Autumn Reading List

Ah, Autumn. Every year I look forward to the weather cooling, the leaves transforming into vibrant jewels on the tree branches, and the return of pumpkin picking and hot chocolate. Picture this: it's a crisp fall day and you're sitting on your front porch with a good book and a glass of apple cider. You're reading something creepy, like horror or mystery, because it is nearly Halloween. Doesn't that sound like a perfect afternoon? I don't know how much time I'll have to read during this season since I am going back to school (I'll be a college sophomore), but I always try to pick up a few books in my limited free time. 

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo 

In case you didn't know, I started reading the Grisha trilogy so I could finally pick up Leigh Bardugo's King of Scars. I reread Shadow and Bone back in May and read Siege and Storm not long after. However, I have yet to complete the trilogy with Ruin and Rising. The series has improved with each book and I am hoping that the finale will be the best yet. The Grisha trilogy centers around the fantasy world of Ravka and the surrounding countries. The story follows Alina, who discovers that she is one of the magical and feared Grisha. However, her unique power places her in a dangerous position as the student of the infamous Darkling, leader of the Grisha army. The first book didn't impress me much when it was first released, but after reading and adoring Bardugo's Six of Crows duology, I decided to give it another shot and so far I have not regretted that decision. 

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Vicious is one of my favorite novels and V.E. Schwab is one of my favorite authors. But I have yet to read the sequel, Vengeful. This is entirely due to me haven forgotten almost everything that happens in its predecessor. Basically, I need to reread this one. I loved the snappy writing and morally ambiguous characters. The plot centers around Victor Vale, former student and friend of Eli, who has recently broken out of prison. Victor is determined to find Eli and get his revenge. Oh, and not to mention the pair's extraordinary abilities. So far, I have never read anything else like it and I anticipate this reread will be spectacular. 





The Huntress by Kate Quinn

I know that fantasy is my typical genre, but once and a while I make a foray into historical fiction. World War II centered novels have always been a particular favorite of mine. I spotted The Huntress in Barnes & Noble a while ago and have been fascinated with the story ever since. Essentially, an English journalist and a Russian bomber pilot join forces to track down a former Nazi war criminal known as the Huntress. The plot sounds unique and different from every other war novel I have previously read. While I have not read Kate Quinn's past work, I do know that it received high praise. I have heard nothing but the same for her second novel.  





Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

This book has been making rounds on the internet, between blogs, YouTube channels, and Instagram posts. All I have seen are compliments. I don't often delve back into YA fantasy (or YA at all) much anymore, but this book has caught my attention and drawn me in. The story seems to be crafted from all the things and tropes I love. For one, it is set in a fantasy library holding magical books of sorcery. Elisabeth has been training to be a warden of these evil grimoires, but when a secret ploy causes one of the most dangerous editions to disappear, she is implicated in the crime. To clear her name and help protect the kingdom she loves, Elisabeth teams up with her arch nemesis, Nathaniel, and finds herself wrapped up in a centuries-old conspiracy. 



Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Can you tell yet that I am really enjoying Leigh Bardugo's books lately? Her latest release, Ninth House, comes out on October eighth and I for one cannot wait. The 4.3 rating on Goodreads suggests that everyone else in the book community is also extremely excited. Ninth House is Bardugo's first adult publication and it focuses on a college freshman named Alex who is the sole survivor of a multiple murder. Secret benefactors have sponsored Alex's education at Yale on the condition that she monitors some of the Ivy's secret societies, which may be hiding even more devious occult practices than anyone realizes. This novel sounds like a wonderfully spooky blend of horror, mystery, and fantasy. 

 

What books are on your TBR list this season?