Anne Mai Yee Jansen is a literature and ethnic studies professor and a lifelong story lover. She exists on a steady diet of books, hot chocolate, and dragon boating. After spending over a decade in the Midwest and the Appalachians, she returned to the sun and sandstone of California’s central coast where she currently resides with her partner, offspring, and feline companions. Find her on Instagram @dreaminginstories
Dark academia is certainly popular these days, and much of the buzz around the book below, authored by a Bram Stoker Award-winner, frames it in those terms. (If you’re not what that means, check out this quick essay explaining what “dark academia” is.)
But in the fantasy/horror balance, this one definitely leans more heavily toward horror. Don’t get me wrong, it is absolutely, unquestionably a work of fantasy…but it’s also incredibly gruesome (gross, even) and, frankly, terrifying. And I say that with so much love.
So while dark academia arguably has an almost universal appeal, the book I’m recommending is appealing for more than what it does to and with this popular genre. It is its own kind of beast, and what a horrifically beautiful beast that is.
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English (US) · 