Hello, my fellow bookish humans and creatures of the night! ✨
Another week, another stack of fantasy and romantasy releases to tempt our already chaotic TBRs. Whether you’re craving fae trickery, grimdark battles, gothic romance, or alchemical desire, this week has a lot going on. Buckle up and grab your purse — or just hide it, honestly, because these titles will demand attention.
1. To Clutch A Razor – Veronica Roth (19 Sept 2025)
The second instalment in Roth’s Curse-Bearer series continues the dark fantasy saga with curses, morally complex choices, and high-stakes action. If you read the first book, this picks up right where the story left off, expanding the magical world and deepening the intrigue. Expect tension, danger, and the kind of world-building that makes you lose track of time… and meals.
- Genre: Dark Fantasy / YA
- Why you’ll love it: If you loved the intensity of Divergent but wanted more grit, moral complexity, and dark magical stakes, this is the one for you.
- Where to get it: Available at Amazon UK and Bookshop.org
2. A Sword of Gold and Ruin – Anna Smith Spark (23 Sept 2025)
Anna Smith Spark returns with her trademark brutal and lyrical storytelling. Epic battles, vivid characters, and morally grey choices abound. This is the kind of grimdark fantasy you’ll be thinking about in the shower, in meetings, and possibly during awkward family dinners.
- Genre: Epic / Grimdark Fantasy
- Why you’ll love it: Lush, sharp prose and stakes so high you’ll need a neck brace from turning pages too quickly.
- Where to get it: Available at Amazon UK.
and Bookshop.org.
💬 Spark said writing this sequel was tough — the first book flowed quickly, but the pressure for round two had her sweating. We feel you, Anna.
3. Thief of Night – Holly Black (23 Sept 2025)
The queen of fae is back! The sequel to Holly Black’s adult debut Book of Night, Thief of Night continues the story with more glamour, intrigue, and romantic tension in a world full of magical danger. Sharp-edged, darkly whimsical, and impossible to put down, it’s perfect for fans who want more of Black’s shadowy, morally complex world.
- Genre: Fae Fantasy / Dark Romance
- Why you’ll love it: More shadows, more mischief, and yes, more heartbreak. Basically, everything we adore about Holly Black, dialled up to eleven.
- Where to get it: Available at Amazon UK.
and Bookshop.org.
4. The Second Death of Locke: The Hand and the Heart – V. L. Bovalino (23 Sept 2025)
Gothic, atmospheric, and full of emotional stakes. Love, death, and sacrifice entwine in this darkly magical story that will pull at your heartstrings while keeping you on edge. Think candlelit manors, whispered secrets, and maybe a ghost or two.
- Genre: Gothic Fantasy / Dark Romantasy
- Why you’ll love it: If you like your romantasy tangled with grief, shadow, and beauty, this book delivers heartbreak and haunting magic in equal measure.
- Where to get it: Available at Amazon UK.
and Bookshop.org.
5. Alchemised – SenLinYu (23 Sept 2025)
SenLinYu makes the leap from viral fanfiction to full-length fantasy with alchemy, romance, and betrayal at its core. Expect heady tension, forbidden magic, and a story that’s impossible to put down.
- Genre: Fantasy / Dark Romance / Alchemy
- Why you’ll love it: Fans of dark academia, alchemical intrigue, and slow-burn romance will be absolutely hooked. Magic and desire collide in ways that’ll leave you breathless.
- Where to get it: Available at Amazon UK.
and Bookshop.org.
💬 Alchemised started as the viral fanfiction Manacled on Archive of Our Own and TikTok, making its leap to shelves a big, exciting moment for the author and fans alike.
🔮 Why You Should Care (Besides the Obvious)
This release week is stacked with both powerhouse names and buzzy newcomers. Holly Black is back with a brand-new fae tale (cue the collective internet squeal), Veronica Roth is venturing into dark fantasy, and SenLinYu is finally hitting the shelves. Add in Anna Smith Spark’s lyrical brutality and V. L. Bovalino’s gothic heartbreak, and honestly, it feels like we’re being spoiled.
💭 Final Thoughts
Personally, I’m torn. Thief of Night feels like the must-read of the week, but Alchemised has been on my radar for months and looks like it’ll be a fandom moment — also, that Little Red Riding Hood-y cover is giving me life, and I love it! That said, Roth’s To Clutch A Razor could easily become one of those series everyone is shouting about by year’s end. Basically? September isn’t slowing down — and our poor TBRs don’t stand a chance.
Remember: You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books — which is pretty much the same thing.
Until next time… ✨
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