Liselle Sambury’s latest novel delivers a refreshing and incisive exploration of power, control, and identity within the framework of dark academia fantasy. A Mastery of Monsters follows August Black as she infiltrates a secret society to find her missing brother Jules, only to discover a world where monsters are real and those who claim to master them wield dangerous influence.
The Heart of the Story: August’s Unflinching Journey
August Black emerges as a protagonist who refuses to be contained by anyone’s expectations. Her voice carries the sharp wit and defensive cynicism of someone who has learned to protect herself through attitude and distance. When her brother disappears from Queen’s University, August’s investigation leads her into partnership with Virgil Hawthorne, a shapeshifter desperately seeking a “Master” to help him control his monstrous nature.
The partnership between August and Virgil forms the emotional core of the novel. Sambury skillfully develops their relationship from reluctant alliance to genuine partnership, avoiding easy romantic resolutions in favor of deeper questions about autonomy, loyalty, and what it means to truly know someone. August’s fierce protectiveness and Virgil’s quiet strength create a dynamic that feels both inevitable and hard-earned.
Monsters as Metaphor: The Society’s Dark Truth
The Learners’ Society operates as both literal organization and powerful metaphor for systems that promise protection while demanding submission. Sambury’s world-building reveals a complex hierarchy where “monsters” must find human “Masters” to avoid losing their humanity entirely. This premise becomes increasingly unsettling as the novel progresses, raising uncomfortable questions about who truly holds power and who benefits from these arrangements.
The society’s structure mirrors real-world institutions that perpetuate inequality while claiming noble purposes. The competition August enters ostensibly determines who deserves the privilege of partnership, but the process itself reveals the arbitrary nature of institutional power and the ways marginalized individuals are forced to compete for basic dignity.
Political Intrigue and Character Development
Sambury excels at weaving political complexity throughout the narrative without overwhelming the character-driven plot. The various factions within the society – Progressives, Traditionalists, Pro-Libs, and Scientists – each represent different approaches to the “monster problem,” but none emerge as entirely virtuous. This nuanced portrayal prevents the novel from falling into simplistic good-versus-evil dynamics.
The revelation about August’s brother Jules provides genuine shock while maintaining narrative logic. His transformation from protective older brother to unwilling monster forces both August and readers to confront the arbitrary nature of who becomes victim versus perpetrator within oppressive systems.
Sambury’s Sharp Writing Style
The author’s prose carries August’s voice with remarkable consistency, blending teenage skepticism with genuine emotional vulnerability. Sambury has a particular talent for dialogue that reveals character – August’s defensive quips, Virgil’s careful politeness, and the various authority figures’ coded language all feel authentic and purposeful.
The action sequences maintain clarity and momentum without sacrificing character development. The competition scenes, particularly the maze challenge and monster affinity tests, serve as more than mere plot devices – they reveal character motivations and force relationships to evolve under pressure.
Strengths and Minor Shortcomings
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. The society’s claims about an approaching apocalypse remain ambiguous, forcing readers to question institutional narratives while acknowledging genuine threats. Sambury skillfully balances skepticism with the need for some form of collective action.
However, certain plot revelations feel slightly rushed in the final act. The truth about Bernie’s manipulations and the broader conspiracy could have benefited from additional development earlier in the narrative. Additionally, some secondary characters, particularly within the various factions, occasionally blur together despite their different political positions.
Dark Academia Done Right
Unlike many dark academia novels that rely primarily on aesthetic atmosphere, A Mastery of Monsters grounds its academic setting in genuine institutional critique. Queen’s University becomes more than backdrop – it represents the ways educational institutions can simultaneously offer opportunity and perpetuate exclusion.
The novel’s exploration of who gets to attend university, under what conditions, and at what cost adds contemporary relevance to the fantasy elements. Virgil’s dependence on August for basic educational access highlights how institutional barriers affect real lives in immediate ways.
Similar Reads and Genre Connections
Readers who enjoyed Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo or Legendborn by Tracy Deonn will find familiar themes here, though Sambury brings her own perspective to questions of power and belonging. The novel also shares DNA with Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series in its examination of how magical education systems can perpetuate inequality.
Fans of Sambury’s previous works, particularly her Blood Like Magic duology and the horror novels Delicious Monsters and Tender Beasts, will recognize her continued interest in family dynamics, institutional power, and the ways young people navigate systems designed to control them.
Final Verdict
A Mastery of Monsters succeeds as both thrilling fantasy adventure and thoughtful examination of power structures. Sambury has crafted a novel that entertains while challenging readers to consider their own relationships with institutions that claim to protect while demanding submission.
The book establishes compelling groundwork for future installments while providing satisfying resolution to August’s immediate journey. Most importantly, it demonstrates that the best fantasy literature can interrogate real-world problems through imaginative frameworks that make familiar issues visible in new ways.
This is dark academia that bites back against its own genre conventions, offering genuine political insight alongside supernatural thrills. Sambury continues to establish herself as a voice worth following in contemporary fantasy literature.
