Honour & Heresy

Honour & Heresy by Max Francis is a gothic dark academia fantasy that drops you into a war-torn world where books are treated as dangerous indulgences. Set against the hush and menace of the Orphic Basilica—an abandoned, haunted library—this atmospheric tale blends scholarly obsession, creeping horror and sharp-edged romance.

Roy Dawnseve would rather argue philosophy than fight, but when his society demands soldiers over thinkers, he chooses investigation over the front lines. Inside the Basilica, whispering corridors and restless ghosts make every answer feel hard-won. His reluctant ally is Percival Atherton: brilliant, infuriating, and far too charismatic for comfort. As a snowstorm cuts them off from help, their rivalry tightens into something more complicated, while a deeper conspiracy threatens everything Northgard believes about its enemies—and itself.

Perfect for readers who love queer fantasy, haunted library settings, rivals-to-lovers tension, and moody winter reads. Step into the Basilica and see what the shelves have been hiding.