That Devil, Ambition coming June 3rd, 2025 from HarperCollins; 416 pages
Content Warning: Death, violence, murder, self-harm, depression
About the Author: “Once upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in Fiction from Wichita State University and can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee. She is the author of the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, What We Devour, and the first three books in the Disney Princes series, Prince of Song & Sea, Prince of Thorns & Nightmares, and Prince of Glass & Midnight. She is represented by Rachel Brooks of Bookends Literary” (Bio from author’s website).
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That Devil, Ambition is a dark academia novel that follows three students who attend the Stellarium, a notoriously expensive institute that happens to be the only school that produces magicians. Every year, thirteen students enter the honors class, and their only assignment is to kill their professor. If they succeed, their student debts are null and they become honorable magicians—the highest of achievements. But the professor is a devil, and the consequences of a failed assassination is the would-be-killer’s life. If no one succeeds before the last day of school, the professor kills any student still alive. Fabian, Credence, and Euphemia are best friends, and none of them could ever afford to pay off their loans; passing is their only option. If these friends want to graduate, not only will they have to kill an immortal, but they will have to stay alive long enough to figure out how.
Linsey Miller has conquered the art of writing a dark atmosphere and forming distinct characters that propel the narrative of her plot. In this world, the Stellarium is the only school that trains magicians and, regardless of their twisted curriculum, they are invaluable. Several different countries send their students to the Stellarium with hopes of them becoming honors class graduates, which puts a pressure on some of the students that I think really adds to the narrative. Determined characters are not uncommon, but it isn’t often that characters really embody the idea of doing anything to reach their goals. These students, not just the three narrators but the entire class, want to pass at all costs, even if it means sabotaging and hurting the people around them. The school has three terms, with a new narrator for each period. The first term is from Fabian’s perspective, my favorite, and his carefully crafted persona hides his true thoughts and ambitions. He wants nothing more than to become an honorable magician to restore his family’s name. Credence’s development throughout her perspective was interesting, and she often reflects on the burden she carries to graduate, which really made me want her to succeed as well. Euphemia is observant and not at all what I expected her to be, but her perspective is the perfect conclusion and really ties everything together. That Devil, Ambition is a thrilling combination of dangerous schemes, unique magic, and desperate characters that dark academia fans will love.
That Devil, Ambition releases on June 3rd, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank SparkPoint Studio and HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Hannah Goerndt, Pine Reads Review Writer