Fall into Fantasy: 14 books to read as the October nights draw in
The leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the air, which means it’s time to fully embrace the autumnal vibes. The shorter days and darker nights are also the perfect invitation to slow down, curl up with a good book and lose yourself in fictional worlds, and what better worlds to immerse yourself in than ones full of fantastical magic and thrilling adventures. From dark romantasy featuring wolves, faeries and demons, to cosy tales peppered with hope, heart and humour, here’s our pick of unmissable fantasy books for your TBR pile.
Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
Combining the fierce, high-stakes fight for survival of The Hunger Games with the brutal rivalry and military training of Fourth Wing, Dire Bound swaps dragons for wolves as it follows heroine Meryn’s journey to save her kidnapped sister from immortal monsters. Desperate to cross the front, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials. Now, bound to a feral dire wolf and surrounded by merciless fellow trainees, Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. But in a world where everything is a battle and everyone is a potential threat, Meryn must watch her back if she wants to survive long enough to save her sister. Tense, thrilling and oh so deliciously tropey, get ready for your new romantasy obsession. (Wayward TxF)
The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle
The second book in the City of Fantome series picks up a short while after the events of The Dagger and the Flame. Far from the city, Sera and her Order of Flames plot to eradicate shade magic with lightfire. But as she struggles to control her powers, Sera is called back to Fantome and the assassin she left behind. Ransom is grappling with the responsibility of leading the Order of Daggers but he can’t get Sera out of his head. Forced to work together by order of the king, Sera and Ransom must battle their conflicted feelings for each other, whilst an ancient prophecy with far reaching consequences begins to unfold. A captivating and fast-paced romantasy with heart-stealing characters, Doyle’s sequel expands on the first book whilst also introducing new aspects of the world and its magic system (Simon & Schuster)
Neverthorn by Shannon Mayer
Harlow is a 29-year-old wizarding school dropout-turned-enchanted-jewel-thief who is blackmailed into returning to Neverthorn Academy to help defend against the dark wizard Nocta. Thrust into training with a group of misfits with secret magical abilities, Harlow must work with her mentor, the annoyingly sexy Professor Typhon, to unlock her own special power. But the school’s professors are hiding a damning secret and Harlow needs to find out what it is and fast. Because the dark wizard is coming for Neverthorn and Harlow might be the only one who can stop him. Full of secrets, second chances and slow-burn romance, Mayer’s dark academia romantasy sets the scene for what promises to be a spellbinding fantasy trilogy. (Michael Joseph)
Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most notorious villain. But here she is, many decapitated heads later, knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots and an entirely inappropriate crush on her grumpy boss, the perfect foil for her habitually sunshiney demeanour. After the events of the previous book, it’s business as usual for Evie, Trystan (aka the Villain) and their team as they continue to contend with the unravelling of the magical prophecy. Maehrer’s Villain books have been a fantastical delight since the first instalment and the series continues to deliver laughs, heart and yearning in epic proportions. The end might split readers but it certainly paves the way for more joyfully villainous drama when Adversary is published next year. (Penguin)
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni
Inspired by Welsh mythology, with Welsh language woven throughout the story, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire puts a unique spin on the fae theme. For practical Sabrina Parry, the world is a cruel and unforgiving place. With her father in prison, it’s her responsibility to set her timid and hopelessly romantic sister Ceridwen up with a man rich enough to look after her. So when Ceridwen vanishes into the woods one day, Sabrina follows after her and is drawn into a dark world of fairies. And when a handsome fairy prince offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to put her own freedom at risk to save her sister. Exploring themes of power, oppression, sacrifice and sisterly love, this is the kind of Cruel Prince-esque book you want to curl up with on a cold evening and devour in one sitting. (Electric Monkey)
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
There’s a lot of dark romantasy on the shelves, as this list can attest to, so it’s always a joy to discover a fantasy book that leans towards the lighter, more heartwarming side. Sangu Mandanna – author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches – delivers another spellbinding story, this time set in a cosy, enchanted inn in the heart of Lancashire. It follows Sera Swan – once one of Britain’s most powerful witches, now exiled from her Guild and running a magical guesthouse with her resurrected great-aunt, a talking fox and a cast of quirky visitors. But when brooding magical historian Luke arrives with knowledge about a spell that might just be the key to restoring her power, Sera is about to discover that the true magic in her life has nothing to do with spellwork. A whimsical and genuinely lovely read filled with the delights of found family. (Hodderscape)
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
For the ultimate in slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy, look no further than the first book in Brigitte Knightley’s swoony duology which sees scholarly healer Aurienne and gentleman assassin Osric forced into an unlikely alliance as they investigate a mysterious recurrence of a deadly pox. Throw in the added complication of Osric needing a cure for his own illness – and Aurienne being the only one who can help him – and you’ve got yourself a recipe for an irresistibly witty and banter-filled romance that utilises the classic opposites attract trope to perfection. (Orbit)
Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson
Following her father’s loss in the magical Liar’s Dice Tournament – a high-stakes competition where players gamble with their deepest secrets – Lola St. James found herself under the protection of the notorious leader of the Tentacles known as the Thief. Now she’s determined to prove herself and become a fully-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes awry, she’s forced to compete in the tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off the job. But what she doesn’t bargain on is the Liar, the mysterious figure who runs the game, and also happens to be the Thief’s brother. As Lola’s attraction to the Liar grows, she must confront the secrets of her past and the truth of the brothers’ shared history. A transportive dual POV heist novel with magical twists, a snarky FMC and not one but two morally grey love interests (yay for the return of the triangle!). (Hot Key Books)
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
Annie Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. The proud owner of the bustling Celestial Bakehouse, she devotes her powers to pleasing others, no matter the magical toll it takes. But when she’s tasked with mentoring troubled teen witch Maeve, Annie’s glittering life is thrown into chaos. If you love all things autumnal and you grew up on the likes of Matilda, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls, Uncharmed will give you all the nineties/noughties nostalgic vibes. It’s sweet, magical and just about the cosiest book you’ll get your hands on this season. (Macmillan)
Thief of Night by Holly Black
The follow-up to Holly Black’s dark and shadowy adult urban fantasy, Book of Night, reunites readers with whip-smart thief and habitual maker of bad decisions Charlie Hall as she hunts a rogue Blight behind a brutal church massacre. Between her antipathy for the elite circle she’s working for and her conflicted feelings for Vince, whose memories of Charlie have been erased, Charlie is not in a good place. She’s vulnerable, heartbroken and magically outmatched. And the only way to save herself might mean sacrificing the one person she can’t bear to lose. Black weaves words like a sorcerer, delivering another twisty, mysterious and angsty story bolstered by a flawed but likeable anti-hero. (Del Rey)
The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw
If you like your romantic fantasy books thrumming with magic and atmosphere, The Ordeals will have you hooked from the start. Readers are instantly immersed in illusionist Sophia DeWinter’s world as she makes a bid to break free from the blood bond she shares with her cruel uncle by competing for a coveted place at Killmarth – an elite magical college outside of her uncle’s control. But as the competition begins, the eager hopefuls start to be picked off one by one. To survive, Sophia must hone her skills and learn to distinguish friend from foe, teaming up with powerful and enigmatic botanist Alden Locke as she battles to make it through the Ordeals. The multi-layered magic system draws you into this dangerous, dark academia world and the central mystery keeps you guessing. Bring on the sequel. (HQ)
For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn
Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife but armed with years of customer service and pent-up sarcasm, she soon carves out a job for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass. A chance meeting with distractingly sexy demon general Bel sparks a friendship that simmers with the promise of something more. But there’s a darkness stirring beyond the boundaries of their world and it threatens everything they’ve known and everything that could be. Featuring a cast of characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Jaysea Lynn’s debut is fantastical and emotional from beginning to end. (Simon & Schuster)
House of Dragons by K. A. Linde
K. A. Linde’s new romantasy introduces half-Fae, half-human Kerrigan Argon whose life changed when she was taken into the care of the House of Dragons – an elite training programme for gifted Fae. When everyone – bar Kerrigan – is chosen by one of the twelve tribes of Alandria to enter society, she strikes a bargain with the Dragon Society that sees her teaming up with a cursed Fae prince to chart her own destiny instead. Set against the backdrop of an unforgiving world filled with magic and mayhem, this is a suspenseful and action-packed story of fortitude, loyalty, prejudice and betrayals. The final chapter will leave readers desperate for more. (Pan Macmillan)
Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan
Released at the end of October, Sue Lynn Tan’s upcoming YA novel is definitely one to look forward to. Sparkling with beautiful writing, vibrant world-building and heartfelt romance, this East Asian fantasy inspired by Cinderella follows talented thief and consummate liar Yining who must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize back the enchanted ring that was stolen from her. Inside the palace walls, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless prince, while a rival court advisor with dangerous secrets offers an uneasy alliance. Yining must decide who to trust and how far she’s willing to go to forge her own fate. Intricately woven with folklore and political intrigue, Never Ever After isn’t your typical fairytale and that’s very much a good thing! (Hodderscape)
