This might be a weird comment but black on you looks so good! It’s literally making your skin glow, I feel like if you had a color analysis they would say black looks amazing on you!
Yes, also I think her makeup is different as well? The eyeshadow? Can you confirm @AshlynnCalee? 😄 Anyway she is beautiful always, but she looks even more glam in this video. 😊
If u want more DarkAc, I just started An Academy For Liars and it is set in Ogden 😮! I'm excited bc my parents both grew up there and I lived there with my gramma right after high school.
My first Dark Academia Book was Babel. I found it by accident and since then it has a very special place in my heart. Just loved it so much and I think you will love it too. Hope to see you read and talk about it one day :)
I would recommend checking out ‘If we were villains’. It’s not as long of a read and I found a lot of characters to be quite likable. The plot starts slow but builds and it focuses a lot on the characters themselves and their relationships with each other.
I love dark academia it’s so cozy yet very dark I’ve read quite a few and just wow that intro was chefs kiss so glad to get more recommendations. Some reason a lot of dark academia get low stars but tend to always be a 5 star for me
I’ve recently become obsessed with dark academia because it feels so much like Harry Potter. The secret history is on my TBR! I’ve been loving a discovery of witches which is fantasy/dark academia 😊
The zoom in on the dog really got me, haha. Love this video! The Maidens is the only book from Alex Michaeledes that I haven’t read yet but I really want to pick it up even more after your review!
Ooooh yes i just read a young adult dark academia called The Library of Shadows and I just loved the setting! it’s not really dark but there are ghosts that the main character can see and talk to. They solve a bookish ghost mystery together and I just loved that most of the setting was the haunted library and the school 😊 love the video 😊
I read The Secret History two or three years ago and when I finished it, I really liked it- but I didn't know how I felt about it. But also couldn't stop thinking about it! Cut to me watching some fan discussion/theory videos and I gained a whole new perspective on it. It's one of my faves now. I really need to read The Goldfinch soon.
The Secret History was my first Dark Academia book. It is now in my top 10 books, probably in the top 5. I would also recommend Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates.
You may enjoy The Poppy War that starts off as Dark Academia but continues into grim dark. The Book that Wouldn’t Burn also has dark academia aspects. I personally didn’t enjoy either but they are highly regarded books for a reason so if they appeal to you, try them out. 🙂
I’m not one for dark academia because I find it intimidating, but I watched cause you’re one of my favorite booktubers. 😍 Wow, am I glad you did this video! Everything from the intro down to the detail you use with the fonts, you have piqued my curiosity 🖤
I read The Secret History years ago, before knowing anything about dark academia. It was a book I went into blind, so I had no idea what it was going to be about and I remember really liking it. I also read We Were Villains, went into it blind again and not knowing what it was about, and still not knowing that dark academia was a genre. I didn’t know that people compared the two books when I read it. I can tell you that I thought it was boring and yet annoying, and I didn’t like it at all. Afterwards, I saw that the two books were being compared and that We Were Villains was considered a wannabe The Secret History. I agree with that assessment. Also, every time I hear a book with the title ‘villains’ in it, I automatically recommend V. E. Schwabs Villains duology, Vicious and Vengeful.
The Maidens certainly isn't staring at me from the bookshelf, wondering why I haven't started it yet lol. I want so badly to love dark academia, it's one of my favorite aesthetics, but I've really struggled to find a book I love yet. I struggled with The Secret History and ended up DNF'ing it, but it's a book I'm always thinking about trying a second time since I didn't get particularly far.
Alex Michaelides is a great author, i read the silent patient on the beginning of the year and loved, and two weeks ago i read " The Maidens" which get me out of my worst reading slump, the things with him is some people see that he paced is slow, and the plot twist is make no sense, but i don't think that because the way he writes about the human behavior us just OMG , and his prose is beautiful his 1,3,1 method , i think his book is great for a reading slump, and he really remain me of Agatha Christie
I’ve been starting to get into Dark Academia and have been loving it. I highly recommend Babel by R.F. Kuang. I’ve also been enjoying The Atlas Six so far, I’m on the 2nd book.
I am currently reading The Secret History, and it has been really good so far. About halfway through. Btw you have convinced me to try Pet Semetary! I am scared!!
I’m just about 70% in on The Secret History and loving the writing, very 80s, Bret Easton Ellis vibes (whom she acknowledges) and I don’t mind the pace or the mundane day to day of it, excited to see where it goes. Another dark academia rec - Ninth House and Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, loved both! I’ve heard Nocticadia by Kari Lake is great too, it’s on my list : )
I recently read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and it is BRILLIANT. I haven't read The Maidens but everyone tells me it is sooooo good. Glad you are liking Dark Academia 🥰
If we were villains and The secret history are completely different novels in my opinion. The only similarities being a member of each of their group is murdered and we unravel in each book how that happened and why. As well as there being dark academia-esque college settings. One is a greek tragedy and the other a Shakespearean tragedy in itself. So to me, if we were villains isn’t a “worse version” of the secret history by any means since they’re different books.
I personally feel that you have already read dark academia. I would argue that an elite school setting with dark undertones perfectly fits Harry Potter. Okay it may not be as dark as the books you have chosen to read for this vlog, but to me it till fits the label
genre-centric videos are always so much fun, and i lov how you maintained the vibe throughout! i love the fury and slient patient by alex michaelides, will definitely have tor ead the maidens now! you must read the silent patien (its not that scary) i completely agree with you about the roundness and complexity of the characters and themes of the secret history, but the eventual narrativce felt pointless to me :( - still a 4star however
I think The Maidens got a lower rating on Goodreads because The Silent Patient is 🔥🔥🔥 Can’t event compare the books. The cover is a tad bit scary but once you read The Silent Patient, it will definitely be a 5 ⭐️ rating!
Dark academia is not my cup of tea. No hate, I’m only sharing for others here who may also really not enjoy it. I did like the maidens though. I gave it a four star But didn’t like secret history, if we were villains, or Babel. Now I know when a novel is listed as dark academia to run the other way. 😂
I also don’t love the genera but I feel like I just haven’t found the right book or maybe I picked it up at the wrong time. I also didn’t enjoy “if we were villains” but I kinda wanna try it again.
I made a huge mistake by doing The Secret History on audio. Donna Tartt is the worst narrator! I dnf it and can’t even make myself read it. The narration was that bad
This might be a weird comment but black on you looks so good! It’s literally making your skin glow, I feel like if you had a color analysis they would say black looks amazing on you!
Oh my gosh!!! 🥹 that is so nice! Thank you so much!!
I was just trying to work out what it was that made her so striking in this video!
Yes, also I think her makeup is different as well? The eyeshadow? Can you confirm @AshlynnCalee? 😄
Anyway she is beautiful always, but she looks even more glam in this video. 😊
If u want more DarkAc, I just started An Academy For Liars and it is set in Ogden 😮! I'm excited bc my parents both grew up there and I lived there with my gramma right after high school.
Donna Tartt could write about paint drying and I'd buy it full price, she is the best.
Forget about the silent patient cover I thought the same , it's not scary, it's more of a mystery and figuring out why she killed her husband
I have read the silent patient but not yet read The Maidens by the same author.
My toxic trait is that i LOVE henry from the secret history 😭
Also, if you loved these books you should try Babel by RF Kuang and Bunny by Mona Awad!
My first Dark Academia Book was Babel. I found it by accident and since then it has a very special place in my heart. Just loved it so much and I think you will love it too. Hope to see you read and talk about it one day :)
I would recommend checking out ‘If we were villains’. It’s not as long of a read and I found a lot of characters to be quite likable. The plot starts slow but builds and it focuses a lot on the characters themselves and their relationships with each other.
i love dark academia, you should really read if we were villains if you can! one of my favorite books of all time, i still think about it
I love dark academia it’s so cozy yet very dark I’ve read quite a few and just wow that intro was chefs kiss so glad to get more recommendations. Some reason a lot of dark academia get low stars but tend to always be a 5 star for me
You gotta read The Silent Patient. It’s one of my favourite books of all time. My jaw was on the floor
You and Ian should read Babel ( it combines fantasy & dark academia)
Ooh that sounds like a perfect combo!
I’ve recently become obsessed with dark academia because it feels so much like Harry Potter. The secret history is on my TBR! I’ve been loving a discovery of witches which is fantasy/dark academia 😊
A study in drowning is good! Kind of spooky and eerie and has a fantasy element ❤
The zoom in on the dog really got me, haha. Love this video! The Maidens is the only book from Alex Michaeledes that I haven’t read yet but I really want to pick it up even more after your review!
The Silent Patient isnt scary, or at least it wasnt to me. Just insanly twisty 😂
This is such a great video! I love you Ashlynn! Keep up the amazing content! And I love the Bible verses!
Ooooh yes i just read a young adult dark academia called The Library of Shadows and I just loved the setting! it’s not really dark but there are ghosts that the main character can see and talk to. They solve a bookish ghost mystery together and I just loved that most of the setting was the haunted library and the school 😊 love the video 😊
I have not read the maidens, but I LOVED the silent patient, and I’m currently reading The Fury by the same author… IM LOVING IT!!!
The maidens was definitely one of my favorite reads! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read The Secret History two or three years ago and when I finished it, I really liked it- but I didn't know how I felt about it. But also couldn't stop thinking about it! Cut to me watching some fan discussion/theory videos and I gained a whole new perspective on it. It's one of my faves now. I really need to read The Goldfinch soon.
The Secret History was my first Dark Academia book. It is now in my top 10 books, probably in the top 5. I would also recommend Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates.
You may enjoy The Poppy War that starts off as Dark Academia but continues into grim dark. The Book that Wouldn’t Burn also has dark academia aspects. I personally didn’t enjoy either but they are highly regarded books for a reason so if they appeal to you, try them out. 🙂
Love the vibes of this video. You are so good in creating a certain aesthetic and atmosphere in your videos.
Thank you so much!!❤
the piano music and vibes were very fall! 🎹🎶🍂📖
Ahhhh I've been waiting for this! ❤ Love your videos!!! You and Ian are just couple goals 🙌🏼
I also loved The Maidens and gave it a high rating. You should give The Silent Patient a go, its suspenseful and mysterious but not scary.
I’m not one for dark academia because I find it intimidating, but I watched cause you’re one of my favorite booktubers. 😍 Wow, am I glad you did this video! Everything from the intro down to the detail you use with the fonts, you have piqued my curiosity 🖤
Wow, i am blown away by your comment 🥹 thank you so much!! If you like thrillers, the maidens is a great place to start!
I read The Secret History years ago, before knowing anything about dark academia. It was a book I went into blind, so I had no idea what it was going to be about and I remember really liking it. I also read We Were Villains, went into it blind again and not knowing what it was about, and still not knowing that dark academia was a genre. I didn’t know that people compared the two books when I read it. I can tell you that I thought it was boring and yet annoying, and I didn’t like it at all. Afterwards, I saw that the two books were being compared and that We Were Villains was considered a wannabe The Secret History. I agree with that assessment.
Also, every time I hear a book with the title ‘villains’ in it, I automatically recommend V. E. Schwabs Villains duology, Vicious and Vengeful.
Amazing video! You did a great job of channeling those dark academia vibes and I am living for it
Aw, thank you so much!!🤍🥹
I love the dark academia subgenre. It gets spooky and weird. 😂 Both of these are on my TBR
If We Were Villains was the better version of The Secret History for me 😂
I had to read The Secret History for a college class I took lol its been wild for me seeing it popping up all over in booktube now 15 years later.
You look great in black outfits ♡
The Maidens certainly isn't staring at me from the bookshelf, wondering why I haven't started it yet lol. I want so badly to love dark academia, it's one of my favorite aesthetics, but I've really struggled to find a book I love yet. I struggled with The Secret History and ended up DNF'ing it, but it's a book I'm always thinking about trying a second time since I didn't get particularly far.
Alex Michaelides is a great author, i read the silent patient on the beginning of the year and loved, and two weeks ago i read " The Maidens" which get me out of my worst reading slump, the things with him is some people see that he paced is slow, and the plot twist is make no sense, but i don't think that because the way he writes about the human behavior us just OMG , and his prose is beautiful his 1,3,1 method , i think his book is great for a reading slump, and he really remain me of Agatha Christie
I just ordered The Maidens. I do have Donna Tart’s book. I have just been nervous to read it. ❤❤
for secret history, i suggest you read about the cougar/mountain lion theory!
That’s the next book I’m reading after misery. The silent patient.
I’ve been starting to get into Dark Academia and have been loving it. I highly recommend Babel by R.F. Kuang. I’ve also been enjoying The Atlas Six so far, I’m on the 2nd book.
Omg I need to read Babel, I've heard SO many good things!
I am currently reading The Secret History, and it has been really good so far. About halfway through. Btw you have convinced me to try Pet Semetary! I am scared!!
heyyy I love ur book reviews Ashlynn!!
I’m just about 70% in on The Secret History and loving the writing, very 80s, Bret Easton Ellis vibes (whom she acknowledges) and I don’t mind the pace or the mundane day to day of it, excited to see where it goes.
Another dark academia rec - Ninth House and Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, loved both!
I’ve heard Nocticadia by Kari Lake is great too, it’s on my list : )
Anyone else here obsessed with Oliver Mercer's book "Hidden Manifestation"? It's like discovering a secret treasure map of manifestation!
I recently read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and it is BRILLIANT. I haven't read The Maidens but everyone tells me it is sooooo good. Glad you are liking Dark Academia 🥰
Loved this video!!! So fun and super well done!
Thank you so much!!🥹🤍
I never read any of these books but glad you enjoyed them!
Would highly recommend Babel! Would love to see your reactions to that one :)
Ooooh I’ve heard it’s so good!!
If we were villains and The secret history are completely different novels in my opinion. The only similarities being a member of each of their group is murdered and we unravel in each book how that happened and why. As well as there being dark academia-esque college settings. One is a greek tragedy and the other a Shakespearean tragedy in itself. So to me, if we were villains isn’t a “worse version” of the secret history by any means since they’re different books.
this format really suits me
It brings me so much joy that you liked The Maidens so much!
Definitely try out The Silent Patient. But…maybe skip The Fury.
Your Chiefs sweatshirt is SO cute!! Do you remember where you got it?
One of my favorite dark academia is killing and hunting november duology
I personally feel that you have already read dark academia. I would argue that an elite school setting with dark undertones perfectly fits Harry Potter. Okay it may not be as dark as the books you have chosen to read for this vlog, but to me it till fits the label
I agree!
Ilysm Ashlynn ❤❤❤
Ily!!! 💞💞🥹
@@AshlynnCalee I just finished powerless and it literally took me 3 days it was so good 😊
I would like you to consider reading the Discovery of Witches series. Books 1-3 (the original trilogy) is a must read IMHO.
genre-centric videos are always so much fun, and i lov how you maintained the vibe throughout!
i love the fury and slient patient by alex michaelides, will definitely have tor ead the maidens now! you must read the silent patien (its not that scary)
i completely agree with you about the roundness and complexity of the characters and themes of the secret history, but the eventual narrativce felt pointless to me :( - still a 4star however
Love the video. Meshak ❤❤❤ the best dog ever.
these books have been sitting on my shelf for a long time, taking this as my sign to read them 🫡
I think The Maidens got a lower rating on Goodreads because The Silent Patient is 🔥🔥🔥
Can’t event compare the books.
The cover is a tad bit scary but once you read The Silent Patient, it will definitely be a 5 ⭐️ rating!
Eeekkk I am so excited to read it🤭
Ok mysterious Rory Gilmore 😍
Stoppppp!!!!🤭🤭🤭🤭
I’m blushing 😌
An academy for liars, highly highly highly recommend its dark academia with a splash of horror
Ninth house, my first and just absolutely crazy
The Maidens was a 5 star for me too! I actually preferred it to the silent patient which is an unpopular opinion. 😬
I am in the middle of the secret history right now and am struggling!
I rated both these books five stars too so you have wonderful taste hehehe
Alex Michael-leeeeee-deeeees 🙂 I read The Silent Patient, wasnt a huge fan. But still gonna read The Maidens!
What breed is your dog?
Some Recs on dark academia are a lesson in vengeance (I think it’s dark academia) I read it last year & A deadly education
really liked this video
Ash, you should really read "if we were villans"
you got a new sub!
I’ve just read the silent patient is not that scary and you’ll love it
9th house and hell bent both by leigh bardugo
its hard to put into words, but the book Magnetic Aura from Talesio completely changed my life. i recommend everyone reading this to read it
Is that about the law of attraction/manifestation? If so, it doesn’t mesh with Christianity. Just a heads up for those curious.
Dark academia is not my cup of tea. No hate, I’m only sharing for others here who may also really not enjoy it. I did like the maidens though. I gave it a four star But didn’t like secret history, if we were villains, or Babel. Now I know when a novel is listed as dark academia to run the other way. 😂
Hahahaha that’s fair!!
I also don’t love the genera but I feel like I just haven’t found the right book or maybe I picked it up at the wrong time. I also didn’t enjoy “if we were villains” but I kinda wanna try it again.
what type of headphones do you have?
Hey you should maybe read the goldfinch by Dana tarte and I know people who absolutely adore it and maybe you’ll like it ? ❤ ur vids btw
You should try The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Try the following series by Lauren Kate the series is out of this world I think you might really like it. Try it out.
I know the cover of silent patient is freaky but please read it!
best!!!
Heyyyy!
I made a huge mistake by doing The Secret History on audio. Donna Tartt is the worst narrator! I dnf it and can’t even make myself read it. The narration was that bad
2nd comment, yay a new vid also 14th like :)
I'm so glad you're here!! 🥰
good video yet again, I would only add for people to read 'Magnetic Aura' from Talesio helped me a tonnn
this video’s take really clicks with some of the things I've been reading in the book Magnetic Aura from Talesio
I’ve never heard of it to be honest, but I will check it out. Thanks.
i can't believe no one on youtube is talking about magnetic aura from Talesio
if you're seeing this comment, it might be a sign to read 'Magnetic Aura' from Talesio ❤️