"Deathbringer" by Sonia Tagliareni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Necromancy, dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, and a murder mystery? Count me in! Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni is a marvelous dark academia romantasy, and the first of a planned trilogy. Set within the perilous halls of a magical institute against a 1939 backdrop, the book follows two protagonists and is told in dual POV. This book delivers exactly what the premise promises — dark magic, dangerous secrets, and plenty of twists.

Meet Viola, a Mortemagi — a death mage who can speak with the dead but hates her own magic. When her nonmagi sister, who studied at Gorhail to spare Viola the trouble, is brutally murdered, Viola is forced to attend Gorhail herself, where she must master her deadly skills while uncovering a murder — one of many, it seems.

And then there’s Sylas — an Immortal poison mage whose magic comes from three magical snakes and who despises death magic because of a complicated past. As more deaths occur and magical relics are stolen while the authorities do nothing, he and Viola are forced into an uneasy alliance to solve the mystery. With a killer on the loose, no one is safe.

Those are just the bare bones of the tale. It’s more complex than that, and I LOVED it! The world-building is satisfying, though naturally incomplete — after all, it’s just the first book in the series. The characters are unique, and the magic system is original. I especially enjoyed the division of the three houses and their distinct magical specialties — Mortemagi (death mages), Aspieri (poison mages), and Arkani (illusion mages). There are magical relics, bonding, and other inventive creations. I also loved the different personalities of the snakes.

The plot is full of rich details and is told through Viola and Sylas' perspectives in the third person. The cast of characters is large, yet somehow easy to follow. The characters are richly developed, with secrets that are gradually unraveled in the most thrilling way. I liked Viola and Sylas, as well as a few of the side characters, and rooted for them. I also enjoyed the dynamics between Viola and Sylas and the way their attachment gradually develops. Yes, Sylas was impulsive and prejudiced, and Viola could be full of self-pity at times, but I still connected with them.

Each chapter opens with excerpts from letters, decrees, and articles that illuminate the history of the world. With themes of friendship, trust, prejudice, injustice, loyalty, found family, grief, corruption, and moral conflicts, the author has woven a tale I thoroughly enjoyed. The dark atmosphere and intrigue are expertly crafted, creating a constant sense of tension throughout the story. Tagliareni's ability to weave complex, unpredictable plot twists kept me on my toes the entire way.

There are a few plot holes that weren’t fully explained and some loose ends, but hopefully they will be addressed in the next book. I would have liked more focus on the magic lessons — there were hardly any — though it didn’t bother me too much. While there were some similarities to Harry Potter, the execution felt entirely original.

All in all, I enjoyed the book immensely. The novel more than lived up to my expectations, with strong writing, clear plot developments, intriguing characters, and plenty of fascinating twists. If you’re looking for a story with a lot of panache, this is the one for you. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait for the next installment! Full marks from me! 

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Deathbringer" by Sonia Tagliareni