One of the hallmarks of the fantasy genre is setting the story in a school for magic. While many popular books use this backdrop, like Harry Potter, this is far from the only narrative that touches upon what an academy of magic and mysticism might look like. Depending on the target audience, adult or young adult, these books can look very different, with some authors willing to discuss the dark and violent parts of these stories. Whether they're set in another universe or a fictionalized version of the real world, all these schools are beyond the readers' wildest dreams.

Many of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2025 are delving into the dark academia genre, as this has quickly become one of the most popular niches within literature. Schools are a great setting for any story, not just fantasy. This is because they're a microcosm of the larger world. Issues of class, discrimination, and ability are all daily occurrences in the world of learning, and adding an element of magic heightens these themes. Many of the protagonists in these stories find themselves with more responsibility and power than they bargained for, making it necessary for them to train.

10 Carry On (2015)

Written by Rainbow Rowell

The first book in the Simon Snow trilogy, Carry On​​​​​​, was an exciting pivot for Rainbow Rowell, as her first two books, Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, were realistic fiction. With a great LGBTQ+ romance and a relatable character in the somewhat hapless Simon, Carry On is a great start to the Simon Snow novels, which follow Simon and his vampire roommate Baz. However, things aren't easy for Simon, as he's not exactly the Chosen One that he and the other magicians were hoping for.

The forces of good and evil aren't what they seem in Carry On, as being the Chosen One might not be Simon's true purpose after all.

In his final year at Watford School of Magicks, Simon's training is going worse than ever before, and he can't help but be distracted by the fact that Baz, an antagonizing force in his life, is absent. The forces of good and evil aren't what they seem in Carry On, as being the Chosen One might not be Simon's true purpose after all. Filled with friendship, romance, and discussions of the role destiny plays in our lives, Carry On is one of Rowell's most relatable works.

9 The Novice (2015)

Written by Taran Matharu

Taran Matharu's The Novice sets the stage for the Summoner series and follows Fletcher in his journey to discover how to use his magical talents. In the world of The Novice, there's an epic war against the Orcs that Fletcher finds himself a part of, training to summon demons and control his strength to serve the army. The magical military academy where he spends his days is filled with traps and tricks, as Fletcher doesn't have the illustrious background that some of his classmates share.

In a classic hero's journey, Fletcher is raised from his circumstances as a blacksmith's apprentice and transformed into a formidable magician with the power and agency to choose how and when to wield his skills. Fletcher's demon, Ignatius, is one of the only individuals he can trust, but he can't be sure how far a demon's loyalty will go. Though there's danger at every turn, The Novice is closer in tone to a YA novel than a dark high fantasy.

8 The Magician’s Guild (2001)

Written by Trudi Canavan

The Black Magician's Trilogy begins with The Magician's Guild, an exploration of class and magic as a metaphor for power and control. Sonea, the main character, is a member of the lower class within the fictional world and hates the magicians for their discrimination against her people. However, she has more in common with the magicians than she thinks and spends much of The Magician's Guild trying to outwit the people who would teach her to harness her power as it starts to grow out of her control.

Though Sonea knows she'll never be one of them, she can't help but be intrigued by the potential of her new abilities.

Though The Magician's Guild doesn't spend as much time in the magic school as the second book, The Novice, book one sets the stage for the series and piques the reader's curiosity about what lies ahead at the Guild. While there are some of the Guild who want Sonea to take her place among them, others are hiding dangerous secrets and wish to use Sonea to further their agendas. Though Sonea knows she'll never be one of them, she can't help but be intrigued by the potential of her new abilities.

7 Ninth House (2019)

Written by Leigh Bardugo

Though Leigh Bardugo is best known for the Shadow and Bone series, her latest adult fantasy series is showing readers a new side of the author. Ninth House is a fantasy book that borders on horror, as the protagonist, Alex, delves into the paranormal doings of the secret societies at Yale. Since it's set in a magical version of the real world, Alex must grapple with the social and academic struggles of being a student at Yale while seeking out the occult as a result of the deal she made to attend the university.

The dark academia genre has been growing more popular in recent years, and Bardugo understands that the atmosphere and aesthetics of the story are just as critical as the plot. Alex is an unlikely outsider within the elite community she's thrust into. However, this makes her uniquely qualified to see through the lies and tricks her fellow classmates are pulling and what they're getting away with. In conversation with the real secret societies that populate the campuses of Ivy League schools, Ninth House doesn't unfold how readers might expect.

6 The Poppy War (2018)

Written by R. F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang's debut novel, The Poppy War, successfully kicked off her prolific career, as Kuang has quickly distinguished herself as one of the best young writers in fantasy. While her recent novel, Babel, also touched upon dark academia, The Poppy War is much more entrenched in true magic. However, Rin, the protagonist, doesn't understand her connection to gods and the pantheon for a long time. When she does tap into her power, it changes her life forever.

For the first half of the book, Rin fights tooth and nail to be accepted to the most prestigious military training school in the country.

For the first half of the book, Rin fights tooth and nail to be accepted to the most prestigious military training school in the country. She then finds herself strangely drawn to the reclusive Master Jiang, who helps her tap into her shamanic potential. However, The Poppy War is not simply a tale about Rin's school days, as war quickly makes its mark on her life, propelling the novel into a dark and violent second half that forces Rin to grapple with her newfound abilities.

5 A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)

Written by Ursula K. Le Guin

One of Ursula K. Le Guin's best books, A Wizard of Earthsea, the first in the Earthsea Cycle, is a young adult fantasy novel that pushed boundaries when it was first published in the late 1960s. Le Guin's work has long been cited as the most influential additions to fantasy and sci-fi, with her interconnected universes and vivid worlds transporting readers of all ages for generations. A Wizard of Earthsea is one of her most classic tales, as it's framed around the coming of age of the young wizard, Ged.

It takes a little while for Ged to leave home and the school for magic on the island of Roke, as he's initially taught by a local wizard. However, it's Ged's pride and thirst for knowledge and power that provokes him to enroll at the school and ultimately play a part in his greatest challenge. Unsurprisingly, Ged learns more at school than what's taught in the classes, as he isn't immune to the taunting of other students and playing with powers he can't control.

4 A Deadly Education (2020)

Written by Naomi Novik

Naomi Novik has quickly proven herself to be one of the most prominent fantasy writers of the past few decades, as her standalone novel, Uprooted, and the acclaimed Temeraire series have been making waves since the early 2000s. Her recent series, Scholomance, plays with old and new ideas about how a magical academy should treat the young and gifted. The Scholomance in A Deadly Education is unlike any other sorcery school in fiction, as there are no teachers, only mysterious lessons and young people battling for their lives.

El spends the book and the entire Scholomance trilogy subverting people's expectations and proving herself to be a selfless wielder of magic.

The story revolves around El, a young sorceress who is plagued by a prophecy that says she will be part of the destruction of many groups of sorcerers. However, El spends the book and the entire Scholomance trilogy subverting people's expectations and proving herself to be a selfless wielder of magic. It's a dark and dangerous world, as there are monsters who feed on young sorcerers in every corner of her mysterious school, but El is determined to make it out alive and not let anyone define who she is.

3 The Magicians (2009)

Written by Lev Grossman

It didn't take long for Lev Grossman's beloved fantasy series to be adapted for the screen, resulting in the five-season-long TV show that expanded upon Grossman's original work. The series follows the story of Quentin Coldwater, a young man whose life is turned upside down when he's accepted to Brakebills University, a school that trains magicians. After feeling like an outsider his whole life, getting accepted to Brakebills is what Quentin has been waiting for, but the realities of magic are much harsher than he realizes.

The Magicians plays with the tropes and pitfalls of fantasy series like it, making many tongue-in-cheek references to famous works like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. With more mature and adult elements, The Magicians distinguishes itself as a story for audiences interested in the darker side of magical academia. However, what The Magicians does best is lean into the themes of how magic and schools for the gifted are used as solace for people who feel different and how this can be a dangerous outlook.

2 The Name Of The Wind (2007)

Written by Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss' iconic Kingkiller Chronicle series tells the epic story of Kvothe and his adventures and how his time at the University changed him forever. Told from the perspective of an older Kvothe, reflecting on his travels, The Name of the Wind sees him arrive at the University, where he learns more about the people who killed his parents and eventually discovers his magical prowess. Though the University isn't initially magical, by the end, Kvothe has used his power to call out the name of the wind, setting him on a new path.

The Name of the Wind connects with so many readers because it's written in the style of so many classic fantasy epics and seamlessly transitions from one period of Kvothe's life to the next. It's compelling to see Kvothe's view of the University change throughout the story, as he's so desperate to be a part of this community in the beginning but soon can objectively analyze its flaws and prejudices. Though the third book in the series is yet to be published, it's likely that Kvothe isn't done with the University yet.

1 Harry Potter (1997–2007)

Written by J.K. Rowling

One of the best-known fantasy book series of all time, Harry Potter is almost entirely set in the magical school Hogwarts, with the characters making their way into the wider world in the seventh and final installment. Immersive and vivid, Hogwarts is simultaneously dangerous and comforting for the main characters, as magic isn't always used for good in Harry Potter. The cultural impact and longevity of the series speak to how much readers enjoy escaping to a spellbinding world like that of Hogwarts.

The TV remake can fix many original series problems, but the atmosphere and dynamic within Hogwarts is a part of the books that shouldn't be altered too much. Harry, the protagonist, feels connected to the school, as it's more of a home to him than any other place in his life. Hogwarts is so special to audiences because it transports Harry to a place where anything is possible and he matters for the first time ever. It's easy to see oneself in Harry and imagine that Hogwarts could transport the reader to a new world.

Harry Potter

8.6/10

Created by

J.K. Rowling

Cast

Mads Mikkelsen

TV Show(s)

Harry Potter

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

First TV Show

Harry Potter

Movie(s)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

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