You've heard me talking about it already - Dark Academia. I want to write one, so I'm having a try. As I do not intend to give up my preferred genre of romantic suspense, it is going to be my version - maybe a sort of hybrid? We'll have to see what comes out.
I've read a few over the years. Memorable ones? Donna Tart's Secret History, M L Rio's If We Were Villains and Katy Hays' The Cloisters. Personally I'd also add KJ Charles' Death in the Spires to that list, although it is actually promoted as an historical mystery. And Gilly MacMillan's The Burning Library also has overtones. And although no one has ever mentioned it, as far as I am aware, and I have to admit I've never watched it, lots that I've heard about the TV series The Traitors goes with the vibe. Castles, tartan, betrayal ...
As well as reading I've researched tropes and ingredients.
Of course it starts with the pursuit of knowledge - that can be art or literature. The protagonists have to be pretty expert at what they do and usually that's as part of a small and exclusive group. The setting is gothic and we know I've wanted to try my hand at one of those ever since doing an evening class on gothic novels with Cardiff University's Lifelong Learning Department. The atmosphere is autumnal - not my favourite time of the year, but you can't beat it for atmosphere, There are cloisters, libraries, obsessions, secret societies, secrets, power. Plenty of scope in that soup for me to have some fun. Also apparently the right kinds of clothes are a thing - tweed, plaid, tailoring, blazers and loafers, leather bags, (Google it and you get all sorts of suggestions for a capsule wardrobe.)
One of the element that I do have a bit of an issue with is the assertion that the protagonists are morally grey. That does not go along with my romantic leanings. Those around them may be ambiguous, or even down right nasty, but my hero and heroine have to stay true to my genre. And there will have to be a happy ending. Although not for everyone. Body count is already rising..
Not sure what I'm going to get at the end of this, but I'm looking forward to the journey.
