The Dead Girls' Dance

by Rachel Caine

This is the second book in The Morganville Vampires series, which was recommended to me. Our main character lives off-campus in the vampire-controlled town of Morganville. They are very light reads and they remind me of fanfictions I would read in middle school, so it feels a bit reminiscent, haha. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys quick reads, when vampires are the "bad guys," and unnecessary drama (so much that it is almost comical).

- Aubrey

Shadow Prowler

by Alexey Pehov

This is the first book in a trilogy about the adventures of Shadow Harold as he attempts to retrieve a magical artifact from deep in enemy lands and prevent the end of the world. I was drawn to this book initially by my love of Tolkienesque fantasy stories but kept reading due to the character building and humor of the tale. If you like Salvatore, Tolkien, Sanderson or Eddings then this is the series for you.

- Jim

The Z Word

by Lindsay King-Miller

This book is not something I traditionally gravitate too but the colorful cover and a slightly different take on the zombie apocalypse forced me to pick it up. After a slow start, it has really picked up. I love the main character whose luck just seems to be nonexistent. I am truly enjoying this read and find myself needing to know what comes next. If you enjoy your horror fun and quirky with a dash of spice, then this book is for you.

-Jim

Mistborn

by Brandon Sanderson

I picked this up because my friend recommended it to me as the beginning of one of their favorite series. The world-building is super interesting and I thoroughly enjoy learning the magic system. I would recommend Mistborn to anyone who enjoys a longer series that is filled with political intrigue and fantasy world building.

-Courtney

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

by VE Schwab

VE Schwab is one of my favorite current authors, and I have been waiting for this release. She is an excellent craftsman of dark, twisting plots that explore the depths of complex emotion. If you enjoy contemporary fantasy, non-linear storytelling, and vampires, check it out!

- Kristen

Katabasis

by R.F. Kuang

In Katabasis by R.F. Kuang, graduate student Alice Law descends into Hell to rescue her advisor’s soul after a magical accident she may have caused. Accompanied by her academic rival, she must navigate the surreal and treacherous realms of the underworld while confronting guilt, ambition, and the dark side of academia. I've read a couple of Kuang's other books in the past and really enjoyed them. I'd hand this to readers who devoured The Secret History by Donna Tartt or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

-Kirstyn

Foxglove (audiobook)

by Adalyn Grace

I'm currently listening to Foxglove on audiobook, the second book in Adalyn Grace's Belladonna series; a Gothic fantasy romance set in a Victorian-inspired world. After a duke’s murder threatens her family’s reputation, Signa and her cousin Blythe race to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Death's brother, Fate, enters Signa’s life; complicating her powers and her heart. Perfect for fans of The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller or A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson.

-Kirstyn

Mistborn: The Well of Ascension

by Brandon Sanderson

This is the second book in the Mistborn Trilogy. I decided to give it a try because it had been recommended to me quite a few times by my coworkers. I have enjoyed it quite a bit so far. The characters are compelling, and the world-building is very well done. The magic system in particular is unique, and I have enjoyed seeing it continue to be expanded throughout the series. Although I'm only two books in, I would highly recommend this series to anyone to enjoys any sort of Fantasy or unique magic systems.

- Logan

Tress of the Emerald Sea (audiobook)

by Brandon Sanderson

This is my first foray into Sanderson's writing, and I'm really enjoying it. It's a humorous adventure story of a young woman on a fantasy world, and includes sorcery, love, and pirates! It reminds me of The Princess Bride.

- Ronna

The Last Chairlift (audiobook)

by John Irving

I've enjoyed many of Irving's books, and was looking for something that was available on Libby without a wait. I'm now three hours into this 33 hour (!!!) audiobook. I'm enjoying it so far, and I'm interested to see where this one goes: It has elements reminiscent of A Prayer for Owen Meany (single mother, only child, "smallness").

-Ronna

I am also listening to The Last Chairlift by John Irving. I had a 20 car ride facing me and I wanted a long audiobook. The audiobook is 33 hours so I have a bit left. It is vintage Irving—quirky characters, social commentary, tragedy, comedy, and everything else.

-Sally

The River is Waiting

by Wally Lamb

I’ve been intrigued by this book since it came out. The pastel colors, and especially the nature view, always attract me. I'm just at the beginning, but I’m very into it. The first chapter ends with a drastic tragedy, and it leaves you wanting to know more about the characters. If you enjoy emotional and psychological themes or family drama, this might be your next read.

- Denise

Bands of Mourning

by Brandon Sanderson

This book is the third installment in the second Mistborn Era, taking place approximately 300 years after the events of the first series. Mistborn Era 2 features a western/steampunk feel that differs from the previous series; all the same magic, but with new technological advances. It's been very fun learning how the events of the first Mistborn series have affected the world in the long term. I have been loving this series so far; it has a lot of humor mixed in and some of my favorite characters out of all the Sanderson books I've read.

- Jacqueline

The Whistler

by Nick MedinaIt

This is a new horror release by an indigenous author, so that peaked my interest. I'm not very far into it yet but it's setting up to be a creepy October read about a man who, due to an accident, has to return to the reservation he grew up on. Then something starts haunting him. If someone has read and enjoyed works by Stephen Graham Jones or Erika T. Wurth, I would give this one a try.

- Emily

The New Seoul Jelly Massacre

by Cho Yeeun (translated by Yewon Jung)

The cover on this one really caught my eye and the name just intrigued me. It's told from different perspectives about an event where one day at a theme park, everyone turns to jelly. I haven't got to the part where we learn the mystery as to why and how this happened but I'm eager to find out.

- Emily

Morbidly Curious : a Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away

by Coltan Scrivner

A new nonfiction release about why we (as in the general public) like horror. Or at the very least, have a hard time looking away from the screen when a slasher grabs ahold of someone, or a grotesque transformation is happening against someone's will. I've always been curious about this topic as a lover of the dark and morbid so getting more insight on a scientific level is fascinating.

- Emily

Shadows of Self

by Brandon Sanderson

This is the second book in the Mistborn Era 2 series and part of my goal to finish Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere. I have been really enjoying it as the characters feel very fresh and different compared to the rest of the Cosmere and the series has a larger focus on comedy. The Western setting is very fun and the detective type stories set in it are a blast to unravel. I recommend it to people who enjoy fantasy, westerns, and unique magic systems.

- Robby

Live Wire

by Harlan Coben

I picked it up because I knew it would be a quick and entertaining read requiring little thought.

- Sally

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (audiobook)

by S.A. Chakraborty

I've had this book in my queue since it was published and just started listening to it this week. I'm really enjoying both the adventure and humor and I think the audiobook narrators do a fantastic job. If you like magic, pirates, stories set in the middle-east, or just a really well-written book try this one!

-Katherine