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Tor’s Halloween Book Roundup

Spooky season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with some chilling reads? Whether you’re looking for haunted houses, supernatural creatures, or eerie otherworldly adventures, this Halloween Book Roundup has you covered.

Ready to get in the Halloween spirit? Check out these books with all the spooky vibes you need!


Screen Shot 2024 09 04 at 1.24.49 PMThe Witch’s Compendium of Monsters by Genoveva Dimova

Genoveva Dimova’s The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters duology, inspired by Slavic folklore, is the perfect read for Halloween season. Beginning with Foul Days, this fast-paced fantasy is packed with dark magic, mythical creatures, and eerie battles that bring a chilling atmosphere perfect for fans of The Witcher and Naomi Novik. The world Dimova creates is teeming with witches, monsters, and dangerous secrets, making it an ideal spooky read. With the highly anticipated conclusion, Monstrous Nights, coming out on 10/22, there’s no better time to dive into this haunting tale of witches and dark creatures—just in time for Halloween!

Screen Shot 2024 09 05 at 2.03.20 PMThe Cerulean Chronicles by TJ Klune

TJ Klune’s The Cerulean Chronicles may seem heartwarming, but it’s also packed with magical intrigue that makes it a great Halloween read for those who love a mix of whimsy and wonder. Beginning with The House in the Cerulean Sea, we follow Linus Baker, a caseworker sent to a mysterious orphanage filled with magical children who could either destroy the world—or become the family he never knew he needed. The sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, continues this enchanting, queer-centered tale, blending magical realism with themes of love, acceptance, and found family. With its blend of magic, mystery, and heart, this series offers a perfect mix of warmth and Halloween vibes!

GREEN CREEK SERIESThe Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

TJ Klune’s The Green Creek Series is an ideal pick for Halloween, blending supernatural elements with heart-pounding romance. This completed saga follows the Bennett family, a tight-knit pack of werewolves, as they navigate love, loyalty, and betrayal in a world filled with danger and mystery. The series delivers all the moody, atmospheric vibes that make for perfect Halloween reading—complete with werewolves, pack dynamics, and emotional stakes that run deep.

9781250907981The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry is a perfect read for Halloween, steeped in eerie magic and unsettling atmospheres. In this post-apocalyptic world, words have vanished, and a nameless courier joins a traveling theater troupe that reminds people of the power words once held. Oh, and did we mention the freaky power machines? Berry weaves a haunting, imaginative tale filled with deep secrets and strange adventures.

9781250895332Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim; translated by Anton Hur

In an Empire run on necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood. Their corpses are wrapped in chains and drained of magic to feed the unquenchable hunger for imperial conquest. Born with magic, Arienne has become resigned to her dark fate. But when the voice of a long-dead sorcerer begins to speak inside her head, she listens. There may be another future for her, if she’s willing to fight for it…

With necromancy, murder, and sinister magic coursing through its veins, this book is perfect for readers seeking a gripping, haunting tale to devour during the spookiest season.

9781250809162Usurpation by Sue Burke

After her rollicking standalone Dual Memory, Sue Burke returns to her Semiosis series and the world of Pax in Usurpation, which combines the thrill of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening with the eco-empowerment of VanderMeer’s Dead Astronauts.

With its eerie, dystopian atmosphere and unsettling themes of control and rebellion, Usurpation offers the perfect mix of sci-fi suspense and Halloween-worthy vibes, making it a must-read for fans of thrillers and dystopian horror. Out on 10/29! 

9781250319722Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson is a perfect fit for Halloween with its dark, sweeping tale of vengeance, power, and the rise of the Bene Gesserit.

It is 83 years after the last thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The descendants of the disgraced Abulurd Harkonnen have sworn vengeance against Vor, blaming him for the downfall of their noble family. Raquella Berto-Anirul has formed the Bene Gesserit School and, through a terrible ordeal, has become the first Reverend Mother. The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva use mutated, spice-saturated Navigators who fly precursors of Heighliners. And Gilbertus Albans, ward of the hated thinking machine Erasmus, is teaching humans to become Mentats…while hiding an unbelievable secret. Led by the fanatic Manford Torondo, the Butlerian movement, fiercely opposed to all forms of “dangerous technology,” sweeps across the known universe in mobs, millions strong, destroying everything in its path.

9781250292971Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima

Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima is an eerie, thought-provoking collection perfect for Halloween reading. At a Halloween party in 1999, a writer makes a deal with the devil, and from that moment on, she writes surreal, haunting stories for him throughout her life. With its mix of humor, horror, and magical realism, Lima’s stories explore themes of fear, ambition, and identity, offering a hauntingly unique collection that’s perfect for fans of modern, eerie storytelling this spooky season.

9781250884879Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

Viola Marek is a struggling real estate agent, and a vampire. But her biggest problem currently is that the house she needs to sell is haunted. The ghost haunting the mansion has been murdered, and until he can solve the mystery of how he died, he refuses to move on. With its quirky supernatural elements and playful take on life, death, and everything in between, Masters of Death is a spooky, witty, and fun read for Halloween!

the three body problem by cixin liuThe Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu offers a chilling, thought-provoking tale perfect for readers seeking a sense of cosmic horror this Halloween. Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, this Hugo Award-winning novel explores humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization—and the terrifying consequences that follow. As Earth faces the threat of invasion from an advanced and desperate species, the novel delves into deep moral questions, human corruption, and the unknown dangers of the universe. With its sense of foreboding and vast, unsettling scope, The Three-Body Problem is a masterful exploration of fear, science, and the eerie vastness of space—perfect for Halloween reading.

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Tor’s Most Notorious Villains

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and you can take that from one of the greatest villains of all time, Khan from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. With the paperback release of Starter Villain by John Scalzi officially out now, we’re diving back into the chilling world of villains—perfect for the crisp, cool vibes of fall. So, grab your copy and get ready to root for some ice-cold baddies. 😎

Here’s a rundown of some of Tor’s most notorious villains.


starter villain by john scalziCharlie from Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Okay we’re warming things up a little for this one. Charlie isn’t really ice-cold, but he’s a good villain to start with, if you’re more looking to dip toes in the waters of villainy. That’s really what Charlie’s doing, in a lot of ways. He’s new to the gig, the inheritor of an evil organization, weapons, and a cadre of spy cats from his long-lost uncle. This is a cozy story for when you need to steal a little warmth back from an ice-cold world. Cozy villainy. Out now in paperback! 


Vicious by V.E. SchwabEli & Victor from Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Roommate squabbles are often a sad fact of life. Sometimes dishes pile up and noise happens at unfortunate times and you have to work that stuff out for the communal good of your homespace. Or, you could read Vicious, which has the worst ever case of and they were roommates… Eli and Victor go from arrogant and ambitious college roommates working together to arrogant and ambitious and superpowered ex-roommates now enemy villains.*

Eli would contend that he is not a villain, and in fact saving the world by doing all that murder. And Victor is trying to stop him, but is more of an antihero, in this case, technically


Placeholder of  -79Kreon from Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

Oh, this villain is a classic. Literally. Arch-Conspirator is Veronica Roth’s science fiction retelling of Sophocles’s famous tragedy Antigone. Diligent scholars may note that the spelling “Kreon” is a little different from the original “Creon,” but Antigone goes by Tig in this story too, because it’s the future. Other things have changed too—in Roth’s dystopian world, only those birthed through a eugenic process are considered rightly souled. Tig and her sisters, being born outside of the process, are unnatural, and Kreon doesn’t like that, or women. The rest of the story is pretty deadly, but far be it from us to spoil it, if somehow you’ve managed to avoid learning the deets of a famous story that’s been around for 2464 years. 


The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeEverybody from The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Not only does the rigorous process of higher education often feel like a system designed by a particularly sadistic villain, but sometimes the best way to survive a mad situation is to go a little mad. Enter, the entire cast of The Atlas Six, basically. They’re grad students with a lot of magical powers and even more issues and attractions to work out amongst themselves. And while they work on their research, they also must contend with the mandatory institutional tradition of sacrificing one member of each cohort. Sometimes grad school is murder. 


Image Place holder  of - 68Cairdine Farrier from The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

So Cairdine Farrier. This villain wears a lot of hats, including: merchant, explorer, agent, father figure (?!), and patron. He’s part of the Masquerade—the empire that took over Baru’s home and killed her parents. Manipulative and highly savvy, it’s difficult for others to parse his full motives and hidden thoughts. A truly dangerous villain, by which we mean: The kind who knows how to ingratiate. 

shivers

 

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Reading Roundup: Tor Books to Read this Autumn

Looking for books that pair perfectly with cozy nights this autumn? From epic fantasy sagas to spine-tingling mysteries, this list is packed with fall reads that are as satisfying as wrapping yourself in a chunky knit sweater. Scroll down to discover some books that should definitely be on your autumn radar!


9781250357243The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days. But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

Image Placeholder of - 22Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life, built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six magical and so-called dangerous children who live there. Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. And he is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth; Zoe Chapelwhite, the island’s sprite; and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children. But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve. And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart. Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

9781250852496After the Forest by Kell Woods

Twenty years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people starving in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, though: the witch’s grimoire, hidden away and whispering in Greta’s ear for the past two decades, and the recipe inside that makes the best gingerbread you’ve ever tasted. As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her mysteriously addictive gingerbread, not to mention the rumors about her childhood misadventures, is a source of gossip and suspicion. And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta’s magic—magic she is still trying to understand—may be the only thing that can save her. If it doesn’t kill her first.

GREEN CREEK SERIESThe Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

TJ Klune’s The Green Creek Series is a completed fantasy romance saga that explores love, loyalty, betrayal, and joy. Following the Bennett family, a close-knit pack of werewolves, the series captures the emotional highs and lows of their supernatural world. As they face challenges that test their bonds, Klune’s masterful storytelling shines, delivering a heartfelt and captivating journey that has earned its place as a fan favorite.

A Sorceress Comes to CallA Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn’t allow Cordelia to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers. When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother’s next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother’s plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.

9781250907981The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

When the words went away, the world changed. All meaning was lost, and every border fell. Monsters slipped from dreams to haunt the waking while ghosts wandered the land in futile reveries. Only with the rise of the committees of the named—Maps, Ghosts, Dreams, and Names—could the people stand against the terrors of the nameless wilds. They built borders around their world and within their minds, shackled ghosts and hunted monsters, and went to war against the unknown. For one unnamed courier of the Names Committee, the task of delivering new words preserves her place in a world that fears her. But after a series of monstrous attacks on the named, she is forced to flee her committee and seek her long-lost sister. Accompanied by a patchwork ghost, a fretful monster, and a nameless animal who prowls the shadows, her search for the truth of her past opens the door to a revolutionary future—for the words she carries will reshape the world. Out on 9/24!

9781250799067Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Opal has been obsessed with The Underland since she was a child. When she gets the chance to step inside Starling House—and make some extra cash for her brother’s escape fund—she can’t resist. But sinister forces are digging deeper into the buried secrets of Starling House, and Arthur’s own nightmares have become far too real. As Eden itself seems to be drowning in its own ghosts, Opal realizes that she might finally have found a reason to stick around. And now she’ll have to fight. Welcome to Starling House: enter, if you dare. Out on 10/01! 

9781250342782Legends & Lattes by  Travis Baldree

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed. This luxe edition is out on 10/29!

9781250342751Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do? Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine. Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected. This luxe edition is out on 10/29!

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Fall into a New Book Series!!

Whether you’re looking to start a completed series or dive into one with a new release, this list has something for everyone. From TJ Klune’s beloved Green Creek series to new releases like Blood Jade in the Phoenix Hoard series, these stories are perfect to binge as we prep for cozy weather again. Grab your favorite fall beverage and get ready to fall (see what we did there) into a new book series!


GREEN CREEK SERIESThe Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

TJ Klune’s The Green Creek Series is a completed fantasy romance saga that explores love, loyalty, betrayal, and joy. Following the Bennett family, a close-knit pack of werewolves, the series captures the emotional highs and lows of their supernatural world. As they face challenges that test their bonds, Klune’s masterful storytelling shines, delivering a heartfelt and captivating journey that has earned its place as a fan favorite.

Screen Shot 2024 09 04 at 12.26.55 PMThe Divide Series by J. S. Dewes

The Expanse meets the Night’s Watch from Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes’ fast-paced, science fiction adventure The Divide. An outcast war hero, a banished prince, and a division of delinquent soldiers stationed at the edge of the universe and left for dead by their military, they hold humanity’s survival in their hands as they contend with a collapsing universe, an oppressive tyrant, and a pangalactic war—the outcomes of which will change the face of the universe as they know it.

Screen Shot 2024 09 04 at 1.11.56 PMTales of Tremaine by R.R. Virdi

Based on author R.R. Virdi’s South Asian heritage and inspired by the many culturally divergent stops along a fantastical Silk Road, Tales of Tremaine is not your typical medieval European fantasy series.
All legends are borne of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first.
 
The first book in this fast-paced, worldbuilding series, The First Binding, tells the story of Ari, an immortal wizard hiding as a storyteller. Ari’s buried villages, killed gods, stolen magic, and knows he is a monster for it. On the run and seeking obscurity in a remote tavern, he and his companion, a singer, soon find their pasts aren’t forgotten, and neither are their enemies.

The Redwinter ChroniclesThe Redwinter Chronicles by Ed McDonald

From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s The Redwinter Chronicles, a brilliant, action-packed fantasy series.

In the first epic book, Daughter of Redwinter, Raine, who can see—and speak—to the dead, must do everything she can to save her own skin. But when she rescues an injured woman, who was fleeing from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of warrior magicians who answer to no one, and who will stop at nothing to reclaim what this woman’s stolen, Raine realizes this random act of kindness might just be the most dangerous decision she’s ever made. Forced to join the citadel, she soon learns that her secret ability could be the key to saving an entire nation.

The Phoenix Hoard The Phoenix Hoard by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle

Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle’s Phoenix Hoard series kicks off with Ebony Gate, a thrilling urban fantasy where magic meets martial arts. Set in contemporary San Francisco’s Chinatown, former assassin Emiko Soong, once known as the Butcher of Beijing, is pulled back into a deadly world when a shinigami demands she repay a family blood debt. Tasked with recovering the Ebony Gate, an artifact that holds back the spirits of the Yomi underworld, Emiko must face dark forces and reclaim her lethal reputation to save the city. The action-packed follow-up, Blood Jade, continues Emiko’s battle against the undead in this gripping blend of dragon magic and assassin intrigue.

Screen Shot 2024 09 05 at 2.03.20 PMThe Cerulean Chronicles by TJ Klune

TJ Klune’s The Cerulean Chronicles begins with The House in the Cerulean Sea, where by-the-book caseworker Linus Baker is sent to evaluate a mysterious orphanage filled with magical children who could potentially end the world—or become the family he never knew he needed. In the heartwarming sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Klune continues his enchanting, life-affirming tale, offering readers a charming and queer-centered story that celebrates love, found family, and acceptance.

 

Screen Shot 2024 09 04 at 1.23.30 PMThe Ambit’s Run Series by L.M. Sagas

The Ambit’s Run series kicks off with Cascade Failure, a high-octane sci-fi adventure that follows a ragtag team as they uncover a planet-killing computer virus. Faced with the task of exposing the corporate giant behind the threat, the crew must act quickly to save millions of lives. In the action-packed sequel, Gravity Lost, this wild crew returns with more daring missions, vibrant new worlds, and a discovery that could alter the universe forever.

Screen Shot 2024 09 04 at 1.24.49 PMThe Witch’s Compendium of Monsters by Genoveva Dimova

Genoveva Dimova’s The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters duology, inspired by Slavic folklore, begins with Foul Days, a fast-paced fantasy perfect for fans of The Witcher and Naomi Novik. In this gripping debut, Dimova introduces a world filled with dark magic, mythical creatures, and intense battles, showcasing her unique voice in genre fiction. Stay tuned for the upcoming conclusion, Monstrous Nights, as the tale of witches and monsters continues to unfold. Out on 10/22!

9781250334022The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

The Stormlight Archive is the latest epic fantasy from the imaginative mind of Brandon Sanderson: welcome to the remarkable world of Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic hurricane-like storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war.

9781250319180Wind and Truth, the long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive is out on 12/06!

 

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Book Recs Tailored to Your Favorite School Subjects!

Back to school season is here! Love english? Obsessed with history? Tell us your favorite school subject, and we’ll match you with the perfect book to read.


Science

exordia by seth dickinsonExordia by Seth Dickinson

Science meets cosmic mystery in a story where the stakes are as vast as the universe itself.

Anna Sinjari—refugee, survivor of genocide, disaffected office worker—has a close encounter that reveals universe-threatening stakes. Enter Ssrin, a many-headed serpent alien who is on the run from her own past. Ssrin and Anna are inexorably, dangerously drawn to each other, and their contact reveals universe-threatening stakes.

While humanity reels from disaster, Anna must join a small team of civilians, soldiers, and scientists to investigate a mysterious broadcast and unknowable horror. If they can manage to face their own demons, they just might save the world.

Social Science

Place holder  of - 82The Atlas Series by Olivie Blake

Think power, prestige, and the intricacies of human behavior.

Every decade, six exceptional magicians are chosen for the Alexandrian Society, a secret group promising unimaginable power. But as they navigate alliances and rivalries, they’ll discover just how high the stakes are. In this trilogy, social dynamics and the pursuit of knowledge intertwine with a thrilling narrative where not everyone will survive. Perfect for those fascinated by the complexities of human interaction and ambition.

Physical Education

Image Place holder  of - 63Rogue Sequence by Zac Topping

Rogue Sequence by Zac Topping is like the ultimate workout for your imagination! Set in 2091, it follows super-soldier Ander Rade, who’s been genetically modified for peak performance. After being captured and thrown into brutal fighting pits, he’s offered freedom in exchange for tracking down a former teammate. With high-stakes action and intense physical challenges, this book is perfect for anyone who loves a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping read.

Physics

the three body problem The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, translated by Ken Liu

Dive into the mind-bending world of The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, where physics and science fiction collide.

Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. This one’s for you, physics lovers.

English

craft: stories i wrote for the devil by ananda limaCraft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima 

Dive into the world of Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil, an intoxicating debut that every English literature fan will adore! This surreal tale follows a writer who weaves impossible yet true stories for the devil himself. With themes of love, tragedy, and the power of words, this book is a masterclass in the kind of storytelling that leaves a lasting impression—essential for any literary enthusiast.

 

History

the daughter's war by christopher buehlmanThe Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

Step into the past with The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman, a thrilling adventure set in the war-torn, goblin-infested years before The Blacktongue Thief. Just like a good history lesson, this book is packed with battles, political intrigue, and family drama. Discover the enslaved cities, burned fields, and epic conflicts in this captivating prequel.

 

Theater

The Naming SongThe Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

For those who live for imaginative worlds and epic journeys, The Naming Song is a must-read! Perfect for theater lovers, this tale is filled with marvelous discoveries, strange adventures, and dangerous truths. If you’re into stories as rich and vivid as a stage play, this fantasy—reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki and Guillermo del Toro—is calling your name. Out on 9/24!

 

Anthropology

when among crows by veronica rothWhen Among Crows by Veronica Roth

Curious about human societies and cultures? When Among Crows is a must-read! This swift and striking tale dives into Slavic folklore, exploring what it means to face our deepest fears. It’s a fascinating look at how cultures shape us—and how redemption might just be found in embracing the unknown.

 

Chemistry

Poster Placeholder of - 9The Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

Get ready for some serious sparks in this beloved romantasy by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune! Love, loyalty, and a little bit of magic make this story a perfect reaction for fans of chemistry in ALL its forms.

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Bosses From Hell : Books with Dreadful Bosses

We’ve all had a boss who’s made us question our life choices, but in the world of fiction, bad bosses take things to a whoooooole new level. Whether they’re ruthless tyrants, manipulative masterminds, or just downright evil, these overlords make our real-life work woes seem like a walk in the park. Celebrate the release of Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby by diving into our spoiler-free list of the bad, the worse, and the downright diabolical bosses in our books!


Placeholder of  -21Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby

A group of employees and their CEO, celebrating the sale of their remarkable emotion-mapping-AI-algorithm, crash onto a not-quite-deserted tropical island. Luckily, those who survived have found a beautiful, fully-stocked private palace, with all the latest technological updates (though one without connection to the outside world). The house, however, has more secrets than anyone might have guessed, and a much darker reason for having been built and left behind.

Kristen, the hyper-competent “chief emotional manager” (a position created by her eccentric, boyish billionaire boss, Sumter) is trying to keep her colleagues stable throughout this new challenge, but staying sane seems to be as much of a challenge as staying alive. Being a woman in tech has always meant having to be smarter than anyone expects–and Kristen’s knack for out-of-the-box problem-solving and quick thinking has gotten her to the top of her field. But will a killer instinct be enough to survive the island?

Poster Placeholder of - 75The Unspoken Name by  A. K. Larkwood

What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does—she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice. But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard’s loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power. But Csorwe will soon learn—gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.

Image Place holder  of - 30Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place. Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie.

His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital. It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good. In a dog-eat-dog world…be a cat.

Image Placeholder of - 70Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

9781250357243The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.  Out on 9/10!

Place holder  of - 56Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life, built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six magical and so-called dangerous children who live there. Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago.

And he is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth; Zoe Chapelwhite, the island’s sprite; and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children. But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve. And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.  Out on 9/10!

The Naming SongThe Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

When the words went away, the world changed.

All meaning was lost, and every border fell. Monsters slipped from dreams to haunt the waking while ghosts wandered the land in futile reveries. Only with the rise of the committees of the named—Maps, Ghosts, Dreams, and Names—could the people stand against the terrors of the nameless wilds. They built borders around their world and within their minds, shackled ghosts and hunted monsters, and went to war against the unknown.

For one unnamed courier of the Names Committee, the task of delivering new words preserves her place in a world that fears her. But after a series of monstrous attacks on the named, she is forced to flee her committee and seek her long-lost sister. Accompanied by a patchwork ghost, a fretful monster, and a nameless animal who prowls the shadows, her search for the truth of her past opens the door to a revolutionary future—for the words she carries will reshape the world. Out on 9/24!

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Friendship!! Celebrating Fictional Friendships with Tor

Today, we’re celebrating those wonderful, wacky, and heartwarming friendships that leap off the pages of our favorite stories. Whether it’s a neurotic vacuum cleaner, a drill-wielding nurse, or an orc with a passion for coffee, fictional friendships remind us that the best pals come in all shapes, sizes, and sometimes with a few extra gears. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and join me on a fun journey through some of the most unforgettable and quirky friendships in fiction!


 

Place holder  of - 69 Victor & Eli Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Victor and Eli are a pair of college roommates turned sworn enemies and in a world of ambition, jealousy, and superpowers, the memory of their past friendship makes their bitter rivalry all the more heartbreaking.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Mistborn Vin & Kel – Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Vin is a street urchin adopted into a ragtag crew of thieves. When Kel becomes her magical mentor, he teaches her not only how to master her magical powers, but also the meaning of friendship and love.

A brilliant thief and natural leader, Kelsier recruits the underworld’s smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, who each share one of his many powers and relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream: not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers that she’s never dreamed of.

In the Lives of PuppetsRambo and Nurse Ratched – In The Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune 

Rambo, the nervous and neurotic vacuum cleaner finds a steadfast  companion in Nurse Ratched, a medical robot whose bedside manner leaves much to be desired. Despite their stark differences, the bond they share is a testament to the power of friendship!

9781250342782Viv and Cal – Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

The friendship between Viv and Cal is as rich and comforting as the coffee they serve. They form an unbreakable bond, supporting each other through the challenges of running a new business and the remnants of Viv’s past…

9781250342751Viv, Fern, and MayleeBookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Through shared stories, baked goods, and the mutual goal of revitalizing the bookshop, Viv, Fern, and Maylee forge a bond that showcases the magic of friendship and the transformative power of community.

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Fantasizing About Revenge

Revenge is a dish best served cold, but these revenge-centric fantasy novels are hot! 

Check ‘em out!


projections by sarah porterProjections by S. E. Porter

Catherine Bildstein is dead. She is not gone. She was murdered. Now, she’s out for revenge. 

In a gothic historical fantasy about poisonous attraction and strange magic, a sorcerer obsesses over a woman, and when he understands he cannot possess her, kills her. Unsatisfied with this peak level of despicability, he sends projections of himself out into the world to ruin the lives of more women who won’t deliver to him the affection to which he believes himself entitled. 

Dead Catherine may be, but her slighted ghost feels strongly the magnetism of revenge. The world is full of strange magic. Garbage wizards better watch out. 

one for my enemy by olivie blakeOne for My Enemy by Olivie Blake

This story of star-crossed love and Manhattan’s occult underworld is Romeo & Juliet done Olivie Blake-style. Those who have read The Atlas Series know that Blake doesn’t play when it comes to writing emotionally devastating arcs, and One for My Enemy is no exception. It’s the scions of shadow underlord Koschei the Deathless versus the daughters of potion maven Baba Yaga as heirs to two respective magical crime families. Doesn’t matter how supernatural you are though—love will turn the lives of you and everyone you know upside down, and strong feeling is a prerequisite for revenge. 

the traitor baru cormorant by seth dickinsonThe Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

Baru wants revenge. She needs it, and her target: a colonial empire called the Masquerade. Educated in their schools and knowledgeable in their ways, Baru begins accumulating power but plays by their rules—for now. She becomes an accountant. Her goal is to hold the Masquerade accountable. 

Sometimes revenge is a numbers game. 

vicious by v. e. schwabVicious by V. E. Schwab

Victor and Eli start out as college roommates and that’s also where things go wrong. In their senior year, their shared passion leads them to research superpowers and the conditions under which a person might develop them. Of course, like many roommates in college, everything goes wrong and they despise each other. Victor’s been in prison for ten years now but is cooking an escape. Eli is at large in the world on a mission to exterminate everyone with superpowers. They both want vengeance. 

the archive undying by emma mieko candonThe Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon

This epic science fantasy about giant robots that eat people, tyrannical AI deities, and totalitarian police states follows a man named Sunai who cannot die. He was inferfacing with his AI god when it corrupted and now he’s immortal and upset about it. He’s been killed plenty of times though. It just hasn’t stuck. Sunai is fundamentally sad however, and unlikely to seek revenge against his many killers. Himself though? Yeah, he’ll take revenge on himself for every mistake he’s ever made. 

Pretty heavy, and the rest of this book is too. It’s also heart-achingly beautiful and there’s a robot composed of a chittering shifting coral carapace. 

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Tor’s Ice-Cold Villains

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and you better believe it, because one of those people doing the saying is Khan, titular villain of 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. In the spirit of Khan, and winter—being the time of cold, and of villains in general—being incredibly cool, have inspired us. 

Here’s a rundown of some of Tor’s Ice-Cold Villains™ 😎


Vicious by V.E. SchwabEli & Victor from Vicious by V. E. Schwab

Roommate squabbles are often a sad fact of life. Sometimes dishes pile up and noise happens at unfortunate times and you have to work that stuff out for the communal good of your homespace. Or, you could read Vicious, which has the worst ever case of and they were roommates… Eli and Victor go from arrogant and ambitious college roommates working together to arrogant and ambitious and superpowered ex-roommates now enemy villains.*

Eli would contend that he is not a villain, and in fact saving the world by doing all that murder. And Victor is trying to stop him, but is more of an antihero, in this case, technically


Image Place holder  of - 1Kreon from Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

Oh, this villain is a classic. Literally. Arch-Conspirator is Veronica Roth’s science fiction retelling of Sophocles’s famous tragedy Antigone. Diligent scholars may note that the spelling “Kreon” is a little different from the original “Creon,” but Antigone goes by Tig in this story too, because it’s the future. Other things have changed too—in Roth’s dystopian world, only those birthed through a eugenic process are considered rightly souled. Tig and her sisters, being born outside of the process, are unnatural, and Kreon doesn’t like that, or women. The rest of the story is pretty deadly, but far be it from us to spoil it, if somehow you’ve managed to avoid learning the deets of a famous story that’s been around for 2464 years. 


starter villain by john scalziCharlie from Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Okay we’re warming things up a little for this one. Charlie isn’t really ice-cold, but he’s a good villain to start with, if you’re more looking to dip toes in the waters of villainy. That’s really what Charlie’s doing, in a lot of ways. He’s new to the gig, the inheritor of an evil organization, weapons, and a cadre of spy cats from his long-lost uncle. This is a cozy story for when you need to steal a little warmth back from an ice-cold world. Cozy villainy. 


The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeEverybody from The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Not only does the rigorous process of higher education often feel like a system designed by a particularly sadistic villain, but sometimes the best way to survive a mad situation is to go a little mad. Enter, the entire cast of The Atlas Six, basically. They’re grad students with a lot of magical powers and even more issues and attractions to work out amongst themselves. And while they work on their research, they also must contend with the mandatory institutional tradition of sacrificing one member of each cohort. Sometimes grad school is murder. 


Image Placeholder of - 78Cairdine Farrier from The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

So Cairdine Farrier. This villain wears a lot of hats, including: merchant, explorer, agent, father figure (?!), and patron. He’s part of the Masquerade—the empire that took over Baru’s home and killed her parents. Manipulative and highly savvy, it’s difficult for others to parse his full motives and hidden thoughts. A truly dangerous villain, by which we mean: The kind who knows how to ingratiate. 

shivers

 

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Trope Spotlight: 5 Accidental Child Acquisitions

by Merlin Hoye

Here at Tor, we love stories, and the building block tropes that make them! Today, we’re thinking about The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and Accidental Child Acquisition.

If you’re going through withdrawal from lack of content involving Pedro Pascal accidentally acquiring a child under extremely dangerous circumstances and then reluctantly growing to love said child so much that he would die for them, we totally get it. Lucky you, we’re here to fill that Pedro-shaped hole in your heart with some equally hot reluctant parental figures!

Check them out here. 


Mistborn by Brandon SandersonMistborn by Brandon Sanderson

In a world torn apart by a despot known only as Lord Ruler, a thief named Kelsier forms a crew to take back the world. Kelsier is a Mistborn, a person with the ability to use Allomancy, or metal magic. When he comes across a girl named Vin with the same unique ability, he begins training her in the arts of Allomancy and crime. Vin has had a hard life and she is initially reluctant to allow herself to grow attached to anyone, but as the two broken souls work together, they soon form a kind of trust that is new to both of them.


The Thousand Eyes by A. K. LarkwoodThe Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood

Without being too plot-specific because The Thousand Eyes is the second and final book in the incredible Serpent Gates Duology—this book is in many ways about getting older, as we all must, and do. Our lives don’t turn out the way we thought, for better or for worse. Sometimes that can involve not being wed and sacrificed to the god of death. Sometimes that means not getting as much time as we would like with those we love. In The Thousand Eyes, a character (who never really learned how to get this whole life thing right so much as always be landing on their feet) finds themselves in a guardian role to the precocious child of a former enemy. The kid is powerful, and reckless, and their mom is scary, but so is their world, and our reluctant, frequently exasperated, and sharply witty guardian might be the ideal candidate to help them prepare for it. 


Pinocchio by Carlo CollodiPinocchio by Carlo Collodi

While there’s nothing accidental about the way Geppetto comes by Pinocchio, he’s kind of the OG when it comes to acquiring a child under unusual circumstances. After the lonely cobbler carves a boy out of wood and gives him a name, he is initially overjoyed when the boy magically comes to life. However, the puppet quickly shows a remarkable capacity for mischief and it isn’t long before Geppetto is rather wishing he could unacquire his new son as soon as possible. Don’t miss T.J. Klune’s wholesome take on the classic tale with In the Lives of Puppets, out next March!


Witch King by Martha WellsWitch King by Martha Wells

Kai is a demon. And he was dead. But after getting rudely re-alived by a particularly inept mage, Kai must rally his few allies in order to figure out what on earth has been going on since his assassination. A power called the Rising World Coalition is growing and Kai’’s ragtag group of demons, witches, and sorceresses sets out to stop them, picking up a plucky street urchin named Sanja along the way. There is no one better at writing prickly, emotional characters than Martha Wells and this is a touching story of loveable monsters who ultimately care greatly about one another.


Vicious by V.E. SchwabVicious by V.E. Schwab

When Victor is released from prison, he has only one thought in his mind – getting even with his best friend-turned-arch-nemesis, Eli. The two were college roommates who conducted dangerous experiments involving supernatural powers and superhuman abilities which eventually landed Victor in jail. With the help of Sydney, a young girl with extraordinary powers, he sets out to track down his old friend who he now blames for his misfortunes. In a story of superpowers gone wrong and morally-grey characters, the relationship between Victor and Sydney is the beating heart. If their budding friendship doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, yes it did. You’re lying.

 

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