Reading Fantasy / Horror in November 2026

[Hobbit]

Welcome to November!


Cover of "The Magazine of Fantasy & SF", November 1976 - 50 years ago this month!)

As the clock ticks towards midnight, we pass from Halloween to All Saint’s Day and November. We hope that you’ve found our traditional Countdown to Halloween entertaining and useful.

Last month's thread is HERE.

Now that it is November, this thread has the usual message - this thread is where you tell us about what you've been reading in Fantasy and Horror this month.

Remember, good or bad, we still want to know what you think.


Hobbit/Mark

 

[Westy]

I finished reading Victorious, the final book in the Villians trilogy by VE Schwab. A very similar experience to the other two books; great plotting and keeping track of multiple POV's, with an interesting take on the super hero story. If I had to gripe it would be the final showdown felt a little routine; I definitely liked the first half of the book better. But on the whole a great series.

 

[blailock]

I finished The Troop by Nick Cutter.
I loved this book. Talk about making you uncomfortable and creeped out, this does that in spades. The setting was great and the premise was pretty cool too. I highly recommend this one.

 

[blailock]

I finished Heart-Shaped Box
This is my first Joe Hill book, and it definitely won't be the last. I really loved the characters in this one. I don't care for a lot of ghost stories, but I had no problems with this one. Shout out to Angus and Bon, too. Highly recommended for those that haven't tried Joe Hill yet.

 

[blailock]

I finished my 3rd reading of A Night in the Lonesome October
I think I pick out more new things every time I read this one. How can you not fall in love with Snuff? He's such a good boy!

 

[chitman13]

He Who Fights With Monsters Vol 2 by Shirtaloon - much like the first, enjoyable and despite the size a quick listen. I'll likely continue with the series because it's generally easy going and even with the LitRPG stuff I didn't feel too bogged down.

Trad Wife by Sarah Langan - saw Stephen King recommend this so gave it a go. Started off fairly standard, but there were definitely things hinted at even early on to suggest this wasn't a normal story. Thought it paid off quite well and definitely more enjoyable than Yesteryear that it can be compared to.

 

[ArtNJ]

2/3rds of the way through The Fires of December, one of Sanderson's one off cosmere books. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGDM4DPP/?bestFormat=true&k=the fires of december&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k0_1_17_de&crid=3M2C0Q7589RXV&sprefix=the fires od dece Of Sanderson's recent "one offs" I'd recommend The Sunlit Man and Isles of the Emberdark. I also liked Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi The Nightmare Painter. So far, this novel falls a bit short, although perhaps some of that is just my take on it, as the ratings are fine.

Why does this one fall short? For one, the central plot device is inherently a bit annoying. The heroine, December, seemingly lives an unfortunate life until dying at age 80 something and reawakening as a 21 year old wanting to prevent the coming plague she lived through. While redos are a familiar plot device that I have no problem with, Sanderson makes a TON of the wisdom and compusure of an 80 year old in a 21 year old body. Everyone can just see it in the way December acts, mistaking her for a noble. I found the constant use of this device tiresome.

Secondly, the imagined world is just a bit duller and less imaginative than many of Sanderson's others, especially in December's first life. Perhaps this is changing somewhat as the book enters the final third, but usually Sanderson's imagination has impressed long before this point.

Overall, the book seems to be just OK.

 

[Fryan]

I’ve been busy and haven’t had much reading time lately, so I’ve been slowly working my way through Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay. It’s my first Kay read in many years. It’s nice to be reading his brand of historical fiction/fantasy again after some time away. Good character-driven stuff. Though I’d say this one feels even lighter on the fantasy elements than the other books I’ve read from him in the past.

Overall, really enjoying this, and I have no idea how he’s gonna manage to wrap up all the various character’s plot arcs in the 100 or so pages I have left.

 

[Raf]

Finished "The Song of the Vampire" by Steve McHugh. Book 4 of The "Assembly" series. This story seemed a bit too formulaic for the MC and his on going story. But I really like the characters and that lets me overlook some of the story weaknesses.

In hiding after the very public awareness of his part in the event of thelast book (great story that one). Miles Watson shelters in a Great House run by the ancient vampire (Drest) who turned him a thousand years ago. And finds himself drawn into solving an assassination attempt on a popular Vampire entertainer. Who also happens to be an old lover from decades past.

Lots of vampire / human politics in a story set in London. As usual, the action scenes are well done and I really like the relationship between Miles and Church (his genetically modified Doberman...rescued from a lab years ago). Next book out around April 2027. Good series.

 

[Hobbit]

Current reading.... The Wounds of Albion by Michael Moorcock.




Part autobiography, part fantasy, this is the last in the Sanctuary of White Friars trilogy.

It mixes Moorcock's own life with a portal type fantasy of a hidden world in London. It is engaging - what could be seen as a rambling monologue is actually quite clever and some of the prose is lovely. He has had an interesting life, from writing for magazines like Tarzan Adventures and Eagle to his own writing (Erekose, Eternal Champion, Elric, the multiverse) to editor of New Worlds magazine in the 1960s, musician in Hawkwind and Motorhead.... all mixed in with a fantasy land and fictional characters.

Is being hinted at being Moorcock's last major work. (He is 83.)