Fully Booked
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Author Interviews
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Fully Booked
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Author Interviews
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Fully Booked
No Result
View All Result

Home > Best Book Lists > 10 Frightfully Fantastic Horror Books by Authors of Color

10 Frightfully Fantastic Horror Books by Authors of Color

Meaghan M. by Meaghan M.
June 4, 2021
in Best Book Lists
Reading Time: 8 mins read
horror-authors-of-color-feature
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Diversity in Horror Fiction
  • Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
  • White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
  • The Only Good Indians  by Stephen Graham Jones
  • Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
  • Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier
  • The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle
  • The Devourers by Indra Das
  • Revenge by Yoko Ogawa
  • Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

Diversity in Horror Fiction

So, you’re into horror? Same here. And not just in the fall; I’m a horror fiend all year long, which you might have already guessed from my previous articles here at Fully Booked. But just because you’re into one specific genre doesn’t mean that you can’t have a diversified list of picks anyway. I’ve been slowly gathering a list – some I’ve read, others I intend to – of great, eclectic horror fiction. To that end, we’ve decided to shine a spotlight on just some of the excellent works of horror books written by authors of color. Get out your tbr list and take note!

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

dread-nation-cover
Justina Ireland – Dread Nation Cover

The first in a series by Justina Ireland, this fascinating read combines the Civil War, racial oppression and zombie lore. Protagonist Jane as well as fellow members of the black and First Nations population have been dispatched to slay the dead who have risen from the battlefields. All Jane wants is to head home, but she soon finds herself caught up in a sinister mystery that continues to unravel. A badass heroine fighting discrimination and real-life monsters makes a crazy good start to a series. Heads up: the second book in the series, Deathless Divide, was published this year!

Article Continues Below Advertisement
Article Continues Below Advertisement

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

Folks looking for a twist on a haunted house novel will be pleasantly surprised by Helen Oyeyemi’s chilling tale. Protagonist Miri Silver lives with her parents and twin brother Eliot in their home in Dover, England, which her parents run as a bed and breakfast. The aptly named ‘Silver House’ is no ordinary home, it’s alive. As Miri struggles with a strange eating disorder, she’ll deal with first love, loss of family and all of the spirits contained within Silver House, including her own. As a fan of the gothic style haunted house novel, this is definitely one I’ll be picking up soon.

The Only Good Indians  by Stephen Graham Jones

the-only-good-indians-cover
Stephen Graham-Jones – The Only Good Indians Cover

I’ll be the first to say that the majority of First Nations folklore that I’ve read have not been nearly this terrifying. Four Native American friends on a hunting trip willingly stray onto protected land, killing an elk herd they come across. One in particular proves much more difficult to kill than the others. A decade later, the men are forced to answer for their actions by something sinister that stalks them, seeking revenge. Stephen Graham-Jones has some of the most eclectic and original ideas for horror fiction today, and creates a perfect blend of atmosphere and unsettling gore.  

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

A fascinating take on the horror tale we know and love, this modern interpretation of the Frankenstein story is set in Baghdad following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Hadi, an eccentric junk-dealer, collects the scattered remains of bombing victims in order to give them a proper burial at a later date. He stitches them together in order to create one solid body, and surprise surprise, through a little surreal magic his “creation” becomes inhabited by the spirit of another victim and reanimates. What follows is a hard commentary on the absurd aspects of war cleverly woven into a horror fantasy that draws us in and adds just enough of that fantastical element to keep the reader hooked from start to finish. The novel was meant to be adapted for the screen, but so far no new updates on the project have been released.

Article Continues Below Advertisement
Article Continues Below Advertisement

ReadNext

Differences Between Horror and Dark Fantasy

Differences Between Horror and Dark Fantasy: An Exploration

December 1, 2023
the salt grows heavy book review

The Salt Grows Heavy: A Haunting Review

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

mexican-gothic-cover
Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Mexican Gothic Cover

One of the latest editions to the gothic novel family, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest novel has been generating all sorts of buzz since it hit shelves this past summer. Set in Mexico in the 1950s, the story follows Noemi Taboada who receives an unsettling and vague letter from her cousin seeking assistance; she’s recently a mysterious English aristocrat, and is living in the sloping Mexican countryside. Noemi is a socialite herself and not particularly prepared to solve a mystery, but she heads to Catalina’s aide anyhow. Unsurprisingly, the massive estate of High Place is hiding many secrets within its walls, and Noemi will need to tackle not only her cousin’s new husband, but his entire family who work extremely hard to keep their horrendous history hidden from public view. Dripping in atmosphere and tension, this novel is quickly cementing itself in the gothic hall of fame. If you’re looking for a gothic horror set outside of England or the U.S., you’ve found the right story. Shoutout to Moreno-Garcia’s vampire novel Certain Dark Things, also very deserving of a read. Side note: Mexican Gothic is being developed into a series for Hulu; I can’t wait to see the translation to screen of this story.

Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier

A small town horror-thriller with what – in this readers opinion – is probably the creepiest setting that one can have in a story: a theme park. What can I say? Clowns and eerie circus music freak me out. Vanessa Castro is a disgraced detective who’s been given the opportunity to start over as the deputy police chief in small town Seaside, Washington. Her new post starts off with – of course – a homicide. Vanessa answers a call from Seaside’s amusement park, Wonderland. A mangled body has been discovered underneath the ferris wheel. To top it off, several young men who have worked for the park have also gone missing. Seems as though Wonderland may be harboring some secrets…and here Vanessa was thinking they’d moved to a nice, quiet town.

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

the-ballad-of-black-tom-cover
Victor Lavalle – The Ballad of Black Tom Cover

A prime example of flipping source material on its head and exposing a dated story that exposes the racist nature of its original author, The Ballad of Black Tom is a sort of re-telling of H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Horror at Red Hook. The original tale centered around a police detective investigating a series of kidnappings who stumbles onto a sinister plot of an old sociopath seeking eternal life and rejuvenation is rife with misrepresentation of cultural practices and some truly bothersome opinions on the immigrant population of New York. Lavalle takes the original story and shifts its perspective to that of Thomas Tester, an African-American man hustling ancient occult texts and working to survive systemic racism in the 1920s. The Ballad of Black Tom is an intelligent work of horror as well as a look at Lovecraft’s irrational fear of immigrants and people of color. 

Article Continues Below Advertisement

The Devourers by Indra Das

Ko-Fi Support Banner

We’re blurring the line between horror and dark fantasy with this one, but I feel that it’s fitting nevertheless. The classic werewolf tale gets a new type of spin in this story that’s heavy on legends and folklore, and follows a young professor named Alok in Kolkata, India. Alok is approached by a stranger who asks for his help in transcribing several scrolls; he agrees once the stranger tells him of his ability to shift into a werewolf. Alok begins his transcription, becoming mesmerized by a tale of a werewolf, a woman, and their tragic love story. If you’re looking for more fantasy and folklore woven into a horror narrative, this is the book you should pick up.

Revenge by Yoko Ogawa

revenge-book-cover
Yoko Ogawa – Revenge Cover

Sometimes we like our horror in small doses; enter the short story collection. Written by Japanese author Yoko Ogawa, this collection of 11 stories blend the horrific to the fantastical seamlessly, and allow the reader to find something that’s well suited to their tastes. Ghosts, pet deaths, people with organs outside of their bodies, this book has it all. Many stories are linked, but only by the most tenuous of threads, creating a cohesive narrative, and as a reader we find ourselves searching for connections throughout stories that linger once you’ve finished with them.

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

It would be impossible to create this list without including Octavia E. Butler. Primarily a science fiction author, her final novel published during her lifetime takes a detour, exploring the vampire narrative and showing off her horror skills to their full effect. Shori is a vampire;  only a 10 year old girl on the outside, but a 53 year old woman on the inside. She is part of the Ina people, and yet is discriminated against by her own kind as well as others. As she struggles to find her place and forge her path, Shori will need to take on other Ina and humans in order to find her own family and learn the truth about herself.

Article Continues Below Advertisement
Article Continues Below Advertisement

The horror community is lucky to have all of these stories and more from brilliant authors of color. Honorable mentions go to works such as Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (which has been adapted into a series by Netflix) and The Good House by  Tananarive Due. Happy spooky discoveries! 

Join The Conversation…

Have thoughts on this article or in general? Come share your ideas in the comments below or on our Facebook Group, Instagram or Facebook Page!

  • Facebook Group
  • Instagram
  • Facebook Page

Article Continues Below Advertisement
Article Continues Below Advertisement
Tags: Horror
ShareTweetShare
Meaghan M.

Meaghan M.

Loves tea, cats, and really fuzzy socks. Always searching for the next horror novel to keep her up at night.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
guest
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
movies based on books for book lovers features

Must-Watch: 10 Great Movies Based on Books

November 19, 2023
silo tv series season finale explained feature

Silo Series Season Finale’s Most Burning Questions Explained

July 11, 2023
dark fantasy books for adults cover

Top 10 Gripping Dark Fantasy Books For Adults

November 26, 2023
Best-Film-Adaptations-Based-On-Viral-Books-From-Reeses-Book-Club-feature

10 Best Film-Adaptations Based On Viral Books From Reese’s Book Club

November 8, 2023
different types of poetry feature

Discover the Different Types of Poetry: A Comprehensive Guide

December 2, 2023
Differences Between Horror and Dark Fantasy

Differences Between Horror and Dark Fantasy: An Exploration

December 1, 2023
2023 Dark Fantasy Books

Great 2023 Dark Fantasy Books To Add To Your TBR

November 30, 2023
Cult Classic Books For Millennials

Unlock Nostalgia: Top Popular Cult Classic Books For Millennials

November 28, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Fully Booked

Copyright © 2020-2023 www.fully-booked.ca

Important Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Friend’s Links
  • Privacy Statement
  • Impressum
  • Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Book Reviews
  • Best Book Lists
  • Book Adaptations
  • Author Interviews
  • Editorials
  • Book Genres
    • American Literature
    • Black Literature
    • Canadian Literature
    • Classic Literature
    • Fantasy
    • Folklore Books
    • Horror
    • Mystery
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Summer Reads
    • Theatre
    • Winter Books
    • Women In Literature
    • Young Adult
  • Podcast

Copyright © 2020-2023 www.fully-booked.ca

wpDiscuz
Fully Booked
Manage your privacy

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Fully Booked
Manage your privacy
We use cookies to offer you a better experience, analyze traffic, and at times, serve the best possible and relevant advertisement to you. By continuing to use this site, you agree with the use of cookies in accordance with our linked policies below.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Updated on June 4, 2021