The days are getting shorter, the evenings are becoming cooler, and summer is slowly giving way to autumn. It’s time for sweaters, warm drinks, rainy afternoons, and books that make you want to disappear into an old library for a few hours.
And if there’s one aesthetic that is made for September, it has to be Dark Academia. Mysterious universities, candlelit libraries, complicated relationships, old books, secret societies, beautiful campuses, questionable decisions, and just the right amount of melancholy.
Whether you’re a longtime Dark Academia reader or simply looking for something atmospheric to add to your September TBR, here are some books to get you started. 🏛️
1. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
A group of theatre students at an elite arts college find their Shakespearean performances beginning to blur with their real lives. Dramatic, mysterious, and filled with complicated friendships, perfect for a moody autumn evening.
2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A group of classics students at an elite New England college becomes entangled in a dark secret. If you’re looking for the ultimate combination of academia, obsession, and murder, this is a classic Dark Academia choice.
3. Babel by R.F. Kuang
Set at an alternate Oxford University, Babel combines magical translation, academia, and colonial politics. It's an immersive choice for fantasy readers who want their Dark Academia with plenty of substance.
4. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six talented magicians are invited to compete for five places within a secret magical society. Expect dark academia, secret societies, magic, ambition, and plenty of morally questionable characters.
5. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern can see ghosts, making her an unusual addition to Yale’s secret societies. This dark fantasy combines academia, occult magic, mystery, and supernatural secrets.
6. The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Set inside a mysterious museum in New York, The Cloisters combines art history, tarot, secrets, and murder. It’s atmospheric, mysterious, and perfect for readers who love their autumn reading with a darker edge.
7. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
At the Scholomance, magical students have to survive an education where almost everything is trying to kill them. It’s a fun, darker take on magical academia with plenty of fantasy, friendship, and romance.
8. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
Students selected for the mysterious Catherine House spend three years completely isolated from the outside world. Strange, unsettling, and atmospheric, it’s perfect for readers who enjoy psychological mysteries and dark academia with a sinister twist.
9. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Beneath the surface of the world lies a mysterious library filled with stories, doors, and hidden places. Dreamy, magical, and deeply atmospheric, this is a beautiful choice for anyone who believes books can transport you somewhere else.
10. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
A group of siblings raised by a mysterious and terrifying figure discover that their immense library holds knowledge beyond human understanding. Strange, dark, and unpredictable, this is one for readers who want something completely different.
🕯️ Set the Mood for Your Dark Academia TBR
September is the perfect time to transform your reading corner into a little Dark Academia escape. Think dim lighting, a warm drink, an old blanket, your favourite book, and a candle flickering beside you.
Our Dark Academia candle with its soothing notes of vanilla and bergamot is made for exactly those evenings when you want your reading space to feel a little mysterious, moody, and atmospheric.
And if you’re ready to embrace the changing season, our Autumn TBR candle with its comforting blend of pumpkin spice and cinnamon is the perfect companion for working your way through your autumn reading list.
Because sometimes choosing the book is only half the fun. Creating the atmosphere is the other half.