Pumpkin spice is back at Starbucks, and you know what that means? It’s officially fall season (my personal favorite).
There’s nothing better on a cool, crisp evening than cuddling up in a cozy blanket and reading a book.
If you love the vibes of autumn – the scents, the flavors, and the colors – and you also love creating a matching, cozy TBR, then this list is for you.
In this post, you’ll find book recommendations that will give you the perfect seasonal experience.
There’s a mixture of subgenres, from cozy and whimsical to dark and grim, as well as a mixture of new releases and backlist titles.
The list is divided into four main categories for your preferred fall season reading experience: mythology and retellings, dark and gothic, magical realism, and witchy vibes.
Choose your own adventure – use these buttons to jump straight to your preference or scroll to view them all.
Grab an apple crisp chai latte, or whatever your drink of choice is, and pick up one of these reads for the perfect seasonal vibes.
Mythical
Autumn always feels like the perfect time for fairytale-esque, mythology-inspired stories and retellings.
Hera by Jennifer Saint
Jennifer Saint is back again with her best since her debut (IMO), Ariadne. I loved this story and the character of Hera. If you love a Greek mythology retelling, highly recommend this one.
“Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helped her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father so that they could rule the world. But, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as their father was, and she begins to question her role at his side. She was born to rule, but does that mean perpetuating a cycle of violence and cruelty that has existed since the dawn of time? Will assuming her power mean that Hera loses herself, or can she find a way to forge a better world?”
Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
If you want a cozy, woodsy, sweet, and fun young adult fantasy, this one is for you. The cover gives off the perfect atmosphere and vibes of the story.
“As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions the small fox from the garden, a strange and powerful bear, and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home. But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive.”
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
This is a young adult, fairytale-esque story but it’s very much dark and gothic. It’s perfect if you like a book about books because the nature of stories come to life plays a big role.
“Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away-by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. Alice’s only lead is the message her mother left behind: ‘Stay away from the Hazel Wood.'”
Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
Badass, immortal, women warriors who are responsible for all the glory of the world’s greatest heroes… need I say more to convince you? The sequel releases this month and I absolutely cannot wait!
“Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.”
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Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St. Clair
Easily in my top three reads of last year, this romantasy is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, set in the world of the Fae. It’s a short read (only 219 pages) but it still has depth in the world building and character development. I had so much fun with this one and I think you will, too. The sequel will be out in print in October.
“All Gesela’s life, her home village of Elk has been cursed. And it isn’t a single curse—it is one after another, each to be broken by a villager, each with devastating consequences. When Elk’s well goes dry, it is Gesela’s turn to save her town by killing the toad that lives at the bottom. Except… the toad is not a toad at all. He is an Elven prince under a curse of his own, and upon his death, his brothers come for Gesela, seeking retribution.”
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The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones
This is one of my favorite YA fantasy authors. Although I no longer read much YA, I will still continue to read everything from this author because I love her writing and world-building so much. I highly recommend checking out her other books as well!
“Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict, and eighteen-year-old Mererid “Mer” is well-acquainted with both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service.”
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Gothic
Nothing gives fall season vibes quite like a dark, gothic fantasy read!
Gothikana by RuNyx
This one’s for you if you like dark academia, occult happenings, and forbidden romance with a broody MMC.
“An outcast her entire life, Corvina Clemm is left adrift after losing her mother. When she receives the admission letter from the mysterious University of Verenmore, she accepts it as a sign from the universe. The last thing she expects though is an old, secluded castle on top of a mountain riddled with secrets, deceit, and death.”
Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
A top ten read for me last year, I am obsessed with this book! It was so good I read it in two days. The second book in this duology just came out and I can’t wait to read it. It’s technically young adult, but it read very much more adult to me. If this cover at all intrigues you, you’ll love this book. It deserves way more hype.
“In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.”
Read full review
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
I loved everything about this one and I really hope she writes more books like it in the future. It’s the epitome of a fall season, gothic story. Another top ten read from last year that I highly recommend. The cover is beautiful and really evokes the proper atmosphere of this story.
“A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales”
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
I’ve never read anything quite like this one and I can’t believe it’s not more popular – highly recommend! The writing, world-building, character development, and plot arcs are brilliant. The third and final installment of this series came out this year so you can binge it.
“The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.”
Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
This one is a bit of a hidden gem because I’ve hardly seen anyone talking about it. It’s dark academia with vampires and a fun, fast read. It’s also a standalone so if you don’t want to invest in a whole series, this one would be perfect.
“When nineteen-year-old Fin volunteers to take her secret love’s place in their village’s Finding, she is terrified. Those who are chosen at the Finding are whisked away to Castle Courtsheart, a vampire school where human students either succeed and become vampires, fail and spend the rest of their lives as human thralls…or they don’t survive long enough to become either.”
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
I love this author and I’ve read all her books. This one is definitely my favorite. Be prepared to fall in love with an ancient, evil, demon spirit. A fantastic standalone fantasy!
“Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.”
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
Ava Reid is another favorite author of mine, and I have read every book she has written. They honestly just get better and better each year. It was really hard to choose just one to recommend, but I think this one is marginally her best work. A perfect Grimm tale reimagining.
“A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites. Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya’s last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than a tourist trap as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm.”
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The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
This is a YA duology that’s full of gothic vibes and dark themes. It has a unique world, magic system, and religious undertones. It’s action packed and has characters you’ll be rooting for.
“Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.”
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
This one has the perfect blend of gothic vibes, paranormal happenings, and haunted old house of horrors. It’s young adult, so a great read if you’re wanting something lighter and not so terrifying.
“Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.”
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
If you like dark, grim fantasy, this series is definitely a great pick for you. It has death magic, political courtly intrigue, forbidden romance, set in a captivating world.
“When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.”
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Magical
If you’re looking for a book with lyrical prose, deeper meaning, and just a splash of the fantastical, these magical realism books are perfect choice for your next read.
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
This was such a surprising five-star read for me. I was not expecting to love this so much it became one of my favorite reads of that year. If you like a contemporary, literary, magical realism story of family and friendship, this one is for you.
“When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a young woman with a past, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and a lonely chef, and three ghosts. The sudden death of one of Zoey’s new neighbors sets off a search that leads to the island’s famous author and to a long-estranged relative of the sisters.”
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
A bit historical, a bit fantastical, and a lot of lyrical prose. If you’re looking for a book that seamlessly blends these genres, this is the one for you.
“In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place. Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger.”
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
One of my top ten reads of last year, this book has all the feels for the season. It’s cozy and dark simultaneously, with a story full of heart, and writing full of whimsy.
“Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents.”
read full review
Witchy
Of course, it wouldn’t be an autumnal book list without a section featuring witches and magic!
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
Adrienne Young is one of my favorite authors, I’ve read almost the entirety of her oeuvre. I’m so thrilled that just as I am no longer reading much YA, she is now consistently writing in the adult genre. She is a talented writer and story crafter, always fully immersing me in her books.
“Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings. But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming.”
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Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin
Rachel Griffin is the go-to author for witchy stories. This is her most recent release and I loved it. I also highly recommend reading her debut, which is my favorite book of hers, The Nature of Witching.
“Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat.”
Bewitched by Laura Thalassa
The latest series from one of my favorite fantasy romance authors. It has a strong female protagonist, fascinating lore, in depth worldbuilding, and an action-packed plot.
“At age twenty, Selene Bowers desperately hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. Since one of the requirements for entry is to connect with her powers via a quest through the wilderness, Selene books a trip to South America. When a nefarious supernatural force tries to drag her plane from the sky, Selene’s magic awakens to save her life―at a cost. Using her powers devours her memories, one by one.”
Weyward by Emilia Hart
I found the stories of these three women to be so gripping, and I loved the way it all came together in the end. The cover is the perfect representation of the atmosphere that you’ll find in this one.
“Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.”
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The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
The atmosphere of this story makes it the epitome of fall season in book form. It’s a quick (less than 300 pages) but intensely emotional read.
“Through a journey of heartbreak, love, and time, Mia must abandon the rules she was raised with at the Community. As she does, she realizes that reading can transport you to other worlds or bring them to you, and that readers and writers affect one another in mysterious ways. She learns that time is more fluid than she can imagine, and that love is stronger than any chains that bind you.”
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Luminous by Mara Rutherford
This is a standalone young adult fantasy with equal parts action and heart. It’s fun and sweet and sure to be a more light-hearted good time. I also recommend her other book, The Poison Season, for more witchy fall vibes.
“A witch who must learn to harness her power–or risk losing her loved ones forever. Liora has spent her life in hiding, knowing discovery could mean falling prey to the king’s warlock, Darius, who uses mages’ magic to grow his own power.”
Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith
This is a fun YA fantasy trilogy that I read a few years ago. I loved the main character, magic system, and world-building. It also had a well-paced plot.
“Surrounded by spirits and burdened with forbidden magic, she lives in constant fear of discovery by the witch-hunting Tribunal and their bloodthirsty mobs. When a devastating assassination attempt reveals her magical abilities, Aurelia is forced to flee her country with nothing but her life.”
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