Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Suicidal ideation, Substance abuse, Grief, Gore, Murder, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationships, Gambling
An Arcane Study of Stars
by Sydney J. Shields
Dark academia with teeth - an occult university, a soul-bargain with a demon, and a rival you want to hate until you really, really don't.
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length512 pages
Story statusStandalone
Spice4/5 · Power dynamic
PacingMedium
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)
- Medium burn
- High
- Power dynamic
- The swoon
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- Rival / competitor
- Rivals to lovers
- Passionate / intense
- Tension finally satisfied
- Scholar/intellectual
- Academic rivals
- Dominant vibes
- Addictive read
- Morally gray
- Love/hate tension
- Submissive vibes
- Power imbalance
- Dirty talk heavy
- Kinky / adventurous
- Angry / hate sex
- Pinning hands above head
- Marking hickeys
- BDSM elements
- Power exchange
- Dominance
- Praise kink
Fantasy promise
- Historical fantasy romance
- Academy / campus
- Academy / school
- Demons
- Secret society / club
- Historical
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- Witches/wizards/warlocks
- Dark academia romance
- Low fantasy / secret magic
- Forbidden love
- Gothic
- Secret society
- Corruption arc
Reading experience
- Third person
- Medium
- Dark
- Lyrical
- Moderate
- Bookworm/scholar
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- Atmospheric
- Witch/mage
- Seductive
- Ambitious schemer
- Immersive
- Intense
- Mysterious
- Forbidden desire
- Forbidden knowledge
- Cursed bloodline
- Star-crossed lovers
- Slow descent into darkness
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
412 pages Standalone
Honor & Heresy
Max Francis
Similar because
Rivals to lovers · Academic rivals · Academy / school
Different because
Spice is lower (1/5 vs 4/5). A shorter read (412 vs 512 pages).
512 pages Completed
Immortal Consequences
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Similar because
Rivals to lovers · Academic rivals · Rival / competitor
Different because
It is completed rather than standalone. Spice is lower (1/5 vs 4/5).
326 pages Completed
Heart's Gambit
J.D. Myall
Similar because
Rivals to lovers · Academic rivals · Star-crossed lovers
Different because
It is completed rather than standalone. Spice is lower (1/5 vs 4/5).
Book details
- Length
- 512 pages
- Publisher
- Redhook
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book