🍂📚 Autumn is here, and you know what that means – it’s time to trade flip-flops for fuzzy socks and swap ice cream for pumpkin spice lattes. And yes, I’m a sucker for anything with the “pumpkin spice” label on it. Don’t worry, I find that annoying about myself, too.
But most importantly, it’s time to dive headfirst into some fantastic October reads that will give you all the cozy and spooky vibes you need. So, gather ’round, fellow bookworms. From spooky anthologies to lesbian necromancers to witches’ rights, here’s a list of five book recommendations for the best month of the year. 🍁🎃📖
1. Autumn Tales: A Horror Anthology
Dive into the chilling depths of “Autumn Tales,” where fear takes on a hauntingly heartfelt twist. Within these pages, talented new authors of paranormal and horror craft a collection of spine-tingling narratives. But there’s more to this anthology than just the thrill of the fright. It’s a labor of love dedicated to making a real-world difference.
Each purchase of Autumn Tales contributes to a noble cause. The authors have pledged to donate 100% of the royalties to Collective Liberty, a non-profit organization tirelessly fighting against Human Trafficking. With every turn of the page, you’re not only delving into the macabre but also extending a hand to help endangered children. It’s horror with heart, a collection that will both terrify and warm your soul.
Buy the Book Here
2. Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
Venture into 1954 America, where secrets simmer beneath the surface. Atticus Turner, a 22-year-old Army veteran, embarks on a quest to find his missing father, Montrose, alongside his Uncle George and childhood friend Letitia. Their journey takes them through a segregated heartland, where they confront racism’s grim reality and unearth otherworldly horrors that defy explanation.
Lovecraft Country weaves a gripping tale of magic, power, hope, and rebellion across time, connecting two resilient black families in a haunting narrative that echoes the past while reflecting the present’s haunting specter of racism.
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3. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
In a galaxy where the Emperor’s insatiable hunger for necromancy looms large, Gideon Nav is no ordinary swordswoman. Armed with a blade, a stash of risqué magazines, and an aversion to the undead, she’s determined to break free from a life bound to the macabre. But her escape hinges on a daunting task set by her childhood foe.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and a formidable bone witch, faces an equally daunting challenge. To attain immortality, she must succeed in a perilous trial orchestrated by the Emperor. Yet, victory requires Gideon’s sword, forging an unlikely alliance between the two. In Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir weaves a cosmic tale of swordplay, intrigue, and lesbian necromancers, where secrets and betrayals collide in a universe defined by the supernatural.
Buy the Book Here
4. House of Leaves by Michael Danielewski
House of Leaves was born as an enigmatic online enigma, captivating a motley crew of readers spanning generations and backgrounds. The book’s unorthodox presentation, featuring colored text, vertical footnotes, and multiple appendices, remains a perplexing and enduring phenomenon, inspiring academic discourse, urban legends, and diverse art forms.
At its core, the story revolves around Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson and his partner Karen Green, who unknowingly venture into a house that defies the laws of reality. Their chilling journey is marked by the eerie voices of their children, revealing a tale of unending darkness and an ever-expanding abyss lurking behind a closet door. House of Leaves is a gripping exploration of the unknown, offering readers a haunting and surreal experience that transcends conventional storytelling.
Buy the Book Here
5. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Magic meets rebellion in The Once and Future Witches. In 1893, witches are nothing more than a distant memory, their power reduced to nursery rhymes and trinkets. The ath to power for modern women lies in the suffragist movement and the ballot box.
Three sisters join the suffragists of New Salem, embarking on a daring quest to unearth the forgotten incantations and secrets that could transform the women’s struggle into a witch’s revolution.
