Lydia's dark academia recommendations

Community recommendations come from creators on Bookstagram and BookTok we personally choose and wholeheartedly trust.

About Lydia

My name is Lydia. I’m 27 and I’m raising 3 kiddos in South Carolina! I love to read dark romance, romantasy and fantasy but my love is mainly in dark academia books.

Find Lydia on Instagram at @archivesofarcadia.

  • Book cover of 'Ninth House' by Leigh Bardugo with a snake design on a black background.
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"This was my first read when I originally came to bookstagram in 2021 and it has stuck with me ever since! I have reread these three times in the past few years. I am impenitently waiting for book 3; Dead Beat. Galaxy (Alex) our FMC, is tough as nails, life has quite literally taken her through the wringer but we quickly learn that does not make her weak or hold her back. If you love secret societies, ghosts/vampires/occult magic and more, a hint of a mystery/thriller plot, ‘found family’ trope, and slow (sloooooow) burn romance. I highly recommend this one! It’s perfect for a fall-time read." - Lydia

Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House (Ninth House #1)

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  • Book cover of 'Hell Bent' by Leigh Bardugo with a creature and title design.
1 1

"This was my first read when I originally came to bookstagram in 2021 and it has stuck with me ever since! I have reread these three times in the past few years. I am impenitently waiting for book 3; Dead Beat. Galaxy (Alex) our FMC, is tough as nails, life has quite literally taken her through the wringer but we quickly learn that does not make her weak or hold her back. If you love secret societies, ghosts/vampires/occult magic and more, a hint of a mystery/thriller plot, ‘found family’ trope, and slow (sloooooow) burn romance. I highly recommend this one! It’s perfect for a fall-time read." - Lydia

Leigh Bardugo

Hell Bent (Ninth House #2)

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  • Book cover of 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' by V.E. Schwab with gold text on a black background.
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"This is my ‘cut me and I bleed this’ book. I think about this one daily. Be prepared with tons of tissues. Addie Larue is what secured V.E. Schwab as an auto-buy author." - Lydia

V. E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue

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"I read this one in 2025 and the tragic love between our main characters is beautifully gut-wrenching. Achillies and Patroclus, you have my undying love. This book truly spoke to me at my core (dramatic I know) but TSOA was a book that I had to sit down and just - think. Madeline Miller did an incredible job discussing such heavy matters and making it digestible. I think I’ll be rereading this one soon!" - Lydia

Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles

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