Daybreak: A Dark Academia Romance Full of Mystery and Forbidden Love From the Sunday Times

THE INSTANT NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Immensely fun and sexy . . . everything I love about dark academia’ – Ali Hazelwood, author of Bride

LOVE. LIES. BETRAYAL. WELCOME BACK TO SORROWSONG UNIVERSITY . . .

Alex Corbeau-Green left his heart behind.

Now his world is burning down, and Ophelia Winters is desperate to prove she didn’t strike the match. When she first joined Sorrowsong University, she wanted nothing more than to destroy Alex and his high-powered family. But that was before she knew him – before she fell for the man behind the reputation.

In the face of an unthinkable betrayal and the disappearance of his father, Alex is forced to return to New York, hoping to forget what he had with Ophelia and to undo the damage done to his family.

In Scotland, Ophelia is left reeling, alone . . . and watched. With a new anonymous tormentor threatening them both, the pair find themselves drawn back to one another. But can they rebuild the love and trust between them? And, even if they can, will it be enough to keep them alive?

From Autumn Woods, Daybreak is the stunning conclusion to the Sunday Times bestseller Nightshade – a dark academia romance brimming with snarky banter, shadowy figures, and sizzling tension.

Tropes:
Grumpy x Grumpy
Dark Academia
University Setting
He Falls First
Groveling
CEO MMC
Yearning
Romantic Suspense

Readers love Daybreak!
‘An absolute masterpiece . . . gripping, page-turning and engaging’

‘All that I had hoped it would be and more’

‘Emotionally charged, beautiful, and satisfying’

‘Everything I want in a sequel . . . I just love these characters so much’

‘I have never been so emotionally devastated’

‘Such a beautiful story with an ending that left my heart full’

‘Heartbreakingly beautiful . . . atmospheric, mysterious, utterly soul crushing’

‘This book had everything I could want: mystery, romance, mental health representation, found family, and a truly satisfying happily-ever-after’

‘Absolute perfection’

Daybreak was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller in August 2026.

Autumn Woods is the Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sorrowsong Series. She loves to write gothic and gloomy settings, and love stories that’ll tear you apart just to put you back together again. Her books have been translated into twenty languages.

Outside of writing, she is a book illustrator and an aerospace engineer. An enthusiast of coffee, pastries, and all things outdoors, you’ll often find her climbing, painting, baking, or walking the British countryside with Mr Woods and their dog.

Instagram : @autumnwoods.author

Tiktok : @autumn.woods.author

Immensely fun and sexy - this book combines everything I love about dark academia and new adult! Autumn Woods wrote a winner! — Ali Hazelwood, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Bride, on Nightshade

Daybreak is an emotional, angsty follow-up about two people who feel destined for each other, even as everything seems set against them. It explores grief and depression with tenderness and depth, with so much longing woven through every page. Heartfelt, haunting, and hard to forget. I devoured it in a day! — Ki Stephens, author of Spring Tide

The Sorrowsong University duet is truly in a league of its own! Daybreak is the breathtaking finale readers have been waiting for. From the deep, raw emotions and angsty romance to the found family and twists I didn’t see coming, my heart was aching in the very best way. I’m an Autumn Woods (and Ophelia and Alex) fangirl for life! — Jillian Meadows, internationally bestselling author of Give Me Butterflies

Triumphant, funny, heartfelt, and lovely. Daybreak is full of hope, and so, so much love . . . I want everyone to read it — Kath Richards, author of Fangs with Benefits

Autumn Woods once again delivers! Daybreak is filled with tension and banter - it was so hard to put down! I’ll be thinking of this book for months to come — E. Salvador, internationally bestselling author of Please Don’t Go