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As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin to fall, there's no better way to embrace the season than with a good book. Whether you're curled up by the fire with a warm cup of tea or exploring the world of fantasy and mystery from your couch, the perfect fall read is just waiting for you. Fall is the time for cozy vibes, spooky thrills, and a bit of magic—whether it's the enchantment of dark academia, the eerie atmosphere of gothic tales, or the chill of a suspenseful thriller.
In this post, I'm rounding up some of the best books to read this fall, including the top fantasy books, intriguing historical fiction, and stories that capture the vibe of autumn. So grab a blanket and dive into these five must-reads that are perfect for those chilly nights ahead! And if you are looking for dark themed books as well, go read this post!
Babel
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Author: R.F. Kuang
Standalone
A fall classic, this book deserves its place here. It's a true dark academia read, written by the talented R.F. Kuang, an author I'm quite familiar with.
Babel is set in Oxford in 1828. The story follows Robin Swift, an orphaned boy from Canton, who's brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. For years, Robin trains in Latin, Greek, and Chinese, all with the goal of enrolling in the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford—where not only translation happens, but also magic.
However, being a Chinese boy in Britain and working for the Empire, Robin finds himself caught in the middle. When Britain starts a war with China over silver and opium, Robin must make a choice.
You know, writing this, I can almost hear the leaves falling. This book exudes pure autumn vibes. Interested in R.F. Kuang's other works? Read my review of The Poppy War!
The Night Circus
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Standalone
Speaking of magic and vibes, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern cannot be missed on this list. "The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not," says the first line of The Night Circus.
“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.” ― Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
This book is dazzling and magical, focusing more on the enchanting atmosphere than plot or character. It feels like you're in a fairytale; Erin writes beautifully and captures a truly mesmerizing vibe inside The Night Circus.
Fall is also the time for spooky season, so of course I've included some thrillers and soft horror books in this list. (I mean really soft—I once read The Shining by Stephen King, couldn't sleep for a week, and then ditched the genre, so I'm not a big horror fan.)
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Genre: Historical Thriller
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Series
This book is exactly what it sounds like: a gothic mystery novel set in London 1888, where our main character Audrey Rose is running around the streets, desperately trying to catch a killer.
Audrey loves forensic science and is lucky that her uncle teaches such lessons at a college. Audrey is allowed to attend, but when bodies keep turning up, she needs to use what she's learned to make the streets of London safe again.
As mentioned before, this is a gothic mystery novel with some good rivals-to-lovers romance. Stalking Jack the Ripper is part one in a four-part series in which Audrey is not only stalking Jack the Ripper but also hunting vampires and escaping from Houdini. Definitely a good fall read, with some spooky vibes, romance, and a flair for dramatic dresses.
Ninth House
Genre: Fantasy thriller horror
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Duology
"They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And sometimes they prey on the living." -- Leigh Bardugo, Ninth House
I'm going to keep this one short because a longer review will be posted on Monday! But definitely check out this duology this fall! It's got a prestigious college, some magic, some ghosts, and secret societies. In the middle of it all is Alex Stern, a high school dropout at Yale. But she has a rare ability to see ghosts, which made her Dante in the Ninth House, a house that keeps track of the rituals of the eight secret societies. But when her Virgil disappears and a body turns up, Alex notices foul play. Read my full reviews of Ninth House
Gallant
Genre: Horror fantasy
Author: V.E. Schwab
Standalone
Is a fall TBR really complete without V.E. Schwab on it? I would say not.
Gallant is a YA horror fantasy book with a gothic vibe. The story is full of dark family secrets. Just like in Ninth House, our main girl can see ghosts. When Olivia Prior receives a letter from her uncle, whom she's never met, she's summoned to his house—Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that her uncle is dead and the house harbours many dark secrets with powerful ghosts. And kind of like Stranger Things, this world has an upside down, a place where the ghosts take form and a dark master sits on its throne.
Want to read more about my thought on Schwab's books? Click here!
That's just everything you need in October, right?
Vicious
Genre: Fantasy Sci-fi
Author: V.E. Schwab
Duology
Saving the best for last: Vicious. Despite reading it only a year ago, this duology is definitely on my fall TBR. Like I said, there's no good fall TBR without V.E. Schwab on it. If you like Taylor Swift, I can probably convince you to read this book in one sentence: "My Tears Ricochet" comes to life in this story.
Two men with supernatural powers, one academic experience that goes horribly wrong—ten years later, Victor can only think about one thing: revenge. Both men are armed with terrible powers, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, with the ability to destroy each other and themselves.
Want to read more about my thoughts on Schwab's books? Click here!
“I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same Cursing my name, wishing I stayed You turned into your worst fears -Taylor Swift
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