The Four: The must-read new dark academia psychological thriller of 2024 BY Ellie Keel

In The Four, a dark academia debut novel, the lines between truth and deception blur in a tale of revenge, guilt, and privilege. Set against the opulent backdrop of High Realms, an elite school where power and social status reign supreme, the story follows four scholarship students—outsiders in a world that sees them as dangerous.

From their first day, the four of them were marked by suspicion and intrigue. Marta, one of the scholarship students, is at the center of a pivotal event: the fall of Genevieve, a prefect who plunged from a bedroom window under mysterious circumstances. The tragedy seemed to demand an explanation, and Marta’s potential involvement becomes a dark shadow over their lives.

The narrator recounts the events surrounding that fateful day, revealing the intense pressure and moral complexities they faced. The narrative explores whether Marta had any role in Genevieve's death and examines the consequences of the choices made by all involved. Through a web of secrecy and lies, the truth remains elusive, with each character's actions and motivations intertwined in a gripping tale of loyalty and betrayal.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the characters' lives are forever altered by the incident, and the impact of their decisions reverberates through their relationships and ambitions. With a haunting and intense atmosphere, The Four is a riveting exploration of how a single secret can unravel the fabric of their carefully constructed lives, testing their loyalty and pushing them to the brink.