This weeks Literary Ledger 5 to 12 September 2025
Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world.
I) Viking imprint publishing new Penguin Horror series this Halloween
Penguin Horror are set to publish a chilling new five-book series this Halloween, featuring some true classics of the genre. A thoughtful (and slightly mischievous) way of helping us lean into a spooky season, even as we sorrowfully wave goodbye to summer (picture me being dragged away from the sunshine, reluctantly accepting the seasonal change).
The series includes works by the legendary Mary Shelley (author of my all-time favourite novel), Edgar Allan Poe, and other 20th-century masters of horror. Each book arrives in a striking new paperback design, clearly inspired by 1960s and 70s aesthetics, early Gothic styles, and folklore traditions. You can explore the full collection here:
Below is the line-up of the five titles, with the fastest rundown known to man of what you can expect:
Benighted by J.B Priesley: Travellers stranded in a storm take refuge in a decaying mansion, where the eccentric Femm family’s dark secrets emerge overnight.
Classic Horror by Various Authors: Enter a world of ghosts, monsters, and creeping dread with Classic Horror: An Anthology, featuring ten timeless tales of terror from Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and more.
Moths by Rosalind Ashe: Drawn to the enchanting Dower House, the Boyces and Professor Harris fall under its spell, until an unwelcome guest exposes the estate’s dark heart.
Pomegranate Seed and Other Ghostly Tales by Edith Wharton: Edith Wharton’s finest ghost stories weave elegant prose with eerie atmospheres, centering on haunted houses, spectral signs, and a husband whose dark secret slowly unravels.
The Witch and the Priest by Hilda Lewis: Haunted by Joan Flower, a priest is drawn into her harrowing account of witchcraft and damnation, forcing him to confront both her fate and his own.
I’m not usually great with horror, though I do like to push my reading boundaries. Horror’s one I need to tackle, I’m just a bit of a scaredy-cat. Maybe this October! Keep an eye on my Book Bites; you might spot one of these on there.
II) J.K Rowling – aka Robert Galbraith – slightly ahead of the rest
Robert Galbraith, J.K. Rowling’s pen name (something I only learned today), has shot to the top of the Official UK Top 50, according to the latest data from NielsenIQ BookScan’s Total Consumer Market (TCM). The Hallmarked Man (the eighth book in her popular crime series), published on 2nd September, sold impressively in its first week, with an average selling price (ASP) of £15.47, just under half price. It’s the fourth biggest number one of the year, behind Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and the World Book Day title Bluey’s Little Book.
III) Margaret Atwood – something I missed last week
A story I missed last week but only came across now feels important to share this week. This one comes all the way from Canada. On July 4th, the Conservative Alberta government signed a ministerial order banning any books with ‘explicit sexual content’ from schools, religious texts excepted (of course they are).
We all know that no progress has ever flourished from banning or censoring books; such actions are a warning sign of a dystopian, authoritarian society in the making.
Schools are expected to comply by October 1st to review thousands of titles. The largest school district in the province, the Edmonton Public School Board, released a list of 200 books to be removed from library shelves under this order, including The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. In response, Atwood posted a satirical short story on her Twitter account, which you can read here:
IV) Kenneth Branagh returns to Royal Shakespeare Company
After more than 30 years, Sir Kenneth Branagh is returning to the Royal Shakespeare Company! The Oscar-winning actor and director will take on the role of Prospero in The Tempest at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Spring 2026, with legendary director Sir Richard Eyre at the helm for the first time.
On his return, Sir Kenneth told the BBC, ‘When they asked me to come back to the company, my response was a swift and enthusiastic yes.
V) The Gruffalo Is Back: A Beloved Classic Gets a Brand-New Story After Two Decades
One of my most memorable childhood stories was The Gruffalo, alongside other classics like Elmer, The Rainbow Fish, and Clarice Bean. Now, more than 20 years later, The Gruffalo is making a comeback in a brand-new book. Author Julia Donaldson says she was inspired to write it by a campaign to reverse the decline in children’s reading. The book is set to be published in 2026.
Hopefully, this will help encourage kids to pick up a book in their free time. According to the National Literacy Trust, just 35% of children aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading for pleasure in 2025, the lowest level since the charity began collecting data in 2005.
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