Fall Preview: Spooky New Picks for Halloween

By Kat La Mantia | May 23 2024 | Pop CultureBlogAdultsChildren'sGeneralAllGift

It may still be late spring outside, but it’s always Halloween in our hearts. Though we’re counting down the days to spooky season, we just can’t wait to share some of our frighteningly favorite new titles coming up later this year! From witches to skeletons to deliciously creepy confections, our frontlist Halloween books run the gamut.

For hit YouTuber MrBallen’s nearly 9 million(!) fans, MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious collects nine strange but true tales in a vivid graphic novel format. Perfect for telling scary stories in the dark, this book will be a must-have for anyone who enjoys falling down mysterious YouTube rabbit holes.

Wednesday fans, rejoice! The iconic Addams family daughter has finally made it to PRH. Journalers who enjoy Wednesday’s dark wit will find a macabre kinship in the beautifully packaged Wednesday: The Official Nightshade Society JournalAnd kitchen-savvy Addams fans looking to host their own Rave’N Ball, Freaksgiving Feast, or Secret Society Social will find gothic culinary inspiration in The Official Wednesday Cookbook! Vegetarian and pescatarian offerings abound, of course, as well as substitutes for dishes that use gluten, dairy, or ritualistic murder—with torturously tasty photographs for all the recipes.

For anyone who’s ever been curious about what it’s really like in Hell, Michigan, what secrets lie behind Turkey’s ancient Pluto Gate, or why Turkmenistan’s Gate of Hell is perpetually aflame, Go to Hell is the otherworldly travel guide you’ve been seeking! With a gorgeous black and red cover featuring illustrations of ghouls, bats, and creatures from the underworld, this is the perfect seasonal coffee table book.

Witches Run Amok is our top pick for anyone whose spooky season includes a nostalgic Halloween movie marathon. Fans of the Disney cult classic Hocus Pocus will be thrilled to finally dive into the oral history behind this Halloween staple! Witches Run Amok is a love letter to the film’s millions of devoted fans and a fascinating read for anyone who wants to understand how Hocus Pocus became a pop culture phenomenon, featuring interviews from the cast and creative team.

And for practicing witches, The Witch’s Workshop is an indispensable guide to creating your own personalized magical toolkit! From candles and incense to inks and powders, readers will learn all the techniques they need to craft their own ritual tools, with step-by-step instructions and luscious photographs for over 60 projects.

Check out these titles and more of our upcoming Halloween favorites down below!

The Graphic Stories
9781984863423
A vivid, frighteningly illustrated graphic novel collection of nine strange, dark, and mysterious stories, based on true events, from the mind behind the YouTube channel and hit MrBallen Podcast
$24.99 US
Oct 01, 2024
7 x 9
Hardcover
208 Pages
Ten Speed Graphic

A Journal for Writing, Drawing, Coloring, and More
9780593796856
Embrace your dark side with this officially licensed Nightshade Society notebook featuring humorous, macabre quotes from the hit Netflix series Wednesday.
$17.99 US
Oct 01, 2024
7 x 9
Hardcover
176 Pages
Clarkson Potter

The Woefully Weird Recipes of Nevermore Academy
9780593797884
Re-create macabre meals from Nevermore Academy in the comfort of your own oh-so-normal kitchen with 60 recipes inspired by the hit series Wednesday.
$32.00 US
Jun 03, 2025
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
224 Pages
Random House Worlds

A Halloween Book for Kids and Toddlers
9780593903049
Spooky, scary skeletons…will send shivers down your spine in this adorable sing-along picture book based on the TikTok viral song by Andrew Gold (best known for writing The Golden Girls theme song, "Thank You for Being a Friend.")
$18.99 US
Aug 27, 2024
10 x 10
Hardcover
32 Pages
Random House Books for Young Readers
Age 4-8 years

A Traveler's Guide to Earth's Most Otherworldly Destinations
9781426223532
You can go to hell and back with the help of this one-of-a-kind illustrated travel guide to real-life underworld destinations around the globe. Full of intrigue, lore, and plenty of brimstone and fire, each of the 54 destinations—from Antarctica's Blood Falls to a tropical hell on Grand Cayman island—will be worth adding to your devilish bucket list.
$24.99 US
Aug 13, 2024
5-3/8 x 8-3/16
Hardcover
288 Pages
National Geographic

The Extreme Sects That Capture Our Imaginations—and Take Over Our Lives
9781683694120
From the author of Cursed Objects and The United States of Cryptids, an eye-popping compendium of the most infamous, audacious, and dangerous cults in history
$19.99 US
Sep 10, 2024
5-1/4 x 8
Hardcover
272 Pages
Quirk Books

A Horror Coloring Book
9780593474198
The fourth coloring book in the successful Dark Art series, featuring intricate artwork by illustrator François Gautier.
$18.00 US
Aug 13, 2024
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Paperback
96 Pages
Plume

Epitaphs to Die For
9780789344205
A gloriously dark book filled with funny illustrations about life and death.
$19.95 US
Feb 27, 2024
4-3/4 x 6-1/2
Hardcover
112 Pages
Universe

A Guide to Crafting Your Own Magical Tools
9781786788092
From the author of The Witch's Feast, this is the first fully illustrated, comprehensive introduction to the handicrafts of witchcraft. Through over 60 craft projects, learn all the techniques you need to create your personalized magical toolkit.
$30.00 US
May 14, 2024
7-2/5 x 9-7/10
Hardcover
240 Pages
Watkins Publishing

The Big Hot Book of Death
9780593475287
Based on the popular podcast, Obitchuary will be a funny but “deadly” serious look at the way that Americans handle death, mourning, and the commemoration of people they love.
$28.00 US
Aug 20, 2024
6 x 9
Hardcover
224 Pages
Plume

9781835410967
Gastronogeek chef Thibaud Villanova presents 40 original recipes for experts and beginners alike inspired by hit gothic TV series, films and computer games.
$34.95 US
Nov 26, 2024
8-1/4 x 11-1/4
Hardcover
144 Pages
Titan Books

9781835410356
Over 70 recipes inspired by the most popular cult universes, from Indiana Jones to Alien, from chef and pop-culture expert, Thibaud Villanova, author of Gastronogeek Anime Cookbook and The Unofficial Ghibli Cookbook.
$39.99 US
Nov 12, 2024
8-9/16 x 11-5/8
Hardcover
192 Pages
Titan Books

The Oral History of Disney's Hocus Pocus
9781368094665
The oral history of Disney’s Hocus Pocus, one of the most beloved Halloween movies of all time
$26.99 US
Aug 13, 2024
6 x 9
Hardcover
304 Pages
Hyperion Avenue

9798887241807
Alan Robert's BEAUTY OF HORROR gets its first puzzle!
$19.99 US
Sep 17, 2024
24 x 19
Game
IDW Publishing

Everything You Need to Know About the Films You're Too Scared to Watch
9781683694250
A smart, funny crash course in 25 iconic horror movies, from Psycho to Hereditary, for people who love getting the reference but hate being scared.
$17.99 US
Sep 03, 2024
5-1/2 x 7-1/2
Paperback
272 Pages
Quirk Books

Feminist Ancestor Magic for Meditations, Divination, and Spellwork
9798889840701
A beautiful and accessible oracle deck presenting 52 of history’s most inspiring witches—incredible stories, spellwork, and wisdom for inspiration, insight, and empowerment.
$19.95 US
Jul 09, 2024
3 x 5
Cards
54 Pages
North Atlantic Books

Dark & Twisted Folklore & Stories from Around the World
9781786789006
A beautifully presented hardcover collection of folklore and stories of legendary and historical witches from all over the world, with over 80 stunning, spooky illustrations. The perfect gift for the witchy people in your life.
$28.99 US
Sep 10, 2024
6 x 9-3/16
Hardcover
358 Pages
Watkins Publishing