Summer, fleeting as it always is (at least here in the UK), is gone. We’re now firmly moving into the changeable autumnal season, which—in this author’s opinion—is a great time to get stuck into some reading. It’s colder, wetter, darker and generally encourages a bit more “inside time” – so here are my recommended reads for the autumn.
Now, a word of warning. If you’re expecting cosy vibes (because autumn to you means pumpkin-spiced lattes and golden leaves frittering gently to the ground on sun-dappled woodland walks) then I suggest you temper those expectations now. After all, I’m a fan (and author) of gritty fantasy fiction, remember?
The Heroes
One of the standalone novels set within the world of the First Law, The Heroes is something of an enigma, which I think makes it perfect for autumnal reading. The reason being is that the book covers a single battle, fought between two fractious sides, over a meaningless scrap of land. It should, in essence, feel narrow in scope and short in delivery – but it doesn’t. It feels broad, scathing in its examination of the pointlessness of fighting, and visceral in how terrifying a battle fought with swords and axes must actually be.
The Heroes is one of those books that’s perfect for when the skies darken a little earlier and you feel like getting lost/immersed in a self-contained story from start to finish. It’s also bleak as hell, which makes it a perfect companion to those readers who—like me—can’t help but mourn the end of summer.
It’s a spectacular read, and if you like your fantasy low and dark, and caked in mud and blood, this one is for you.
The Sins of Steel and Shadow
The Sins of Steel and Shadow is the second novel I published, and the first in a new series. A gritty fantasy series that follows the trials and tribulations of The Turned.
The Turned are former humans, “turned” part-vampyr. Ostracised by humans and shunned by “pureborn” vampyrs, they’re forced to survive on the fringes of civilised society (and with my writing, “civilised” is almost always optimistic, at best). They exist in an unforgiving medieval fantasy world where the only things more ruthless than the swords and the knives are the magick and—sharpest of them all—the politics.
The book follows Bail, one of our Turned main characters, as he struggles to keep his head above the proverbial water. An undeniably intriguing proposition convinces him—and two other Turned—to try their hand at becoming assassins. What follows is a whirlwind journey through cramped city slums and lush, open (and autumnal) countryside, taking our intrepid team to bleak brothels and colossal cathedrals alike. There is madness and mayhem aplenty, but also a close examination of marginalised individuals, and what the right (or wrong) push can do for their very souls.
It’s a good book (if I do say so myself) and the beginning of what I expect will be an epic series, perfect for starting when the wind howls and the rain starts drumming against your windows.
The Stand
In my opinion, this is Stephen King’s masterpiece.
He’s got plenty of them, and this just edges IT to that title by a whisker. This is a genuinely phenomenal read.
It’s also long. A chonker, some might say. Which is exactly why I’ve included it in this list. For me, autumn is the perfect season to really dive deep into your reading. Spring and summer are great for flying through your TBR, perhaps devouring more pulpy stories or enjoying something a bit more fun – but the autumn and winter months are for when you can lose an entire evening (and much of the bonafide night, if you become truly engrossed) to a great book.
The Stand will do that. It follows not only the apocalypse at the hands of an inadvertently released bio/chemical weapon, but also the bleak aftermath of society’s collapse. Told from a variety of viewpoints, the characters for which are all brilliantly crafted, The Stand becomes a post-apocalytpic battle of good versus evil, and it’s got one helluva ending.
Winter Warriors
It’s no surprise I’ve included a David Gemmell book on this list. I adore his entire catalogue of published works and will do everything I can to encourage more readers to give his books a go. I even included his 1984 debut on the list of books that made me.
For this list, I’ve picked Winter Warriors, a standalone novel within Gemmell’s Drenai saga. The book has a “get the band back together” vibe as a group of veteran soldiers finds themselves escorting a heavily pregnant princess away from danger. And, obviously, things don’t exactly go to plan.
To that effect, it’s also essentially a “traveling” book – but it doesn’t feel like one. The emphasis is more on the brilliant group of characters, the dynamics and relationships between them, and the action set-pieces, which are among some of Gemmell’s best.
David Gemmell’s work is often referred to as popcorn heroic fantasy, which I think is both accurate, but also slightly misleading. The reason Winter Warriors is on this list is because it’s a quick, enjoyable read – but it will also hit you in the feels a bit, too. It’s action-packed and tragic, leaving you feeling a little wistful for the journey you’ve been on. Something about that just screams “autumn” to me.
Between Two Fires
Speaking of screaming. It’s impossible to mention autumnal reads without at least acknowledging the presence of Halloween. So to cover that base (in blood and viscera) I’m recommending you get stuck into Between Two Fires, by Christopher Buehlman.
The book follows our cast of characters as they travel through plague-ridden France at a time when, in all honesty, it probably did feel like the end of days. Only, in Buehlman’s story, it literally is – with an epic war between angels and their fallen counterparts taking place, as they battle for the mortal souls of all who dwell on Earth. Against this backdrop, we follow a disgraced knight as he reluctantly accepts a fey young girl as his charge, both of whom are accompanied by a brilliantly-written priest.
I’ve covered this in my full review of the book, but this story is visceral. It’s dark and it’s gory, so don’t go for it if you prefer autumn to be more of a cosy/nesting season than a “fill your head with nightmare-fuel” one. That being said, I never once found it gratuitious. I think the book walks the line perfectly between horror and fantasy, and it makes for what feels like a one-of-a-kind reading experience.
Enjoy autumn!
So those are my recommendations for your autumnal reading pleasures. These are the books that are perfect for hunkering down with, perhaps with a roaring fire (or a digital manifestation of one, if the real deal isn’t on the cards) and a nice drink to warm you through.
If you find these recommendations to your taste then I’d love to hear which book(s) you enjoyed! And if you have some ideas of your own for a great autumn read then pop a comment in the box below!
Steve Pannett is an author and designer based in Yorkshire, UK.
He writes primarily in the fantasy genre, combining character-led storytelling with epic, gritty world-building to create dark tales with plenty of action and lots of twists along the way.
He has self-published multiple books and is active online.