September brings with it io9’s biggest list of new books so far this year, with an emphasis on horror titles as the days grow shorter. That said, there are still plenty of sci-fi adventures and fantasy tales on the way.
September 1 and 2
Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter
“A fusion of modern and fantastical worlds, where a young woman must navigate a secret society, uncover a shocking enemy… and resist an undeniable attraction.” (September 1)
Bees in June by Elizabeth Bass Parman
“With a captivating blend of Southern grit, magical realism, and an empowering journey of self-discovery, Bees in June is a tender reminder of the healing power of community, second chances and the quiet magic all around us.” (September 2)
Beyond All Reasonable Doubt, Jesus Is Alive! by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
“An ethereal and revelatory short story collection about faith, delusion, and the demons that can’t get enough of us.” (September 2)
Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper
“The notorious warrior queen who led a legendary rebellion in 60 CE against the Roman Empire in Britain” comes to life in a book that “follows Boudicca’s meteoric rise and devastating fall through the eyes of her youngest daughter, Solina, who seeks revenge against Rome.” (September 2)
By the Horns by Ruby Dixon
In this sequel to Bull Moon Rising, “a woman with a deadly magic secret needs the help of the minotaur she’s trying to forget.” (September 2)
Changelog by Rich Larson
“Ranging in length from byte-sized drabbles to elaborate novelettes, the 26 stories assembled in Changelog rove from the sands of biopunk West Africa to the scarred hull of a generation ship to the dismantling of time itself—exploring the symbiosis of humanity and technology at every stop.” (September 2)
Head Witch in Charge by Avery Flynn
“When two witches with a tangled history are forced to team up, it spells disaster in this steamy rom-com.” (September 2)
Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings
“A richly imagined dark fantasy that pulses with the beautiful destruction of a town reclaimed by the natural world.” (September 2)
A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig
“Playfully drawing from Scottish folklore, Erin A. Craig’s adult debut is both a deeply atmospheric and profoundly romantic exploration of freedom versus security: a stunning celebration of one woman’s relentless bravery on a quest to reclaim her lost love—and seize her own future.” (September 2)
Livewire by Sarah Raughley
“Amanda McKee is a psiot, an evolved subspecies of humanity with mysterious psychic powers … the ability to talk to machines, control technology, and even see into a secret parallel world that exists inside computers.” Her complicated existence gets even more so when a man from the future appears, intent on killing her to prevent what he says is her role in destroying the human race. (September 2)
Making History by K.J. Parker
In this dark fantasy tale, “a group of scholars must do the impossible for a ruthless king. The cost of refusal, of course, is death.” (September 2)
Moonflow by Bitter Karella
“A gloriously queer and irreverent psychedelic trip into the heart of an eldritch wood and the horrors of (cis)terhood.” (September 2)
The Nga’phandileh Whisperer by Eugen Bacon
“A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric, and made-up words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish, and hope.” (September 2)
Night & Day edited by Ellen Datlow
“A horror anthology with one side featuring stories about what haunts the night while the other side showcases the terrors that can exist in the light of day in this new addition to the Saga Doubles series.” (September 2)
The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg
“A captive healer and a mysterious prince are drawn to each other in the midst of war and magic in a beguiling dark fantasy.” (September 2)
These Dreaming Spires: A Dark Academia Anthology edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane
“A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 more dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, Genevieve Cogman, MK Lobb and more.” (September 2)
Tracer by Brendan Deneen
“A fast-paced sci-fi romance adventure that sends one mercenary on a dangerous mission across a postapocalyptic landscape.” (September 2)
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
This tale is “set in the world of the gods first introduced in Divine Rivals” and “delivers a sweeping, beautiful adult novel filled with tension, romance, and dark secrets.” (September 2)
September 9
Acquired Taste by Clay McLeod Chapman
“Packed full of humanity, humor, and above all, relentless creeping dread, Acquired Taste is a timely descent into the mind of one of modern horror’s finest authors.” (September 9)
The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson
“Drawing on the creatures and horrors of Irish folklore, The Burial Tide unearths our darkest truths: how far we’d go to win our freedom, and how quickly our desires can become monstrous.” (September 9)
Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson
“A Vietnam veteran and his adopted niece hunt—and are hunted by—the vampire that slaughtered their family.” (September 9)
David Lynch: His Work, His World by Tom Huddleston
“An in-depth, richly illustrated exploration of the work and life of cinema and TV’s greatest cult creator.” (September 9)
The Gnomes of Lychford by Paul Cornell
“Gnomes, witches, and podcasters clash for the future of the village of Lychford in this delightful conclusion to the Witches of Lychford series.” (September 9)
The Haunting of William Thorn by Ben Alderson
“How to Sell a Haunted House meets The Haunting of Hill House in this split timeline queer romance, set against the backdrop of a haunted English manor.” (September 9)
A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love by Ann Rose
“In this slightly spooky paranormal romance, will two women finally break their curse and get the happily ever after they’ve fought for?” (September 9)
The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time by Josiah Bancroft
“The second book following the adventures of the Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, as they tackle a case that could redefine the nature of magic itself.” (September 9)
House of Idyll by Delilah S. Dawson
“A darkly seductive tale of beautiful rock stars, sinister cults, and a magical oasis where dreams come true… for a price.” (September 9)
The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson
“A stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them… or be destroyed.” (September 9)
The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
A healer’s daughter strikes a surprising deal with the monster lurking in the nearby woods, then must contend with an even bigger threat in this story “rooted in fairy tales, folklore, and sapphic romance.” (September 9)
Pantomime by L.R. Lam
The first in “a fantasy trilogy about a circus aerialist’s quest to escape his past and decipher the magical prophecy that will shape his future.” (September 9)
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
“A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house novel.” (September 9)
They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil
“When Jen Monroe hears her father’s remains have been found, she returns home to disprove his death, only to find the forests of rural Washington are hiding something ancient and dangerous.” (September 9)
An Unbreakable World by Ren Hutchings
“A petty thief is kidnapped to take part in the heist of a lifetime in this space opera.” (September 9)
We Are Always Tender With Our Dead by Eric LaRocca
“The disturbing first installment of a new trilogy of intense, visceral, beautifully written queer horror set in a small New England town.” (September 9)
September 16
American Werewolves by Emily Jane
This satirical tale “brings readers from the wilds of the New World to the opulent board rooms and golf courses of the 21st century, where devouring the weak is an American birthright as old as the country itself.” (September 16)
Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon
“A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of The Priory of the Orange Tree.” (September 16)
The Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill
“In this stellar debut fantasy, a trickster Fox god challenges an underachieving acolyte to save herself by saving her own ancestors. But are Nesi and her new friends from the past prepared to defeat the ferocious Wolfhounds of Zemin?” (September 16)
The Enduring Universe by Kritika H. Rao
“The explosive and reality-shattering Rages trilogy, started by The Surviving Sky, concludes as Ahilya and Iravan fight one last time to save everything they’ve ever loved—the survivors of humanity, their families, their home, and each other.” (September 16)
The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews
“With his queen missing, the king’s wrath knows no boundaries.” (September 16)
Exiles by Mason Coile
“A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William—this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.” (September 16)
The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
“In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend.” (September 16)
Fiend by Alma Katsu
“Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this terrifying tale about an all-powerful family with an ancient evil under its thumb.” (September 16)
Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff
“After the deaths of his parents, a witch returns to his spooky family manor and joins forces with his former crush when his parents’ spirits warn them of a sinister threat in this witty and lyrically unique rom-com.” (September 16)
If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
“A true-crime-nail-biter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.” (September 16)
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
“In this paranormal spicy age-gap romance, a successful author—whose novel is being adapted into a movie—clashes with the actor cast as the male lead, all in a cozy mansion filled with friendly ghosts.” (September 16)
A Ruin, Great and Free by Cadwell Turnbull
The Convergence Saga concludes as “the inhabitants of Moon have been very fortunate in the intervening months. Inside their hidden monster settlement, they’ve found peace, even as the world outside slips into increasing unrest. Monsters are being hunted everywhere, forced back into the shadows they once tried to escape from. Other secret settlements have offered a place to hide, but how long can this half-measure against fear and hatred last?” (September 16)
The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
“After a decade, acclaimed science fiction master John Scalzi returns to the galaxy of the Old Man’s War series with the long-awaited seventh book.” (September 16)
The Sleep of Empires by David Annandale
“Eloran is a world of imperious elves, fractious human realms, and the hated, skeletal kaul—with each nation poised to grasp at any advantage over the others … A chance encounter with a pair of mercenaries leads Latanna to a lost crown, a relic of forces the world has tried desperately to forget, and gives her the means to break free from her corrupt family—but at a terrible price.” (September 16)
The Summer War by Naomi Novik
“A young witch who has inadvertently cursed her brother to live a life without love must find a way to undo her spell.” (September 16)
Sunward by William Alexander
“This story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.” (September 16)
To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
This sequel to When Among Crows “pulls from Slavic folklore to explore family, duty, and what it means to be a monster.” (September 16)
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
“A ‘perfect’ witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic.” (September 16)
Veil by Jonathan Janz
“A heart-stopping story of one father who will stop at nothing to save his family.” (September 16)
The Whistler by Nick Medina
“A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror.” (September 16)
Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar
“In this (delightfully screwball) fairy tale romp, even the most wicked deserve their happily-ever-after.” (September 16)
September 23
Alchemised by SenLinYu
“In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.” (September 23)
Beings by Ilana Masad
This novel “based on true events asks whether extraterrestrial life might be what ties us to one another, to history, and to reality itself.” (September 23)
Body of Water by Adam Godfrey
“A wildly inventive, sinister thriller following an estranged father and daughter who find themselves trapped in a diner by a living body of water.” (September 23)
In the Dragon’s Wake: The Ashen War Saga Book II by Dan Le Fever
This sequel to The Ashen War delves “further into the cultures and peoples in the post-apocalyptic world of a vastly changed 1910 America,” as “James Barlow must come to terms with his violent nature and what it means to those he’s chosen to protect.” (September 23)
The Revelation Space Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Alastair Reynolds
These two separate volumes gather “the complete collection of tales set in the Revelation Space universe.” (September 23)
Road Trip With a Vampire by Jenna Levine
“A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.” (September 23)
Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby
“A gothic feminist body horror in two timelines revolving around three Anatomical Venuses—ultrarealistic wax figures of women—that come to life at night to murder men who have wronged them.” (September 23)
A Spell for Winter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart
“In this holiday romance with an enchanting twist, a magic-averse witch returns home to save her small town’s beloved winter festival in time for the holidays with the help of her estranged coven and distractingly handsome childhood rival.” (September 23)
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey
“A routine probe at a research station turns deadly when the team discovers a strange specimen in search of a warm place to stay.” (September 23)
Terms of Service by Ciel Pierlot
“When her cousin gets kidnapped by a dastardly trickster, Luzia is forced to sell herself in servitude to the Eoi in exchange for his life. But the terms of the deal turn out to be much more complicated than she ever imagined.” (September 23)
Thief of Night by Holly Black
Sequel to Book of Night. “There’d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn’t willing to double down on. She may be good enough to steal a shadow from a tower, but will she be good enough to steal back a heart?” (September 23)
This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman
“Carl and Princess Donut are ready to battle it out in the epic seventh book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.” (September 23)
The Unfathomable Curse by Courtney Smyth
“A witty, witchy fantasy murder mystery packed with ancient magic and fiendish puzzles. When Cornelia’s twin sisters are taken by the Wickermere Reaper, Mallory, Diana and Theodore must race against time to uncover the buried secrets of the Broadwicks before it’s too late.” (September 23)
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
“Frankenstein by way of Heathers, We Love You, Bunny is both a prequel and a sequel and an unabashedly wild and totally complete stand-alone novel. Open your hearts, Bunny, to another dazzlingly original and darkly hilarious romp in the Bunny-verse.” (September 23)
What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller
“A sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.” (September 23)
Why I Love Horror edited by Becky Siegel Spratford
“A captivating anthology and heartfelt tribute to the horror genre featuring essays from several of the most celebrated contemporary horror writers, including Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison.” (September 23)
September 30
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi
This unconventional slasher mystery is set in a retirement community and stars a 70-something Final Girl. (September 30)
The Captive by Kit Burgoyne
“A satirical Rosemary’s Baby for our conspiratorial present in which anti-capitalist activists unwittingly unleash terrifying demonic forces when they kidnap a pregnant heiress.” (September 30)
Crossroads of Ravens by Andrzej Sapkowski
“A new standalone novel following fantasy’s most beloved monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia, on his first steps towards becoming a legend.” Read an excerpt from this latest Witcher tale here. (September 30)
Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan
“A delirious and gripping story of fatherhood and masculinity, told through the reimagined Greek myth of Daedalus, Icarus, King Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.” (September 30)
Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada, translated by Philip Gabriel
“Literary misfits” who gather and work at a library displaying works by deceased authors band together when a series of strange events endanger the museum-like sanctuary. (September 30)
Falling in a Sea of Stars by Kristen Britain
“Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the eighth book in the Green Rider fantasy series.” (September 30)
Fate’s Bane by C.L. Clark
In this “tragic sapphic adventure,” peace among the clans of the fens is threatened when a surprising love awakens a new magic. (September 30)
First Contact by Becky Ferreira
“A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for and fixation with extraterrestrials.” (September 30)
The First Thousand Trees by Premee Mohamed
“This stunning novella concludes the story Mohamed started in The Annual Migration of Clouds and continued in We Speak Through the Mountain, bleaker than ever but still in search of a spark of hope in the climate apocalypse.” (September 30)
The Heist of Hollow London by Eddie Robson
Two clones who exist to serve as backups for important executives scramble when their corporate owners go out of business. Their new owner is a scientist who promises them freedom—if they can pull off a dangerous heist. (September 30)
Horror’s New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse by Blumhouse with Dave Schilling
“Celebrate legendary horror studio Blumhouse’s legacy with this lavishly illustrated visual compendium that takes you behind the scenes of the films that have reshaped the horror genre, from The Exorcist to the Paranormal Activity and Halloween franchises.” (September 30)
How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe
“The LitRPG bestseller releasing in a stunning new deluxe hardcover edition, now with a new Afterword.” (September 30)
The Infernus Gate by Anthony Ryan
“The thrilling conclusion to the epic saga of the Seven Swords.” (September 30)
Level: Apocalypse by David Dalglish
In this “epic fantasy isekai LitRPG,” set “inside the mysterious Artifact world of Yensere, Nick has scored a major victory in the war against God-King Vaan, but now the true test of power has begun, and it won’t end until either Nick or Vaan are truly dead.” (September 30)
A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky
“A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story.” (September 30)
A Philosophy of Thieves by Fran Wilde
“Robin Hood meets Parasite meets Six of Crows in multi-award-winning author Fran Wilde’s thrilling, high-tech adventure heist wrapped in a futuristic fantasy where thieves are entertainment for the wealthy.” (September 30)
Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley
“Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the spellbinding sequel to Servant of Earth.” (September 30)
Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei
“The epic tale of two sisters who sail across oceans to find their missing third sister―and Earth’s environmental salvation.” (September 30)
The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden
“A magical cookbook and a summer on her family’s Italian olive farm help a brokenhearted social media chef cook up a satisfying new life in this delectable novel.” (September 30)
Shadowman by Shola Adedeji
“In this thrilling origin story, one young man finds himself in the middle of a war between powerful gods, and tasked with saving the city he holds dear.” (September 30)
The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub
“An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom.” (September 30)
Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire
The October Daye series continues as “Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger… and this time she has more than ever to protect.” (September 30)
So Blooms the Dawn by Julie C. Dao
“Freshly vampiric Lucy Westenra thirsts for revenge in the second and final book of this Dracula retelling.” (September 30)
The Sovereign by C.L. Clark
“The Sovereign brings princess Luca and soldier Touraine together one last time in the thrilling conclusion to C. L. Clark’s beloved queer political fantasy trilogy.” (September 30)
What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
The Sworn Soldier continues as Alex Easton heads to West Virginia to explore a haunted coal mine. (September 30)
Who Will You Save? by Gareth L. Powell
“With settings ranging from the dead sands of Mars to the seedy backstreets of Amsterdam and Buenos Aires, these action-packed tales explore mind-bending ideas through the eyes of unforgettable and all-too-human characters. As their lives implode around them, will they use the moment to save their own skins, or to find a way to make up for past misdeeds?” (September 30)
Widow’s Point: The Complete Haunting by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar
“A riveting found footage narrative about doomed thrill-seekers trapped in a haunted lighthouse.” (September 30)
Wings of Tabat by Cat Rambo
“In the final book of Cat Rambo’s magical Tabat Quartet, we return to the city of Tabat, where Humans and magical Beasts coexist—but uneasily. The exploited Beasts, used for both their labor and their very bodies, are finally fighting back, and turmoil abounds in the city.” (September 30)
Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer
“Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage—half witch, half werewolf—and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.” (September 30)
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