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I like to read witchy, magical books all year long. But there’s something extra special about kicking back with a magical tale during spooky season. Every October, I read almost nothing but witchy books for the entire month. As such, I’ve got a pretty extensive knowledge of everything from cozy witchy romance to darker, more unsettling tales. Now, I’m here to pass that on to you.
This year’s list of Halloween reading recommendations is a mix of newer books and some old favorites that I think you absolutely need to go back to if you haven’t read them yet. There’s a good mix of cozy, comforting reads and books that go bump in the night. Hopefully, that means there’s a little something for just about any reader looking for a witchy book or two this October.
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Table of Contents
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
- Genre: Romantic Comedy / LGBTQ+ Romance
- Price: $19.00 on Amazon
- Publisher: Berkley
- ARC Received: No
It’s been a few years since I read this one, but I still think about it pretty often. Payback’s a Witch is a delightful sapphic romance that I often pitch as John Tucker Must Die meets a magical competition. It’s fun, surprising, and just a little bit spicy. Plus, if you like book one, there’s a whole series to follow. Though, in my opinion, this first book is far and away the best.
Our main character is Emmy Harlow, a not-so-powerful witch who returns to her hometown to fulfill her duty as the arbiter for the annual witchcraft competition. But once there, she finds herself embroiled in a surprising scheme to get revenge on a double-timing man. Only why can’t she stop thinking about one of his scorned exes, the charming Talia Avramov?
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
- Genre: Romantasy
- Price: $19.99 on Amazon
- Publisher: Bramble
- ARC Received: Yes
Prefer your witchy books set in a more medieval fantasy sort of setting? I’ve got you covered. Wooing the Witch Queen is an absolutely delightful fantasy romance centered on a would-be evil queen who, of course, isn’t all she appears. It had me laughing out loud and swooning in equal measure, and I’m already eager for the next book in this series.
In Wooing the Witch Queen, Saskia strives to keep her people safe from the encroaching empire. To do that, she needs help getting her chaotic magic library in order. So when a mysterious dark wizard basically falls on her doorstep, she’s all too eager to hire Fabian for the job. Alas, Fabian isn’t all he appears to be either. Just as Saskia isn’t all that wicked, Fabian is actually the very imperial archduke she hates, on the run from a life held hostage to the whims of the real dictator around here. Naturally, sparks fly, but will his true identity ruin everything before it begins?
Weyward by Emilia Hart
- Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy
- Price: $20 on Amazon
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
- ARC Received: No
While my first two picks are both fairly cozy, Weyward definitely has thorns. This is a lush, spellbinding story that follows three generations of wild women. Each struggles in her own way, with strange magic she can’t explain and the world’s unwillingness to accept it. Weyward is a haunting, gripping read that doesn’t shy away from what society has done and continues to do to women who don’t fit the mold.
Weyward is set across three different time periods: 2019, 1619, and 1942. Each generation of wild woman is navigating her own struggles against social convention, from actual witch hunts to WW2 chaos and modern-day abuse. Beautifully written, resonant, and quietly magical, this is a story you won’t soon forget.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
- Genre: Cozy Fantasy
- Price: $20 on Amazon
- Publisher: Ace
- ARC Received: No
I’m taking some creative liberties here, as I don’t know that the protagonist of The Teller of Small Fortunes would call herself a witch, exactly. But she does have a magical gift, and this is a great book, so I’m including it anyway. This story of a travelling fortune teller is a lovely, lightly magical hug steeped in found family and a side of delicious baked goods. It’s heartwarming without too many stakes, perfect if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with a magical angle.
In The Teller of Small Fortunes, Tao avoids staying in one place for too long. She tells only small fortunes, but even those have a tendency to come true. Wary of drawing too much attention to herself, she’s a bit of a loner. But somehow, she finds herself tangled up in the search for a lost child. Soon, Tao winds up building up a veritable caravan of companions. But can she trust them enough to open up before the past catches up to her?
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
- Genre: Historical Fantasy / LGBTQ+ Fantasy
- Price: $19.99 on Amazon
- Publisher: Redhook
- ARC Received: No
Back to the more spooky, unsettling side of witchy reads, we’ve got one of my all-time favorites. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is an enthralling story about a world where women are forbidden from doing magic. But of course, that’s hardly going to stop them. This book is a powerful, feminist reckoning with the ways that society tries to stop women from embracing or acquiring power… and how women fight back.
The Once and Future Witches follows three sisters who join a movement determined to recover the forgotten ways of magic. Tied in alongside the suffragist movement, the women soon come up against the forces that seek to keep women separated from their magic, and from the vote. The tagline for this one still sends a chill down my spine, and the story absolutely doesn’t go anywhere you expect it to. “There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.”
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz
- Genre: Fantasy
- Price: $19 on Amazon
- Publisher: Ace
- ARC Received: Yes
Do you still insist Wanda could never be the villain, despite her actions in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Or maybe Poison Ivy is your favorite Batman villain? Well, I’ve got a cozy fantasy for you. Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore follows a plant witch presented with a chance to start over following a life of villainy. And it is an absolute delight, with found family vibes, complex characters, and just the right amount of stakes.
Violet is better known as the Thorn Witch, the formidable right-hand woman to the infamous Guy Shadofade. But after the dark sorcerer’s defeat, she wants to start over, not as a villain, but as a normal person. However, the past has a way of trying to catch up with you, and she soon wonders whether her new life was too good to be true. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a love story in the mix? Because yeah, that too.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
- Genre: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Fantasy
- Price: $17 via Amazon
- Publisher: Penguin
- ARC Received: No
One final recommendation that will break you by the end, for those looking for something a little less cozy this spooky season. Her Majesty’s Royal Coven is quite a wild ride from beginning to end, and it’s just the start of a trilogy that will leave you spellbound. I could never predict where this one was going, and the end cliffhanger had me desperate to read book two.
In Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, we follow several former members of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Veterans of a civil war, each is trying to move on in their own way. For some, like Helena, that means taking over the HMRC itself. But for the rest, it’s about trying to leave the war behind. But now, a powerful young warlock seems to threaten the magical world as the HMRC has known it. And Helena can’t handle this one alone. She recruits her former best friends and covenmates to help, but nothing can quite prepare them for what comes next.
Looking for more witchy vibes to lean into this October? Check out my list of great witchy cozy games to enjoy during spooky season.
**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
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