Margins
These Dreaming Spires book cover
These Dreaming Spires
A Dark Academia Anthology
2025
First Published
3.48
Average Rating
368
Number of Pages

A NEW SEMESTER BEGINS A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 more dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, Genevieve Cogman, MK Lobb and more! Twelve original dark academia stories from bestselling thriller writers – imagine darkened libraries, exclusive elite schools, looming Gothic towers, charismatic professors, illicit affairs, the tang of autumn in the air… and the rivalries and obsessions that lead to murder. Featuring stories Olivie Blake Genevieve Cogman Ariel Djanikian Elspeth Wilson MK Lobb Jamison Shea Kate Alice Marshall Erica Waters De Elizabeth Taylor Grothe Kit Mayquist Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Avg Rating
3.48
Number of Ratings
129
5 STARS
17%
4 STARS
36%
3 STARS
32%
2 STARS
9%
1 STARS
6%
goodreads

Authors

Olivie Blake
Olivie Blake
Author · 31 books

Olivie Blake is the pseudonym of Alexene Farol Follmuth, a lover and writer of stories, many of which involve the fantastic, the paranormal, or the supernatural, but not always. More often, her works revolve around what it means to be human (or not), and the endlessly interesting complexities of life and love. ​ Olivie has penned several indie SFF projects, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil with illustrator Little Chmura and the viral Atlas series. As Follmuth, her young adult rom-com My Mechanical Romance releases May 2022. Olivie lives in Los Angeles with her husband and new baby, where she is generally tolerated by her rescue pit bull.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Author · 9 books
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, International bestselling, & Award-winning author of ACE OF SPADES and WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE. In 2024 she was a world book day author with her title THE DOOMSDAY DATE and she also has a Marvel Spider-Verse story coming out this year where she writes a new Spider-Verse character known as Spider-UK/Zarina Zahari. Faridah is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs, and a graduate from a university in Scotland where she received a BA in English Literature. She also has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney channel original movies.
Erica Waters
Erica Waters
Author · 6 books
Erica Waters grew up in the pine woods of rural Florida, though she now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her spouse and two terrible dogs named Nutmeg and Luna. She has a Master’s degree in English and works as a college writing tutor. She is the author of the Bram Stoker Award winning novel The River Has Teeth, as well as Ghost Wood Song and The Restless Dark. You can visit her online at ericawaters.com.
Kit Mayquist
Kit Mayquist
Author · 2 books
A fan of everything spooky and indulgent, Kit Mayquist is a trans male writer who can be found in the historic shadows of Boston, MA, with a sullen Persian cat in his lap and surrounded in antiques. He has a MA degree in History from The University of Iceland, and a BA from Portland State University. TRIPPING ARCADIA (Dutton, 2022) will be his debut novel.
Kate Alice Marshall
Kate Alice Marshall
Author · 16 books

Kate Alice Marshall is the author of young adult and middle grade novels, including I AM STILL ALIVE, RULES FOR VANISHING, and THIRTEENS. She lives outside of Seattle with her husband, two dogs named Vonnegut and Octavia, and two kids. They all conspire to keep her on her toes.

Jamison Shea
Jamison Shea
Author · 4 books

Jamison Shea was once a flautist, violist, anthropologist, linguist, choreographer, dancer, professional fire alarm puller, digital producer, and account executive—but they've always been a writer. Born in Buffalo, NY and now surrounded by darkness and gloom in Finland, when Jamison isn't writing horror, they're drinking milk tea and searching for long-forgotten gods in eerie places.

Ariel Djanikian
Ariel Djanikian
Author · 3 books
Ariel Djanikian is the author of The Office of Mercy and The Prospectors. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Tin House, The Millions, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. Born in Philadelphia, she holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Michigan. She currently lives in the DC area with her husband, two kids, and puppy and teaches fiction writing at Georgetown University.
M.K. Lobb
M.K. Lobb
Author · 6 books

M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark—be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Canada and now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence. Her debut novel, SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS, releases Feb 7, 2023 from Little, Brown. The sequel, DISCIPLES OF CHAOS, is to follow in 2024.

Genevieve Cogman
Genevieve Cogman
Author · 18 books
Genevieve Cogman got started on Tolkien and Sherlock Holmes at an early age, and has never looked back. But on a perhaps more prosaic note, she has an MSC in Statistics with Medical Applications and has wielded this in an assortment of jobs: clinical coder, data analyst and classifications specialist. Although The Invisible Library is her debut novel, she has also previously worked as a freelance roleplaying game writer. Genevieve Cogman’s hobbies include patchwork, beading, knitting and gaming, and she lives in the north of England.
De Elizabeth
De Elizabeth
Author · 4 books
De Elizabeth is a dark fantasy and horror author, writing both YA and adult. She is passionate about creating emotionally resonant stories featuring bisexual representation, genre blends, unhinged villains, chaotic third acts, and characters with big feelings. Her debut YA novel, THIS RAGING SEA, will be released in Fall 2025 from Holiday House, and her first adult book, SHE HAUNTS ME STILL, will be published in Summer 2026 from Dutton. You can follow her on Instagram @WordsByDe.
Taylor Grothe
Taylor Grothe
Author · 6 books
Taylor is a writer of adult and young adult horror, horror romance, and dark fantasy. They hold a nonfiction MFA from Fairfield University, acted as the graduate Assistant Managing Editor of Brevity, and their short works can be found in esteemed publications such as Brevity’s craft blog, Haven Speculative, and Shortwave Magazine. They are a scholar of medieval literature and Nordic Saga. Taylor lives with two cats, two kids, and their spouse, in SW Connecticut.
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