7 queer horror books to make spooky season even scarier
Perfect LGBTQ+ horror books for a spooky October
Perfect LGBTQ+ horror books for a spooky October
Spooky season is officially here, so now is the perfect time to crack open a horror book or two to get in the mood. Luckily, there are many fantastic queer horror books waiting to be discovered.
If there were ever two things that go hand-in-hand, it’s the LGBTQ+ community and Halloween. Beyond creating the best outfits to celebrate the spookiest of seasons, the queer community also knows how to do horror well.
Whether it’s fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary, paranormal or something completely different, you just know that LGBTQ+ horror books are going to scratch that itch and have you sleeping with the lights on this October. To help get you good and scared, here are some queer horror books you need to add to your TBR.
You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
If you have ever thought that Alien and Midsommer would combine to create a perfectly unsettling horror, then I have the book for you! You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is the debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White.
An alien invasion in West Virginia has seen masses of worms and flies form hives, offering a few humans the chance for salvation – all they have to offer in return is loyalty and fresh corpses. In one of the hives, Crane has been given the chance to transition and live a life that won’t destroy him. He even meets a handsome ex-Marine and begins a relationship.
But when Crane falls pregnant, the hive demands that the child be born no matter what, driving Crane’s desperation against the community that saved him.
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
Set in the Netherlands in 1887, Blood on Her Tongue follows Lucy, whose twin sister Sarah has become unwell. Sarah won’t eat, is talking to herself and has developed an obsession with a centuries-old corpse that has been discovered on her husband’s estate.
While Sarah has been diagnosed with temporary insanity, Lucy knows that there is more to her illness than what meets the eye. To save her sister from ending up in an asylum, Lucy must unravel the mystery, while also trying to keep her own secrets hidden.
But then Sarah’s illness takes a turn, and she becomes angry and hungry.
Johanna van Veen has created a beautifully gothic story with plenty of gore and unhinged moments that are perfect for October.
The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
Another bug-themed horror, The Works of Vermin is a new release for October and is definitely a book that you want to add to your TBR if you enjoy monsters.
Tiliard is a decadent city carved into the stump of an ancient tree, offering a place for the pampered elite to create beautiful lives. There’s just one problem: a giant worm drawn to beauty has joined the vermin that attack the city and puts its inhabitants in danger.
This is where Guy comes in. He’s one of the city’s exterminators and will take on any job to keep his sister out of debt. Guy is enlisted to tackle the giant centipede, the size of a dragon with deadly venom and a taste for artwork. As its toxin reshapes the city, Guy must do whatever he can to take it down.
They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
A devastating hurricane hit Mercy, Louisiana, and ever since, a red algae bloom has taken over the water, mutating the wildlife and causing the water levels to rise each day. Noon is used to monsters, though, especially at The Cove. It was here that Noon’s life was changed, well before the storm.
Now Noon must deal with the rising water levels as well as her mom, who thinks that their dead family have been reincarnated as sea creatures – all while knowing that she is not the right shape.
When Noon is told that she and her mom must capture the creature that is drowning residents as the next storm approaches, she must deal with the past and the monster itching at her skin. They Bloom at Night is absolutely mesmerising and will have you turning pages as quickly as you can.
The Haunting of William Thorn by Ben Alderson
A haunted English manor, a timeline split and a queer love story – exactly what you want from a horror book in October.
The Haunting of William Thorn, as the title suggests, follows William, who has his whole life perfectly planned. It’s upended when he finds his boyfriend, Archie, in bed with another man. When William kicks his boyfriend out of the house, Archie is immediately killed in a car accident.
William then finds out he has inherited a manor in a small village and so plans a new start for himself. Unfortunately, the manor is rundown, and the village doesn’t want him there. His only ally, Edward, also seems to have some secrets. There’s also a malevolent ghost haunting the manor who wants William gone.
To deal with the spirit, William must discover who it used to be and the tragic details surrounding its death, all while dealing with his own grief and guilt.
Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews
Another beautiful and unsettling horror from the author of Don’t Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn combines murder and botanical body horror in a book that will have you sleeping with the lights on.
Evander lives on the Hazelthorn estate, largely forgotten and instructed to follow three strict rules by his reclusive billionaire guardian. He can’t leave the estate, he can’t go into the gardens, and he can’t be left alone with his guardian’s charming grandson, Laurie. The final rule was implemented when Laurie attempted to kill Evander.
When his guardian dies, Evander inherits the estate and its wealth. But Evander is sure that his guardian was killed and that Laurie is the only one who can help him find the killer before he becomes the next victim. But the garden is also refusing to stay where it should, invading the house more each day and forcing Evander to confront his family’s frightening history.
The Library At Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
If you’re a fan of horror books that leave you feeling like your brain is melting, The Library at Hellebore needs to be on your shelf.
Putting the dark in dark academia, the book takes place at The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted, a place where people with dark powers are rehabilitated – whether they want to be or not.
Alessa Li wakes up at the school after being kidnapped and forcibly enrolled. She, along with the other students, is told that they will be able to live normal lives after graduation, but things aren’t what they seem. On graduation day, the students are eaten by the faculty, and the surviving classmates take refuge in the library, forced to consider providing sacrifices to the staff so that at least one of them can survive.
But is everything as it seems? This book is full of gore and moments that will have you questioning your sanity – what more do you need at Halloween?
