Katabasis by R.F. Kuang:
What happens if your professor dies before you get the chance to ask for his recommendation letter? You follow him to hell so you can drag him back, of course! Unfortunately, your rival seems to have the same idea …
If you’re looking for dark academia, rivals-to-lovers, some (more) academic despair, or to check out hell before you arrive, Katabasis (kuh-TAB-uh-sis) by R.F. Kuang is perfect for you. Set in 1990s Cambridge, we follow Ph.D. magick student Alice Law as she attempts to revive her professor by journeying to hell; his letter of recommendation is the only way she can secure her future in academia. Alice has spent her entire life giving everything she has for her studies — her sleep, her sanity, her ability to touch grass — and she’s not going to let something as meager as death stop her. And the only thing that rivals Alice’s obsession with magick is her obsession with beating Peter (and with Peter himself). And perhaps her academic trauma, but she won’t admit that!
Kuang’s research is brilliantly done as she draws from real-world academic, classical, philosophical, and mythological texts (Dante’s Inferno, Homer’s The Odyssey, etc.). It’s a biting commentary on school, prestige, and academic ego, sometimes echoing themes at Lakeside. Thought-provoking in the funniest way, the rivals-to-lovers subplot is perfect for February, and as junior spring swings around and college mania starts anew, we may want to consider the pitfalls of committing too hard. Because apparently, “Hell is a campus” (Kuang 2025, 77).
To fellow juniors: DO NOT try this at home (if you do, invite me).
About the recommender:
Vivian’s reading journey started with completing nightly Raz Kids quests and evolved into an uncontrollable monster that throws her homework and (other) priorities out the window. She loves sci-fi, historical fiction/fantasy, dark academia, and some good ol’ fashioned romance. Alas, as a current junior at Lakeside, her reading time has shifted drastically … into the wee hours of the morning (oops). When not reading, catch her coxing on Lake Washington, dozing in Allen Gates, or running towards the SAGE brownies.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber:
The love season has arrived, and it has brought a darling romantasy book read characterized by its seamless blend of mythology and stimulating love. This whimsical, magic-driven story offered by Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart is the perfect addition to your February TBR list.
Evangeline Fox is a hopeless romantic, desperate to find her happily ever after and willing to cling on to her dreams of true love for as long as it takes. When she discovers her sister’s engagement to the boy she loves, Evangeline takes matters into her own hands by making a precarious deal with the cunning Fate known as Jacks, The Prince of Hearts. Now bound to Jacks by three kisses, Evangeline must leave the comfort of her charming town and navigate the Magnificent North, where magic is alluring, bargains are risky, and the unpredictability of her situation leaves her (and us readers) constantly guessing. This is the perfect next read for anyone looking for a sweet blend of romance, reimagined fairytales, and compelling world-building and characters.
The story carries the nostalgia of childish fairytales while contrasting that with high-stakes moments, which keep the pages turning. Garber builds her complex characters and plot by exploring themes of fate (as in destiny’s fate and the mythical Fates) and sacrifice that demands discovery of true desire. Once Upon a Broken Heart’s dreamy atmosphere and heartfelt storybuilding invites readers to drift off into the lands of The Magnificent North and become spellbound by Evangeline’s enchanted journey.
About the recommender:
Alya’s love for reading sprang from watching the 1985 mystery classic Clue. The dramatic puzzle of the movie led her to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, a recommendation from her mom and the beginning of a future taken over by exceedingly long Barnes & Noble receipts that surely flustered her dad. When she’s not reading, Alya is likely to be playing volleyball, making some sort of craft, or watching Twilight.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst:
If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is the perfect pick. The novel follows Kiela, a socially awkward librarian who flees a collapsing magical city. Together with her assistant Caz (who happens to be a rather grumpy sentient houseplant), she flees with as many spellbooks as she can carry, returning to her childhood home. There, she meets her nosy, overly helpful, and far too-handsome neighbor who, much to her dismay, insists on showing up every day to help her attempt to get her life back together.
But unfortunately, paper and ink can’t pay her bills, so, when Kiela realizes the town doesn’t have any jam, she uses just a little unsanctioned magic to cover her garden in berries. One thing leads to another, and Kiela decides to risk the consequences and opens her island’s very own (and maybe very illegal) secret spellshop.
With a slow-burn romance, a spider plant with a passion for baking, and an aesthetic straight out of a cottagecore daydream, The Spellshop is all about slowing down and finding the magic in life’s small moments. Sweet, comforting, and angst-free, this novel is ideal for readers who are looking for a little magic, a little love, and a lot of cozy vibes this Valentine’s Day.
About the recommender:
The moment Naina learned the alphabet, she decided that reading would be her entire personality. Her addiction to books — centered around dark academia and fantasy — is both impressive and concerning. The fastest way to her heart is asking for a book recommendation, which is less a conversation starter and more a binding agreement to listen as she spirals into questionable summaries, aggressively enthusiastic hand waving, and wildly unprompted emotional investment in fictional people. When she’s not reading, her life is a thrilling cycle of studying and sleeping, because apparently, free time is a myth.
