Although spring is in the air, that doesn't mean you have to give up your thirst for bloodcurdling, hair-raising reads. This year's newest crop of horror novels is sure to be love at first bite for long-time horror enthusiasts and newcomers, alike. The following list of recently released--or soon to grace our shelves--novels brings together stories from both fan-favorite authors and new-to-the-scene talents. Whether you're in the mood for cursed legacies, unknowable monstrosities, or psychological dread, be sure to get on the waitlist now for these terrifying tales!
When the Wolf Comes Home.
Cassidy, Nat.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Thriller
"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 boy find themselves running for their lives. As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, horrifying incidents of butchery follow them. At first, Jess thinks she understands what they're up against, but she's about to learn there's more to these surreal and grisly events than she could've ever imagined. And that when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared."
Cold Eternity
Barnes, S. A.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago… The cryo program is long defunct, and the AI hologram "hosts" are glitchy. The ship feels like a crypt, and the isolation gets to Halley almost immediately. She starts to see figures crawling in the hallways, and there’s a constant scraping, slithering, and rattling echoing in the vents. It’s not long before Halley realizes she may have gotten herself trapped in an even more dangerous situation than the one she was running from…."
Are you a long time fan of the "Alien" franchise? Does deep space and cosmic terrors that go bump in the night sound like your kind of read? Then S.A. Barnes' newest space horror is the perfect novel for you.
- Madison C
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Baker, Kylie Lee.
"Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner—but the bloody messes don't bother her, not when she's already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister being pushed in front of a train. The killer was never caught, and Cora is still haunted by his last words: 'bat eater.' These days nobody can reach Cora: not her aunt; not her weird colleagues; and especially not the slack-jawed shadow lurking around her door frame. After all, it can't be real—can it? After a series of unexplained killings in Chinatown, Cora believes someone might be targeting East Asian women, and something might be targeting Cora herself."
Sometimes, the most horrifying thing isn't supernatural entities, but other humans. Kylie Lee Baker's novel is a rare stand-out in the market of pandemic-themed books, thoughtfully exploring how fear can turn into prejudice, which can all spillover in the face of societal calamity. Blending real world issues with monstrous supernatural elements, this novel is a must-read for horror fans.
- Madison C
Blood on Her Tongue (Standard Edition)
Veen, Johanna van.
ON ORDER BOOK
Historical Fiction, Horror
"I'm in your blood, and you are in mine…" The Netherlands, 1887. Lucy's twin sister Sarah is unwell. She refuses to eat, mumbles nonsensically, and is increasingly obsessed with a centuries-old corpse recently discovered on her husband's estate. The doctor has diagnosed her with temporary insanity caused by a fever of the brain. To protect her twin from a terrible fate in a lunatic asylum, Lucy must unravel the mystery surrounding her sister's condition, but it's clear her twin is hiding something. Then, the worst happens. Sarah's behavior takes a turn for the strange. She becomes angry… and hungry. Lucy soon comes to suspect that something is trying to possess her beloved sister. Or is it madness? As Sarah changes before her very eyes, Lucy must reckon with the dark, monstrous truth, or risk losing her forever.
Johanna van Veen's novel is one any vampire fan will want to sink their teeth into. A dark, gothic tale of horror, this book will capture any reader who enjoys chilling reads, historical mysteries, and exploring the lengths two sisters will go to keep monstrous forces at bay.
- Madison C
Senseless
Malfi, Ronald Damien, author.
FICTION Malfi Ronald
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Detective Renney sees similarities between a dead woman in the LA desert and a prior murder; Maureen is unsettled by fiancé Greg's son Landon, who may be tied to the murder; and Toby, self-proclaimed Human Fly, obsesses over a woman with rattlesnake teeth in this thriller.
This Ronald Malfi read is perfect for those seeking a psychological horror that leaves them chilled to the bone. This character-driven novel intricately weaves multiple story lines, while exploring the terrifying cost of trying to forget past deeds - and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.
- Madison C
Strange pictures
Uketsu, author.
FICTION Uketsu
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
An exploration of the macabre, where the seemingly mundane takes on a terrifying significance. A pregnant woman's sketches on a seemingly innocuous blog conceal a chilling warning. A child's picture of his home contains a dark secret message. A sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments leads an amateur sleuth down a rabbithole that will reveal a horrifying reality. Structured around these nine childlike drawings, each holding a disturbing clue, Uketsu invites readers to piece together the mystery behind each and the over-arching backstory that connects them all.
As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." In this horror read, a series of seemingly innocent pictures may lead to each character's undoing. This immersive read expertly draws in readers to piece together one chilling puzzle after another.
- Madison C
The Starving Saints
Starling, Caitlin.
ON ORDER BOOK
Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ+
"Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food is running low and there has been no sign of rescue. But just as the survivors consider deliberately thinning their number, the castle stores are replenished. The sick are healed. And the divine figures of the Constant Lady and her Saints have arrived, despite the barricaded gates, offering succor in return for adoration. Soon, the entire castle is under the sway of their saviors, partaking in intoxicating feasts of terrible origin. The war hero Ser Voyne gives her allegiance to the Constant Lady. Phosyne, a disorganized, paranoid nun-turned-sorceress, races to unravel the mystery of these new visitors. And a serving girl, Treila, is torn between her thirst for a secret vengeance against Voyne and the desperate need to escape from the horrors that are unfolding. To save the castle, and themselves, will take a reimagining of who they are, and a reorganization of the very world itself."
If unsettling horror with a medieval gothic flair sounds like your kind of read, then Caitlin Starling's most recent novel is perfect for you. Blending faith, gluttony, and the power of manipulation, "The Starving Saints" explores what happens when devotion takes a deadly turn, leaving any reader hungry for more.
- Madison C
OVERGROWTH.
GRANT, MIRA.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"This is just a story. It can't hurt you anymore. Since she was three years old, Anastasia Miller has been telling anyone who would listen that she's an alien disguised as a human being, and that the armada that left her on Earth is coming for her. No one has been willing to listen. Now, with an alien signal from the stars being broadcast around the world, humanity is finally starting to realize that it's already been warned, and it may be too late. The invasion is coming, Stasia's biological family is on the way to bring her home, and very few family reunions are willing to cross the gulf of space for just one misplaced child. What happens when you know what’s coming, and just refuse to listen?"
Mira Grant's latest novel is all about the what ifs of an alien invasion. Expertly combining science fiction, suspense, and a sense of creeping dread, "Overgrowth" is great for readers who want a novel that explores what it means to find one's place in a world that faces an (un?)avoidable extraterrestrial threat.
- Madison C
Hungerstone : a novel
Dunn, Kat, author.
FICTION Dunn Kat
Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ+
It's the height of the industrial revolution and ten years into Lenore's marriage to steel magnate Henry, their relationship has soured. When Henry's ambitions take them from London to the remote British moorlands to host a hunting party, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger. As the day of the hunt draws closer, Lenore begins to unravel, questioning the role she has been playing all these years. Torn between regaining her husband's affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, soon Lenore will uncover a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk.
This atmospheric, sapphic gothic tale is rife with feminine rage, insatiable desire, and a quest for meaning beyond life's mundane. Kat Dunn's latest novel is perfect for those looking to take a bite out of a modern, "Carmilla" retelling.
- Madison C
If you're in the mood for classic monster horrors, this is the book for you. Not only does Nat Cassidy deliver on a novelized creature feature, but also offers readers a deep exploration of family bonds and grief navigation.
- Madison C