What I’m Reading for Women in Horror Month
For decades, women have been dedicating their artistry and talent to the horror genre on the written page. Horror is filled with women writers creating some of the most terrifying horror fiction novels out there. When Women in Horror Month rolls around every February, it’s a great time for women authors to get the recognition they deserve. As an avid reader, there is nothing more I love than to get comfortable with a good horror story written by a female author I discovered from fellow book lovers.
These are the books I will be reading this February in order to celebrate these talented women.
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire)
This science fiction horror novel was first described to me in the most perfect and simple way – killer mermaids. The author, Mira Grant, is a pseudonym of urban fantasy writer, Seanan McGuire. In the book, a film crew goes on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to a film a “mockumentary” about mermaids, when their ship Atargatis mysteriously disappearances. Seven years later, the sister of one of the missing people joins a new crew with hopes to discover what really happened beneath the waters. Murderous mermaids are vastly underrated, and this sounds like it could deliver quite a thrilling punch. (You can check out Charlotte’s review HERE)
The Carrow Haunt by Darcy Coates
This one is purely a bookstagram influence. I first saw the cover floating around and after seeing that it was about a haunted building, I was in. The Carrow Haunt follows Remy, a tour guide for the famous haunted building, Carrow House. In order to research the weird phenomena in the house, she asks seven guests to stay the week. As you would have guessed, everything seems good at first until a storm rolls in, and the supernatural fun begins. When one of the guests dies, Remy begins to wonder what exactly is haunting Carrow House. Ghost stories are my absolute favorite, especially when groups of people have to stay together in a creepy house.
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
If you research any list discussing women authors in horror, there is no doubt you will find Octavia E. Butler at the top. Fledgling follows the story of a girl with un-human needs and abilities who shockingly find outs that she is a genetically modified vampire. The Washington Post described the book as, “an unflinching eye on racism, sexism, poverty, and ignorance and lets the reader see the terror and beauty of human nature.” It sounds like a unique take on a vampire story and I’m excited for it to be my first Butler read.
Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé
First of all, the cover of this book is awesome. Secondly, it’s described as The Blair Witch Project meets Imaginary Girls. I couldn’t pass this up. From Canadian author Amelinda Bérubé, Here There Are Monsters is a young adult horror novel about two sisters, Skye, and her younger sister, Diedre. The sisters are new to an isolated neighborhood where Diedre becomes drawn to the woods near their home and the weird sculptures she builds out of sticks and bones. When Diedre disappears suddenly, Skye will stop at nothing to find her.
Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn
Ania Ahlborn is a powerhouse. She is incredibly talented at creating an atmosphere of dread and grit. Her words cut so deep and they’re hard to forget. Within These Walls will be my second novel from her. Crime writer, Lucas Graham hasn’t had a best-seller in a long time. When he gets access to Jeffrey Halcomb, a famous cult leader and current death row inmate, he feels like it might be the perfect comeback. Graham packs up his life and heads to Washington State and moves into the scene of the crime where Halcomb’s followers took their lives. Graham quickly learns that he might be going down an unexpected road. If you love a true crime thriller, this one might something to check out.
The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
The Grip of It is the one that was been on my to-read list for the longest time. On Goodreads it is said to be, “A chilling literary horror novel about a young couple who purchase and live in a haunted house. Jac Jemc’s The Grip of It tells the eerie story of a young couple haunted by their new home.” It seems creepy and like anything could go down. (You can check out Charlotte’s review HERE)
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