Dark academia books
Ninth House
What is Ninth House about?
What if Yale’s secret societies weren’t just rich kids’ clubs but fronts for sinister, magical experiments? That’s the reality for Alex Stern, a college dropout with a mysterious past and a rare ability to see ghosts. When she’s recruited into Lethe House, the group that monitors Yale’s other occult societies, she’s tasked with investigating a student’s death and uncovers something far darker.
The Atlas Six
What is The Atlas Six about?
"The Atlas Six" is a story about the magical Alexandrian Society that selects 6 most talented magical academicians every 10 years. We meet the new recruits and follow them on the quest for ambition, new relationships, and power. If you like magical fantasy and young adult fiction, give this book a try!
Brideshead Revisited
What is Brideshead Revisited about?
Some books capture youth; others capture regret. "Brideshead Revisited" does both. Charles Ryder, a middle-class student at Oxford, is fascinated by the glamorous, eccentric world of Sebastian Flyte, a champagne-drinking aristocrat. They drink too much, break the rules, and spend long, golden days at Sebastian’s grand family estate, Brideshead. But behind the glamour, Sebastian struggles with his strict Catholic family, especially his powerful mother.
The Secret History
What is The Secret History about?
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt is a dark and captivating novel about a group of elite college students studying classics at a prestigious university in Vermont. They become tight-knit after realizing all of them are fascinated by ancient Greek culture. On top of that, they receove support from their charismatic professor. As their obsession with the past intensifies, they try our forbidden rituals, indulge in dangerous desires, and ultimately commit a terrible act that will haunt them forever.
Never Let Me Go
What is Never Let Me Go about?
Kathy and her friends Ruth and Tommy are students of a seemingly nice boarding school called Hailsham that hides a dark mystery. You’ll explore their world through Kathy’s perspective, diving deep into her experiences and choices. Partly a coming-of-age story and science fiction, it poignantly explores the themes of conformity and free will.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?
Beauty doesn’t always save the world; sometimes, it destroys young hearts. Just like Dorian Gray, a young man as beautiful as an angel, who traded his soul for the chance to remain eternally handsome. Read Oscar Wilde's classic story about external beauty and inner ugliness, pure love and betrayal for the sake of others' opinions, about an artist and his art…
Frankenstein
What is Frankenstein about?
Who hasn't heard the name Frankenstein? Mary Shelley's iconic work depicts a story of a young scientist Victor Frankenstein who manages to create a monster from old body parts. But soon this monster starts doing things that make Victor question his creation. It's an exploration of life and death, responsibility, and the need for compassion.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
What is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue about?
An 18th-century woman named Addie LaRue makes a pact with an evil entity — she becomes immortal, but everyone she meets forgets her. She does everything she can to leave her mark on the world and meets a man who recognizes her. This book is an excellent choice for all the lovers of historical fantasy and romance.
A Little Life
What is A Little Life about?
"A Little Life" follows four friends who've graduated from the same college: an aspiring actor Willem, an architect Malcolm, a painter named JB, and Jude, a lawyer. All of them are trying to make their path in New York, dealing with personal struggles and emotional turbulence. In their hardships, we see how they and their relationships change over time.
The Goldfinch
What is The Goldfinch about?
Theo Decker's life changes forever after he survives a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City when he is thirteen. In the chaos, he impulsively takes The Goldfinch, a painting that becomes both a treasure and a heavy burden. His mother dies, his father abandons him, and he moves between different guardians. Traumatized, Theo starts working in the antique trade, a world that both fascinates and frustrates him.
Wuthering Heights
What is Wuthering Heights about?
Despite "Wuthering Heights" fame, this is Emily Brontë's only novel. At the center of the plot is the complicated dynamic of a relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Catherine's father. The readers can explore the themes of love, class, and revenge — surrounded by wild and isolated Yorkshire moors.
Dracula
What is Dracula about?
A staple of Victorian gothic literature, "Dracula" tells a story of a vampire in a classic "good vs evil" scenario. Jonathan Harker is an English lawyer who goes to Transylvania for a meeting with his client, count Dracula. Soon after that, strange and terryfying events start to transpire. How can humans stand up to such an extraordinary evil?
The Magicians
What is The Magicians about?
Quentin Coldwater always felt like he didn’t belong — until he stumbled upon a secret university called Brakebills that teaches real magic. As Quentin masters spells, he learns that magic isn’t all sparkles and fun. In reality — it’s complicated, dangerous, and doesn’t fix everything wrong in your life.
Foucault’s Pendulum
What is Foucault’s Pendulum about?
A group of bored intellectuals creates a conspiracy theory as a joke, but what happens when the joke becomes terrifyingly real? In Umberto Eco's "Foucault’s Pendulum", three editors at a Milan publishing house, Casaubon, Belbo, and Diotallevi, became tired of books on the occult and pseudoscience. For fun, they invent “The Plan,” an elaborate, absurd conspiracy theory. They treat it as a mental exercise, but suddemly their fake "Plan" starts aligning a little too perfectly with hidden truths, or so it seems.
The Name of the Rose
What is The Name of the Rose about?
"The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco is a historical mystery set in a medieval Italian monastery. A brilliant investigator named William of Baskerville is sent to the abbey to solve a series of strange deaths. As he uncovers clues, he finds himself lost in a web of secrets, forbidden knowledge, and dangerous conspiracies hidden within the ancient library.
A Darker Shade of Magic
What is A Darker Shade of Magic about?
"A Darker Shade of Magic" by V.E. Schwab is a fantasy novel set in a world where London exists in four distinct realities. Red London is the vibrant, magical heart of the world. In contrast, White London is a sterile, grey city with no magic. Forgotten Grey London is a decaying, dying city, while terrifying Black London is consumed by shadow and danger. The story follows Kell, a rare individual who can travel between these Londons. But one day, Lila Bard, a thief, steals his most prized possession: a key that can unlock any door in any London.
The Great Gatsby
What is The Great Gatsby about?
In the glittering world of 1920s Long Island, Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties hoping to win back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. It is the epitome of the American Dream, with vibrant New York turning into the city of success. Nick Carraway, a newcomer to Gatsby’s world of wealth and excess, tells us the story behind all of the grand parties and, more importantly, Gatsby himself.
The Starless Sea
What is The Starless Sea about?
In Erin Morgenstern’s "The Starless Sea", Zachary Rawlins found a strange book about his childhood. He read about the paralell world, which promted him to go from his university to a masked party in New York. Eventually, he discovers a Starless Sea, a magical place of libraries and hidden doors. Along the way, he meets a number of intriguing characters, including a woman with pink hair, and a seer warning of disaster.
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