10 Dark Academia Books to Read If You’re Obsessed With 'The Secret History'

Obsession, intellect, and a touch of the macabre—dark academia novels hold an irresistible charm. If 'The Secret History' captivated you with its intoxicating mix of elite academia and moral corruption, there are plenty more books that weave similar tales of ambition, betrayal, and eerie atmospheres. These novels offer haunting narratives set within the confines of academia, where knowledge is power, and the price of belonging can be deadly. Step into the shadowed halls of these stories, where intellect meets intrigue and obsession turns fatal, blurring the lines between loyalty, manipulation, and self-destruction. Each page unravels secrets, deception, and the chilling cost of ambition.

Shakespeare, tragedy, and a tight-knit group of theatre students—'If We Were Villains' unravels the dark secrets within an elite arts college. When a member of their clique is found dead, loyalties are tested, and obsession with art blurs into reality. As the narrative flips between past and present, the unreliable narrator teases out the truth. With poetic prose and a murder mystery steeped in literary drama, this novel mirrors the intoxicating intellectual world of 'The Secret History'.

At an elite New England MFA program, outsider Samantha is drawn into the bizarre, cult-like world of her classmates, who call each other ‘Bunny’. Their rituals blur the line between art and madness, reality and horror. As she succumbs to their influence, Samantha finds herself entangled in a disturbing transformation. 'Bunny' is a surreal and unsettling take on the dark academia genre, mixing literary ambition with grotesque obsession, making it perfect for fans of Donna Tartt’s masterpiece.

Six brilliant magicians compete for a place in the Alexandrian Society, the world’s most elite magical academy. But only five can secure a spot, and the competition is ruthless. As alliances form and secrets unravel, the scholars must decide how far they are willing to go for power. With philosophical debates, esoteric knowledge, and treacherous rivalries, 'The Atlas Six' captures the intellectual thrill and high-stakes drama of 'The Secret History'.

A young scholar lands a research position at The Cloisters, a Gothic museum in New York housing arcane artefacts. When she discovers a mysterious set of tarot cards, she becomes ensnared in a web of ambition, mysticism, and academia. As obsession takes hold, she is forced to confront the price of knowledge. 'The Cloisters' is a hypnotic blend of history and dark academia, offering an eerie intellectual pursuit akin to the allure of Hampden College’s elite classics students.

An affluent Oxford student becomes captivated by the magnetic and mysterious Mark Winters, whose immense wealth and influence pull their group into a reckless world of indulgence. As financial strains intensify and loyalties unravel, friendships start to crumble. 'The Lessons' delivers a gripping exploration of power, privilege, and ethical decline within academia, mirroring the seductive darkness of 'The Secret History'. With its haunting portrayal of ambition and moral downfall, the novel exposes the dangerous allure of excess and the consequences of blind devotion.

Catherine House is no typical school—it offers students an exclusive, life-altering education, but at a chilling price. Ines, a restless and disillusioned student, becomes ensnared by the institution’s strict rules and its enigmatic experimental science program. As she ventures deeper, she unearths unsettling secrets lurking behind the ivy-covered walls. 'Catherine House' is a mesmerizing, slow-burning mystery that masterfully fuses gothic horror with the intoxicating allure of dark academia, drawing readers into a world where knowledge, power, and sacrifice intertwine in eerie and unexpected ways.

At Oxford in the 1920s, Charles Ryder is drawn into the opulent world of the aristocratic Flyte family. With lavish parties, doomed love affairs, and a tragic sense of nostalgia, the novel is an exquisite study of beauty, religion, and class. Though not a thriller, 'Brideshead Revisited' captures the intoxicating friendships and elite exclusivity that define dark academia, making it a perfect recommendation for those enamoured with 'The Secret History'.

In an exclusive English boarding school, students are raised under an eerie sense of purpose, bound by fate to a harrowing truth. As the three friends navigate love and betrayal, they slowly unravel the reality of their existence. 'Never Let Me Go' is an elegant yet chilling meditation on memory, destiny, and identity, blending melancholic academia with a dystopian twist. Its quiet horror and intellectual musings make it an essential read for fans of morally complex narratives.

Scarlett Clark, an English professor, has a dark secret—she’s also a serial killer, targeting men who abuse their power. When an inquisitive student begins investigating, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways. 'They Never Learn' is a thrilling, feminist take on dark academia, filled with moral ambiguity, suspense, and an electrifying sense of justice. Its gripping plot and complex characters make it an addictive read for those fascinated by academic intrigue.

A therapist fixated on a secret society at Cambridge University investigates a string of brutal murders tied to a magnetic professor. As she digs deeper, she finds herself trapped in the elite group’s eerie rituals and sinister secrets. 'The Maidens' masterfully blends Greek mythology, psychological suspense, and the intoxicating allure of academia. With its chilling atmosphere and intricate web of deception, this novel will enthral those drawn to the dark intellectualism and moral ambiguity that made 'The Secret History' so compelling.

Dark academia literature seduces readers with its brooding characters, elite institutions, and intellectual intrigue. Whether unravelling sinister secrets, succumbing to obsession, or questioning the price of knowledge, these books echo the haunting beauty of 'The Secret History'. Each novel immerses you in a world where academia is both a sanctuary and battleground, shrouded in mystery and tension. With hidden societies, philosophical debates, and moral dilemmas at their core, these stories captivate the mind. If gothic settings, literary allusions, and forbidden knowledge enthral you, these books are waiting to be devoured—one darkly elegant page at a time.

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