It’s always difficult to find a good book to curl up with during any season, but fall may be the best season for reading dark academia-esque, mystery, or thriller novels. So, if you already have an overflowing To Be Read pile, prepare to expand it with these next five books that I recommend you do not want to miss.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
For fans of drama, supernatural elements, and family feuds expressed through eloquent language, Emily Brontë’s dark and passionate tale is sure to captivate the reader. Wuthering Heights is a classic 19th century story that follows Heathcliff, an orphan who falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, a girl above his social class, and dedicates his life to take revenge on her family for interfering with their love. The moores, the mysteries, dark secrets, and ghostly apparitions make for the perfect fall read.
Trigger warnings for this book include animal cruelty, child abuse, implied necrophilia, and physical abuse.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
There are many King Arthur retellings out there, but Legendborn is arguably one of the best I have read. Linking African-American history and culture with the ancient legend of Camelot, Deonn creates a compelling, urban fantasy YA story with a complex, beautiful main character and her deep struggle with grief and mental health.
After the death of her mother, Bree enrolls in a program for high schoolers at the University of North Carolina, where she witnesses a magical attack that pulls her into a secret society called Legendborn where students fight demons alongside the spirits of ancient Camelot heroes. However, as she tries to unveil a dark history, she has her own inner battle: reclaiming and connecting with her heritage. So far, there are only two books published in this expected trilogy.
Trigger warnings for this book include racism, rape, and violence.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Much like King Arthur, Romeo and Juliet has many retellings and These Violent Delights is one of them. Set in 1920s Shanghai, this completed duology follows the tale of a blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and White Flowers that makes Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov mortal enemies. However, due to their romantic history, they must team up and uncover the cause of gang members involuntarily clawing their throats out. The start of the book may be slow, but when the story picks up, it goes full speed ahead with no brakes. Try not to get too attached to the lovable characters, this is not a happy story… However, it is an amazing read with great world building and character development.
Trigger warnings include parental abuse, gore, murder, and violence.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, Faith Erin Hicks, and Sarah Stern
Pumpkinheads is an adorable and funny YA graphic novel written by Rainbow Rowell, the author of Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, and Carry On. It tells the story of high schoolers, Deja and Josiah, who only see each other during their job at a pumpkin patch every fall. This time, they are seniors and it is their last shift together.
Follow these teens on an adventure to make the most of each other’s time and sightsee everything in the pumpkin patch. If you truly want to get in an autumn mood, this is the best short graphic novel to help make that happen.
Bunny by Mona Awad
Are you a fan of The Craft or Little Mix’s Black Magic music video? Look no further! Bunny follows the story of Samantha who is invited to join a secretive clique of rich girls. There, she experiments with their dark and cultish dynamic of magical realism which causes her to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. As the book progresses, it gets weirder, darker, and more horrifying. If you want a read to get you in a spooky mood, this is the book for you.
Trigger warnings for this novel include animal abuse, gore, murder, self-harm, and sex.
So make sure to heat up a cup of tea, get comfy, and happy reading!
