Top new sci-fi books in October 2025
Last updated:
October 31, 2025
October 2025 featuring new releases by Marie Lu, Josie Silver, Megha Majumdar, Ali Hazelwood, Bruce Holsinger, Axie Oh, Jennifer Estep, Carlene O'Connor, D'Arcy Adrian-Vallance, Cate C. Wells and many more.
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Red City by Marie Lu
The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles. Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation...romance · fantasy · sci-fi · urban-fantasy · dystopia · fiction · paranormal · enemies-to-lovers · young-adult · urban -
Kooky Spooky Love by Josie Silver
An up-and-coming ghostbuster and her motley crew tackle a devilish high-wire act, aided (or more often, interrupted) by her rakish ex and the sarcastic reporter she can't seem to shake—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Spooky Love.Maplemead Castle is crawling with ghosts, and the new owners need them gone...romance · paranormal · spooky · womens-fiction · fiction · fantasy · sci-fi · supernatural · ghosts · humor -
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 -
First by Ali Hazelwood
A general plans to use a nobleman's bride to teach him a lesson. After meeting her, he decides to keep her for himself...romance · omegaverse · sci-fi · paranormal · age-gap · multi-pov · new-adult · marriage-of-convenience · post-apocalyptic · steamy -
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
From the acclaimed author of the "wise and addictive" (New York Times) The Gifted School comes a riveting family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, killing an elderly couple, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun...fiction · season-summer · technology · sci-fi · suspense · psychological · family · technothriller · book · adult -
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The Demon and the Light by Axie Oh
Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in The Demon and the Light, the hotly anticipated follow-up to Axie Oh's The Floating World.The battle is over, but the war is just beginning...With the help of her friends and allies, Ren managed to topple the General's insurrection, but the Floating World and its territories are still under threat of attack from the rival Volmaran Empire...romance · fantasy · young-adult · myths · retellings · magic · poc-mc · poc-author · sword-sorcery · steampunk -
Only Rogue Actions by Jennifer Estep
“This is space opera at its finest.”—Ilona Andrew, #1 New York Times bestselling author on Only Bad OptionsNew York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new, action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance...romance · sci-fi · fantasy · space-opera · paranormal · magic · audiobook · space · action-adventure · psychics -
Come Through Your Door by Carlene O'Connor
Against the stark beauty of southwest Ireland, Carlene O’Connor’s atmospheric County Kerry mystery series continues, and this time veterinarian Dimpna Wilde must reckon with a stalker whose obsession has turned deadly . . .“Isn’t this how every ghost story begins?” The roads around Dingle are whisper-quiet in the small hours of a rainy night, empty of the tourists who throng the town by day...mystery · siblings · psychological · suspense · murder · whodunit · fiction · supernatural · sci-fi · cozy -
fiction · sci-fi · mystery · classics · literary-fiction · contemporary · children · book · literary · adult
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Trade by Cate C. Wells
When my husband replaces me with a younger model, I’m entered into the lottery and traded to an Outsider for fuel. I expect a wasteland, but when the bunker doors open, I see green trees, blue skies, and him—a man half my age with a stone-cold face and a machete strapped to his thigh. I’ll be lucky to escape him alive. That’s what we’ve been told all our lives...romance · dystopia · forced-proximity · sci-fi · audiobook · post-apocalyptic · fiction · survival · age-gap · enemies-to-lovers -
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 -
The Delver by Tiffany Roberts
She is the dawn after a long, dark night, and he will make her his.Urkot has always felt unappealing, undesirable. Unwanted. Scarred by war and lacking the grace and speed of other male vrix, he resigned himself to a life without a mate long ago and thought he was content with that fate.Everything changed when he met Callie. Beautiful, passionate, fierce, clever Callie. So small, so soft...romance · paranormal · sci-fi · monsters · mystery · time-travel · survival · action-adventure · fantasy · fiction -
Ravenminder by Lindsay Cummings
A kingdom at war. A girl with a gift. A destiny to be revealed.Your new romantic fantasy obsession awaits in this captivating epic adventure, perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas.………The sky is a dangerous place for a girl without wings.In the war-torn kingdom of Lordach, Ezer has spent two years as the Ravenminder of Rendegard...romance · fantasy · fiction · slow-burn · magic · enemies-to-lovers · action-adventure · war · sci-fi · mythical-creatures -
The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts
Love in the Time of Serial Killers meets The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window in this delightful romp about a recently broke divorcée who moves in with her housebound mother only to spend their days spying on her grumpy, mysterious and sexy new neighbor... -
Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams
Dungeons & Dragons meets The Wizard of Oz in this darkly hilarious romantasy adventure in which a young woman who will do anything to rescue her sister from an evil sorcerer's curse hires a ruthless assassin. They embark on a quest with a band of misfits, one of whom harbors a devastating secret that could ruin her fairy-tale ending...romance · fantasy · young-adult · sci-fi · epic · dark · grumpy-sunshine · cheerful-mc · grumpy-mc · paranormal -
Red Star Hustle / Apprehension by Mary Robinette Kowal, Sam J. Miller
Two expertly crafted crime stories set in a far-future science fiction universe, from two award-winning authors known for their gripping plots and unforgettable characters—a short novel and a long novella that will thrill fans of space adventures, mystery, and intergalactic intrigue in this Saga DoubleRed Star Hustle Aran, a happy-go-lucky high-class escort, is on the run after he’s framed for...sci-fi · fiction · lgbtq · action-adventure · audiobook · space · space-opera · polyamory · space-travel · anthologies -
One Bad Night & Other Stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Rachel Harrison, S.A. Barnes, Kylie Lee Baker
Horror lovers everywhere, get ready for... ONE BAD NIGHT.In “Two Observers of the Slaughter Rites on Gannet Island," an anthropologist and his wife travel to the remote Gannet Island to observe a mysterious yearly ritual.In “My Lithopedia," a woman learns that she had an unborn twin sister, extracted as a stone baby during her late mother’s autopsy and decides to keep it... -
King Sorrow by Joe Hill
Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll—and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot—is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library...horror · fantasy · fiction · dragons · dark · dark-fantasy · spooky · ghosts · suspense · supernatural -
Service by Claire Kent
I never set out to be a leader. I only fought to survive in a cruel, broken world. But now I lead a rebel group, plotting and acting against the oppressive Central Cities government. It's important work, and it's the only thing that can matter to me.At my right hand has always stood Ben. He's my second, my advisor, my friend, and often my bodyguard. He's never let me down...workplace · apocalyptic · steamy · sci-fi · post-apocalyptic · romance · dystopia · fiction · book · adult -
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Brood by Claire Kent
For years, I’ve been waiting to turn twenty-one so I can marry, start breeding, and contribute to life in our bunker, but just before my spousal ceremony the council makes a change. Instead of marrying the boy who’s always been my best friend, I’m expected to marry Will instead. Will is a stranger—gruff, intimidating and fifteen years older than me...romance · forced-proximity · post-apocalyptic · sci-fi · age-gap · arranged-marriage · slow-burn · omegaverse · small-town · futuristic -
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 -
Pets in Space 10: Nine Original Science Fiction Romances by Michelle Howard, S.E. Smith, Skye MacKinnon, Pauline Baird Jones
Nine Interstellar Tales. Nine Unforgettable Romances. Nineteen Adorably Badass Pets.In this tenth-anniversary edition of PETS IN SPACE®, you'll find smart-mouthed birds, cyber armadillos, tiny dragons, and alien creatures who steal the show — and sometimes save it. Across distant planets, space stations, and magical realms, unlikely heroes and heroines are drawn together by danger, fate..paranormal · space-opera · sci-fi · fiction · genetic-engineering · anthologies · romance · galactic-empire · space · adult -
Bait by Adriana Herrera
Alma Corvado has spent all her twenty-nine years believing there was no world beyond the bunker she’d always called home. Bound by duty and the fickle whims of the council she has only ever indulged in one simple rebellion.When her act of defiance finds her being pushed out into the dangers of the outside, she discovers that the world never ended...romance · dystopia · sci-fi · audiobook · fantasy · post-apocalyptic · fiction · polyamory · lgbtq · friends-to-lovers -
Dream Pack: A Why Choose Omegaverse Fated Mates Romance by Jane Handler
I thought I'd finally learned the truth about everything–but it turns out, that was just the beginning. Love might span universes, but so does hate.A love that spans the universe. A second chance at romance. A secret she can't remember that could tear them apart. Again...romance · omegaverse · reverse-harem · mental-illness · steamy · polyamory · slow-burn · alternate-history · fiction · sci-fi -
Take Me Back to Yesterday by Jasmine Little
He was her best friend. Now he’s just the boy who killed her sister.Once wild and fearless, Emma Adler is now crushed and lonelier than ever as she navigates life without her sister. She carries heavy guilt for not being there when her sister needed her most—the day Myles Green, the timid boy next door, pushed Mallory off a bridge...romance · friends-to-lovers · fantasy · murder · mental-illness · mystery · contemporary · crime · fiction · time-travel -
Xantera by Grace Pearce, Mariah Montoya
In a utopian society ruled by the Twelve Guardians, twenty-three-year-old Saskia has been taught to never question those who protect her city, Xantera, from the Monster who prowls beyond the Wall—even when they demand living sacrifices in exchange for this protection... -
All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu
Award winning author Ken Liu returns with his first sci-fi thriller in a brand-new series following former “orphan hacker” Julia Z as she is thrust into a high-stakes adventure where she must use her cybersecurity and hacking skills to unravel a virtual reality mystery, rescue a kidnapped dream artist, and confront the blurred lines between technology, identity, and the power of shared dreams... -
Bookwyrm Acquisitions by Constance Lopez
How far would you go to get something you really wanted? Like, this-is-the-key-to-achieving-your-ultimate-happiness wanted?Hi, I’m Cammie. I work at a bookshop, I love a quiet night in, and I’m a dragonshifter with no magic to speak of. Which means unless I can grow my hoard—and by extension, my magic—I’m not much different than a human...romance · urban-fantasy · dragons · fantasy · paranormal · fae · cozy · vampires · shapeshifters · fated-mates -
Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
Perfect for fans of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, with a modern gothic twist.High in the Rocky Mountains on a secluded campus, sits Hildegard College, a celebrated institution known for its scientific innovation and its sprawling, botanical gardens. Historian Robin Quain has been awarded a residency to examine Hildegard’s impressive collection of ancient manuscripts, but she has a secret...horror · dark-academia · fiction · mystery · gothic · audiobook · fantasy · supernatural · paranormal · suspense -
Bride of the Scarred Alien by Miranda Martin
Years after the human generation ship crashed on Tajss, survival isn’t enough—especially for a woman who’s been told she’s weak.Kara has spent years living in the shadow of stronger voices, scraping by in the dust and heat of a dying world. When she volunteers for a desperate hunt for food, she expects death.Instead, she finds him—the scarred Zmaj warrior who will change everything... -
Broken Obsession by Chani Lynn Feener
*Broken Obsession is Ares's book, introduced in Distant Heart, and is a Dark MM Sci-Fi Romance about a college student obsessed with a game, and eventually, the voice actor who voices his favorite character. BLURB TO COMEThis book will come with trigger warnings, so place keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to preorder... -
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His Secret Omega: A Dark MM Omegaverse Romance by Chani Lynn Feener
Sky Tancredi is an omega with a secret.He’s had a crush on Kian, his best friend’s older brother, for as long as he can remember. But he's done with that now. After the embarrassing way he presented, Sky is certain someone perfect like Kian would never look at him twice. As a prime omega, Sky can have his pick of alphas, and he's determined to get over Kian once and for all...romance · omegaverse · mlm · dark · fantasy · sci-fi · forced-proximity · paranormal · organized-crime · crime -
Delivered to the Vyder by Ivy Sparks
Getting caught in a grumpy spider's web was a total accident. Becoming obsessed with his masterful binding technique? Yeah, that’s all on me.Riven has a serious online shopping problem, and I’m the only delivery driver crazy enough to bring him his impulse purchases of fuzzy slippers and odd kitchen utensils.But when I walk straight into his web, I discover a few things..romance · monsters · paranormal · fantasy · fiction · urban-fantasy · urban · steamy · small-town · cozy -
Bought by the Revenant by Cara Wylde
I am a thing of horror.A failed experiment, stitched from mismatched parts. I carved out our place in the wastelands of Alia Terra, yet even my own kind, perfected by my work, avoids me. Hideous and utterly alone.Years ago, consumed by this loneliness, I sent my blood to a Marriage Temple, and to my surprise, I was matched to a maiden... -
Skyn by Nikki Payne
When Fawl's ex dumps her for her stepsister, she takes the messiest deal imaginable: dig up dirt on an Elite family for a golden ticket out of the Underground. Simple, right? No. Now she's somehow *Checks Notes* married to an emotionless machine who's weirdly obsessed with her skin...romance · dystopia · sci-fi · audiobook · fiction · forced-proximity · fantasy · post-apocalyptic · paranormal · arranged-marriage -
The Stocking Stuffer - Claimed By The Incubus by S. Alexander
He came down the chimney for more than cookies.I hate Christmas.The songs. The fake smiles. The memories of my ex walking out on Christmas Eve.But one sarcastic “Dear Santa” at the office party changes everything—because the letter I read aloud? It wasn’t a prop.Now there’s a golden-eyed incubus in the supply closet, claiming he’s here to restore my holiday spirit… by any means necessary... -
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 -
Bought by the Cerberus by Eva Brandt
Worthless. Defective. Barren. I was dead inside, living an empty life. Until a hellhound found me.My people say a woman’s worth is in her womb. They spit on me, throw rocks, burn everything I hold dear. “Cursed,” they call me.Then he saves me. Theron. A monstrous Cerberus from the Blighted Lands. Death follows in his footsteps, but he looks at me and doesn’t see something broken...romance · fantasy · paranormal · gothic · monsters · shapeshifters · fiction · myths · post-apocalyptic · sci-fi