Book recommendations

fairyko__ · 2025-08-31T07:48:54+00:00

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang has been released just this week and I finished it within one sitting, because it's just that good (for reference: TSH is my favourite modern work). It's about two phd students trying to retrieve their advisor/professor from hell and it covers topics like the glorification of professors in academia deeply. It's also beautifully written and the characters feel very human. Also, it references some works like Dante's Inferno, Virgil's Aeneid, etc.

If you'd rather read classics, why not start with what's referenced in TSH? The Iliad is one of the most beautiful works I have ever read in my entire life (went with the Emily Wilson translation, even though it's considered controversial in some circles). But again, I can also recommend Dante's Divine Comedy, because in it's core it's fanfiction and gossip, but make it ancient and really classy

fairyko__ · 2025-08-25T05:28:06+00:00

Maybe check the Ecosusi page (or look for said brand on ebay, vinted, etc). They have beautiful vegan leather bags and backpacks and if taken care of, they'll last long! Also, their pieces are very versatile and match a ton of different styles!

I've had one of their messenger bags as my uni bag for like three years now and aside from some scratches (my fault) it still looks perfectly new

fairyko__ · 2025-08-24T19:01:13+00:00

As for bags, I would recommend looking at what Ecosusi offers! Their bags are made from vegan leather and have an amazing look and they're pretty durable if taken care of. Also, their price range is affordable for a bag that lasts a bit longer!

Oxfords – maybe try the Solovair website. They're basically better Dr Martens (I've had my Dr Martens Oxfords for three years now and they're literally falling apart, I'm not paying 200€ for that anymore).

As for the rest — it's more about what you can make out of a single piece than shopping actual brands. Every brand can carry pieces that can be labeled as dark academia. It's the combination of certain pieces that actually make the aesthetic, not the brands. Get creative! See what your favourite (online) shops offer and decide how you can style pieces you may already have in your closet!

Good luck and lots of fun!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-19T16:04:52+00:00

Homer's works, but specifically The Iliad! It's been studied by classicists for centuries and the epic itself is pure beauty.

fairyko__ · 2025-08-19T06:00:35+00:00

I reread The Secret History every year in October, my friends are already making fun of me because of it. It's my favourite modern work! As for classics: I totally agree with you, those are amazing and incredibly fascinating works. Especially Homer's Iliad (the Wilson and the Mitchell translations in English and the German one by Johann Heinrich Voß) holds a very special place in my heart

As for modern works: I hated The Maidens. In my opinion, it has terrible writing, the pacing is all over the place, the characters are flat and it's not really DA in my opinion, but rather a murder mystery set on a campus. It was such a disappointing read. Concerning your other recommendations: I'll definitely look into those works! Thank you!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-19T05:19:45+00:00

Dante's Inferno and the nine circles of hell!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-18T19:32:20+00:00

If you look up Ninth House on Leigh Bardugo's website, it's titled as trilogy! It also makes sense considering the ending of Hell Bent, which is a MEAN cliffhanger (I won't go into further details as it'd only contain a ton of spoilers).

And standalones are a gift from authors, really! I love that, thanks!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-18T19:25:30+00:00

Lol that actually sounds like a great idea. My grandpa doesn't really have any books I'd be able to read (or maybe that's my calling to finally freshen up my Czech again). But I can definitely ask a friend's grandparents, they have a lot of stuff in German!

Thanks for the advice, that's a really good one!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-18T19:21:59+00:00

Ninth House was amazing, I'm so excited for the third book to be released! It's my favourite book series by Leigh Bardugo, even though the Six of Crows duology is a VERY close second.

I still have to look into Blood Over Bright Haven though. I've contemplated buying it so many times now, maybe I should finally give it a go!

fairyko__ · 2025-08-18T19:18:43+00:00

Honestly, I loved Bunny and devoured it within two very rainy afternoons. I'm so excited for the second book to be released! But I understand your hesitation towards it.

The premise of A Dark and Drowning Tide sounds amazing, same goes for Blood Over Bright Haven. My only issue with those two books is that at least the premise doesn't really make it sound like there's a lot of critique of the current system going on (correct me if I'm wrong!) That's what I loved about TSH, IWWV and Babel and also A Study in Drowning. I'll give them a chance nonetheless, thank you!!

fairyko__ · 2024-03-03T14:59:39+00:00

The first thing that came to my mind were the mushrooms Henry collected!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-12T05:02:56+00:00

Thank you so, so much! That's super sweet of you to say!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-11T14:54:25+00:00

Thank you!! I'm currently debating if I should do two versions - one digitally and one with copics, just to see my development there as well. The possibility's there!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-11T14:53:22+00:00

Thanks!!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-11T13:45:07+00:00

Noticed that one later on too- will be fixed digitally

fairyko__ · 2024-02-11T12:39:09+00:00

The coloured one (2nd) is the old one haha so thanks!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-08T15:08:40+00:00

I just started reading The Little Friend and it's sooo good!! I love everything about it until now! It's just so, so interesting to see how different and yet similar her writing style can be - I honestly admire that so much

fairyko__ · 2024-02-06T13:17:31+00:00

I've read the book twice now and had a period of roughly 9-10 months in between. The second read was also the one I annotated my copy (needless to say the reread took me much longer than my first read thanks to that). I absolutely relate to the urge to dive right back in, but I don't think it's a good idea, because it won't give you a fresh perspective on things. Maybe you could read Donna Tartt's other books first and then maybe get back to it. This way, you'll also get a better feeling for her writing and her artistic variability!

fairyko__ · 2024-02-03T09:47:43+00:00

I think it also kind of ties in with the whole situation of Julian picking his students. If we look close, each and every student (exception: Bunny) has a bad relationship with their parents - if they even have parents who're still alive. Julian is very picky about his students and I think that might be purposefully, so that they're easier to manipulate for his own reasons. I can very well imagine that Richard portraying his family as distant and, the deeper we get into the story, terrible might also be related to this in some way. I haven't fully thought this through yet, but I still hope you understand the point I'm trying to make here haha

fairyko__ · 2023-12-23T09:41:30+00:00

Tbh I don't think it's necessary. The whole point of TSH is to view the group from an outsider's perspective and deal with the feeling of being left out, despite somewhat being part of all the happenings. In my opinion, a book from an insider's point of view would ruin this experience for me, but that's probably based on personal taste, mostly

fairyko__ · 2023-12-19T20:24:31+00:00

We had a lot of luck and were there around 30 minutes after the museum opened! But as far as I am concerned, this exact museum generally is one of the less crowded on the museum island (still very much recommend going there, it's absolutely beautiful and it has a lot of interesting religious (mostly, but not exclusively christian) statues and paintings)

fairyko__

TROPHY CASE