October TBR
October is easily one of my favorite reading months of the year. While I don’t tend to read a lot of horror novels, I still eagerly await spooky season each fall so that I can assemble all of my favorite authors in the genre for a month long binge. Also on this least is a cozy mystery and three fantasy novels. I might be giving myself too much credit in thinking I can read nine books this month, especially when three of them are chonkers, but I like a challenge. So without further ado, check out my TBR (to be read) list below. I would love to hear from you in the comments if you have any of these books on your TBR or if you have read any of these books and what you thought. And as always, thank you for reading my blog!
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Genre: Cozy Mystery
This is easily my most anticipated fall release for this year. I absolutely loved Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series, so when I heard this was coming out, I grabbed it on release day. Osman’s books are so clever and always make me laugh out loud. I can’t wait to cozy up with this one. According to the blurb, we are following recently retired investigator, Steve Wilson, as he attempts to enjoy his quiet, routine life. However, he receives an SOS from a family member working in private security to help solve a murder investigation on a private island. Answering the call, he soon finds himself chasing down a killer.
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Western
I stumbled across this book on GoodReads last year and added it to my TBR. I haven’t heard too much about it, but the synopsis appealed to me and with its horror elements, I thought this spooky season was the perfect time to read it. This book is centered around a witch hunt that tracks through Kansas and the motley crew that assembles to claim the reward for the witch’s head. The synopsis sounds kind of wild so expectations are high for this one.
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
I recently finished my re-read of The Way of Kings and so not wasting any time, I am jumping right into book two of The Stormlight Archive series. This will also be another re-read and will continue the story of Kaladin, Dalinar and Shallan as the threat of another Desolation looms on the horizon for the world of Roshar. This is the longest book I have to read this month and I would love to go ahead and get it completed sooner versus later. I plan on picking it up within the first week of the month.
Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Windstead
Genre: Horror
Alright, this will be my first Ashley Winstead book and I just randomly picked this one. As I am typing this, I don’t even know what it is about. Ok, and a quick Google search later…Looks like we have a horror book centered around a serial killer, called the Low Man, who is haunting a small, devoutly religious town and killing “sinners” in their sleep. That sounds creepy enough. I don’t know that I will be reading this one late at night.
Pet Sematery by Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Ah, this book. For some reason, I keep putting this book off and I don’t know why. Okay, that is not quite true. I do know why. This book centers around the loss of a child and the grief the parents experience as a result, and I just don’t know how I am going to do with that. Now that I am a parent of a young child, this book might wreck me. But, this is a classic King book that I want to check off my list so depression, here I come.
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
Genre: Horror
I am a Rachel Harrison fan. I have read all of her books published since the release of Cackle and I think each one just gets better and better. This was an easy auto buy for me when it came out this fall and it’s about vampires. Sold.
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Genre: Urban fantasy
I somehow managed to get an e-arc of this book. I mean, I requested it through Net Galley and by some blessing of the book gods, they sent me a copy but I don’t know why. I was so ridiculously excited that I immediately downloaded it and started reading it. I made it through chapter two before I calmed myself down and forced myself to finish reading my current books first. Joe Abercrombie is on my top three favorite fantasy authors list, and getting an early copy of this book made my year. It doesn’t release until May 2025, so this isn’t out for general consumption just yet. This will be the first book I pick up for October. In it, we are following a group of criminals, monsters and magic practitioners of the dark arts as they are tasked on a top secret, holy mission led by a Brother Diaz. Abercrombie is known for his dark humor and this is supposedly his funniest book yet. I can’t wait.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Genre: Fantasy
I will be continuing my journey through the A Song of Ice and Fire series this month. Book three will officially put me in new territory as this is will be a first time read for me. I have read book one three times and book two twice. Don’t ask. However, I am determined to finally read this series in its entirety. I don’t think I really need to tell anyone what this book is about. The first two books have been fantastic, but also utterly depressing, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world and politics of Westeros.
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Genre: Horror
And finally, we have the last book in Grady Hendrix’s bibliography that I have yet to read. I am a huge fan of his work, and while I have heard that this is his weakest book, I don’t doubt that I will still find it entertaining and infused with the wicked humor that Hendrix is known for. In this book, we are following a support group for…the final girls. Five women that survived, I am assuming, some type of murder spree, and now meet regularly to talk through their experiences while trying to put their lives back together. That is, until one of their gang goes missing. Uh oh. And so now it seems like someone is on to their little group, and determined to take them all out, one by one, until no one is left. I was kind of sad that this was going to be the last book of his on my list, until I saw that Hendrix has another book releasing in January. Crisis averted.
