4 Dark Academia Books To Add To Your Fall Reading List
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Alexandra Speck. Find her on Instagram at @alexandraspeckk. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
While dark academia books are a year-round favorite of mine, my anticipation for autumn means that my TBR is particularly stocked with the moody yet cozy genre. Dark academia is a perfect patchwork of mystery, literary references, romance, and fantasy, forming many of the most unique and well-written books on my shelves. Make note of our dark academia book recs for when the leaves start to turn, or give autumn an early welcome and select your next read now.
Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Want free Amazon shipping? Click here for a free trial of Amazon Prime. Student? Here’s a free 6-month Amazon Prime trial! Prefer audiobooks? Click here for a free trial of Audible.
Best known for her bestselling Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows series, Leigh Bardugo is a master storyteller and worldbuilder. Ninth House highlights her seamless transition from young adult fantasy to adult fiction. It’s hard to identify Ninth House’s particular genre, which is the first sign of a good dark academia book. Mystery, fantasy, and meager crumbs of romance that leave you begging for more come together to form this one-of-a-kind read. Supernatural secret societies at Yale University are developed so vividly that one really believes Bardugo’s alma mater is home to ghosts, murder mysteries, and magic. The series is ongoing, and the first two installments are available now.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Want free Amazon shipping? Click here for a free trial of Amazon Prime. Student? Here’s a free 6-month Amazon Prime trial! Prefer audiobooks? Click here for a free trial of Audible.
An international bestseller, The Secret History is the poster child for dark academia. It’s remained a key recommendation since its publication over thirty years ago, recently regaining popularity through TikTok audios and recommendation videos. When I first began The Secret History, I quickly realized that it would be unlike anything I’d read before. Despite featuring a murder, there’s little mystery. The prose is meandering and character-driven, despite not featuring a single likable character… and I mean this in the best way possible. Since every character is wildly detached from reality, the reader is inevitably drawn into the captivatingly delusional story. You’ll be processing The Secret History long after you read the last line.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Want free Amazon shipping? Click here for a free trial of Amazon Prime. Student? Here’s a free 6-month Amazon Prime trial! Prefer audiobooks? Click here for a free trial of Audible.
Despite its immense popularity, I procrastinated picking up If We Were Villains. What I knew of the central premise – Shakespeare performers at a boarding school, and a murder within the clique – was certainly intriguing, but my personal aversion to Shakespeare kept me at bay. I’m here to report that If We Were Villains is nothing like a high school English class; if anything, you’ll close the book with a renewed appreciation for The Bard. It’s a quick and satisfying read, organized so that even a reader with no prior Shakespeare knowledge will find meaning in the references and quotations. The group-centric plot certainly bears resemblance to that of The Secret History, although the book’s straightforward writing style differentiates the two dark academia classics.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Want free Amazon shipping? Click here for a free trial of Amazon Prime. Student? Here’s a free 6-month Amazon Prime trial! Prefer audiobooks? Click here for a free trial of Audible.
The Maidens features murder mysteries, obsession, and Greek tragedy set against an idyllic Cambridge University backdrop. The bestselling author of The Silent Patient is known for mysteries with twists and turns, and The Maidens delivers yet another shocking finale. Compared to my previous two recommendations, The Maidens is most similar to a traditional mystery novel. Instead of focusing on a central group of characters, Michaelides places his narrator in a more solitary investigative role. This directness makes The Maidens a binge-worthy read that will definitely bring out your inner Nancy Drew.
Will you try one of our dark academia book recs? Do you have a favorite we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments below!