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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
rlh1992's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
laurenseeto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
3.5
milointhewoods's review against another edition
3.0
3.2 stars
a dubious collection- mostly not really dark academia. a couple of these were interesting but it was mostly well trodden ground, and i was disappointed far more than i was impressed.
1000 ships: 3 stars
pythia: 4 stars
sabbatical: 1 star
the hare and the hound: 4 stars
x house: 3 stars
the ravages: 3 stars
four funerals: 2 stars
the unknowable pleasures: 2 stars
weekend at bertie’s: 4 stars
the professor of ontography: 5 stars
phobos: 5 stars
playing: 2 stars
a dubious collection- mostly not really dark academia. a couple of these were interesting but it was mostly well trodden ground, and i was disappointed far more than i was impressed.
1000 ships: 3 stars
pythia: 4 stars
sabbatical: 1 star
the hare and the hound: 4 stars
x house: 3 stars
the ravages: 3 stars
four funerals: 2 stars
the unknowable pleasures: 2 stars
weekend at bertie’s: 4 stars
the professor of ontography: 5 stars
phobos: 5 stars
playing: 2 stars
literarylizzie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mywonderfulsea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death and Blood
deepbutdazzlingdarkness's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay; I liked some of the stories better than the others. I ended up skipping the Olivie Blake story, a couple of pages were enough for me, it was too confusing and I didn't care, but the Kate Weinberg one did bump The Truants up on my TBR so I don't regret checking it out.
corikane's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
good mix of mostly very good stories
sophiareads's review against another edition
2.75
1000 Ships - 4 stars
Pythia - 1 star
Sabbatical - 1 star
The Hare and the Hound - 5 stars
X House - 3 stars
The Ravages - 2.5
Four Funerals - 3.5 stars
The Unknowable Pleasures - 2 stars
Weekend at Berties - 1 star
The Professor of Onthology - 3 stars
Phobos - 5 stars
Playing - 3 stars
Pythia - 1 star
Sabbatical - 1 star
The Hare and the Hound - 5 stars
X House - 3 stars
The Ravages - 2.5
Four Funerals - 3.5 stars
The Unknowable Pleasures - 2 stars
Weekend at Berties - 1 star
The Professor of Onthology - 3 stars
Phobos - 5 stars
Playing - 3 stars
euphoricreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
3.0
The definition of dark academia can often vary from reader-to-reader, however there usually an element of the gothic, higher education, literature or even as an aesthetic. Personally, most of the stories featured truly fell flat and did not quite encapsulate the overall theme of dark academia.
One story in particular titled 'Four Funerals' especially felt disjointed as it referenced a school shooting and the ramifications this has on a teacher, the students and even the mother of the shooter. It seemed that it was purely selected due to it occurring in a school.
Don't get me wrong there was certain stories that seemed to fill the quota with Phobos and The Professor of Ontography being enjoyable. Phobos in particular was a favourite amongst the rest as it had the elements of gothic and featured a high society of sorts that promised success and power.
One story in particular titled 'Four Funerals' especially felt disjointed as it referenced a school shooting and the ramifications this has on a teacher, the students and even the mother of the shooter. It seemed that it was purely selected due to it occurring in a school.
Don't get me wrong there was certain stories that seemed to fill the quota with Phobos and The Professor of Ontography being enjoyable. Phobos in particular was a favourite amongst the rest as it had the elements of gothic and featured a high society of sorts that promised success and power.
malbelle_03's review against another edition
3.0
This book, like so many other anthologies, disappointed me. It had little to do with dark academia, and aside from a few stand-out stories, many of them were aggressively mediocre and in need of a greater word count. Also, can we please stop letting author’s include off-shoots from previous projects? They’re always the weakest and least enjoyable of the bunch.
1000 Ships
3 stars
Decently engaging and atmospheric. I didn’t entirely gel with the writing style. A little bland, nothing remarkable.
Pythia
3 stars
This was an intriguing premise, but I have a complicated relationship with Olivie Blake - which is that while I find her writing to be beautiful, it’s also often obnoxious and overinflated. This was less an issue in Pythia than it was in ‘the Atlas Six,’ but I still only understood what was happening about 60% of the time. And honestly, I think I resent Blake for making me feel stupid. I did enjoy the unreliable narrator and the snappy ending, which is where it gets it’s stars from.
Sabbitcal
1.5 stars
This sucked. It was boring. It made no sense. It was hardly dark academia. The main character was an asshole. Everyone was fat phobic. Boo.
The Hare and the Hound
3.5 stars
This one was fine. Confusing, but kind of fun. Atmospheric. Probably the story that’s come closest to dark academia so far.
X House
3 stars
Weirdly paced, too short to have the effect the author wanted. I don’t think a short story was the right format for this. But I enjoyed its atmosphere more than any of the other stories so far.
The Ravages
3 stars
Another meh story. I guess the revenge element was satisfying? I don’t know how Natalia didn’t guess what was going on when she was already aware of Liv’s job as a horror actor, but whatever.
Four Funerals
2 stars
Boring. Not dark academia. Don’t really know what’s being said here?
The Unknowable Pleasures
4.5 stars
Finally, something I enjoyed! This was brilliant. It felt like Yang directly shone a spotlight on the shipping elements of fandom culture.
Weekend at Bertie’s
2 stars
I wanted to like this so much because I loved ‘If We Were Villians,’ but it was just so boring and I have no idea what the point of it was. If nothing else, Mio’s writing is, of course, absolutely gorgeous.
The Professor of Ontography
4 stars
Fun, creepy and atmospheric, this story had me hooked from start to end.
Phobos
4 stars
This was so aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully engaging. Feels like we’re finally entering real dark academia territory.
Playing
2.5 stars
I was bored for most of this and found the twist ending predictable. Being in Grace’s head was kind of fun, though.
1000 Ships
3 stars
Decently engaging and atmospheric. I didn’t entirely gel with the writing style. A little bland, nothing remarkable.
Pythia
3 stars
This was an intriguing premise, but I have a complicated relationship with Olivie Blake - which is that while I find her writing to be beautiful, it’s also often obnoxious and overinflated. This was less an issue in Pythia than it was in ‘the Atlas Six,’ but I still only understood what was happening about 60% of the time. And honestly, I think I resent Blake for making me feel stupid. I did enjoy the unreliable narrator and the snappy ending, which is where it gets it’s stars from.
Sabbitcal
1.5 stars
This sucked. It was boring. It made no sense. It was hardly dark academia. The main character was an asshole. Everyone was fat phobic. Boo.
The Hare and the Hound
3.5 stars
This one was fine. Confusing, but kind of fun. Atmospheric. Probably the story that’s come closest to dark academia so far.
X House
3 stars
Weirdly paced, too short to have the effect the author wanted. I don’t think a short story was the right format for this. But I enjoyed its atmosphere more than any of the other stories so far.
The Ravages
3 stars
Another meh story. I guess the revenge element was satisfying? I don’t know how Natalia didn’t guess what was going on when she was already aware of Liv’s job as a horror actor, but whatever.
Four Funerals
2 stars
Boring. Not dark academia. Don’t really know what’s being said here?
The Unknowable Pleasures
4.5 stars
Finally, something I enjoyed! This was brilliant. It felt like Yang directly shone a spotlight on the shipping elements of fandom culture.
Weekend at Bertie’s
2 stars
I wanted to like this so much because I loved ‘If We Were Villians,’ but it was just so boring and I have no idea what the point of it was. If nothing else, Mio’s writing is, of course, absolutely gorgeous.
The Professor of Ontography
4 stars
Fun, creepy and atmospheric, this story had me hooked from start to end.
Phobos
4 stars
This was so aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully engaging. Feels like we’re finally entering real dark academia territory.
Playing
2.5 stars
I was bored for most of this and found the twist ending predictable. Being in Grace’s head was kind of fun, though.