Aardvark is going VERY spooky for October, and I am absolutely not mad about it. This month’s lineup has a little bit of everything, from historical fiction and horror to sci-fi, gothic mystery, paranormal romance, and dark academia fantasy. There are six picks total, and honestly, October feels like the perfect month to let your TBR get a little weird.
If you are still looking for something to read be sure to check out some of my Most Anticipated New Releases lists. If you’re looking for add-ons to put into your boxes, be sure to check out other reviews from previous Aardvark picks.
October MOST ANTICIPATED
Fall Most Anticipated
AARDVARK 2023
October Picks
My Box
The six picks are Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell, a historical fiction debut that mixes art, desire, suspicion, and resistance; Carrying by Samantha Josephs, a horror debut with a seriously wild premise; What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, a sci-fi thriller/horror that promises something very creepy lurking in the darkness; Solace House by Will Maclean, a gothic horror mystery about a group of university students uncovering some VERY strange secrets inside a Victorian mansion; Love You to Death by Jenna Levine, a paranormal romance involving a grim reaper and a second chance at life; and Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske, a dark academia fantasy set at a magical medical academy where a murder throws everything into chaos.
While I haven’t read any of this month’s picks yet, I have had my eye on a few with most having solid Goodreads ratings so far.
For my box, I went with Bodies of Magic, Solace House, and What Feeds Below. Bodies of Magic immediately caught my attention because dark academia, fantasy, mystery is basically catnip for me, Solace House sounds like exactly the kind of weird, atmospheric, slightly unhinged mystery/horror I want to read in October especially since I love my haunted house reads, and What Feeds Below was an easy add because “the darkness isn’t empty. It’s hungry” is pretty much all I need to know (plus I’m a sucker for a special edition). So apparently my October reading is going to involve magic, mysterious Victorian houses, and something lurking in the dark and honestly, I’m okay with that.
What did you decide on this month? Let me know in the comments below, over on my Instagram HERE, or on my TikTok HERE.