Recently, I’ve had an obsession with the dark academia aesthetic. While there is no official definition, I would classify dark academia as a literary subculture centered around higher education and dark romanticism. Typically, it incorporates elements such as murder mysteries and morally ambiguous characters. Additionally, these books frequently prompt discussions about the inherent elitism and classism ingrained within academic institutions. Over the past few months, I have read some excellent books that fit this aesthetic that I would love to share with you!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History usually comes first to mind when readers think about the dark academia aesthetic. It ticks all the boxes – liberal arts college setting, pretentious main characters, slow-burn murder mystery story, themes of social class, and the obsession with the picturesque.
The narrator, Richard Papen, joins an elite, hand-selected group of classics students at a New England college. Richard begins the novel by describing how he, along with four other students, is complicit in the murder of one of his classmates. He then recounts the circumstances that led up to this incident and the lasting effects the events have had on his life.
So many aspects of this book strike a chord with me: the morally grey characters, Donna Tartt’s beautiful and immersive writing style, and Richard’s unreliable narration. The “beauty is terror” motif and the group’s descent from obsession into corruption and betrayal feel inevitably realistic – strangely reminiscent of a Greek tragicomedy.
The Likeness by Tana French
Although it is the second book in the Dublin Murders series, The Likeness can be read as a standalone. The protagonist is detective Cassie Maddox, who is trying to solve the mystery of a murdered girl who looks exactly like her. To determine the killer, Cassie goes undercover at an Irish university to take the victim’s place and infiltrates the murdered girl’s friend group, all while ensuring she does not expose her true identity.
Though the premise is somewhat implausible, the characters feel very realistic, and the book is still incredibly entertaining and suspenseful. I like how Tana French focuses on why the murder was committed by exploring the characters’ motivations and inner desires rather than just revealing who was responsible, which makes for a more compelling and unpredictable read.
Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
Vita Nostra is a Ukrainian novel that cleverly blends different genres to create an original and riveting piece of literature. After completing a series of unusual tasks for a mysterious stranger, Sasha Samokhina is accepted to the Institute of Special Technologies, located in a remote village. The rest of the book follows Sasha’s experiences at the school and her unconventional process of self-actualization.
This book has a mix of dark fantasy, science fiction, psychological-philosophical thriller, coming-of-age, and Kafkaesque horror – I’ve never read anything like it! I have to admit that I didn’t understand a lot of what was happening towards the end of the book, as it shifted from focusing on the plot and characters to more philosophical and metaphysical ideas and concepts. However, I was still intrigued and hope to re-read it sometime in the future.
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
This book centers around two characters, Paul and Julian, who are immediately attracted to one another when they meet in their first year of university. Their relationship soon becomes obsessive and violent as they are forced to face the disconcerting depths of what it means to be human.
I was very invested in this story and its characters, with the slow-building suspense and beautiful prose. I like how this book also addresses the negative implications of toxic codependent relationships, specifically how identity-consuming it can be for many queer people in their youth. This excerpt from the author’s note at the end particularly resonated: “My own experiences of these relationships felt like another latent threat I carried inside me, one that fed off my alienation from the outside world by affirming it […] What the story records, ultimately, is the deep fear I once carried about my loneliness and what it could do.” Overall, the writing is so beautiful and atmospheric, perfectly fitting the dark academia vibe.
Honourable mentions include Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, and Babel by R.F. Kuang.