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Mothsblood
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26An ambitious alchemist must uncover her university's dark secrets while trying to escape from her mysterious past in this electrifying debut.
On a rain-soaked night in modern-day Paris, Larkspur Lee and her academic rivals find themselves at the center of an impossible crime-the murder of their university's headmistress, the immortal Petronelle Flamel.
In the aftermath of Flamel's death, the school devolves into chaos. The mysterious investigator assigned to the case, Violaine, believes a cult known as the Promethean Genesis is responsible for Flamel's murder. But Lark, who knows all too well what kind of horrors that the Prometheans commit, will do anything to stay out of the cult's reach. Matters are complicated when the mentor she crossed an ocean and a continent to escape re-enters her life, enticing her to his side once again while secretly wielding an agenda of his own.
As the Prometheans' plans come to fruition and the university's dark history comes to light, Lark has no choice but to decide whether the power she desires is truly worth the price.
On a rain-soaked night in modern-day Paris, Larkspur Lee and her academic rivals find themselves at the center of an impossible crime-the murder of their university's headmistress, the immortal Petronelle Flamel.
In the aftermath of Flamel's death, the school devolves into chaos. The mysterious investigator assigned to the case, Violaine, believes a cult known as the Promethean Genesis is responsible for Flamel's murder. But Lark, who knows all too well what kind of horrors that the Prometheans commit, will do anything to stay out of the cult's reach. Matters are complicated when the mentor she crossed an ocean and a continent to escape re-enters her life, enticing her to his side once again while secretly wielding an agenda of his own.
As the Prometheans' plans come to fruition and the university's dark history comes to light, Lark has no choice but to decide whether the power she desires is truly worth the price.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Lynn D. Jung
2 books189 followersLynn D. Jung is a speculative fiction writer from southern California. She has since dwelled in France, Costa Rica, and Thailand, but she is currently based in the Midwest.
Lynn loves to write about complex women, haunted scenery, and strange magic. You can find her most often out amongst the trees or through the videos on her eponymous YouTube channel, where she discusses her writing and her publishing journey thus far.
Lynn loves to write about complex women, haunted scenery, and strange magic. You can find her most often out amongst the trees or through the videos on her eponymous YouTube channel, where she discusses her writing and her publishing journey thus far.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
April 10, 2026
Oh my god?????
Mothsblood is an utterly brilliant debut - truly, I am so blown away by Lynn’s ability to weave (or perhaps I shall say transform) syntax into something equal parts lyrical, heartrending, and transportive - Lynn took us to the heart of Paris with her lush descriptions of the cityscape.
When does the pursuit of knowledge become the pursuit of power?
This is the question that Mothsblood wrestles with, and it is the question that each character must separately contend with. It truly reads like a novels-length power struggle, casting a critical eye on elitism and power hierarchies within the institution of academia. It is almost disconcerting how the hunger for power transforms and alters individuals into something unrecognizable and even grotesque, and we are forced to watch as each character clamors over the others in a desperate bid to be the one to come out on top.
Mothsblood follows Larkspur Lee, who has traveled to Paris to attend Meurdrac, the world renowned institution for alchemical studies. Lark is an alchemist, and she plans on making her name in the world of alchemy known - what better way to do this than to win the contest for apprenticeship under Petronelle Flamel, one of the Deathless alchemists who have cheated death through the use of the Philosopher’s Stone?
However, immortality remains a fickle and imperfect science, and Lark soon finds herself in the middle of Petronelle’s murder investigation. Who killed Petronelle, and how? And why does Lark’s former mentor from California appear at the academy shortly after her death?
And most importantly, what is the price of ambition, and at what point does it become too steep?
Mothsblood is an utterly brilliant debut - truly, I am so blown away by Lynn’s ability to weave (or perhaps I shall say transform) syntax into something equal parts lyrical, heartrending, and transportive - Lynn took us to the heart of Paris with her lush descriptions of the cityscape.
When does the pursuit of knowledge become the pursuit of power?
This is the question that Mothsblood wrestles with, and it is the question that each character must separately contend with. It truly reads like a novels-length power struggle, casting a critical eye on elitism and power hierarchies within the institution of academia. It is almost disconcerting how the hunger for power transforms and alters individuals into something unrecognizable and even grotesque, and we are forced to watch as each character clamors over the others in a desperate bid to be the one to come out on top.
Mothsblood follows Larkspur Lee, who has traveled to Paris to attend Meurdrac, the world renowned institution for alchemical studies. Lark is an alchemist, and she plans on making her name in the world of alchemy known - what better way to do this than to win the contest for apprenticeship under Petronelle Flamel, one of the Deathless alchemists who have cheated death through the use of the Philosopher’s Stone?
However, immortality remains a fickle and imperfect science, and Lark soon finds herself in the middle of Petronelle’s murder investigation. Who killed Petronelle, and how? And why does Lark’s former mentor from California appear at the academy shortly after her death?
And most importantly, what is the price of ambition, and at what point does it become too steep?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
oh my buttery bagels
you are not ready
Stunning. full review when I have calmed down
you are not ready
Stunning. full review when I have calmed down
September 8, 2026
4,5⭐️
Ohhhh wow masterpiece de las academias con alquimia, transmutaciones etc etc
Me ha gustado mucho muchísimo. Lo oscura que es la prota?? Bffff perfecta, toma decisiones egoístas constantemente pero que es TAN REAL
La ambientación me parece otro de los puntos fuertes, esta súper lograda. Creo que lo peor puede ser que es algo complicado de entender al principio sobre todo, y hay cosas del sistema de alquimia que me hubiera gustado entender mejorrrr
Que sea lento es necesario porque los personajes tienen una construcción brutal. Ojo los trigger warnings, y les añadiría que tiene escenas un poco repugnantes. No llega a gore pero si que da repelus
Nosequemadecir, la trama ha trameado, todo bien hilado y con sentido sisisisisi
Lo único por lo que no pongo las 5 es por eso de que se hace a veces algo complicado y denso peeeero que es la vida sin complicaciones?
Epílogo OBLIGATORIO de leer 🖤
Ohhhh wow masterpiece de las academias con alquimia, transmutaciones etc etc
Me ha gustado mucho muchísimo. Lo oscura que es la prota?? Bffff perfecta, toma decisiones egoístas constantemente pero que es TAN REAL
La ambientación me parece otro de los puntos fuertes, esta súper lograda. Creo que lo peor puede ser que es algo complicado de entender al principio sobre todo, y hay cosas del sistema de alquimia que me hubiera gustado entender mejorrrr
Que sea lento es necesario porque los personajes tienen una construcción brutal. Ojo los trigger warnings, y les añadiría que tiene escenas un poco repugnantes. No llega a gore pero si que da repelus
Nosequemadecir, la trama ha trameado, todo bien hilado y con sentido sisisisisi
Lo único por lo que no pongo las 5 es por eso de que se hace a veces algo complicado y denso peeeero que es la vida sin complicaciones?
Epílogo OBLIGATORIO de leer 🖤
2026-releases
January 20, 2026Update: We have a cover reveal! The target audience being for those who loved Ninth House and Blood Over Bright Haven, oh my dark academia fantasy heart cannot be contained☕️🕯️🍂 If someone wants to slip an arc my way, I would not be mad about it🙏🏼
I've had my eyes on this since stumbling on Lynn D. Jung's WIP on Twitter/X. Have been following Jung's writing journey on YouTube ever since, and so excited we've reached this point!
I've had my eyes on this since stumbling on Lynn D. Jung's WIP on Twitter/X. Have been following Jung's writing journey on YouTube ever since, and so excited we've reached this point!
May 15, 2026
3.5 stars if I could (thanks goodreads 🙄)
I have very mixed feelings about Mothsblood, there’s a lot here that I really admired even though I’m not entirely sure it was 100% the book for me personally.
First of all, this book is DEEPLY character-driven. If you love messy protagonists and stories that really dig into the uglier sides of trauma, grief, obsession, and survival, I can absolutely see this hitting incredibly hard!! Lynn D. Jung clearly had a very specific vision for these characters and committed to it fully.
Lark especially is SUCH an interesting protagonist because she is not written to be easily lovable. She’s sharp-edged, guarded, selfish at times, angry, deeply affected by everything she’s been through, and the book never tries to smooth those traits over to make her more palatable. I actually really respected that. Her trauma feels woven into the way she thinks and reacts rather than existing as backstory decoration, which made her feel very real.
That said, I also think this was part of why I struggled to fully connect emotionally at times. Because the story is so tightly rooted in Lark’s perspective and inner world, some of the side characters ended up feeling less developed than I wanted them to be. Characters like Kareem and Violaine especially fascinated me, and I kept wishing we had a little more time with them outside of how Lark perceived them.
The writing itself is beautiful in a very dark, atmospheric way. The whole book has this heavy, almost suffocating tone that completely immerses you in the world and the emotional state of the characters. There’s a constant sense of tension and unease simmering underneath everything that I thought was really well done.
I think where the book slightly lost me was that sometimes the interpersonal dynamics and emotional subtext seemed to take precedence over plot momentum. Which is obviously intentional!!! But it did mean there were points where I felt more intellectually engaged than emotionally invested.
Still, even though this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can absolutely appreciate what the author was doing here. It’s ambitious, emotionally raw, and refreshingly uninterested in making its characters “easy.” I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books people either completely adore or bounce off hard.
Thank you to Lynn D. Jung, Cornerstone, and NetGalley for the eARC!
I have very mixed feelings about Mothsblood, there’s a lot here that I really admired even though I’m not entirely sure it was 100% the book for me personally.
First of all, this book is DEEPLY character-driven. If you love messy protagonists and stories that really dig into the uglier sides of trauma, grief, obsession, and survival, I can absolutely see this hitting incredibly hard!! Lynn D. Jung clearly had a very specific vision for these characters and committed to it fully.
Lark especially is SUCH an interesting protagonist because she is not written to be easily lovable. She’s sharp-edged, guarded, selfish at times, angry, deeply affected by everything she’s been through, and the book never tries to smooth those traits over to make her more palatable. I actually really respected that. Her trauma feels woven into the way she thinks and reacts rather than existing as backstory decoration, which made her feel very real.
That said, I also think this was part of why I struggled to fully connect emotionally at times. Because the story is so tightly rooted in Lark’s perspective and inner world, some of the side characters ended up feeling less developed than I wanted them to be. Characters like Kareem and Violaine especially fascinated me, and I kept wishing we had a little more time with them outside of how Lark perceived them.
The writing itself is beautiful in a very dark, atmospheric way. The whole book has this heavy, almost suffocating tone that completely immerses you in the world and the emotional state of the characters. There’s a constant sense of tension and unease simmering underneath everything that I thought was really well done.
I think where the book slightly lost me was that sometimes the interpersonal dynamics and emotional subtext seemed to take precedence over plot momentum. Which is obviously intentional!!! But it did mean there were points where I felt more intellectually engaged than emotionally invested.
Still, even though this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can absolutely appreciate what the author was doing here. It’s ambitious, emotionally raw, and refreshingly uninterested in making its characters “easy.” I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books people either completely adore or bounce off hard.
Thank you to Lynn D. Jung, Cornerstone, and NetGalley for the eARC!
February 24, 2026
Unfortunately I think I wasn’t the right reader for this book! The world building, set up, and magic based on Alchemy was true exciting and innovative. Even the dynamics that the school creates is fascinating and it was a very good take on the elitism and “social capital” necessary to make it through elitist institutions.
For some reason, I couldn’t get hooked on the story, and some aspects of the storyline were confusing for me. Thank you NetGalley and Cornerstone for the ARC.
For some reason, I couldn’t get hooked on the story, and some aspects of the storyline were confusing for me. Thank you NetGalley and Cornerstone for the ARC.
September 8, 2026
4.25 stars. Wow I am shocked that this is a debut novel. Incredibly lush and poignant writing. This is a dark academia fantasy that felt unique within the genre. We are thrown into the crowded, rainy streets of Paris and into a world renowned Parisian alchemical school of magic called Meurdrac. The headmistress is Petronelle Flamel, an undying magician with dark secrets, and we follow our main character Larkspur, who is incredibly complex and comes from a very dark past.
This book has everything you could want in a dark academia fantasy - the shadowy, eerie vibes, a murder mystery, a class competition, buried secrets, institutional corruption, abuse of power, and tons of moral ambiguity. Jung’s writing style was so immersive, I felt I was present within this story rather than watching it unfold from the outside. And I truly believe she nailed the moody atmospheric setting and developing a reader-character connection.
That being said, the plot itself at times had a choppy pace. It made it difficult to transition from scene to scene or connect different parts of the book together, which is the main reason this wasn’t a higher rating for me.
Overall, this was a really well-done debut. Please be aware that this book is quite dark and contains heavy subject matter, so check content triggers before reading: grooming of a minor, SA, coercive power, and significant drug and alcohol use.
This book has everything you could want in a dark academia fantasy - the shadowy, eerie vibes, a murder mystery, a class competition, buried secrets, institutional corruption, abuse of power, and tons of moral ambiguity. Jung’s writing style was so immersive, I felt I was present within this story rather than watching it unfold from the outside. And I truly believe she nailed the moody atmospheric setting and developing a reader-character connection.
That being said, the plot itself at times had a choppy pace. It made it difficult to transition from scene to scene or connect different parts of the book together, which is the main reason this wasn’t a higher rating for me.
Overall, this was a really well-done debut. Please be aware that this book is quite dark and contains heavy subject matter, so check content triggers before reading: grooming of a minor, SA, coercive power, and significant drug and alcohol use.
Read
September 3, 2026RTC
April 30, 2026
There’s no denying that this is beautifully written. Lynn D. Jung is an absolute wordsmith, crafting a rich, deeply immersive academic world layered with a dark, gothic atmosphere. Set in a modern-day Paris that somehow feels suspended in a bygone era, Mothsblood leans fully into its dark academia roots, complete with lectures, thesis work, and a tangible sense of intellectual obsession. If you want your dark academia to actually feel academic, this delivers. Entomology lovers especially will enjoy this.
I loved the alchemical university setting at Meurdrac and the intricate, well-researched worldbuilding. The integration of alchemical sciences into a contemporary setting was fascinating, and the inclusion of historical figures will be a treat for anyone familiar with the history of alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone. The atmosphere is easily one of the book’s strongest elements: moody, gothic, and almost suffocating at times.
Thematically, this explores identity, elitism in academia, the pursuit of knowledge, the abuse of power, blind ambition, and who ultimately pays the price for it. There’s also a sapphic romance subplot woven through the story, which I really enjoyed, but wish had been a little more developed.
That said, this is where my experience became more conflicted. The pacing felt inconsistent, and at times the heavy focus on atmosphere and verbose prose came at the expense of narrative momentum. I found it difficult to stay connected to both the plot and the characters, and certain threads were introduced with weight but never felt fully resolved (Petronelle’s journal, the automatons, and the contention between magic and alchemy).
The murder mystery initially hooked me with a compelling setup, but it seemed to resolve surprisingly early, which left the latter half of the book feeling somewhat directionless. I’m usually able to build theories about where a story is going, but here I felt a bit lost until the end. The final 15% was the most gripping part, finally delivering the tension and momentum I had been waiting for, though getting there was a struggle at times.
There is also this surreal, fever-dream quality to parts of the narrative. While likely intentional, it made it difficult to fully trust what was real or stay grounded in the story. Between alchemised substances, alcohol, hallucinations, mentions of black mould, and body horror, I often found myself questioning how reliable Lark was as a narrator.
Lark herself is a complex and flawed FMC, clearly shaped by her trauma and abuse. Her self-destructive coping mechanisms make her feel real and layered, but also, at times, difficult to like and root for. Outside of her dynamic with her mentor/abuser, which is one of the more developed and disturbing relationships, many of the side relationships felt underexplored, making it hard to form a deeper emotional connection with her peers, romantic interest, and teachers.
I do want to highlight that the eARC I received did not include content warnings, which significantly impacted my reading experience. I also could not find any listed on the author’s website either. Had I been aware beforehand, I likely would have made a different choice about picking it up. While I think the abusive relationship and its impact on Lark was handled well and realistically, the fawning and subsequent abuse were difficult to read.
There were aspects I genuinely loved, but ultimately this just wasn’t the right fit for me 💔 Despite my mixed feelings, I still think this is an incredibly strong debut. It is ambitious, atmospheric, and clearly written with a lot of care and intention. I can absolutely see this resonating with readers who love richly detailed dark academia, gothic fantasy, and morally complex characters, especially if you do not mind slower pacing and heavier subject matter.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers at Random House UK, Del Rey for the advanced copy!
Content Warnings: (mild spoilers)
I loved the alchemical university setting at Meurdrac and the intricate, well-researched worldbuilding. The integration of alchemical sciences into a contemporary setting was fascinating, and the inclusion of historical figures will be a treat for anyone familiar with the history of alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone. The atmosphere is easily one of the book’s strongest elements: moody, gothic, and almost suffocating at times.
Thematically, this explores identity, elitism in academia, the pursuit of knowledge, the abuse of power, blind ambition, and who ultimately pays the price for it. There’s also a sapphic romance subplot woven through the story, which I really enjoyed, but wish had been a little more developed.
That said, this is where my experience became more conflicted. The pacing felt inconsistent, and at times the heavy focus on atmosphere and verbose prose came at the expense of narrative momentum. I found it difficult to stay connected to both the plot and the characters, and certain threads were introduced with weight but never felt fully resolved (Petronelle’s journal, the automatons, and the contention between magic and alchemy).
The murder mystery initially hooked me with a compelling setup, but it seemed to resolve surprisingly early, which left the latter half of the book feeling somewhat directionless. I’m usually able to build theories about where a story is going, but here I felt a bit lost until the end. The final 15% was the most gripping part, finally delivering the tension and momentum I had been waiting for, though getting there was a struggle at times.
There is also this surreal, fever-dream quality to parts of the narrative. While likely intentional, it made it difficult to fully trust what was real or stay grounded in the story. Between alchemised substances, alcohol, hallucinations, mentions of black mould, and body horror, I often found myself questioning how reliable Lark was as a narrator.
Lark herself is a complex and flawed FMC, clearly shaped by her trauma and abuse. Her self-destructive coping mechanisms make her feel real and layered, but also, at times, difficult to like and root for. Outside of her dynamic with her mentor/abuser, which is one of the more developed and disturbing relationships, many of the side relationships felt underexplored, making it hard to form a deeper emotional connection with her peers, romantic interest, and teachers.
I do want to highlight that the eARC I received did not include content warnings, which significantly impacted my reading experience. I also could not find any listed on the author’s website either. Had I been aware beforehand, I likely would have made a different choice about picking it up. While I think the abusive relationship and its impact on Lark was handled well and realistically, the fawning and subsequent abuse were difficult to read.
There were aspects I genuinely loved, but ultimately this just wasn’t the right fit for me 💔 Despite my mixed feelings, I still think this is an incredibly strong debut. It is ambitious, atmospheric, and clearly written with a lot of care and intention. I can absolutely see this resonating with readers who love richly detailed dark academia, gothic fantasy, and morally complex characters, especially if you do not mind slower pacing and heavier subject matter.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers at Random House UK, Del Rey for the advanced copy!
Content Warnings: (mild spoilers)
August 5, 2026
Soul shattering, haunting and beautifully flawed, Moothsblood is the kind of book that leaves a lasting impression.
Our FMC is complex and hard to grasp at times, but she has so many layers to her that explain the precise nature of her character. I felt her unease and confusion so clearly through her contradicting actions, and it kept me invested in her character because I was desperate to understand why she was the way she was.
Moothsblood is about dismantling a system that is wrong on so many levels. It’s a journey of discovery, where we, alongside the main character, find out just how wrong our perception was towards the magical system and the hierarchy within it.
The ending was phenomenal. Full of tension, secrets that are revealed and rage that makes us boil, and, amidst it all, a quiet yet very persistent love that was there all along. In absolute awe with the way this story unfolded and with where it brought us readers at the end.
Tears were shed. Hearts were broken and chests were left hollowed out, a feeling that can only be experienced when an incredible story comes to an end.
Our FMC is complex and hard to grasp at times, but she has so many layers to her that explain the precise nature of her character. I felt her unease and confusion so clearly through her contradicting actions, and it kept me invested in her character because I was desperate to understand why she was the way she was.
Moothsblood is about dismantling a system that is wrong on so many levels. It’s a journey of discovery, where we, alongside the main character, find out just how wrong our perception was towards the magical system and the hierarchy within it.
The ending was phenomenal. Full of tension, secrets that are revealed and rage that makes us boil, and, amidst it all, a quiet yet very persistent love that was there all along. In absolute awe with the way this story unfolded and with where it brought us readers at the end.
Tears were shed. Hearts were broken and chests were left hollowed out, a feeling that can only be experienced when an incredible story comes to an end.
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026DNF at 35%
I tried my best... Sadly after reading so much I still had no real connection or emotional attachment to story and characters. Mothsblood is character driven story in climatic Paris that is the cradle of alchemy.
My biggest issue was writing - use of (too many) metaphors, very flowery descriptions with narration written in past tense gave such weird mix! I understand that this was attempt to made atmosphere more "french", gothic, mysterious and magical, but for me it clearly missed the mark.
What stole my heart? Each scene where alchemy was put into use it felt more than just magical and I really loved read these paragraphs - one of the most interesting parts of the story!
I am not saying this book is bad, just doesn't fit my tastes and looking at other reviews I can tell other people will give it love it deserves!
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review
I tried my best... Sadly after reading so much I still had no real connection or emotional attachment to story and characters. Mothsblood is character driven story in climatic Paris that is the cradle of alchemy.
My biggest issue was writing - use of (too many) metaphors, very flowery descriptions with narration written in past tense gave such weird mix! I understand that this was attempt to made atmosphere more "french", gothic, mysterious and magical, but for me it clearly missed the mark.
What stole my heart? Each scene where alchemy was put into use it felt more than just magical and I really loved read these paragraphs - one of the most interesting parts of the story!
I am not saying this book is bad, just doesn't fit my tastes and looking at other reviews I can tell other people will give it love it deserves!
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review
August 8, 2026
2.5⭐️
I honestly don’t even know how to coherently formulate my thoughts, what a whirlwind of a book, of a story.
In this debut, we follow an alchemist that find herself in the middle of a murder at her university. Where a dark with dark secrets past resurfaces & entangle itself in the present.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some things that I enjoyed, and while also thinking it might not 100% be the book for me. Our FMC is an unlikeable character, it was hard for me to form an opinion on her.
One of the biggest things that was hard for me, is that it was difficult to connect to the story and characters, and found myself confused and lost a lot. For a standalone, there were also quite a lot of plot holes and things left unanswered (the moths being a major one!), which frustrated me in the end.
This story is definitely intriguing and will leave you guessing for the entirety of the journey. It is dark & twisted, and oh so gothic and dark-academia coded! Which I did enjoy.
With all of that being said, it may not have been the perfect fit for me, but I do appreciate the author’s depth that she put into this story and the details for the alchemy-based magic set up.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bloomsbury for the earc and the chance to read this book early 🫶
I honestly don’t even know how to coherently formulate my thoughts, what a whirlwind of a book, of a story.
In this debut, we follow an alchemist that find herself in the middle of a murder at her university. Where a dark with dark secrets past resurfaces & entangle itself in the present.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some things that I enjoyed, and while also thinking it might not 100% be the book for me. Our FMC is an unlikeable character, it was hard for me to form an opinion on her.
One of the biggest things that was hard for me, is that it was difficult to connect to the story and characters, and found myself confused and lost a lot. For a standalone, there were also quite a lot of plot holes and things left unanswered (the moths being a major one!), which frustrated me in the end.
This story is definitely intriguing and will leave you guessing for the entirety of the journey. It is dark & twisted, and oh so gothic and dark-academia coded! Which I did enjoy.
With all of that being said, it may not have been the perfect fit for me, but I do appreciate the author’s depth that she put into this story and the details for the alchemy-based magic set up.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bloomsbury for the earc and the chance to read this book early 🫶
Read
June 2, 2026I really wanted to love this and I mostly did - it grappled with a lot of themes similar to RF Kuang's Katabasis and Babel, and was extremely atmospheric and eerie. Unpacked the unbalanced power structures of academia hidden within of universities and mentorships, picked at threads of misogyny, emotional manipulation and abuse, substance abuse, sexual violence, and how being 'the other' particularly the racial discrimination faced as a Korean in Paris, worked to unsettle and unseat our deeply problematic protagonist. I loved her at times (yay for messy bisexuals) but god she needed a break.
It was fascinating and I enjoyed the body horror inherent in the alchemy of it all - transformation big important vibe here - but I was disappointed by the momentum in the middle, where all our energy was sapped. Important context sadly did bog us down, and this felt long.
It was fascinating and I enjoyed the body horror inherent in the alchemy of it all - transformation big important vibe here - but I was disappointed by the momentum in the middle, where all our energy was sapped. Important context sadly did bog us down, and this felt long.
July 19, 2026
So an arc of this got sent to the store specifically for me, I’d never heard of it but it sounded interesting enough so I took it home, and ultimately I’m glad I did.
I am a huge sucker for urban/contemporary fantasy, and I appreciate when things billed as “dark academia” actually decide to interrogate the privileges academia is actually built on and isn’t just Sparkling Tweed, and this has both of those. The juxtaposition of the old world magic with the modern setting made for a fascinating atmosphere that I had a lot of fun getting immersed in. I looked forward to seeing what new and horribly magical thing the book was gonna throw at me next!
It was also an incredibly tough read for me personally, as it’s a lot of chapters of this ostensibly queer girl getting groomed and spiraling into self destruction while the aforementioned insular academic privilege closes in on her. It’s SUPPOSED to be icky but oof.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. There are a couple things I still wonder about so if the author wanted to write a sequel I’d read it, and I’ll also keep an eye out for whatever else she writes.
Also a quick note, the queerness was a bit of a pleasant surprise. As I read I was like “am I reading too much into this?” Especially since there is a scene of “girls getting it on at a party while I douchey guy is there like 👀” which made me roll my eyes, but by the end it’s abundantly clear that Lark is some kinda queer, even if exact labels aren’t used on page. Hell, I don’t think the character herself knows! Just that she loves this woman enough to want to move the world for her.
I am a huge sucker for urban/contemporary fantasy, and I appreciate when things billed as “dark academia” actually decide to interrogate the privileges academia is actually built on and isn’t just Sparkling Tweed, and this has both of those. The juxtaposition of the old world magic with the modern setting made for a fascinating atmosphere that I had a lot of fun getting immersed in. I looked forward to seeing what new and horribly magical thing the book was gonna throw at me next!
It was also an incredibly tough read for me personally, as it’s a lot of chapters of this ostensibly queer girl getting groomed and spiraling into self destruction while the aforementioned insular academic privilege closes in on her. It’s SUPPOSED to be icky but oof.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. There are a couple things I still wonder about so if the author wanted to write a sequel I’d read it, and I’ll also keep an eye out for whatever else she writes.
Also a quick note, the queerness was a bit of a pleasant surprise. As I read I was like “am I reading too much into this?” Especially since there is a scene of “girls getting it on at a party while I douchey guy is there like 👀” which made me roll my eyes, but by the end it’s abundantly clear that Lark is some kinda queer, even if exact labels aren’t used on page. Hell, I don’t think the character herself knows! Just that she loves this woman enough to want to move the world for her.
February 20, 2026
Review to come but GOD this was so good
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an Advanced Reader Copy.
Thank you to Random House UK and Lynn D. Jung for the opportunity to discover this story early in exchange for my honest review !
Mothsblood follows the path of Larkspur, a young Alchemy student fighting to find her place in a community corrupted by wealth and legacy. Despite being a one in a generation talent and brain, Lark quickly realized that the only way for it to be worth something in this world is to play the game. When her ticket to recognition gets murdered under her own nose and her past suddenly comes back to haunt her, what (and who) will she choose..?
"She's fairly certain she's about to die, something she never intended for herself, and it never occured to her until then that dying alone is a terrible fate."
"Lark is sick of people trying to help her, not when she cannot be saved."
RATING : 4/5.
This is one of those reviews which are kinda hard to write. I finished the book a couple days ago, I'm sitting at my computer, gathering my thoughts about it and no constructive criticism immediately jumps to me. Yet, it was not a five stars read. So how do I explain this ?
I personaly found Mothsblood to be quite character driven. Yes, there's a plotline building through the entire book and yes, it is major and quite interesting. Yet, I do not think you can appreciate said book if you're not willing to get to know its characters, especially Lark.
Lark is NOT your typical fantasy FMC. She's realer, she's uglier. She does have the usually traumatic backstory, and the author will show you exactly how that affected her. Reading through the early reviews, I saw a few people saying that the big revelation about what happened to Lark came too late for the reader to actually connect with her. I could not disagree more. I think her backstory is carefully and cleverly sprinkled through the story. I think you get the perfect amount of informations early enough to grasp the general idea of what Lark went through and that was enough to get me on her side. I loved that the author chose to do it in a way that felt aligned with her character. Lark is anything but someone who opens up easily or quickly. She is driven, hungry, selfish, sometimes mean, even to people who did not deserve it, but most of all she's guarded and I believe that's the key part of her. I'll say it, I firmly believe most of the discourse that might happen surrounding Lark will stem from deeply routed sexist thinking. If you hated Lark, ask yourself how you would have felt if she was written as a male character and... do with that what you will.
Maybe I would have liked to know a bit more about a few other characters, I'm thinking especially Kareem, Violaine and Victor. You really only see things through Lark's perspective and, well, you can't say Lark is much of a people person. I feel like their feelings and experiences of the story would have been a really interesting aspect to see but I also get that it was not the point the author was trying to make. While Lark was beautifully executed, maybe it took a bit too much from those side characters. Some, like Kareem and Violaine, I wanted to see more involved in the plot. Others (I obviously won't say who) had a big part to play but felt too underdevelopped for it to flow well. Some felt just kinda there, hi Sasha and Matthieu. Kang, in my opinion, was the perfect balance of page time and personal background for his part and relevance to the story.
Story wise, again, I liked it. It's well done. I will say though that you need to love diving into the psyche of the characters to enjoy this story to its full potential. There's a huge part of the plot that stem from a particular type of interpersonnal connection (which, again, I obviously won't name). If you often find yourself not caring that much about the dynamics between characters, Mothsblood is definitely not for you. The book is being marketed as a Dark Academia and while, yes, it definitely is, I'm worried some people could go in with the wrong expectations... I think Alchemy and more generally Academia are a tiny bit less central than I was led to believe based off the book description. Actually, I do not think that the blurb (or any reviews really) manage to capture exactly the essence of Mothsblood. That was not something I minded, I even believe it to be the sign of both a complex story and cleverness (can you tell I'm exhausted to have every tiny trope written out in a book promo?). Still, it might be a little jarring to readers going in with clear and set expectations, you just have to open yourself up to the story and to Jung's words. I do not know how to describe it other than Mothsblood reads like a book from another era of publishing, before the tropification and tiktokification of books, stories and writing. I loved the writing in this.
So, why is it not 5 stars ? Guys, I have no fucking idea. All I can say is that it had everything to make me fall in love with it, I just didn't. May I say that it's not the book, it's me..? I feel like it might be me. I definitely think that you should give it a try. Please, remember that no review can replace the personal experience of reading, and the most meaningful opinion you can form is the one you build for yourself!
Thank you to Random House UK and Lynn D. Jung for the opportunity to discover this story early in exchange for my honest review !
Mothsblood follows the path of Larkspur, a young Alchemy student fighting to find her place in a community corrupted by wealth and legacy. Despite being a one in a generation talent and brain, Lark quickly realized that the only way for it to be worth something in this world is to play the game. When her ticket to recognition gets murdered under her own nose and her past suddenly comes back to haunt her, what (and who) will she choose..?
"She's fairly certain she's about to die, something she never intended for herself, and it never occured to her until then that dying alone is a terrible fate."
"Lark is sick of people trying to help her, not when she cannot be saved."
RATING : 4/5.
This is one of those reviews which are kinda hard to write. I finished the book a couple days ago, I'm sitting at my computer, gathering my thoughts about it and no constructive criticism immediately jumps to me. Yet, it was not a five stars read. So how do I explain this ?
I personaly found Mothsblood to be quite character driven. Yes, there's a plotline building through the entire book and yes, it is major and quite interesting. Yet, I do not think you can appreciate said book if you're not willing to get to know its characters, especially Lark.
Lark is NOT your typical fantasy FMC. She's realer, she's uglier. She does have the usually traumatic backstory, and the author will show you exactly how that affected her. Reading through the early reviews, I saw a few people saying that the big revelation about what happened to Lark came too late for the reader to actually connect with her. I could not disagree more. I think her backstory is carefully and cleverly sprinkled through the story. I think you get the perfect amount of informations early enough to grasp the general idea of what Lark went through and that was enough to get me on her side. I loved that the author chose to do it in a way that felt aligned with her character. Lark is anything but someone who opens up easily or quickly. She is driven, hungry, selfish, sometimes mean, even to people who did not deserve it, but most of all she's guarded and I believe that's the key part of her. I'll say it, I firmly believe most of the discourse that might happen surrounding Lark will stem from deeply routed sexist thinking. If you hated Lark, ask yourself how you would have felt if she was written as a male character and... do with that what you will.
Maybe I would have liked to know a bit more about a few other characters, I'm thinking especially Kareem, Violaine and Victor. You really only see things through Lark's perspective and, well, you can't say Lark is much of a people person. I feel like their feelings and experiences of the story would have been a really interesting aspect to see but I also get that it was not the point the author was trying to make. While Lark was beautifully executed, maybe it took a bit too much from those side characters. Some, like Kareem and Violaine, I wanted to see more involved in the plot. Others (I obviously won't say who) had a big part to play but felt too underdevelopped for it to flow well. Some felt just kinda there, hi Sasha and Matthieu. Kang, in my opinion, was the perfect balance of page time and personal background for his part and relevance to the story.
Story wise, again, I liked it. It's well done. I will say though that you need to love diving into the psyche of the characters to enjoy this story to its full potential. There's a huge part of the plot that stem from a particular type of interpersonnal connection (which, again, I obviously won't name). If you often find yourself not caring that much about the dynamics between characters, Mothsblood is definitely not for you. The book is being marketed as a Dark Academia and while, yes, it definitely is, I'm worried some people could go in with the wrong expectations... I think Alchemy and more generally Academia are a tiny bit less central than I was led to believe based off the book description. Actually, I do not think that the blurb (or any reviews really) manage to capture exactly the essence of Mothsblood. That was not something I minded, I even believe it to be the sign of both a complex story and cleverness (can you tell I'm exhausted to have every tiny trope written out in a book promo?). Still, it might be a little jarring to readers going in with clear and set expectations, you just have to open yourself up to the story and to Jung's words. I do not know how to describe it other than Mothsblood reads like a book from another era of publishing, before the tropification and tiktokification of books, stories and writing. I loved the writing in this.
So, why is it not 5 stars ? Guys, I have no fucking idea. All I can say is that it had everything to make me fall in love with it, I just didn't. May I say that it's not the book, it's me..? I feel like it might be me. I definitely think that you should give it a try. Please, remember that no review can replace the personal experience of reading, and the most meaningful opinion you can form is the one you build for yourself!
February 7, 2026
Screaming crying throwing up, I can't wait for this story to come out!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Empezar septiembre con un buen dark academia siempre es un plus. Gracias a la editorial, he tenido la oportunidad de leerlo antes de su publicación. Estamos ante una novela ambientada en París, con personajes muy grises, que no necesariamente caen bien, con secretos y misterios por resolver.
Una de las cosas que más he disfrutado de esta historia ha sido la pluma de la autora. Lo bonito que escribe y cómo transmite en cada página. Por el otro lado, el ambiente oscuro de París está tan bien logrado, que sin duda ha sido lo MEJOR de la novela. Ha conseguido que forme parte de la historia (aunque lo haya leído a 30 grados...).
Sin embargo, la historia en sí, no me ha acabado de convencer y tampoco su conclusión. Aunque la autora asienta las bases toda la novela, he sentido que me faltaba un próposito para ese final, del que esperaba algún giro. Lo he encontrado un tanto precipitado, aunque se resuelven los misterios planetados en la novela.
Si os gusta el dark academia, con personajes complejos, creo que esta historia no os dejará indiferentes.
Una de las cosas que más he disfrutado de esta historia ha sido la pluma de la autora. Lo bonito que escribe y cómo transmite en cada página. Por el otro lado, el ambiente oscuro de París está tan bien logrado, que sin duda ha sido lo MEJOR de la novela. Ha conseguido que forme parte de la historia (aunque lo haya leído a 30 grados...).
Sin embargo, la historia en sí, no me ha acabado de convencer y tampoco su conclusión. Aunque la autora asienta las bases toda la novela, he sentido que me faltaba un próposito para ese final, del que esperaba algún giro. Lo he encontrado un tanto precipitado, aunque se resuelven los misterios planetados en la novela.
Si os gusta el dark academia, con personajes complejos, creo que esta historia no os dejará indiferentes.
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars.
Mothsblood is beautifully written and I'd absolutely continue reading more from Lynn D. Jung. That dark academia, eerie atmosphere is exactly my thing.
What worked for me:
1. Lark. She felt like a genuinely believable FMC in her 20s, not perfect, just responding to her environment the best she can. That kind of flawed, human main character is hard to pull off and to root for.
2. The writing itself. Beautifully written, tbh, it's what's making me want to pick up whatever this author writes next.
What didn't work for me:
1. This was much darker than I expected, in terms of both the themes and some of the interpersonal relationships. There were moments that felt genuinely heavy, and tbh I struggled with some of what was being explored.
Still, I really enjoyed this overall, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Lynn D. Jung.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the listening copy!
Mothsblood is beautifully written and I'd absolutely continue reading more from Lynn D. Jung. That dark academia, eerie atmosphere is exactly my thing.
What worked for me:
1. Lark. She felt like a genuinely believable FMC in her 20s, not perfect, just responding to her environment the best she can. That kind of flawed, human main character is hard to pull off and to root for.
2. The writing itself. Beautifully written, tbh, it's what's making me want to pick up whatever this author writes next.
What didn't work for me:
1. This was much darker than I expected, in terms of both the themes and some of the interpersonal relationships. There were moments that felt genuinely heavy, and tbh I struggled with some of what was being explored.
Still, I really enjoyed this overall, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Lynn D. Jung.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the listening copy!
September 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book.
There was a lot of good about Mothsblood. The world was interesting, the writing was strong and incredibly atmospheric without being over descriptive, and characters were multilayered. However, many things also didn’t line up for me. Whilst the premise of the world was interesting, there were many gaps and I never fully understood how or why alchemy / magic worked, or had changed things. I also didn’t really care about any of the characters. They were well written, I just couldn’t connect to any of them. Add this to the fact that the plot seemed both overly complicated and like it wasn’t going anywhere, and you can see why I ultimately just didn’t really care about the ending. It is very character driven, which I usually love, and this makes it even sadder that I didn’t connect.
Definitely The Atlas Six style vibes (which I also wasn’t really a fan of) - if you enjoyed that trilogy this might be to your taste more than it was to mine.
There was a lot of good about Mothsblood. The world was interesting, the writing was strong and incredibly atmospheric without being over descriptive, and characters were multilayered. However, many things also didn’t line up for me. Whilst the premise of the world was interesting, there were many gaps and I never fully understood how or why alchemy / magic worked, or had changed things. I also didn’t really care about any of the characters. They were well written, I just couldn’t connect to any of them. Add this to the fact that the plot seemed both overly complicated and like it wasn’t going anywhere, and you can see why I ultimately just didn’t really care about the ending. It is very character driven, which I usually love, and this makes it even sadder that I didn’t connect.
Definitely The Atlas Six style vibes (which I also wasn’t really a fan of) - if you enjoyed that trilogy this might be to your taste more than it was to mine.
Read
August 13, 2026This book was honestly a great debut novel. It had a mystery element as well as the academia part of it. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and how we figured out everyone's secret. I would really recommend this for people who want a book with a murder mystery element in it.
August 15, 2026
This was a really good dark academia. The prose is beautiful but very dense and cerebral. The plot is complex and richly woven mixing history, magic and mystery. I really enjoyed this read.
September 9, 2026
ohhhh this was such a fantastic debut!!!!! the characters were flawed beyond belief, the story was haunting and had me invested while the atmosphere made me feel like i was stuck in a rainstorm that won't let up. UGH. IT WAS SO GOOD. i also couldn't help but think that 'mothsblood' is a long lost cousin of both 'modern divination' and 'katabasis,' there's bits of both books strewn throughout 'mothsblood' but it still holds up as its own story. there's so much jam packed into this book but lynn d. jung does such an amazing job at keeping everything succinct and mesh together without getting tangled. BUT! my only complaint is the confusion i got from the current story and occasional flashback scenes but again! that's my only complaint! otherwise this was a STUNNING DEBUT!
big thank you to libro.fm for an ALC of this release! <3
big thank you to libro.fm for an ALC of this release! <3
April 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC of this book.
The premise of this book was great and so intriguing, however the execution was a bit choppy and chaotic. I couldn’t really grasp Lark’s bitchiness, towards characters like Kareem and Céline, while I understand the intentions, her character just lacked the ability to channel this and made her seem childish (from her own words) throughout a lot of the book.
The alchemy components though were well thought out and gave a great gothic element to the story.
The ending was probably my favourite part, it was perfectly paced, well executed, while slightly predictable, it was a great end to an otherwise slightly above average book.
The premise of this book was great and so intriguing, however the execution was a bit choppy and chaotic. I couldn’t really grasp Lark’s bitchiness, towards characters like Kareem and Céline, while I understand the intentions, her character just lacked the ability to channel this and made her seem childish (from her own words) throughout a lot of the book.
The alchemy components though were well thought out and gave a great gothic element to the story.
The ending was probably my favourite part, it was perfectly paced, well executed, while slightly predictable, it was a great end to an otherwise slightly above average book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreya... )
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS!!! What a delicious dark academia this was!
Lark fled from her manipulative and controlling mentor to Paris. She attends Meurdrac, a famous alchemical university, and strives to become an apprentice of a Deathless--an immortal--hoping that this position and access to the philosopher's stone can set her free from her mentor. But someone dies, and they are all thrust into the investigation that takes a turn when Lark's mentor, Victor, arrives to Paris, also striving to become a Deathless.
This is a delicious and decadent dark academia with an abusive mentor who is an awful human being and a woman who struggles to set herself free. She isn't flawless nor is she an innocent. She uses any means necessary to meet her goal because she is playing at a rigged game where influence and legacy opens door. She is a survivor who wants freedom. It isn't easy and it takes a while for her to get there, but she does. She fights back and she regains herself, her identity, her hopes, and her dreams.
The Knight who investigtes is a love interest, and I love how she was portrayed: blunt, striking, and with muscles. I'd have a crush on her, too, Lark, so don't despair.
Truly, this book took me by surprise. I absolutely loved it when I wasn't sure whether I'd like it or not. It is compelling and nuance, and it is how they promote it. Themes like survivor's guilt, surviving an abusive environment, mental health, alcohol and drug using, as well sexism and racism are all flawlessly woven into the story. I am in awe of the author seeing as this is a debut!!
A top read of recent years, no doubt about it! Cannot wait for my special edition to come!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS!!! What a delicious dark academia this was!
Lark fled from her manipulative and controlling mentor to Paris. She attends Meurdrac, a famous alchemical university, and strives to become an apprentice of a Deathless--an immortal--hoping that this position and access to the philosopher's stone can set her free from her mentor. But someone dies, and they are all thrust into the investigation that takes a turn when Lark's mentor, Victor, arrives to Paris, also striving to become a Deathless.
This is a delicious and decadent dark academia with an abusive mentor who is an awful human being and a woman who struggles to set herself free. She isn't flawless nor is she an innocent. She uses any means necessary to meet her goal because she is playing at a rigged game where influence and legacy opens door. She is a survivor who wants freedom. It isn't easy and it takes a while for her to get there, but she does. She fights back and she regains herself, her identity, her hopes, and her dreams.
The Knight who investigtes is a love interest, and I love how she was portrayed: blunt, striking, and with muscles. I'd have a crush on her, too, Lark, so don't despair.
Truly, this book took me by surprise. I absolutely loved it when I wasn't sure whether I'd like it or not. It is compelling and nuance, and it is how they promote it. Themes like survivor's guilt, surviving an abusive environment, mental health, alcohol and drug using, as well sexism and racism are all flawlessly woven into the story. I am in awe of the author seeing as this is a debut!!
A top read of recent years, no doubt about it! Cannot wait for my special edition to come!
September 22, 2026
3.5 🌟
The only way I can truly describe this book is that it is a whirlwind. Maybe even a drug induced fever dream
This book was not what I was expecting, and not necessarily in a good or bad way. There were parts I really enjoyed and others that didn’t really hit for me. It’s definitely a very dark read & I advise you to check your trigger warnings before reading — specifically grooming and drug use, which are very prevalent in this
I was really hooked in the beginning. An academic institution for alchemists, rebellious students on psychedelics, and a murder mystery had me really intrigued and from there things spiraled a little out of control and I had a hard time differentiating between what was real and what was a hallucination—which I’m not sure I still fully comprehend
I did enjoy the character development in this book and the imperfections of the characters we encounter. They’re real and raw and make poor decisions that make you want to shake them but I’d prefer that over a perfect and polished character any day.
I also thought the dynamic of the power men hold, especially men with prestige was painfully relevant. How they get away with anything because of the power they hold and how they influence young women because of their status
I was waiting for a bigger “aha” moment or revelation than what we got. I don’t think the ending was bad, per say but it just wasn’t that satisfying either
The only way I can truly describe this book is that it is a whirlwind. Maybe even a drug induced fever dream
This book was not what I was expecting, and not necessarily in a good or bad way. There were parts I really enjoyed and others that didn’t really hit for me. It’s definitely a very dark read & I advise you to check your trigger warnings before reading — specifically grooming and drug use, which are very prevalent in this
I was really hooked in the beginning. An academic institution for alchemists, rebellious students on psychedelics, and a murder mystery had me really intrigued and from there things spiraled a little out of control and I had a hard time differentiating between what was real and what was a hallucination—which I’m not sure I still fully comprehend
I did enjoy the character development in this book and the imperfections of the characters we encounter. They’re real and raw and make poor decisions that make you want to shake them but I’d prefer that over a perfect and polished character any day.
I also thought the dynamic of the power men hold, especially men with prestige was painfully relevant. How they get away with anything because of the power they hold and how they influence young women because of their status
I was waiting for a bigger “aha” moment or revelation than what we got. I don’t think the ending was bad, per say but it just wasn’t that satisfying either
May 13, 2026
This was such an atmospheric and intriguing debut. The dark academia setting in modern-day Paris was one of my favorite parts of the book, it felt moody, immersive, and full of secrets, which perfectly matched the mystery surrounding the murder of the headmistress. I especially enjoyed the alchemy elements and the layered university politics, which made the world feel unique and compelling.
Lark was an interesting main character, and I liked following her as she navigated her complicated past, dangerous secrets, and morally gray choices. Her internal conflict about power, ambition, and who she can trust added a lot of depth to the story. The mystery kept me invested, and I appreciated how the darker aspects of the plot slowly unraveled over time.
My only reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is that some parts felt a little dense, particularly with the lore and pacing in certain sections, which occasionally slowed the momentum for me. But overall, this was a strong debut with an original premise, rich atmosphere, and plenty of twists. Definitely a great pick for readers who love dark academia, secret societies, and fantasy with mystery elements.
Lark was an interesting main character, and I liked following her as she navigated her complicated past, dangerous secrets, and morally gray choices. Her internal conflict about power, ambition, and who she can trust added a lot of depth to the story. The mystery kept me invested, and I appreciated how the darker aspects of the plot slowly unraveled over time.
My only reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is that some parts felt a little dense, particularly with the lore and pacing in certain sections, which occasionally slowed the momentum for me. But overall, this was a strong debut with an original premise, rich atmosphere, and plenty of twists. Definitely a great pick for readers who love dark academia, secret societies, and fantasy with mystery elements.
August 28, 2026
Mothsblood is a brilliant debut, the story is well weaved with a MC that is complex and flawed it left me not knowing where she would end up and unsure of what I actually wanted her outcome to be.
The story has a dark tint to it edges that I enjoyed, while it has vibes of Blood Over Haven its very much its own story.
There's plenty of tension throughout and you get a real sense for the injustice of the situations through the MC eyes. She's really been through the ringer and its left her sharp but also a little damaged and I like that the author did not shy away from the effects this would actually have on their character. It made it feel more real, and yes she made some bad decisions but I think that really added to the whole self destruction element she was clearly trying to battle through.
Over all I really enjoyed this one. The ending was satisfying, I maybe would have liked a bit of a darker ending but that's just my tastes.
Thank you so much to Del Rey for gifting me an arc copy of this.
The story has a dark tint to it edges that I enjoyed, while it has vibes of Blood Over Haven its very much its own story.
There's plenty of tension throughout and you get a real sense for the injustice of the situations through the MC eyes. She's really been through the ringer and its left her sharp but also a little damaged and I like that the author did not shy away from the effects this would actually have on their character. It made it feel more real, and yes she made some bad decisions but I think that really added to the whole self destruction element she was clearly trying to battle through.
Over all I really enjoyed this one. The ending was satisfying, I maybe would have liked a bit of a darker ending but that's just my tastes.
Thank you so much to Del Rey for gifting me an arc copy of this.
September 4, 2026
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
I enjoyed Mothsblood, for the most part. This story is an alchemy-centered dark academia set in a secret school in Paris, and I really liked the premise. I love when dark academia books feel academic - classes, research, a thesis, the stress of academia. All of it was there. Lark’s research was really cool to read about. Lark is probably going to be a polarizing main character; she’s quite unlikeable and has her issues, but I found her interesting.
At the center of this story is a murder mystery, which I found compelling. However, this mystery wrapped up surprisingly early and the story did a major switch up. For me it floundered a bit in the second half. I was annoyed and confused by Lark’s wishy washiness when it came to her abusive mentor, and I thought for a bit it was going off the rails. But, everything came back on track and the conclusion landed well. I especially liked the prologue. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
I enjoyed Mothsblood, for the most part. This story is an alchemy-centered dark academia set in a secret school in Paris, and I really liked the premise. I love when dark academia books feel academic - classes, research, a thesis, the stress of academia. All of it was there. Lark’s research was really cool to read about. Lark is probably going to be a polarizing main character; she’s quite unlikeable and has her issues, but I found her interesting.
At the center of this story is a murder mystery, which I found compelling. However, this mystery wrapped up surprisingly early and the story did a major switch up. For me it floundered a bit in the second half. I was annoyed and confused by Lark’s wishy washiness when it came to her abusive mentor, and I thought for a bit it was going off the rails. But, everything came back on track and the conclusion landed well. I especially liked the prologue. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Did Not Finish
September 16, 2026Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for my taste in the end 🤗
I did DNF this 50% in. I enjoyed Lynn’s writing and the first few chapters of the book where we are introduced to the plot and characters of the book.
However unfortunately I did find myself getting lost in the plot and the pacing was a bit too slow.
I did DNF this 50% in. I enjoyed Lynn’s writing and the first few chapters of the book where we are introduced to the plot and characters of the book.
However unfortunately I did find myself getting lost in the plot and the pacing was a bit too slow.
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