The Brightvale Bookworm's Top 10 Autumnal Reads

     As the weather begins to crisp up, trees start showing off their colours, and magic begins to fill even the smallest of spaces, there is truly no better delight than curling up with that perfect autumnal read. Oh, I've been waiting so patiently for this time of the year! My side tables are packed, my shelves are bursting, and my lists continue to grow longer as the days grow shorter.

     The question remains — a question that I get constantly — but, Brightvale Bookworm, what do I read?

     Fret not! You're in luck, my wonderful readers, as I've gone through my vast collection and set about curating the perfect list of books for us to settle into as the days begin to grow soft with golden light and magic. I've found everything from darkly atmospheric books to cosy books, to moody and angsty, to spooky and silly with a few non-fiction recommendations as well! Now is the time to find your favourite cosy blanket, make the perfect cup of tea, light that special candle, and settle into your favorite reading chair to join me!

     1. The Heart of the Haunted Woods

     I know we've all been waiting on the edge of our seats for the release of The Heart of the Haunted Woods! And let me tell you, it's been a struggle to find! (You wouldn't believe what my little Schnelly had to go through to get this!)

     A slow but utterly captivating story filled to the brim with intrigue, secrets, and chilling revelations. One thing that stands out the most with this book — and the reason why I've placed it at the top of my list — is the dark and creeping atmosphere of the Haunted Woods. Oh, I've never had such a chill down my spine! It encroaches, surrounds, and fills every inch of this book and is as much a character as the mysterious Ilere. This book explores the twisted connection between the two and just how deep and dark a secret can go.

     I always tell you, my amazing readers, that hype should never be the reason to read a book but I do believe that The Heart of the Haunted Woods has a chance to become a modern classic. Dark, delicious writing and complex characters all blend together in this twisting, esoteric tale about how and why we connect to the world around us.

     2. Wicked Whispers

     I know many readers are divided on Wicked Whispers. It's a book to love or a book to hate but I simply could not imagine going into this changing season without it by my side! It is both whimsical and magical, dramatic and angsty, with two of the most complex and riveting characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

     Wicked Whispers tells the story of a young, passionate Dark Faerie on the hunt for a lost, fabled artifact that she is willing to do anything to find — even if it means using her magic to influence others! Her match, however, comes in the form of a cold and calculating Light Faerie who, in turn, will do anything to make sure such a powerful object will not fall into the hands of a Dark Faerie. A story of rivalry, of secrets, of unbreakable bonds! Oh, it brought me to tears! We follow these two breathlessly as they sweep from the grand libraries of Brightvale to the ruins of Faerieland and Altador and into the deep dark Woods as both Faeries begins to learn the truth — and face their changing feelings — about one another.

     With drama, angst, revealing secrets, and electric magic — Wicked Whispers has it all!

     3. The Usuls Witching Halloween

     If you're looking for more cosy, autumnal that still keeps true to the spirit of Halloween read then I would highly recommend picking up The Usuls Witching Halloween!

     After accidentally unleashing a powerful spell, a young Usul witch must correct her mistake before the Halloween moon rises — along with the ghouls in the Woods! As she races against time, our plucky witch meets a colourful cast of characters such as the charming Mutant Skeith looking for his own magic, the down-and-out Wocky shopkeeper trying to save their shop, and her wily Faerie mentor full of magical secrets!

     A story of oddballs and outcasts, unlikely heroes, and forging the bonds of a true family. A whimsical romp through the woods, The Usuls Witching Halloween is full of charm and delight that will warm your heart and make the air smell like crisp leaves and sweet spices! (Not to mention, what's cuter than one Halloween Schnelly? Three!)

     4. Full Moon Fever

     One of my favorite books, Full Moon Fever captivated me from the first line: "The deadly moon finally revealed her true face."

     This book drops you right in the middle of the action as Hulgar, our terrified and haunted main character, learns that there are some things you simply cannot run away from. A mix of horror, mystery, and the loss of oneself to the beast that lives within, Full Moon Fever grabs hold of you and doesn't let go.

     Hulgar has been changed but into what, he isn't sure. All he knows is that as the moon begins to climb higher into the sky, a fever begins to rise and he realizes much too late that he is the monster he has always feared. This book takes place across a few hours from moonrise to moonset and it will leave you breathless as we slip into Hulgar's haunted mind and run — change — with him.

     Full Moon Fever relentlessly asks the question: Who are you when all you have left is the truth? Chilling, heart-pounding, and utterly gripping in a voice that refuses that let you go until you yourself are also haunted.

     5. Book of Bones

     Now, you think we'd get through this without a classic? Perish the thought! I know we all have a copy of Book of Bones sitting on our shelves with the promise we'd get it to it eventually. This is the season, this is the time!

     Slow and unsettling, Book of Bones introduces you to a strange and surreal world full of bone magic, dark deals, and the unnerving feeling that you're always being watched from the inside out. An old plot has revealed itself much to the tragedy of our unnamed narrator and now the time for revenge. With a lyrical voice, an ominous atmosphere and a masterful manipulation of language, Book of Bones has stood the test of the time where all others have fallen away.

     As a bonus, and if you're still too scared to attempt Book of Bones, I'll throw you a bone (haha!) with Dark Eyes the Aisha. Not as long, not as spooky but still a classic perfect for the season!

     6. My Neighbour the Zombie

     If horror and terror aren't your cup of tea and you're looking for lots of laughs, hi-jinks, and goof-em-ups to go with your spooky season then I'd be remiss not to mention My Neighbour the Zombie. A lovable, laughable tale of two neighbours discovering a friendship despite their differences across life and death while learning that sometimes home really is where the heart is! Literally!

     This story follows an Elderly Acara with a bone to pick with everyone, who has recently moved into a new Neohome in order to get some peace and quiet. One night, he meets his neighbour crawling up out of the ground — a Zombie Lutari! Peace and quiet are quickly replaced with spooky foods, slow shuffling, and lots of groaning. At first, our main character wants nothing to do with his neighbour but the dead always seem to have a way of always coming back.

     Heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny with two unforgettable and ultimately charming, quirky characters who learn that not even death can stop the power of friendship.

     7. Treelurkers & Korbat Halloween

     Now, if you prefer your autumn to be weird rather than spooky then let me suggest the strange two-for-one combo of Treelurkers and Korbat Halloween. I hesitate to go into more detail simply because I believe you should go into this book knowing absolutely nothing. In my opinion, they work their best magic that way.

     We follow the twisty tale of Pip and Pike, two Korbats, who have finally decided to leave behind all they've ever known. Treelurkers and Korbat Halloween are the spiritual successor to one another, both caught in the same loop of characters and world-building. I wish I knew how better to describe it but it is as though they are the same book but inverted in different ways. You can see echoes of each one in the other for this otherworldly, almost fantastical fairy-tale. They're beyond strange, almost bordering the world of absurd but done in a way that will have you constantly turning the pages for more.

     8. Mynci Horror

     And of course, we simply could not go through the season without at least one anthology! Mynci Horror is spine-chilling terror at its finest! A daring collection of Mynci stories that get right down and dirty with the dark. That, of course, is one of the greatest things about short stories as they know how to cut right down to the bone of the tale.

     Mynci Horror has over twenty short stories that explore the shadows of terror, each shade of something darker than the one before. Pulling from folklore and fairy-tales, these twisted and atmospheric stories will have you gripping tight to that cosy blanket as they slowly creep into your thoughts. To Lure the Hissi, The Shattered Bell, and How the Tree Got Its Face were my absolute favourites that will continue to haunt me for the rest of my days!

     If horror isn't what you're in the mood for but still interested in some anthologies then I'd highly recommend the collections of Halloween Ruki Tales that are more cosy and centred around Halloween or Webs of Death as it leans more spooky and is a constant favorite to return to as the days start to get shorter.

     9. Journeying Near Haunted Houses

     I hear you, my dearest readers, and I know that some of you just aren't in the mood for a story but rather information about world around us. Don't worry! There are so many equally delightful non-fiction reads that are perfect for the season! After all, I said treats, not tricks!

     I couldn't wait to suggest Journeying Near Haunted Houses which is a fantastic and detailed book about the anatomy of haunted places and how to safely venture into them. Even if you don't plan on visiting a haunted place, this is still an excellent read as it goes into the process of a haunting and why places such as houses, graveyards, and attics are prime real estate to our ghostly neighbours. It also features interviews with various ghosts that give such a wonderful insight to hauntings and the impact they have on the Haunted Woods itself. I simply could not put this book down! Discerning, informational, and utterly approachable with how it talks about the physics of ghosts, hauntings and the veil between our worlds.

     This is my top non-fiction read for the season!

     10. Meruth The True Story

     And finally, we end on a note of true horror. Meruth The True Story is a dark and haunting memoir written (supposedly) by Meruth.

     We follow Meruth, a Mutant Korbat, from a young age as she grows and mutates in the Haunted Woods. Despite her small stature, she faces up against her odds and puts together the plot that forever carves her name in the halls of history and it will leave you horrified. There is no other word to describe this other than dark. Upsettingly frank and blunt, Meruth does not shy away from the details and neither does she spare them. Every decision is another web that twists inward on itself as Meruth becomes the Meruth we know today. It truly reaches for your heart and twists.

     I will advise the more sensitive of my lovely readers to find another book to keep as companion as this memoir is not for the faint of heart.

     I'll also suggest a few other nonfiction books: Book of Strange and Incurable Diseases, A Formal Interview with the Esophagor and Neopian Autumns. I know this lists focuses heavily on fictional reads but if you'd be interested, my sweet readers, in a list full of non-fiction recommendations then please let me know!

     Oh, this list ended much too soon! I wish I could spend hours talking about these wonderful books with you all. There's so much out there and so little time! I do hope that my list has left you curious and with a few more books added to your own lists for this coming autumnal season. I will also ask that you take care of yourself this season. As these days grow shorter, there are times when the dark feels darker but with a book as your constant companion, you won't feel so alone.

     And, of course, I'm always there reading with you!

     Let me know if you decide to pick up any of these books and as always, let your Brightvale Bookworm know that you're picking up next! I'll be continuing my darkly fantastical read of Dark Gelert Rising and I'll be sure to share my thoughts with all of my wondrous readers!

     As always, read well and wide!

     ~The Brightvale Bookworm