Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Sexual content, Murder, Death, Death of sibling, Execution, Grief, Violence, Graphic violence, Blood, Bullying
Malachite
by Ashley Andersen
Book 1 in Valmora Academy
If dark academia romantasy is your weakness, this has the good stuff: lethal school politics, crystal-tied magic, a heroine fighting uphill, and a romance that stays messy long enough to earn the payoff.
goodreads 4.24/5 574 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length416 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice3/5 · Passionate / intense
PacingFast
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Passionate / intense
- Adrenaline rush
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- Dark/tortured soul
- Love/hate tension
- Slow seduction
- Book hangover incoming
- Morally gray
- Betrayal to trust
- Tension / anticipation
- Found family feels
- Protective love interest
- Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
- The angst delivered
- Warrior/fighter
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Tension
- Tension finally satisfied
- Anticipation
- Found family
- Longing glances
- Push and pull
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Academy / campus
- High fantasy
- Witches/wizards/warlocks
- Brother's best friend
- Competition / games
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- Academy / school
- Forced proximity
- Bully romance
- Dark academia romance
Reading experience
- Third person
- Fast
- Dark
- Immersive
- Heavy
- General badass
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- Romantic
- Fast-paced
- Reluctant chosen one
- Tense
- Emotional
- Survivor
- Magical
- Fallen noble / disgraced heir
- Dramatic
- Character-driven
- Angsty
- Atmospheric
- Deadly trials
- Chosen one burden
- Bonds forged in war
- Cliffhanger warning
- Series binge material
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
598 pages Completed
Masquerade of Mirrors
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Similar because
Betrayal to trust · Dark academia romance · Academy / school
Different because
A longer read (598 vs 416 pages).
536 pages Completed
Iron & Embers
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Similar because
Dark academia romance · Love/hate tension · Push and pull
Different because
Medium pacing rather than Fast. A longer read (536 vs 416 pages).
530 pages Completed
Tide of Darkness
Amarah Calderini
Similar because
Love/hate tension · Bonds forged in war · Dark
Different because
Spice is lower (2/5 vs 3/5). Medium pacing rather than Fast.
Book details
- Length
- 416 pages
- Publisher
- Moa Press
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book