Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Dorothe Bartleby has one more chance to pass her committee exam before she's kicked out of her higher magic program. Between her advisor's suggestion to try a new methodology and her anxiety-fueled panic attacks, it won't be easy. Then, students with disabilities start disappearing from campus, and administrators aren't taking it seriously. Bartleby can focus on polishing her research project or risk expulsion by digging deeper into the disappearances, but with a prophecy foretelling her greatest failure, she fears that whatever she does will end in disaster. Floyd creates a spellbindingly accurate reimagining of the grad school experience, where magic does little to improve the struggle of trying to succeed in academia for neurodivergent or nontraditional students. The quirky fantasy, which includes spell-eating ghosts, literary incantations, and a talking skull powered by machine-learning, will appeal to fans of trending witchy and dark-academia settings. Chosen-family lovers will also appreciate Bartleby's supportive roommates and budding romance with a fellow student. VERDICT A campus novel with a fantasy twist, Floyd's debut will charm anyone who's had to fight for their place in higher education. Strongly recommended for academic libraries with popular fiction sections.--Erin Niederberger
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