School is back in session! This time of year always feels like a great time of year to re-focus and buckle down. Yes, I was that type of kid when summer wrapped up.
So to celebrate back-to-school season, we’ve got a list of Dark Academia and Light Academia book themes. Worlds set within competitive school environments, shadowed library aisles and mysterious magical elements in the air. We hope you find your next great read on the list. Let the This or That showdown commence!
This or That: Found Family
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Bree Matthews enrolls in a high school program at UNC-Chapel Hill, only to witness a magical attack on her first night. Discovering a secret society, Bree uncovers a buried memory connected to her mother’s death and her own unique powers. She infiltrates the society but soon faces a choice: destroy them or join their fight in a magical war.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Linus Baker, a solitary caseworker is tasked with a secret mission to assess the well-being of six dangerous magical children. As Linus gets to know them, he’s forced to confront his fears, question his duty, and discover what family means.
This or That: The Outsider
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a survivor of a gruesome unsolved homicide is given a full ride to Yale. But her mysterious benefactors have a catch—Alex must monitor the university’s infamous secret societies. As Alex navigates the dangerous world of magic, she begins to uncover sinister forces that threaten both the living and the dead.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Avery Grambs’ life takes a turn when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne leaves her his fortune. To claim her inheritance, she must move into the puzzle-filled Hawthorne House. As Avery navigates deadly games and cryptic riddles, she must contend with the charming yet dangerous Hawthorne brothers.
This or That: Coming-of-Age
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik El Higgins, a powerful but ostracized student at the deadly Scholomance, has a problem. Her problem: Orion Lake, the school’s golden boy and monster-slayer, keeps saving her life. El wants nothing to do with his heroics, especially when everyone expects her to embrace her dark, destructive potential.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister. On the Prince Edward Island farm, Anne proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
This or That: Magical Mystery
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake Six of the world’s most gifted magicians are chosen to compete for a spot in the mysterious Alexandrian Society. Membership guarantees immense influence and privilege, but the path to entry is perilous. As the recruits navigate intense challenges, they must decide how far they’re willing to go to secure their place. Not everyone will make it through the year alive.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is an expert on faeries but struggles with people. When she travels to a remote village for research, her work is disrupted by her academic rival. His presence forces her to confront both faerie secrets and her own heart.
This or That: Secret Society
The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon Phoebe Lin, grieving her mother’s death, is drawn into a secretive cult at Edwards University. Will Kendall, a misfit scholarship student, falls deeply in love with her. When the cult commits a violent act, Will is forced to confront the fanaticism he’s tried to leave behind.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna Mika Moon, a secret witch, is surprised when her online “witch” persona leads to teaching three young witches. As she navigates the secrets of her new charges Mika must decide if she’s willing to risk everything for this newfound family.
This or That: Life & Death
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma Orphaned heiress Kidan Adane, raised away from her vampire-bonded society, suspects the vampire bound to her family of kidnapping her sister. To rescue June, Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University and confront her own dark desires.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab In France, 1714, Addie LaRue makes a bargain to live forever but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Her life spans centuries, but everything changes when she meets a young man who remembers her name, defying her curse.
This or That: Magic Library
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Graduate student Zachary discovers a mysterious book that contains a story from his childhood. Following a series of clues, he uncovers a hidden library beneath New York, where he learns of a magical realm of lost cities and stories.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Nora Seed discovers a magical library at the edge of the universe that holds infinite books. Each book represents a different version of her life based on the choices she didn’t make. As she explores these alternate realities, Nora must determine what truly makes life worth living.
This or That: Romance
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake Regan, a counterfeit artist, and Aldo, a doctoral student obsessed with time travel, meet by chance in the Art Institute of Chicago. Through six conversations each discovers how a single encounter can disrupt the predictable patterns of their existence.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood Elsie, a theoretical physicist one day and fake girlfriend the next, faces a crisis when her arrogant coworker turns out to be her client’s brother. As their worlds collide, she finds herself grappling with unexpected attraction and reconciling her true self with her love theories.
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