Review Detail

A Darker Mischief follows Cal who has just won a scholarship to an elite boarding school. Cal is from Mississippi, where he was a poor, queer, kid who didn’t fit in, and he is hoping that this will change at Essex Academy. When Cal gets to Essex he is quite disappointed as his rich classmates treat him like an outsider. He is just about to decide to leave Essex and go back home when he stumbles upon a secret society in Essex. Cal is aware that he doesn’t seem to be what the society is looking for but he meets Luke Kim in the process of joining the society. As Cal is falling in love with Luke, the process for joining Essex gets more and more risky and Cal has to decide how much he wants to fit in and how much of himself he is willing to risk. 

What I Liked: I will admit that when I first started reading this book I was a bit wary as it was reading as historical fiction and that is a genre that I avoid. I am glad I decided to stick with it regardless of that fear because as I read more it was hard to put this book down. I quickly fell in love with the setting of the book and the backstory that was built around Essex and this secret society that Cal is invested in. 

As you learn more about the characters, it's hard not to become invested in Cal and Luke’s backstory and want to know more about them individually and what they bring to each other. I am fascinated with how the story plays out as Cal is finding out secrets about the Society and we are learning about secrets that Cal has. As I read on, I noticed that Cal shared intriguing moments with his roommate, Jeffrey, which made me curious about the other students' comments regarding Jeffrey.  

This book is separated into three parts which are all connected to the secret Society that Cal is in. I appreciate how the author separated these three sections and how each builds upon the previous section. I love how you the author introduce new people, places, and history to us by integrating these facts into the story and what is happening. I appreciate that we didn’t just get all this information dumped on us from the beginning and that we continue to learn more throughout the book or be reminded of previous information. 

Final Verdict: A Darker Mischief is a dark, mysterious, intriguing read that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat as you wait to find out what is coming next. Young adults ages 13 and up will enjoy reading as Cal falls in love with Luke and discovers more about himself, the school, and those around him. This is a great book to pick up during the fall season especially if you are looking for a spooky read.