Unhallowed halls by Lili Wilkinson

Florida high school student Page Whittaker is awarded a scholarship to Agathion College, a newly opened boarding school on the Scottish moors. Page, having had a traumatic event happen at her old school, believes that this is a chance to start fresh. Agathion boasts old buildings made of stone, foggy scenery, and tough assignments, so it appears to be a great place to start fresh. But the moment Page settles, she realises that the school has secrets as well, such as a club practising dark magic. Her new friends - Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey, and Oak - have secrets of their own, which makes the story even more exciting.

Wilkinson's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, and it brings to life the eerie atmosphere of the Scottish moors and the Gothic structure of Agathion. The book mixes dark academia and supernatural horror. The novel explores complex themes like moral ambiguity, the lure of power, and identity, which deepen the narrative and keep readers engaged. It's an excellent read for teenagers who enjoy scary school tales and supernatural fiction in the style of Leigh Bardugo, Naomi Novik, and V.E. Schwab.

Themes: Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural, Academia, Friendship

Jaibir Singh (Student)