Find Romantasy Books
The Library of Amorlin: Deluxe Limited Edition (The Age of Beasts)
Kalyn Josephson
4.4
Wicked Onyx (Special Edition): A Dark Academia Romantasy (The Veritas Legacy)
by Debbie Cassidy
Published Feb 10, 2026
Categories
About this book
Nightsbridge Academy is a fortress designed to keep the world safe from Horrors and Echoes, but for Elara Onyx, it is a gilded cage. As the last survivor of a disgraced bloodline branded with a generational curse, Elara enters the academy powerless and despised. Her mission is singular: infiltrate the school’s depths to recover an ancient text that will exonerate her family and expose the Imperium’s long-standing lies.
Survival at Nightsbridge requires navigating a treacherous social hierarchy where her very presence is a provocation. However, her plan is jeopardized by the sudden, inexplicable weakening of her curse—a change triggered only when she is in the orbit of two men deeply embedded in the institution she intends to dismantle. One is a silent, observant enigma; the other is a steady protector.
Both represent a dangerous temptation in a life defined by isolation. As Elara hunts for the truth, the line between ally and enemy blurs, and she must decide if reclaiming her legacy is worth the risk of being discovered. In a setting where secrets are lethal and trust is a luxury, Elara discovers that some truths are grave enough to burn the entire academy to the ground.
Available Formats
Kindle: $13.99 Paperback: $14.98
What readers are saying
The Booktrovert RecordsA dark, immersive academy fantasy with a badass heroine and delicious tension—I’m obsessed.
"Overall: 5/5 Overall plot: 5/5 Character development: 5/5 Pace: 5/5 World building: 5/5 Spice 🌶️: 1.5/5 You don’t graduate Nightsbridge Academy—you survive it. Born into a cursed sorcerer bloodline and stripped of her power, Anamaya (Ana) Onyx has spent her life branded a traitor for a crime committed generations ago. But when her mother dies, she leaves behind a clue—an ancient text hidden beneath Nightsbridge Academy that could prove the Onyx name was wrongfully condemned. The Academy is a fortress filled with the most dangerous incantors and sorcerers, tasked with holding back Horrors and Echoes. As the last surviving Onyx, Ana is owed a place there. Her goal? Find the book. Expose the Imperium. Reclaim her legacy. Simple… except for the whispers in her dreams. The curse cracking at unexpected moments. And the two men tied to the very institution she plans to destroy—one watchful and quiet, the other steady and fiercely protective. If they learn why she’s truly there, she won’t make it out alive. I could not put this down. Truly. The only reason I stopped reading was because adult responsibilities said I had to. This was my first time reading Debbie Cassidy, and I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for her other work —I devoured it. The worldbuilding is layered but never overwhelming. We learn about the clans, the history, the Horrors, and Nightsbridge itself alongside Ana, which makes the depth of the world feel immersive instead of info-dumpy. Debbie does such a strong job balancing mystery with momentum. Ana is exactly the kind of FMC I love—cursed, underestimated, and quietly powerful. Watching her piece together her history and fight to reclaim what’s rightfully hers? So satisfying. And the MMCs? Vitra and Drayven bring two very different energies to the table. I’m not usually a love triangle girl, but I love how this one is unfolding. It feels intentional, slow-burn, and rooted in character rather than just drama. By the time the curse starts to crack and the stakes escalate, I was fully invested. The tension builds beautifully—and now I need the next book immediately. ✨ Tropes & Vibes: 🖤 Dark Academia 👑 Cursed Bloodline 🔥 Slow Burn 🫶 Found Family 🕯️ Secrets & Hidden Texts 👁️ Supernaturals & Shadowy Institutions A dark, immersive academy fantasy with a badass heroine and delicious tension—I’m obsessed. ["
February 25, 2026 Verified Purchase
Marissa E.Vampires, werewolves & witches..oh my
"I’m such a sucker for dark academia, so when I saw Wicked Onyx it immediately intrigued me. Ana, our FMC, comes from a cursed bloodline due to the sins of her ancestor, leaving her family name disgraced and magicless. Ana decides to go train at a hunters academy, learning to kill monsters but also discover hidden truths. I absolutely loved the banter between the found family in this book, and at this point I couldn’t even tell you who the MMC is or if this turns into a why choose, who knows, but I was absolutely here for the teacher/student trope. The romance is absolutely a subplot in this book, but I do think it will pick up in later books. This book while a fun read has a lot going on, there’s so many different supernatural creatures ghosts, werewolves, vampires, witches, monsters, and the list goes on, sometimes making it a tad overwhelming. Overall, this was a great start to what I believe is a trilogy. ["
February 12, 2026 Verified Purchase
JackaayReadsAllDayThat was fantastic. Can I have book 2 now?
"o, I’m in love with this series now. I am a try and true Debbie Cassidy fan, but this is going to be one of my all-time favorite series of hers. I am severely irritated with these MMC‘s… But isn’t that always the case? The tension is absolutely fantastic but so irritating! I sat down and read this in an afternoon and completely ignored my adulting duties and I am completely happy with that decision. I’m both happy and sad that I got to read this so early. I’m happy because this story was incredible but I’m sad because now I have to wait for the next book. I have so many questions that I’m sure the author will answer in the next few books, but I need the answers now because I like instant gratification. However, I love this author, so I guess I will impatiently wait for the next installment. I need some drastic things to happen to a few certain characters… I’m also not sure how I feel about a few of these characters pasts. I absolutely love Jay and I can’t wait to get more info about a few more of the side characters in the books to come. ["
February 18, 2026 Verified Purchase
Jacquie StolzDark Academy
"A magical dark academy Nightbridge Academy action packed page turner. Ana the last onyx in her bloodline, cursed and blocked from her powers. She is searching for answers hidden at the Academy for information on what she is. The Academ trains their students to hunt and kill magical creatures to help protect the world. This is an action packed story with a large collection of supernaturals that you can't help but fall in love with. ["
February 10, 2026 Verified Purchase
