Recs if you like Reliquary...

are you sick of being recommended stephen king when you ask for a horror novel? have you picked up a book expected to be scared, but the scariest thing about it was a woman being needlessly tormented and gaslit? have you read 4627473 books about a man in a haunted house and need something different?

if so, this list is for you :)

a masterlist of horror by anyone who isn't a straight cis white man. i've been maintaining it for myself since 2022 and it was time to share the wealth!

was curious, so did some research and found loads and loads!!! happy reading, folks!

A genre-inclusive and diverse list of horror releases coming in 2026. If I missed any or you have suggestions, please let me know. I will update periodically as new books are announced and release dates are solidified.

Source for a lot of the data for this list came from readjumpscares.com, which is a website you should absolutely check out. I’m sure data will come from other places along the way, as well.

What lies within the depths... Speculative Horror books where the main horror element directly relates to a body of water (whether that be a swamp, ocean, lake, river, etc.)

Note: must be more than just the backdrop

Keyword: aquatic horror recommendations and corrections welcome!

Horror books to read just for the aesthetic

Just a list of books coming out in 2026 that I’m really excited for :) it will be updated as the months go by! It will be a mix of: high fantasy, romance fantasy, sci-fi, gothic, horror, lit fic, historical fiction, retellings, poetry, romance, & more!!

lit fic and horror, mainly, and mostly books by women, nonbinary & trans writers, basically mostly non-cis-men

a collection of books im interested in which are releasing this year (2026). no particular order

mostly fantasy and young adult books - updated nov. 1st 2025

creaky door opening Insert Creepy Hand. creaky door closing

Books centered around crimes on an island, tropical or otherwise

all books summerween: spooky, scary, and some romance all with the perfect ambiance and atmosphere