Darkbirch Academy: Darkbirch Academy, Book 1

Name: Darkbirch Academy: Darkbirch Academy, Book 1
Price: 14.59 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4 (2600 reviews)
Author: Krista Graves

by Krista Graves

4.0

About this book

Esme Salem arrives at Darkbirch Academy with a singular, lethal purpose: infiltrate the prestigious magical defense institution and eliminate Kieran Mazrov, a mage whose volatile powers threaten the survival of her kind. For an assassin-in-training like Esme, the mission should be a straightforward matter of precision and steel. However, the halls of Darkbirch are teeming with predatory entities, and the shadows hide more than just her target.

Her carefully laid plans fracture when she encounters Professor Dayn. He is a man of calculated intensity and lethal grace, radiating a heat that defies his academic facade. As Esme navigates a dangerous curriculum filled with dark fae, dragons, and vampires, she finds herself trapped in a volatile game of cat and mouse.

Caught between the man she is sworn to kill and the enigmatic professor who seems to see right through her defenses, Esme must decide if she is the hunter or the prey. In a world where magic demands blood and loyalty is a liability, Esme struggles to maintain her focus. To survive, she must outmaneuver the predators circling her, even if doing so risks unraveling the very mission—and the dark, forbidden desires—that brought her to these cursed gates.

Available Formats

Paperback: $14.59 Audiobook: $0.00

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What readers are saying

Marina Sohma

Fun, sarcastic, magic items hunt, witch and dragon shifter!

"Solid 4.5 Star-rounding to 5 Star because I legit had a blast reading this! I would never had been able to tell that this was a debut work! It was absolutely GREAT!! Plot, pacing, characters, sarcasm, tension, EVERYTHING was top quality! Esme was a great MFC (I appreciate a character running at a healthy 150% sarcasm). She will have to deal with one heck of a plot twist in what she thought her coven was all about. Cannot wait to see what’s coming. Dayn was beyond fantastic , meeting Esme’s sarcasm at full level + intellect (my recipe for perfection). I so look forward to see what twists will come to his life because he knew what he was doing, so there’s much to unpack regarding his feelings and motivations towards that decision. Jumping into the next book! ["

March 7, 2026 Verified Purchase

Mariah Monroy

A Strong Start with a Magical Academy Vibe... Yes Please

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 Stars. This book had such a fun, magical academy vibe, which is something I almost always love. The premise is engaging, and the world itself feels full of potential, especially with the different magical elements and the academy setting. While it took me a little bit to fully settle into the story, once things started unfolding, I found myself more invested in the characters and curious about where everything was going. The dynamics between the characters and the hints at a larger plot definitely kept me turning the pages. There were a few pacing moments that slowed things down for me, but overall, I really enjoyed the world the author is building and the direction the story seems to be heading. By the end, I was definitely intrigued enough to want to continue the series and see what happens next. Can't wait to start book 2! ["

March 11, 2026 Verified Purchase

Jennifer V

Okay

"It wasn't a terribly bad book. It was okay...I thought there would be spice to this book. Spoiler alert there isn't. I like my books dark and spicy... this one didn't have it. I'm not quite sure why we got an epilogue on the sister when Esme's story is no where near finished. Quite frankly I'm not interested in the sister's story. Not sure if I'll read the next book. ["

October 6, 2025 Verified Purchase

Samantha Bolton

Fun Fantasy! witch x dragonshifter

"This is actually one of my favorite reads of 2025, a complete surprise and I absolutely LOVED it. This is a slow burn fantasy, witch x dragonshifter giving TombRaider and Lara Croft vibes (if Lara was a witch x assassin), and its set in a school – but definitely not your average dark academia. I binged this book in two nights, after planning on trying out just a couple chapters – I was hooked. If you like fantasy, with a hint of romance but actually with a story/plot behind it, then this is definitely worth picking up. It’s also a debut from this author, her writing is fun, fast paced and entertaining. ["

June 27, 2025 Verified Purchase