7 Dark Academia Books You Need To Read This Year

The world of Dark Academia is moody, intellectual, and intoxicating—a literary aesthetic where crumbling libraries, obscure philosophy, obsession with beauty, and the haunting echoes of classical education reign supreme. It’s more than a genre; it’s an atmosphere. It’s the echo of Latin in candlelit halls, the smell of dusty old books, and the romanticism of tragedy wrapped in tweed.

If you’ve ever longed for stories soaked in academic intrigue, morally gray characters, and existential musings, then this list is your compass into the shadows. Below is a list of 7 dark academia books you need to read this year.

Let’s dive deep into the books you need to read this year to feed your inner scholar and satisfy that craving for dark, intellectual drama.

1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is a chilling exploration of morality, elitism, and the intoxicating allure of academia. The novel follows Richard Papen, a student who joins an exclusive group studying Greek under a charismatic professor at Hampden College. As intellectualism gives way to obsession, the group becomes entangled in murder and guilt. Tartt’s prose is lush and atmospheric, wrapping readers in an eerie sense of inevitability. It’s a slow burn—psychologically dense and emotionally complex. A foundational work of modern Dark Academia, this book doesn’t just tell a story—it pulls you into a world where beauty and darkness are inseparable.

2. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

If We Were Villains dives into the lives of seven Shakespeare-obsessed theater students at the fictional Dellecher Conservatory. Told through the eyes of Oliver Marks after a decade in prison, the narrative alternates between past and present, slowly unveiling a tragic incident that shattered the group. Rio weaves the rhythm of Shakespearean drama into the novel’s structure, mirroring the emotional arcs of the plays they perform. Themes of jealousy, performance, identity, and friendship blur until reality and art are indistinguishable. With lyrical writing and rich character work, this novel is an homage to the stage—and to the tragic cost of loyalty.

3. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

Catherine House is a gothic fever dream set in an exclusive, isolated college where students surrender their entire identity for three years. The novel follows Ines Murillo, a damaged young woman who slowly becomes ensnared in the school’s bizarre secrets and its study of “plasm,” a mysterious, reality-altering substance. Thomas’s prose is lyrical, almost hypnotic, creating an atmosphere of dread and detachment. It’s less plot-driven and more immersive, focusing on emotional disintegration, conformity, and intellectual seduction. Catherine House explores what happens when academic obsession morphs into cult-like control—haunting, ambiguous, and dripping with dark academic decadence.

4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House introduces readers to Alex Stern, a trauma-scarred Yale student with the ability to see ghosts. She’s recruited to monitor Yale’s secret societies—each wielding occult magic with devastating consequences. Bardugo paints a vivid, sinister version of academic elitism, where power, privilege, and death intermingle. The narrative jumps between timelines, gradually unveiling a campus drenched in secrets and blood. Themes of survival, abuse, and institutional corruption elevate this beyond fantasy into a gritty, thought-provoking thriller. With compelling world-building and raw emotional depth, Ninth House is both a gripping supernatural mystery and a critique of the real-life darkness lurking in elite spaces.

5. The Magus by John Fowles

John Fowles’ The Magus is a labyrinthine psychological thriller that predates and arguably inspired many Dark Academia tropes. It follows Nicholas Urfe, a disillusioned young teacher who accepts a post on a remote Greek island. There, he meets the enigmatic Maurice Conchis and is drawn into an elaborate game of illusion, manipulation, and philosophical testing. Blending surrealism, metafiction, and psychoanalysis, Fowles crafts a novel where reality is endlessly questioned. The Magus demands patience but rewards readers with rich themes of fate, control, and the search for meaning. It’s a challenging yet essential read for lovers of complex, intellectual fiction.

6. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

The Atlas Six is a cerebral, slow-burning tale of ambition, power, and magical academia. Six brilliant magicians are chosen to join the elusive Alexandrian Society, with the promise of access to knowledge that could alter reality. But only five will survive the initiation. The novel thrives on philosophical dialogue, abstract magic, and psychological tension. Blake’s cast is morally complex, each hiding motives behind intellect and charm. Themes of ethics, truth, and the weight of knowledge take center stage. With its intricate world-building and philosophical underpinnings, this book redefines Dark Academia for a modern audience—diverse, high-concept, and deeply introspective.

7. The Likeness by Tana French

Tana French’s The Likeness follows detective Cassie Maddox as she goes undercover at a prestigious Irish university to solve the murder of a student who looks exactly like her. Immersed in the cloistered world of elite scholars, Cassie navigates layers of friendship, secrets, and identity, blurring the lines between self and performance. French’s prose is rich and immersive, with a keen psychological insight that captures the tension of academic obsession and youthful idealism. This novel explores themes of belonging, deception, and the intoxicating allure of intellect, making it a haunting, slow-burning entry in the Dark Academia canon.

Conclusion

The beauty of Dark Academia lies in its complexity. It’s as much about intellect as it is about emotion. These 7 books offer more than captivating plots—they offer a portal into a world where the pursuit of knowledge is sacred, and its cost is never cheap.

Whether you're new to the genre or a seasoned scholar of its themes, this list will challenge your mind, stir your heart, and leave you questioning the very nature of reality, beauty, and truth.

So brew some strong tea, pull your chair closer to the fire, and open a book that dares to ask: What are you willing to sacrifice in the name of knowledge?