Camford, 1920. Gilded and glittering, England's secret magical academy is no place for Clover, a commoner with neither connections nor magical blood. She tells herself she has fought her way there only to find a cure for her brother Matthew, one of the few survivors of a faerie attack on the battlefields of WWI which left the doors to faerie country sealed, the study of its magic banned, and its victims cursed.
But when Clover catches the eye of golden boy Alden Lennox-Fontaine and his friends, doors that were previously closed to her are flung wide open, and she soon finds herself enmeshed in the seductive world of the country's magical aristocrats. The summer she spends in Alden’s orbit leaves a fateful mark: months of joyous friendship and mutual study come crashing down when experiments go awry, and old secrets are unearthed.
Years later, when the faerie seals break, Clover knows it’s because of what they did. And she knows that she must seek the help of people she once called friends—and now doesn’t quite know what to call—if there’s any hope of saving the world as they know it."
I still believe H.G. Parry is criminally underrated and I need more people to read her work!
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door is a stunning story of fae, academia, friendships, thoughtful writing and a captivating narrative. I am always most captivated by Parry’s meticulous care for language and how well she crafts her prose into such immersive and enchanting stories. This standalone fae/academia fantasy is perfect for readers seeking a magical adventure without committing to an entire series, and I know that there are plenty of people looking for more standalone, so this is for you!
Set in the aftermath of World War I, we begin following our protagonist Clover as her brother returns home from the war gravely injured by a fae curse that was caused when a fae broke through into the human world and wreaked havoc on the battlefield. Determined to help him recover from the effects of the curse, Clover sets out to study magic and discover how to reverse the curse–despite the fact that she lacks any magical blood and is not from a "Family" (longstanding bloodlines that carry magic down family lines). Still, this doesn't stop her from earning her place at Camford, a prestigious university of magic that is hidden from the non-magical, where she embarks on a brand new phase of her life.
Clover is a determined and fairly headstrong young woman, but she is more of a 'keep your head down and focus on what you need to do' person rather than someone who stands out and makes a fuss or big name for herself. At Camford, she meets the charming Alden Lennox-Fontaine and is subsequently introduced to Hero and Eddie, and the four quickly form a tight friend group. We see Clover initially struggle to find her footing at Camford and among her new friend group, but over time she eventually figures out where she stands and even manages to achieve a sense of comfort and almost belonging at this new school and in her life.
Alden is a hard character to pin down. He’s hard to get know on a deep level and is also very much focused on furthering his own goals, which we eventually learn intersect with Clover’s. While he’s not the kindest person, his charm makes him compelling and hard not to want to be friends with, which Clover finds herself struggling with.
Hero is as equally headstrong as Clover, though sometimes in different ways, and is determined to break barriers for women in magical academia and the magical world in general, which is currently dominated by men. She’s steadfast and loyal and truly a force to be reckoned with.
Eddie, however, was my favorite. Eddie brings a unique depth to the group and could be described as quiet, insightful, and deeply passionate about plants, botany, and hedge witch magics. He is a quietly loyal friend who often fades into the background or is taken for granted by his friends, especially since he is often outshone by the strong personalities of Alden and Hero. His contributions are subtle at times, but significant–I would never underestimate him–and I felt for him throughout the story.
One of the highlights of the book is the evolution of the friendships within this group. The dynamic relationships—sometimes changing for the better, sometimes for the worse—are intricate and deeply explored. Parry masterfully develops each character and their connections, showcasing how they grow in complex ways both individually and together.
The world-building is equally fascinating. I loved the idea that magic could be learned by anyone with the determination to study it, whether a part of a Family or not. I loved the deep dive into fae theories and how curses work and how they make their way to the human world. I wish we’d spent more time delving into other mechanics of fae magic and the fae world itself, but I understand that that may have changed some of the focus of the book. I actually appreciated that the focus on Clover’s studies kept the scope of the story tight, which instead added to the mystique of the fae world. For me as a reader, I tend to lean towards a ‘sometimes less is more’ preference, and Parry strikes a delicate balance here, leaving just enough to the imagination.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door story gave me subtle Harry Potter vibes (in a good way!) at times, particularly with the hidden magical world and the enchanted university setting. However, it had plenty to make it’s own world unique and stand out. Camford’s dark, magical ambiance always felt rich with hidden details, and the academia-focused first part of the book was developed incredibly well. And although the majority of the first portion of the book takes place at the university, there is a small variety of additional settings we visit as well. I found there to be nice balance of places and things that happen in this book that prevents it from ever getting boring or feeling like it was dragging.
I’d also like to point out that this isn’t a romance-heavy book. There are hints of potential romance, but it’s subtle and secondary to the story. Instead, the focus is on magic, friendship, and the complexities of this world, which felt really fresh and rewarding.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door tells what is truly a rather monumental story within a single, standalone volume. The character work is exceptional, the world expansive yet mysterious, and Parry’s writing is gorgeous—sharp, witty, and deeply immersive.
If you haven’t read H.G. Parry yet, this is a fantastic place to start. If you have, whether or not you enjoyed her previous works, I encourage you to give this one a try. It’s a brilliant, unique fae fantasy that offers something a little different from what’s out there. Overall, I’ve given The Scholar and the Faerie door five stars!
*I received a copy of The Scholar and the Faerie Door in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my rating.*
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