As the last few moments of autumn start to dwindl the year is coming to an end. You might find yourself wanting to read something but not know where to start. Well, here are my top five books to read during break. 

1.“A Study In Drowning” by Ava Reid

What screams ‘fall’ more than a haunted and dilapidated mansion? In “A Study In Drowning,” we follow Effy Sayre, a college student, studying architecture. Ever since she was a kid, she has been plagued by visions of the ‘Fairy King,’ a character from her favorite author, Emrys Myrddin. She sees a competition to help redesign the Myrddin mansion as he had died and his son lives there. Effy wins and goes to the mansion where she meets Preston Héloury, a literature student, who suspects that Myrddin isn’t who he is. 

2. “Babel” by R.F Kuang 

If you like books about academia and colonialism, you will love “Babel”. “Babel” is a story about Robin whose mother has died from disease and is adopted by Professor Lovell. Lovell teaches Robin multiple languages to prepare him to go to Oxford. When Robin goes to Oxford, he learns about the magic concept of ‘translation’. In this world, there are silver poles with translations, these translations are magical and whatever is translated on them comes to life. As Robin starts his year at Oxford, he learns the truth and the violence in practicing translation. 

3. “We Have Always Lived In A Castle” by Shirley Jackson

This classic is about a family that has been disowned by their community. Character Merricat and her family don’t tend to leave their house and Merricat only leaves to go to the library or get groceries. The more you read, the more you find how eerie, unreliable and isolated her family gets.

4. “Hooky” by Míriam Bonastre Tur

If you’re looking for something cute and lighthearted, look no further than “Hooky”. This 3 part graphic novel follows two witch siblings as they miss their bus to go to witch school. They wander around as they get hunted down by their world’s royal family, and go misadventures as they try not to get caught. 

5. “Sorcery of Thorn” by Margaret Robinson 

If you want something heartwarming, then try “Sorcery of Thorn.” Elisabeth, an orphan, is raised in one of Austermeer’s ‘Great Libraries’ and helps guard creatures called ‘Grimoire’ but sabotage has other plans. Elisabeth is raised to believe that all magic is evil, and sorcerers are evil. She hesitates to work with Nathanial, a sorcerer, to figure out what happened to the Grimoire.