Title: The Library at Hellebore
Author: Cassandra Khaw
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Horror
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Date published: July 22, 2025
Complimentary physical and digital copies were
kindly provided by Tor Nightfire in exchange for
an honest review.
The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously powerful: the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers.
Hellebore promises redemption, acceptance, and a normal life after graduation. At least, that’s what Alessa Li is told when she’s kidnapped and forcibly enrolled.
But there’s more to Hellebore than meets the eye. On graduation day, the faculty go on a ravenous rampage, feasting on Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and a group of her classmates escape the carnage. Trapped in the school’s library, they must offer a human sacrifice every night, or else the faculty will break down the door and kill everyone.
Can they band together and survive, or will the faculty eat its fill?
⤖ My Review ⬻
I first experienced Cassandra Khaw’s writing in The Dead Take the A Train (which was one of my favourite books of 2024 and I hope will get a sequel)! When I heard that this author was publishing The Library at Hellebore and that it would be horror and dark academia, I knew I needed it in my life. And wow, did I ever enjoy this book! There was a magical college setting, there was definitely dark academia, and boy was there horror.
It was bloody, and squishy, and delightfully horrifying! Some of the descriptions were both lush and gross at the same time…and it really worked for me. I would be so, so happy to return to The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted. But I’ll be happy by anything else Khaw decides to write. Their next publication, a novella, comes out this October…and luckily there are many other Khaw books that I can devour while I wait!
⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻
⤖ Let's Chat ⬻
Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!
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I loved this too! And thanks for the heads up about their new book, I will keep an eye out for it
Yay! So glad to hear it! And my pleasure 🙂
Cassandra Khaw is one author I always keep an eye on but whose book I never picked up. They always have such an interesting premises though and I’m glad this one is also working for you!