strange and random happenstance

The Cyprian by Mercedes Lackey
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: December 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cozy, cottage-core Regency fantasy perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Elena Whitstone and her seven brothers, abandoned by her mother, find themselves with a new stepmother. At first she seems more neglectful than evil, until just after Christmas she proves herself to be worse than evil; she is an actual magician, a Master of Water, who attempts to murder Elena's seven brothers when they are skating. When they survive that attempt by transforming into swans, she drives them away.

But the shock of having all of his heirs perish in a frozen pond is too much for Elena's father. He dies, and his widow is abruptly confronted with the inconvenient truth that the estate is entailed, and she not only must leave, she is lawfully in charge of Elena.

Furious, and possessing "only" what was gifted to her during her marriage, the stepmother retreats to Bath, to take up residence in the luxurious townhouse that was bought for her, and resume her former profession as a "Cyprian," a very exclusive courtesan, with Elena reluctantly posing as a page-boy and her servant. Nothing lasts forever, of course, and three years later, Elena is rapidly maturing too much to continue that ruse - and the stepmother is facing the ravages of time. The stepmother concocts a plan to establish an exclusive brothel and regain her wealth by selling Elena to the highest bidder.

Alone, Elena must not only find a way to save herself, but to reverse the spell that has transformed her brothers.

The latest in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series is a stand-alone romantasy based on Hans Christian Anderson's The Wild Swans."

To end the year with some new Regency Magic is just the kind of good omen I need for the coming year.

Tea and Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Published by: 47north
Publication Date: December 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 299 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A tea leaf reader in nineteenth-century England falls in love - and in danger - with a reclusive alchemist in an enthralling historical fantasy by the author of Salt and Broom and Grimm Curiosities.

Cornwall, 1854. The people of Roche have always whispered about the recluse in the black granite tower that looms above the moorland. But one young woman is driven to discover the truth behind the old tales.

Her life overshadowed by family tragedy, Mina Penrose escapes her lonely days by working at The Magpie, a cozy tearoom on the village's edge. Lately she's been seeing shapes in the sodden leaves that hint at the future. After one such omen, Mina stumbles upon a murdered man on the heath. Villagers immediately suspect Harker Tregarrick, a living, breathing mystery who never ventures beyond the bounds of his centuries-old estate.

Until the day after the murder, when the handsome and compelling recluse visits The Magpie...leading to a meeting that will change both their fates. Captivated by a man around whom danger and rumors of death swirl, Mina has never felt more alive. Can she uncover Harker's heartbreaking history - and the truth about the murder - before tragedy strikes again?"

Gothic Cornwall? Daphne du Maurier would approve!

An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: December 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones - and forbidden magic - of its most prized BIPOC students...hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely...familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic...this time, she may lose herself for good."

Dark academia with déjà? Yes please and more!

Crime Rangoon by Vivien Chien
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: December 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's stranger than fiction when Lana Lee investigates a murder that mimics the plot of a bestselling mystery, working together with her detective boyfriend for the first time ever.

Cindy Kwan, owner of Asia Village's bookshop, The Modern Scroll, is privileged to host best-selling author, Charlene Chan for a signing in honor of the writer's latest book, The Mystery of General Tso.

Lana Lee is equally excited for the appearance of her favorite author and even more so when Cindy asks her to be Charlene's "handler" for the event. Taking her duties very seriously, Lana stays by the side of the prominent author to assist in anything that she might need.

With a line out the door and stretched through the plaza, Cindy is overjoyed at what a success this is for her shop. But, unfortunately for Cindy, her success comes with a price: the author is found dead in the mystery aisle, clutching a copy of her own book. Coincidentally the book's plot matches the details of the murder.

Lana's boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, is charged with leading the case investigation, but finds himself overwhelmed when he realizes just how much of the book series is mimicked in reality. For the first time in their relationship, Adam calls on Lana to partner up with him to help solve the case. The couple must work through the novel to outwit the murderer, stay one step ahead, and beat the die-hard fan to the last chapter."

I really think Jessica Fletcher would approve of this one.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bath, Cornwall, Crime Rangoon, Daphne Du Maurier, Dark Academia, Gothic, Hans Christian Anderson, Kamilah Cole, Mercedes Lackey, Noodle Shop Mystery, Regency Magic, Sharon Lynn Fisher, The Cyprian, The Wild Swans, Vivien Chien

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids
Published by: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From award-winning South African author Nadia Davids comes a gothic psychological thriller set in the 1920s, where a young maid finds herself entangled with the spirits of a decaying manor and the secrets of its enigmatic owner.

I come highly recommended to Mrs. Hattingh through sentences I tell her I cannot read.

The year is 1920, in a small, unnamed city in a colonial empire. Soraya Matas believes she has found the ideal job as a personal maid to the eccentric Mrs. Hattingh, whose beautiful, decaying home is not far from The Muslim Quarter where Soraya lives with her parents. As Soraya settles into her new role, she discovers that the house is alive with spirits.

While Mrs. Hattingh eagerly awaits her son's visit from London, she offers to help Soraya stay in touch with her fiancé Nour by writing him letters on her behalf. So begins a strange weekly meeting where Soraya dictates and Mrs. Hattingh writes - a ritual that binds the two women to one another and eventually threatens the sanity of both.

Cape Fever is a masterful blend of gothic themes, folk-tales, and psychological suspense, reminiscent of works by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Daphne du Maurier, and Soraya Matas is an unforgettable narrator, whose story of love and grief, is also a chilling exploration of class and the long reach of history."

Daphne du Maurier you say?

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this fiercely captivating novel, horror meets historical fiction when a curse bridges generations, binding the fates of three women. Anne Bolton, a healer facing persecution for witchcraft, bargains with a dark entity for protection - but the fire she unleashes will reverberate for centuries. Mary Shephard, a picture-perfect wife in a suffocating community, falls for Sharon and begins a forbidden affair that could destroy them both. And Camilla Burson, the rebellious daughter of a preacher, defies conformist expectations to uncover an ancient power as her father’s flock spirals into crisis.

Three women. Three centuries. One legacy of fury, love, and a power that refuses to die."

Yes, women will burn it down!

Murder in Manhattan by Julie Mulhern
Published by: Forever
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at the New Yorker, this enticing historical mystery follows Freddie Archer as she solves crimes while reporting on the glamorous world of the rich and famous in 1920s Manhattan.

This writer just found her next scoop...and it's deadly.

New York, 1925 - Freddie Archer frequents speakeasies and wild parties with her friends Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. And the best part is that it's all in a day's work. Freddie loves her job writing the nightlife column for Gotham Magazine.

But Freddie's latest piece just won her a bit more attention than she bargained for - from the police. A man mentioned in her column has been murdered. And Freddie is asked to keep an eye out for his fashionable female dinner companion. She's told in no uncertain terms to stay out of the case herself.

So naturally, Freddie throws herself into an investigation that takes her from the elegant stores that line Fifth Avenue to the tenements south of Houston Street. Now between sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, she's dodging bullets and dating a potentially dangerous bootlegger.

Freddie wanted adventure and excitement. But will she survive it?"

This fills the void left by the end of J.J. Murphy's Dorothy Parker mysteries! 

An Ambush of Tigers by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Published by: Embla Books
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: eBook, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"At Finchmere, beneath the snow, an ambush lies in wait...

After a dazzling Indian wedding, Nell and Rav return to a frost-kissed Finchmere, eager to host their blessing in the woodland Nell loves best. But, as their nearest and dearest gather, someone is setting a deadly snare.

The country estate is in its winter finery, with new artisans creating crafts for the Festive Finchmere Christmas Market. Before the celebrations unfold, a shocking secret is revealed, which shows how their families were fatally intertwined, centuries before Nell and Rav said, 'I do.'

As their newlywed bliss unravels, some of their party are poisoned - and Rav is forced to face the risk of losing those he loves. While Nell wrestles with her own family history, the tragedies in Rav's sow seeds of doubt as she hunts down the murderer.

But Nell cannot expose the truth that will save Rav, his family, and their relationship without evidence.

Using all her ecological skills - and all her nerve - Nell must set a dangerous trap for the most cold-blooded killer she's encountered yet.

With the predator poised to pounce, can Nell lure them out of hiding before someone else she loves becomes their prey?"

Always here for any murder even in the vicinity of a "frost-kissed" estate.

How to Grieve Like a Victorian by Amy Carol Reeves
Published by: Canary Street Press
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's fine. She's fine. Really.

When life's turned you into a big hot mess, there's still love, laughs, and snark to be had...

Dr. Lizzie Wells, professor of British literature and bestselling author, is not okay. She wasn't consulted when her beloved husband died unexpectedly, so she's going to grieve however she damned well chooses. Keeping a lock of his hair in a choker around her neck and donning widow's weeds. You bet. Notifying colleagues and students that she will only accept paper letters instead of email. Why not? Very nearly kissing her late husband's best friend, Henry. Unfortunately, er...yes.

So when she's offered a trip to London, Lizzie grabs it. What better place to escape, heal, and be reborn than in the same city where Queen Victoria famously mourned her beloved Prince Albert? Encouraged by new friends to be bold, have champagne and oysters before noon, and celebrate the beauty and the messiness of life, Lizzie begins to embrace it all.

Still, there's that almost kiss with Henry she just can't forget. Their cross-Atlantic 'check-ins' turn into FaceTime hangouts and their friendship evolves into something more. When Henry shows up in London, Lizzie fears she's falling in love with him... Will she bravely embrace this second chance, too?"

Hell, go for it! It's not like Lizzie is the Queen and has an appearance to maintain. 

An Archive of Romance by Ava Reid
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The enchanting world of A Study in Drowning comes to life through letters, poems, art, and more in this novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid. This full-color illustrated collector's edition is a jaw-dropping addition to the beloved dark academia series with stunning painterly endpapers, romantic rose gold foil flourishes, over 40 illustrations, and expanding and new text.

"I will love you to ruination," the Fairy King said, brushing a strand of golden hair from my cheek.

"Yours or mine?" I asked.

The Fairy King did not answer.

Effy and Preston have been torn apart by the wars of men, the power of words, and the specter of magic - but it was through stories that they found each other. Relive Effy and Preston's love story through their own pens in this immersive collection of mementos, illustrations, maps, blueprints, diary entries, and more. Read Angharad with Effy's annotations; sneak excerpts of Preston's diary; see the architectural sketches that brought Effy to Hiraeth; get your own ticket to Saltney; and experience, for the first time, the epilogue to Effy and Preston's romance. This deluxe package includes:

-Full color throughout with painterly endpapers
-Over 40 illustrations
-Romantic rose gold foil
-Expanded and new text from the world of A Study of Drowning
-An enchanting never-before-seen epilogue

A perfect gift for fans of A Study in Drowning and A Theory of Dreaming and anyone who wants to embark on their own dark academia journey, this gorgeously illustrated novella collects ephemera from Effy and Preston as they remember the romance and prepare for a new chapter in their lives - together."

Ephemera from literary worlds is my catnip!

Complete Labyrinth: Beyond the Goblin City by Various
Published by: Archaia
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Celebrate the beloved Jim Henson fantasy film with this complete hardcover collection of stories from inside the magical walls of the labyrinth!

Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Beyond the Goblin City spotlights the secret history of Sir Didymus and the untold story of one of Jareth's Masquerade guests, in addition to tales featuring fan-favorite characters like Ludo, Hoggle, Ambrosius, and the Goblin King himself.

This epic collection showcases imaginative tales from critically acclaimed writers and artists including Jonathan Case (The New Deal), Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars: Phasma), Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro), Roger Langridge (Snarked), Katie Cook (Star Wars: ABC-3PO), Jeff Stokely (The Ludocrats), S.M. Vidaurri (Labyrinth: Under the Spell), Sina Grace (Superman: Kal-El Returns), Michael Dialynas (Wynd), Sarah Webb (The Storyteller: Sirens), Boya Sun (5 Worlds), Lara Elena Donnelly (The Amberlough Dossier), French Carlomagno (The Dead Lucky), Pius Bak (Eat The Rich), Samantha Dodge (Catwoman: Soulstealer), and many more!

Collects Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Shortcuts and Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Under the Spell."

It really is amazing how expansive the world of Labyrinth has become, especially in comics, over the last few years.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A Study in Drowning, Amy Carol Reeves, Ava Reid, Daphne Du Maurier, Dark Academia, Dorothy Parker, Gothic, J.J. Murphy, Jim Henson, Julie Mulhern, Kristi DeMeester, Labyrinth, Nadia Davids, Queen Victoria, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: March 1st, 2022
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy

The Alexandrian Society hoards the knowledge of the ages. The elite magicians who earn a place within the library's hallowed walls are destined for a life of privilege and wealth. It is more than an honor to be one of the six candidates selected every ten years. It is a passport to the life of your dreams. This year's candidates have been handpicked by the library's caretaker, Atlas Blakely. They have precisely one year to prove their worth and at the end of that time five of them will be initiated. The candidates are Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona, two people who have been circling and competing with each other their whole lives and whose physical powers compliment each other making them symbiotic, much to their mutual disdain. Reina Mori is a naturalist, meaning plants like to talk to her and view her as their mother. Parisa Kamali has never met a mind she couldn't read until she met Atlas Blakely. Callum Nova is similar to Parisa, only that he doesn't just read minds, he influences them. He can get inside you and damage and change you in ways you could never even imagine. And finally there's Tristan Caine. He sees the world as it is. As it really is. Illusions don't phase him and he's used his powers for years to remake himself to be the man he imagines he wants to be. They all have their reasons for accepting Atlas Blakely's invitation. Some of them want to escape the world, some of them want to learn more about the world, and some of them want to protect those they love out in the world. Not one of them has the same reasons for being there and yet they must coexist in the Alexandrian's Society's house until their first year is up and one of them loses the keys to the kingdom while the others move beyond mere initiates. The problem with holding the keys to all the knowledge is that someone else will want what you have. And the Society has it's enemies. The Forum being key among them. The Forum believes that knowledge should be made public. That it is wrong to let only the elite have access. On the six's first night in the house the Forum attempts an incursion. They attack the library. The six must defend it. Which they do. They work together despite already forming cliques. They are a team. They don't know that they are puppets. They were had picked by Atlas for a very specific reason. He's had a plan that has taken years to put into action. A plan that started to be formed back when he was an initiate. The question is, what will the six due to their puppeteer when they find out his plans?

I just learned that this book was originally self-published and that answers a lot of my questions about it. Like why is it so clunky? Why are sentences badly structured with poor and often repetitive word choices? Why are the philosophical issues and lectures so bad and confusing that if I was in the class I'd drop the course? Were the blurbs supposed to give away the big twist that one of them will be killed? Did an editor ever actually look at this? Am I reading the revised edition? Because if so, it still needed heavy editing. But even with those problems, you can see that this could be something and hopefully the subsequent two volumes will take it there. I'm really fascinated by the idea of the library being sentient or having control. Mainly because this then starts to tip away from dark academia and into haunted house territory... Which might be my favorite genre. Though that all depends on if Olivie Blake can find her voice. Because this book feels too much like the juvenalia of an eventually great writer. She's on her way. She's just not there yet. She's still stuck in writing fanfic about The Magicians, but hopefully that's a phase she will move on from. And one thing that is a rookie mistake that just kept getting under my skin is in the name she gave one of her characters. Let's talk Libby Rhodes. And I'm not talking about the fact she's Alice Quinn 2.0. I'm literally talking about her given name. When Libby first appears it's onstage at her graduation sparing with Nico. It's very New York academia with sexual tension. In other words, magical Gossip Girl. So, if you wanted to, I don't know, distance yourself from this whole Gossip Girl vibe you're sending out, perhaps don't name the character a nearly indistinguishable name from one of that series's characters. Serena van der Woodsen's mother Lily's maiden name is Rhodes. Serena's mother's name is Lily Rhodes. And while yes, Libby physically resembles Lily's sister Carol more... I mean, Carol was played by Krysten Ritter in the failed backdoor pilot, if you are even a Gossip Girl dilettante, you can't keep from grinding your teeth at the Libby/Lily Rhodes of it all. The only thing that kept me from going completely over the edge is that at least Libby is an approved diminutive of Elizabeth. Yes. I have approved diminutives of my name. The hard and fast rule is if one of the main letters isn't in the name Elizabeth it isn't a diminutive it's an entirely different name. Like Betsy. Betsy can not be a diminutive because of the "s." Likewise, if you're spelling of Elizabeth is Elisabeth, you can not have the diminutive of Liza. So. Libby is approved. But this particular Libby? She should have had more thoughtful nomenclature.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandrian Society, Atlas Blakely, Callum Nova, Dark Academia, Gossip Girl, Libby Rhodes, Lily Rhodes, Nico de Varona, Olivie Blake, Parisa Kamali, Reina Mori, Summer School, The Atlas Six, The Magicians, Tristan Caine

The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward
Published by: Entangled: Gallery Books
Publication Date: July 11th, 2023
Format: Kindle, 368 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

St. Ambrose School for Girls has two types of girls, the ones who play sports, and the ones who dress like getting a date is their sport even though there are no boys around to compete over. Sarah Taylor's black wardrobe and matte dyed black hair are tailor made to repel either type of girl. It's better to be the one who shuts the door than the one who gets the door shut in their face. But that doesn't mean she won't be subjected to petty pranks inflicted for fun by Queen Bee Greta Stanhope and her backup band of suck-ups. What looks like minor injuries to others have the potential to be bombs that do structural damage, creating ragged gaps in Sarah's ability to function that she doesn't have the resources to patch. Because Sarah is walking a tightrope. She's on lithium to keep herself regulated, to make sure she doesn't try to eat an entire bottle of Tylenol again. She has been diagnosed as bipolar with mania and when she crashes she crashes hard. So while St. Ambrose might be a fresh start it is also a proving ground. Thankfully she has an ally, her roommate, Ellen "Strots" Strotsberry, a superstar athlete whose parents' funds the school will do anything to keep flowing, even looking the other way as Strots smokes in her room while extinguishing the butts in her soda bottles. While Strots might be sporty, the fact that she is a lesbian makes her an outsider. Her and Sarah are different, there is no place for them in this world and that means that they must band together. And Strots has had her run-ins with Greta. But Greta will soon will be dethroned as her battered body is found on school grounds. Everyone had a reason to want Greta gone, but soon the Hot RA, Nick Hollis, becomes the prime suspect. Nick has helped Sarah and she doesn't want to believe that he is capable of this crime so she starts digging. The danger though is that it brings out the worst in her, sleuthing is food for the caged beast of her illness, the possibilities and permutations nothing but raw meat dangled just outside of the bars, enticing and somewhat necessary for its survival. She has to trust her instincts but what happens when your illness has taken away all your credibility?

This is a different kind of dark academia. The St. Ambrose School for Girls is about the stifling and deadly environment of a girls boarding school. And for those who doubt just how dangerous teenage girls are, well, you obviously weren't raised a girl. There is no group crueler or more deadly. Doubt me, watch Yellowjackets sometime, it's more documentary than drama. And thrust into this hive is poor Sarah. Sarah is compelling on so many levels. I can see why some people didn't like this book, being in Sarah's head is a lot to handle. But at the same time it's fascinating, there are parts of her that are like any teenage girl, the rambling intrusive thoughts we all get, the loves and lusts. Who amongst us hasn't fallen for a teacher or TA or RA? As a young student it's usually a safe crush, because the majority of humans aren't creeps willing to exploit that. But this is dark academia... So of course the Hot RA is going to be a creep. She really should have guessed though with him letting her read his copy of American Psycho. I mean. I think that's a red flag. Though it's Sarah's thought processes surrounding Nick that I so relate to, how she wants Greta to want him and never have him. How Nick had become a talisman that recalibrated her life. Haven't you gotten to class early or stayed late just to see the object of your affection? And then, when reality reasserts itself and it's not the object of your affection that you miss but the fantasies as much as if you had had a relationship. What you ascribe to said crush versus what they really are. The scales fall from your eyes and you see the truth. But for Sarah truth is hard. It's not just that she's an unreliable narrator because she wants to deceive, she's an unreliable narrator because her brain chemistry makes her so. The meds that keep her functional also take away something from her. It's a balancing act to find the real her, the her she wants to be, and what her meds will let her be. And it's the meds actually that I find the most unrealistic sticking point. This takes place in the early nineties, so Sarah is about two years older than me. While I didn't go to a boarding school we did have two overnight school trips. I had allergy medicine that I had to take as we were at an outdoor education center. The meds were kept under such tight control they had to be kept in a locked drawer in a locked room and you're telling me that Sarah was allowed to monitor and keep lithium on her person!?! Yeah. I don't buy. That would have been given to her daily by the school nurse. I buy everything else, but this? Nope. It's too much of a liability for the school. Slightly more dangerous than an RA with previous form.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: American Psycho, Bipolar, Boarding School, Dark Academia, Greta Stanhope, Hot RA, Jessica Ward, Medication, Murder, Queen Bee, Sarah Taylor, Summer School, The St. Ambrose School for Girls, Unreliable Narrator, Yellowjackets

This actually all started with me thinking I should reread Donna Tartt's The Secret History. You will soon find out that this didn't happen. I had every intention of doing so, but, well, maybe I should just trust my first impressions and not bow down to everyone telling me that I was wrong about The Secret History. Not every book is for everyone. And it just wasn't for me. But when I had plans to reread said book I started plotting out books to read that are set in academia. They didn't have to be dark academia, in the expected sense, they could have just a murder or two and no magic. That's dark right? But of course there would be dark academia as well. There's a reason it's so popular and I, for once, have fallen for a populist trend. Though I haven't gotten to the point where I'm redecorating to bring those vibes into my everyday life. I don't feel the need to have skulls on display. At least yet. Anything could happen. So I started gleefully composing reading lists of books that fit the loose and narrow definitions of dark academia and pretty soon I had such a long reading list I could do nothing but read this genre for years and not run out of books. Therefore I picked the ones I was most interested in, or in some cases, decided to read and belatedly realized that it was dark academia, and before I knew it I had three months plotted out. Or a summer.... And there's nothing more delicious then spending time when you don't have to be in school reading about school.... And thus Summer School was born. Get ready for some Leigh Bardugo, Olivie Blake, Lev Grossman, Maureen Johnson, Cari Thomas, Rebecca Yarros, and more! Because school is in session! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Cari Thomas, Dark Academia, Donna Tartt, Genre, Leigh Bardugo, Lev Grossman, Magic, Maureen Johnson, Murder, Olivie Blake, Popular, Rebecca Yarros, School, Skulls, Summer, Summer School, The Secret History, To Be Read

The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy

The Cloisters are located in Washington Heights, sitting on a hill in Fort Tryon Park on the Hudson River it is a world away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. The structure is made up of elements from abbeys in France and Catalonia that incorporate four cloisters, the Cuxa, the Saint-Guilhem, the Bonnefont, and the Trie. There are three gardens containing rare medieval species of plants but most people come to see the Met's collection of 5,000 pieces of medieval art. Illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, stained glass, paintings, and sculptures adorn the Gothic chapel, the Fuentidueña chapel, the Langon chapel, the Romanesque hall, and the Treasury room. With even more treasures contained in the library and archives. This is where Ann Stilwell will be spending her summer. An Early Renaissance scholar from Whitman, a small college no one has heard of in Washington, she had secured a position in the Summer Associates Program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art being a glorified intern. It wasn't what she had planned, but it was the only thing that panned out. And it was only for three months. But it was a start. A way to get away from home and its dark memories. When she arrives at the Met they inform her that they no longer have a place for her. She is nothing more than an administrative oversight. She can't believe what she's hearing. She's frozen to the spot. Unable to move when in walks Patrick Roland, the curator of The Cloisters. He's there to inform them that his temporary, and totally unsuitable, associate curator has left him in the lurch. He needs more hands and right there in front of him is Ann. She'll be perfect. And all Ann can think is that it's serendipity, that if she hadn't sat there a moment too long she wouldn't be being swept away from Museum Mile into another world, a sheltered haven of enigmatic curators. Rachel Mondray, the curatorial associate, and Leo Bitburg, the gardener, become her closest friends. When Ann proves adept they decide to bring her into their world of shadowy secrets, rare book dealers, poisonous plants, and, above all, the tarot. The tarot is Patrick's infatuation. But his obsession isn't just academic, he's a true believer, and Ann's discovery of a 15th-century Italian tarot card from a deck previously thought lost changes everything. The power dynamics in the group shift and control is lost and one night things get out of hand and Patrick ends up dead. Any one of them could have done it, but Ann will make sure it isn't her who takes the fall.

I picked up The Cloisters because I have a fascination with the tarot. Not so much it's mystical powers with regard to divination, but the history and the art. Pamela Colman Smith's illustrations for the Rider-Waite Tarot deck are iconic. You would most likely recognize them even if you knew nothing about tarot they are that famous. So while I am more into the practical side of tarot, the mystical side, especially in fiction, is irresistible to me. And the marketing for The Cloisters leaned into this dark academia vibe with a supernaturally aided power play via tarot. In fact Katy Hays went so far as to actually include Ann Stilwell's Guide to Reading Tarot with pages and pages of details about the Ferrara Deck. The major and minor arcana are laid out over twelve pages with associated gods and planetary rulers and detailed descriptions of the illustrations and their meanings. So I have to ask, if the tarot was seemingly so important why is it nothing more than a MacGuffin? You do not write the rules for an entire tarot deck to have that deck be a red herring! That just makes no sense. And yet that's exactly what this book did. The cards don't matter, it's just the shiny object that everyone wants because they think it will bring them power. It literally could have been anything. Hell, they're surrounded by medieval artifacts, why wasn't it a chalice? Go all Indiana Jones! Because the tarot brings baggage, it brings expectations, and none of those were met. There's nothing magical here other than a well told story about four people manipulating each other to see who comes out on top. Words are magic, so I don't need a promise of magic that is never fulfilled because now I feel cheated. I feel so let down. And I can't tell if it's because Katy Hays had other plans for when she outlined the book and what she ended up writing or it if was all an act of misdirection. A way for these sociopaths to justify their behavior by saying it's fate. By claiming the mystical when it's just the mundane. The Cloisters themselves gave such a sense of place, a sense of something bigger than them while still being precious, that I wish the actions of the characters matched the setting. Look to Rosemary's Baby. There is the sense of place, the wish fulfillment, and then the devil. This does show evil but it's not enough to save it from a failure to deliver. I can't help thinking that if Riley Sager was to do a rewrite, bring in a little more of Hill House, that this could be perfection. As it is, it's an incomplete deck lost to time.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ann Stilwell, Dark Academia, Indiana Jones, Intern, Katy Hays, MacGuffin, Murder Most Foul, Museum, New York City, Red Herring, Riley Sager, Rosemary's Baby, The Cloisters, The Haunting of Hill House, The MET

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown
Published by: William Morrow and Company
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Millie Bobby Brown's Nineteen Steps is a moving tale of love, longing, and loss, inspired by the true events of her family's experience during World War II.

Love blooms in the darkest days...

It's 1942, and London remains under constant threat of enemy attack as the second world war rages on. In the Bethnal Green neighborhood, Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her.

Three years into the war, she's grateful to hold onto remnants of normalcy - her job as assisting the mayor and nights spent at the local pub with her best friend. But after a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, Nellie becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world.

Just when Nellie begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, and the consequences are catastrophic. As the truth about that night is revealed, Nellie's world is torn apart. When it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner inspired by the author's family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown's propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love.

"Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. I'm honored to keep her story alive." - Millie Bobby Brown"

So the real question is is did Millie write this? Maybe... But did she though? Late breaking news, she didn't.

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the critically acclaimed author of Yonder and The Ethan I Was Before, Ali Standish, comes a thrilling middle grade tale featuring hair-raising adventures, new friendships, secret societies, and the mind behind one of the greatest detectives of all time: Sherlock Holmes.

When young Arthur Conan Doyle is offered a spot at Baskerville Hall, a secret school for extraordinarily gifted children, he is elated at being chosen - and being given a chance to turn his family's fortunes around. There, Arthur makes quick friends with Irene Eagle, a girl who boldly strides into action, and Jimmie Moriarty, a boy whose brilliance rivals Arthur's own. Together, they discover that their new school is a peculiar place, home to leaning towers and unexplained explosions, prowling wolves and extinct birds.

Arthur quickly makes enemies, too - deadly foes who wants him expelled...or worse. When Arthur and his friends are invited into a powerful secret society called the Clover, they must pass three challenging tests to be accepted. But along the way, Arthur uncovers a mystery that will lead to grand adventure...and even greater danger."

Yeah, I'm all about Sherlock Holmes pastiches for a younger audience.

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In The Spanish Diplomat's Secret, award-winning author Nev March explores the vivid nineteenth-century world of the transatlantic voyage, one passenger's secret at a time.

Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are embarking to England in the summer of 1894. Jim is hopeful the cruise will help Diana open up to him. Something is troubling her, and Jim is concerned.

On their first evening, Jim meets an intriguing Spaniard, a fellow soldier with whom he finds an instant kinship. But within twenty-four hours, Don Juan Nepomuceno is murdered, his body discovered shortly after he asks rather urgently to see Jim.

When the captain discovers that Jim is an investigator, he pleads with Jim to find the killer before they dock in Liverpool in six days, or there could be international consequences. Aboard the beleaguered luxury liner are a thousand suspects, but no witnesses to the locked-cabin crime. Jim would prefer to keep Diana safely out of his investigation, but he's doubled over, seasick. Plus, Jim knows Diana can navigate the high society world of the ship's first-class passengers in ways he cannot.

Together, using the tricks gleaned from their favorite fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, Jim and Diana must learn why one man's life came to a murderous end."

Yes, yes, this week is ALL about Sherlock Holmes!

Crime Novels: Five Classic Thrillers 1961-1964 by Frederic Brown, Dan J. Marlowe, Charles Williams, Dorothy B. Hughes, and Richard Stark
Published by: Library of America
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 950 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the 1960s the masters of crime fiction expanded the genre's literary and psychological possibilities with audacious new themes, forms, and subject matter - here are five of their finest works.

This is the first of two volumes gathering the best American crime fiction of the 1960s, nine novels of astonishing variety and inventiveness that pulse with the energies of that turbulent, transformative decade.

In The Murderers (1961) by Fredric Brown, an out-of-work actor, hanging out with Beat drifters on the fringes of Hollywood, concocts a murder scheme that devolves into nightmare. This late work by a master in many genres is one of his darkest and most ingenious.

Dan J. Marlowe's The Name of the Game Is Death (1962) channels the inner life of a violent criminal who freely acknowledges the truth of a prison psychiatrist's diagnosis: "Your values are not civilized values." Written with unnerving emotional authenticity, the story hurtles toward an annihilating climax.

Charles Williams drew on his experience in the merchant marine for his thriller Dead Calm (1963). A newlywed couple alone on a small yacht find themselves at the mercy of the mysterious survivor they have rescued from a sinking ship, in a suspenseful story that chillingly evokes the perils of the open ocean.

In the beautifully told and sharply observant The Expendable Man (1963), Dorothy B. Hughes's final masterpiece of suspense, a young man in the American Southwest runs afoul of racial assumptions after he picks up a hitchhiker who soon turns up dead.

In twenty-four brilliantly constructed novels, Richard Stark (a pen name of Donald Westlake) charted the career of Parker, a hard-nosed professional thief, with rigorous clarity. The Score (1964), a stand-out in the series, finds Parker and his criminal associates hatching a plot to rob simultaneously all the jewelry stores, payroll offices, and banks in a remote Western mining town, only to come up against the human limits of even the most intricate planning.

Volume features include an introduction by editor Geoffrey O'Brien (Hardboiled America), newly researched biographies of the writers and helpful notes, and an essay on textual selection."

Whenever I need a quality read I always turn to Library of America. In particular their selection of crime novels can not be beat.

Crime Novels: Four Classic Thrillers 1964-1969 by Margaret Millar, Ed McBain, Chester Himes, and Patricia Highsmith
Published by: Library of America
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 950 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the 1960s the masters of crime fiction expanded the genre's literary and psychological possibilities with audacious new themes, forms, and subject matter - here are four of their finest works.

This is the second of two volumes gathering the best American crime fiction of the 1960s, nine novels of astonishing variety and inventiveness that pulse with the energies of that turbulent, transformative decade.

In Margaret Millar's The Fiend (1964) a nine-year-old girl disappears and a local sex offender comes under suspicion. So begins a suspenseful investigation of an apparently tranquil California suburb which will expose a hidden tangle of fear and animosity, jealousy and desperation.

Ed McBain (a pen name of Evan Hunter) pioneered the multi-protagonist police procedural in his long-running series of 87th Precinct novels, set in a parallel Manhattan called Isola. Doll (1965) opens at a pitch of extreme violence and careens with breakneck speed through a tale that mixes murder, drugs, the modeling business, and psychotherapy with the everyday professionalism of McBain's harried cops.

The racial paranoia of a drunken police detective in Run Man Run (1966) leads to a double murder and the relentless pursuit of the young Black college student who witnessed it. In Chester Himes's breathless narrative, New York City is a place with no safe havens for a fugitive whom no one wants to believe.

In Patricia Highsmith's The Tremor of Forgery (1969) a man whose personality is disintegrating is writing a book called The Tremor of Forgery about a man whose personality is disintegrating, "like a mountain collapsing from within." Stranded unexpectedly in Tunisia, Howard Ingham struggles to hold on to himself in a strange locale, while a slightly damaged typewriter may be the only trace of a killing committed almost by accident.

Volume features include an introduction by editor Geoffrey O'Brien (Hardboiled America), newly researched biographies of the writers and helpful notes, and an essay on textual selection."

Finally more Patrica Highsmith! I have been DEMANDING, OK, it's more like begging, Library of America to release all her books for years. Or just the Ripley ones... Please?

A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson
Published by: Mobius
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One murder mystery movie. Three Dahlias. And a whole cast of suspects...

Ex-child star Posy Starling is finally filming her dream role - Dahlia Lively in The Lady Detective movie. But things take a nightmare turn when a prop weapon is replaced with the real thing - with almost fatal consequences for her fellow Dahlia, Rosalind King. There's something very wrong on the set of The Lady Detective - which means it's time to call in Caro Hooper, so the three Dahlias can investigate.

In between filming scenes, signing autographs for locals, photoshoots in London, talk show appearances and jetting off to France for an impromptu party, the three Dahlias do what they do best - surrupticiously sleuth. And very soon the evidence starts to point towards one particular co-star...

But before they can prove it, another murder rocks the production. And this time, with a storm raging, the river flooded and the bridge washed out, there are no police to rely on so it's up to the three Dahlias to stop a murderer in their tracks...before another victim is claimed."

If Acorn TV wrote books, this is your new favorite binge.

23 1/2 Lies by James Patterson
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Enjoy three heart-racing thrillers from the New York Times bestselling master of suspense.

23 1/2 Lies with Maxine Paetro: Lindsay Boxer's estranged father is gunned down execution-style, and her investigation uncovers life-altering truths.

Fallen Ranger with Andrew Bourelle: To Rory Yates, being a Texas Ranger means absolute loyalty to the badge. But he's put through the ultimate test when an armored car robbery suspect might be an ex-Ranger gone rogue.

Watch Your Back with Loren D. Estleman: When a starving artist is paid to expose his client's cheating wife, can he paint the picture that will save his own life?"

New Women's Murder Club! Sure I'm not the biggest short story fan, but Women's Murder Club!

Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A standalone horror novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Laney Kilpatrick has been renting her vacation home to strangers. The invasion of privacy gives her panic attacks, but it's the only way she can keep her beloved Hemlock Island, the only thing she owns after a pandemic-fueled divorce. But broken belongings and campfires that nearly burn down the house have escalated to bloody bones, hex circles, and now, terrified renters who've fled after finding blood and nail marks all over the guest room closet, as though someone tried to claw their way out...and failed.

When Laney shows up to investigate with her teenaged niece in tow, she discovers that her ex, Kit, has also been informed and is there with Jayla, his sister and her former best friend. Then Sadie, another old high school friend, charters over with her brother, who's now a cop.

There are tensions and secrets, whispers in the woods, and before long, the discovery of a hand poking up from the earth. Then the body that goes with it...But by that time, someone has taken off with their one and only means off the island, and they're trapped with someone - or something - that doesn't want them leaving the island alive."

I love people being trapped on islands with killers...

Dreambound by Dan Frey
Published by: Del Rey Books
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must investigate the magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fantastical universe of her favorite books.

When Byron Kidd's twelve-year-old daughter vanishes, the only clue is a note claiming that she's taken off to explore the Hidden World, a magical land from a series of popular novels. She is not the only child to seek out this imaginary realm in recent years, and Byron - a cynical and hard-nosed reporter - is determined to discover the whereabouts of dozens of missing kids.

Byron secures a high-profile interview with Annabelle Tobin, the eccentric author of the books, and heads off to her palatial home in the Hollywood Hills. But the truth Byron discovers is more fantastic than he ever could have dreamed.

As he unearths locations from the books that seem to be bleeding into the real world, he must shed his doubts and dive headfirst into the mystical secrets of Los Angeles if he hopes to reunite with his child. Soon Byron finds himself on his own epic journey - but if he's not careful, he could be the next one to disappear.

Told through journal entries, transcripts, emails, and excerpts from Tobin's novels, Dreambound is a spellbinding homage to Los Angeles and an immersive and fast-paced story of how far a father will go - even delving into impossible worlds - to save his daughter."

Who hasn't wanted to just disappear into their favorite book?

Putting the Ice in Nice by Diana Pharaoh Francis
Published by: Lucky Foot Press in conjunction with BVC
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Kindle, 306 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It pays to be nice... but only if you’re into blood, pain, and tears.

Beck Wyatt, a witch with very few f*cks to give, is back in action, and as usual, her life has gone pear-shaped. Her maybe-boyfriend has gone MIA. One of her bffs fell into a big hole and got Lifeflighted to the hospital. The cops want to help her solve a kidnapping with a side helping of murder. Even worse? Her recently un-estranged mom wants to have brunch."

This is a series that has been on my radar for awhile and I can't wait to dive in.

Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell'Antonia
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters.

She gave up on magic. But magic didn't give up on her.
Three generations of magic. Two rogue exes. One Tarot deck.
The perfect recipe for chaos.

Flair Hardwicke knows three things: magic is real, love isn't, and relying on either ends in disaster. So while she's grateful for the chance to take over her grandmother's Kansas bakery after she finally leaves her cheating husband, she won't be embracing Nana's fortune-telling side-hustle. Hers is a strictly no-magic operation - until the innocent batch of Tarot card cookies Flair bakes for the town's Halloween celebration unleashes the power of the family deck, luring Flair's unpredictable mother to town, tempting Flair's magic-obsessed daughter, and bringing back Flair's first love while ensnaring her ex in a curse she can't break.

Flair's attempts to control the chaos only make things worse, playing right into the hands of a powerful witch. Suddenly there's far more at stake than her status as the most reluctant witch in town, and the magic Flair has long rejected becomes the only card she has left to play."

Instead of cottage core can we embrace magic core this fall? Because that is what this book is.

Hammer of the Dogs by Jarret Keene
Published by: University of Nevada Press
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 210 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Set in the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Hammer of the Dogs is a literary dystopian adventure filled with high-octane fun starring twenty-one-year-old Lash. With her high-tech skill set and warrior mentality, Lash is a master of her own fate as she helps to shield the Las Vegas valley's survivors and protect her younger classmates at a paramilitary school holed up in Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. After graduation, she'll be alone in fending off the deadly intentions and desires of the school's most powerful opponents.

When she's captured by the enemy warlord, she's surprised by two revelations: He's not the monster her headmaster wants her to believe and the one thing she can't safeguard is her own heart. Hammer of the Dogs celebrates the courageousness of a younger generation in the face of authority while exploring the difficult choices a conscionable young woman must make with her back against a blood-spattered wall. It's a story of transformation and maturity, as Lash grapples with her own identity and redefines the glittering Las Vegas that Nevada is known for."

If you're obsessed with the newest season of Miracle Workers, like I am, well this book is for you.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Published by: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Enter a land of gods and monsters, soldiers and mercenaries, secrets and wishes - the explosive #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut in a new trilogy for fans of The Witcher and Gideon the Ninth.

Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middren. Formed by human desires and fed by their worship, there are countless gods in the world - but after a great war, the new king outlawed them and now pays "godkillers" to destroy any who try to rise from the shadows.

As a child, Kissen saw her family murdered by a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing them and enjoys it. But all this changes when Kissen is tasked with helping a young noble girl with a god problem. The child's soul is bonded to a tiny god of white lies, and Kissen can't kill it without ending the girl's life too.

Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, the unlikely group must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favor. Pursued by assassins and demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning. Something is rotting at the heart of their world, and they are the only ones who can stop it."

Sounds far more The Witcher than Gideon the Ninth, but I'm down with that.

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest.

Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass - and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather's body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honoring their mentor's chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve.

But as Chih and their neixin Almost Brilliant navigate the looming crisis, Myriad Virtues, Cleric Thien's own beloved hoopoe companion, grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate..."

If you've been dying for the next Nghi Vo book, you are in luck today!

Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson
Published by: Doubleday Books
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A dazzling collection of eleven interconnected stories from the bestselling, award-winning author of Shrines of Gaiety and Life After Life, with everything that readers love about her novels - the inventiveness, the verbal felicity, the sharp observations on human nature, and the deeply satisfying emotional wallop.

In this brilliant volume, nothing is quite as it seems. We meet a queen who makes a bargain she cannot keep; a secretary who watches over the life she has just left; a lost man who bets on a horse that may - or may not - have spoken to him. Everything that readers love about the novels of Kate Atkinson is here - the inventiveness, the verbal felicity, the sharp observations of human nature, and the deeply satisfying emotional wallop.

Witty and wise, with subtle connections between the stories, Normal Rules Don't Apply is a startling and funny feast for the imagination, stories with the depth and bite to create their own fully-formed worlds."

I'm hoping that in the short story format Kate Atkinson doesn't get bored of her characters and randomly ends the narrative like she did with Shrines of Gaiety...

In These Hallowed Halls edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane
Published by: Titan Books (UK)
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Enrollment Begins Now.

A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, M.L. Rio, Susie Yang and more!

In these stories, dear student, retribution visits a lothario lecturer; the sinister truth is revealed about a missing professor; a forsaken lover uses a séance for revenge; an obsession blooms about a possible illicit affair; two graduates exhume the secrets of a reclusive scholar; horrors are uncovered in an obscure academic department; five hopeful initiates must complete a murderous task and much more!

Featuring brand-new stories from:
Olivie Blake
M.L. Rio
David Bell
Susie Yang
Layne Fargo
J.T. Ellison
James Tate Hill
Kelly Andrew
Phoebe Wynne
Kate Weinberg
Helen Grant
Tori Bovalino

Definition of dark academia in English:
dark academia
1. An internet subculture concerned with higher education, the arts, and literature, or an idealised version thereof with a focus on the pursuit of knowledge and an exploration of death.
2. A set of aesthetic principles. Scholarly with a Gothic edge - tweed blazers, vintage cardigans, scuffed loafers, a worn leather satchel full of brooding poetry. Enthusiasts are usually found in museums and darkened libraries."

I am a dark academia addict.

A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey
Published by: Titan Books (UK)
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Enter the bazaar of the bizarre - where fate and fortunes are for sale just beneath Covent Garden - in this high-stakes historical fantasy debut set in 19th-century London, perfect for fans of Neverwhere and The Night Circus.

Below Covent Garden lies the Under Market, where anything and everything has a price: a lover's first blush, a month of honesty, five minutes of strength, a wisp of luck and fortune. As a child, Deri was sold to one of the most powerful merchants of the Under Market as a human apprentice. Now, after seventeen years of servitude and stealing his master's secrets, Deri spots a chance to buy not only his freedom but his place amongst the Under Market's elite.

A runaway princess escapes to the market, looking to sell her destiny. Deri knows an opportunity when he sees it and makes the bargain of the century. If Deri can sell it on, he'll be made for life, but if he's caught with the goods, it will cost him his freedom forever. Now that Deri has met a charming and distractingly handsome young man, and persuaded him that three dates are a suitable price for his advice and guidance, Deri realises he has more to lose than ever.

News of the princess spreads quickly and with the royal enforcers closing in, Deri finds himself the centre of his master's unwanted attention. He'll have to pull out all the stops to outmanoeuvre the Master Merchant, save the man he loves, make a name for himself, and possibly change the destiny of London forever."

Yes, Freya Marske's The Last Binding book cover design is now a thing.

Jane Austen's Wardrobe by Hilary Davidson
Published by: Yale University Press
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hilary Davidson delves into the clothing of one of the world's great authors, providing unique and intimate insight into her everyday life and material world.

What did Jane Austen wear?

Acclaimed dress historian and Austen expert Hilary Davidson reveals, for the first time, the wardrobe of one of the world's most celebrated authors. Despite her acknowledged brilliance on the page, Jane Austen has all too often been accused of dowdiness in her appearance. Drawing on Austen's 161 known letters, as well as her own surviving garments and accessories, this book assembles examples of the variety of clothes she would have possessed - from gowns and coats to shoes and undergarments - to tell a very different story. The Jane Austen Hilary Davidson discovers is alert to fashion trends but thrifty and eager to reuse and repurpose clothing. Her renowned irony and wit peppers her letters, describing clothes, shopping, and taste. Jane Austen's Wardrobe offers the rare pleasure of a glimpse inside the closet of a stylish dresser and perpetually fascinating writer."

Because nothing can tell us more about our favorite author than what they wore!

I Am Stan by Tom Scioli
Published by: Ten Speed Graphic
Publication Date: September 12th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The first graphic novel biography of the legendary Stan Lee, co-creator of many of Marvel's beloved superheroes, from Eisner-nominated comics creator Tom Scioli.

Everyone knows Stan Lee: His work at the creative helm of Marvel Comics resulted in the creation of many of the superheroes we know and love today, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and more. During his decades-long career at Marvel, Lee turned the comic book publisher into a cultural juggernaut that shaped and defined the burgeoning industry.

In I Am Stan, critically acclaimed artist Tom Scioli reveals the man behind the comics and cameos using the same medium Stan Lee revolutionized. This stunning graphic novel takes readers from his early days in the comics industry through his rise at Marvel (then Timely Comics), where his career was touched by other iconic creatives including Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. Their collaboration would lead to the creation of the most iconic superheroes of today, and bring about the Marvel Age of the 60's and 70's that introduced new industry stars like Steve Ditko, and John Buscema. Readers will follow Lee's trajectory from his daily life at Marvel to his later years as a spokesperson for the company and for comics as a whole, and finally to his last years away from the spotlight. Scioli provides a clear-eyed view of Lee's triumphs at Marvel as well as the controversies that surrounded the creator at the end of his life.

Told in Scioli's inimitable, vividly cinematic illustration style, I Am Stan reveals Stan Lee's life through the medium he knew best and reveals the inner workings of the legendary creator."

Stan, The Man, Lee!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ali Standish, Dark Academia, Diana Pharaoh Francis, James Patterson, Jane Austen, Kate Atkinson, Katy Watson, Kelley Armstrong, Library of America, Millie Bobby Brown, Nev March, Nghi Vo, Sherlock Holmes, Stan Lee