There’s a certain mood that’s perfect for a rainy day: a cup of tea, a cozy sweater, and a book that transports you to the hallowed, ivy-covered halls of a prestigious university where brilliant students are hiding terrible secrets.
Welcome to the world of Dark Academia. It’s a literary genre and an aesthetic built on a love for classic literature, the pursuit of knowledge, and the dark side of human nature—obsession, rivalry, and murder. If you’re ready to explore this moody and atmospheric genre, this list is your perfect starting point.
Your Next Obsession Awaits
Ready to enroll in a new literary world? We can deliver any of these dark and compelling reads right to your door, anywhere in Vietnam
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The book that defined the entire genre.
A group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college fall under the spell of their charismatic classics professor. But their search for a higher state of being pushes them beyond the boundaries of morality and into murder. This novel is a masterpiece of suspense, atmosphere, and intellectual obsession.
- Author: Donna Tartt
- Genre: Literary Thriller / Campus Novel
- Perfect for: Understanding the absolute cornerstone of the dark academia aesthetic.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Where Shakespearean actors at an elite arts conservatory take their roles too far.
Oliver Marks has just served ten years in prison for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day of his release, he’s ready to tell the detective what really happened. The story flashes back to his time at a conservatory where seven young actors, obsessed with Shakespeare and each other, find that the lines between stage and real life have blurred with tragic consequences.
- Author: M.L. Rio
- Genre: Mystery / Thriller
- Perfect for: Fans of Shakespeare, locked-room mysteries, and academic rivalries.
Bunny by Mona Awad
A satirical, surreal, and darkly funny takedown of elite creative writing programs.
Samantha is an outsider in her MFA program, repelled by a clique of rich girls who call each other “Bunny.” But when she’s finally invited into their inner circle, she discovers their “workshops” are far more sinister and magical than she ever could have imagined. It’s a weird, wild, and unforgettable horror-comedy.
- Author: Mona Awad
- Genre: Satirical Horror / Dark Comedy
- Perfect for: When you want your dark academia with a heavy dose of surreal horror.
A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1) by Naomi Novik
A deadly magical school with no teachers and a 50% graduation rate.
The Scholomance is a school for the magically gifted, but it’s also a place where monsters roam the halls and failure means certain death. El, a powerful sorceress with an affinity for dark magic, is just trying to survive until graduation. This is a brilliant take on the “magic school” trope, but with much higher stakes and a cynical, unforgettable hero.
- Author: Naomi Novik
- Genre: Fantasy
- Perfect for: Readers who love the “magic school” setting but want something darker and more dangerous.
Looking for More Moody Reads?
If you love the atmospheric and slightly unsettling vibe of these books, be sure to check out our Beginner’s Guide to Summer Gothic
Embrace the Darkness
Pick your new obsession, send us a message, and get ready for a deliciously dark read.