The Academy

I’ll be honest: *The Academy* frustrated me at first. Bentley Little doesn’t rush his reveals, and for the first few hours, I found myself leaning in, rewinding, trying to piece together what the hell was happening in this cursed school. But that’s the point. The confusion isn’t sloppy writing—it’s the horror. By the time the pieces start clicking, you’re already too invested to look away. David Stifel’s narration is a masterclass in restraint. He doesn’t overperform the scares; instead, he lets the absurdity of the academy’s rules—its *logic*—do the work. His even tone makes the occasional outburst of violence or madness land like a gut punch. That said, this isn’t a flawless listen. The pacing drags in the middle, where Little indulges in repetitive cycles of confusion and partial revelation. Some listeners might also balk at the ending, which—without spoiling—feels more like a surrender than a resolution. But those critiques fade when I think about the scenes that *worked*: the eerie assembly where students are graded on their nightmares, the teacher who smiles while describing torture as ‘curriculum,’ the way the protagonist’s resistance feels futile from the start. Stifel’s delivery shines in these moments, his voice dripping with just enough irony to make you wonder if he’s in on the joke. If you love horror that’s cerebral, unsettling, and willing to leave you with more questions than answers, this is a standout. Just don’t expect to sleep easy after." "tags": [ "psychological horror audiobook