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Endymion College #1
A Lesson in Love and Death
Anna James dreamed of only two things in life: to read books and to not die.
The day she is offered a scholarship to study literature at the beautiful, exclusive and gothic Endymion College is the happiest day of her life, but soon after arrival, Anna finds it is nothing like the brochure.
Instantly thrust into a dangerous conspiracy, sent to live in a haunted dormitory with a captivating rival, Anna struggles to keep control of her only chance at a better life and to maintain her already tenuous grip on reality.
Things soon go from bad to worse when a séance goes awry, and finding herself pursued by a terrifying spectre, Anna finds comfort and a kindred spirit in her professor of literature: young, devastatingly handsome and completely off-limits.
Anna must find a way to fight both her desire and a relentless supernatural force out for blood, all while completing her work on time to hold on to her precious scholarship.
Darkly humorous, crushingly awkward, deeply romantic, Endymion College: A Lesson in Love and Death is a celebration of the books we love and an action-packed, supernatural, feminist, horror story all rolled into one.
The day she is offered a scholarship to study literature at the beautiful, exclusive and gothic Endymion College is the happiest day of her life, but soon after arrival, Anna finds it is nothing like the brochure.
Instantly thrust into a dangerous conspiracy, sent to live in a haunted dormitory with a captivating rival, Anna struggles to keep control of her only chance at a better life and to maintain her already tenuous grip on reality.
Things soon go from bad to worse when a séance goes awry, and finding herself pursued by a terrifying spectre, Anna finds comfort and a kindred spirit in her professor of literature: young, devastatingly handsome and completely off-limits.
Anna must find a way to fight both her desire and a relentless supernatural force out for blood, all while completing her work on time to hold on to her precious scholarship.
Darkly humorous, crushingly awkward, deeply romantic, Endymion College: A Lesson in Love and Death is a celebration of the books we love and an action-packed, supernatural, feminist, horror story all rolled into one.
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2022
63 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
About the author
W.H. Lockwood
16 books102 followersAuthor of the Endymion College series, W. H. Lockwood writes gothic romance, MM action-romance, historical fiction, dark academia and cosy horror.
Raised on a diet of teen horror books and Pepsi, only willing to leave her den to attend chess club at public school, W.H. Lockwood started writing at a young age and has kept this passion throughout her life.
Always a voracious reader, she obtained an undergraduate degree in literary studies from a gorgeous sandstone university, following that with a masters in publishing and editing, then a masters in astronomy, thus uniting her two great loves of the arts and science, leaving her utterly unqualified to cope with the real world.
These days, W.H. Lockwood can often be found aimlessly wandering the coffee shops and bookstores of the beautiful city she calls home.
Raised on a diet of teen horror books and Pepsi, only willing to leave her den to attend chess club at public school, W.H. Lockwood started writing at a young age and has kept this passion throughout her life.
Always a voracious reader, she obtained an undergraduate degree in literary studies from a gorgeous sandstone university, following that with a masters in publishing and editing, then a masters in astronomy, thus uniting her two great loves of the arts and science, leaving her utterly unqualified to cope with the real world.
These days, W.H. Lockwood can often be found aimlessly wandering the coffee shops and bookstores of the beautiful city she calls home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 30, 2022
Anna is getting to live her dream – she was accepted on scholarship to Endymion College where she dreams of meeting other bookish people and starting a new life. But when she arrives, she’s given a mysterious key to her just-as-mysterious room, which she soon realizes is home to a ghost. When she makes a couple of acquaintances and they attempt a séance, Anna is left with more questions than answers and finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening struggle for the truth.
I had high hopes for this work but was unfortunately disappointed. It begins with great setting descriptions, and I began to find myself immersed in the setting, but that didn’t last long and there was nothing to take its place. The author did do a good job at writing the spooky/scary scenes – there was some good tension and buildup at the beginning of the work relating to the supernatural that was enjoyable. But the negatives of this book completely overwhelmed these few positive things.
This work needs to be edited. There were many typos and errors throughout, but on top of that, the writing was often awkward. There were long chunks of dialogue with zero dialogue tags (e.g., no “she said, he exclaimed, she sighed, he shouted, etc.). This was not only awkward but made the dialogue completely devoid of any emotion. There was a lot of dialogue in the work, so unfortunately, a lot of the work just felt bland because of this. There were way too many run-on sentences. In many places, the same sentence structure was used too often and too close together (for one example, there was a section where seven sentences in a row began with the same word).
The characters left much to be desired. Anna wasn’t likeable or written in a way that was relatable. All of the characters felt flat and underdeveloped, and there was no real character growth throughout the book. The romance was awfully written and, since it turned out to be the major focus of the work, it completely detracted from the plot and the horror. There were also several instances of plot-induced stupidity that were very frustrating, including with the whole misunderstanding Anna had relating to two other characters. It was painfully obvious what the truth was, but she remained oblivious. The work also claims to be a feminist story, but that did not come through at all, other than that were two female characters who got a lot of page time.
Also, there were some aspects of this work that were quite absurd. One example: this is supposed to be a realistic setting, but apparently the characters believed that all churches are supposed to have ancient texts, mysterious relics, artifacts, and clergy who regularly perform exorcisms.
I was really disappointed by this read. I think if it underwent some major editing/reworking, it could be an interesting gothic horror. But as it is, I can’t recommend it to anyone. My thanks to BookSirens for letting me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I had high hopes for this work but was unfortunately disappointed. It begins with great setting descriptions, and I began to find myself immersed in the setting, but that didn’t last long and there was nothing to take its place. The author did do a good job at writing the spooky/scary scenes – there was some good tension and buildup at the beginning of the work relating to the supernatural that was enjoyable. But the negatives of this book completely overwhelmed these few positive things.
This work needs to be edited. There were many typos and errors throughout, but on top of that, the writing was often awkward. There were long chunks of dialogue with zero dialogue tags (e.g., no “she said, he exclaimed, she sighed, he shouted, etc.). This was not only awkward but made the dialogue completely devoid of any emotion. There was a lot of dialogue in the work, so unfortunately, a lot of the work just felt bland because of this. There were way too many run-on sentences. In many places, the same sentence structure was used too often and too close together (for one example, there was a section where seven sentences in a row began with the same word).
The characters left much to be desired. Anna wasn’t likeable or written in a way that was relatable. All of the characters felt flat and underdeveloped, and there was no real character growth throughout the book. The romance was awfully written and, since it turned out to be the major focus of the work, it completely detracted from the plot and the horror. There were also several instances of plot-induced stupidity that were very frustrating, including with the whole misunderstanding Anna had relating to two other characters. It was painfully obvious what the truth was, but she remained oblivious. The work also claims to be a feminist story, but that did not come through at all, other than that were two female characters who got a lot of page time.
Also, there were some aspects of this work that were quite absurd. One example: this is supposed to be a realistic setting, but apparently the characters believed that all churches are supposed to have ancient texts, mysterious relics, artifacts, and clergy who regularly perform exorcisms.
I was really disappointed by this read. I think if it underwent some major editing/reworking, it could be an interesting gothic horror. But as it is, I can’t recommend it to anyone. My thanks to BookSirens for letting me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 11, 2022
“Hell.”
“Hell?”
“Hell.”
Anna is starting Endymion College as a scholarship student and a literature lover. On her first day, she’s given a skeleton key for a hanging door she’s not supposed to open. Also her dorm room is haunted.
The beginning of this book reminded me so much about Crave by Tracy Wolff but this is much better -probably because we have young adults instead of teenagers as main characters. Aside from all the hilarious conversation (see the direct quote above), this was a cool spooky thriller of a romance. The first half is spookier than the second half. I loved the scene during class -it is by the way the most horror I can stomach- so I would have loved to read more scenes like that.
There isn’t a cliffhanger at the end but there are some questions that will be answered later as this is the first book in a series. Honestly, I’m kind of excited about the next books. I am hoping that there will be more spooky mystery and less relationship drama.
***
Many thanks to Booksprout and the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“Hell?”
“Hell.”
Anna is starting Endymion College as a scholarship student and a literature lover. On her first day, she’s given a skeleton key for a hanging door she’s not supposed to open. Also her dorm room is haunted.
The beginning of this book reminded me so much about Crave by Tracy Wolff but this is much better -probably because we have young adults instead of teenagers as main characters. Aside from all the hilarious conversation (see the direct quote above), this was a cool spooky thriller of a romance. The first half is spookier than the second half. I loved the scene during class -it is by the way the most horror I can stomach- so I would have loved to read more scenes like that.
There isn’t a cliffhanger at the end but there are some questions that will be answered later as this is the first book in a series. Honestly, I’m kind of excited about the next books. I am hoping that there will be more spooky mystery and less relationship drama.
***
Many thanks to Booksprout and the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 22, 2022
A Lesson in Love and Death had interesting, complex, flawed characters that I adored. The book had my attention from the first page and I loved the romance and horror combination in this book. The writing was brilliant and gave me cozy, Halloween vibes. The suspense, horror, romance, humor, and supernatural bits added to the entertainment factor of the book and I’m really looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 4, 2022
I was lucky enough to be one of W. H. Lockwood’s beta readers, and this book—y’all, THIS BOOK.
I normally don’t read horror, whether it’s romance or comedy or whatever else, but this paved the road to a genre I’ll 100% explore further.
Cozy. With lots of nerdy literature stuff and demons, ghosts feminism and LOVE ❤️
Anna will have you gape at the screen of your ebook in wonder at every one of her reckless actions, and Eve is SO my new book boyfriend. He’s 😵 DREAMY.
I’ve fallen in love with every single character, and then Miss W. H. Lockwood tells me this is part of a series?!?! I say sign me up for a billion more terms at Endymion College!
If you're looking for something to scare the crap out of you while keeping you invested in a lovely romance, with bubbly characters and lots of wine and mystery, this is the book for you. If not—quite frankly, I'd still give it a try.
W.H. Lockwood KNOWS how to write a damn good book.
I normally don’t read horror, whether it’s romance or comedy or whatever else, but this paved the road to a genre I’ll 100% explore further.
Cozy. With lots of nerdy literature stuff and demons, ghosts feminism and LOVE ❤️
Anna will have you gape at the screen of your ebook in wonder at every one of her reckless actions, and Eve is SO my new book boyfriend. He’s 😵 DREAMY.
I’ve fallen in love with every single character, and then Miss W. H. Lockwood tells me this is part of a series?!?! I say sign me up for a billion more terms at Endymion College!
If you're looking for something to scare the crap out of you while keeping you invested in a lovely romance, with bubbly characters and lots of wine and mystery, this is the book for you. If not—quite frankly, I'd still give it a try.
W.H. Lockwood KNOWS how to write a damn good book.
August 31, 2022
I really liked this book. It’s a smooth read and it made me laugh more than once. It was recommended by a friend and I flew through it.
I followed the group of friends’ adventures and rooted for them to make it through Endymion college. I thought the writing was entertaining and I loved the ending ❤️ I can’t wait to know more with the next book.
Would recommend!
I followed the group of friends’ adventures and rooted for them to make it through Endymion college. I thought the writing was entertaining and I loved the ending ❤️ I can’t wait to know more with the next book.
Would recommend!
February 7, 2023
HILARIOUS, TERRIFYING, BEAUTIFUL, DEEPLY ROMANTIC PERFECTION
Okay, I am still SHAKING after finishing this book. It spoke to me on so many different levels. The wit, the banter, the charm, the references, the HUMOUR on EVERY SINGLE PAGE. So many times, I was just caught between sighing romantically, grinning stupidly at sneaky little literary references, cackling my ass off, and trembling in legit fear.
Anna is such a god damned badass of an FMC - clever, assertive when she needs to be, downright badass when she has to be, romantic, sensitive, kind-hearted and at times vulnerable. I absolutely adored living in her head.
And if Eve weren't the most glorious man in the entire world, then I would have been TORN AS HELL, because her new best friend Candide is incredible. I love love love when different types of women can see the beauty in one another's differences and become friends regardless. Friends is too light a word. The beautiful, genuine connection between them is breathtaking, and I don't even have words to say how much I loved it.
AND EVE. There aren't WORDS. Okay, there are, because obviously that's how the author created him. BUT JFC. This man. Beautiful to the bone. A melting pot of pretty wrists, gorgeous sweaters, intelligent, learned, but a blushing, sensitive, sexy, respectful, funny, witty . . . Okay. It's not that there are no words. There are TOO. MANY. WORDS.
I love Eve with a ferocious passion. He is one of my top book boyfriends of ALL time. His heart and soul are on his sleeve, his pretty ramblings kill me, and the CHEMISTRY between him and Anna is enough to still my heart.
AND THE HORROR. I know I got caught on the characters because they are INCREDIBLE, but this book is genuinely terrifying. Spooky, visceral descriptions, atmosphere on atmosphere.
It's hilarious, at times absurd, and such a crazy, beautiful ride. I am OBSESSED and moving directly on to book 2 now.
Okay, I am still SHAKING after finishing this book. It spoke to me on so many different levels. The wit, the banter, the charm, the references, the HUMOUR on EVERY SINGLE PAGE. So many times, I was just caught between sighing romantically, grinning stupidly at sneaky little literary references, cackling my ass off, and trembling in legit fear.
Anna is such a god damned badass of an FMC - clever, assertive when she needs to be, downright badass when she has to be, romantic, sensitive, kind-hearted and at times vulnerable. I absolutely adored living in her head.
And if Eve weren't the most glorious man in the entire world, then I would have been TORN AS HELL, because her new best friend Candide is incredible. I love love love when different types of women can see the beauty in one another's differences and become friends regardless. Friends is too light a word. The beautiful, genuine connection between them is breathtaking, and I don't even have words to say how much I loved it.
AND EVE. There aren't WORDS. Okay, there are, because obviously that's how the author created him. BUT JFC. This man. Beautiful to the bone. A melting pot of pretty wrists, gorgeous sweaters, intelligent, learned, but a blushing, sensitive, sexy, respectful, funny, witty . . . Okay. It's not that there are no words. There are TOO. MANY. WORDS.
I love Eve with a ferocious passion. He is one of my top book boyfriends of ALL time. His heart and soul are on his sleeve, his pretty ramblings kill me, and the CHEMISTRY between him and Anna is enough to still my heart.
AND THE HORROR. I know I got caught on the characters because they are INCREDIBLE, but this book is genuinely terrifying. Spooky, visceral descriptions, atmosphere on atmosphere.
It's hilarious, at times absurd, and such a crazy, beautiful ride. I am OBSESSED and moving directly on to book 2 now.
September 17, 2022
A lesson in love and death, starts with Anna starting Endymion College with her new room mate Candi. On the first night being in there new apartment room Anna sees the ghost boy. The events that follow changes the book completely.
I really enjoyed reading A Lesson in Love and Death. I found the book somewhat messed up and downright freaky. The events had me compelled and before I knew it the chapters had rolled into one and... "the end"!
Anna our main character was a book nerd coming to Endymion to study the literatures, but as the novel progress I suspected (and it implied) there was more to her - though what, was never touched upon. I did like her character, she was head strong.
Candi/Candide and Evelyn were a weird pair. The former being the room mate and the latter being the teacher. Throughout the novel, I kept thinking there's more to them than meets the eye. We even get a little explanation about them but for some reason this doesn't sit right with me. I can't help but think there is more. Maybe there is, maybe it's in book 2.
Candi's character albeit a bit strange, was a great best friend to Anna, their contrasting characteristics played well against each other. Evelyn somewhat annoyed me when it came to Anna, I agreed with his reasoning the first time but then after his backwards and forwards, it started getting annoying. He was yoyoing more than a yo yo itself which I found made him less appealing.
The ghost boy at first was creepy but that demon over took my thoughts with a what the hell is happening, who the hell are you vibe. I seriously didn't have a clue who it was but nonetheless it compelled me to keep reading.
As I said I really enjoyed reading Lessons in Love and Death, the story premise was fantastic and it was executed really well. The description and world building was greatly done and it felt like the story took you in and kept you there. I do have more questions than answers though, like who was the ghost boy and why do the characters forget about his existence every now and then? I'm hoping I get a lot of answers in book 2.
I really can't wait to read book 2 as I need to see what happens next.
I really enjoyed reading A Lesson in Love and Death. I found the book somewhat messed up and downright freaky. The events had me compelled and before I knew it the chapters had rolled into one and... "the end"!
Anna our main character was a book nerd coming to Endymion to study the literatures, but as the novel progress I suspected (and it implied) there was more to her - though what, was never touched upon. I did like her character, she was head strong.
Candi/Candide and Evelyn were a weird pair. The former being the room mate and the latter being the teacher. Throughout the novel, I kept thinking there's more to them than meets the eye. We even get a little explanation about them but for some reason this doesn't sit right with me. I can't help but think there is more. Maybe there is, maybe it's in book 2.
Candi's character albeit a bit strange, was a great best friend to Anna, their contrasting characteristics played well against each other. Evelyn somewhat annoyed me when it came to Anna, I agreed with his reasoning the first time but then after his backwards and forwards, it started getting annoying. He was yoyoing more than a yo yo itself which I found made him less appealing.
The ghost boy at first was creepy but that demon over took my thoughts with a what the hell is happening, who the hell are you vibe. I seriously didn't have a clue who it was but nonetheless it compelled me to keep reading.
As I said I really enjoyed reading Lessons in Love and Death, the story premise was fantastic and it was executed really well. The description and world building was greatly done and it felt like the story took you in and kept you there. I do have more questions than answers though, like who was the ghost boy and why do the characters forget about his existence every now and then? I'm hoping I get a lot of answers in book 2.
I really can't wait to read book 2 as I need to see what happens next.
September 22, 2022
“The classics stay with us for a reason,” he continued. “A book doesn’t draw people together from vastly different backgrounds over the course of hundreds of years unless it cuts through those differences and reveals a deep, human truth to us."⠀
⠀
W. H. Lockwood, A Lesson in Love and Death
A Lesson in Love and Death (Endymion College #1) by W. H. Lockwood
is a dark academia cozy horror romance that is just right for the spooky season! ⠀
⠀
I adored this story so much. The imagery of Endymion College and it's large, dusty library and antique halls make my dark academia loving heart so happy. The author has a beautiful love for literature and it shows in the discussions of the classes at the college. It made me want to reread Frankenstein! Also, I'm here for cozy ghost stories, and this book is full of ghosts, demons, sexy priests, and seances. ⠀
⠀
Anna, Eve, and Candi are dynamic characters who each have secrets and mysteries held close, but they work well as a team.They were immediately intriguing and I enjoyed how subtle the romance was. Watching their stories develop was so much fun and I can't wait to see what the next book holds for the trio. ⠀
⠀
A Lesson in Love and Death is a five star spooky read that I'd recommend to everyone! ⠀
⠀
W. H. Lockwood, A Lesson in Love and Death
A Lesson in Love and Death (Endymion College #1) by W. H. Lockwood
is a dark academia cozy horror romance that is just right for the spooky season! ⠀
⠀
I adored this story so much. The imagery of Endymion College and it's large, dusty library and antique halls make my dark academia loving heart so happy. The author has a beautiful love for literature and it shows in the discussions of the classes at the college. It made me want to reread Frankenstein! Also, I'm here for cozy ghost stories, and this book is full of ghosts, demons, sexy priests, and seances. ⠀
⠀
Anna, Eve, and Candi are dynamic characters who each have secrets and mysteries held close, but they work well as a team.They were immediately intriguing and I enjoyed how subtle the romance was. Watching their stories develop was so much fun and I can't wait to see what the next book holds for the trio. ⠀
⠀
A Lesson in Love and Death is a five star spooky read that I'd recommend to everyone! ⠀
August 24, 2022
Surprisingly entertaining and dark with plenty of questions still left. I want to read more as there are hints to some secrets. An enjoyable start to a series.
A few days later, and I'm still thinking about this book. In a good way. I'm really looking forward to reading the next and wish it was here already!!!!
I received a free copy for an honest review from Voracious Readers.
A few days later, and I'm still thinking about this book. In a good way. I'm really looking forward to reading the next and wish it was here already!!!!
I received a free copy for an honest review from Voracious Readers.
August 24, 2022
This book took me by surprise. It has the perfect mix of fantasy and gothic horror. The Authors writing style left me wanting more, thankfully there is another book coming. The characters are brilliantly written. This is the perfect book to grab, find a cozy corner and dive into for Halloween.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2022
I received this book for an honest review:
I don't usually read romance or horror, but the characters were endearing, and the humour in the book kept me turning the pages.
W.H Lockwood creates in depth characters with complex emotions, and they all have their flaws and charms. Out of the main characters, I especially loved Candide!
I was trying to decide whether this is a romance book with horror background or horror with romance as subplot, but I am still conflicted! I thought it was a great mix of both.
The scary parts of the book were hair-raising and the background of the beautiful campus really set the scene. The writing is smooth and knows when to jump into dialogues to keep the momentum.
I believe any literary fans of gothic/horror would find delight among Anna's enthusiasm for her literary studies. I learnt a lot about Frankenstein through the first part of the novel.
There were a lot of mysteries and question that I have, but it looks like there are two more books coming out and I can't wait to find out.
I don't usually read romance or horror, but the characters were endearing, and the humour in the book kept me turning the pages.
W.H Lockwood creates in depth characters with complex emotions, and they all have their flaws and charms. Out of the main characters, I especially loved Candide!
I was trying to decide whether this is a romance book with horror background or horror with romance as subplot, but I am still conflicted! I thought it was a great mix of both.
The scary parts of the book were hair-raising and the background of the beautiful campus really set the scene. The writing is smooth and knows when to jump into dialogues to keep the momentum.
I believe any literary fans of gothic/horror would find delight among Anna's enthusiasm for her literary studies. I learnt a lot about Frankenstein through the first part of the novel.
There were a lot of mysteries and question that I have, but it looks like there are two more books coming out and I can't wait to find out.
August 9, 2022
Wow! I read this entire book in one sitting. It definitely got me ready for October. It has everything - horror, paranormal, romance, intrigue. As I read the final chapter, I had so many questions and nearly was going to rate this book differently because they went unanswered - until I saw that these questions are intentionally left unanswered in preparation for a sequel. I look forward to reading the sequel as soon as I can!
The only thing I didn't vibe with was some of the dialogue, I can't put my finger on why but some of it just seemed rushed or slightly off. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The only thing I didn't vibe with was some of the dialogue, I can't put my finger on why but some of it just seemed rushed or slightly off. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2022
***Update after some thought I decided I definitely liked this more than I thought so I updated the rating and review. New rating is 4.5/5 stars!
I definitely do not read horror but I saw it was romance as well so I decided to give it a go. It definitely has its spooky/creepy bites, maybe it stood out to me more because I hate scary movies lol. I had the heebie jeebies the whole time, this would be a good October read! I did love the setting it kinda gave me Jane Eyre vibes which I loved. There was lots of dialogue, could have been a little less as odd as that sounds, but it wasn’t bad! Overall it was an interesting read! There is romance but no smut just so all my smut lovers know in advance. I’d definitely recommend if you love sweet romance, spooky vibes, dark academia and mysteries!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶/5
I definitely do not read horror but I saw it was romance as well so I decided to give it a go. It definitely has its spooky/creepy bites, maybe it stood out to me more because I hate scary movies lol. I had the heebie jeebies the whole time, this would be a good October read! I did love the setting it kinda gave me Jane Eyre vibes which I loved. There was lots of dialogue, could have been a little less as odd as that sounds, but it wasn’t bad! Overall it was an interesting read! There is romance but no smut just so all my smut lovers know in advance. I’d definitely recommend if you love sweet romance, spooky vibes, dark academia and mysteries!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶/5
September 25, 2022
This was an amazing dark academia book with a good romance! I love how the names of the characters was unique and how the descriptions about the school, classes, books being read, etc. were done in an academic, daydreaming way which is exactly what a dark academia book needs! The horror and suspense was clearly there, I could literally feel the shivers down my spine and I have a feeling I’ll be feeling a tad bit jittery for the next few days.
I felt that the book felt slightly high school-y even though it’s set in college so I believe that can be improved on, and maybe the way that the characters speak to each other can be made slightly more formal since it is part dark academia book (and dark academia is pretty formal since it’s academic focused).
Loved this book though and can’t wait for the next one!
I felt that the book felt slightly high school-y even though it’s set in college so I believe that can be improved on, and maybe the way that the characters speak to each other can be made slightly more formal since it is part dark academia book (and dark academia is pretty formal since it’s academic focused).
Loved this book though and can’t wait for the next one!
September 21, 2022
I was given this novel to read for a book tour in exchange for an honest review.
I spent the whole time thinking wtf is going on(in a good way) what's the secret? Who is the ghost boy? What is up with that hanging door? BUT I was engrossed in this novel that I had to finish it, I did complete this in 2 nights I was up until 12am finishing it.
It's a good spooky read and a great introduction to the series.
I liked the characters, they gelled well and I really enjoyed the writing style.
This novel had the friendship, love and adventure. Face value it's a good read, think about it too much and you'll just confuse yourself.
I'm hoping book 2 gives more answers.
Do I recommend this novel? Yes becuase it's great for Halloween season
I spent the whole time thinking wtf is going on(in a good way) what's the secret? Who is the ghost boy? What is up with that hanging door? BUT I was engrossed in this novel that I had to finish it, I did complete this in 2 nights I was up until 12am finishing it.
It's a good spooky read and a great introduction to the series.
I liked the characters, they gelled well and I really enjoyed the writing style.
This novel had the friendship, love and adventure. Face value it's a good read, think about it too much and you'll just confuse yourself.
I'm hoping book 2 gives more answers.
Do I recommend this novel? Yes becuase it's great for Halloween season
September 22, 2022
A Lesson In Love And Death is the perfect amount of dark and gothic academia, creepy campus's, haunted buildings, handsome as hell professors and nail biting, hide under the covers spooks and scares you could want in a book!
Set in Endymion, a prestigious college, we follow freshman Anna as she faces her first few days at college while living in an obviously haunted, but luxe as anything dormitory with her roommate Candi and an extremely handsome Lit teacher that lives down the hall.
An absolutely perfect read going into the spooky season!
Cuddle up on the couch with a nice big blanket (for hiding under), grab a mug of hot chocolate and "hold on to the handrails", because this book is stunning!
Set in Endymion, a prestigious college, we follow freshman Anna as she faces her first few days at college while living in an obviously haunted, but luxe as anything dormitory with her roommate Candi and an extremely handsome Lit teacher that lives down the hall.
An absolutely perfect read going into the spooky season!
Cuddle up on the couch with a nice big blanket (for hiding under), grab a mug of hot chocolate and "hold on to the handrails", because this book is stunning!
September 5, 2022
This was a really good read. I love all types of book that involve ghosts, demons, and the occult. When Anna was given the skeleton key, I was excited. I would love to have a key that could open any door. Yet, she was told not to open the hanging door. Why? This question was not really answered. When the group realized there was a demon on the loose, they realized they had a job to do. Having The Book of the Dead was instrumental in figuring out how to defeat the demon and keep the ghost out of their apartment. The tension between Eve and Anna only added to the atmosphere of the book. Finding out there are more books in the series makes my decision easy as to what I will read next.
September 26, 2022
This is the first book by W H Lockwood that I have read. It is a dark, gothic, academia
When I picked this book as an ARC from Booksirens, it was the cover that drew me to the book.
I wish this was a book that was being released closer to Halloween as it would have been perfect to read during the Spooky season.
A Lesson in Love and Death seriously left you wondering if it was a horror story or a romance.
The descriptions of Endymion are so good and my favourite place is of course the library.
I know there are more books to come in this series and I am looking forward to reading them.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
When I picked this book as an ARC from Booksirens, it was the cover that drew me to the book.
I wish this was a book that was being released closer to Halloween as it would have been perfect to read during the Spooky season.
A Lesson in Love and Death seriously left you wondering if it was a horror story or a romance.
The descriptions of Endymion are so good and my favourite place is of course the library.
I know there are more books to come in this series and I am looking forward to reading them.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
September 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. It had wonderful characters, and a great plot. You'll easily fall in love with Anna, and her love of books. This is a mix of romance and horror with splashes of suspense/thriller and a little humor sprinkled in. If you're looking for straight horror or straight romance you might be disappointed, as it was a fairly even, nice mix. You'll absolutely get goosebumps during the spookier parts of the story, and I loved Lockwood's ability to really bring the setting to life around the reader. Highly recommend!
September 22, 2022
This was such a fun mash-up of horror and romance! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but I really enjoyed every minute of it. The author is wonderful at describing the atmosphere and setting, and did such a good job making you feel the spooky/scariness of certain scenes. This was one I didn't want to put down, and am still thinking of days later. Such a great read for spooky season! Highly recommend.
Thank you to the author & RR Book Tours for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author & RR Book Tours for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
September 23, 2022
With a scholarship in hand Anna James enters the hallowed halls of gothic Endymion College and life as she is living it soon takes a surprising turn towards the unusual.
There is much to like about this story which is steeped in mystery, the paranormal, and an engaging narrative that keeps the reader guessing. Persistently riveting and atmospheric this was the perfect read, with the lights on of course.
Expert writing and engagingly crafted characters make for a very thrilling story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is much to like about this story which is steeped in mystery, the paranormal, and an engaging narrative that keeps the reader guessing. Persistently riveting and atmospheric this was the perfect read, with the lights on of course.
Expert writing and engagingly crafted characters make for a very thrilling story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 15, 2022
If I could give this book 10 stars I would!! It scared me in so many ways, I was paranoid for a few days lol🥲
This book is beautiful when talking about the knowledge of literature and bringing it into the storyline is pure genius. I finally found a book I’ve been wanting someone to write!
It captures every single emotion of being loved, mixed signals, fear, pain, and anxiety, mine for instance was going through the roof reading this😅 Such a great book, I’m so ready for book 2😳
This book is beautiful when talking about the knowledge of literature and bringing it into the storyline is pure genius. I finally found a book I’ve been wanting someone to write!
It captures every single emotion of being loved, mixed signals, fear, pain, and anxiety, mine for instance was going through the roof reading this😅 Such a great book, I’m so ready for book 2😳
September 23, 2022
The spooky scenes in this are quite well done and I enjoyed it overall. It is pretty short, so expect more of a novella than a fully fleshed out novel. I would have liked more character development so I could feel more invested in the romance but it was still a solid indie author read with good atmosphere and a quick pace. I suggest this book for a quick spooky season read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2023
Loved this book. The author captures the elements of gothic writing, while making it entertaining for the modern reader. The characters are beautifully flawed, which mirrors real life well, even while being distant from reality. The spooky parts are great. I would recommend this to others who like supernatural stuff, ghosts, and horror elements.
September 27, 2022
This book did not disappoint. It has everything an academy read should have. I loved it. The characters are likeable and the plot had quite a few surprises. You should definitely give this one a try.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2022
This was an awesome read, and I can't wait for the next two. Suspense, horror, supernatural stuff, romance and humour, it has it all and more!
September 20, 2022
Havn't read a romance and horror book before but i thoroughly enjoyed this book and was hooked straight away. I can not wait to read the second book as I nees to know what happens next.
November 3, 2022
I loved this so much! 😍 I loved the world building and the chemistry between the characters. I can't wait to see where the story takes us!
September 19, 2022
Wow! This was a fast read and so good. Spooky, creepy, disturbing, funny, romantic. It has everything and a good spooky read!!! I love this cover and I wish I had the second one already! Can't wait to get it and continue this series! Only thing I didn't care for was the main guys name, but other than that, I loved it. Easy to look past.
October 5, 2022
I am going to quickly preface this by saying that this review is based solely on my opinion. And I’ve read and reviewed a substantial amount of indie books.
A Lesson in Love and Death quickly draws us in with its magnificent cover promising a gothic and dark academia tale. Lockwood writes exquisitely about the eerie feeling that Anna has, as well as how beautiful the campus is.
However, that is the only well done thing about this book, the atmosphere. This book could have been absolutely amazing, with a proper editor. And I mean, it’s CRYING for an editor. At the end of the day, the book wanted to be too many things and did them all poorly.
Not only are the characters flat, but their dialogue is awkward. The reality is that the dialogue between the characters is unrealistic and unbelievable. People just don’t talk like that.
There is absolutely no scenario where characters should be arguing for a page, back and forth with the words “YES” & “NO”. Or “can we reset” which was overused.
Also, there is usually something that leads to events happening… foreshadowing. No no, not in this book. The events are basically dropped from the sky and we’re just told what’s happening. The characters don’t ask any questions about it, and are perfectly happy to go along with whatever is ultimately suggested.
To end this review on a positive nose, the author really did make me excited to read Frankenstein this month because there are a ton of references to it.
This entire book and review make me sad to write because I was really looking forward to the dark academia and gothic vibes. But at the end of the day, it needs some work.
Thank you to RR Book Tours & the author for my copy.
A Lesson in Love and Death quickly draws us in with its magnificent cover promising a gothic and dark academia tale. Lockwood writes exquisitely about the eerie feeling that Anna has, as well as how beautiful the campus is.
However, that is the only well done thing about this book, the atmosphere. This book could have been absolutely amazing, with a proper editor. And I mean, it’s CRYING for an editor. At the end of the day, the book wanted to be too many things and did them all poorly.
Not only are the characters flat, but their dialogue is awkward. The reality is that the dialogue between the characters is unrealistic and unbelievable. People just don’t talk like that.
There is absolutely no scenario where characters should be arguing for a page, back and forth with the words “YES” & “NO”. Or “can we reset” which was overused.
Also, there is usually something that leads to events happening… foreshadowing. No no, not in this book. The events are basically dropped from the sky and we’re just told what’s happening. The characters don’t ask any questions about it, and are perfectly happy to go along with whatever is ultimately suggested.
To end this review on a positive nose, the author really did make me excited to read Frankenstein this month because there are a ton of references to it.
This entire book and review make me sad to write because I was really looking forward to the dark academia and gothic vibes. But at the end of the day, it needs some work.
Thank you to RR Book Tours & the author for my copy.
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