Hi historical fiction fans!
It’s the first week of October, and you know what that means: time for supernatural historical fiction! I’ve got a month-long series planned full of fun, spooktacular historical fiction for your seasonal reading pleasure. First up are historical fiction books full of witches. You know you can’t resist them.
The start of Autumn also means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Bookish Goods
Ghost Books Sweater from La Fey Collection
These little ghosties love reading just as much as you do! A sweatshirt featuring ghosts and books is just perfect for a cozy October. $35
New Releases
The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce (October 3, 2023)
Sarah Forbes Bonetta was enslaved as a child, but at seven, the kidnapped Yoruba princess is “gifted” to Queen Victoria. Haunted by the horrors of her past and now paraded around in court, the disconnect between Sarah’s status as both insider and outsider is a constant struggle. But her keen intellect and charming personality make her a favorite in Victorian London, even as she searches for a place she can truly call home.
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar (October 3, 2023)
The discovery of an unknown designer who once made a dress for Greta Garbo, now housed in the Smithsonian Museum, brings to light the story of a young girl in 1920s Seattle who dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. When her friend gets a job as a dancer in a downtown club, Zora finally finds her chance to make a name for herself among the glittering nightlife of the Speakeasies. But is pursuing her dream worth the cost?
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer
When the witchfinder arrives to East Anglia in 17th century England, a voiceless midwife is enlisted to search for “devil’s marks” on the accused. Unable to speak up for the local women being hunted and detained, Martha must decide whether to save the others or protect herself.
The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris
After a devastating fire kills her father and disfigures her, Aila and her mother move to a remote parish in the Scottish highlands to get away from their past. But the minister’s interest in them only serves to alienate them from the locals further. And when a troupe of entertainers arrives, bringing with them joy Aila and her mother haven’t felt since before the fire, it becomes clear that the truth means nothing when faith can be invoked.
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
The line between healer and witch has often blurred, and it’s never more clear to Rue, who has reluctantly continued her mother’s work as a midwife than when she delivers a baby the townsfolk believe is cursed. Soon, her neighbors eye her with suspicion. But the secrets she’s keeping stretch back far longer than anyone could imagine, even those so ready to suspect the worst of her.
You might also enjoy Everyone Know Your Mother is a Witch, The Mercies, and The Manningtree Witches.
That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.
If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on Goodreads, Instagram, and Litsy, my favorite bookish social media.
Right now I’m reading The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. What about you?