Lessons in Trickery (Academy of Villains) by Ever King

The story continues in Book 3 of the Academy of Villains series—a dark academia romantasy inspired by Hekate and Hermes, perfect for fans of Zodiac Academy and Shadow and Bone, featuring a secret relationship, divided loyalties, demons, titans, and a deadly quest. In a kingdom where magic is slowly disappearing, an evil king hunts witches, brands their kind as traitors, and forces mages to serve under his endless rule. But the king hides many secrets, and one of them, when unearthed, will shatter the balance of power and unmask the mythic monster the world once mistook for a god. Bellatrix Bane, a witch hiding among mages, never meant to fall for her enemy. After a Heartstring binds her to Skymage Dorian Mistfall, her destiny becomes a death sentence. The witches curse her to die by the Death Sands, an enchanted hourglass that will stop her heart when the final grain falls. They give her one chance to survive: seduce Dorian, betray him, and steal his secrets before her time runs out. She will need his help to find a gate concealed by ancient magic, revealed only by a locator spell requiring bones, blood, and ashes from the bloodlines that sealed it. As Titans stir in the mountains and rumors of a lost heir spread through the realm, witches, mages, and the Starmarked Seven brace for a magical war that will decide the fate of their world. - Read more