🪄 Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin (Feiwel & Friends, March 25, 2025) is a moody, magic-infused YA fantasy with dark academia vibes, a compelling found-family cast, and just enough danger to keep you turning the pages late into the night. If you’re craving a book that feels like Harry Potter meets The Breakfast Club with a dash of Suicide Squad, you’re in for a treat. Brought to you by TBR and Beyond Tours, this story is full of magic, mystery, and misfits.
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and the author for the book and my honest review. Here are my Top 5 Reasons you should add Lovely Dark and Deep to your TBR:
Title: Lovely Dark and Deep
Author: Elisa A. Bronnin
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publishing date: March 25, 2025
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Synopsis:
From author Elisa A. Bonnin comes Lovely Dark and Deep, a YA dark academia novel exploring magic, loneliness, and the power of found family.
Hidden off the coast of Washington, veiled in mist, there is an island that does not appear on any map. And on that island is Ellery West.
Ellery West has always been home for Faith. After an international move and a childhood spent adjusting to a new culture and a new language, the acclaimed school for magic feels like the only place she can be herself. That is, until Faith and another student walk into the forest, and only Faith walks out.
Marked with the red stripe across her uniform that designates all students deemed too dangerous to attend regular classes, Faith becomes a social pariah, an exile of Ellery West. But all she has to do is keep her head down for one more year to graduate, and she gets to keep her magic. Because when students fail out of Ellery West, they have their magic taken away. Forever. And Faith can’t let that happen.
Except terrifying things are still happening to students, and the dark magic that was unleashed in the forest still seems to be at work. To stop it, Faith and the other Red Stripes will have to work together, risking expulsion from the magical world altogether.
Content Warning: bullying
My Top 5 Reasons to Read "Lovely Dark and Deep" by Elisa A. Bronnin
1. 🧙♀️ That Classic “Magic School” Vibe—with a Twist
If you’re a fan of magical academies (hi, fellow HP lovers), Lovely Dark and Deep delivers a similar setting with a fresh spin. Ellery West, the hidden island school for magic, feels like a dark, misty secret—and you’ll want to enroll immediately. But don’t expect whimsical spells and talking portraits; this place comes with shadows, secrets, and real consequences. When students fail? Their magic is stripped away. Forever. No pressure.
2. 🚫 The Red Stripes = Misfit Magic Awesomeness
Say hello to the "bad kids" of the magical world. After a tragic incident in the forest, Faith finds herself branded with a red stripe on her uniform—a mark that screams “dangerous” and exiles her from normal student life. But as she bonds with the other outcasts (who totally give off Suicide Squad x Breakfast Club energy), the story leans hard into one of my favorite tropes: misunderstood outsiders proving they’re more than what the world says they are.
3. 🧠 Neurodivergent, Queer, and AAPI Rep
One of the standout strengths of this novel is its inclusive cast. Faith’s neurodivergent perspective is treated with care and authenticity, reflecting the author’s own experience. With queer, LGBT+, autistic, and Filipino/AAPI rep seamlessly woven into the story, readers from all walks of life can find themselves in these pages. It’s the kind of representation we need more of in YA fantasy—organic, meaningful, and powerful.
4. 😲 The Twist You Didn’t See Coming
Without spoiling anything: yes, the story may start with some familiar tropes, but don’t be fooled. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the final act threw a curveball that gave the book new life. That twist—and how it reframed everything before it—really helped set this book apart and made me appreciate the careful plotting behind the story. Major props to Elisa A. Bonnin for that satisfying payoff.
5. 🫶 Found Family Feels
At its heart, this is a story about connection—how people heal when they find others who truly see them. The Red Stripes might be broken, isolated, and feared by others, but together they create something stronger than magic: loyalty, love, and friendship. If you’re a sucker for found-family dynamics like I am, you’ll fall hard for this crew.
⭐ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Lovely Dark and Deep may feel familiar in places, but the strength of its characters and its final twist make it worth your time. It’s a moody, meaningful YA fantasy with just enough darkness and heart to keep you hooked.
About the author:
Elisa A. Bonnin was born and raised in the Philippines, after which she moved to the United States to study chemistry and later oceanography. After completing her doctorate, she moved to Germany to work as a postdoctoral scientist. A lifelong learner, Elisa is always convinced that she should “maybe take a class in something” and as a result, has amassed an eclectic collection of hobbies. But writing will always be her true love. Publishing a book has been her dream since she was eight years old, and she is thrilled to finally be able to share her stories. She is the author of Dauntless and Stolen City.
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