It’s spooky season – and you know what that means! Most of the books I picked for October are perfect for the season. From gothic novels to dark fantasy to horror, there’s a lot a want to get to this month. And if there’s more time, I’d love to spend the latter half of the month reading even more spooky books.
I’m also taking part in two readathons this month! The first is the #FBC Readathon hosted by the Feminist Book Club Box on October 9th-11th. This one is a weekend dedicated to catching up on all of your reads, so my TBR will be whatever I’m up to at that time! Then there’s the Fortnight Frights Readathon by Seji @ The Artisan Geek, which will be held from October 18th-31st. Fornight Frights encourages readers to read horror and related genres outside of the more well-known authors and genres, and includes prompts for readers to complete that celebrate scary literature and authors from around the globe that write them.
So this month will be pretty exciting in terms of what I’m reading! I’d love to know if you have any plans for spooky October reads as well.
The Threat Below by Jason Latshaw
Three hundred years ago, a terrifying event nearly devastated humanity; the survivors living in the mountains above the clouds. When their water supply is being poisoned, an expedition, including Icelyn Brathius, must face the monsters that destroyed most of civilization centuries ago.
This book (and its sequel) were kindly sent to me by the author! I’ve definitely been craving more fantasy lately with the cooler weather so I’m looking forward to seeing what this one has in store.
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Grown follows Enchanted Jones, an aspiring singer spotted by legendary R&B singer Korey Fields during an audition. Fields appears to be Enchanted’s ticket to stardom – but this changes overnight. One morning, Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands, and no memory of the previous night – and Korey Fields is dead.
This mystery novel sounds like it has so many layers to it and I’m looking forward to delving into it! I have a feeling this is going to be a book I won’t be able to put down.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom follows Gifty, a fifth-year candidate in neuroscience and a Ghanian immigrant. Her brother, Nana, passed away due to an overdose when drug addiction followed a sports injury. Gifty’s mother is suicidal and lives in her bed. Gifty is surrounded by pain and suffering – and hopes to find the scientific reasoning behind it.
I’ve been wanting to read this book all year – but the release date kept on being pushed back! Finally it’s here though, so this will likely be another book I read early this month. In hindsight I realize I probably should have read Homegoing first, but this book does also work as a standalone.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Radium Girls is a non-fiction book that follows the events shortly after the discovery of radium. While the popular new element can be found in products everywhere, the women working with it in factories are beginning to fall ill. The women’s cries for help and the fight for worker’s rights are ignored, leading to one of the biggest scandals of the early 20th century.
This book has been on my TBR for way too long, so it’s about time I finally read it. I’ve heard that this was an incredibly heartbreaking and frustrating read regarding these women’s lives. I’m curious for the amount of depth this book will go into as well.
Fangs by Sarah Andersen
First featured as a webcomic, Fangs is a graphic novel that features Elsie, a 300-year-old vampire that has never met her match. But one day, she meets Jimmy, a werewolf, in a bar. This book explores their love story and the conflicting interests between vampires and werewolves.
I found out about this book through Ryan @ Muse with Me’s WWW Wednesday and I may have bought it immediately! Although I’m not a romance person I thought this was right up my alley.
Dissolving Classroom by Junji Ito
Dissolving Classroom follows a pair of twisted siblings, Yuuma and Chizumi, and the terrifying things events that they cause wherever they go.
Funnily enough, the Fortnight Frights prompt I struggled with the most was to read a book with a green cover! I’ve been wanting to try a Junji Ito book already so I discovered this one. I’ve never really interacted with horror outside of a standard novel so I wonder how I’ll respond to the depictions in this one.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca follows an unnamed and orphaned narrator who is proposed to by widower Maxim de Winter. The narrator cannot believe her luck until she arrives at the estate, realizing that her new husband’s late wife will cast a shadow over their lives and threaten to destroy their marriage.
I’m surprised that it’s taken me so long to read this one! Nonetheless, I am looking forward to it. It sounds like what I look for in classic novels and I think this will be a good classic pick for this month.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
After a carriage crashes in front of their home, Laura and her father agree to take in Carmilla, the passenger. Laura appreciates the company from someone her age until Carmilla becomes increasingly volatile. Soon Laura becomes increasingly ill, and her and her father set out to find out more about the mysterious guest in their home.
This is, again, everything that I look for in a classic novel! I learned that this is the book that inspired Dracula and immediately caught my interest. I think this book will be my introduction to a deep dive into gothic literature as well – this book has already prompted me to do quite a bit of research on it!
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians follows four Native American men after an event from their youth threatens to harm their lives. The characters are rendered helpless as the culture and traditions, as well as what seeks vengeance on them, slowly begins to return to them.
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while, and it’s also one of three reads for Fortnight Frights, so now seems like the perfect time to read it! This book sounds like it’s going to blend so many genres and speak of so many different themes, so I’m looking forward to delving into it.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
This book follows Immanuelle Moore, raised by her grandparents in a town where the prophet’s word of law, and her very existence being born out of wedlock is blasphemy. In a turn of events she discovers the truth about her mother and therefore herself, and how her destiny could change Bethel once and for all.
This book has been on my TBR for a while, AND it’s the Feminist Book Club pick for October, AND it’s a Fornight Frights read as well! Perfect! This is another dark fantasy that I can’t wait to read.
Are you a seasonal mood reader? Do you like to read thrillers and horror? Or are darker reads not your preference?
Also, let me know if you’ve read any of these books! I’d love to know what you thought of them.
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