What is Academia?

The genre of academia is very recent and still is in its infancy period. People usually are not able to relate very much to this genre because of its newness. We will be able to find very few people who are greatly able to relate to this new genre. Let’s have an in-depth look at what academia is and what sort of books this genre encompasses in it. So, anything related to schools and colleges comes under the category of Academia. It may refer to various things such as students at school, teachers, books read and published for academic purposes, and so on. Even the culture of schools and colleges is considered under the genre of academia. One author that we can associate with the genre of Academia is J.K. Rowling. Her Harry Potter series is all about the magic school of Hogwarts where Harry studies to become a magician. Just like Rowling, several more authors in Academia have published novels. Academia has a sub-branch in the name of Dark Academia. All the novels are published under this sub-branch. So, in this blog, we will be listing some novels related to Dark Academia. So, let’s get down to the new topic.

Top 10 Books in the Genre of Dark Academia

1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt- Tartt has given her readers everything that gives out the dark academia vibes. It is a sort of cult-ish novel that has a very posh school, a modern protagonist and on top of it all, a student’s murder at the school. This has been considered the originator of dark academia novels.

2. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia- This novel is pure gothic and fans of this genre will love it to the core of their hearts. It has some very dark scenes in it and the story of a girl who stands up for herself and her cousin despite the upcoming dangers makes it a must-read. At first glance, the book may seem overwhelming for some readers but they will be able to connect all the pieces eventually. The last 50 pages of the novel are surely unputdownable.

3. Bunny by Mona Awad- The story of an MFA student who gets surrounded by fellow students who like to work in a pack just like rabbits. It is more of a horror than a sorority story. This one is surely a wild dark academia novel that will take its readers on a rollercoaster journey for sure.

4. Confessions by Kanae Minato- This one just straightaway screams murder. It is the story of a woman who has lost her only child and is now out to take revenge. The woman’s child has died because of drowning in a pool. The story has been told from multiple points of view and is an interesting read.

5. Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide- This is the story of two toppers named Devon and Chiamaka who receive unusual text messages from a person who calls himself ‘Aces’. This is a very exciting mystery story for lovers of thrillers and mystery. The toppers need to do what Aces wants them to do as they are receiving threats from him. The story then starts unraveling fast and readers will get sucked into the world of Devon and Chiamaka.

6. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke- This is Clarke’s latest work that revolves around a museum and its many mysteries and secrets. The novel seems to have more thrills than all the rooms of the museum. The book will certainly keep readers hooked on it. The story has the elements of dark academia: an intellectual who is out to push the scientific and ethical boundaries, revenge, and a very strange mystery.

7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- This has become a classical novel in its own right. The story of an artist who creates a self-portrait of a beautiful man. The painting starts aging as time passes, but the artist remains fresh and young. This is Wilde’s most popular novel that is a part of the curriculum of many colleges.

8. They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman- This is the story of a murder and the secret societies that this novel encompasses. This novel is now being adapted by HBO starring Halsey and Sydney Sweeney and will be titled The Players Table.

9. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh- In this novel, a World War II soldier is returning home. He decides to visit an old estate of his childhood named Brideshead to examine more about his relationship with an uber-wealthy family.

10. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas- This is the story of a school named Catherine House which is quite experimental in its ways. Its new student Ines discovers something fishy in the school soon after her admission.

So, these were the top 10 books that we think will keep you hooked on them for hours on end. Do read these classics and modern fiction novels if you want to learn more about the world of dark academia