The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door – H. G. Parry

Set in post-WWI England, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door follows Clover, a determined commoner navigating the glittering, secretive world of Camford’s magical academy. Her mission: to cure her brother, a survivor of a devastating faerie attack during the war. When she befriends Alden, a charismatic aristocrat, doors to forbidden knowledge—and dangerous alliances—swing open. But magic comes at a cost, and their experiments unravel secrets that echo far beyond their academic ambitions.

The story weaves between Clover’s early days at the academy and its aftermath a decade later, revealing how youthful curiosity and ambition collide with Faerie’s ancient, volatile power. Parry’s lush prose immerses readers in a world where spells are whispered in libraries, friendships are forged in shadowy labs, and the line between savior and villain blurs. Themes of class, sacrifice, and the ethics of power simmer beneath a plot thick with faerie curses, hidden doors, and the weight of history.

Clover’s journey is one of resilience and self-discovery, as she confronts the fallout of choices made in desperation. The novel’s magic system, rooted in scholarship and folklore, feels both intricate and perilously alive. Parry masterfully balances the allure of academia with the creeping dread of unleashed forces, crafting a tale that’s as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.