I obtained a evaluate copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my evaluate and all opinions are my very own.

Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz

Mogsy’s Ranking: 2.5 of 5 stars

Style: Fantasy, Romance

Collection: Stand Alone

Writer: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Younger Readers (February 3, 2026)

Size: 304 pages

Creator Data: Web site | Twitter

I discover myself a bit of torn on my emotions for Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz. I’d say test it out if you happen to’re a sucker for darkish academia fantasy, but in addition pay attention to the opposite main themes within the story. It doesn’t all the time appear to know what it desires to be, and in the long run, that indecision is what dampens what might have been a significantly better learn.

The story follows Atticus, Dorian, and Raven, three childhood mates with magical talents who’ve all the time dreamed of attending the Sibylline faculty of magic collectively. Nonetheless, when all three are despatched rejection letters, they refuse to simply accept this as the tip of the road and provide you with a technique to get contained in the college anyway. In any case, if they will’t enter as college students, what’s stopping them from doing it as staff as an alternative? After securing jobs as a professor assistant, a lab aide, and a library employee, the three start sneaking into lectures, secretly auditing lessons, and stealing entry to restricted books. By slowly piecing collectively a magical training by means of unofficial means, they hope to raised perceive their very own powers, which appear to develop stronger the longer they spend time on campus.

However their underground efforts quickly uncover one thing rotten on the coronary heart of Sibylline. Historic magic stirring beneath its grand halls and rumors of a pupil’s mysterious loss of life trace at a menace that could be tied to the very basis of the varsity. Because the trio are drawn deeper into their investigation, long-standing emotions and unstated sights between them additionally start to floor, inflicting no small quantity of friction inside their relationship. Caught between maintaining their heads down and confronting a hazard they barely perceive, Raven, Atticus, and Dorian should determine how far they’re keen to go for magic, even when it’d tear their friendship aside.

Whereas the premise holds lots of potential with a setup that’s undeniably enjoyable, the execution doesn’t fairly maintain collectively. Simply when the plot feels prefer it’s settling right into a darkish magic faculty thriller with only a sprinkling of romantic rigidity, it takes a pointy flip towards emotional angst to develop into a full-blown relationship drama—and one that’s messy and distracting as hell at that. In fact, this was earlier than I noticed, at its core, Sibylline is definitely a throuple romance. The sexual tensions burning between our three protagonists aren’t a part of a supplementary aspect story working alongside the principle narrative as I’d initially thought, however they’re the truth is THE essential focus.

As you possibly can think about, the darkish academia points and even the central thriller surrounding the varsity itself typically take a backseat to total chapters spent belaboring who’s in love with whom. For these maintaining observe, Raven has been quietly pining for Atticus since they have been youngsters, however Atticus is the truth is secretly love with Dorian, whereas for years Dorian has been carrying a torch for Raven. The tragedy is that every one three are deeply invested within the unsuitable individual, with none of their emotions absolutely returned. Cue the jealousies, damage emotions, and total an exhausting quantity of psychological turmoil born of unrequited love.

The result’s that the thriller and horror components get pushed out simply as they’re beginning to develop into attention-grabbing. This lack of steadiness is very noticeable when the characters’ precise investigation is regularly interrupted by lengthy stretches centered on their emotional spiraling, bringing the tempo to a crawl. The shift feels much more jarring if you happen to went into this novel anticipating a really completely different form of story, and even one geared toward a distinct age group. It’s attention-grabbing to notice that Sibylline is printed beneath a YA imprint, but it surely feels prefer it ought to be categorized as New Grownup, given its mature themes and a sexually express threesome scene close to the tip that makes it much less acceptable for youthful teen readers.

Ultimately, Sibylline appears like a e book full of fine concepts that by no means fairly come collectively. To be honest although, I wasn’t in any respect ready for the first focus of the story to be an overwrought and emotionally sophisticated three-way romance, however readers who’re into that form of dynamic will possible get far more out of this one than I did.