Must-Read Dark Academia Books to Read This Fall
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Looking for the best dark academia books? Discover the top titles for fans of mystery, elite schools, and gothic vibes.
If you’re thinking of books steeped in gothic settings, twisted friendships, and academic intrigue, you will love these dark academia books. From secret societies and haunted campuses to the quiet intensity of elite schools, these stories explore the fine line between brilliance and obsession.
Step into a world where knowledge is power—and sometimes, a curse. With candlelit libraries, ancient halls, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, these novels embody everything we love about the dark academia genre.
Here are 15 of the most compelling dark academia books to read right now.
Happy Reading!
If you’re looking for all the upcoming books, take a look at
Step Into the World of Dark Academia
The Atlas Six
by Olivie Blake
Imagine being handpicked to join an elite secret society that guards the world’s lost knowledge—then realizing your rivals are just as dangerous as the knowledge itself. In this spellbinding dark academia novel, six gifted magicians are invited to the mysterious Alexandrian Society, where power, betrayal, and ambition spiral out of control. Only five will be chosen. The sixth? Disposable.
Ace of Spades
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
At Niveus Private Academy, Devon and Chiamaka are chosen as senior prefects, a title that promises prestige and opportunity. But then someone named Aces begins leaking their darkest secrets, and as their reputations start to crumble, they’re forced to question who they can trust—and why they’ve been targeted.
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Elisabeth
I Have Some Questions for You
by Rebecca Makkai
Bodie Kane, a film professor and podcaster, has spent years avoiding the painful memories of her boarding school days and the murder of her roommate, Thalia Keith. Invited back to teach at the Granby School, Bodie finds herself entangled in the very case she tried to forget. As she questions the original conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, new doubts and forgotten details begin to surface.
The Maidens
by Alex Michaelides
Mariana, a former Cambridge student and group therapist, returns to the university after her niece’s friend is brutally murdered. She suspects Edward Fosca, a professor surrounded by a secret society of devoted female students called The Maidens. As the killings continue, Mariana’s determination to expose Fosca leads her down a path haunted by myth, grief, and obsession.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
by Ashley Winstead
Ten years after graduation, Jessica returns to her elite New England college, hoping to prove she’s no longer the insecure girl she once was. But when her old friend group reunites, the shadow of a long-ago murder mystery resurfaces. As secrets unravel and loyalties shift, Jessica must face the role she played in a friend’s untimely death.
Vicious
by V.E. Schwab
Once college friends, Victor and Eli believed they could unlock power through near-death experiences. But ambition turned deadly, and what began as research sparked a fierce rivalry drenched in blood. Ten years later, Victor escapes prison with a single goal: destroy Eli before he strikes again. Eli, now a fanatical killer of the extraordinary, is eliminating anyone with powers he deems unnatural.
The Secret Place
by Tana French
A year-old murder at a girls’ boarding school resurfaces when a note appears claiming to reveal the killer. Detectives Moran and Conway reenter a world ruled by silence, secrets, and the volatile dynamics of teenage friendship. Holly Mackey and her friends are at the center—but their smiles hide calculated defenses. With each revelation, the line between innocence and guilt grows dangerously thin.
The Ivies
by Alexa Donne
At Claflin Academy, five girls known as the Ivies will sabotage, scheme, and lie their way into the Ivy League—but when one of them is found dead, their elite world of ambition and privilege turns into a chilling hunt for the killer. Secrets come to light, alliances crumble, and the claws come out as one girl races to uncover the truth before she becomes the next target.
One of Us Is Lying
by Karen M. McManus
Five students walk into detention, but only four walk out alive. At this exclusive prep school, secrets are currency—and when the school’s gossip king dies under suspicious circumstances, everyone becomes a suspect. With social media scandals, romance, and betrayal, this young adult thriller is definitely worth reading.
Ninth House
by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern has seen more death than most, and her second chance at Yale comes with strings she can’t ignore. Tasked with spying on the university’s secret societies, she quickly discovers their power isn’t just symbolic—it’s terrifyingly real. Rituals gone wrong, bodies that won’t stay buried, and magic that feeds on fear pull her deeper into the dark. As Alex pieces together a deadly conspiracy, she becomes both hunter and hunted.
The Starless Sea
by Erin Morgenstern
Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student, finds a mysterious book and unravels a chilling truth: someone has written about a moment from his life. Haunted by this discovery, Zachary’s search leads him to a secret society, a forbidden archive, and a war between those who protect stories and those who destroy them.
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and say Yes to passionate recommendations!
Welcome to the Comet Readings Newsletter!
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter! I'm excited to have you as a part of our community and look forward to keeping you updated on all things books, authors, and more.
Happy Reading,
Elisabeth
Ghosts of Harvard
by Francesca Serritella
Cady thought Harvard would offer answers about her brother’s suicide, but instead, it awakens something terrifying in her own. Voices echo through her thoughts—some tied to the school’s haunted legacy, others too eerily personal to ignore. Each voice carries pieces of Harvard’s past and strange connections to her brother’s fate. As she digs deeper, Cady must decide if these whispers are guiding her toward closure—or pushing her over the edge.
Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro
In a quiet, isolated boarding school, Hailsham taught Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy that they were special, but never why. Now, as buried memories resurface, Kathy begins to see the chilling design behind their lives. Each quiet reunion deepens the unease, as familiar moments take on a darker significance about who they are and why they exist.
Be a passionate reader
and say Yes to passionate recommendations!
Welcome to the Comet Readings Newsletter!
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter! I'm excited to have you as a part of our community and look forward to keeping you updated on all things books, authors, and more.
Happy Reading,
Elisabeth
Which dark academia book will you read first? Let me know your favorites in the comments.