Fall Books Recs for Readers Who Don’t Love Horror
Spooky season is upon us, bringing with it ample cozy vibes — pumpkin spice and apple cider, sweater weather and fuzzy socks, and, of course, curling up with a good book.
But the star of spooky season reading is usually horror, and I’m not a fan of outright horror novels. Call me squeamish, call me a coward, it’s just not for me. However, I don’t want to be left out of the fun — and I’m sure other non-horror readers feel the same.
So, with that in mind, here are a few reading recommendations for dark, witchy, or just generally spooky books to read this fall.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
A surprise encounter with magic she shouldn’t be able to see results in Bree joining a secret society at her college. As the only black girl present in the elite, magical society, she faces adversity and backlash at every turn, but is determined to prove herself and find her place — especially so she can unravel the connections between this society and her mother’s sudden death.
- Arthurian mythology
- Contemporary fantasy with dark academia vibes
- Black protagonist and pan major character
- Culturally specific magic systems
- Absolutely INCREDIBLE twist
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
When Ellie’s cousin is murdered, she and her family pay a visit to the small, sleepy, sinister town where he died. But uncovering why her cousin died reveals darker secrets than any of them could have predicted.
- Lipan Apache, asexual protagonist
- Lipan Apache family with the power to raise the ghosts of dead animals
- Ghost dog companion
- Contemporary fantasy with various kinds of magic and magical creatures, all publicly known
- Rich family history and deep familiar love
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
After a rapid series of gruesome deaths, the people of Cross Creek assume the three deceased teen girls were part of a suicide pact. But with her best friend as the latest victim, Mila knows this can’t be true. Using her limited knowledge as an amateur witch, she raises all three girls from the dead, determined to find out who was responsible for their deaths.
- Plus-sized Latina protagonist
- Contemporary fantasy with Wiccan magic
- Mean girls given depth and redemption
- One week left to live — but as a zombie
- Shocking, bittersweet twist
These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
Dark magic starts spreading through Salem, a sure sign that a Blood Witch is on the loose. Hannah, an Elemental Witch, must team up with her Elemental ex-girlfriend to stop the attacks on their fellow witches, while also keeping her magic a secret from her non-witch friends. Including the cute new girl in town, who seems keen on flirting with her.
- Lesbian protagonist, lesbian ex-girlfriend, bisexual love interest, and plenty of other queer rep
- Contemporary fantasy with three distinct types of witches
- Unexpected allies; unexpected enemies
- Fast-paced mystery that’s a blast to puzzle out as you read
Honorable Mentions
These books weren’t my jam, but I can absolutely see how others would fall in love with them.
- Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: black bisexual protagonist, ace white-passing frenemy, school for zombie-slaying ladies, isolated town in the wild west, racial commentary, historical
- Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova: bisexual Latina protagonist, contemporary portal fantasy with brujx, female protagonist caught between female and male love interests, reluctant heroine scared of her own power
- Crown of Bones by Rosalyn Briar: dark fairy tale, long journey with deadly trials, gay major character, historical, self-published
And that’s all the recommendations I have so far! Hopefully there’s something on there for everyone to find the perfect book to curl up with. Maybe on a rainy day with a warm drink…
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