i read 5 dark academia books and now i’m more pretentious than ever 🍂🖤📖

A Clockwork Reader・2 minutes read

Dark Academia is a popular genre that critiques academia through literature, with books like "If We Were Villains" and "These Violent Delights" exploring intense relationships and themes of murder. The books delve into complex emotions, dark academia aesthetics, and toxic relationships, offering nuanced critiques of privilege, power, and identity within academic settings.

Insights

Dark Academia is a genre that romanticizes higher education, arts, and classic architecture while also critiquing academia, focusing on mental well-being and power dynamics within university systems.
"If We Were Villains" by M.L. Rio is a popular Dark Academia example, praised for its Shakespearean actor protagonist, intense narrative, and emotional impact on readers through a mix of suspense and surprise.
"These Violent Delights" by Micah Nemerever, while a departure from typical dark academia novels, explores toxic relationships, morally gray characters, and intense emotions through criminal activities, appealing to those interested in intricate character dynamics and suspenseful narratives.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

What is Dark Academia?
A genre focusing on higher education and classic aesthetics.
What is "If We Were Villains" about?
A Shakespearean actor's story with a mystery.
What is the book "Catherine House" about?
A prestigious university with a mysterious atmosphere.
What is "These Violent Delights" about?
A thriller mystery with toxic relationships and crimes.
What is "Ace of Spades" about?
A dual-perspective novel with mystery and representation.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"If We Were Villains": Dark Academia Mystery

Dark Academia is a genre and aesthetic that has gained popularity, focusing on higher education, writing, poetry, the arts, and classic architecture.
It often critiques academia, delving into college life, mental well-being, university systems, and power dynamics within academia.
The genre juxtaposes its romanticized aesthetic with critical themes in literature, offering insights into academia's complexities.
The book "If We Were Villains" by M.L. Rio is a popular example of Dark Academia, set in two timelines, following a Shakespearean actor's story.
The protagonist, Oliver, recounts events from ten years ago at an Arts Conservatory, leading to a mystery reminiscent of a Shakespearean tragedy.
The book is praised for its well-written narrative, with characters deeply involved in Shakespearean dialogue and themes.
The story's intensity and suspense build up towards a surprising and emotional conclusion, evoking strong reactions from readers.
Memorable quotes from the book, like "I never wanted you to look at me the way you're looking at me right now," and references to Romeo and Juliet, evoke emotional responses.
The emotional impact of the book is highlighted by lines that resonate deeply with readers, leading to tears and a desire for a sequel.
The book's conclusion surprises readers, flipping their emotions and leaving them with a mix of hope and longing for more.

12:31

Dark academia book review and fashion sponsor

The text discusses a book that the speaker found to be phenomenal, rating it 5 out of 5 and 10 out of 10, comparing it to "The Secret History" but with a gay twist, focusing more on a tragic love story than on critiquing academia.
The book is described as having a dark academia vibe and aesthetic, with a focus on relationships, friend groups, and the impact of being in an exclusive environment in one's early 20s.
The speaker praises the nuanced critique of academia in the book, particularly highlighting how exclusivity and dramatic environments can manipulate emotions and actions.
A content warning is issued for the book due to its themes of murder and gore, with a specific mention of a character's eating disorder being brushed off by another character.
The speaker expresses a deep connection to the book, feeling a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, describing it as a Shakespearean tragedy and praising the author's writing and character development.
The speaker transitions to discussing another book, "Catherine House" by Elizabeth Thomas, which is set in a prestigious and exclusive university that is likened to a cult, with shady happenings and a mystery surrounding the school.
Despite the book's dark academia themes and critique of academic institutions, the speaker found "Catherine House" to be atmospheric but ultimately boring, giving it a low rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
The speaker acknowledges that while the book may appeal to fans of dark academia and atmospheric reads, it did not resonate with them personally, leading to a lack of enjoyment and engagement with the plot.
The speaker briefly mentions a fashion sponsor, Simple Retro, showcasing vintage and retro style pieces that align with the dark academia aesthetic, including a knit sweater, cable knit cardigan, white button-up with embroidery, and an espresso-colored sweater vest.
The speaker concludes by introducing the next book they read, "These Violent Delights" by Micah Nemerever, chosen based on a recommendation and little prior knowledge, setting the stage for another dark academia exploration.

24:34

Intense thriller explores toxic love and crime.

The book "These Violent Delights" is described as a strange read, focusing on being gay and committing crimes, a common theme in dark academia.
The story revolves around two boys in college in the 1970s who fall in love and engage in criminal activities.
The book is more of a thriller mystery than a typical dark academia novel, delving into the characters' interpersonal turmoil and the murders they commit.
The main character, Paul, meets another freshman named Julian, and their repressed relationship leads to toxic and codependent behavior.
The toxic relationship between Paul and Julian is acknowledged in the book, making it stand out from other toxic relationships portrayed in media.
The story explores the characters' morally gray actions and their intense, disturbing, and mesmerizing obsession with each other.
The book combines obsessive, toxic, codependent love with passion, externalized through murder, creating a tense and suspenseful narrative.
The setting of the book is not as prominent as in typical dark academia novels, focusing more on the characters and their relationships.
The writing is intricate, detailed, and beautiful, requiring close attention to grasp all the connections and details.
The book is recommended for those interested in morally gray characters and intense, emotionally charged relationships, with a warning for violence and prevalent homophobia in the story.

37:12

Unique portrayal of Letty in fiction.

The book being discussed depicts Letty in a unique and commendable way, not commonly found in fiction.
The reviewer expresses excitement to continue reading the book and expects a high rating of at least four stars, likely five.
The book evokes strong emotional reactions, leading to tears and a deep connection with the characters and themes.
The reviewer praises the book for its portrayal of dark academia, describing it as the truest form of the genre.
The depiction of Letty's character is highlighted as one of the best aspects of the book, particularly in addressing self-victimization.
Letty's actions, including the betrayal and murder of Remy, are discussed in detail, emphasizing the impact on the characters and the storyline.
The book is lauded for its exploration of privilege, power, and identity, showcasing the nuanced experiences of the characters.
The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to evoke complex emotions and prompt self-reflection on societal issues.
The book is recommended for its accessibility in conveying important messages about imperialism and colonialism through a popular fantasy narrative.
The reviewer concludes by urging readers to prioritize this book as essential and transformative reading, awarding it a high rating and recommending it as a must-read for the year.

50:06

"Ace of Spades" blends suspense and representation.

A Clockwork reader requires a mandatory reading list to join the club, with "Ace of Spades" by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé being the latest addition.
"Ace of Spades" is a dual-perspective novel set in a prestigious school with two black students facing mysterious targeting, blending elements of "Gossip Girl" and "Get Out."
The book opens with an epigraph quoting both "Gossip Girl" and "Get Out," setting the tone for the story's suspenseful and mysterious nature.
The narrative is likened to a blend of "Gossip Girl," "Get Out," and "Pretty Little Liars," offering representation and nuance often missing in similar stories.
The main characters, Chiamaka and Devon, are compared to Blair Waldorf and a more positive version of Dan Humphrey, respectively, with a focus on their outcast status and queerness.
The book is praised for its critique of academia, exploitation, and racism, offering a fresh perspective with people of color as the main characters, earning a rating of three to three and a half stars out of five.

Try it yourself — It’s free.