The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is quintessential for any Dark Academia list and has gone on to inspire several authors and works in the genre itself. The story unfolds in the crisp, haunting backdrop of a New England autumn, where readers follow a group of college students as they immerse themselves in studying ancient Greek philosophy. Themes of obsession and morality are explored with rich prose and a shadowy atmosphere, inviting readers to uncover the dark secrets hidden beneath the veneer of academic brilliance. I strongly suggest going into this book as blindly as possible, so you can fully enjoy the twists and turns Tartt creates.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Citing Donna Tartt as a direct influence for his work, M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains immerses readers in the intense world of an elite arts conservatory, where a tight-knit group of Shakespearean actors navigates ambition, deceit, and friendship, set against the scenery of autumn’s fading beauty into winter. Art and reality blur as rivalries between castmates form, building up to a tragic event that leads to a student being accused, who also serves as the narrator of the story. I specifically enjoyed the themes of identity and performance, and how Rio illustrates the interplay between who we are and who we present ourselves as, and the roles we play on and off a stage.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
In Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, the story follows a group of students growing up at the secluded and mysterious Hailsham, an English boarding school, where the serene autumn setting belies a looming mystery for the students to unveil. Their reality is shattered when they venture beyond the school grounds, and they learn the harrowing truth behind their academics. Ishiguro explores themes of morality, academia, loss, friendship and memory, with gripping prose and descriptive language that juxtaposes a haunting story amidst a peaceful setting.
Here are some additional Dark Academia suggestions:
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas