The Ultimate Fall Fantasy Books Guide: Witches, Haunted Halls & Dark Magic

Summer’s dead, babes. The pumpkin spice is flowing, shadows are long, and it’s officially time to swap your beach reads for books that feel like candlelight, witchcraft, and just a hint of danger. Welcome to your ultimate fall fantasy books guide.

✨ Heads up! Some links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping me keep this blog running and my TBR endless! 📚

🔮 Brooms, Brews, and Bookish Witches

From secret spells to shadowy covens, these witchy tales bring all the fall fantasy book vibes.

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa – Romance and mystery tangled in spells, curses, and a dangerously alluring witch.
Heartless Hunter by Kristin Ciccarelli – A ruthless witch-hunter finds his match in the magic-wielding girl he should destroy. Read my review here.
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher – A cunning sorceress crashes into a quiet village, bringing wit, danger, and dark enchantments.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – A scholar-witch uncovers a lost manuscript that awakens power, love, and danger.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova – Witches-in-training battle secrets and shadows at a school where tarot magic is everything.
A Throne of Shadows by Tessonja Odette – A witch must embrace her forbidden power to claim the throne in a land of curses.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco – A witch’s thirst for vengeance leads her straight into a deadly bargain with a prince of Hell.
The Coven by Harper Woods – A girl discovers her place in a secret coven, where spells, sisterhood, and danger entwine.

👻 Haunted Halls & Whispering Walls

Dark halls, hidden passages, and shadows that watch you. Perfect for readers who like spooky reads during the fall season.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith – A house that feeds on secrets refuses to stay silent. My review.
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith – Step inside a manor where every shadow hides a curse.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber – Behind the glittering illusions, the estate itself feels alive.
Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fiorina – A crumbling town and its eerie mansion hum with restless spirits.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid – The collapsing manor by the sea seems determined to drag its inhabitants under.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig – Death lingers in every echo of the cliffside estate.
Nocticadia by Keri Lake – This haunted university sets the stage for a dark academia story. My review
Gothikana by Runyx – An ancient castle filled with whispers dares you to uncover its secrets.

🌙 Dark and Cosmic Destinies

This corner of fantasy blends shadowy worlds, ancient curses, and fate written in the stars.

Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander – Features two morally gray raven shifters and a young woman at the mercy of their shadows as hey fight for their forgotten kingdom.
Vesselless by Courtney L. Winn – A half-ghost and a woman who can see spirits team up in a deadly tournament.
The Umbra King by Jamie Applegate Hunter – Set in a prison realm where the king of monsters is both terrifying and alluring.
Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti – The stars decide your fate… even if they want you broken.
The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole – Ancient gods awaken, and the end of worlds is only the beginning.
A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout – A deadly bargain with a god binds love, death, and destiny.

🩸 Blood-Bound Fantasy & Dark Romance

Vampires, mythical beasts, and monsters lurking in the shadows. Perfect for readers who like fantasy with teeth—and claws.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – A maiden’s destiny is tied to secrets, danger, and the kiss of forbidden desire.
House of Fangs and Deceit by Alex Frost – Vampires, intrigue, and danger you can sink your teeth into.
To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker – Beauty hides thorns in this haunting tale of sacrifice and power.
A Cage of Crimson by K. F. Breene – A dark and spicy Red Riding Hood retelling that will leave you breathless.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent – A deadly tournament pits love against survival beneath the vampire’s shadow.
The Marionettes by Katie Wismar – Magic and blood rites intertwine in a world where loyalty is the deadliest gamble.
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent – A short, standalone novella with just enough spicy romance, plot, and a little…bite.

🕯️ Gothic Whispers & Haunting Magic

Think crumbling manors, cursed bargains, eerie mysteries, and the slow creep of magic that feels both enchanting and unsettling. Perfect for readers who crave the hauntingly beautiful side of fantasy.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig – A cursed maiden, a sinister spirit, and a forest that hides more than shadows.
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace – Death is charming, secrets are deadly, and love might be the greatest danger of all.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown – Every door opens to a new world… but some are best left closed.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Cursed to be forgotten, remembered only by the darkness she bargained with.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – A gothic fairytale woven with fragile light and devastating loss. My review.
Anathema by Keri Lake – A descent into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.
Fairydale by Veronica Lancet – Twisted fae bargains and gothic romance in a world where beauty is laced with dread.

🍂 Cozy Magic & Autumnal Enchantments

Lighthearted fantasy that warms the heart while keeping the magic alive. Perfect for readers who want cozy vibes with a pinch of mischief.

Woven by Gold by Elizabeth Helen – A tapestry of magic and family secrets unfolds in golden autumn light in this second installment of the Beassts of the Briar series.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna – Running an inn is hard, but keeping it magical? That’s another story.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – Every charm and potion comes with a little chaos…and a lot of fun.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – From mischievous sprites to hidden realms, magic hides in the pages.
The House Witch by Delemhach – One woman’s home holds centuries of charm, mystery, and a dash of magic.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – Mischief, magic, and an offbeat coven with a knack for trouble.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling – Hexes, heartbreak, and hilariously chaotic magic collide in this cozy tale.

🍁 Falling for a good book

There you have it: The ultimate fall fantasy books guide that hits every moody, witchy, and darkly romantic vibe you could want this fall. No pumpkin spice fluff here—just enough moody reads to keep you booked and brooding until the first snowfall. Which one are you grabbing first? Drop it in the comments, then go light a candle and pretend you’re in a crumbling castle. Page out.

More Book Lists & Guides You Didn’t know You needed

📌Building your TBR? Pin this post and come back anytime you need bookish inspiration