6 YA books you didn’t realise were dark academia
It’s no secret that Sarah and I loooove dark academia. Not a secret at all.
There’s something about it that’s completely irresistible in every way. The academic setting (we’re both proud academia nerd with several degrees), the focus on arts and literature and history, the secrets, the lies, the betrayals, and the drama - it’s all delicious.
I do think that it gets a bit forgotten that there are YA dark academia novels, though. There’s (rightly so) a huge focus on ‘The Secret History’, ‘If We Were Villains’ and Alex Michaelides’ new novel ‘The Maidens’ (review coming next week!), that the wonderful world of dark academia YA gets left behind.
But not today.
YA authors have been knocking it out of the park with their dark academia for years and there seems to have been an explosion of them lately that I’m desperate to dive into. These are a mixture of ones I already love and others on my TBR.
Let’s have a look at the books!
‘Truly Devious’ by Maureen Johnson - Maureen Johnson is a bit of YA legend, and her dark academia murder mystery series is a big favourite of the book world. Ellingham Academy is famous for producing some of the greatest minds, and Stevie has arrived and is determined to solve the case of the kidnapped family of the founder of the school.
‘Ace of Spades’ by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé - the more I hear about this, the more I need it! This thriller delves into institutionalised racism in an elite private school when a mysterious texter starts terrorisingthe student body in a novel where ‘Gossip Girl’ meets ‘Get Out’.
‘The Mary Shelley Club’ by Goldy Moldavsky - full disclosure: Moldavsky’s first novel (‘Kill the Boy Band’) had some big issues with fat phobia and I haven’t read her since, but I love the sound of this and I want to give it another go. Manhattan Prep is the home of The Mary Shelley Club, an elite prep school book club obsessed with horror, and new girl Rachel Chavez has been recruited.
‘As I Descended’ by Robin Talley - Golden child Delilah is a legend at exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. But Delilah doesn’t know that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to unseat Delilah for the scholarship.
‘The Raven Boys’ by Maggie Stiefvater - you’ve probably already read this, or at least own it, but consider this your push to finally go for it. Blue is cursed. If she kisses her true love, he will die. When she spots private school boy Gansey on the spirit road, she knows what it means and becomes embroiled in his search for an ancient Welsh king.
‘How We Fall Apart’ by Katie Zhao - honestly, give me this book right now. ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ meets ‘One of Us is Lying’ when students at an elite prep school are forced to confront their secrets when their ex-best friend turns up dead.
Have you read any of these? Are you a dark academia fan?
Written by Sophie
