Dark academia fantasy books are wildly popular right now, especially with cold weather tiptoeing close. But what is dark academia? This genre encompasses any book that takes place in a school–usually an elite school–with a gothic vibe. So think of an eerie, brooding atmosphere, lamps on the wall, sweaters, hot drinks, and drizzly rain. No wonder people want to read these books once the weather starts taking on a chill!
These books are just as much about the atmosphere as the characters. The “dark” aspect not only comes from the dim school corridors and the brooding weather, but also from the plot and/or characters. There are often secret societies, rebellions against authority figures, or the pursuit of forbidden subjects. Some dark academia books may have murders or explore other shadowy themes like the oppression of women and bullying.
Common Elements in Dark Academia Fantasy Books
- School Setting
- Brooding Atmosphere
- Gothic Architecture
- Broody, Brilliant, and/or Eccentric Characters
- Magic
- Love of Learning
- Elite School Subjects
- Black Covers (especially with silver/gold lettering) 😆
If you want to curl up this autumn with a fantasy book with a scholarly, dark edge, here are 10 books to add to your reading list.
YA Dark Academia Fantasy Books
Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school. But the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic.
Tea, secrets, and books: what’s not to love?
Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie
Welcome to Blackwood Academy–a boarding school located on the edge of the Afterlife. Students must compete to change their fate or risk remaining stuck in purgatory forever.
I couldn’t get past the first few chapters due to some graphic violence and in-your-face LGBTQ+ relationships, but the premise does sound interesting and the characters unique.
A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson
Enter an alternate 1923 London where people are at war with dragons. Viv attends Bletchley Park where she studies how to break the code of the dragon language. Eventually, Viv must decide what war she wants to fight.
There’s also a forbidden romance, and I’ve heard there’s some spice (though I haven’t read the book myself, so I can’t confirm or deny this).
The above books were published in 2025. See what other YA fantasy books were released this year.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
Emory gains strange powers after a night in some sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. She must gain the help of her school’s most reclusive student to learn to control her powers.
This dark academia fantasy book has plenty of moody vibes, forbidden magic, secret societies, and a touch of romance. A fantastic book to cuddle up with under a blanket!
Wish you could attend a magical school? Take this quiz to find your perfect match!
Adult Dark Academia Fantasy Books
Babel by R.F. Kuang
This story takes place mostly at Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. As Robin and the other students learn about silver-working, they realize that the school they love is supporting the Empire’s colonization of their home countries.
This novel is not for the faint of heart or brain, as it explores deep intellectual themes about language, colonization, and loyalty.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
This book is a standalone, not related to Babel. In it, Alice must travel to Hell to rescue her Cambridge professor and the greatest magician in the world. After all, his recommendation could make or break her future. This story sounds more lighthearted than Babel, though I haven’t read it yet, so I can’t say for certain.
A Study of Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf
I backed the Kickstarter for this book that released to the public in September, and I’m so excited to read it! It’s told from a teacher’s POV and has music magic, stunning illustrations, and the Chosen One trope.
See what other adult fantasy books were released this year.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
This is the first book in the Scholomance trilogy, where survival matters more than anything–friendship, letter grades, or family–in this school. The Scholomance won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G. Parry
One of the refreshing aspects of this book is that Clover has no magical blood or abilities (at least at first). The primary reason she attends the magical school, Camford, is to figure out a way to break a faerie curse cast on her brother while he fought during WWI.
While at Camford, Clover makes friends with aristocrats who who experiment with forbidden faerie magic that may come back to bite them years later…
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
During a competition to replace the former emperor, one of the contenders is murdered. It’s up to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer before the trials end. If she succeeds, she will win the throne. If she fails, death awaits her. So, no pressure! 😆
What are some dark academia fantasy books that you would add to this list?
