Book: Deception by Billie Nicks
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: 4/5
This book is haunting and begins with dark tones with an opening chapter that will make you question everything. This dark academia story follows Ophelia and Cameron (step siblings) who endure loss from a young age and find comfort and love with each other. Ophelia's loss of her mother changes everything for her and the life ahead. Her Stepfather begins to be overbearing and make her uncomfortable, but through everything Cameron is there for her and their relationship continues to blossom in secret from everyone, especially Cam's father. As years pass it's time for them to attend college and Cam/Lia are ready to get through this period to get away from Harry, Cam's father, so they can be together. Cam is to attend Everton, but Lia wanted to attend any other college. Things don't go how she hoped and is forced to attend Everton. Harry brings Cam into a Secret Society and Cam was not prepared for or wanted anything to do with this, but in order to protect Lia, he submits to his Dad's wishes. As they progress through to their final year in University, things take a wild and dark turn. Enter in Professor Aiden Masters who has his eyes on both Cam & Lia, throw in the dark and twisted Secret Society and you have no idea how they will ever find a way out of the danger they seem to be headed towards. But Aiden may be the one person to save them in more ways than one.
I haven't read a Dark Academia quite like this one before, the first chapter had me gasping in shock. This is a well written Dark Romance/Dark Academia with so many twists and turns. My favorite part of this story was the utter love and devotion between Cameron and Ophelia. Ophelia's grief gripped me with so much heartbreak, but watching Cameron give everything he can to protect and help Ophelia find her happiness and peace was so beautiful. If you love dark academy, dark secret societies with extreme dark tones, a undeniable and unbreakable love, mystery and a really well done Bi-Awakening for one of our MC's, then this is the book you must read. The ending had me needing the second book immediately.