Pile by the Bed reviews Steel Gods by Richard Swan the second book in his flintlock fantssy Great Silence trilogy, itself a follow up to his Empire of the Wolf trilogy.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Pretenders to the Throne of God, the fourth book in Adrian Tchaikocsky’s always thought provoking and enjoyable Tyrant Philosophers fantasy series.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Nonesuch by Francis Spufford a rich and engaging historical fantasy set in London in the lead up to and during World War II.
Pile by the Bed reviews House of Splinters by Laura Purcell, a prequel to her breakour gothic debut novel The Silent Companions, once again featuring a host of creepy wooden effigies.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan a compulsive, dark (but also sometimes darkly humorous) historical fantasy debut.
Pile by the Bed reviews Ballad Of The Bone Road by AC Wise an urban fantasy in a golden-age-of-hollywood style 1950s world with ghosts, fae and demons
Pile by the Bed reviews Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. The Dutch author delivers a horror tale that centres around a Faustian bargain that provides prosperity to a group of American families at a cost.
Pile by the Bed reviews The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson an effective debut folk horror tale set in the Welsh hills.
Pile by the Bed reviews A Land So Wide, a fantasy tale set in a remote community that draws and builds on traditional folk tales.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends City of Others by Jared Poon, a debut urban fantasy mystery with a comic edge set on the streets of Singapore and centred around a team of civil servants who are employed to deal with the uncanny.
Pile by the Bed reviews Circle of Shadows by Marisa Linton, an Edwardian crime novel with a dash of the occult centred around a determined female protagonist.
Pile by the Bed reviews The Mindnight Timetable by Bora Chung (trasnlated by Anton Hur) a series of connected short stories set in an insutute that collects and protects supernatural objects.
Pile By the Bed’s Top 10 books of 2025:
Salvage by Jennifer Mills
Arborescence by Rhett Davis
We Do Not Part by Han Kang
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
King Sorrow by Joe Hill
Eden by Mark Brandi
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
Slow Gods by Claire North
Picks and Shovels by Corey Doctorow
Pile By the Bed’s Top Fiven Fantasy books for 2025 – The Incandescent by Emily Tesh, King Sorrow by Joe Hill, The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes, and Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky and
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes a work of new weird fiction set in the tree-city of Tiliard. Not only a mind-bending scenario but political and cosial commentary and plenty of emotional gut punches.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow a time bending fantasy novel that explores the power of stories.
Pile by the Bed reviews Blood for the Undying Throne by Sung-Il Kim, (tanslated by Anton Hur), the second book in his Bleeding Empire triloy which broadens out the world through much needed backstory.
Pile by the Bed reviews Slayers of Old by Jim C Hines a comic, heartfelt but dark and thrilling urban fantasy centred arounf 3 ageing heroes who have to come out of semi-retirement to save themselves and the world.
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Ring the Bells by CK McDonnell, the fith book in his always enjoyable urban fantasy series featuring thr weird staff of the Stranger Times newspaper in Manchester
Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends King Sorrow by Joe Hill the story of six young people who make a deal with a malevolent dragon and the impact that has on their lives.
