Dark Academia Library

Step into the world of Dark Academia with three vivid and mesmerising titles from the best in the genre, collected for the first time.

A collection of three gruesome tales for fans of Dark Academia. This box set includes A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee, The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith, and The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino.

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
After the death of her girlfriend, Felicity Morrow returns to Dalloway School for a second chance at senior year. Subject to pity and whispers, she retreats into her studies and her obsession with the school’s dark and witchy past. Felicity’s only distraction is Ellis Haley, a prodigy working on a novel about what drives a person to kill. Ellis recruits her to help plot the perfect hypothetical murder for her book, which she swears will banish the guilt and ghosts of Felicity’s past. Their attraction and intense commitment to Ellis’ plan grows – but not everyone will make it out alive…

The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith
Claire is Head Librarian of a space in Hell where all the stories never finished by their authors reside. Her job involves keeping an eye on restless tales that risk materializing as characters and escaping the library. When a Hero breaks out of his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must capture him, but what should have been a simple retrieval goes horrifyingly wrong…

The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
When Tess and Eliot stumble upon an ancient book hidden in a secret tunnel beneath their school library, they accidentally release a devil from his book-bound prison. To stay free, he’ll manipulate, murder and bleed into every inch of Tess’s life until his freedom is permanent. Forced to work together, Tess and Eliot have to find a way to re-trap the devil before he kills everyone they know and love, including, increasingly, each other. And compared to what the devil has in store for them, school stress suddenly doesn’t seem so bad after all.


PRAISE FOR VICTORIA LEE

"Thrillingly indulgent and darkly atmospheric, “A Lesson in Vengeance” pays homage to the haunting power of ghost stories and how we allow them to compel us. Lee's beautifully crafted prose comes together into a gorgeous, twisty read sure to linger with you." – Tori Bovalino

“A Lesson in Vengeance” is at once dark and mesmerizing, with spine-tingling suspense and mind-bending twists. I loved it." – Kara Thomas, author of “The Cheerleaders” and “That Weekend”

"A smart, layered, thought-provoking thriller about female desire and the intimacy of violence." – Ava Reid, author of “The Wolf and the Woodsman”

"Darkly radiant and brilliantly wicked, “A Lesson in Vengeance” is a sharp dissection of queerness, ambition, and the forbidden luster of the occult. This book will possess you from first pages to its haunting, final words." – Ryan La Sala, author of “Be Dazzled” and “Reverie”

"“A Lesson in Vengeance” is the witchy boarding school story I always knew I wanted, a gorgeous take on the complicated bonds of female love and friendship, told in lyrical, creeping prose as haunting as the tale itself. The ghosts of Felicity, Ellis, and Alex – and of Dalloway School and its historical witches – will linger with you long after the final page." – Lana Popović, author of “Wicked Like a Wildfire”

"A layered, stylized, brooding mystery that will draw readers in." - Kirkus

"With queer primary characters, an irresistible gothic atmosphere, and unrelenting creeping dread, this propulsive work of dark academia is both thrilling and thought-provoking." – Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] twisty, immersive thriller". – Booklist, starred review

PRAISE FOR A.J. HACKWITH

"An enjoyable madcap caper." – The Guardian

"Hackwith’s plotting, her characters and her scenes are each a delight. This book is as rich as chocolate and as refreshing as sherbet." – Morning Star

"Hackwith builds her world and characters with loving detail, creating a delightful addition to the corpus of library-based and heaven vs. hell fantasies. This novel and its promised sequels will find a wide audience." – Publishers Weekly

"Elaborate worldbuilding, poignant and smart characters, and a layered plot... An ode to books, writing, and found families." – Library Journal (starred review)

"Hackwith writes a fast-paced, suspenseful story set in an intriguing world where storytellers can duel with words and souls are not what they seem." – Booklist

"Wow! A.J. Hackwith puts a whole new spin on libraries and librarians in “The Library of the Unwritten”! The imaginative plotline coupled with lots of phenomenal action and a solid dose of humor keep the reader engaged even as we wonder what twisted turn of events will happen next." – Fresh Fiction

"Prepare to laugh and to cry, to have your mind bent and your grip on reality loosened as you embark on the wild ride that is “The Library of the Unwritten”. This is the ultimate novel about the power of storytelling. Librarian Claire, who must deal with the denizens of assorted Afterworld realms, is a stand-out creation, complex and memorable. A novel brimful with imagination, with emotional undertones that run deep. I loved it!" – Juliet Marillier, author of the "Blackthorn & Grim" series

"Clever, charming, full of intricate worldbuilding and delightful characters, “The Library of the Unwritten” is the first book in your new favorite series." – Christina Henry, author of “The Girl in Red”

"It's like “The Good Place” meets “Law & Order: Bibliophile Crime Unit”. Highly recommended. This book is so much fun, and you should be reading it. Trust me. Stories about story are some of my favorite kinds. This book definitely makes the list. I am so glad I read this". – Seanan McGuire, author of “In an Absent Dream”

"The most intriguing story I've read in a long time. I shall never again turn my back on an unfinished book." – Jodi Taylor, author of “Just One Damned Thing After Another”

“The Library of the Unwritten” is a tiered dark chocolate cake of a book. The read is rich and robust, the prose has layers upon layers, and the characters melt like ganache upon the tongue. A saturated, decadent treat. An unforgettable, crave-worthy experience. A book lovers' book; a supreme and masterful concoction that makes fresh fiction out of dusty Dante and boring Bible bits." – Meg Elison, Philip K. Dick Award Winner

"A muse, an undead librarian, a demon, and a ghost walk into Valhalla... what follows is a delightful and poignant fantasy adventure that delivers a metric ton of found family feels, and reminds us that the hardest stories to face can be the ones we tell about ourselves." – New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha

"Hackwith has artfully penned a love letter to books and readers alike and filled it with lush, gorgeous prose, delightfully real characters, a nonstop, twisty, and heart-wrenching plot, and an explosive ending that gave me chills." – K. A. Doore, author of “The Perfect Assassin”

"A delightful romp through heaven, hell, and everything in between which reveals itself in layers: an exploration of the nuances of belief, a demonstration of the power of the bonds that connect us, and a love letter to everybody who has ever heard the call of their own story." – Caitlin Starling, author of “The Luminous Dead”

"A wry, high-flying, heartfelt fantasy, told with sublime prose and sheer joy even at its darkest moments (and there are many). I want this entire series on my shelf yesterday." – Tyler Hayes, author of “The Imaginary Corpse”

"The only book I’ve ever read that made the writing process look like fun. A delight for readers and writers alike!" – Hugo Award Finalist Elsa Sjunneson-Henry

PRAISE FOR TORI BOVALINO

"Bovalino delivers an ink-splattered love letter to old books and dark academia. Wicked and sharp as a pen stroke, this is a delight for library goths—me included. If you ever wished your school library had a forbidden wing, then you need to read this book immediately." – AJ Hackwith, author of “The Library of the Unwritten”

"A glorious, darkly atmospheric journey into the disturbing power of books, ink and the horrors that live inside them." – Tasha Suri, author of “The Jasmine Throne”

"A spine-tingling, entrancing read. “The Devil Makes Three” is the perfect blend of supernatural horror and contemporary gothic, with each page as heart-pounding as the next. Tori Bovalino is an absolute master at atmosphere." – Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of “These Violent Delights”

"A perfect blend of gothic terror, slow-burn romance, and irreverent humor—this novel is a must read. I loved every page and paragraph of it." – Joshua Phillip Johnson, author of “The Forever Sea”

"Grimoires, demons, and a creepy school library make this Dark Academia sure to keep readers up at night. I couldn’t put this book down" – Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of “The Last Namsara”

"Quietly horrifying and compulsively readable, “The Devil Makes Three” is as chilling as it is compelling. A recipe for nightmares." – Kat Dunn, author of “Dangerous Remedy”

"Bovalino's debut crackles. Dripping with dark atmosphere, “The Devil Makes Three” is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's “Ninth House”. Make sure to read this with the lights on!" – Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of “House of Salt and Sorrows”

"With its magical library, brooding British boy, and haunted heroine, “The Devil Makes Three” is as darkly compelling as the grimoires of Jessop. A thrilling debut that cast a spell on me from page one!" – Mara Rutherford, author of “Crown of Coral and Pearl”

"With demonic wit and a wholly human heart, Tori Bovalino's debut will grab your hand on the very first page – and you won't let go. “The Devil Makes Three” is imaginative, original, and a genuine delight. Read this book, and tell your friends the devil made you do it." - Hannah Capin, author of “The Dead Queens Club” and “Foul is Fair”