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Dark Academia Books

As a literary sub-genre, Dark Academia features a scholarly setting, some kind of a dark or morbid twist and themes of mystery, horror, or the occult, as well as a focus on the search for knowledge and self-discovery.
Dark Academia Library Inside Medieval Castle with Gothic Arch Architecture

Dark Academia Fiction

Dark Academia primarily associates itself with fictional novels centered around themes of intellectualism, mystery, boarding school or university academics, and elements of gothic horror or the macabre.

June 26, 1997

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
(book 1 of 7)

J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" stands as an enduring testament to the power of imagination and the allure of a world brimming with magic. A bewitching blend of fantasy and coming-of-age, this captivating tale transports readers to a realm where ordinary lives intertwine with extraordinary destinies, inviting them to embrace the wonder of the unknown and the beauty of self-discovery.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

by J.K. Rowling

4.8/5

46,411 global ratings

Kindle

From $0.00 on kindleunlimited

2011

THE SECRET HISTORY

"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt - Published in 1992, this essential dark academia novel tells the story of a group of college students who become embroiled in a dangerous and mysterious secret society.

Dark Academia Books A Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Secret History

by Donna Tartt

4.2/5

35,522 global ratings

Kindle

From $12.99 on Kindle

January 30, 2020

THE ATLAS SIX
(book 1 of 3)

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (2022): This novel follows six brilliant students who are invited to attend a secret society at the University of Oxford. The students must compete against each other in a series of challenges, and the winner will be offered a lifetime of power and privilege. The novel is full of dark academia tropes, including secret societies, forbidden knowledge, and murder. It also has a slow-burn romance between two of the main characters.

Dark Academia Fiction The Atlas Six Olivie Blake

The Atlas Six

by Olivie Blake

4.2/5

9,725 global ratings

Kindle

From $9.99 on Kindle

May 5, 2015

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES
(book 1 of 5)

Sarah J. Maas's "A Court of Thorns and Roses" beckons readers to embrace the allure of the forbidden and embark on an enchanting voyage through a world of mystique and passion. With an evocative blend of dark academia and fantastical romance, this titillating tale dares to explore the depths of desire, vulnerability, and the intricacies of love against a backdrop of enigmatic magic and ancient curses. Travel to a realm where worlds collide and heroes spar with words and arms.

A Court Of Thorns And Roses

by Sarah J. Maas

4.6/5

131,578 global ratings

Kindle

From $8.21 on Kindle

May 5, 2015

THE DA VINCI CODE
(book 2 of 5)

Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" stands as a modern masterpiece that weaves a tapestry of secrets, symbols, and seductive puzzles. A riveting fusion of mystery and historical exploration, this captivating narrative beckons readers to delve into the labyrinthine depths of history, art, and religion, igniting a passionate pursuit of knowledge that mirrors the essence of dark academia. Travel to a realm where worlds collide and heroes spar with words and arms.

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

4.6/5

17,515 global ratings

Kindle

From $9.99 on Kindle

March, 2007

THE BOOK OF AIR AND SHADOWS

"The Book of Air and Shadows" follows a group of students at a prestigious New England boarding school in the 1950s. The students are all obsessed with the occult, and they soon become involved in a series of dark and dangerous rituals. The novel is full of suspense and mystery, and it has a steamy romance between two of the main characters.Travel to a realm where worlds collide and heroes spar with words and arms.

The Book of Air and Shadows

by Michael Gruber

3.9/5

385 global ratings

Kindle

From $11.99 on Kindle

SEP 28, 1994

THE NAME OF THE ROSE

A murder mystery set in a medieval monastery that explores themes of knowledge, power, and the occult.

The Name of the Rose

by Umberto Eco and William Weaver

4.2/5

5,113 global ratings

Kindle

From $11.99 on Kindle

Dark Academia Aesthetic Gothic Ginkgo Naturalism Outdoor Art

Dark Academia Nonfiction

Based on true stories, these Dark Academia books tell stories of occult rituals, secret societies, murder, obsession, and insanity set against a backdrop of universities, libraries, and museums.

NOV, 1 2013

THE SECRET HISTORY OF OXFORD

"The Secret History of Oxford" by Simon Garfield: This book explores the dark and mysterious history of Oxford University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It tells stories of occult rituals, secret societies, and even murder.Travel to a realm where worlds collide and heroes spar with words and arms.

The Secret History of Oxford

by Dan Brown

4.4/5

51 global ratings

Kindle

From $11.99 on Kindle

JAN 29, 2019

THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS

"The Lost Girls of Paris" by Pam Jenoff: This book tells the true story of four young women who were recruited by the OSS, the predecessor to the CIA, during World War II. They were sent to Paris on a dangerous mission to gather intelligence on the Nazis.

The Lost Girls of Paris

by Pam Jenoff

4.3/5

15,077 global ratings

Kindle

From $12.99 on Kindle

The Dark Academia book sub-genre makes a statement in many literary styles, including mystery, horror, historical fiction, and fantasy.

Various classic works of literature, particularly those from the medieval and Renaissance periods, make the list of Dark Academia canon.

Gothic literature, with its focus on dark, eerie, and macabre themes, is one important genre in Dark Academia literature. Gothic literature, such as the works of Edgar Allan Poe, often explores the darker aspects of human nature and society.

Romanticism, with its focus on emotion, individualism, and the natural world, is also influential in Dark Academia. This is seen in the movement’s emphasis on mood and atmosphere, as well as the use of natural and historic settings.

The works of Shakespeare and Tolstoy, which often have themes of magic, death, and the supernatural also play a central role in Dark Academia.

These works often have themes of magic, death, and the supernatural, which are also central to the Dark Academia aesthetic.

One of the main themes of Dark Academia literature is a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs, which turns into an obsession that drives academics to the dark part of the academic aesthetic.

Dark Academia literature heavily deals with themes of obsession, elitism, and the darker sides of human psychology.

A critique – the dark in dark academia stands for the dark side of academia, typically symbolized in literature with death, murder, or other morbid consequences.