Recs if you like Dark Sisters...
forgive us our trespasses: religious horror
horror books that revolve around religious ideals or institutions from the mainstream to the mythic. while the title of this list is derivative of the bible, this focus of this list is not on any one religion or religious group.
it’s complicated: mother-child relationships
Fiction & nonfiction books that explore the complexities and traumas of mother-child relationships or in which such relationships play a central role. While many books on this list are what I’d classify as including “mommy issues” there are others that are more about the different perspectives and nuances of the mother-child (often specifically mother-daughter) relationship. Some books center the child, some the mother, some both.
Suggestions are welcome.
High Femme Fiction
pink, sophisticated & sometimes fatale <3 (added some essential nonfic & poetry!)
Fiction with Themes of Religious Trauma
Novels for when you want to explore religious trauma and the impacts of religion through fiction. For nonfic, see my list “From saint to sinner: religious deconstruction”
Suggestions are welcome!
Where the Willows Weep: Horror in the Deep South
It’s hot and humid, the cicadas are buzzing, and there’s violence in the air.
Horror books and short stories set in the Deep South.
Think: swamps, bayous, bullfrogs, Spanish moss, hauntings, haints, voodoo/hoodoo, monsters hidden in plain sight, structural violence, and the oppressive weight of history.
Comps: True Detective S1; Sinners; South of Midnight
❗️Some of the these books are classified as extreme horror/splatterpunk. PLEASE protect yourself, and check all trigger warnings.❗️
Book(s) of the Month(s) 📚
Here's every book so far from BOTM's monthly shortlist since February 2015 for anyone who wants to read them all like I do!
Mysteries and Thrillers
This includes book that have either mystery or thrillers as a primary or secondary genre. If you have recommendations to add please comment and I'll happily add them 💕
Here There Be Witches
All things witchy and wonderful. Spooky, cozy or otherwise. Throw in some witchy non-fiction for good measure.
Suggestions encouraged! Always looking for more witchy books.
UNHINGED WOMEN 🤫🧨
a little bit of horror, some insanity, some delusions, some gore, some gothic. we don’t exclude over here
Cults
Books where cults are a big part of the story. Mostly fictional horror books 🤡
2025 BOTM
All the 2025 BOTM monthly, add on, and Allurial titles
Cannibal Council
Not all of these books will have cannibalism... but there is a non-zero chance at least 1% will.
