Set against a misty mountain backdrop where folklore and family secrets intertwine, The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells promises a story rich with enchantment, love, and rediscovery. Rachel Greenlaw blends her signature warmth with a touch of magical realism in this story about coming home and confronting the ghosts of the past. While it’s undeniably cosy and beautifully atmospheric, I found it leaned more towards heartfelt romance than true magic.

Somewhere between finishing school and falling back into reading for pleasure, many of us quietly abandoned non-fiction. Maybe it was the memory of thick textbooks, or the association with obligation rather than enjoyment. Fiction promised worlds to escape into, adventures, romances, magic. Non-fiction, on the other hand, sounded like homework. But at some point, something shifts. You start craving books that help you understand as much as they help you imagine.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is a beautifully crafted gothic horror novel set against the wild Yorkshire moors, blending psychological intensity, atmospheric writing, and allegorical supernatural elements. This is a story of longing, repression, and the slow, haunting decay of a woman trapped by society and marriage. Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and classic gothic fiction will find much to love in this dark, layered novel.

Every year, the same list circulates: scented candles, novelty mugs, bookmarks printed with quotes no one asked for. And while there is nothing wrong with those little comforts, gifting for book lovers deserves something more personal, something that feels like you truly see the person who will unwrap it. This is not a list of the loudest or most viral gifts.

Greek mythology retellings always have a special pull, the promise of gods, prophecies, and the fine line between mortal and divine. Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb dives headfirst into that allure, reimagining ancient Greece through the eyes of a young woman destined to challenge the gods themselves. It’s ambitious, fast-paced, and filled with potential... yet, despite its epic scope, it didn’t quite linger in my mind the way I hoped it would.

There is a quiet kind of beauty that arrives when the temperature drops. The mornings feel slower, the air sharper, the light softer. Outside, the world exhales, but inside our calendars, things often quicken. As the year edges towards its end, deadlines crowd in, ambitions flare up, and the noise of productivity culture starts to drown out the stillness the season offers.

As we approach the end of the year, November’s TBR list is all about monumental conclusions, deep dives into the darker corners of Middle-earth’s history, and revisiting the start of a magical adventure. This month, we’re reading the final book of "The Wheel of Time," exploring the complexities of Tolkien’s legendarium, and returning to Trudi Canavan’s enthralling world of magic and intrigue.

There is a particular kind of magic that only exists in the city once the air begins to cool. The pace softens, the mornings stretch a little slower, and even the noise feels quieter. You begin to notice the details that summer’s chaos often hides: the steam rising from takeaway cups, the swirl of amber leaves caught in the wind, the way streetlights glow against wet pavements.

There is a certain kind of magic that only appears in the quiet of an evening. The world softens, the air cools, and the light turns golden against the edges of the page. You reach for a book, not to tick another title off a list, but to linger, to let words unfurl slowly, like steam from a mug of tea.

When the evenings draw in and the air smells faintly of woodsmoke, I always reach for fantasy that feels like a hug. There’s something about this time of year, the early sunsets, the rhythm of rain against the window, the soft ritual of lighting a candle, that invites us to slow down and sink into stories that soothe. Autumn isn’t for chaos or cliffhangers; it’s for books that feel like comfort.

Autumn has always been a season of gentle contrasts, a time where crisp air meets warm drinks, and golden light filters through falling leaves. There’s something about October that invites stillness after the energy of summer with a soft pivot between doing and being. As we step into the final stretch of the year, many of us feel that familiar tug to start fresh, new goals, new habits, new routines.

October’s TBR is packed with climactic confrontations, deep dives into legendary lore, and the continuation of grand sagas. This month, we’re nearing the conclusion of "The Wheel of Time," revisiting the treacherous politics of Westeros, and exploring the detailed development of Tolkien’s iconic final battles in Middle-earth. If you’re ready for a month filled with epic moments, intricate plots, and the rich history of fantasy’s greatest worlds, October’s reading list will not disappoint.

V.E. Schwab returns with a lyrical and haunting tale in Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, a novel that unfurls across centuries, countries, and inner lives. Told through the eyes of three very different women bound together by blood and immortality, this vampire story is no action-packed thriller. Instead, it delivers a poetic meditation on survival, desire, trauma, and grief.

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong is a dark, intricate, and emotionally wrought fantasy that marries grimdark aesthetics with mythic romance and razor-sharp character dynamics. With a protagonist bound to an elder god and a society steeped in blood-soaked religious duty, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. Wong delivers a beautifully crafted world of devotion, vengeance, and survival, made all the more immersive by the addition of in-world artwork and stunning illustrations throughout.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a warm, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable romantic fantasy that delivers on both heartfelt character development and delightful magical elements. It’s a character-driven story with cosy, adventurous tones, focusing on found family, love in later life, and the quiet strength of choosing your own freedom. When widowed housekeeper Halla inherits her late uncle’s estate, she doesn’t expect to discover an enchanted sword and she certainly doesn’t expect to accidentally unleash a grumpy, honour-bound warrior from within it.

If you're looking for a sweeping epic fantasy filled with rich world-building, thoughtful character growth, and the slow-burn momentum of classic high fantasy, The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams might be exactly what you need. The first instalment of the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series, this book is a foundational piece of modern fantasy that has inspired countless authors, including…

Crossroads of Twilight, the tenth instalment in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, is infamous among fans for its glacial pace and lack of major plot advancement... and I'm not surprised after reading it. However, while it may be light on action, the novel excels in political intrigue, deepening worldbuilding, and exploring how the shadow of the Dragon Reborn affects those left to carry on in his absence.

Every fantasy fan knows the feeling... the thrill when your favourite book is announced for the screen… followed by the creeping dread it’s going to get absolutely butchered. For every Lord of the Rings masterpiece, there’s a Percy Jackson (the first try, not the Disney+ revival!) or a City of Bones that missed the mark. So what about the new wave of fantasy adaptations currently in the works?

Fantasy fans have been spoiled with adaptations in recent years from House of the Dragon’s court politics to The Witcher’s monster hunts. But let’s be honest: while there’s plenty of quantity, the quality often feels repetitive. Dragons, chosen ones, political intrigue, all great, but the same tropes keep cycling. Beyond the big names like Lord of the Rings…

September’s TBR list is filled with turning points, triumphs, and the intricate lore of some of the most iconic fantasy worlds. This month, I'm diving into the penultimate stages of the "Wheel of Time" series, witnessing the dwarves’ fight for survival, and exploring the early drafts of "The Lord of the Rings." With action-packed adventures and deep dives into the creative process of J.R.R.

Grimdark fantasy isn’t here to coddle you. It’s here to drag you through mud-slick battlefields, whisper in your ear that hope is a dangerous thing, and remind you that “happily ever after” rarely survives the first chapter. This subgenre revels in morally grey characters, political betrayal, and the terrible cost of survival. It’s brutal, it’s brilliant and it’ll leave you both wincing and begging for more.

As we head into August, my reading journey continues with pivotal moments, rich world-building, and explorations of the foundations of Middle-earth. This month’s TBR list includes the next instalment in the "Wheel of Time" series, a re-read of George R.R. Martin’s complex Westeros saga, and a dive into the deeper lore of Tolkien’s universe. Whether you’re looking for high-stakes fantasy or a closer look at the evolution of legendary tales, August’s selections are sure to captivate.

Some sequels drag on a story that should’ve ended but these? These are the ones I’d fight dragons to read... They promise deeper magic, bigger betrayals, and a return to worlds I can’t stop thinking about. Here are fantasy sequels I'm genuinely excited for, bring on the heartbreak, plot twists, and chaos! 👑 1. Queen Demon (The Rising World #2) by Martha Wells…