by I. V. Marie
First published 2025
Wren Loughty stands at the arched gates of Blackwood Academy, knowing this decade's Decennial competition represents her only shot at freedom. The legendary boarding school sits at the edge of the afterlife, trapping students in an eternal existence of shepherding lost souls. But every ten years, six nominees face four trials for a single prize: the choice to graduate into Blackwood's magical elite or cross over to the mysterious Other Side. Wren faces fierce competition from academic rival Augustine Hughes, rule-breaking Irene Manette Bamford, and her best friend Masika Sallow. Meanwhile, Olivier Dupont abandons his previous indifference when new student Emilio Córdova arrives, sparking a desperate need to win that surprises even himself. As the trials begin, each student discovers the true cost of their ambition. This Decennial breaks all precedent, transforming celebration into cutthroat competition where betrayal becomes survival and friendship turns deadly.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, paranormal, academia
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Blackwood Academy
Period: Decennial
512 pages · Hardcover · Delacorte Press
Content warnings: violence