Nothing screams leaves changing and a crisp breeze like a good gothic book. Some of my favorite novels have dark undertones highlighted by morally gray characters and gloomy atmospheres. If you are having trouble adjusting to the cooler weather and cloudier days, perhaps these reads can help you to get into the autumnal spirit.
The inspiration for this article and a relatively recent gothic release is The Mortons by Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld. With 3.66 stars on Goodreads and only 946 ratings, it is a somewhat lesser-known book and a unique find. The book centers around the main character, Jessica Morton. She is part of the long Morton line which is a family that profits off of helping rich and influential families remain powerful. She and her cousins attend Helshire College, where they try to forge connections with so-called ordinaries they will later exploit once they have attained positions of influence. Jessica stood out to me as she has a very blase way of approaching the world. Trained from birth, she is unempathetic. However, this soon changes when she falls in love.
I was captivated by the twists and turns of the story, which have you questioning Jessica as a reliable narrator throughout the book. Although I must reluctantly admit that I found the ending a little dissatisfying, the book was still totally worth the read. This was largely due to the fantastic world-building that made the Morton dynasty come to life, as well as the well-developed characters. One of my favorite aspects of the Morton family was that they all shared one large closet of ancient hand-me-downs as well as a fleet of old fancy cars. This, among other small details peppered throughout the book, made them distinct in my mind. I also loved the setting of Helshire College, which gave me Hogwarts vibes but without the magic. As a huge fan of Harry Potter, that may be why I gave the book five stars even though the ending was not my favorite.
Another fun gothic read to pick up this fall is Weyward by Emilia Hart, which has 4.05 stars on Goodreads and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction and for Readers' Favorite Debut Novel in 2023. Although I read this book two years ago, I still highly recommend it. A unique aspect of the book is the multiple points of view the story is told from.
The novel follows three main characters: Kate from 2019, Altha from 1619, and Violet from 1942. Although it isn't clear at first how the three stories connect, it becomes evident they are linked through family heirlooms and the Weyward name. This is a perfect witchy book, as each story shows female resilience and leans into the power of the natural world. Even though there are three distinct storylines, I was equally invested in all of them and wasn’t confused when switching between plot lines. I ended up rating this book four stars, as the pacing was excellent and kept me engaged. My one critique, which probably applies to any book spanning three different characters, is that I wish we got more background on the magic in each of their stories. This is still a great read for anyone who loves strong female characters and novels with historical and magical elements.
A final gothic recommendation is Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. Nominated for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fantasy in 2024 and receiving 4.18 stars on Goodreads, this book had my attention from the very first page. Like Weyward this book also featured two intersecting points of view, which kept the pacing fast. The story follows Rune Winters, a witch vigilante operating under the name of the Crimson Moth as she tries to save her fellow witches from slaughter. Gideon Sharpe, the other main character, is a witch hunter tasked with finding and killing the Crimson Moth. By day, Rune acts as a shallow socialite, bringing her and Gideon into the same circles. Although they develop feelings for each other, their missions are directly opposed. The author did an excellent job developing both main characters and creating empathy for their situations. As someone who is partial to a strong female main character, as is likely clear from my other recommendations, that was another plus. I am also a huge sucker for an enemies-to-lovers plotline, which this book definitely delivers on. I gave this book and the sequel both five stars mainly for the exciting pace and chemistry between the two main characters.
As the days get shorter and the work piles on, any of these books offer the perfect seasonal escape. Whether looking for dark academia murders, naturalistic potions, female empowerment or high-stakes magic, there is something on this list for you.
Emma Robinson is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
