82 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Releases

October is here and the amount of new books dropping this month is, appropriately, terrifying. Over 80 new titles await your eyeballs below, with new entries from established authors (Alan Moore, Jeff VanderMeer) and emerging talents alike—as well as topics as varied as frisky witches, deep-space adventures, monstrous quests, haunted houses, fantastical missions, and way far beyond.

October 1

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi 

“A kitchen witch with a penchant for baking and a (literally) cursed love life meets someone who’s worth breaking a hex for in this enchanting romance debut written with a heap of spice and an equal measure of heart.” (October 1)

Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories From a Career in Hollywood by Barry Sonnenfeld 

A new behind-the-scenes look back at the veteran director’s four-decade career, including The Addams Family, Addams Family Values, Men in Black, Wild Wild West, and many more. (October 1)

The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer 

This sequel to The Darkness Outside Us is described as “another ambitious, genre-bending novel and epic love story that spans thousands of years and the far reaches of the galaxy.” (October 1)

Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne 

The Ink & Sigil series concludes as “an ink-slinging wizard pursues the answer to a very personal mystery: Who cast a pair of curses on his head?” (October 1)

Catan by Klaus Teuber 

This tale written by the creator of the popular board game is set in Viking-era Norway, and follows a trio of half-brothers who travel to Catan, Land of the Sun to start a new life after running afoul of a local chieftain. (October 1)

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo 

A demon loves her city until it’s destroyed by angels—then must team up with an angel to help rebuild in this tale described as “both a brilliantly constructed history and an epic love story of death and resurrection, memory and transformation, redemption and desire.” (October 1)

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram 

“A mind bending and visceral experimental horror about a young man trapped in an infinite Montreal subway station.” (October 1)

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski 

A trio of sisters use their clairvoyant powers to dazzle customers at their tea shop. It’s a copacetic life until different forces—supernatural, pragmatic, and romantic—begin to pull them apart, and an old family curse begins to take hold. (October 1)

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin 

In this cozy romance, an ex-celebrity chef whose magic powers are on the fritz has a terrible October—then wakes up after making a wish to relive the month and realizes she’s gotten a second chance. (October 1)

Good Dogs by Brian Asman 

This werewolf story is “a heartfelt and harrowing story of survival, belonging, found family, and the lengths we’ll go to protect it.” (October 1)

The Great When: A Long London Novel by Alan Moore 

The latest from the acclaimed author is “the first book in an enthralling new fantasy series about murder, magic, and madness in post-WWII London.” (October 1)

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara 

A grim reaper toiling for SCYTHE (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) is fine with the mundane quality of her gig—until she’s drawn into an urgent mystery involving a missing soul. (October 1)

House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning 

A new romantasy series kicks off as “a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets.” (October 1)

The Hushed by K.R. Blair 

A college student who’s secretly a “Hushed”—a creature spawned from a dying human’s secret—investigates the mystery that gave her life while falling for the one person who might spell her doom. (October 1)

The Last Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison 

“An anthology more than half a century in the making, The Last Dangerous Visions is the third and final installment of the legendary science fiction anthology series.” A posthumous release for its controversial editor, contributors include Max Brooks, James S. A. Corey, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Cory Doctorow, and more. (October 1)

The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August 

“Scout is an Archivist who scours the dead worlds of the cosmos for their last gifts: interesting technology, cultural rituals—anything left behind that might be useful to Home and their survival.” Could a long-lost alien message be the key to everything? (October 1)

Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun, translated by Shanna Tan 

“In this enchanting tale—a blockbuster bestseller in Korea—the enigmatic owner of a magical laundromat that erases people’s painful memories must learn to find her own peace before she can truly help others.” (October 1)

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky 

In this queer holiday tale, a Christmas Eve mishap means newlyweds must take on the roles of Santa Claus and “Merriest Mister” to save the festive season—and maybe their marriage.(October 1)

A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne 

The Tomes & Tea queer fantasy series continues as Kianthe and Reyna pause their hunt for dragon eggs to capture a river pirate—not realizing they’ll be forced into re-matchmaking exes with a very tangled history. (October 1)

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Laing

“An epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.” (October 1)

The Undetectables Series – The Undead Complex by Courtney Smyth

In this “witty, witchy fantasy murder mystery packed with ancient magic and fiendish puzzles,” magical forensics investigators Mallory, Diana, Cornelia, and Theodore are “hired to solve a murder on a TV shoot by the victim herself.” (October 1)

October 8

The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen 

“A spine-tingling, queer gothic horror debut where two men are drawn into an otherworldly spiral, and a journey that will only end when they reach the darkest part of the human soul.” (October 8)

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim, translated by Anton Hur 

“In an Empire run on necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood. Their corpses are wrapped in chains and drained of magic to feed the unquenchable hunger for imperial conquest. Born with magic, Arienne has become resigned to her dark fate … but there may be another future for her, if she’s willing to fight for it.” (October 8)

The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke 

“A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge.” (October 8)

Dark Space by Rob Hart and Alex Segura 

“A sweeping sci-fi spy thriller that blends the epic scope and character-driven spark of Star Trek with the intrigue of John le Carré’s Smiley novels.” (October 8)

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo

This riff on Cinderella imagines that a not-so-wicked stepsister summons a fairy godmother to help save her from a dreaded arranged marriage—but it’s an ask that comes with a pesky price. (October 8)

The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan 

This tale inspired by Chinese mythology follows a young man with a magical gift for matchmaking who’s drawn into an dragon-fueled adventure after discovering a miracle cure for his mother’s illness. (October 8)

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch 

“Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.” (October 8)

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni 

“Two sisters. A lost imperial treasure. The world’s greatest puzzle master has twenty-four hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life… or die trying.” (October 8)

A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden 

The Sacred Stones fantasy trilogy concludes as Kane and Arwen work together to save the world—and each other in the process. (October 8)

Sargassa by Sophie Burnham 

“An unlikely group of rebels are ready to burn down the empire in the first book in a new speculative trilogy that explores gender, sexuality, and oppression within an empire teetering on the brink of rebellion.” (October 8)

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole 

“The first in a slow burn, epic romantasy series following one woman who must risk everything to save her family—and all of mortalkind.” (October 8)

The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Pañaranda 

“The Serpent and the Wings of Night meets Shadow and Bone in a seductive, star-crossed, dark romantic fantasy loosely inspired by the Greek myths of Astraea.” (October 8)

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche 

Amid the Black Plague in 14th century Italy, a woman with healing powers who was once expelled as a witch returns to help—only to find city leaders are eager to use her for a mission that has nothing to do with curing the sick. (October 8)

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske 

This “enemies-to-lovers” queer fantasy romance promises that “yes, the swords do cross.” (October 8)

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

“In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.” (October 8)

The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo 

“A lawyer and her elderly great-aunt use their supernatural gifts to find a lost child in this richly imagined and empowering story of motherhood, magic, and legacy.” (October 8)

October 15

Alliance Unbound by C.J. Cherryh and Jane S. Fancher

The Hinder Stars series continues to further explore “the technological and sociopolitical challenges of humanity’s journey to the stars.” (October 15)

American Rapture by CJ Leede 

“American Gods meets The Last of Us in this epic and sweeping story about the end of the world as we know it.” (October 15)

The Ancients by John Larison 

In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by climate change, young siblings go on a quest to find their mother, who’s been taken captive and is plotting a rebellion against an elite that’s starting to slip from power. (October 15)

And the Sky Bled by S. Hati 

“Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals—a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress—race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.” (October 15)

Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller 

“After the Joker’s death, Batman and Gotham City face a mysterious new threat in this direct sequel to Tim Burton’s iconic Batman.” (October 15)

Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon 

“In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner—a minotaur—in this steamy romantasy.” (October 15)

Curdle Creek by Yvonne Battle-Felton 

“For fans of ‘The Lottery’ and The Hunger Games, this novel set in a small town with a sinister tradition is chilling in the best possible way.” (October 15)

House of Frank by Kay Synclaire

“A warm and hopeful story of a lonely witch consumed by grief who discovers a whimsical cast of characters in a magical arboretum—and the healing power of found family.” (October 15)

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens 

“An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland.” (October 15)

An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka 

“The ultra-rich control magic—the same way they control everything else—but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy.” (October 15)

Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake 

This short fiction collection gathers 14 “magical ruminations on life, death, and the love―or desire for revenge―that outlasts both.” (October 15)

Killing Time by Jodi Taylor 

The Time Police series continues as “a ghost train, lost in Time, hurtles through the night with two members of Team 236 trapped on board while the third struggles to track their progress through the Time Map and effect a rescue … What is the future for Team 236? And do they even have one?” (October 15)

Lightning in Her Hands by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

“Gifted—or cursed—with the power to influence the weather, one woman must embrace her wild heart in the next electric romance from the author of Witch of Wild Things.” (October 15)

The Nightward by R.S.A. Garcia 

This tale described as “Caribbean mythology meets The Witcher” explores “a world where women warrior-magicians rule, and a child princess and her bodyguard must flee an attempted coup and evade the wave of darkness sent to kill her.” (October 15)

On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs 

This release is “the electrifying sequel to These Burning Stars, the Philip K. Dick Award-winning space opera novel about revenge, power, and the price of legacy.” (October 15)

Polostan by Neal Stephenson

This release is “the first installment in a monumental new series—an expansive historical epic of intrigue and international espionage, presaging the dawn of the Atomic Age.” (October 15)

Pride and Prejudice in Space by Alexis Lampley 

A sci-fi riff on the romantic Jane Austen classic. (October 15)

Rogue Community College by David R. Slayton 

An elite assassin with a rare talent for blood-borne magic is sent to a special school to hone his gifts. There, he meets a Sea Elf with an intriguing secret. (October 15)

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy 

“The charming tale of an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival as they venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell that can break the curse between them—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together.” (October 15)

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris 

“In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale—part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery—the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.” (October 15)

The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, Volume 5 edited by Paula Guran 

“Nineteen tales of the haunted, weirdly surreal, evil incarnate, frightening futures, and much more.” (October 15)

October 22

Absolution: A Southern Reach Novel by Jeff VanderMeer 

“The surprise fourth volume in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach series―and the final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time.” (October 22)

Bane of Asgard by Cinda Williams Chima 

The Runestone Saga continues as “Eiric, Reginn, and Liv find allies and enemies in unexpected places and draw on new strengths as they seek to prevent the destruction of the last of the Nine Worlds.” (October 22)

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey 

Standout sci-fi stories by P. Djèlí Clark, James S.A. Corey, Andrew Sean Greer, Grady Hendrix, Rebecca Roanhorse, and more. (October 22)

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson 

A gladiator hoping to win enough to gold to help his ailing sister becomes embittered with the fighting life—until he meets an elven royal who offers to help him, for a price. (October 22)

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

“Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, have to team up with other contestants not just to survive, but to solve a deadly puzzle in this third, mind-twisting novel in the addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.” (October 22)

The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynner 

“The earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne’s bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance.” (October 22)

The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines 

“In this darkly magical fantasy debut set in Washington State, a closeted teenage psychic foresees the death of his sworn enemy, and is forced to work with him to save his life. Sparks fly, but some ghosts don’t want to stay buried.” (October 22)

It Will Only Hurt for a Moment by Delilah S. Dawson 

“A young woman hopes to reinvent herself at an isolated artists’ colony… only to be drawn into its dark, twisted past.” (October 22)

Memorials by Richard Chizmar 

“A group of students encounter a supernatural terror while on a road trip through Appalachia.” (October 22)

Monstrous Nights by Genoveva Dimova 

“The breakneck conclusion to the Slavic folklore-inspired Witch’s Compendium of Monsters duology.” (October 22)

Remember You Will Die by Eden Robins 

“Told entirely through obituaries and ricocheting through time, Remember You Will Die is an innovative, genre-bending epic about the messy tapestry of human history and the threads that connect us.” (October 22)

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G. Parry 

“A mythic, magical tale full of secret scholarship, faerie curses, and the deadliest spells of all—the ones that friends cast on each other.” (October 22)

Stay in the Light by A.M. Shine 

The sequel to recently adapted tale Watchers follows Mina after her nail-biting escape—and the new perils that soon begin lurking in her life. (October 22)

October 29

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang 

“The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever in this standalone dark fantasy.” (October 29)

The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond 

This second entry in the Fireborne Blade series finds Sir Maddileh and Saralene set out on a perilous journey to the underworld. (October 29)

Dungeons & Dragons: Worlds & Realms: Adventures from Greyhawk to Faerǔn and Beyond by Adam Lee 

“Celebrate 50 years of the spellbinding settings and planes of Dungeons & Dragons with this beautifully illustrated exploration of the multiverse.” (October 29)

Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta 

“This strange and sexy novel of queer love in a small town is an unsettling reminder that the horrors of modern life [are] a monster ready to possess us all.” (October 29)

Masquerade by Mike Fu 

When a house-sitter in New York discovers eerie similarities between his life and a novel set in 1930s Shanghai, it sparks a series of peculiar events involving ghosts, riddles, a disappearing friend, and blurred boundaries. (October 29)

Nether Station by Kevin J. Anderson 

This release is described as “a thrilling mix of epic science fiction and Lovecraftian horror.” (October 29)

The Nightmarchers by J. Lincoln Fenn 

A struggling journalist travels to a remote island in search of a rare flower—while also tracing the troubled path of a relative who perished there under mysterious circumstances decades earlier. (October 29)

The Queen by Nick Cutter 

In this horror novel, a young woman receives a mysterious text from her missing (and presumed dead) best friend—and goes on a harrowing quest to uncover the truth about what really happened to her. (October 29)

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher 

“Former friends and former flames reunite on a mayhem-spike quest in this cozy romantasy.” (October 29)

Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco 

The Prince of Sin romantasy series continues as “two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale.” (October 29)

Usurpation by Sue Burke 

The author returns to her Semiosis series as the Stevland infiltration of Earth continues. They successfully took over their previous planet, so Earth shouldn’t put up much of a fight… right? (October 29)

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.