Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni (Hardback)

A dark academia romantasy filled with necromancy, forbidden attraction, and a murder mystery set inside a dangerous magical institute.

Viola was born with the ability to speak to the dead—a power she despises. It cost her sister’s life, and she fears it may soon claim hers as well. Determined to uncover the truth, she travels to the Gorhail Institute of Magic, the last place her sister was seen alive, hoping it holds the answers she needs.

At Gorhail, she crosses paths with Sylas, a poison mage bound to three magical snakes. Immortal and burdened by his past, he keeps his distance from death mages, especially Viola. But when an unexpected attack forces him to save her, a magical bond ties them together, complicating everything he thought he understood about loyalty and control.

As students begin to die under suspicious circumstances, Viola and Sylas are pushed into a fragile alliance. Navigating the institute’s hidden corridors and buried secrets, they uncover a growing threat lurking beneath the surface.

What starts as reluctant cooperation soon deepens, as trust and tension build between them. At the same time, a disturbing pattern emerges—someone is targeting mages and harvesting their power.

With danger closing in, Viola must confront the truth behind her magic while racing to stop a killer before she becomes the next victim.