I’m noticing some New Trends in Dark Academia Books, so I decided to make an update to my popular Dark Academia Fiction post. What is changing for this subgenre of suspense that is perfect for your Fall reading? Let’s explore!
New Trends in Dark Academia Books
If you want to know “What is Dark Academia?” then check out my master post on Dark Academia Aesthetic and Fiction, which covers what Dark Academia is (and is not) and highlights some top adult and YA Dark Academia books and movies.
This post will track some new trends I’m seeing in Dark Academia that follow trends in fiction in general:
More fantasy and romantasy in Dark Academia
I reviewed a Dark Academia fantasy with academic rivals called A Study in Drowning back in 2023, but with the huge success that year of The Fourth Wing and the stratospheric rise of the new romantasy subgenre, fantasy and romance are heavily represented in Dark Academia books.
A continued focus on social justice and equity issues
As I discussed in my main Dark Academia post, modern Dark Academia has done a lot to question and challenge some of the elitism, mysogyny, classism, and racism in both higher education and the world at large. These themes continue in realistic Dark Academia fiction.
NEW Dark Academia Fiction
This list is divided into adult Dark Academia fiction (fantasy, historical and realistic) and YA Dark Academia fiction.
Magical Academies: Fantasy and Romantasy Dark Academia
Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy (2026)
What it is: This highly anticipated Dark Academia Romantasy title takes place at Nightsbridge Academy, a sinister and magical place filled with monsters of every kind.
Who should read it: fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance
Arcana Academy by Elise Cova (2025)
Clara, sentenced to prison for creating tarot cards, gets a reprieve to work at the secretive Arcana Academy. Prince Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect person to steal a valuable tarot card for him. But is the Prince who he seems to be?
Who should read it: fans of magical systems, royal romantasy, and brooding dark love interests.
Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve (2025)
The magical Weatherstone college, a spicy enemies to lovers romance, and some witchy Dark Academia!
Who should read it: fans of high stakes enemies to lovers romantasy.
Bound in Blood (Broken Bloodlines series 3) by Sadie Kincaid (2025)
Orphan Ophelia Hart is invited to attend elite Montridge University, then inducted into the Red Dragon Society.
Who should read this series: fans of spicy romance, why choose, and dark vampire romance.
Oxford Legacy series by Roxy Sloan (2024)
For fans of spicy books this Dark Academia series set at Oxford has a dark romance element.
Who should read this series: fans of dark revenge stories, Oxbridge vibes, and
Historical Fiction Dark Academia
The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans
In 1942, a young woman is forced back to the college where her father taught and her best friend disappeared.
Who should read it: fans of Gothic fiction, feminist stories, and dark family secrets.
This 1950s set Dark Academia follows a young woman who becomes part of a secret society of women that might actually be more deadly than friendly.
Who should read it: fans of secret society stories, dual timelines, and morally gray characters.
New Realistic Dark Academia Fiction
The Rabbit Club by Christopher Yates
By the author of Black Chalk, another Dark Academia title, this book follows a young Californian who is accepted at Oxford University and into a secret society.
I read this wild new Dark Academia suspense story, perfect for fans of the Secret History, Alice in Wonderland, and writers like Alice Feeney.
When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington
This Scottish title is set at St. Andrews University and sounds pretty fun: a group of history scholars obsessed with ancient Scotland have wild adventures, midnight rituals, and search for a long-lost hallucinogen.
Who should read it: fans of The Secret History.
NEW Young Adult Dark Academia
House of Vipers by Emma Jackson (2026)
One year a student at an elite boarding school vanishes, his brother finds clues that might help solve their school’s most elusive puzzle—and find his brother, dead or alive.
Who should read it: with puzzles, clues and a love triangle, this is perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games!
That Devil, Ambition by Linsey Miller (2025)
Thirteen students in an honors capstone course at a prestigious magic academy. But the course is taught by the Devil, and the students must successfully murder him before he kills them all…
Who should read it: this dark book is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House.
Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson (2025)
2010s YA author is back with a new Dark Academia about an ancient boarding school society tied to demonic magic.
Who should read it: fans of A Great and Terrible Beauty and The Ravens!
A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury (2025)
August’s brother disappears in college and she must join a secret society to investigate.
Who should read it: fans of competition books, slow burn romance, and diverse characters.
The Girl You Know by Elia Gonzalez Rose (2025)
When a Luna’s twin disappears from her boarding school, she decides to take her sister’s place to get to the truth.
Who should read it: fans of The Lying Game or The Likeness!
A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman (2024)
Cal leaves Mississippi to attend Essex Academy, an elite New England boarding school. When he decides to rush a secret society, he enters a new world of romance (with handsome Luke Kim) and danger.
Who should read it: readers looking for queer Dark Academia.