by 
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. Your purchases help fund my content and come at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Dark academia is usually characterised by a mix of academia, mystery, and a touch of gothic charm.
And, to make it even more atmospheric, they’re set in old schools with lots of secrets and intense drama.
It’s been gaining a lot of attention lately, and even though I’m usually not one for very intense reads (I get spooked so easily), I decided to give a few a shot.
To my surprise, I found a bunch of dark academia books that I absolutely loved and couldn’t put down, which is what actually inspired this post.
I found myself mysteriously being drawn in by the old-world charm when I read Ninth House and, if you’re someone like me who intentionally avoids thrillers, you could try reading dark academia books.
They’re all so super interesting and the ones on this list will hit the spot if you’ve ever gotten a hankering for existential angst and the darker side of academia.
1. Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Portrait of a Thief follows Will Chen, a Harvard senior who plans an audacious heist: reclaiming five priceless Chinese sculptures looted from Beijing centuries ago.
With a crew consisting of Irene Chen, Daniel Liang, Lily Wu, and Alex Huang—each with their own complicated ties to China and their Chinese-American identities—Will decides to set out on a mission fueled by justice and personal ambition.
This risky and daring endeavour will test Will and his team for everything they have, and trust me when I say it’s just as interesting as it sounds.
Have you ever read a book and had the distinct impression that the author must have spent a lot of time in the ideation and research phase? That’s exactly how this book feels.
Without dropping spoilers, Will is the type of character you may not instinctively like, but it creeps up on you and by the end, I was cheering them on.
2. Belladonna by Anbara Salam
Set in the 1950s, this evocative tale centres on Isabella and Bridget, two schoolgirls from Connecticut whose lives change when they start attending the Accademia di Belle Arti di Pentila in northern Italy.
And in time, Isabella, charismatic and popular, and Bridget, reserved yet observant, strike up a unique friendship in their silent convent school.
For Bridget, escaping her outsider status and exploring her identity becomes possible in this new environment.
But as the year develops, tensions rise when Bridget begins to suspect that Isabella has secrets that could destroy everything they’ve built together, change their friendship, and alter their futures irreversibly.
There’s something to be said about a friendship so intense it almost feels like it has been baked into your soul and that’s what Bridget and Isabella have to contend with as friends.
Even though this book seems to focus on the tensions within their friendship, it’s still very much a dark academia book, as its primary setting is an eerie school.
3. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
In One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, five high school students—Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, Cooper, and the late Simon—are in detention when Simon, creator of a scandalous gossip app, dies under suspicious circumstances.
With Simon’s plan to expose their secrets looming, each student becomes a suspect in his death.
In time, the complicated web of loyalty, betrayal, and the desperate measures taken to protect their hidden truths will be revealed.
One of Us Is Lying is one of the most popular dark academia books that blends thriller, suspense, and an intensely provocative plot.
It’s a typical locked room mystery with an ensemble cast where the doubts pile on for every character and I promise you’re going to be so shocked by the final chapter.
4. They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
Jill Newman’s senior year at Gold Coast Prep is overshadowed by the unsolved murder of her best friend, Shaila Arnold, three years earlier.
Shaila’s boyfriend confessed to the crime, but when Jill receives texts suggesting he may be innocent, she decides to find out the truth.
But, the deeper she digs, the more she unearths information that might destroy the perfect facade of her senior year and destroy both her friendships and her life.
Just like the other dark academia books on this list, They Wish They Were Us is a dark, twisted story that exposes the underbelly of a school built on the carcasses of society.
For Jill, tipping the scales and continuing on her path could be the difference between life and death in this fantastic book about complex relationships within the four walls of a school.
5. Babel by R.F. Kuang
In 1828, Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton (Guangdong, China), is taken to London by the rich Professor Lovell.
There, he trains extensively in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese to enter Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, known as Babel.
But, he soon finds out that the British Empire’s power is fueled by silver-working (silver bars being infused with magic), as it relies on translating and harnessing magic for colonization.
Robin is then torn between loyalty to Britain and his Chinese heritage, and the stakes are increased when Britain initiates a war with China and he is forced to choose where his allegiance lies.
Babel, which is written by the bestselling author of The Poppy Wars, was a bestseller before it even launched and if that isn’t something, I don’t know what is.
What I’ll tell you, though, is that this epic and dense book captures the very essence of dark academia – the toxic dynamics, the morally decrepit educational institutions, the moral dilemmas of colonialism – and with magic thrown in, it’s one great feast.
This historical fiction work is bold and uncompromising in its stance and I promise it’s as immersive as can be.
6. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Mariana Andros, a troubled group therapist, becomes fixated on the murder of a member of The Maidens, a secret society at Cambridge University after she’s informed by her niece.
She suspects Edward Fosca, a charismatic Greek Tragedy professor loved by all, including The Maidens.
Even though he’s been able to provide an airtight alibi, Mariana, a former student of Cambridge, is convinced of his guilt and decides to launch her investigation into the sinister underbelly of Cambridge’s traditions.
She soon learns of the professor’s obsession with Persephone and the underworld, but this obsession to stop the killer, even at the cost of her life, spells doom for her credibility and relationships.
The Maidens is dark academia and a murder mystery wrapped into one, but, unlike the other books on this list, our lead is neither a teacher nor a student in the school.
But, what brings her into the fold is a desperate desire to unmask a person she believes to be a killer and this blind determination will lead her down dark, occultic corridors.
7. A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid
Effy Sayre is a believer in fairy tales who has been haunted by visions of the Fairy King.
She sees her chance to learn more about this mysterious affliction when she wins a contest to redesign her favourite author’s estate.
Emrys Myrddin is her favourite author and she’s eager to get started, but, she gets there and meets Preston Héloury, a sceptic who claims that Myrddin is a fraud and has plans to investigate and tell everyone.
Effy and Preston have history, you see, and while I personally wouldn’t classify this as dark academia even though it was marketed as such, it definitely embodies that characteristic vibe.
On that front, this atmospheric dark academia book is a winner and you’re probably going to enjoy it all the more if you like books with a little mystery and reluctant teammates.
8. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Having grown up in various academic settings with her aphorism-spouting father, Blue is sharp-witted and knowledgeable in literature, politics, philosophy, and science, with a passion for cinema.
During her final year at St. Gallway School in North Carolina, she joins a captivating circle of friends led by teacher Hannah Schneider.
But, when a friend drowns and Hannah dies under mysterious circumstances, Blue finds herself at the centre of a complicated web of mysteries.
Now, she must rely on her keen instincts to find the truth even with the confusion and intrigue that plagues her at every turn.
Marisha is a very fantastic writer and while the prose oftentimes came across as being too heavy, the mystery-laden central plot line was the most delectable thing.
In this dark academia book, as with other ones, Hannah decides to put on her detective hat, but this move could jeopardise everything she has created with her hands.
The secrets waiting for her turn out to be just as scary as they’re inspired and you’re going to be hooked at every single step of the way.
9. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Galaxy Alex Stern, from the outskirts of Los Angeles, has lived a troubled life marked by dropout years, involvement with shady figures, and surviving a brutal, unsolved massacre.
At twenty, she’s offered a chance for redemption: a full scholarship to Yale, where she’s tasked with finding out more about the university’s secretive societies.
These societies, known as tombs, determine the future elite and engage in occult activities beyond ordinary imagination, which spurs Alex’s curiosity and makes her question why she was chosen for this dangerous assignment.
According to online sources, Leigh Bardugo is a former student of Yale and this book, which focuses on the hidden occultic activities of the institution, feels foreboding and it only adds to the atmosphere of it all.
Alex, in time, realises that her ability to see ghosts and other supernatural figures is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to bear and escaping with her life becomes harder by the day.
10. In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead
Jessica Miller has plans to be as stunning as possible at a reunion with former students of Duquette University ten years after graduation.
She wants to show how successful she is at life and burying their ugly past where Heather’s unsolved murder shattered their tight-knit group.
But when these old friends do reunite, tensions rise and buried secrets threaten to be spilt as someone is intent on finding out the truth behind Heather’s death.
One unique thing about this intense dark academia book is that the narrative POV shifts every chapter since it’s an ensemble cast and the timeline can get confusing.
Regardless, this inconsistency in the flow of the narration only upped the atmospheric feel of the book and the characters shared complex ties that never let up.
More importantly, I’ll tell you right now that this author’s writing will have you biting your nails, even though it’s markedly slow-paced compared to other books on this list.
11. If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Oliver Marks is released from prison after serving ten years for a murder he may or may not have committed during his time as one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college.
Detective Colborne, who originally put him away, is retiring, but he wants to know the complete truth about what really happened a decade ago.
When one of the students at the college is found dead, the lines between their theatrical performances and real-life roles blur dangerously.
Now, faced with proving their innocence to the police and themselves, each must confront their darkest secrets.
If We Were Villains cleverly weaves a whodunit mystery around a deeper analysis of a hostile, destructively corrupt, and decrepit literary institution.
This is a dark academia book in every sense of the word and the very literary subculture which characterises dark academia was in full force at every point in time.
Shakespearean politics and the very character of his works are the heavy accessories of this bestselling dark academia book and you won’t be able to stop reading once you get into it.
12. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Under the guidance of their charismatic classics professor, a group of intellectually gifted misfits at an elite New England college share a provocative philosophy that sets them apart from their peers.
But this pursuit of unconventional ideas leads them into a moral grey area where fascination turns to obsession, and eventually descends into corruption and betrayal.
One thing you should know right off the bat is that this entire book is the recollection of the protagonist, Richard, who’s probably the most unreliable narrator you’ve ever seen.
The Secret History is generally regarded as one of the defining works of the dark academia subculture, which is, in fact, a truth, as it revolutionises the genre.
Subversive, slow, and, all at once dark enough to make you break out in a cold sweat, this is one of the best books you should read if you’re interested in this sub-genre.
13. Half Truths by Claire Contreras
Amelia infiltrates an elite, secretive society at her new university to find out the truth about her brother’s car crash, the missing girls, and every other thing.
But, the closer she gets to her goals, the more she realises that she is slowly falling for Logan, a popular athlete and fellow member of the secret society she’s trying to upturn.
Before reading this romantic suspense book, my only interaction with this author had been reading her other fantastic romance series.
And, I know genre crossovers are usually fraught with odd, incomplete storylines and whatnot, but Contreras is an author who can hold her own clearly in every sub-genre.
Would you believe it if I told you that this fast-paced dark academia book features characters with the most sizzling romance? You’d have to read it to find out.
Rest assured that Amelia and Logan’s chemistry might leap off the page at one point, but it never feels “too much” and the atmospheric vibe of the book is basically another character.
14. Catherine House by Elizabeth Thomas
Catherine House is a unique school in rural Pennsylvania that promises free education but demands three years of isolation from the outside world.
When Ines gets admitted, she expects intellectual rigour but finds herself in a place of sanctioned parties and mysterious rules set by the enigmatic director, Viktória.
And as she slowly grows closer to her serious roommate, Baby, Ines begins to realise that there’s a hidden agenda behind the school’s facade of academic freedom.
The best dark academia books are ones that investigate the privilege of students and the moral banks of an educational institution, and Catherine House excels on both fronts.
Together with Ines, we learn the sinister truth lining the framework of the Catherine House and the extent people would go to hide its true purpose.
15. The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City hoping to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but is instead assigned to The Cloisters, a Gothic museum.
There, she eagerly becomes involved with a group of researchers led by Patrick Roland, who specialises in tarot history, and forms a relationship with Rachel Mondray and Leo Bitburg, who’s the gardener.
The longer she stays, the more she explores her new environment and she quickly picks up on the fact that their fascination with tarot goes beyond casual academia.
When she finds a lost deck of 15th-century Italian tarot cards, events take a dangerous and, soon, a mysterious death which turns everyone into suspects occurs.
She soon realises the different colours of a pervasive desperation that inspires people to use the darkest methods to achieve their goals.
I’m firmly of the opinion that anything can be the subject of suspicion, and this author clearly is, as well, because she really takes the tarot plotline and runs with it.
Ann might not be the most likeable character, but she makes a mean case for curiosity being the downfall of the cast.
Except that, in this situation, our cat is determined not to be swallowed whole and she really does do what she can even though it leads her down the darkest corridors.
You’re going to find this gothic novel, which is based on an actual place, unputdownable if you’re even slightly inclined to divination and you wouldn’t mind being let into the occultic inner circle of a set of academics.
16. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
An anonymous texter named Ace, who is threatening to expose the secrets of students at Niveus Private Academy, is shaking things up.
Devon is then thrust into the spotlight when private photos are leaked. Meanwhile, Chiamaka, the confident head girl, could face the consequences of her desperation for power.
This dangerous game goes way beyond high school antics and Ace, who holds all the cards, is willing to see the entire school system burn.
This book went viral several times and it remained in the limelight for such a long time, that it almost started to become a movement.
Reading FOMO is one thing I’ve never been able to beat and, after reading it, I’ll tell you for free that everything anyone says about it is well-deserved.
The tension was amazing, the characters textured, the plot layered, and I’d be a fool to not read everything this fantastic author puts out.
17. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school where magically gifted students face a deadly choice: graduate or die.
With no teachers or breaks, survival is paramount, and friendships are strategic at best, until one friendless person dares to question the system.
El has a powerful dark magic that could cause great destruction and even though she could easily fend off the school’s monsters, this makes her a danger to her classmates.
El might not be likeable – in fact, her prickly personality means you’ll probably dislike her immediately – but she’s the kind of lead you think about for months after (like I am) and that’s a clear win.
The author took their time in crafting this uniquely oppressive world where anything goes and, trust me, you’re going to be so immersed from the get-go.
18. The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
Coming in at under 200 pages, this dark academia book follows Miss Jean Brodie, an unconventional teacher with the most massive hold on a group of girls at a girls’ school in 1930s Edinburgh.
Miss Brodie selects a group of girls, known as her “Brodie set,” and populates their minds with teachings of her unorthodox views on art, politics, and life.
She prides herself on the several girls under her tutelage who parrot her very life, while eschewing any generalised notion of morality.
Where does an education end? To what extent can we say an action is the consequence of another person’s influence? And, what boundaries exist when it comes to exercising authority in education.
In true dark academia form, this slim but biting commentary on the mechanics of herd mentality and utter reliance on an inspirational figure critiques an educational system that’s all at once predatory and nonchalant.
19. Bunny by Mona Awad
Samantha Heather Mackey is an outsider in her MFA program at Warren University and she secretly hates and envies a group of girls in her fiction writing cohort, who refer to themselves as bunnies.
Even though she dislikes everything they stand for, Samantha is drawn into their world after receiving an invitation to their secretive Smut Salon and she ends up ditching her only friend.
But as she becomes increasingly involved in their ritualistic workshops and their eerie camaraderie, Samantha’s reality blurs – Where does she start and where do they end?
Perhaps, the most pervasive addictive thing about the dark academia genre is its ability to sweep you up into the chaos and make you doubt your very senses.
Both a subtle yet scathing critique of the hive mind and the susceptibility of an everyday person, this subversive entry into the dark academia genre is a book to check out ASAP.
Curiosity firing on all its cylinders is the driving force of this book and its slow, meandering plot and the outwardly disinclined characters will sweep you in without you noticing.
Pin This For Later
Do these books sound great or what? Do you read dark academia books? Which ones are your favorites? If you don’t read them, which ones do you think you’ll check out?
I’ll be waiting in the comment and, in the meantime, check out the related posts if you’re in the mood for even more lovely book recs to keep you busy.
