Recs if you like Midnight Rooms...
Black Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Speculative Fiction
Representations of the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and speculative fiction. Recommendations welcome!
mod-goth (modern gothic novels)
We all love gothic classics, but what is new when it comes to the gothic genre (from the last 20 years or so)?! For fans of Dracula, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, etc. Please comment with suggestions to add!
Feral and Hysterical: Works by Women
List of recommendations included in Sadie Hartmann's Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women.
Pairs with 50 States, 50 Books by Women list.
Cottagecore: Cottages, Forests & Retellings
Want to start a life in the cottage, escape from the horror of life and tuck into your corner in the world? Just remember, this could be a cozy corner OR it could be just the opposite of that...
indie and/or small press horror
*or gothic and generally horror-adjacent. i have not read all of these! some self-published i think as well
Yes, I’m Judging the Cover
Books that I think have beautiful front covers. Open for recommendations!
Scream Queens
A reading list celebrating the women who know exactly how to get under your skin! Thankful for the gurlies!!!
Moths!
Occasionally a butterfly may find it's way here.
Gothic romances I YEARN to experince...
feel free to give recs to add!
Goodreads "Horror For Beginners"
Created from the list on Goodreads by Cybil and Sadie Hartmann (September 29, 2025)
Horror Recs for Every Type of Reader💀
🦴🌿 Feral Reading
Do you take walks in the forest to get away from others? Do you pick up leaves and admire their shapes? How about stuff your pockets with rocks and little bones for safe keeping? You ever find yourself talking to toads? If you said yes to all these things, this list might be for you. 🤎
Former Scaredy Cats 🐈⬛
A list of horror novels I have finished as a reformed scaredy cat! Still staying in non-contemporary settings to make sure we’re slightly removed from reality ✨ [I will update as I make it through things 👀]
Black Gothic Collection
Gothic books written by Black authors, compiled by Amelie West! Please lmk if you have suggestions :)
Feral and Hysterical
This is a list of horror books written by women, as recommended by Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror) in her book Feral and Hysterical. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Feral and Hysterical because it is so much more than a list of books. There are more lists of books, but also thoughtful essays by women writers. It's worth spending some time with Feral and Hysterical.
"Women are overqualified to write fictional horror. Period." -- Sadie Hartmann
