Recs if you like Bad Cree...
indigenous horror books
horror books written by indigenous authors
no stephen king in sight
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!
Indigenous fiction
Credits to @Literary.leveret for some of the books on here
Hauntology: Folk Horror and the Echoes of the Past
Hauntology is the philosophical concept, as quoted by Mark Fisher from his article taking a deeper look into Derrida's philosophical work, that "the present is always haunted by the ghosts of the past and the unfulfilled promises of the future." From generational trauma to dark histories to dying Old World pagan traditions, these elements persist throughout the wide genre of folk horror. These books explore deeply into the hauntings of the past and the instability of the future.
Canada, eh!
Canadian authors writing books set in Canada.
All that's left is bones: Books about π―ππππ β οΈ
Books about death, dying, grief and what remains.
Native American & Indigenous American Storytelling
Here are some books by Native & Indigenous American authors - from fiction to memoir to historical retellings.
Feral and Hysterical: Works by Women
List of recommendations included in Sadie Hartmann's Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horrorβs Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women.
Pairs with 50 States, 50 Books by Women list.
Grief is The Thing
Books where grief is personified, given a body, a voice, or a shape, to explore how loss lives alongside us.
Indigenous Peopleβs of the World Lit
Literature featuring indigenous authors from the Americas and Pacific. Fiction from across all genres by First Nations of Canada and the US, MΔori, Aboriginal Australian, Samoan, Hawaiian, Papua New Guinean and other Pacific Island indigenous peoples. Any and all recommendations are more than welcome! Thank you π
Women in Horror Book Bingo Card
These books are from @fromthemixedupdesk's bingo card on Bindery and Instagram. Of 191 works nominated for the Bram Stoker award, only 26 authors are women.
Outside freezes, so I want chills in my book
Horrors and thrillers set in winter (21st December to 20th March, but I will count earlier December as winter too to make things easier) or in a really cold place that reminds of wintertime.
The list will contain both more known books that you've probably already been recommended and some that I've seen have had less attention, at least over here. I have not read them all, but I want to complete this list myself too during the next Christmasses.
Indigenous literature
Either by or about Indigenous American, Hawaiian, Aboriginal people, etc. (with an emphasis on the supernatural and folklore just because thatβs my fav) I am not Indigenous so I would love suggestions and comments!
Scream Queens
A reading list celebrating the women who know exactly how to get under your skin! Thankful for the gurlies!!!
Indigenous Horror
Wide definition of horror | story collections included if at least one was written by an Indigenous author | mostly authors from Turtle Island (North America)
Works by Never Whistle at Night Authors
Form the two short story collections- Never Whistle at Night and Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood here are some of the works by authors from these collections.
Indigenous Fiction
Fiction Stories based on Indigenous/American Indian/Native American culture.
Indigenous books
I'm coming at this from a Canadian Metis point of view and I welcome other suggestions for the list.
gab smolders 2025 (horror) book talk
what gab smolders read in 2025 as per her book talk video! horror + in tier order from most to least liked by her:
β S TIER: from "night shoot" to "old country"
β A TIER: from "what stalks the deep" to "listen to your sister"
β B TIER: from "the long walk" to "the gathering"
β C TIER: from "banquet for the damned" to "model home"
β D TIER: from "3 streets" to "my darling dreadful thing"
β F TIER: from "basilisk" to "survivor song"
Indigenous & 2S Minds
Stories centering Womxn, Two Spirit folk, and Queerz+ from Turtle Island and beyond. Currently making my way through the list and would love more suggestions! Happy reading my fellow book worms :)
