2022 Fall Reading Guide Science Fiction Fantasy Picks

Fall is the perfect season to disappear into another world, and this lineup from the 2022 Fall Reading Guide Science Fiction Fantasy section is brimming with immersive, mind-bending, and sometimes chilling reads. These are the stories I couldn’t stop thinking about long after I finished them. They each feature powerful main characters confronting dark secrets, unjust systems, and buried truths. So if you’re in the mood to travel through time, cross into magical realms, or uncover a sinister conspiracy, I’ve got three standout science fiction fantasy books that deliver.

Top 3 Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

House of Hunger follows Marion, a girl from the slums who accepts an invitation to become a bloodmaid at the House of Hunger—an elite and eerie estate where young women are kept to feed the rich. At first, she’s dazzled by the lavish lifestyle and drawn to the mysterious Lisavet, but it isn’t long before she realizes something is terribly wrong. As the tension builds, Marion must decide how far she’s willing to go for survival—and if she can escape with her soul intact.

I chose this book because it gave me Crimson Peak vibes with a Black heroine at the center of a gothic horror full of female power, danger, and dread. If you’re a fan of Rebecca or The Vampire Diaries and want something dark and lush with feminist undertones, this is a perfect fall read. I finished it with my heart racing and a deep admiration for Marion’s strength and defiance.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairston

This stunning blend of historical fantasy and Afrofuturism centers on Cinnamon Jones, a Black teen growing up in 1980s Pittsburgh who discovers a mysterious journal left behind by her late brother. The journal tells the tale of an alien shapeshifter and a young girl in 1890s West Africa, blending folklore, magic, and science in a mesmerizing intergenerational story. As Cinnamon begins to piece together her family’s hidden legacy, she finds the strength to shape her own path forward.

I picked this novel because it’s unlike anything else—it’s poetic, layered, and filled with heart. For readers who love Octavia Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, or magical realism rooted in cultural storytelling, this book will speak to your soul. It left me in awe of the resilience passed down through generations, and I found myself rereading sections just to soak in the beauty of the language.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

Set in an alternate 19th-century mining town ruled by angels and demons, Tread of Angels introduces Celeste, a card sharp and daughter of both worlds who is thrust into the spotlight when her sister Mariel is accused of murder. Determined to clear her sister’s name, Celeste is pulled into a web of secrets and power struggles—and discovers that nothing in the town of Goetia is as divine as it seems.

I included this novella because it’s tight, tense, and absolutely atmospheric. Roanhorse gives us a morally complex world with noir undertones, sisterhood at its core, and a protagonist you’ll want to root for. If you liked The City We Became or His Dark Materials, you’ll enjoy the mythology and intrigue in this story. I felt completely transported—and a little haunted in the best way.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Which Magical Tale Will You Start With?

Whether you’re drawn to blood-soaked ballrooms, ancestral magic, or angelic conspiracies, I hope this short list helps you discover something unforgettable. Drop a comment and let me know which one you’re reading first! I love hearing your thoughts and fangirling over twisty, magical reads.