Bestselling Author Leigh Bardugo Recommends 5 Fall Books to Read After ‘Dead Beat’
From magical romances to haunting historical fiction this list has something for everyone
Key Takeaways
- Leigh Bardugo recommends five books for fans looking for their next fall read.
- Her picks include magical romance, fantasy, horror and historical fiction.
- Bardugo highlights books by Deborah Harkness, Tananarive Due, Holly Black and more.
It’s been 10 days since the release of Leigh Bardugo’s newest novel, Dead Beat, and if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably already devoured it and are looking for more page-turning fall reads. Thankfully, the bestselling author has plenty of recommendations that are just as thrilling and mysterious as her own. To learn Bardugo’s picks, keep scrolling!
‘A Discovery of Witches’ by Deborah Harkness
The first book in Deborah Harkness’ All Souls series begins after Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. A magical underworld is brought back to life, and among those returning is vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. As the two get to know each other, sparks fly and chaos ensues. A magical tale that is perfect for fall.
What Leigh says: “Deborah Harkness’ saga of a scholarly witch and a dangerous vampire gives us secret texts, glorious manor houses and time travel that is equally smart and satisfying. Her scholarship is on full display throughout this series but so is her gift for compelling romance.”
What other readers are saying: “If you are looking for a simple love story, this book is not for you. But, if you are ready for a mature story that incorporates mature characters, deep emotions, moments in history and a wild-and-woolly plot, you should go straight to the 1-Click button and buy it! I loved A Discovery of Witches and look forward to reading it several more times.”
‘The Golem and the Jinni’ by Helene Wecker
Set in 1899 New York, this novel follows Chava, a golem who arrives in the city alone. Unsure what she’s going to do next, she is taken in by a rabbi. Elsewhere, Ahmad is a jinni who lives with iron bands around his wrists that bind him to a wizard. When Chava and Ahmad meet, their connection is instant, but when outside forces threaten everything, both are forced to figure out who they really are and what truly matters.
What Leigh says: “This story spans centuries and oceans and you will feel thoroughly transported as two very different immortal beings struggle to claim independence and somehow find their way to each other.”
What other readers are saying: “This book is spectacular. The writing is elegant, encompassing, and it paints a vivid and believable picture of the past, of fantasy and of people. I highly recommend this novel and it’s easily one of my top five of this year and one of my new all-time favorites.”
‘The Reformatory’ by Tananarive Due
In 1950, 12-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. kicks the son of the town’s largest landowner and is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys. While there, he befriends some of his fellow inmates, one of whom turns out to be a ghost. Elsewhere, Robbie’s sister Gloria is trying to figure out how to get her brother out of the school. This is a haunting novel about race, abuse and power, based on the infamous Dozier School for Boys, which was open from 1900 to 2011 in Marianna, Florida.
What Leigh says: “While this was marketed as horror, I think of it as a literary ghost story. A painful, powerful read inspired by the very real, very brutal history of the Dozier School for Boys in Florida.”
What other readers are saying: “This book also made me angry at times because it is set during a period when Black people were treated with incredible cruelty and injustice. Reading about those experiences was heartbreaking, but it also made the story even more powerful and unforgettable. The author did an amazing job bringing that painful history to life in a way that kept me emotionally invested from beginning to end. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with compelling characters and a story that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.”
‘Book of Night’ by Holly Black
Holly Black, best known for her novel The Cruel Prince, delivers a dark and delightful tale within the pages of this book. Charlie Hall is a thief who spends her days working for gloamists—magicians who manipulate shadows to spy on people. Across town, her sister Poppy is desperate for magic, and Charlie’s boyfriend is hiding something. What follows is a magical story filled with murder, lies and a twist no one will see coming.
What Leigh says: “Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists―a story so believable in its magic, you’ll be keeping one eye on your shadow as you turn the pages.”
What other readers are saying: “Holly Black has done it, again. Here she has woven a dark and brittle world full of complex and touchably real characters. You will lose yourself in their stories. This is a tale of magic and mayhem and the things we will do for love, family, and our pursuit of feeling whole.”
‘Like Water for Chocolate’ by Laura Esquivel
Originally published in 1989, this magical realism novel takes place on the De la Garza ranch and begins when the powerful Mama Elena chops onions in her kitchen during the last days of her pregnancy. In her belly, Elena’s daughter cries so hard that she’s born right there—a connection that kickstarts her love of food. Filled with love, recipes and complex family dynamics, this novel is perfect for fall.
What Leigh says: “I think of this book every time I see the last lonely pepper or biscuit on a plate that everyone is too polite to take. This book is all about longing and desire and what happiness we’re willing to grasp for ourselves.”
What other readers are saying: “I found this book captivating from the start, and finished it in less than a day. The cultural lore and imagery used in this story’s telling was as powerful and captivating as it was fantastical. As wild as the descriptions could be, they were also profoundly true as a metaphor for the potential of human reactions in the secret and safe chambers of our minds, where our emotions take place without restraint; pure and unfiltered.”
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