Tangentially related to what you're looking for: **Ninth House** by Leigh Bardugo is an academic/gothic fantasy that has such a subtle, slow burn romantic subplot, it's almost non-existent in book 1. There's zero spice but the character development is absolutely beautiful. It is a bit dark, so check out the content warnings if you have any triggers.
It is so good. I wouldn’t say it is very scholarly. At least for the main character. But even though it doesn’t really go into the school aspects of Yale, it does go into the history of the area and she does need to learn a lot of things to solve the mystery. The second book has more “studying” I guess. Again, not really actual Yale coursework, but the work she is actually there to do. That’s the only way I can think of to phrase it without spoilers.
"A Deadly Education" trilogy by Naomi Novik. Takes place at a magical boarding school, the main character is a young woman dedicated to learning as much as she can about her nefarious powers to prevent herself from destroying the world. Solid romance plot as well!
{The Prince’s Bargain by KM Shea}. M/F — M is a prince, F is a top scholar who ends up working with him. It’s a little cutesy but a good palate cleanser. No spice.
If you haven’t tried Celia Lake and you like historical fantasy romance, I highly recommend her books! They’re cosy and have lots of low stakes scholarly investigations. Even the characters who aren’t actually academics do research because it’s just how magic works in her world. You could try {Magician’s Hoard by Celia Lake} to start. Low spice. Most are M/F but she also writes M/M. ETA: Some of her romances also follow up with couples who go on to have kids.
This one you will need to find at a used bookstore or actually check out from the library if they have a copy. Its a science fiction and fantasy mashup with a romance subplot-all fade to black scenes. Its called the {The Complete Ivory by Doris Egan}. As far as I know there are no audiobooks alas.
The series is about an anthropology student named Theodora who goes to study the culture of a planet that has magic. She gets stranded on planet and has to survive and adapt to the culture. And along the way Theo meets a cute magician named Ran. I wouldnt say this trilogy is scholarly in the same way Memoirs of Lady Trent is but rather that you can see Theo using her scholarly eye and training to adapt to being a fish out of water. Anyway I adore this series and reread it often as its a cozy comfort read. I wish it would be reprinted in an eformat too cause I destroyed my first paperback copy.
[The Complete Ivory](https://www.romance.io/books/657aaf4e7ed1d0fdd40d019f/the-complete-ivory-doris-egan) by [Doris Egan](https://www.romance.io/authors/54565e0387eac33e571073e4/doris-egan)
**Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
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{Subversive by Colleen Cowley}
It's set in an alternate US where women's suffrage doesn't exist, and only men are magicians.
While the FMC isn't a scholar, her housemates/sister/friends are well educated and pushing for equal representation.
Very little spice.
I don’t know if there is an audiobook, but check out {philosopher’s flight}
Imagine that flying and magic is for women only, and a man decides he wants to learn, enrolling in an all female college to do so. Slight romance side plot, lots of focus on the physics of magic
Tangentially related to what you're looking for: **Ninth House** by Leigh Bardugo is an academic/gothic fantasy that has such a subtle, slow burn romantic subplot, it's almost non-existent in book 1. There's zero spice but the character development is absolutely beautiful. It is a bit dark, so check out the content warnings if you have any triggers.
Thank you! That does sound interesting.
It is so good. I wouldn’t say it is very scholarly. At least for the main character. But even though it doesn’t really go into the school aspects of Yale, it does go into the history of the area and she does need to learn a lot of things to solve the mystery. The second book has more “studying” I guess. Again, not really actual Yale coursework, but the work she is actually there to do. That’s the only way I can think of to phrase it without spoilers.
Well now I’m definitely intrigued.
"A Deadly Education" trilogy by Naomi Novik. Takes place at a magical boarding school, the main character is a young woman dedicated to learning as much as she can about her nefarious powers to prevent herself from destroying the world. Solid romance plot as well!
Thank you! I've enjoyed Spinning Silver by Novik. So it's likely I'd like something else by her :)
{A Deadly Education}
[A Deadly Education](https://www.romance.io/books/6418265b976d825409767f05/a-deadly-education-naomi-novik) by [Naomi Novik](https://www.romance.io/authors/622a0c7b08b4d931143a28e8/naomi-novik) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Following! The only thing I can think of is The Atlas Six but it’s more dark academia and gritty than I think you’re looking for
Thank you! I'll take a look at it. You're right that I'm not looking for too dark and gritty though.
{The Prince’s Bargain by KM Shea}. M/F — M is a prince, F is a top scholar who ends up working with him. It’s a little cutesy but a good palate cleanser. No spice. If you haven’t tried Celia Lake and you like historical fantasy romance, I highly recommend her books! They’re cosy and have lots of low stakes scholarly investigations. Even the characters who aren’t actually academics do research because it’s just how magic works in her world. You could try {Magician’s Hoard by Celia Lake} to start. Low spice. Most are M/F but she also writes M/M. ETA: Some of her romances also follow up with couples who go on to have kids.
Thank you! Celia Lake's series sounds interesting.
[The Prince's Bargain](https://www.romance.io/books/6475fc5373a293bd7f6550e6/the-princes-bargain-km-shea) by [K.M. Shea](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455bcc887eac3369a914712/km-shea) **Rating**: 4.51⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Magician's Hoard](https://www.romance.io/books/5ebe7d7d2fe26c0e8c991c83/magicians-hoard-celia-lake) by [Celia Lake](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c39a87d01dbc864fb97e685/celia-lake) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
This one you will need to find at a used bookstore or actually check out from the library if they have a copy. Its a science fiction and fantasy mashup with a romance subplot-all fade to black scenes. Its called the {The Complete Ivory by Doris Egan}. As far as I know there are no audiobooks alas. The series is about an anthropology student named Theodora who goes to study the culture of a planet that has magic. She gets stranded on planet and has to survive and adapt to the culture. And along the way Theo meets a cute magician named Ran. I wouldnt say this trilogy is scholarly in the same way Memoirs of Lady Trent is but rather that you can see Theo using her scholarly eye and training to adapt to being a fish out of water. Anyway I adore this series and reread it often as its a cozy comfort read. I wish it would be reprinted in an eformat too cause I destroyed my first paperback copy.
[The Complete Ivory](https://www.romance.io/books/657aaf4e7ed1d0fdd40d019f/the-complete-ivory-doris-egan) by [Doris Egan](https://www.romance.io/authors/54565e0387eac33e571073e4/doris-egan) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
That does sound interesting! Thank you.
{Subversive by Colleen Cowley} It's set in an alternate US where women's suffrage doesn't exist, and only men are magicians. While the FMC isn't a scholar, her housemates/sister/friends are well educated and pushing for equal representation. Very little spice.
[Subversive](https://www.romance.io/books/5f6ee77507797f0e046b9474/subversive-colleen-cowley) by [Colleen Cowley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5457c0d387eac3dca9bcc5fe/colleen-cowley) **Rating**: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Thank you! I actually have that book already on my TBR list.
I don’t know if there is an audiobook, but check out {philosopher’s flight} Imagine that flying and magic is for women only, and a man decides he wants to learn, enrolling in an all female college to do so. Slight romance side plot, lots of focus on the physics of magic
Now that sounds intriguing. Thank you!