Are you drawn to the dark academia aesthetic — the intellectual and artistic pursuits, the reverence for classic literature, or the allure of all things somber, mysterious, and atmospheric? While dark academia is often thought of as just an aesthetic, it’s also a rich literary subgenre.

Typically set within elite educational institutions, dark academia books feature Gothic architecture, crumbling stone buildings, creeping ivy, candlelit and dusty libraries, and hallways that echo from the legacy of history. These are prestigious old world/old money academies that don’t let just anybody behind their closed doors. In dark academia, aesthetic meets angst by leaning into darkness with gothic vibes: mystery, murder, and emotional intensity reign within these hallowed halls.

Thematically, dark academia books often delve into the pressure to be exceptional, the search for identity and belonging, intellectualism, the seductive nature of forbidden knowledge, and the cost of ambition. If you’re looking for books about intellectual freedom, rebellion, secrets, obsession, betrayal, and even grief, you will often find it dark academia. Rooted both in the real world and also sometimes weaving in elements of magic or fantasy, these books focus more on atmospheric vibes than on being defined by a single genre box.

Dark academia characters are just as captivating as their surroundings. Often brilliant but also deeply flawed, they may be characterized by their curiosity, intelligence, and their nuanced natures. Characters may be mysterious and brooding, morally ambiguous, socially manipulative, or driven by a thirst for (often forbidden) knowledge. These characters wrestle with coming of age, face existential dread, the ache of loneliness and isolation, the thrill of rebellion, and the intoxicating search for truth.

Young Adult dark academia empowers readers to question the status quo, to welcome nuance and complexity, and feel things deeply in the moment when emotions are particularly heightened. With back to school just around the corner, this is the perfect time to plunge into a dark academia book and lose yourself in the shadows.