Top new historical-fiction books in October 2025
Last updated:
October 31, 2025
October 2025 featuring new releases by Imogen Hermes Gowar, Natasha Pulley, Anna North, Chevy Stevens, Jenn Bennett, Megha Majumdar, Laura Purcell, Akwaeke Emezi, Lorna Cook, Alyson Richman, Tasha Suri and many more.
-
The Witching Hour: From the creators of The Haunting Season and The Winter Spirits comes a spellbinding new collection of original haunted tales by Imogen Hermes Gowar, Natasha Pulley, Andrew Michael Hurley, Catriona Ward
From the creators of The Haunting Season and The Winter Spirits comes a brand new collection of ghostly talesThere is something peculiar about the hour after midnight.It is the time when darkness reigns.And strange things roam the earth.In this dazzling collection of new and original haunted tales, thirteen bestselling and much-loved authors bring this hour to vivid, spine-tingling life...horror · gothic · fiction · fantasy · anthologies · historical-fiction · ghosts · mystery · season-winter · historical -
![Bog Queen by Anna North]()
Bog Queen by Anna North
The story of an anthropologist's monumental discovery and the clash of civilizations it sets off over the fate of the land that holds usWhen a body is found in a bog in northwest England, Agnes, an American forensic anthropologist, is called to investigate...historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · horror · historical · audiobook · literary-fiction · outdoors · fantasy · realistic -
![The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens]()
The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
The open road beckons.A chance for them to reconnect.Then they make a fatal mistake.It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride...north-america · canada · mystery · audiobook · historical-fiction · suspense · fiction · horror · historical · thriller -
![The Prince of Mourning by Jenn Bennett]()
The Prince of Mourning by Jenn Bennett
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace meets A Study in Drowning in this sizzling gothic romantasy that follows the forbidden romance between a young nurse and a mysterious young man imprisoned by a dangerous occultist.After receiving a strange summons, eighteen-year-old nursing student Molly O’Rinn finds herself the private live-in nurse for a wealthy young man in his haunting Hudson Valley mansion...romance · fantasy · young-adult · gothic · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · paranormal · mystery · audiobook -
![A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar]()
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD“Wondering if there’s a novel out there that gives Cormac McCarthy’s The Road a run for its money? Here you go. [A Guardian and a Thief is] an indelible piece of writing, in equal parts dazzling and devastating...fiction · literary-fiction · sci-fi · dystopia · contemporary · historical-fiction · mystery · book · adult -
-
![House of Splinters by Laura Purcell]()
House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
'Laura Purcell really is a master of the unsettling ghost story' Jen Williams Not every house is a home... Belinda Bainbridge has spent her life in the shadow of her anxious mother, so when her father-in-law dies at The Bridge, his remote ancestral seat, she is secretly thrilled...horror · gothic · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · spooky · haunted-places · ghosts · supernatural · book -
![Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi]()
Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi
From New York Times bestselling author Akwaeke Emezi comes a steamy paranormal romance set in the Black South—a bold new foray that takes us on a journey of magic and fantasy, from the whispering creeks outside the city of Salvation to the very depths of Hell itself...romance · fantasy · fiction · lgbtq · paranormal · low-fantasy · poc-mc · historical-fiction · myths · horror -
![The Distant Daughter by Lorna Cook]()
The Distant Daughter by Lorna Cook
Singapore, 1941: Singapore City lights up with explosions as the first Japanese bombs rain down. Until now, the war has seemed a distant threat for Issey and her friends, drinking and dancing at Raffles. But with the Japanese invasion looming, Issey knows she must leave. Mysterious, handsome Alex Cartwright has sworn he will see her to safety...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · family · war · ww2 · action-adventure · survival · death -
![The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman]()
The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman
From international bestselling author Alyson Richman comes a love story, a ghost story, and an elegy to the healing power of books. Harry Widener boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless book he just purchased in London. After mayhem strikes the ship, Harry’s last known words are that he must return to his cabin for his treasure. Neither the young man nor the book are seen again...historical-fiction · historical · paranormal · fiction · mystery · ghosts · romantic-love · cozy · season-autumn · female-mc -
![The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri]()
The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri
From World Fantasy Award-winning author Tasha Suri comes The Isle in the Silver Sea, a heart-shattering romantasy of sapphic longing, medieval folklore and a love that spans the centuries.In a Britain fuelled by stories, the knight and the witch are fated to fall in love and doom each other over and over, the same tale retold over hundreds of lifetimes.Simran is a witch of the woods...romance · fantasy · wlw · lgbtq · fiction · high-fantasy · historical-fiction · historical · lesbian-mc · poc-author -
![The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow]()
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Starling House, Alix E. Harrow, comes a moving and genre-defying adventure through time – as a reluctant lady knight and a not-so-heroic-historian will fight through time and space to rewrite their tragic fates . . . and finally reveal the truths hidden beneath the greatest legend ever told... -
![Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory]()
Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory
#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Philippa Gregory returns with a dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal, and survival in the court of Henry VIII.Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · death · female-mc · literary-fiction · breakup · domestic-drama · family · early-modern -
![Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen]()
Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen
The award-winning author of The Resisters returns with an engrossing, blisteringly funny-sad autobiographical novel tracing a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship.My mother had died, but still I heard her voice. . . Gish’s mother—Loo Shu-hsin—is born in 1925 to a wealthy Shanghai family where girls are expected to behave and be quiet...urban · new-york-state · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · literary-fiction · parenthood · poc-mc · family · female-mc -
![And Then There Was the One by Martha Waters]()
And Then There Was the One by Martha Waters
From Martha Waters, the author of the “enchanting” (Entertainment Weekly) Regency Vows series, a new historical romance set in 1930s England with a murder mystery twist. In a quaint village in the Cotswolds, Georgiana Radcliffe has accidentally become an amateur detective after helping solve four murders in a single year...romance · mystery · historical-fiction · historical · cozy · fiction · sci-fi · humor · crime · amateur-sleuth -
![Holly by Adalyn Grace]()
Holly by Adalyn Grace
A mysterious and magical holiday novella set in the romantic, Gothic-infused world of Belladonna, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace...romance · fantasy · young-adult · gothic · paranormal · historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · audiobook · historical -
![The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie]()
The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie
When a Native teenager vanishes from her small town—a place with dark ties to an elite historical society—archaeologist Syd Walker is called to investigate...from bestselling author Vanessa Lillie.In the hours before dawn at a local summer camp, Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker receives an alarming call: newly discovered skeletal remains have been stolen...north-america · usa · rhode-island · mystery · fiction · suspense · indigenous-mc · contemporary · horror · thriller -
![Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen]()
Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen
Lev AC Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning seriesPrivate Investigator Evander “Andy” Mills’ next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco—and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles... -
![All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles]()
All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
A genre-bending Gothic mystery with a strong LGBTQIA+ romance from beloved, award-winning author KJ Charles. As the mists descend, the gaslight flickers, and terror takes its hold, two warring lovers must reconcile in time to uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House—and live to tell the tale...romance · mystery · historical · lgbtq · historical-fiction · gothic · fiction · mlm · paranormal · horror -
![The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof, Joanne Bischof DeWitt]()
The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof, Joanne Bischof DeWitt
An Appalachian farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart .New River, Virginia. 1904...romance · historical-fiction · christian · fiction · historical · retellings · audiobook · rural · small-town · womens-fiction -
-
![The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White]()
The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White
In this charming World War II historical romance novella inspired by Jolabokaflod, Iceland’s Christmas Book Flood, an author falls in love with a man who doesn’t know he is her editor.Iceland. December 1944. Tatiana Eliasdottir is looking forward to welcoming her niece Elea for Christmas. She’s determined to give the little girl a joyful holiday and take her mind off troubles at home...romance · historical-fiction · christian · audiobook · historical · fiction · ww2 · spirituality · 20th-century · holidays -
![The Scour by Richard Swan]()
The Scour by Richard Swan
Fifteen years before the events of The Justice of Kings, Vonvalt and Bressinger investigate the imprisonment of a fellow justice for murder...fantasy · fiction · horror · mystery · grim-dark · historical-fiction · crime · male-author · dark · dark-fantasy -
![Dancing in the Dark by Helene Holmström]()
Dancing in the Dark by Helene Holmström
A treasure off the coast of France yields a journey through history in an intoxicating novel about a passion for wine, the complexities of love, and the fulfillment of long-held dreams.Bente Hammar used to be a popular TV sommelier in Stockholm. Her career in limbo, she’s hounded by memories of her father, a wine connoisseur and failed dreamer. But Bente won’t give up...romance · contemporary · audiobook · mlm · historical-fiction · fiction · female-mc · 20th-century · book · adult -
![Love in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell]()
Love in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell
Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I... -
![The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell]()
The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell
The White Octopus Hotel follows Anna, an art valuer, who is asked by an old man to value a strange ornamental white octopus as his dying wish.As she investigates, she follows its trail to the wreck of a glamourous art deco hotel, once known for a collection of magical artefacts...romance · fantasy · fiction · historical-fiction · magical-realism · time-travel · historical · mystery · small-town · paranormal -
![The Sacred & the Divine: A Novel by Kate Christensen, Melissa Henderson]()
The Sacred & the Divine: A Novel by Kate Christensen, Melissa Henderson
History, romance, and the occult come together in a mesmerizing tale of sisterhood, fate, and the darkness lurking in our world.Past, Present, Future. What do the cards say? Only the Wolfson sisters know.The year is 1848, and Daisy, Morrigan, and Avery Wolfson are skilled in the supernatural, particularly tarot readings... -
![Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy]()
Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy
When an earthquake strikes Two Harts Ranch, it shakes the life of Annie Lane along with Cord Westbrook, who has been working as a cowboy on Annie's family's ranch in anticipation of purchasing his own. The only thing delaying his plan is the deep attraction he feels toward Annie, a widow with a child and an established life as a teacher at the Hart School for Orphans...romance · historical · historical-fiction · christian · western · suspense · audiobook · fiction · action-adventure · spirituality -
![Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk]()
Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk
A hidden past. A house with secrets. And one chance for two wounded hearts to find love together.Northern England, Late Fall, 1820Katherine Lockwood is hiding for her life in the most unlikely of places: the forgotten priest holes in the abandoned Winterset Grange manor house. When Kate learns that Winterset’s long-absent owner, Mr...romance · industrial-era · regency · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · mystery · secrets · drama · gothic -
![Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham]()
Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham
In this clean Regency rom-com, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love—until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong? Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James looking for a low-spice, witty Regency romance...romance · historical-fiction · christian · industrial-era · regency · historical · audiobook · fiction · retellings · religion -
![The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett]()
The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett
An heiress with a haunted past enters a marriage of convenience with a man as tempting as the devil himself…and likely just as ruinous.After a scandalous debut sent her into recluse, heiress Margaret Greenbrier returns to the Louisville social circuit for the 1933 season. Laudanum prescription or no, Margot is not crazy. She’s not... -
![A Lady Most Wayward by Darcy McGuire]()
A Lady Most Wayward by Darcy McGuire
A breathtaking historical romance featuring espionage, scandal, and forbidden love in the Queen’s service 👑 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ ‘If Sherlock Holmes met the Bridgerton universe’ ### ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'Drama, intrigue and chapters that would make Jane Austin blush'Her enemy. Her ally. Her temptation... 💖🗡️Phillipa, Duchess of Dorsett is not your average demure lady in society...romance · historical · fiction · historical-fiction · lgbtq · wlw · enemies-to-lovers · mystery · lesbian-mc · womens-fiction -
![A House Between Sea and Sky by Beth Cato]()
A House Between Sea and Sky by Beth Cato
In 1920s California, two people in need of healing find strange refuge in a house with a mind of its own in an enthralling fantasy by the author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge.Grieving Hollywood writer Fayette Wynne arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1926 to finish her latest project in peace...romance · fantasy · historical-fiction · fiction · magical-realism · historical · sci-fi · myths · urban-fantasy · 20th-century -
![A Tempest of Ravens by E.A. Bard]()
A Tempest of Ravens by E.A. Bard
Outlander meets One Dark Window in this sweeping and visceral historical romantasy.SCOTLAND 1651. THE KINGDOM IS ABLAZE WITH WAR AND WITCHES' PYRES.Maeve MacDonnell has spent years being haunted by croaking ravens, terrifying visions, and uncanny abilities she can’t explain. She'd give anything to be free of them—or to finally control them... -
![Psychopomp & Circumstance by Eden Royce]()
Psychopomp & Circumstance by Eden Royce
Ignyte and Mythopoeic Award-winning author Eden Royce pens a Southern Gothic historical fantasy story of a contentious funeral in her adult fiction debut.Phee St. Margaret is a daughter of the Reconstruction, born to a family of free Black business owners in New Charleston...fantasy · horror · historical-fiction · gothic · historical · fiction · spooky · mystery · supernatural · gaslamp -
-
![The Salvage by Anbara Salam]()
The Salvage by Anbara Salam
A twisting, gothic literary thriller sure to delight fans of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, The Wonder by Emma Donaghue, and The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. It is 1962, and Marta Khoury, a trailblazing marine archaeologist, has been called to Cairnroch, a small island off the east coast of Scotland...horror · lgbtq · wlw · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · gothic · mystery · suspense · nautical -
![Dear Bailey by Sarah L. White]()
Dear Bailey by Sarah L. White
Bailey is taking her yearly flight to her father's house in Florida for the summer. When her plane gets delayed, she's forced to spend a few hours at an airport in the middle of nowhere. As a teenager traveling alone, she knows it's best not to talk to strangers-but what if he's in uniform and really cute? Lucas is traveling alone to Florida to report for duty...romance · military · new-adult · contemporary · historical-fiction · drama · action-adventure · fiction · book · adult -
![A Bloody Banquet by Gail Meath]()
A Bloody Banquet by Gail Meath
Now you see a murder, now you don’t… The Golden Age of Hollywood, 1938. It's the annual Awards Banquet at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, and Vivian Steele can’t wait for the star-studded event. She’s attending with her best friend, Carole Lombard, and several acclaimed actresses will be wearing her fashion designs. What she doesn’t expect is for the night to turn deadly... -
![Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell]()
Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell
In this queer retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic gothic story, Rappaccini’s Daughter, a young woman is lured to a lush estate owned by a botanist who might be hiding dark secrets. Cordelia Beecher is on the run. In search of her missing brother Edward, she has fled the oppressive charity school she was raised in, desperate to find the only family she knows...horror · gothic · wlw · lgbtq · retellings · fantasy · fiction · historical-fiction · dark · romantic-love -
![Love Locked by Anni Lee]()
Love Locked by Anni Lee
Some prisons are only as real as we allow them to be.Locked deep in the dungeon of an enemy kingdom, with only rats to keep him company and a death sentence to look forward to, Alistair's life was a dark blur of loneliness and bland porridge. That is, until a delicate stable boy starts bringing him his daily meals... -
![When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee]()
When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee
A fierce, glamorous sapphic fantasy reimagining the secret societies of postcolonial Singapore, for fans of Jade City, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and the feverish intensity of RF Kuang’s Poppy War trilogy. Singapore, 1972: Newly independent, a city of immigrants grappling for power in a fast-modernizing world...asia · southeast-asia · singapore · urban · fantasy · wlw · historical-fiction · lgbtq · historical · fiction -
![The Library of Lost Girls by Kristen Pipps]()
The Library of Lost Girls by Kristen Pipps
Gwen Donovan adores her beautiful and rebellious older sister, Izzy. But the Izzy who returns from the Delphi School for Girls is not the sister who left for the finishing school. Now she is Isolde: dull and complacent and—most shocking—eager to marry...young-adult · fantasy · dark-academia · horror · gothic · fiction · paranormal · lgbtq · mystery · siblings
