Dark academia, secret societies, and murder at Oxford? Yes, please.
Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone is an entertaining, binge-able YA thriller that leans hard into the dark academia vibes readers are absolutely devouring right now. And it works.
Eva arrives at Oxford for interview week. She’s trying to win a coveted spot at the most exclusive and academically rigorous college Oxford has to offer. When her boyfriend George dies under mysterious circumstances, she quickly finds herself tangled in a dangerous web of secret societies, power games, and buried truths. What starts as an elite academic dream spirals into something far more sinister, where knowledge is currency and loyalty comes at a steep cost. After all, the unofficial school motto is slay or be slain.
The Oxford setting is incredibly atmospheric with its ancient buildings, intellectual elitism, and a constant sense that history is watching. Eva is a standout protagonist. She’s smart, headstrong, and genuinely brave, not reckless-for-plot-convenience brave.
The story thoughtfully weaves in social justice themes including race, class, and privilege without feeling preachy or bolted on. These elements feel organic to Eva’s character and the world she’s navigating. If you love dark academia with teeth, this absolutely scratches that itch.
On audio, narrator DΓ©dΓ© Davi does a wonderful job bringing the tension, emotion, and personalities to life, keeping the pace tight and the stakes clear.
This is a great pick for fans of smart YA thrillers that mix suspense with social commentary.
Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for the early listen. Oxford Blood is out today.
Dark academia fans, this one’s worth queuing up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
QOTD: Are you a dark academia reader because of the vibes or despite the danger?
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About the Author
Rachael Davis-Featherstone is a mixed-raced, Black-British, multi-award-nominated author, literary agent, and cofounder of Creative Roots Studio, which helps writers and illustrators build sustainable careers. She grew up in a low-income, single-parent family and studied mathematics at Oxford University before receiving a master’s in English literature at Surrey University. Rachael has published more than twenty books, ranging from picture books to commercial fiction, and her works have been translated into seven languages. I Am NOT a Prince, illustrated by Beatrix Hatcher, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Rachael was also longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards and shortlisted for the Inclusive Books for Children Awards. Rachael champions diversity in literature and was a judge for the inaugural Jericho Prize.
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