A Guide To Nocticadia By Keri Lake
Mortui vivos docent.
The dead teach the living.— NocticadiaWhat’s It About?
Nocticadia is gothic dark academia college romance written by Keri Lake.
After watching her mother succumb to a mysterious illness, Lilia Vespertine promises herself two things: (1) she’d find the cure for what ravaged her mother and (2) leave the godforsaken city where her mother had abandoned her.
Four years later, she receives an acceptance letter from Dracadia University, one of the oldest, most prestigious schools in the country. Nestled on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, it’s rumored to be haunted by the souls of the mental patients exiled there centuries before. Those whose bones are said to make up the island’s white sandy shores.
And restless ghosts aren’t even its most daunting peculiarity.
Devryck Bramwell, known on campus as Doctor Death, is a brilliant pathologist in charge of the midnight lab. He’s also Lilia’s devastatingly handsome professor, who seems to loathe tenacious first-years, like her. Except, his dark and enigmatic gaze tells Lilia all the ways he’d devour her if given the chance, and his stolen kisses burn her lips with forbidden jealousy.
She craves his authority.
He aches for redemption.
Together, they’re toxic. Delicious fodder for the prying eyes hellbent on exhuming the rotted skeletons of their pasts.
For the dead have much to teach, and it’s only a matter of time before Dracadia’s most depraved secret is resurrected.
The book is available on Kindle Unlimited. You can find it in my Amazon Shop here, or you can click the images below to go to each book.
Tropes Include: dark romance, gothic romance, college romance, dark academia romance, secret society, age gap romance, professor/student romance, happy ending, and more.
Book description comes directly from the book listing.
The Setting
Nocticadia takes place in the fictional town of Dracadia Island, a small island of the coast of Maine. It looks like a sleeping dragon through the fog that surrounds it and is rumored to be haunted by the souls of the mental patients exiled there centuries before. Those whose bones are said to make up the island’s white sandy shores.
Dracadia University rests on this island along with a small village. The university buildings are arranged in a square, enclosed by an ancient stone wall that lines the perimeter of the surrounding woods. It’s like a small village made up of weathered buildings, with their pointed arches and ribbed vaults, some covered in sprawling vines with gargoyles leering down from up high.
The students here are wealthy. The classes are rigorous. There’s a secret society [the Rooks] that operates in and within the campus. There are secrets on top of secrets on top of secrets.
The Main Characters
While there are many characters in this book series, there are 2 that the books center around: Lilia Vespertine and Professor Devryck Bramwell.
Click the image to read a brief description of each character.
The Side Characters
While there are many characters in this book, there are a some side characters that you’ll find make a big enough impression.
Click an image to read a brief description on each character.
My Rating For Nocticadia
★★★★★ — 5/5 Stars
Nocticadia is a book that left me with no words. In fact, after reading it, I fell into the worse book slump I’ve ever experienced. Nothing could touch it. It was one of those books for me.
I’m a lover of all things gothic and dark academia romance. Pair that with the scientific discoveries with the moths and parasites and I was gripped. Add the forbidden/taboo student/professor romance with all the spice and I was a goner.
The plot of this book had me gripped. Keri’s style of writing is just ‘chef’s kiss’.
I give this book 5/5 stars — honestly, if I could, I’d give it more. It is available on Kindle Unlimited [as well as Amazon in general]. You can get it here.
A Playlist For Nocticadia
Below, you’ll find a playlist full of songs that either matched the vibe of the university, the students, the main characters, or the events that occurred throughout the series. You can listen below via Apple Music or Spotify.
Don’t forget to give me a follow on whichever platform you use most and add the playlists to your library as new playlists and music are always being added!
Did you listen to the playlist? Let me know what you thought of it in a comment below or tag me on instagram [@shenayesuggs] or use my hashtags #shenayesuggs or #thatgirlsreads so I can see that you’re listening!
Get Your Nocticadia Merch
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An Important Note
For Authors
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For Readers
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This post contains affiliate links. Also, all character images have been generated using AI.
