Phantom Newspaper - An Autumn Reading List

The semester is officially in full swing, and so is autumn. The days are getting shorter, the leaves are getting crunchier and coats are now essential when walking to a 9 am lecture. Adjusting to this time of year can feel tricky, but there are many things you can do to embrace the seasonal shift — including getting lost in a good book. From cosy fantasy to page-turning thrillers, the autumn months are made for reading. So, here are four book recommendations to add some pumpkin spice to your shelf.

A Discovery of Witches

Set in Oxford University, A Discovery of Witches follows Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch, as she stumbles upon an extremely powerful, long-lost manuscript during her academic research. The news of her findings puts her under the watchful eyes of many, including fellow scholar Matthew Clairmont, who just so happens to be a vampire. As tensions in the supernatural world build, it becomes clear that vampires, daemons and witches alike are willing to do whatever it takes to find out what Diana knows about the manuscript, putting her in grave danger. It is because of this that an unlikely allyship forms between Matthew and Diana, leading to uncovered secrets, perilous quests and forbidden feelings. The combination of fast-paced fantasy, mysterious magic and a sprinkle of romance make A Discovery of Witches a perfect read for autumn.

by Deborah Harkness

Survive the Night

Survive the Night by Riley Sager is centred around Josh Baxter and Charlie Jordan — two university students who meet through a car-share scheme and are currently driving back to their neighbouring hometowns together. The idea of road-tripping with a stranger is already scary enough, but anxieties are particularly high in the car due to three unsolved murders that have recently taken place on their university campus. As the drive progresses, Charlie begins to notice that Josh is acting strange; his story isn’t adding up and he won’t let her see what’s in the boot of his car. It doesn’t take long for Charlie to suspect that the guy driving her home is the Campus Killer, and she has no way to escape. If you want to spend Halloween at home but don’t want to miss out on the scares then Survive the Night’s unpredictable plot twists and chill-inducing chapters are the solution for you.

by Riley Sager

If We Were Villains

Based in an elite theatre conservatory, this book follows seven students who are studying acting together, specialising in Shakespeare. However, themes of revenge, love, power and death that Shakespeare’s plays are known for become all too real when one of the students unexpectedly dies and another one is found guilty of his murder. Told ten years since the tragedy took place, the story works backwards to reveal the secrets of what really happened that night and the truth is far more complex than anyone could have imagined. The twisted plot and unlikeable characters of If We Were Villains means that it will live in your head for days after reading. If you are looking for some autumnal dark academia vibes, or if you are a fan of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, then you will love this book.

by M.L. Rio

The Ex Hex

After Vivienne Jones’s heart was completely shattered by Rhys Penhallow almost a decade ago, she did what any heartbroken witch would do and placed a harmless little curse on him and his bloodline as an act of revenge. Since then, her small-town life has continued as normal with little to no thought of Rhys…that is until one day, he shows up to let her know that her minor hex maybe wasn’t so minor after all. With the effects of the curse posing a looming threat to the entire town, Rhys and Vivienne are left with no choice but to forget about their past and work as a team to break the magic. The Ex Hex is a second-chance, magical, autumnal romance that will make you laugh out loud and feel the love— Halloween doesn’t always have to be scary!

by Erin Sterling