Ten Before the End: The Books I’m Saving for December 2025

From the publisher:

One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy’s father, she and the child are forced to flee for their lives.

As they try to stay ahead of the boy’s increasingly desperate father, a trail of brutal, inexplicable killings follows in their wake. Jess thinks she knows what they’re running from—but she’s about to discover there’s something far worse waiting in the dark. Because when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared.

My take: Nat Cassidy always delivers horror that crawls under your skin and lingers. This sounds feral, nightmarish, and utterly unputdownable, I adored Mary and Nestlings and I can already see I’m going to love this too.

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff comes the epic conclusion to the internationally bestselling Empire of the Vampire series.

Gabriel de León has lost his family, his faith, and the last hope of ending the endless night—his surrogate daughter, Dior. With vengeance as his only compass, he and a band of loyal brothers march into the war-torn heart of Elidaen to claim the life of the Forever King.

But treachery and darkness stalk every step. The Grail still lives, hurtling toward a besieged capital, while the Forever King’s armies close in. As the sun sets for what may be the final time, Gabriel and Dior must decide what they are willing to sacrifice to end Daysdeath—and what kind of monsters they’ll become along the way.

My take: It’s Jay Kristoff, it’s vampires, it’s apocalypse-level drama — of course this one’s on my list. Brutal, operatic, and beautifully written, this is the perfect storm to close out the year with. I’m dying to read this one.

From the publisher:

A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.

Struggling painter Lewis Dixon is stunned when the British Museum takes an interest in his art. He’s always sensed something unsettling beneath his brushstrokes, but his latest piece—a recreation of one of his great-grandfather’s long-lost paintings—feels different. Surreal. Horrific. Alive.

Invited to the Museum, Lewis discovers a secret world of cursed art, eldritch power, and black-market magic. The ten paintings in his ancestor’s series contain immense—and terrible—abilities. To save others from their influence, Lewis is tasked with destroying them all. But to do so, he’ll have to step inside the nightmares he’s created.

My take: Haunted art, cursed inheritance, and gothic academia energy? Yes, please. This sounds like The Ninth Gate meets Mexican Gothic — eerie, elegant, and utterly my thing, I can’t wait to crack the spine on this one.

From the publisher:

The delightful charm of The Princess Bride meets the delicious bodyguard romance of From Blood and Ash in this cozy fantasy from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher.

When Halla unexpectedly inherits her late uncle’s estate, she also inherits his scheming relatives—who will do anything to claim it for themselves. Locked away and desperate, Halla unsheathes an old sword hanging on the wall… and accidentally releases Sarkis, an immortal warrior trapped within the blade.

Bound to protect her, Sarkis must face everything from bandits to inquisitors to her truly awful in-laws. But as the two grow closer, they realize the biggest danger might be the sword itself.

My take: T. Kingfisher is my comfort chaos author — equal parts tender, hilarious, and weirdly romantic. A cursed sword, a snarky immortal, and a cozy fantasy road trip? Say no more.

From the publisher:

Ellie Isles first became obsessed with the I-64 murders when she saw her own face on one of the victims. Identical in every detail, the woman wasn’t her—but she could have been. Compelled to uncover the truth about her doppelgänger’s death, Ellie wrote a bestselling true crime book about the serial killer known as “The Spider.”

Four years later, the Spider still hasn’t been caught, and his victim count is climbing. With the help of her online community of true crime followers, Ellie builds a massive database to track those most at risk of becoming the next Jane or John Doe. When law enforcement pulls her in to assist the case—and her therapist is arrested for the murders—Ellie becomes more determined than ever to unmask the Spider.

My take: True crime meets gothic obsession — this sounds dark, methodical, and dangerously meta. Perfect for anyone who likes their thrillers with a touch of horror and a main character who stares too long into the abyss.

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid

From the publisher:

All stories come to an end.

Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairytale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.

But some dreams are dangerous—especially when they come true. The entire university, and soon the entire nation, is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?

As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.

My take: Ava Reid writing about art, obsession, and the blurred edges of dreams? Inject it in directly. I’m expecting lyrical prose, gothic melancholy, and just enough sea-soaked dread to haunt me into the new year. I want it now!

From the publisher:

We all have bad exes. Lily Lawlor’s just happens to be the Antichrist. Sometimes, love can be hell…

1998: A punk band is formed by Lily Lawlor and Drake Morgan. Drake inspires faith in some. Fear in others. Lily is a believer.

1999: A Battle of the Bands ends in a shocking death, and a riot that claims the lives of three teenagers.

2009: At the height of her stardom, Lily walks into a police station and confesses to murder.

Now: Over a decade later, Lily has finally agreed to an interview—and the band is following her lead. What follows is a story of prophecy, death, and apocalypse. A story about love and love lost. A story about the Antichrist.

My take: Rock-and-roll horror with a demonic twist? Say less. This sounds like Daisy Jones & the Six fell into a pit of hellfire, and I am absolutely ready to press play.

From the publisher:

Yscalin, land of sunshine and lavender, will soon be ablaze.

It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind.

Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world.

A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries.

And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall…

My take: Epic fantasy steeped in myth and fire — if anyone can make dragons feel both terrifying and tender, it’s Samantha Shannon. This sounds lush, dangerous, and perfect for a long summer afternoon.

From the publisher:

When We Love You, Bunny opens, Sam has just published her first novel to critical acclaim. But at a New England stop on her book tour, her one-time frenemies, furious at the way they’ve been portrayed, kidnap her. Now a captive audience, it’s her (and our) turn to hear the Bunnies’ side of the story. One by one, they take turns holding the axe and recount the birth throes of their unholy alliance, their discovery of their unusual creative powers—and the phantasmagoric adventure of conjuring their first creation.

With a bound and gagged Sam, we embark on a wickedly intoxicating journey into the heart of dark academia: a fairy tale slasher that explores the wonder and horror of creation itself.

My take: Nobody does pretty nightmares like Mona Awad — this sounds like dark academia meets metafictional bloodletting, and I’m absolutely here for the chaos.

From the publisher:

Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her!

If only things were so simple…

A drunken and desperate night sees Fern waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and a truly punishing hangover.

My take: Baldree’s cozy chaos always feels like a warm hug wrapped in adventure. This one promises found family, sword fights, and caffeine — a perfect comfort read for the end of the year.