical Night City and its unique magic social class system. This was a very non intimidating fantasy as the magic system and world is very easy to grasp and didn’t have any complex structures.
I thought the book was fun, unique, and a parallel to class issues we see in the world. I really loved the element of retribution and man-hunting, and found myself cheering Emma on as she finds herself in a situation she never imagined, and finally falls into a version of herself where she finally feels powerful, cunning, and entirely herself.
There were a couple plot points that could have been expanded upon or executed better. I feel like a lot of the story was surface level and would have loved things to be built on more.
I listened to the ALC audiobook from Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company and really enjoyed the narration. She had an awesome accent and really made the writing shine. I’d definitely recommend this audio for a fun, fast paced listen! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC in exchange for my review.
Our FMC Emma has lived her whole life pleasing other people, but becomes enthralled by a new group of elite friends when she gets offered an exclusive fellowship. Emma meets Jasper, the president of an all-male secret society and seems to become under his spell and thrown into the whirlwind of the Turnbull Club.
I really loved the first part of the book and imagined it turning into a high stakes thriller. However, the second part of the book found its grove as an urban fantasy as we were introduced to the magical Night City and its unique magic social class system. This was a very non intimidating fantasy as the magic system and world is very easy to grasp and didn’t have any complex structures.
I thought the book was fun, unique, and a parallel to class issues we see in the world. I really loved the element of retribution and man-hunting, and found myself cheering Emma on as she finds herself in a situation she never imagined, and finally falls into a version of herself where she finally feels powerful, cunning, and entirely herself.
There were a couple plot points that could have been expanded upon or executed better. I feel like a lot of the story was surface level and would have loved things to be built on more.
I listened to the ALC audiobook from Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company and really enjoyed the narration. She had an awesome accent and really made the writing shine. I’d definitely recommend this audio for a fun, fast paced listen! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Fox Hunt was such a pleasant surprise of a book completely different to what I thought but I had the best time reading it. It kind of feels like two very different books in one, a fun and wild ride that completely worked. I loved the writing and just found it so easy to read, the first half of this book is filled with a secret society, rich students and their fancy parties what you would expect from an elite university and it was very much full of dark academia and for me this did make it feel a little slower in pace as the world and everything else slowly slots into place to build this engaging and intriguing plot.
Emma was such a likeable FMC and I really loved how down to earth she was and the way she handled herself, she had this vulnerability about her that made her quiet but she was also very smart and determined in what she wanted and what that entailed. Her character growth from start to finish was written so exceptionally well.
Then you reach the half way point and this is where for me the story picks up,I couldn't put the book down and read most of it in one sitting. The vibes completely change as you learn of The Night City and its magic, theres bargains and deals made in the shadows and this is where the story consumes you as you are taken on an unexpected journey, this is the best way to describe without spoiling the story.
This is 100 percent a book that works best if you go into it completely blind to experience just how amazing everything unfolds. I honestly loved it so much and it was such a refreshing debut.
Emma was such a likeable FMC and I really loved how down to earth she was and the way she handled herself, she had this vulnerability about her that made her quiet but she was also very smart and determined in what she wanted and what that entailed. Her character growth from start to finish was written so exceptionally well.
Then you reach the half way point and this is where for me the story picks up,I couldn't put the book down and read most of it in one sitting. The vibes completely change as you learn of The Night City and its magic, theres bargains and deals made in the shadows and this is where the story consumes you as you are taken on an unexpected journey, this is the best way to describe without spoiling the story.
This is 100 percent a book that works best if you go into it completely blind to experience just how amazing everything unfolds. I honestly loved it so much and it was such a refreshing debut.
February 9, 2026
The Fox Hunt is a novel that ultimately won me over—but it took its time getting there.
The first half leans heavily into familiar Dark Academia tropes, and for me that section felt a little flat. While competently written, it didn’t offer anything particularly new or distinctive, and my engagement wavered as a result. The groundwork is there, but it plays things too safe early on, especially given the strength of the ideas that come later.
The second half, however, is where the book truly comes alive. The core concept sharpens, the stakes become clearer, and the world-building finally starts to show its potential. By the end, I was genuinely hooked and very interested in where the story goes next. There’s a strong sense that this world is much bigger than what we’ve seen so far—and that’s compelling.
One weakness is the handling of the Turnbull Society. As a reader, I wanted far more detail earlier on. It’s left too open-ended in the first half, which undercuts investment and leaves noticeable gaps in both plot and world logic if this is judged as a standalone novel.
That said, viewed as the opening entry in a series or duology, The Fox Hunt works well. It lays foundations, introduces an intriguing framework, and—crucially—makes you want to continue. As a standalone, it’s uneven and incomplete. As a series opener, it’s solid and promising.
I’ll absolutely be reading any sequels.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing the ARC.
The first half leans heavily into familiar Dark Academia tropes, and for me that section felt a little flat. While competently written, it didn’t offer anything particularly new or distinctive, and my engagement wavered as a result. The groundwork is there, but it plays things too safe early on, especially given the strength of the ideas that come later.
The second half, however, is where the book truly comes alive. The core concept sharpens, the stakes become clearer, and the world-building finally starts to show its potential. By the end, I was genuinely hooked and very interested in where the story goes next. There’s a strong sense that this world is much bigger than what we’ve seen so far—and that’s compelling.
One weakness is the handling of the Turnbull Society. As a reader, I wanted far more detail earlier on. It’s left too open-ended in the first half, which undercuts investment and leaves noticeable gaps in both plot and world logic if this is judged as a standalone novel.
That said, viewed as the opening entry in a series or duology, The Fox Hunt works well. It lays foundations, introduces an intriguing framework, and—crucially—makes you want to continue. As a standalone, it’s uneven and incomplete. As a series opener, it’s solid and promising.
I’ll absolutely be reading any sequels.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This started off great, a thriller about nasty little rich entitled boys who get their coummunppance? Great!
Then all of a sudden the FMC turns into a fox? Hmm.
So basically:
Real world FMC: useless, boring, nothing about her.
Fantasyland FMC: amazing magical Uber smart amorphous who outwits the entire other side and gets exactly what she's always wanted because she's so fantastically amazing (of course).
Writing was fine but I hate the whole Chosen One trope and in adult fiction too? *Shudders*.
Then all of a sudden the FMC turns into a fox? Hmm.
So basically:
Real world FMC: useless, boring, nothing about her.
Fantasyland FMC: amazing magical Uber smart amorphous who outwits the entire other side and gets exactly what she's always wanted because she's so fantastically amazing (of course).
Writing was fine but I hate the whole Chosen One trope and in adult fiction too? *Shudders*.
December 23, 2025
I received an invite from the publisher to read The Fox Hunt based on my previous love of all things fantasy. And they were right - everything in this story was exactly up my alley! It’s a dark academia fantasy novel with atmospheric prose and thriller vibes. It mashes the otherworldly and gothic horror against a decidedly modern backdrop. I loved the blend of genres and the themes of feminine rage, sisterhood, survival, and revenge.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel! The pacing and arc of the plot were superbly done. I loved Emma’s development from unsure and studious to hardened and cunning. Her relationships with the fox maidens and the librarian and his sister were some of my favorites. I was fully immersed in the setting, in the characters, and the mystique of it all!
This story is perfect for lovers of:
- Dark academia and secret societies
- Tricky bargains and shadow realms
- Feminine rage and revenge
- Sentient cities and libraries
While the initial mystery resolves, the door seems open for future stories in this world. I would love to see more tales featuring Emma, the University, and the Night City!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel! The pacing and arc of the plot were superbly done. I loved Emma’s development from unsure and studious to hardened and cunning. Her relationships with the fox maidens and the librarian and his sister were some of my favorites. I was fully immersed in the setting, in the characters, and the mystique of it all!
This story is perfect for lovers of:
- Dark academia and secret societies
- Tricky bargains and shadow realms
- Feminine rage and revenge
- Sentient cities and libraries
While the initial mystery resolves, the door seems open for future stories in this world. I would love to see more tales featuring Emma, the University, and the Night City!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
This book is not settled into what it wants to achieve. It is, by turns, too long (the first half before all the magic kicks in was just too long; rich boys behaving badly did not need nearly that much real estate) and too quick (Julia was done dirty; she has barely any “screentime” but is a major stabilizer for the plot). There’s moments of really gorgeous like horror imagery in the beginning (when we first hit the rose garden, there was one line that I read over and over) but most of the time there’s little to no visual descriptions at all. A huge portion of the climax is just a villain monologue that answers a bunch of questions I for one had been thinking about almost from the beginning; which is a very boring avenue for answers. It also feels decidedly unfinished.
I did really like the Night City and wish we’d seen more of it and gotten more from the other foxes (like did Sara ever wake up? Do the twins have names?). There were also a lot of threads in the Night City left dangling (the eel with his stolen totem, why did the golden boar care so much about Emma?)
{Thank you Little, Brown for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I did really like the Night City and wish we’d seen more of it and gotten more from the other foxes (like did Sara ever wake up? Do the twins have names?). There were also a lot of threads in the Night City left dangling (the eel with his stolen totem, why did the golden boar care so much about Emma?)
{Thank you Little, Brown for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Maddy Lenny did an amazing job narrating the story and bringing the characters to life. Her accent was perfect for this story. I'm not sure if I would have been able to finish this book if I didn't listen to it on audio.
I'm conflicted about The Fox Hunt. I feel like it was two books in one; the first half occurred at an elite university, with a secret male-only society (and all the problems frequently associated with that) and found family. However, about half way through the book, the story pivots and becomes fantasy. Emma ends up in the Night City, which is full of magic, strict class system, with the lower classes forced into servitude to pay off their "debts." One thing to note here as well, Emma finds another group of found family friends, and sometimes it feels as if they replaced her human found family.
The Night City sits exactly over the university and there is a thin veil between the two worlds. It started out as a symbiotic relationship between them; the university students/professors would make unusual and rapid advancements from the City's magic and the Night City would harness some of the humans vitality as payment. Somehow the relationship soured and the Night City wants to be free from the mortal world.
I feel like trying to merge these two plots into one book caused a lot of it to be a bit superficial. I wish the plots were more blended and teased out vs mentioned once and then wasn't brought back up until the end when things were being tied up. This fantasy world is so unique compared to anything I read before; I just wish there was more depth to it.
I know this book is being marketed as a dark academic novel, but that doesn't seem to fit the book as a whole. There are a few murders, forced servitude, and some dark themes are alluded to with what members of the secret society have done, but I struggle with considering this a "dark" novel. As for the academia setting, the first half takes places at the University and the second half takes place in a high fantasy world that sits directly over the university. So technically...but just not in the way one normally thinks of an academic setting.
I'm not sure if this is a standalone book or if it will be a series. However, if it does become a series, I will definitely pick up the second book to see if Emma completes her new bargain with the judge....and to find out more about Robin.
Thank you NetGallery, Caitlin Breeze, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.
3.5 stars
Maddy Lenny did an amazing job narrating the story and bringing the characters to life. Her accent was perfect for this story. I'm not sure if I would have been able to finish this book if I didn't listen to it on audio.
I'm conflicted about The Fox Hunt. I feel like it was two books in one; the first half occurred at an elite university, with a secret male-only society (and all the problems frequently associated with that) and found family. However, about half way through the book, the story pivots and becomes fantasy. Emma ends up in the Night City, which is full of magic, strict class system, with the lower classes forced into servitude to pay off their "debts." One thing to note here as well, Emma finds another group of found family friends, and sometimes it feels as if they replaced her human found family.
The Night City sits exactly over the university and there is a thin veil between the two worlds. It started out as a symbiotic relationship between them; the university students/professors would make unusual and rapid advancements from the City's magic and the Night City would harness some of the humans vitality as payment. Somehow the relationship soured and the Night City wants to be free from the mortal world.
I feel like trying to merge these two plots into one book caused a lot of it to be a bit superficial. I wish the plots were more blended and teased out vs mentioned once and then wasn't brought back up until the end when things were being tied up. This fantasy world is so unique compared to anything I read before; I just wish there was more depth to it.
I know this book is being marketed as a dark academic novel, but that doesn't seem to fit the book as a whole. There are a few murders, forced servitude, and some dark themes are alluded to with what members of the secret society have done, but I struggle with considering this a "dark" novel. As for the academia setting, the first half takes places at the University and the second half takes place in a high fantasy world that sits directly over the university. So technically...but just not in the way one normally thinks of an academic setting.
I'm not sure if this is a standalone book or if it will be a series. However, if it does become a series, I will definitely pick up the second book to see if Emma completes her new bargain with the judge....and to find out more about Robin.
Thank you NetGallery, Caitlin Breeze, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.
3.5 stars
February 27, 2026
This isn't my kind of book. I'm a primarily Fantasy/speculative fiction reader, but this book leans far more toward the magical realism side of the scale than expressing any desire in engaging with the world-building and magic system. It's not particularly interested in dealing systemically with the themes it brings up (flirting with the concept before boiling it down to one bad actor), nor is it really a character-driven story. I also fully forgot I picked this up because it was labeled as Dark Academia. Dark? Sure. Academia? Pfft, no.
What this most reminds me of is the 2015 film "Final Girl" starring Abigail Breslin which I found to mostly be a little surreal, a little experimental, largely valuing aesthetics over substance, and only superficially interested in engaging with the topic as a group of wealthy, privileged boys hunts down a promising young woman and then find themselves the hunted in turn.
I would also argue that the first 70% of this book is drawn out and repetitive and I'm not quite sure how it manages to be so long with so little happening, so if you're plot-driven and really curious but also considering DNFing, I'd say that's the point to jump ahead to.
There were a lot of times I considered DNFing or skipping ahead, but I mostly read this after my spouse had gone to bed and it was more convenient to keep reading than not while trying to quietly wind down, but I can't say there was anything in this I enjoyed actually. It feels like a lot of debut issues and half-baked ideas that struggle to be conveyed in an engaging way, so maybe I'll return to this author once they have a few more books under their belt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What this most reminds me of is the 2015 film "Final Girl" starring Abigail Breslin which I found to mostly be a little surreal, a little experimental, largely valuing aesthetics over substance, and only superficially interested in engaging with the topic as a group of wealthy, privileged boys hunts down a promising young woman and then find themselves the hunted in turn.
I would also argue that the first 70% of this book is drawn out and repetitive and I'm not quite sure how it manages to be so long with so little happening, so if you're plot-driven and really curious but also considering DNFing, I'd say that's the point to jump ahead to.
There were a lot of times I considered DNFing or skipping ahead, but I mostly read this after my spouse had gone to bed and it was more convenient to keep reading than not while trying to quietly wind down, but I can't say there was anything in this I enjoyed actually. It feels like a lot of debut issues and half-baked ideas that struggle to be conveyed in an engaging way, so maybe I'll return to this author once they have a few more books under their belt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 5, 2026
You know the unique magical realism tone you get from Yangsze Choo (The Fox Wife) and Helen Oyeyemi (Gingerbread)? It’s not everyone’s vibe but there is an odd sweetness to it. Like there are plenty triggers, but it still feels oddly cozy? Maybe the fox tails distracted me. lol
It starts off like a college dark academia formula you’ve seen before and it veers into a whole different lane. Like with animal houses and a magical library. It’s wild but with sort of a whimsical zootopia-ish way. All
The threads are a little vague and I’m unsure if that means there will be a book two or not.
So, smirk worthy –yes, and I think will speak to the high school aged YA readers. I thought the narration was pretty solid.
3.5/5
I want to thank Natgalley & Hachette Audio for this audiobook. The Fox Hunt is out now.
It starts off like a college dark academia formula you’ve seen before and it veers into a whole different lane. Like with animal houses and a magical library. It’s wild but with sort of a whimsical zootopia-ish way. All
The threads are a little vague and I’m unsure if that means there will be a book two or not.
So, smirk worthy –yes, and I think will speak to the high school aged YA readers. I thought the narration was pretty solid.
3.5/5
I want to thank Natgalley & Hachette Audio for this audiobook. The Fox Hunt is out now.
February 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The Fox Hunt is a cunning tale. I absolutely loved the academic setting and dark magic held within the pages. Initially this appears to be a standard academia read with an outsider trying to make it in an elite setting. But then…at the half way point the plot really picks up and doesn’t hold back. I think this is the kind of read to go in with no expectations and to just enjoy so I do not want to say anything else. The themes that are focused on are classism, misogyny and coming of age. I recommend this one for any dark academia fans. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
The Fox Hunt is a cunning tale. I absolutely loved the academic setting and dark magic held within the pages. Initially this appears to be a standard academia read with an outsider trying to make it in an elite setting. But then…at the half way point the plot really picks up and doesn’t hold back. I think this is the kind of read to go in with no expectations and to just enjoy so I do not want to say anything else. The themes that are focused on are classism, misogyny and coming of age. I recommend this one for any dark academia fans. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
February 15, 2026
⭐ 3/5
🌶️ 0.5/3
This book was a weird one in that I quite liked it, but there was definitely things that I felt could have been done better. I am taking this as a vibe read. We have dark academia vibes in the first half, which were really good, maybe took a little longer than I would have liked to get to the main catalyst of the story, but I was vibing. The second half was a dark fairytale kind of vibes. It seemed a little bit disconnected with the two vibes at times, but I understood where the story was going with it all.
That being said the audiobook was done really well. So thank you to Netgalley for the arc of it!
🌶️ 0.5/3
This book was a weird one in that I quite liked it, but there was definitely things that I felt could have been done better. I am taking this as a vibe read. We have dark academia vibes in the first half, which were really good, maybe took a little longer than I would have liked to get to the main catalyst of the story, but I was vibing. The second half was a dark fairytale kind of vibes. It seemed a little bit disconnected with the two vibes at times, but I understood where the story was going with it all.
That being said the audiobook was done really well. So thank you to Netgalley for the arc of it!
February 23, 2026
Reading The Fox Hunt took me back to my childhood and all the fantasies I loved to read. Just like Curran’s FMC Emma, I was drawn to worlds with magic. Except this magical world is not for children, although very YA appropriate. It is darker, full of debts and tricky bargains, and monsters to keep the characters locked in.
Emma Curran is a student at a prestigious British university. After being awarded a grant for a science project that requires her to attend press events and parties, she falls into friendship with students among the wealthy and social elite. She becomes infatuated with Jasper, the head of the university’s oldest male only secret society. As his guest she attends parties that become increasingly sinister, ending in a race where society members hunt and their guests become the hunted. Running for her life, Emma enters the dangerous and magical world of the Night City.
While this story takes place in current times, the university is steeped in a dream-like gothic atmosphere that is riddled with mysteries. Tension drips from wild and glittering parties as secrets and rituals get lost in Emma’s hazy memories that blur the edges between nightmares and reality.
At its core, this story is about inequality, power, and oppression. It emphasizes the ways men hoard their power and ruthlessly use and discard those they consider weak or useless. I love the way this story seamlessly folds this inequity into an unusual fantasy.
Emma is initially somewhat naive and easily influenced. She quickly becomes an easy victim for the university’s secret society and is pushed into servitude for the hierarchical Night City. But instead of lying down she fights back. She uses the magic she is gifted, even as she is chained to it, and figures out how to leverage it against the secret society that used her.
I also love the way symbolism is integrated into both the fantasy and realism in this story. The library, a source of knowledge and power in both worlds, is fiercely guarded and provides a link between Emma’s former life as a student and her life as a Night City servant. The magic and purpose of the Night City isn’t fully explained, but I’m excited to explore it more in the sequel. This is a very promising debut for Caitlin Breeze and I will be watching out for her future books.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Emma Curran is a student at a prestigious British university. After being awarded a grant for a science project that requires her to attend press events and parties, she falls into friendship with students among the wealthy and social elite. She becomes infatuated with Jasper, the head of the university’s oldest male only secret society. As his guest she attends parties that become increasingly sinister, ending in a race where society members hunt and their guests become the hunted. Running for her life, Emma enters the dangerous and magical world of the Night City.
While this story takes place in current times, the university is steeped in a dream-like gothic atmosphere that is riddled with mysteries. Tension drips from wild and glittering parties as secrets and rituals get lost in Emma’s hazy memories that blur the edges between nightmares and reality.
At its core, this story is about inequality, power, and oppression. It emphasizes the ways men hoard their power and ruthlessly use and discard those they consider weak or useless. I love the way this story seamlessly folds this inequity into an unusual fantasy.
Emma is initially somewhat naive and easily influenced. She quickly becomes an easy victim for the university’s secret society and is pushed into servitude for the hierarchical Night City. But instead of lying down she fights back. She uses the magic she is gifted, even as she is chained to it, and figures out how to leverage it against the secret society that used her.
I also love the way symbolism is integrated into both the fantasy and realism in this story. The library, a source of knowledge and power in both worlds, is fiercely guarded and provides a link between Emma’s former life as a student and her life as a Night City servant. The magic and purpose of the Night City isn’t fully explained, but I’m excited to explore it more in the sequel. This is a very promising debut for Caitlin Breeze and I will be watching out for her future books.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 12, 2026
Caitlin Breeze’s debut novel, The Fox Hunt, is a powerful entry into fantasy and dark academia. It grabbed me from the start and then rampaged into the heart of the book.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly. Sometimes, when you are enjoying an audio listen, the details fade away.
This was an enjoyable listen, with depth, surprising shifts, and charm. There are lovable and deplorable side characters, found family, secrets, magical histories, and fantastical creatures.
Emma is an outsider at “The University,” which feels like Oxford or Cambridge, but it is clear it is neither. It is where the elite of society send their scions, where future world leaders are educated, and it is the epitome of where (faux) Britain’s best and brightest go. Our protagonist is Emma, the daughter of a single-parent scientist who has dragged her around the world to different engagements. Emma has always felt like an outsider, so when Julia introduces her to the secretive—and patriarchal—Turnbull Society and the hunky, well-connected, and universally loved Jasper, she revels in the acceptance.
As is often the way in a dark academia, this is not the proper emotion for Emma to feel. Fleeing would been a better choice, but that wouldn’t make for as good a story.
We can’t go much further into the story without revealing major plot points. As the name suggests, the ladies—the foxes—are eventually chased by the men of the Turnbull Society.
The book ends well, completing its arc while leaving room for further world development.
My only nitpick (Spoiling since it comes late in the book) .
Was The Fox Hunt world-shattering? Not really. Was it perspective-changing? Probably not. But it was highly entertaining.
I award The Fox Hunt 4 1/4 stars out of 5.
Specific Audio Piece:
Maddy Lenny, as narrator, skillfully moved between characters and an unseen voice. Maddy’s prose is excellent, her characterizations are believable, and she turned potential chaos into an understandable story. She was a joy to listen to, and I hope she continues working on fantasy, dark academia, and, hopefully, science fiction novels.
Many thanks to Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and Little, Brown & Company for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly. Sometimes, when you are enjoying an audio listen, the details fade away.
This was an enjoyable listen, with depth, surprising shifts, and charm. There are lovable and deplorable side characters, found family, secrets, magical histories, and fantastical creatures.
Emma is an outsider at “The University,” which feels like Oxford or Cambridge, but it is clear it is neither. It is where the elite of society send their scions, where future world leaders are educated, and it is the epitome of where (faux) Britain’s best and brightest go. Our protagonist is Emma, the daughter of a single-parent scientist who has dragged her around the world to different engagements. Emma has always felt like an outsider, so when Julia introduces her to the secretive—and patriarchal—Turnbull Society and the hunky, well-connected, and universally loved Jasper, she revels in the acceptance.
As is often the way in a dark academia, this is not the proper emotion for Emma to feel. Fleeing would been a better choice, but that wouldn’t make for as good a story.
We can’t go much further into the story without revealing major plot points. As the name suggests, the ladies—the foxes—are eventually chased by the men of the Turnbull Society.
The book ends well, completing its arc while leaving room for further world development.
My only nitpick (Spoiling since it comes late in the book) .
Was The Fox Hunt world-shattering? Not really. Was it perspective-changing? Probably not. But it was highly entertaining.
I award The Fox Hunt 4 1/4 stars out of 5.
Specific Audio Piece:
Maddy Lenny, as narrator, skillfully moved between characters and an unseen voice. Maddy’s prose is excellent, her characterizations are believable, and she turned potential chaos into an understandable story. She was a joy to listen to, and I hope she continues working on fantasy, dark academia, and, hopefully, science fiction novels.
Many thanks to Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and Little, Brown & Company for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 5, 2026
The Fox Hunt
by Caitlin Breeze
Fantasy New Adult Cozy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 24, 2026
Little, Brown and Company
Ages: 16+
Second year university student, Emma Curran, is selected for a research fellowship sponsored by the University's elite, and as she is drawn into their luxurious lifestyle, she also falls for Jasper Balfour, the leader of the Turnbull Club, a male only secret society that has spawned many of Britain's leaders.
Invited to one of their rituals, Emma finds herself forced into a game, a fox hunt. She and the other girls run, and the boys chase. But the game turns aggressive, and Emma finds herself in another world, indebted to it.
But if she can figure out what deal was struck that has weakened that world, she can go back to her mortal life. If she can't, she'll have to pay her debt back over a thousand years, and lose the mortal part of her.
I was expecting more monsters and magic from the blurb's description, but eh. This was more along the lines of a 'Cozy' story. Sure, there's a little bit more violence than the typical Cozy story, but with how the story started, where it ended, and the 'drama', I consider this falling into the cozy sub-genre.
If one were to take out a little of the violence and the small bit of adult reference, then readers under sixteen could read this. The above content isn't graphic, but there's enough that might offend sensitive readers.
My biggest issue with this story was how long it took to get to what was advertised as the main idea, magic, but that only took up the last quarter of the book. Sure, there were hints and references to something 'magical' in those beginning pages, but mostly it rambled about the university, the rich kids, and how Emma, who grew up without a lot of money, was drawn into their world, finding herself attracted to the richest, most handsome/popular student on campus. Once it became clear that the 'rich kids' and their society were going to be the main focus of the story and not the magic, I lost interest.
It was an okay of a story, but there wasn't enough magic for me.
2 Stars
by Caitlin Breeze
Fantasy New Adult Cozy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 24, 2026
Little, Brown and Company
Ages: 16+
Second year university student, Emma Curran, is selected for a research fellowship sponsored by the University's elite, and as she is drawn into their luxurious lifestyle, she also falls for Jasper Balfour, the leader of the Turnbull Club, a male only secret society that has spawned many of Britain's leaders.
Invited to one of their rituals, Emma finds herself forced into a game, a fox hunt. She and the other girls run, and the boys chase. But the game turns aggressive, and Emma finds herself in another world, indebted to it.
But if she can figure out what deal was struck that has weakened that world, she can go back to her mortal life. If she can't, she'll have to pay her debt back over a thousand years, and lose the mortal part of her.
I was expecting more monsters and magic from the blurb's description, but eh. This was more along the lines of a 'Cozy' story. Sure, there's a little bit more violence than the typical Cozy story, but with how the story started, where it ended, and the 'drama', I consider this falling into the cozy sub-genre.
If one were to take out a little of the violence and the small bit of adult reference, then readers under sixteen could read this. The above content isn't graphic, but there's enough that might offend sensitive readers.
My biggest issue with this story was how long it took to get to what was advertised as the main idea, magic, but that only took up the last quarter of the book. Sure, there were hints and references to something 'magical' in those beginning pages, but mostly it rambled about the university, the rich kids, and how Emma, who grew up without a lot of money, was drawn into their world, finding herself attracted to the richest, most handsome/popular student on campus. Once it became clear that the 'rich kids' and their society were going to be the main focus of the story and not the magic, I lost interest.
It was an okay of a story, but there wasn't enough magic for me.
2 Stars
February 12, 2026
I really liked this but it felt like there was such a significant genre shift, that couldn’t be ignored.
If you asked me 50 pages in how I would rate this, I felt it would be guaranteed 5 stars! The dark academia elements at the start were so strong and I was absolutely sucked in to the secret society and the terrible men and their games.
However the book then shifted to this fae-land / magical book, and the change was actually rather jarring. Don’t get me wrong, I love this genre as well, but the shift felt significant, and I found myself desperately wanting to return to the dark academia plot!
When the two worlds finally collided though, it was a solid book and I enjoyed the ending and plot, but I just felt the execution could have been approached slightly differently.
But all in all, it was an interesting take on the genre and a secret society world. I loved all the girl power taking on these powerful men and the found family group of sisters that Emma finds both with the foxes and in the university. I never thought Venetia would become my favourite but that girl was a badass!
And I loved all the bargains and trickery. Especially Emma applying her law degree to this new world! Her interaction with Robin were fun and I’m intrigued to see more of him in the next book.
All in all, fun and fairly addictive, but I can’t deny the shift in tone about a third of the way in. But definitely a series I’d be keen to continue. Let’s take down the Turnbulls!
If you asked me 50 pages in how I would rate this, I felt it would be guaranteed 5 stars! The dark academia elements at the start were so strong and I was absolutely sucked in to the secret society and the terrible men and their games.
However the book then shifted to this fae-land / magical book, and the change was actually rather jarring. Don’t get me wrong, I love this genre as well, but the shift felt significant, and I found myself desperately wanting to return to the dark academia plot!
When the two worlds finally collided though, it was a solid book and I enjoyed the ending and plot, but I just felt the execution could have been approached slightly differently.
But all in all, it was an interesting take on the genre and a secret society world. I loved all the girl power taking on these powerful men and the found family group of sisters that Emma finds both with the foxes and in the university. I never thought Venetia would become my favourite but that girl was a badass!
And I loved all the bargains and trickery. Especially Emma applying her law degree to this new world! Her interaction with Robin were fun and I’m intrigued to see more of him in the next book.
All in all, fun and fairly addictive, but I can’t deny the shift in tone about a third of the way in. But definitely a series I’d be keen to continue. Let’s take down the Turnbulls!
March 1, 2026
This book took me a while to get into, even listening to it so I don’t think I would have finished it if it were in print. Maddy Lenny is an excellent narrator and perfect for Emma’s story. Her narration really brings the book to life and keeps it engaging.
The concept for this story is great, but it takes a long while to get engaging. If it was paced a little better, I would have rated it higher. It’s broken into 2 parts. Part 1-the academia setting which is posh parties and awful people and is a little dull. But after about 35% into the book, you get to see the magic side of the Night City which is where the book really takes off and is original. Emma’s growth throughout the book also is one of the things I really love. She starts out as a very naive girl, but as she embraces her magic side and sister in the Night City, she becomes more powerful and cunning. I also really loved the relationships she makes with the people and characters in both worlds.
This is a book with a lot of darkness in it and there are some references to sex, drugs, lots of partying and drinking, and assault. Nothing is graphically portrayed but I do think this makes it more of a high school YA book for 8th grade and up. Not much swearing though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The concept for this story is great, but it takes a long while to get engaging. If it was paced a little better, I would have rated it higher. It’s broken into 2 parts. Part 1-the academia setting which is posh parties and awful people and is a little dull. But after about 35% into the book, you get to see the magic side of the Night City which is where the book really takes off and is original. Emma’s growth throughout the book also is one of the things I really love. She starts out as a very naive girl, but as she embraces her magic side and sister in the Night City, she becomes more powerful and cunning. I also really loved the relationships she makes with the people and characters in both worlds.
This is a book with a lot of darkness in it and there are some references to sex, drugs, lots of partying and drinking, and assault. Nothing is graphically portrayed but I do think this makes it more of a high school YA book for 8th grade and up. Not much swearing though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2026
Caitlin Breeze has outdone herself with this one! This extraordinarily magical story absolutely blew me away. The audiobook had a few flaws, unfortunately, but that doesn't take away from the storytelling at all. I personally disliked all the male voices, besides Jasper & and the Librarian.
The world-building, pacing, and dark academia setting were beautifully done. I was not expecting such a twist, not even halfway into the book! Before the twist happened, I truly had no idea where the story was going. It's so refreshing not knowing!
Our FMC Emma starts as a shy, more reserved girl, but really becomes this strong female lead by the end of the book. Her caring and cunning abilities are so inspiring; you can really feel how willing she is to do anything for those she cares about. She's also not going to let some spoiled little rich boys get the better of her!
I would recommend this to everybody who loves dark academia.
Thank you so much, NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Caitlin Breeze, for this ALC!
The world-building, pacing, and dark academia setting were beautifully done. I was not expecting such a twist, not even halfway into the book! Before the twist happened, I truly had no idea where the story was going. It's so refreshing not knowing!
Our FMC Emma starts as a shy, more reserved girl, but really becomes this strong female lead by the end of the book. Her caring and cunning abilities are so inspiring; you can really feel how willing she is to do anything for those she cares about. She's also not going to let some spoiled little rich boys get the better of her!
I would recommend this to everybody who loves dark academia.
Thank you so much, NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Caitlin Breeze, for this ALC!
February 23, 2026
I haven’t been this irritated with a book in a hot minute.
This feels like two different (poorly written) books, combined into one. In the first 40%, we have a dark academia with pretentiously rich boys, secret societies, and dark sacrifices. The second half was magical bargains, found family, and revenge. Which sounds well and good, right? WRONG.
This had all the tenants of a good book but it was executed so poorly. The author spends way too much time setting the stage for this book that by the time the action picks up, I’ve lost interest. And the pay off at the end? Lack luster. The final show down felt so silly like what do you mean you tricked your big bad with some dumb reverse psychology?? No. Not a chance.
This book is a big pass for me. The only good thing? The audiobook. The narrator has such a knack for accents. I was so impressed with how seamlessly she switched between them. A++ for voice acting, girl, I wish you had a chance with a better book.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook!
This feels like two different (poorly written) books, combined into one. In the first 40%, we have a dark academia with pretentiously rich boys, secret societies, and dark sacrifices. The second half was magical bargains, found family, and revenge. Which sounds well and good, right? WRONG.
This had all the tenants of a good book but it was executed so poorly. The author spends way too much time setting the stage for this book that by the time the action picks up, I’ve lost interest. And the pay off at the end? Lack luster. The final show down felt so silly like what do you mean you tricked your big bad with some dumb reverse psychology?? No. Not a chance.
This book is a big pass for me. The only good thing? The audiobook. The narrator has such a knack for accents. I was so impressed with how seamlessly she switched between them. A++ for voice acting, girl, I wish you had a chance with a better book.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook!
February 10, 2026
YA fantasy • Dark academia
Female rage • Sisterhood
This book completely surprised me! The university setting with a mysterious secret society pulled me right in. From walking around a library at night and hearing voices to violent rituals. As soon as I began to question what kind of ancient magic we were getting into, the book showed me and I had about a hundred questions.
The way the story unfolded was one of my favorite aspects. There’s a shift into fantasy as things pick up that I really enjoyed. I constantly felt like I didn’t know what would happen next. Would it be something mysterious, magical, or maybe infuriating? The characters we are meant to hate are so very unlikable, I wanted to yell at my kindle.
I went into this pretty blind and it felt perfect that way, so I don’t want to say more. Add this to your tbr if you like foxes, magical worlds, and female vengeance. I really ended up loving it! 🦊✨
Thank you @littlebrown and @netgalley for my e-ARC!
Female rage • Sisterhood
This book completely surprised me! The university setting with a mysterious secret society pulled me right in. From walking around a library at night and hearing voices to violent rituals. As soon as I began to question what kind of ancient magic we were getting into, the book showed me and I had about a hundred questions.
The way the story unfolded was one of my favorite aspects. There’s a shift into fantasy as things pick up that I really enjoyed. I constantly felt like I didn’t know what would happen next. Would it be something mysterious, magical, or maybe infuriating? The characters we are meant to hate are so very unlikable, I wanted to yell at my kindle.
I went into this pretty blind and it felt perfect that way, so I don’t want to say more. Add this to your tbr if you like foxes, magical worlds, and female vengeance. I really ended up loving it! 🦊✨
Thank you @littlebrown and @netgalley for my e-ARC!
March 3, 2026
This book was so craveable. I went into this book blind and had the limited explanation of dark academia and fantasy and honestly that and the cover was all I needed to be in. This book is that and so much more. This book has academia, lore, secret socities, politics, classism, found family, a secret world and the journey to discover your voice in your 20's. I devoured this audio in a day and couldn't get enough. The narrator was fantastic. I enjoyed the pacing and the depth the narration added to the story. The main character, Emma is someone you cannot help but root for. I liked the way Emma thought through problems and how her time in the Night City helped her find her voice and stand up for herself. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Hatchette Audio, Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for this ALC, all opinions are my own.
Thank you Hatchette Audio, Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for this ALC, all opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
Girl goes to college. Girl steps outside her comfort zone. Girl meets boy.
Girl is in way over her head, and before she knows it, she's transported--rather abruptly and much to her surprise--into a world that overlaps her own yet is something completely different, a world of magic and fairy bargains and fox maidens and danger the likes of which she's never known.
An excellent story full of magic and mystery. The writing itself was beautiful, the kind of writing that transports the reader into the world of the book and makes you feel each scene with all five senses.
I literally lost time while reading this book; that's how immersive the writing was. The story ends with a perfect set-up for a sequel, so I hope we've got a series on our hands here.
Girl is in way over her head, and before she knows it, she's transported--rather abruptly and much to her surprise--into a world that overlaps her own yet is something completely different, a world of magic and fairy bargains and fox maidens and danger the likes of which she's never known.
An excellent story full of magic and mystery. The writing itself was beautiful, the kind of writing that transports the reader into the world of the book and makes you feel each scene with all five senses.
I literally lost time while reading this book; that's how immersive the writing was. The story ends with a perfect set-up for a sequel, so I hope we've got a series on our hands here.
February 19, 2026
3.5 stars. Single POV/single narration. I was very intrigued by the premise of this. Dark academia with a magical mystery and secret society? Sold. The first half works really well setting up the collegiate setting and Emma’s introduction to the secret society lifestyle with some hints of intrigue sprinkled without. At times she seems naive, but it’s part of her character’s growth. Then BAM we’re basically Alice getting dropped into Wonderland and it feels like a totally different story. The last 25% we see the two blending together for a resolution, but there’s a little too much disconnect for it to flow smoothly for me.
March 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This started off incredibly strong and was steeped in dark academia. Secret societies, entitled rich boys, high stakes — what’s not to love? But then the story shifted and the FMC became a fox, and it simply didn’t make sense. It ended up reading like a book of two halves, as though they belonged to entirely different stories.
I did enjoy the worldbuilding, which I thought was the strongest aspect of the book. Unfortunately, the characters themselves lacked depth. I also really enjoyed the narration.
This started off incredibly strong and was steeped in dark academia. Secret societies, entitled rich boys, high stakes — what’s not to love? But then the story shifted and the FMC became a fox, and it simply didn’t make sense. It ended up reading like a book of two halves, as though they belonged to entirely different stories.
I did enjoy the worldbuilding, which I thought was the strongest aspect of the book. Unfortunately, the characters themselves lacked depth. I also really enjoyed the narration.
August 24, 2025
This book felt like Alice in Wonderland x The Secret History to me. Emma gets into an exclusive gothic university on a prestigious scholarship, and suddenly she’s drawn into the dazzling world of Britain’s elite. Through Julia, she’s welcomed into the social scene, but also into their secret society: a place where belonging quickly turns sinister.
At first, it feels intoxicating. Then the ceremonies begin. And then comes the fox hunt where Emma is the prey. That’s when the story shifts into something much darker. Emma’s role as a social-class outsider is central to the story, she’s thrust into the rarefied world of privilege and wealth, and the constant power imbalance between her and the elite students around her feels sharp and suffocating, echoing the same class tension and quiet menace you’d find in a film like Parasite.
What makes this book so great is how it layers reality with something stranger. It has a touch of magical realism, blurring the edges of the real world of mortals with the Night City that pulses like its own living, breathing thing. It’s fantasy, but it’s also a story of masks, illusions, and power games, with layer upon layer interlacing until you’re lost in it. The “book within a book” element is like Russian nesting dolls where you keep peeling back layers and falling deeper.
I was left with this haunting sense of unease, but also wanting to learn more about the Night City. “Feudal fairyland”, secret societies, the city as its own character - it was stunningly done. I really wish there was a book two, because I’m not ready to leave this world.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
At first, it feels intoxicating. Then the ceremonies begin. And then comes the fox hunt where Emma is the prey. That’s when the story shifts into something much darker. Emma’s role as a social-class outsider is central to the story, she’s thrust into the rarefied world of privilege and wealth, and the constant power imbalance between her and the elite students around her feels sharp and suffocating, echoing the same class tension and quiet menace you’d find in a film like Parasite.
What makes this book so great is how it layers reality with something stranger. It has a touch of magical realism, blurring the edges of the real world of mortals with the Night City that pulses like its own living, breathing thing. It’s fantasy, but it’s also a story of masks, illusions, and power games, with layer upon layer interlacing until you’re lost in it. The “book within a book” element is like Russian nesting dolls where you keep peeling back layers and falling deeper.
I was left with this haunting sense of unease, but also wanting to learn more about the Night City. “Feudal fairyland”, secret societies, the city as its own character - it was stunningly done. I really wish there was a book two, because I’m not ready to leave this world.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
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