The dark halls and grounds of these academies have some twisted tales to tell. Of murders most foul, eldritch horrors come to life, and obsessions that turned to madness. If you’re looking to crack open the spine of something thrilling and suspenseful this fall, these 10 Queer Dark Academia books should be just what you’re looking for.
1) Plain Bad Heroines
by Emily M. Danforth
Queer Genre: Sapphic Historical Mystery
Genres: Dark Academia, Gothic Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers
Awards: Stonewall Book Award Winner 2021, Amazon Editor’s Pick: Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Most Anticipated Book by Entertainment Weekly • Washington Post • USA Today • Time • Oprah Magazine • Buzzfeed • Harper’s Bazaar • Vulture • Parade • HuffPost • Refinery29 • Popsugar • E! News • Bustle • The Millions • GoodReads • Autostraddle • Lambda Literary • Literary Hub
2) The Library at Hellbore
by Cassandra Khaw
Queer Genre: Bisexual Dark Fantasy
Genres: Dark Academia, Dark Fantasy, Occult Horror, Supernatural Fantasy, Magic School, Eldritch Horror
Awards: Amazon Editor’s Pick: Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, Library Reads Next Pick, Indie Next Pick
3) Don’t Let the Forest In
by CG Drews
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Asexual Romance, Bisexual Romance
Genres: Young Adult Horror, Young Adult Contemporary Dark Fantasy, Dark Academia, Eldritch Horror, Psychological Horror, School Romance
Awards: New York Times Bestseller, ABA Indies Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, Indies Next Selection, B&N Best Book of 2024, Junior Library Guild Selection, Goodreads Choice Award Finalist, Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editors’ Choice Book
4) A Lesson in Vengeance
by Victoria Lee
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romance, Sapphic Supernatural Mystery
Genres: Dark Academia, Young Adult Contemporary Romance, Supernatural Fantasy, Supernatural Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers, Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Romance, School Romance
Awards: Best of BookTok
5) Ace of Spades
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Queer Genre: Queer Mystery & Suspense, Queer Romance
Genres: Young Adult Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers, Contemporary Romance, Amateur Sleuths
Awards: NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work, William C. Morris Award Finalist, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Finalist, School Library Journal Best Young Adult Book, Boston Globe Best Book, Autostraddle Best Queer Book, Amazon Editor’s Pick: Best Young Adult
6) A Darker Mischief
by Derek Milman
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance
Genres: Dark Academia, Young Adult Contemporary Romance, Suspense & Thrillers, Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Romance, School Romance
Awards: Cosmopolitan Best YA Novel of 2024
7) Wilder Girls
by Rory Power
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romance, Sapphic Supernatural Mystery
Genres: Dark Academia, Young Adult SciFi, Dystopian Romance, Young Adult Contemporary Romance, Coming-of-Age Romance, School Romance, SciFi Mystery
Awards: Amazon Teachers Pick, New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
8) The Keys of Persephone
by Kate Gray Glass
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romance
Genres: New Adult Fantasy, Dark Academia, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Romance, Romantasy, Mythpunk, Ghost Romance, Witch Romance, School Romance
9) Two Who Live On
Branches of Past and Future Book 2
by MN Bennet
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Romantasy, Dark Academia, Urban Fantasy, Magical School, Supernatural Mystery, Witches & Warlocks
10) The Grimrose Girls
The Grimrose Girls Book 1
by Laura Pohl
Queer Genre: Queer Contemporary Fantasy, Queer Suspense Thriller
Genres: Dark Academia, Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Suspense & Thrillers
Awards: Book Riot’s Top New YA Paperbacks for Fall, Buzzfeed Top LGBTQ+ YA Book to Devour, Barnes & Noble pick for November 2021
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