12 new science fiction and fantasy releases to get chills with this October
By Lacy Baugher
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, we’re not talking about Christmas. It’s now October and Fall is officially here. Time for pumpkin spice everything, cozy sweaters, boots, and best of all, spooky season! Yes, ’tis the time of year for witches, ghosts, and all manner of things that go bump in the night, both in the real world and multiple fictional ones.
And this month’s new science fiction and fantasy releases don’t disappoint in that regard.
From Rachel Harrison’s Cackle, with its decidedly witchy vibe; to Margaret Rogerson’s Vespertine, which features a novice nun who must battle the restless spirits of the dead; and Aden Polydoros’s The City Beautiful, where a mysterious string of murders must be solved, with there’s plenty of creepy content hitting shelves at a bookstore near you this October.
But if you’re not in the market for any spooky season-themed reads, there’s plenty of other options arriving over the next few weeks. There are not one, not two, but three different folklore retellings (Sistersong, A Spindle Splintered, and Little Thieves) as well as multiple climate fiction titles, which explore the potentially deadly outcomes of our the current situation on our planet (Trashlands, Glimmer). There’s surely something new for everyone’s taste this month!
What October science fiction and fantasy releases are worth your time?
Here are 12 of our picks for the best science fiction and fantasy releases hitting shelves this month. What’s going on your October must-read list?