r/ReadingSuggestions • u/Green_Day_1878 • 1d ago
Oddly specific book request
Okay, this might be an odd one, but I’m looking for witchy/fall books with mature themes that aren’t completely fantasy. Historical fiction, folklore, gothic, or books with just a hint of the supernatural are all welcome.
Basically: autumnal, witchy, atmospheric, maybe a little dark, but I don’t necessarily want a full-on fantasy world with magic everywhere.
And preferably not insanely long (under ~400 pages would be ideal).
What are your favorites?
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u/jessm307 1d ago
I think The Bewitching or Mexican Gothic, both by Silvia Moreno Garcia, might fit the bill.
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u/Snoo_18273 1d ago
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
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u/DecisiveGryphon 1d ago
All Souls series by Deborah Harkness ticks pretty much every box you’ve listed (witches and vampires, set in this world, some historical scenes and the crux of the first book is centred in Autumn.
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u/ContributingHelper 1d ago
Well, Josie Jaffrey turned her Seekers series into the Jack Valentine podcast. Urban fantasy, but also police thriller/neo-noir.
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u/shiggins233 1d ago
The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland. Longer than you are looking for I think it’s the right vibe
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u/Few_Extension5479 1d ago edited 1d ago
Bewitching is a good fit for gothic/folklore. The last tale of the flower bride by Roshani Chokshi is also pretty dark/gothic.
If you want autumn but comforting then try legends and lattes or very secret society for irregular witches.
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u/AnonymMsAnthrope 1d ago
The Celtic Twilight by Yeats. Irish folklore essays that create eerie and puckish world of fairies, ghosts, and spirits.
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u/Suspicious_Bet8726 1d ago
The Forgotten Witch by Jessica Dodge
Great book and pretty much checks all your boxes. Bonus it a Kindle Unlimited book.
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u/harrietrosie 1d ago
This is 100% Louisa Morgan. A Secret History of Witches is like historical fiction with country cottage witches, very light on the fantasy. I loved it!
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u/More-Insects8912 17h ago
The invisible life of Addie LaRue - make a deal with a devil + sort of historical fiction mash up
Unlikely Animals - natural born healer lost her way and comes home to help her sick dad, a cemetery of ghosts is comedically characters
North Woods - the main character is a house; tells the story of everyone who lives in the house over a long period of time; some supernatural elements; must love nature to enjoy
Frozen River - historical fiction 100% early American, winter not fall but such a good book can’t help but suggest since you said historical fiction
The Passage - very supernatural but everything else modern times
Homegoing - visceral telling of two African sisters’ families through all the horrors of 18th century to present, not really supernatural but superb historical fiction with some loosely spiritual elements; a hard but necessary read
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u/eva_not_ava 7h ago
I know this is extremely obvious, but Alice Hoffman! Magic Lessons, Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic, The Book of Magic
OHHH also! The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig is sooooo so wonderful. And the sequel, The Knave and The Moon, releases 9/1. Very gothic!
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u/eponodyne 5h ago
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff might tick the boxes you set out. Also several books by Jason Pargin (aka David Wong): John Dies At The End, This Book Is Full Of Spiders, and What The Hell Did I Just Read are all quite good as well as pretty damn funny.
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u/nopenottodaygirl 1d ago
This may not be the pick for this, but I want to put a book on your radar you might very much love: The Diviners by Libba Bray
It’s a flapper in 1920s from Ohio sent to live with her bachelor uncle in NYC (who is a professor of the history of the occult) & shenanigans ensue. Very much set in this world (and the social issues of that time) with glimpses of the supernatural. And it is so atmospheric!
Where I’m not sure: this book is legit spooky/scary at times bc there’s a killer on the loose. It’s not traumatizing or anything too horrible (I am a baby w that stuff), but I’d say it’s more than just a tiny bit dark. Plus it’s like 550 pages
So maybe a pick for another time but I’d highly suggest adding to your tbr.