Where Sleeping Girls Lie: A Dark Academia Mystery you need to read now

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Where Sleeping Girls Lie did not disappoint!

After reading Aces of Spades last year, I really enjoyed this author’s storytelling and diverse point of views. Also for dark academia, the plot stood out —I felt like it was original, which is the same I can say about Where Sleeping Girls Lie.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in the dark academia genre, and I really hope she continues to create more. One thing I truly appreciate about her writing is how vivid and immersive it is. It may sound obvious, since that’s part of an author’s job, but not everyone pulls it off. Faridah makes you feel like you’re right there in the setting.

What I also love is how she isn’t afraid to explore different themes. A lot of dark academia books tend to blend together, but her work feels fresh. Maybe that’s just me, but I find her writing so refreshing in a genre that can sometimes feel repetitive.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about Where Sleeping Girls Lie—from the themes and plot to the characters. Honestly, I can’t think of a single bad thing to say. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in dark academia!

The story follows Sade Hussein, a girl who has experienced many losses in her life. After her father passes away, she decides to take control of her life and enrolls herself in a prestigious school. What happens next is where the mystery and intrigue begin…

Con

my only downside to where sleeping girls lie is that I wish we explored the houses more.

Basically when a student arrives to campus they are given a house form to determine which house their dorm would be and I feel like so much was set up only for us not to delve deeper.

Where sleeping girls lie Characters:

Sade Hussein:

Sade’s whole life has been of losses. At age 7, she discovered her father’s affair with their nanny. By 10, she found her mother dead in a bathtub. She was homeschooled at 14 after an incident happened. I guessed it was a close friend because she constantly blames herself. Sade struggles with guilt and feels haunted by her friend’s ghost. Now at 16, she starts at the school and is placed in the Turing House.

Miss Blackburn:

The school’s matron, Miss Blackburn, gives off a vibe reminiscent of a female Professor Snape.

Elizabeth Wang:

With an Irish accent and dark hair, Elizabeth is Sade’s house sister and roommate in Turing House. She is the roommate who goes missing.

Baz:

Short for Basil, Baz has dyed pink hair and brown skin. He has a crush on a guy named Kwame. Not only is Baz Elizabeth’s best friend, But he becomes Sade’s close ally as well.

Persephone Stuart:

Persephone is a blonde with brown skin and 1920s finger waves. She has a slight crush on Sade and is part of the “Holy Trinity”—a group of popular girls from wealthy families.

April Owens:

Likely South Asian, April has dark olive skin and long black hair. I would say she’s the head of the holy trinity. She also used to be elizabeth’s roommate.

Juliette de Silva:

Dark-skinned with long dark hair. She is the goalie for the girls’ lacrosse team and a member of the Holy Trinity.

Augustus Owens:

April’s twin brother, Augustus is Sade’s house brother and the deputy head boy. He acts as a mentor or guide, alongside Elizabeth.

Francis Webber:

Pale with freckles and red hair, Francis is dating April and is the headmaster’s stepson. You can see him usually high on something.

Jude Ripley:

Jude has white hair and blue eyes and is the captain of the swim team. He is very persistent and comes off cocky. Almost everybody is afraid of what he can do to them.

Side characters:

Mr. Michaelides: The English teacher at the school.

Miss Thistle: Working at reception, Miss Thistle has brown skin and wears cat-eye glasses.

Jessica: The house prefect (similar to an RA), Jessica has white skin and long brown hair. She is always annoyed with something.

Is there romance in where sleeping girls lie?

Is there romance in Where Sleeping Girls Lie?

Yes, there are a few romantic elements in the story:

• April and Francis are in a relationship.
• Augustus and Elizabeth used to date. but it’s unclear if they still have feelings for each other.
• When Sade arrives at the school, there’s a slow-building connection between her and Augustus. However, besides a kiss that Sade pulled away from, their relationship doesn’t really progress any further.
• Persephone seems to have a crush on Sade, but she never acts on it.
• and there’s Baz and Kwame.

While these relationships and crushes are present, they aren’t the main focus of the story. Instead, they serve as an extension of the plot, which revolves around other central events and mysteries.

What is the theme for where sleeping girls lie 

 Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a gripping dark academia novel set in a campus environment full of secrets and intrigue. It explores hidden mysteries and the complexities of navigating life in an academic setting.

Who Will Love This Book and Why:

If you enjoy dark academia with its blend of mystery and campus drama, this book is right up your alley. It’s perfect for readers who love stories filled with secrets and suspense within an academic backdrop.

For those who appreciate diverse voices in YA fiction, Where Sleeping Girls Lie offers a fresh and engaging perspective. It’s a compelling read that adds depth to the dark academia genre and will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Check out my other dark academia review of the cloisters– Ann is a recent college graduate who is set to do a summer internship at the cloisters and the secrets she unravels there is wild.