Name: In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology
ISBN: 9781803364193

M. L. Rio

J. T. Ellison

Olivie Blake

Paul Kane

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! Darkened libraries at elite schools, looming Gothic towers, charismatic professors, the tang of autumn in the air… and the rivalries and obsessions that lead to murder. Within these Hallowed Halls is a chilling, compulsive collection of dark academia short stories.

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology

This is the encapsulation of why I hate that Dark Academia is a thing. Majority of these stories feel vapid and are boring with no real stakes— as if they watered down the narratives we love and define as Dark academia to turn it into a formula that feels just as bland as your top 50 pop hits. I also found that majority of the writers would tell instead of show which infuriates me. My favourites were Weekend at Bertie’s by ML Rio (the only reason why I bought it. She did everything right I quite enjoyed it but still not my favourite from her) and The Professor of Ontography by Helen Grant (Eearie and kept me guessing the entire time and the end is grotesque and amazing I loved it. I think my favourite.) all in all will probably never read it again and don’t recommend it 

Florence

Perfect easy autum read. Really enjoyed 1000 Ships (by Kate Weinberg), The Professor of Onthograpy (by Helen Grant) and Phobos (by Tori Bovalino). Fun selection of stories that offer a nice introduction to a lot of authors, even though. I'd rate the three stories mentioned a 4/5, the rest of them about a 3/5 average.