🏷️ Secret Society
53 entries tagged with this trope
The Secret History
Donna Tartt · 1992
Elite classics students get seduced by Greek ideals until it leads to murder. The vibes are immaculate. The morality is questionable. Peak dark academia.
Ninth House
Leigh Bardugo · 2019
Galaxy 'Alex' Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. She's given a full ride — not for her grades, but because she can see ghosts. Yale's secret societies practice real magic, and Alex is supposed to keep them in line.
Babel
R.F. Kuang · 2022
Oxford, 1836. Translation is magic — literally. Robin is brought from Canton to study at Babel, the center of the British Empire's power. Then he has to choose: the institution that raised him, or the people it oppresses. Dark academia done RIGHT.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. One of them won't survive. Everyone is brilliant, morally bankrupt, and attracted to the wrong people. Dark academia with teeth.
The Maidens
Alex Michaelides · 2021
A group therapy therapist becomes obsessed with a secret society of female students at Cambridge and their charismatic professor. From the author of The Silent Patient. Greek tragedy meets academic thriller.
Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas · 2013
Now the King's Champion, Celaena must carry out his orders — hunting down rebels who threaten the throne. But her loyalty is tested when she uncovers a conspiracy that changes everything she thought she knew about herself.
House of Sky and Breath
Sarah J. Maas · 2022
Bryce and Hunt try to live normally. It lasts about five minutes. A rebel network, mysterious disappearances, and an ending that will make you throw the book across the room. That crossover moment? IYKYK.
House of Marionne
J. Elle · 2023
Quell hides a dark magic that could kill her. She enrolls in a secret society of debutantes who wield bone magic. Think Bridgerton meets The Secret History with a Black girl lead. The aesthetic alone is worth it.
The Starless Sea
Erin Morgenstern · 2019
Zachary finds a book that contains his own story. Following the clues leads him to an underground magical library where stories come alive.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid · 2017
Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo finally decides to tell her story. But why has she chosen unknown journalist Monique Grant to write it?
The It Girl
Ruth Ware · 2022
Hannah's glamorous college roommate April was murdered. The killer was caught. Ten years later, Hannah discovers evidence that the wrong man went to prison. Oxford-set academic thriller with teeth.
The Only Survivors
Megan Miranda · 2023
Nine survivors of a school trip tragedy reunite a decade later. Then one of them goes missing. They all have secrets about that night. Someone's making sure they stay buried.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan's personal librarian and one of the most powerful women in New York. She was also secretly Black. True story that reads like a thriller.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. One of them won't survive. Think Donna Tartt meets X-Men. Everyone is morally bankrupt and beautiful.
The It Girl
Ruth Ware · 2022
April was the It Girl at Oxford — magnetic, reckless, and murdered in her first year. A man went to prison for it. Ten years later, Hannah isn't sure they got the right person.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited to an ancient society. Only five will be initiated. The one who doesn't make it dies. Dark academia meets magical Hunger Games with insufferable geniuses.
The Will of the Many
James Islington · 2023
Vis is hiding his true identity inside a Roman-inspired academy where students literally give their life force to those above them. The power system is ingenious. The plot twists are brutal.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited to a secret society. Only five can stay. The vibes are immaculate dark academia with a deadly twist. Think Secret History meets X-Men.
The Only Survivors
Megan Miranda · 2023
Ten years after a class trip accident that killed their friends, the nine survivors reunite. Then one of them goes missing. The past isn't staying buried.
The It Girl
Ruth Ware · 2022
April was the girl everyone wanted to be. Then she was murdered. Years later, Hannah discovers the man convicted might be innocent. Ware does dark academia thriller perfectly.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene ran J.P. Morgan's personal library and became the most powerful woman in the New York art world. She was also secretly Black. Based on the incredible true story.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. One won't survive. Started as fanfic and became a bestseller. The Dramione author energy is palpable. Morally grey everything.
The Gloriana Set
ThebeMoon · 2020
Hermione infiltrates an elite pureblood secret society. Draco is already inside. Think Eyes Wide Shut meets Dramione. Dark, seductive, and morally complicated.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society guarding forbidden knowledge. The interpersonal mind games are addictive. Trust no one. Started as self-published and blew up on BookTok.
The Maidens
Alex Michaelides · 2021
A group therapist becomes convinced that a charismatic Cambridge professor is a murderer. Greek tragedy meets psychological thriller in the hallowed halls of academia.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. Only five survive. The backstabbing and sexual tension are equally lethal. Started as BookTok sensation for a reason.
The Will of the Many
James Islington · 2023
Vis is an orphan hiding his true identity inside a Roman-inspired magical academy where students literally give their life force to those above them. The twists are relentless.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in the Alexandrian Society. One must die. Everyone's playing an angle. If you love dark academia with teeth, this is it.
The It Girl
Ruth Ware · 2022
Hannah's glamorous roommate April was murdered at Oxford. The man convicted just died in prison. Now Hannah suspects they got the wrong person. Dark academia thriller at its finest.
The Rose Code
Kate Quinn · 2021
Three women at Bletchley Park during WWII break codes and keep secrets. Years later, one is in an asylum, and a royal wedding brings them back together. Historical fiction at its finest.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan's personal librarian — and she was secretly a Black woman passing as white in early 1900s New York. A true story of brilliance and impossible choices.
The Painted Lady
Domestic_Goddess · 2007
Katara operates as the Painted Lady while the war rages on. Zuko discovers her secret. Classic Zutara with excellent action sequences and slow-burn chemistry.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. Someone won't survive. Started as self-published and the fandom went feral. Dark academia fantasy at its finest.
One of Us Is Lying
Karen M. McManus · 2017
Five students walk into detention. Only four walk out. The dead kid was about to post everyone's secrets. Basically The Breakfast Club meets murder mystery.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan's personal librarian — and a Black woman passing as white in early 1900s New York. Based on a true story of brilliant deception.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited for a secret society. Only five can stay. The mind games, alliances, and betrayals are addictive. TikTok dark academia at its finest.
The Only Survivors
Megan Miranda · 2023
Nine survivors of a school trip disaster reunite a decade later. Then one disappears. Someone knows what really happened that night, and they're not done.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene curated J.P. Morgan's legendary library while hiding a devastating secret: she was Black, passing as white in early 1900s America. Based on a true story.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians. One secret society. Only five get in. Everyone is brilliant, morally questionable, and attracted to the worst possible person. Dark academia meets magical Hunger Games.
The Will of the Many
James Islington · 2023
Vis pretends to be nobody. He's actually the orphaned heir of a conquered nation, infiltrating the empire's elite academy. Roman-inspired fantasy with one of the best twists in recent memory.
The Only Survivors
Megan Miranda · 2023
Nine survivors of a school trip accident reunite ten years later. Then one of them disappears. Everyone has secrets about that night and someone is willing to kill to keep them.
The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray · 2021
Belle da Costa Greene was JP Morgan's personal librarian — and she was secretly Black in early 1900s America. A true story about passing, power, and the price of ambition.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited to compete for five spots in a secret society guarding lost knowledge. Only five survive. The mind games, power dynamics, and sexual tension are intoxicating.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society that guards forbidden knowledge. Only five can be initiated. The question is: who dies? Started as Dramione fic energy.
One of Us Is Lying
Karen M. McManus · 2017
Five students walk into detention. Only four walk out alive. Everyone has secrets the dead kid was about to expose. YA Breakfast Club meets murder mystery.
The Rose Code
Kate Quinn · 2021
Three women at Bletchley Park during WWII crack codes and keep secrets. Years later, one is locked in an asylum, and the other two must figure out who put her there.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited to compete for five spots in a secret society. Think X-Men meets The Secret History. Everyone is brilliant and no one is trustworthy.
One of Us Is Lying
Karen M. McManus · 2017
Five students walk into detention. Only four walk out alive. Everyone has a motive. The Breakfast Club meets murder mystery. Completely addictive.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians are recruited to a secret society. Only five will be initiated. The academic politics, the power plays, the sexual tension — it's dark academia perfection.
The Maidens
Alex Michaelides · 2021
A charismatic professor at Cambridge has a group of devoted female students called The Maidens. When girls start dying, Mariana is convinced he's responsible. No one believes her.
The Rose Code
Kate Quinn · 2021
Three women at Bletchley Park during WWII. They break codes and keep secrets. Years later, one of them is in an asylum and the others must figure out why.
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake · 2022
Six magicians compete for five spots in a secret society. Not all of them will survive. Started as fanfic-author's debut and it shows in the best way.
Legendborn
Tracy Deonn · 2020
Bree goes to college and uncovers a secret society descended from the Knights of the Round Table. Arthurian legend meets the legacy of Black American history. Stunning.