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.” (September 9)
September 16
American Werewolves by Emily Jane
This satirical tale “brings readers from the wilds of the New World to the opulent board rooms and golf courses of the 21st century, where devouring the weak is an American birthright as old as the country itself.” (September 16)
Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon
“A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of The Priory of the Orange Tree.” (September 16)
The Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill
“In this stellar debut fantasy, a trickster Fox god challenges an underachieving acolyte to save herself by saving her own ancestors. But are Nesi and her new friends from the past prepared to defeat the ferocious Wolfhounds of Zemin?” (September 16)
The Enduring Universe by Kritika H. Rao
“The explosive and reality-shattering Rages trilogy, started by The Surviving Sky, concludes as Ahilya and Iravan fight one last time to save everything they’ve ever loved—the survivors of humanity, their families, their home, and each other.” (September 16)
The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews
“With his queen missing, the king’s wrath knows no boundaries.” (September 16)
Exiles by Mason Coile
“A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William—this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.” (September 16)
The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
“In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend.” (September 16)
Fiend by Alma Katsu
“Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this terrifying tale about an all-powerful family with an ancient evil under its thumb.” (September 16)
Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff
“After the deaths of his parents, a witch returns to his spooky family manor and joins forces with his former crush when his parents’ spirits warn them of a sinister threat in this witty and lyrically unique rom-com.” (September 16)
If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
“A true-crime-nail-biter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.” (September 16)
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
“In this paranormal spicy age-gap romance, a successful author—whose novel is being adapted into a movie—clashes with the actor cast as the male lead, all in a cozy mansion filled with friendly ghosts.” (September 16)
A Ruin, Great and Free by Cadwell Turnbull
The Convergence Saga concludes as “the inhabitants of Moon have been very fortunate in the intervening months. Inside their hidden monster settlement, they’ve found peace, even as the world outside slips into increasing unrest. Monsters are being hunted everywhere, forced back into the shadows they once tried to escape from. Other secret settlements have offered a place to hide, but how long can this half-measure against fear and hatred last?” (September 16)
The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
“After a decade, acclaimed science fiction master John Scalzi returns to the galaxy of the Old Man’s War series with the long-awaited seventh book.” (September 16)
The Sleep of Empires by David Annandale
“Eloran is a world of imperious elves, fractious human realms, and the hated, skeletal kaul—with each nation poised to grasp at any advantage over the others … A chance encounter with a pair of mercenaries leads Latanna to a lost crown, a relic of forces the world has tried desperately to forget, and gives her the means to break free from her corrupt family—but at a terrible price.” (September 16)
The Summer War by Naomi Novik
“A young witch who has inadvertently cursed her brother to live a life without love must find a way to undo her spell.” (September 16)
Sunward by William Alexander
“This story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.” (September 16)
To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
This sequel to When Among Crows “pulls from Slavic folklore to explore family, duty, and what it means to be a monster.” (September 16)
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
“A ‘perfect’ witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic.” (September 16)
Veil by Jonathan Janz
“A heart-stopping story of one father who will stop at nothing to save his family.” (September 16)
The Whistler by Nick Medina
“A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror.” (September 16)
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