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Born with the ability to speak with the dead, Viola hates her magic. It killed her sister, Olivia, and if she doesn’t learn why, it will kill her too. Her only hope lies within the perilous walls of Gorhail Institute of Magic, where Olivia spent her final days.
There, Viola clashes with Sylas, a poison mage whose magic stems from three magical snakes. Immortal, tormented, and reckless, Sylas is tethered to a life he never asked for and haunted by guilt for his father’s death. His hatred for death mages runs deep, and he’s determined to keep Viola at a distance. But when an attack forces him to heal her, their fates become intertwined by a magical bond that threatens to upend his loyalties—and his common sense.
As more students start turning up dead, Viola and Sylas are drawn into an uneasy alliance that pulls them deeper into Gorhail’s treacherous passageways, where secrets fester beneath the stone and the dead do not rest. And as enemy lines begin to blur and their undeniable attraction grows, Viola and Sylas uncover a chilling someone is hunting mages for their magical relics, and if they can’t uncover the killer in time, Viola will be next.
About Sonia Tagliareni
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My Thoughts
Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni is a stunning debut that is an absolute must-read! This book is a propulsive fantasy that perfectly blends a moody, dark academia setting with a gripping murder mystery and a heart-squeezing, slow-burn romantasy. I devoured this story in less than 24 hours and was thrilled to discover it's the first book in a trilogy, even if that ending has me desperately waiting for the sequel!
The story plunges us into the perilous walls of Gorhail Institute of Magic, where the dead do not rest. Our heroine is Viola, born with the ability to speak with the dead—a magic she despises, as she believes it killed her sister. To survive, she must uncover the truth within Gorhail, the site of her sister's final days. There, she clashes with Sylas, a tormented poison mage whose magic is tethered to three immortal snakes. Sylas’s hatred for death mages runs deep, but when an attack forces him to heal Viola, their fates become dangerously intertwined by a magical bond.
The premise alone—two grieving rivals, a death mage and a poison mage, working together to solve a serial killer mystery—is immediately captivating. The plot is perfectly complex for a murder mystery, featuring well-placed foreshadowing and clues that allow the reader to solve the puzzle alongside the characters, yet still be genuinely shocked by the twists at the end. The atmosphere of the magical university, the fascinating and ruthless magic system, and the central whodunnit will surely keep you reading late into the night.
Beyond the magnetic chemistry and internal battles of Viola and Sylas, the book is populated with a wonderfully rich cast of complex characters, including Lyria and Beau. The world-building is captivating, though I would have appreciated more clarification on some of the political and administrative roles referenced throughout the book, as the bureaucratic red tape heavily influenced the characters' motivations.
Ultimately, Deathbringer is a phenomenal blend of everything I love: a dark academia setting, a riveting plot, and an undeniable love story. I 100% recommend this book to friends looking for their next dark academia romantasy fix!
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