✨A mix of dark winter reads, cozy fantasy, and a little holiday magic ✨
As we close in on the last month of the year, I like to take stock of all the books I meant to read in 2025 but…didn’t. Sound familiar? My December TBR is a mix of hope, ambition, and a healthy pinch of reality—or maybe wishful thinking. I’m a notorious mood reader with a short attention span, so while I’m sharing five books I hope to read, chances are my December wrap-up might include five totally different titles. But that’s the fun of it, right?
This month, I’m leaning into darker, atmospheric reads perfect for winter nights, but I’ll also fit in a cozy fantasy or two. December is also a great month to start something epic, and, of course, an audiobook will probably sneak in somewhere along the way.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Reading Under the Northern Lights and helping me keep sharing bookish content!
The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg (2024)
Non-Fiction, Horror
Why I’m Excited:
I bought this one mostly because of the cover and title… and then realized it wasn’t what I expected! I thought it was a Christmas-themed horror anthology, but it’s actually a deep dive into European winter and Christmas folklore. Totally fine by me. Clegg’s chapters explore traditions and rituals across Europe, like a travel-guided folklore adventure. I often enjoy reading short story anthologies this time of year because I can pick up a single story (or in this case, a single chapter), and then set the book aside for a while without feeling like I’ve lost the thread. I plan to approach this book the same way, treating each chapter as its own little journey into a different tradition or ritual.
Anticipated Vibe:
Cozy dark academia meets a folkloric travel diary. Picture yourself reading it with a blanket and a warm drink, discovering all sorts of wildly weird winter traditions you never knew existed.
Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro (2019)
Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult
Why I Want to Read It:
I love dark, atmospheric reads, but horror movies? Not so much. I end up covering my eyes and letting my husband fill me in on what’s happening. When the Pan’s Labyrinth movie came out, I was eager to watch it, but I’d heard about some graphic scenes, which made me hesitant. Add in the subtitles, which meant I wouldn’t really be able to follow along with my eyes covered, and it quickly became a hard pass. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered there’s a novel! Now I can experience the story without the movie logistics, and who knows, maybe it’s even scarier on the page?
Anticipated Vibe:
A dark, lyrical fairy tale blending haunting beauty with childlike wonder. I’m hoping for mossy forests, ancient stone labyrinths, and a story that lingers in your mind long after you close the book.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (2013)
Horror
Why I Want to Read It:
A twisted, holiday-themed horror read for December? Yes, please. I don’t know all the details, but I do know Christmas plays a big role in the villain’s eerie “Christmasland.” As many of you probably know, Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, so my expectations are naturally high for this master of horror’s offspring. I have very mixed feelings about Stephen King’s works, but I’ve read one of Joe Hill’s short stories before and loved it, so I’m hopeful that I’ll enjoy his full-length novels just as much.
Anticipated Vibe:
Creepy, winter-cold horror with a dark fairy tale edge. I’m ready for that festive-but-wrong aesthetic, where the holidays feel delightfully sinister.
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (2020)
Fantasy, Middle Grade
Why I Want to Read It:
We’ve been reading the Nevermoor series as a family, and we’re excited for this final book in the original trilogy. I’ve avoided spoilers, so this will be a fresh adventure for us all. If you’re looking for a magical, family-friendly fantasy series, this comes highly recommended (at least for the first two books!).
Anticipated Vibe:
Whimsical, magical, and adventurous fantasy with a mix of lighthearted charm and suspenseful stakes. If it’s anything like the first two books we will see danger, wonder, and witty narration all rolled into one.
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (2025)
Fantasy
Why I Want to Read It:
I have this one on hold at the library, and I am so ready for it. This is the third book in the Legends & Lattes series, and we follow one of my favorite characters, Fern, the foul-mouthed bookseller we met in Bookshops & Bonedust. If it’s anything like the first two books, it’s going to be hilarious, cozy, and heartwarming.
Anticipated Vibe:
Low-stakes cozy fantasy full of laughs, salty banter, and heartwarming moments. Perfect for wrapping up the year on a light, happy note.
December TBR Mood
This list feels like the perfect mix: dark folklore and horror, cozy and whimsical fantasy, and one book I’ve been saving just for this season. I can’t wait to read The Dead of Winter and NOS4A2, continue the Nevermoor and Legends & Lattes series, and finally dive into the magical dark fairy tale of Pan’s Labyrinth.
✨Final Thoughts ✨
What’s on your TBR this month? Have you read any of these books? Drop a comment and let me know which one I should start with.
I will be sharing my December wrap-up in early January to discuss what I actually finished! In the meantime, be sure to check out my November 2025 Reading Wrap Up and subscribe to get my monthly reading posts delivered straight to your inbox.
~Kerri
Leave a Reply