This month features a new ‚Witcher‘ novel from Andrzej Sapkowski, as well as an uptick in horror as spooky season approaches.
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.
