“Ban the fascists and save the books” is a quote from the Horror Writers Association. Horror is a varied and rich genre, and we’re living in a renaissance year when the horror genre is experiencing a boom in publications and variety.
According to Yaika Sabat, the manager of Reader Services at Novel List, four horror subgenres are trending now. These subgenres are Horror and Romance, where anxieties and shocks are mixed in with love and romance. There is also a mix of Mental Health and Horror, as they blend very well.
One of the winning entries from the StokerCon in this category is Coup de Grâce, by Sofia Ajram, from the Bram Stoker Awards Ceremony. It also opens the door to LGBTQIA+ writers. There is the inclusion of Cursed Objects and Horror, considered a new trend, but as they are often featured in movies and television, incorporating them into more literature is a bonus.
The last trend is Varied Representation in Horror.
Now, for 2025, here are some picks for horror novels that best represent these subgenres:
1. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
A novel that sets a vampire story in the Blackfeet reservation, where there are many frightening scenes, which include some memorable gore for lovers of a visceral scare.
It is an Indigenous revenge story that explores life back in 1912 and the massacre of 217 Blackfeet, told through transcribed interviews from a member of the tribe named Good Stab.
Why we recommend it: This tale is told in great and gory detail from the native point of view and includes history, as well as the possibility of changing it with the introduction of a supernatural being and how that may have changed or will change the outcome.
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2. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
A Southern Gothic horror novel where disobedient girls are sent away when they become an embarrassment to their families. In 1970, several girls find themselves in the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, for unwed mothers, where they can have their babies and give them up for adoption quietly and discreetly. Basically, no one ever needs to know.
As the title suggests, a supernatural element is introduced when one of the girls is given a book on the Occult, which grants power. But is having power always a good thing?
Why we recommend it: Grady Hendrix is a popular horror author who always delivers original content as he masterfully blends horror, humour, and social commentary. It’s a story that makes us think about how society views what is considered unacceptable.
3. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
This is a story that succeeds masterfully in blending horror with supernatural elements. Cora is a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown. She does not cringe at the gore of the crime scenes, not since seeing her sister pushed in front of a train. The murderer spoke two words to hear while fleeing the scene: bat eater.
Time passes without the crime being solved, and Cora lives every day in a daze, even ignoring odd occurrences in her home, like bite marks appearing on her coffee table, and her aunt’s advice that she should prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open.
However, there is a rising dread in her stomach as she and her coworkers find bat carcasses at the most recent crime scenes, and they reveal that the victims are all East Asian women.
Why we recommend it: The novel offers a fresh perspective on the horror genre, blending mystery with supernatural elements. Kylie Lee Baker draws on her heritage to enhance the authenticity of her prose and crafts a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is disturbing.
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4. The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth
Along the lines of the last entry, this is also a story about how the death of one sister transforms the surviving sibling’s life. Olivia never imagined having the gift to communicate with the dead; that was her sister Naiche’s specialty.
However as time passes, she becomes the most popular and sought-after paranormal investigator in Denver. This leads her to the disturbing occurrences at the Brown Hotel’s room 904, where young women are found dead. As Olivia tries to understand these events, she faces various foes, including a dangerous cult, a vengeful journalist, and even the betrayal of her friends, as well as some unforeseen revelations concerning her sister.
Why we recommend it: The novel offers an original paranormal investigation that provides a full sensory experience for readers, with shocking revelations about a secret double life.
5. Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes
This is a tale that falls into the dystopian category with some definite dread, and adds the dangers of advanced AI to its foray. Halley is fleeing a highly political scandal that has driven her to seek anonymity. She finds solace, or thinks she does, on the massive space barge that houses the now-defunct, cryogenically frozen bodies of privileged citizens from over a century ago.
What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, many things, such as AI malfunctions and glitchy holograms, an oppressive feeling of isolation, and odd noises surrounding Halley. Perhaps this wasn’t the best hiding place after all.
Why we recommend it: S.A. Barnes, also known as Stacey Klemstein or Stacey Kade, a master of space horror, is quite versatile and shows us that there are fears worse than death in her chilling outer space tale.
6. The Bewitching by Silvia Mereno-Garcia
A perfect blending of gothic horror and mystery. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest atmospheric tale focuses on three women from three different eras who face danger and supernatural forces.
Minerva, who is studying the history of horror literature, finds a connection between her great-grandmother, Nana Alba, and Beatrice Tremblay, a missing girl who wrote macabre stories, and herself, as she feels threatened not only by the childhood stories but also by a real witch.
Why we recommend it: As with her bestseller, Mexican Gothic, this tale is written in a compelling narrative. It blends historical fiction, atmospheric gothic horror, and a unique literary style. The culmination of the three women’s lives and witchcraft is what keeps the reader hooked.
7. Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
This entry has been called “a blend of Jayne Eyre and American Psycho.” It centers around a young governess, Winifred Notty, who has a dark past and finds herself working in the dysfunctional Pounds household.
Winifred is not your typical sweet and innocent governess; she has disturbing and violent thoughts that emerge as the tensions in the manor evolve. The family itself also has its own perversions, creating a strange world for all its inhabitants. What keeps our interest is the most shocking ending expected.
Why we recommend it: If you appreciate the author’s dark humor and macabre psychological twists, as well as the protagonist’s internal struggles, you will likely enjoy this work. Additionally, it is currently in pre-production as an adaptation, with Jason Isaacs and Maika Monroe starring.
8. Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
Pure gothic horror set at Nethershaw Manor on the Moors outside of London, where Lenore, our heroine, whose marriage is unhappy, has also kept a dark secret for many years. Then, an accident brings Carmilla into their lives, a woman who is weak by day but quite vital at night.
Carmilla brings with her an attraction Lenore has never felt. At the same time, young girls start to fall ill and develop a disturbing lust for blood. Lenore must face several obstacles that will place her at great risk.
Why we recommend it: This was a much-anticipated novel with a new take on the gothic horror genre and a twist on a feminist reworking of Carmilla. It adds to the genre by adding new appetites and perspectives for the characters.
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9. Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin
This is a novel that introduces a new perspective on how we view our houseplants. It has been described as similar to Little Shop of Horrors, as again, these plants are perceptive and deadly. Shell, our protagonist, is out of sorts, having just left her fiancé, lost her job, and had to move in with her parents; she needs a change.
Lo and behold, she sees a ‘Help Wanted’ sign in a flower shop window. She takes a chance and walks in, and Neve, the florist, hires her, but as soon as she looks around, she gets an uneasy feeling. Over in the same mall, an orchid is watching them. Baby, the orchid is drawn to Neve, and he needs someone to consume so he can feel satisfied.
Why we recommend it: This is a peculiar story with some dark humor, while also being quite creepy, as it explores body horror. The story revolves around the desire and control in a monstrous environment, even though it takes place in a retail setting, giving it a unique perspective on consumerism.
10. The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
A story based on a gateway to spirits. In European folklore, it is associated with distant, mystical places where ancient, magical realms are said to exist still. In this iteration, five high school friends have taken an oath always to protect each other, no matter what.
The friends go on a camping trip and, in the middle of the forest, find something quite unusual: a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One of the group decides to walk up, but then disappears without a trace, and the stairs disappear along with them.
Twenty years later, the staircase reappears, and the friends return to find their lost members and discover what lies beyond the staircase?
Why we recommend it: It is a good read with enough surprises to keep one interested. It clearly leads us to examine change, become wiser, and undergo transformation, presented with a gloomy foreboding and dread.
All these bone-chilling tales are meant to keep you guessing and keep you up at night, but all in a positive way. Horror stories are often blended with other genres, such as thrillers, suspense, science fiction, dark fantasy, and paranormal fantasy, and are intended to scare us effectively. As they are just that – tales – they are meant to be enjoyed late at night when you are all by yourself.
