The Magical and the Supernatural - Non-Horror Recommendations for Spooky Season

It’s that time of year: spooky season is here! While personally not a fan of horror, I love spooky season. It grants us all the chance to indulge in childlike fantasy and consider the possibility of the supernatural. For some, that means learning about crystals, tarot cards, and witchcraft. For others, it’s about honoring the spirits of our ancestors with cultural practices such as Día de Los Muertos. And for someone like me, it’s about enjoying stories that promise magical beings, love, and courage all at once.

Traditional fairy tales introduced me to the likes of witches and monsters. Additionally, I grew up on the hype of Twilight and Hocus Pocus which made me absolutely entranced by the magical mayhem that was naturally tied to the season. Now that I’m focusing more on BIPOC and Queer stories, I recognize the severe lack of those experiences in this genre. Specifically in regard to magical stories where the experiences skew White—partly because their origins are commonly found in European fairy tales or classic American horror writing.

While perusing my local bookstore for new titles, I had to actively look for diverse stories with strong supernatural elements that also focused on themes of love and courage. Here are a few key recommendations I found that should hit your spooky season reading list:

1. The Haunted Bookstore - Gateway to a Parallel Universe, by Shinobumaru

One thing to know about me is that I love Japanese anime and manga and have always found Japanese storytellers to do magic so right. They’re masters of isekai storytelling (in which the main character is transported into another world), original creators of the “magical girl” character type, and do not shy away from connecting modern-day experiences to legends and folklore.

A light novel series with a manga adaptation, The Haunted Bookstore centers on Kaori who lives with her adoptive father in an otherworldly bookstore that connects them to the spirit world. They provide books to spirits, suggesting a harmonious relationship between humans and their supernatural counterparts. The plot begins when Kaori takes in an injured human boy named Suimei who turns out to be an exorcist – the enemy of spirits and the noted antagonist of the story. The book, and its following volumes, focus on their adventures together, but with Kaori intending to teach Suimei differently about the spirits she serves through the bookstore. The synopsis leads us to believe that Suimei is convinced all spirits need to be exorcized while Kaori believes the opposite. The relationships each character has with spirits exemplifies the diverse interpretations the Japanese have with the spirit world. According to their traditions, not all spirits are the typical evil-ghost types you find in American or European tales. Instead, some are kind and even revered as gods.

The story seems like a great stepping stone not only into the realm of the supernatural, but also into Japanese stories as a whole. Whether it be light novels, manga, or even anime series and film, Japanese fantasy stories portray many interpretations of magic, ghosts, and demons – all of which are not limited to their own culture. There are many stories that take inspiration from alchemy, European tales of wizards and creatures, and so forth. The light novel offers a great way to dip your feet into a whole new subgenre.

2. Mirror Girls, by Kelly McWilliams

History. Black. Magic.

These are the three words that best summarize this gothic YA novel. Set just before the Civil Rights Movement, biracial twin sisters Charlie and Magnolia were secretly separated at birth after their parents were lynched for having a relationship. Years later, Charlie has grown to become a Black Civil Rights organizer living in Harlem while Magnolia is set to inherit a huge cotton plantation in Georgia. She is White-passing and knows nothing about her past or the fact that she is biracial.

In enters the magic – when Magnolia learns the truth about her identity, her reflection disappears from all mirrors. It’s said to be the hallmark of a curse. At the same time, Charlie returns to Georgia due to her beloved grandmother falling ill and wishing to be buried there, prompting Charlie and Magnolia to learn the truth about each other and their heritage—including the curse.

This story immediately enticed me. While the obvious challenge will be to break the curse, I am hooked by the very real-problems, and danger, the sisters are up against in a world that is run by Jim Crow laws. The differences in their upbringings, their beliefs, and their biracial identity add another terrifying layer to their situation. Between that and the curse, the story offers a different kind of horror fit for the season.

Plus, Black witches in history add a new perspective to the story. It’s not an experience commonly found in traditional supernatural stories despite its existence in history. While there’s no mention of the sisters being witches, the curse and setting combined gives off that vibe and I’m so here for it!

3. Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas

If you read my post “The Love Story that Snuck Up on Me,” then you’ll see my commentary on Zoraida Cordova’s book Labyrinth Lost which is the first thing Cemetery Boys reminded me of. Both stories focus on a Latinx main character who is in conflict with their family and turns to magic as a solution. While Labyrinth Lost introduced me to Brujas, this story is all about Yadriel proving himself as a male and Brujo to his family and the community. The relationship portrayed demonstrates his family’s acceptance of Yadriel on a surface level - using the correct pronouns, for example. However, when it comes to his magical powers, things get a little tense. The powers Yadriel would receive are differentiated by gender - Brujas becoming healers and Brujos becoming Spirit Guides - and his father will not allow him to partake in the Brujo ritual. He’s not truly accepting of Yadriel’s identity.

Additionally, murder and romance is at the heart of this story. Part of Yadriel proving himself to his family as a real Brujo involves finding the ghost of his murdered cousin and setting it free. However, like most magical stories, the spell backfires and instead brings forth Julian Diaz – a former high school “bad boy” who has his own personal stake in staying amongst the living for as long as possible. In order for both Julian and Yadriel to get what they want, they agree to an alliance and help each other before Julian’s time runs out. There’s just one more problem to consider – our hero falling for the dead bad boy.

The synopsis gave me the chills! Not only does this involve a different culture’s representation of magic, but we also have a BIPOC and Queer main lead carrying this story in the best possible ways. It’s about Yadriel proving himself to his family, yes, but deeper than that it’s about proving something far more important to himself. All this and more makes for an awesome addition to the reading list.

4. Almost There, by Farrah Rochon

What’s a spooky season reading list without a nod to New Orleans, home of voodoo magic, above-ground cemeteries, and ghost stories galore? Written by Farrah Rochon, Almost There is part of Disney’s Twisted Tale collection based off of the animated movie The Princess and the Frog. In this version, our main heroine Tiana’s “Happily Ever After” doesn’t happen as it was originally shown in the movie.

Instead, Tiana begins as the hard-working waitress we remember from the movie - still saving for her restaurant and believing that hard work will get you exactly where you need to be. Also key to the story is our main villain, Dr. Facilier. Lurking in the shadows until the time is right, he forces Tiana into a deal that changes her life instantly. Perhaps you recall when he made the initial bargain in the movie? His desperate attempt to con Tiana into giving in - well, in this version, she does.

At first, her dreams are instantly realized. She’s the owner of her restaurant, her loved ones are safe and – spoiler alert from the synopsis – her father is alive! It’s even more than what the movie-version of Facilier had promised. However, it comes at a deep cost.

New Orleans starts to change. Danger creeps from the shadows, and while the synopsis only hints at the frightening changes, I’m betting it has everything to do with Facilier’s “friends from the other side” trying to take over New Orleans. As I recall, those spirits were pure evil and were willing to trade souls for their own gain. I’m shuddering just thinking about it – and this is still a Disney story! The story promises a new, thrilling take on the beloved princess tale and puts more emphasis on the strength of the setting – New Orleans itself.

New Orleans is already the primary setting for voodoo culture, and many stories – book and media – take inspiration from this. Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals, for example, uses its New Orleans setting to delve into the history of witch and voodoo culture. I visited this past summer; ghost tours, cemetery visits, and vampire-decorated cafes are on-brand for New Orleans. It would be a crime not to mention a tale that best reflects this setting.

So there you have it – four new recommendations to get you into the spooky season. While they may not seem like traditional Halloween hits, all stories do offer the key elements I personally appreciate in a spooky-season-worthy story –love, courage, and the supernatural, of course.

I hope you get the chance to read one of these amazing stories and truly indulge in the magic that is the spooky season.

Edited by Lindsey Huddleston.