Title: DeathbringerAuthor: Sonia Tagliareni
Pages: 432
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Publisher: Atria Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
For fans of Naomi Novik and Kerri Maniscalco, a dark academia romantasy steeped in necromancy, forbidden love, and a twisty murder mystery set within the perilous halls of a magical institute, as a death mage who hates her magic and a poison mage who hates her are forced to work together to stop a killer before one of them is next.
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.
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I really enjoyed Deathbringer. This was such an immersive dark academia romantasy with necromancy, murder mysteries, dangerous magic, and a forbidden romance. It’s definitely a darker read, but underneath all the darker elements, this is really a story about grief, belonging, and finally finding people who make you feel wanted and understood.
Viola was a great main character, and her story is compelling. She’s grown up with a mother who was cold, neglectful, and constantly comparing her to her sister, so there’s this deep loneliness to her character from the start. I felt so bad for her. You can tell she’s spent most of her life feeling like she’ll never measure up, and that affects her in so many ways. A lot of her choices and fears come from that trauma and her grief over her sister.
Found families are always a favorite of mine, and that was certainly true in this book. I loved watching Viola slowly build friendships and connections with people who genuinely cared about her. It contrasted so much with the way she grew up and highlighted the abusive and toxic nature of her relationships. Lyria was a bright spot in the story for me. Her friendship with Viola felt supportive and genuine from the beginning, and I loved how much warmth she brought into such a dark story. It was especially interesting seeing that friendship alongside Viola’s complicated relationship with her sister. Beau and the rest of the group added to the found family vibes, too, and I loved the bond these characters formed.
Of course, it’s no surprise that my absolute favorite part of the story was the romance between Viola and Sylas. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and forbidden? Sign me up! lol Sylas starts off cold, rude, and very against death mages, but underneath there’s so much more to his character. He’s carrying a lot of guilt and anger that he has to work through, and it affects many parts of his life, including his relationship with Viola. It was great to see their relationship grow and change into something deep and real.
The atmospheric nature of the story has strong Gothic and dark academia vibes, from the dangerous magic to the rivalries between magical houses, hidden secrets, creepy passageways, and the constant feeling that something terrible is lurking around every corner. There’s an ominous and creepy tone throughout. The magic system was really interesting, too, though there were a few moments where the worldbuilding got a little complicated and I wanted a bit more explanation, especially about how the magical world fit into the rest of society. That being said, it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the story overall.
- Dark academia
- forbidden romance
- found family
- broody MMC
- fierce FMC
- forced proximity
“Unfounded hope strangles you when reality pulls the strings of truth,”
“You owe nothing to anyone. In a world where people are driven by their own selfish wants, you will not give them that power over you.”
Hope is like a serpent; it sheds its skin with promise, while silently seeping venom into your veins.
Right before she steps out of Hollow Tree, Viola turns to me, and for the first time since Mom died, my heart comes alive. Her eyes hold every beginning, every middle, and every end of all the stories I ever want to tell.
“I was thrown into your life, and you’ve never once wavered. You fight harder for my choices than your own. You gave me a home when mine was shattered. You are my voice when I’m afraid to speak. You saved me in more ways than one. I look for you in the dark, and you find me with your eyes closed. Gods, I’ve only known you for a few weeks, but . . . you’re etched in me, Sylas, woven into the fabric of my soul. I don’t have many years left in this life . . . and I want them to be yours.”
Sonia Tagliareni is a fantasy author who’s always looking for the next best cup of tea. The first story she wrote was a murder mystery for French class at thirteen, and rumor has it the murderer outsmarted her but also left her with a deep love of storytelling. Born and raised in Mauritius, she moved to the United States before deciding she prefers to hop around the world. If she’s not glued to her laptop, you can find her dragging her husband and son to high tea.
