To prove her worth to her family, seventeen-year-old Ada infiltrates a school for descendants of exiled Renaissance masters to steal their innovations.
Legendborn meets The Da Vinci Code in this captivating light academia contemporary fantasy following a teen who infiltrates a secret school for the descendants of exiled Renaissance masters to steal their long-lost arts and sciences.
Unlike the high-achieving members of her family’s secret society, Ada Castle has mastered nothing but the art of falling for the wrong guys. But now she finally has the chance to prove her worth: she just needs to gain access to a hidden school that her family has been trying to locate for generations. Granted, she accidentally goes on a date with the recruiter first, then is temporarily abducted, but Ada manages to secure herself an invitation to the Genesis Institute, where descendants of exiled Renaissance masters practice long-lost arts and sciences.
The school is a utopia of sustainable technology, medical advancements, and myths come to life, yet they are unjustly hoarding their resources. Ada goes undercover to steal their innovations for the rest of the world, but Genesis nurtures her creativity and challenges her views, and she can’t help but fall for the school…and maybe also for her frustratingly off-limits recruiter-turned-mentor.
Ada’s tangle of lies starts to unravel when one of her new friends goes missing. To rescue her, Ada is forced to work with a dangerous (and dangerously hot) classmate whose suspicions threaten her cover. And when the information she’s shared with her family puts her missing friend and all of Genesis in peril, she’ll have to choose whom to betray: the family she loves or the school that has helped her find herself.
"In The Art of Exile, Andrea Max weaves a razor-sharp tale where history and myth collide, crafting a narrative that pulses with emotion. Ada’s journey unfolds as a tale of ambition, self-discovery, and the delicate art of finding one’s place in an ever-changing world. Beautifully fast-paced!" -- Shea Ernshaw, #1 NYT bestselling author of Long Live the Pumpkin Queen
"Andrea Max has a flair for writing dramatic action, vivid imagery, and well-drawn characters. The Art of Exile should be on everyone's TBR!"
-- Brigid Kemmerer, NYT bestselling author of Forging Silver into Stars
"Unputdownable. The Art of Exile is in every way an exhilarating read, captivating in its clever mythology and utterly swoonworthy romance." -- Ashley Shuttleworth, author of the Hollow Star Saga
"Clever, propulsive, and atmospheric. Like a Renaissance master, Max’s strengths are numerous: The Art of Exile combines meticulous plotting with a vast, lived-in world, and characters one can’t help but root for. Between the many twists and turns, our protagonist’s messy love life, and the hoverjousting, The Art of Exile had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page." -- Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days
"An inventive, compelling debut that’s sure to leave readers eager for the next installment." -- Kirkus Reviews 3/15/2025
“Andrea Max’s The Art of Exile is a delicious light academia romp. Simply put, I devoured this book. With an irresistible cast of characters, plenty of witty banter, and a collection of hair-raising secrets, this is a novel for anyone who ever dreamed that school should (and could) be a truly magical experience. Entirely propulsive and delightful, Max's novel is a remarkable debut.” -- Katy Hays, author of NYT Bestseller The Cloisters
"Drawing from Renaissance history and Jewish mythology, Max conjures a whirlwind romp that cursorily explores themes of wealth inequality and discrimination. Imaginative descriptions of the Makers’ hidden world, Ada’s snarky first-person narration, and a steamy love triangle anchor this contemporary fantasy debut." -- Publishers Weekly 3/3/2025
"Max’s world building and characterizations are remarkable, with a great setup for more thrilling adventures in this series starter." -- Booklist 4/22/2025
Andrea Max is an English teacher who previously worked as a clinical social worker with an MSW from New York University. Aspects of the history and magic systems in The Art of Exile were inspired by the Jewish tradition and mythology with which she was raised. Andrea lives with her husband and toddler in New Jersey.
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