Halloween Reads That Are More Vibes Than Scares
I for one love a good horror novel around Halloween, but sometimes I’m looking to escape into a world where I am not petrified or fearing for my life! Though scares might not be what I’m looking for, there is still a specific fall vibe I look for this season. A story with lush worlds, romance, and some chills and thrills to draw you in (without it keeping you up at night) is something I’m always on the hunt for. Lucky for you I have mastered finding books that fit that EXACT vibe, and have prepared my list of recs for y’all.
If your Halloweekend is going to be anything like mine you’ll need: a good book (list provided below hehe), a cozy blanket, fall candle of your choice, and those little ghost sugar cookies!! This spooky season pick up one of these books to transport you into a world that will enchant, delight, and maybe even fright you—but just the right amount;)
Hekate
by Nikita Gill
For my mythology lovers you will ABSOLUTELY fall head-over-heels for this stunning reimagining of Greek myth!! The incredible poet, Nikita Gill, takes you on a journey through the underworld and its chthonic deities in all their glory. Within that we follow a story about the Goddess Hekate, coming of age in their midst. The poetry in this book is vivid and enchanting, and the story weaved throughout is captivating. The perfect book to get lost in on Halloween or anytime really.
Hekate sings the story of its eponymous heroine. Born into a world on fire and at war, she and her mother are left behind by the menfolk of their Titan family as the battle against the new Gods–the Olympians–begins. Soon, Hekate and her mother are forced to flee their home as the Olympians overpower and enslave the Titans, including Hekate’s father, Perses, and gain dominion over the universe. In a bid to protect Hekate from the clutches of Zeus and Poseidon, her mother leaves her in the underworld with the goddess Styx and king of the underworld, Hades, where she must make a life for herself and discover her divine purpose.
Here begins Nikita Gill’s beautiful and propulsive reimagining of Hekate’s myth which unfolds into a coming-of-age adventure story and quest in which our young protagonist – not yet a goddess – sets out to discover what has happened to her parents, heal from the trauma of her separation from them, make a new home for herself in the underworld, and, eventually, step into her true power as a woman and goddess, before it’s too late.
Bitten
This fast-paced and romantic debut is EXACTLY what you want on your TBR list this fall. Its lush, dark world will suck you in and the sexy, intense story will keep you on the edge of your seat!! There is so much to keep you enthralled in this book with its ruthless werewolves, a spectacular glittering court, and deadly politics. All of which our heroine will have to endure to get revenge on the monsters who destroyed her…
After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.
Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.
With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.
Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.
The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
by Anna Fiteni
SO SWOONWORTHY I CANNOT!! This romantasy debut is about a girl, Sabrina, who must strike a dangerous bargain with a fae prince in order to find her missing sister. The passion, flirtation and romance in this story makes me want to crawl into it and live there. And while this is a romance, there is so much more to it, as Sabrina’s journey through fairyland leads her to confront intergenerational pain that has haunted her family. This enchanting book has danger, menacing small town vibes, fae, romance all the ingredients for a book you won’t be able to put down.
For Sabrina Parry, the world of her small, Welsh mining town is cruel and practical. Her main aims in life are to hold onto her job, hold her tongue, and marry off her pretty, but sickly sister Ceridwen to a man rich enough to look after her.
When Ceridwen vanishes into the woods leaving only an iron ring behind, it’s up to Sabrina to find her by venturing into Eu Gwald—fairyland.
Sabrina quickly realizes fairyland is far more dangerous than she ever expected. So when a fae prince who considers himself a scholar of all things human offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to accept. The prince is charming, and more interested in Sabrina than she is willing to believe. But as always with fairy bargains, there is a cost.
And if this bargain doesn’t cost Sabrina her life, it will certainly cost her heart.
A Beautiful and Terrible Murder
Something about a historical fiction (especially one that’s a murder mystery) is exactly what I want in a fall read. This mystery follows the cunning Irene Adler as she teams up with the one and only, Sherlock Holmes. In this story though, Irene is the master of detective work! When something unseemly begins happening at her prep school the two of them team up to solve the case. Theres a small hitch though—at school Irene has adopted an alias as Issac, a man. As she solves this mystery her charade is getting harder to keep up with… With so many twists, turns and suspense keeping you on the edge of your seat this book is the dark academia fall read you NEED!
Irene Adler is no ordinary young lady. She’s at the top of the ranks in the All Souls cohort, a competitive preparatory class reserved for Oxford’s brightest minds. But her peers and professors don’t know she’s a lady at all. To them, she is Isaac Holland.
Keeping up her disguise gets trickier when All Souls students start dying, one by one. Determined to find out who’s responsible for the deaths, Irene—as Isaac—teams up with fellow classmate and roommate Sherlock Holmes to track down clues. Their mission grows more dangerous by the day as someone tries to frame Isaac for the murders, and Irene’s own father, Dean Moriarty, begins to threaten her seat in school.
Readers will love following these classic and beloved characters through the twists and turns in the dark halls of Oxford, and discovering what secret lies behind the glitz and glamor of the elite.
Dream by the Shadows
by Logan Karlie
AHHHH you guys. This book is perfection… a cross between Beauty and the Beast and Labyrinth it’s a gorgeous, dreamy, yet deadly fantasy. The world building is *chefs kiss* and you will without a DOUBT get sucked into the lush world of dreams and nightmares… The chemistry the between the main characters is electric, and their romance will have you turning page after page till you realize its 3am… oops don’t worry happened to me too;) The perfect balance between a gothic fantasy and dreamy fairytale, this book has it all.
The Kingdom of Noctis is plagued by Corruption: a curse that spreads through dreaming. The Shadow Bringer rules from his castle in the Dream Realm, stealing souls one dreamer at a time. Only an elixir, taken every night before sleeping, can ward off the dreams and halt Corruption. But for some, the allure of the Dream Realm proves too strong. Esmer Havenfall desperately wants to escape her dreadful village. When her sister, Eden, succumbs to Corruption and their elixir-dealing parents are accused of a horrific crime, Esmer’s life unravels into a nightmare. Then she dreams of the Shadow Bringer and learns that his sinister magic might be a part of her, too. Enticed by the prospect of ending her kingdom’s curse and avenging her family, Esmer follows him deeper within the Dream Realm. But the prince of darkness has a haunted past, one that might change the fate of Esmer’s kingdom–and her heart–forever.
Lush and vividly imagined, this seductive gothic fantasy is filled with magic, secrets, and dreamy shadow-haunted romance.
B*WITCH
by Paige McKenzie, Nancy Ohlin
She’s the new girl in town, and if that wasn’t difficult enough she’s also a witch in hiding?! Thankfully at her new school Iris is taken in at school by a group of teen witches. Things can’t be that easy though because as a mysterious killer comes about, she and her friends must team up with a rival coven to take them down! If you love found family, thrills, and a mystery THIS is the Halloween book you must pick up!!
New girl and secret witch Iris just wants to get through her first day of school without a panic attack. The last thing she expects is to be taken in by a coven of three witches: soft-spoken Greta, thoughtful and musical Ridley, and fiery and spirited Binx. They may be the first witches Iris has met IRL, but their coven is not alone in their small northwestern town.
The Triad is the other coven at their school. When the Triad’s not using spells to punish their exes or break up happy couples for fun, they practice dark magic. The two covens have a rivalry stretching all the way back to junior high.
When tragedy strikes and one of their own is murdered, the rival covens must band together to find out who is responsible before it’s too late. Someone’s anti-witch ideology has turned deadly . . . and one of them is next.
With an inclusive cast of teen witches who leap off the page with style, attitude, and charm, B*Witch is a bingeable read perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Mean Girls alike.
Never Ever After
by Sue Lynn Tan
Another fairytale retelling for you to binge read because it is just SO GOOD!! This may have the bones of a fairytale, but it is really so much more! Sue Lynn Tan builds a fierce and powerful world for you to get absolutely lost in. With Chinese mythology, feminist themes, a tension filled love triangle this story is unforgettable and addicting.
Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.
Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.
The Wild Huntress
THRILLS, MAGIC, COMPETITION!!!! This book y’all oh my gosh we are ending on a bang!! A fantasy about three unlikely allies bound together in a deadly, magical competition that takes place every five years. Two kingdoms take part of the Wild Hunt—a game where hunters go out in pursuit of a grand prize. Even the most experienced can suffer in this dangerous event… Why risk it, you may ask! Well, the prize is one wish, no matter how wild or fantastical, granted by the Otherking. And everyone has their own ‘why’ behind enduring such danger and peril.
BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.
GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant.
PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know where he belongs.
A trickster, a prince, and a wild huntress—all in pursuit of the Champion’s prize. If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But nothing is guaranteed. After all, all are fair game in love and the Hunt.
Set in the same world as The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters—The Wild Huntress will have readers hooked from the very first page.