8 Fantasy Books About Secret Societies

Published Oct 15, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT Mary Kassel is a Senior Writer & Critic who joined the Screen Rant team in 2023. After graduating from Emerson College with a degree in Media Arts Production, Kassel started at Screen Rant with a focus on the critical analysis side of movies and television while continuing to work on set in film production. At Screen Rant, Kassel primarily writes for the Classic TV section, mining their encyclopedic knowledge of television history for content. However, they also contribute to the Books team and review both film and television as a critic. Some fantasy books set their story in a world where magic and mysticism are common practice, but others follow characters who are forced to keep their powers a secret. Whether the secret societies in these novels involve witchcraft, political revolution, or monsters living among regular people, they all have the seductive mystery and thrill that come with stories about hidden worlds. It's not surprising that so many of the best additions to the genre see their characters join clandestine organizations. Secret societies are often included in low fantasy books that use fantastical elements to serve as a metaphor for the deeper meaning and social commentary within the text. However, regardless of the reason, there's something about secret societies that draws readers in from the very first page. The feeling that the reader is being made privy to something special and singular only increases the enjoyment of being sucked into a fantasy world. Ninth House (2019) By Leigh Bardugo When Alex enrolls at Yale, she couldn't feel more out of place among the students, but academics aren't the real reason she comes to the university. In Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo puts a magical twist on the famed secret societies that permeate Ivy League institutions, creating a new house that deals with a hidden world of ghosts that few have the gifts to see. However, Alex might be even more powerful than she knows, and her troubled past follows her to the school. Supernatural fantasy books are some of the most innovative in the genre, often leaning into darker, more sinister themes than other series. This is definitely the case in Ninth House, as the book puts Alex through a lot and isn't always easy to read. However, watching her find her place at Yale and within the secret society is endlessly satisfying. The combination of dark academia and secret societies is a large part of Ninth House​​​​​​'s appeal. Ninth House is available for purchase here. Legendborn (2020) By Tracy Deonn Seamlessly drawing upon the well-known stories of Arthurian legend and translating them to the modern day, Legendborn is much more than a contemporary take on an ancient classic. When Bree seeks community and comfort in the wake of her mother's death, she finds herself pulled into a magical world full of characters with connections to the famed figures of Arthur's court. The novel sees Bree attempt to join the group, facing their rituals and tests while trying to investigate them. Legendborn is one of the underrated modern King Arthur adaptations that more people should be reading. Bree is a fantastic protagonist, equally intrigued by and wary of the world of the other Legendborn. The first book in a series that only grows more compelling and complex, revealing additional secrets that Bree must contend with. Arthurian legend is a natural narrative to involve a secret society, as the mysteries of the myths' magic have always intrigued fantasy fans. Legendborn is available for purchase here. The Bone Season (2013) By Samantha Shannon Though Samantha Shannon is best known for her epic fantasy novel, The Priory of the Orange Tree, her earlier series kicks off with The Bone Season and shouldn't be overlooked. Blending sci-fi and fantasy, The Bone Season is set in a dystopian future where Paige, the protagonist, must hide her significant clairvoyant abilities from an oppressive government. However, too powerful to be contained, Paige must rely on the underground system of clairvoyants to survive. However, her criminal friends and network of allies are only the beginning of Paige's fight, not only for herself but for the fate of humanity. The Bone Season's central twist is one that the reader will never see coming, sending Paige and the audience into layers upon layers of hidden worlds and secret societies. The novel isn't a typical take on the secret society narrative, but Shannon's innovative storytelling and sharp characters keep readers on the edge of their seats. The Bone Season is available for purchase here. Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil (2025) By V.E. Schwab Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a departure from V.E. Schwab's typical works, but it's a refreshing change that will appeal to readers who haven't been sucked into Schwab's many fantasy worlds. Not just about vampires, but lesbian vampires, there's a lot to love about Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, which intertwines different eras, characters, and the evolution of gender roles. It's primarily in the modern timeline that readers are introduced to the underground organizations, as the secret society plotline is fairly loose, but there are elements of them throughout the text. It's a standalone novel, like Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil tracks several morally ambiguous narrators as they encounter vampirism and chase each other across the pages. While many of the characters feel alone throughout the text, it becomes clear that there's a supernatural underworld waiting to be discovered, if only they can break the cycles that drag them down. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is available for purchase here. Perdido Street Station (2000) By China Miéville Packed with elements of dystopia, science fiction, fantasy, monsters, and criminal organizations, the sprawling scale of Perdido Street Station is only one of the many reasons it's considered a must-read speculative fiction book. Far from China Miéville's only iconic work, Perdido Street Station is set in a world where the government and ruling class have become violently corrupt and authoritarian, forcing the characters into underground groups to protect their identities and lives. It's always when the secret society in a book has a criminal element, especially when the oppressive class they're struggling against is so vile. Much of the story revolves around the underclass, the remade, who receive grotesque punishments from the government. As they begin to rebel against those in power and form organized resistance groups, Perdido Street Station uses its sci-fi and fantasy elements to tell a story that's more relevant than ever. Perdido Street Station is available for purchase here. City Of Bones (2007) By Cassandra Clare Cassandra Clare's famed series, The Mortal Instruments, begins with City of Bones, introducing Clary and the reader to the hidden network of Shadowhunters in New York City. An organization of people who possess the ability to fight demons, the Shadowhunters are immediately intriguing to Clary, who's always felt out of place in her life. It soon becomes clear she has a much deeper connection to the world of demons and angels than she ever thought possible. YA and middle grade fantasy books like City of Bones might not be as dark or thematically complex as some of their counterparts meant for older readers, but they're still great additions to the genre. City of Bones is the perfect novel to introduce younger audiences to fantasy worlds and the concept of secret societies, which is such a staple of fantastical storytelling. As the series progresses and Clary learns more about the politics and legends of the Shadowhunters, it's hard not to get invested in her arc. City of Bones is available for purchase here. The Atlas Six (2020) By Olivie Blake Secret societies and magical dark academia have always gone hand-in-hand, and The Atlas Six pays homage to the best parts of both genres. Centering on the Alexandrian Society, Olivie Blake's novel follows six powerful magicians as they fight for a place in the famed society, which promises safety, security, and unlimited magical potential. The reader is as desperate to get eyes on the inside of the society as the initiates, making The Atlas Six a compelling read. Each of the six central characters has a unique ability and distinct reason for wanting to join the Alexandrian Society. The audience pieces together the mysteries of the magicians and their desire to prove themselves as the story progresses, and the secrets of the society grow more compelling. Followed by two more books, The Atlas Six sets the stage for a fantasy world and secret society that's easy to get lost in. The Atlas Six is available for purchase here. Babel (2022) By R.F. Kuang After capturing the attention of the fantasy community with her debut series, The Poppy War, R.F. Kuang returned to the genre with a stunningly original and resonant story in Babel. This dark academia fantasy book employs a hard magic system, treating translation and its magic as part of a strict science that the book's protagonist, Robin, gains access to. However, as he grapples with the pressures and prejudices of Oxford University and his translation cohort, Robin begins to question everything he once believed in. Complex, emotional, and culturally interrogative, Babel is a great example of the direction of modern fantasy. Robin's world expands when he's introduced to an underground group that has dangerous ideas about the future of translation and its exploitative nature. Though Robin hesitates at first, his experiences throughout Babel show him that sometimes there's only one way to spark revolution. Babel is available for purchase here.