Release date: 28th October 2025
The Book of Autumn is a New Adult fantasy revolving around Marcella ‘Cella’ Gibbons, her magical school and her ex-boyfriend, Max Middlemore. Wonderfully drawn; a student is murdered, another hexed and Cella has been tasked with solving the mystery, saving the students and restoring the reputation of the school.
I really, really enjoyed this book. The two ‘dimidiums’, Cella and Max, have a great/tense relationship that somehow manages to come secondary to the main plot. Most authors would have made the relationship front and centre and for a debut author, this shows real restraint and accomplishment.
Secondly, the main plot is just absurdly good. The breadcrumbs scattered are all based on real world theories and texts, adding a layer of realism. I love the little references and the quirky footnotes as a style, imitating academia.
The minor characters are memorable and the relationships between them are explored in generous depth. This adds to the clique-y, academic school vibe and gives character to the setting itself. The whole book is Dan Brown meets Fourth Wing meets competent writing and I am such a fan. It’s hard to critique without giving too many spoilers, so I’ll simply say the book is delightful and recommend you read it yourself.
If this is the debut, I cannot wait to see what else O’Sullivan can bring to the table in future.
| Criteria | Scores | Our Score |
| Artistic Achievement | 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Pacing | 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Characters | 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Writing Style | 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Originality | 1 – 5 | 5 |
Written By: ivetafox
Favourite Game – Long Live the Queen || Favourite Film – Sweeney Todd || Favourite Book – Wuthering Heights
About: Ivy is a disabled, autistic writer from the UK, passionate about inclusive gaming. When not reviewing, she can be found writing short stories and micro fiction or reading the latest gothic novel.
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