Most of the stories in Johnny Compton’s Midnight Somewhere were published before in magazines, anthologies, or podcasts, and my guess is his story was one of the darkest, bleakest, and/or saddest of the lot because these were bleak.

I expected Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester to be feminist and witchy, which it was. I did not expect it to be legitimately scary and somewhat gruesome, nor did I expect it to be a virtual treatise for smashing the patriarchy, but here we are, and I am here for it. 

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas is an engaging dark academia novel about a college that cares so much about the sanctity of its students’ education that tuition, room, board - even clothes, toiletries, and alcohol - are free. What’s more, they ensure the students are free from distraction by not allowing them to leave campus, send or receive communications, or have access to personal entertainment like radio, tv, iPods, etc. for the three years it takes to complete the curriculum.

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins is a gothic murder mystery thriller and a perfect escapist read. Populated with strong and snarky female characters, the fictional St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama has stories to tell. 

The Curse of the Cole Women by Marielle Johnson follows generations of Cole Women on Juniper Island off the New Hampshire coast whose lineage has an unusual curse thanks to an ancestor who was branded as a witch.

If the Dead Belong Here by Carson Faust is at once a chilling supernatural tale and a story of generational trauma told beautifully through the eyes of several generations of a family of Native American women.

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison is a thrilling horror novel with scares coming from both the literal and figurative demons.

The first thing you'll see when googling this book is "Gothic feminist body horror" - and it is that, but it's also romantic and witchy and about love and loss and found family.

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang joins the chorus of media that takes a satirical look at influencers with the intent of showing they’re not what they seem - but she has a unique take on the modern trope that makes her novel feel fresh.

Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine by Kristina Ten feels like that weird girl you know from school or work or the pub (which is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black) sits down next to you and starts talking. Some of what she says is obviously unrealistic, but it all feels true, and it encourages you to share your own weird stories.

The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo is a compelling gothic horror complete with an atmospheric estate, a mysterious family legacy involving a curse, and an innocent young woman at the center.

The Film You Are About to See by Haley Newlin is a reality blurring creature feature set at an all-night “Dusk Til Dawn Spooktacular” at a 1950s Indiana drive-in showing classics like House of Wax and The Tingler while a big bug is turning moviegoers into pod people. And, yes, it is as amazing as it sounds.

Unusual Occurrences by Glenn Rolfe is a collection of dark stories about aliens and ghosts and nature and monsters of all sorts. Though the topics are speculative or supernatural, the characters and themes like family, grief, and fear are relatable, the language was casual, like a friend - probably wearing a band tee - telling a story, and the collection was overall a fun read.

As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel is a Gothic fantasy romance about witches and demons - in particular one demon who passes generations of time waiting for one witch to be reborn so the Faustian bargain they’ve struck can be fulfilled - or is this demon waiting for more personal reasons? Can a creature with no soul feel love?

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers combines two of my favorite things: bookshops and murder. That definitely doesn’t sound right, but you get it. They’re probably two of your favorite things, too.

The Goth Garden by Felicia Feaster is a gorgeous art book that just happens to be packed full of history, lore, growing guidance, and uses of fifty plants and flowers to add to your very own goth garden - or at least to your bookshelf.

Blood Ties is the perfect action adventure horror romance to read while waiting for WoW: Midnight to drop or if you’ve never played the game. Christie Golden does a masterful job describing enough of the world and characters for those unfamiliar with the game but not so much that fans will get bored.

I’ll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker is a chilling Southern Gothic folk horror novel primarily set in and around the fictional Bricksbury University, a historically black college in Jonesborough, TN, in the heart of Appalachia.

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson wasted no time building tension as we realize within the first lines that something is wrong.

Poe witnessed her mother’s murder when she was 13 years old, and now she hosts her own true crime podcast where she invites criminals to, as anonymously as they like, confess their crimes.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner by Jennifer Hayden is a hand-drawn memoir peppered with tongue-in-cheek (but potentially technically edible if you squint) recipes about how much she hates cooking. Every single night. In perpetuity.