A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik — Combines magical academia with genuine peril and a prickly protagonist navigating supernatural threats and social hierarchies.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia — Blends atmospheric horror with academic elements and features a determined female protagonist confronting ancient, malevolent forces.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab — Offers dark fantasy with complex magic systems, morally gray characters, and themes of power, memory, and sacrifice.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid — Appeals to readers who enjoy complex female protagonists with traumatic pasts navigating elite social circles and hidden worlds.