2024 Science Fiction Fantasy Books from The Fall Reading Guide

Fall is the perfect season for slipping into strange new worlds, whether they’re filled with alien civilizations, cursed angels, or magical family secrets. The 2024 Fall Reading Guide Science Fiction Fantasy Books selection is all about transporting readers into imaginative realms while grounding each story in very human journeys of survival, love, and identity. These science fiction fantasy books aren’t just about fantastical elements—they’re about resilience, redemption, and uncovering truths that have been long hidden. Here are the best sci-fi and fantasy picks from the 2024 Fall Reading Guide that deserve a spot on your fall TBR.

Top 3 Science Fiction and Fantasy

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

In Alien Clay, a xenobiologist exiled to a distant planet stumbles upon intelligent symbiotic life forms hidden within ancient alien ruins. His discovery could mean freedom from an oppressive regime, but it also forces him to grapple with loyalty, morality, and survival in an unfamiliar world. I selected this book because Tchaikovsky always blends sharp worldbuilding with deeply human questions—here, it’s about the price of freedom and the risks of embracing the unknown. Perfect for readers who love The Three-Body Problem or Children of Time, this book left me both awestruck at the imaginative scope and reflective about resilience in the face of power.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

This novel tells the story of a demon tasked with rebuilding a shattered city and the angel she curses in the aftermath of destruction. As the city rises again, their evolving bond explores themes of love, redemption, and the costs of forgiveness. I chose The City in Glass because Nghi Vo’s writing always feels like stepping into a myth—lyrical, haunting, and full of raw emotion. For readers who loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Heaven Official’s Blessing, this book offers a bittersweet and atmospheric tale that made me ache in the best possible way.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo

Nena and her great-niece Marta uncover long-buried family secrets and their own supernatural powers in this multi-generational story set in El Paso. As the past and present intertwine, they must decide how to wield their gifts and reconcile what family means across time. I picked this one because it beautifully merges cultural heritage, identity, and magical realism—it’s equal parts moving family saga and enchanting witch tale. For fans of Isabel Allende or Alice Hoffman, The Witches of El Paso felt like being wrapped in a spell of love, memory, and reclamation.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

What Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Are You Adding to Your TBR?

That’s my roundup of 2024 Fall Reading Guide Science Fiction Fantasy Books—three imaginative, emotional, and utterly absorbing reads that promise to transport you this fall.  I’d love to hear from you! Which of these books are you most excited to add to your TBR? Are you leaning toward the spacefaring adventures, the mythic curses, or the witchy family saga? Share your picks in the comments below—I can’t wait to see what you’ll be reading this season!