12 Juicy Horror Books About Cannibalism

Even though her culinary skills are better than most of the chefs she writes about, Dorothy Daniels loves being a food critic. The only thing she loves more than food is sex, though, the men can rarely keep up with her voracious appetites. It doesn’t matter though, because Dorothy has learned the secret to life and has embraced everything that makes her both unique and terrifying.

A satirical romp through foodie culture and self-empowerment, this mock memoir teaches you that farm-to-table is a lot easier when you broaden your definition of 'farm'. A viral TikTok sensation, this book is not to be missed.

When an infectious virus rendered all animal meat poisonous for human consumption, the government has to come up with a plan. They call it the ‘transition’ and make human meat legal to eat. Marcos tries not to think about his role at the local processing plant. But then he’s given a gift: a living specimen to raise—and slaughter—on his own. Marcos struggles to see her only as meat and soon begins treating her like a human being. But personal contact is forbidden. And by saving her, he may be condemning himself.

Bazterrica doesn’t hold back on her relentless examination of how easy it is for humanity to commit atrocious acts in the name of the greater good.

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Halloween, 1908s nostalgia, and a monstrous cannibal? What more could you want? Filled with poetic lines that cut to the bone, sharp social commentary, this quick-to-read novella is a tasty cannibalistic morsel you're sure to gobble up.

Everyone knows the local legend, but is "Camp Slaughter" a real place? Some college kids decide to find out (hint: this is never a good idea). They rent a cabin in the deep Pennsylvaia woods. But will they realize the truth about the cannibal in the woods—before it's too late? 

No list of cannibalistic horror is complete without Exquisite Corpse. But, readers beware: this book is gruesome. It's violent and depraved to the extreme, a grotesque and subversive book you won't soon forget. Read at your own risk. 

When Joseph Miles was eleven years old, he was abducted by a fledgling serial killer. He slices his flesh and drinks Joey’s blood, but for some reason, lets him go. The subsequent victims weren’t so lucky, and most end up eaten. Fifteen years later, Joey is in college and is discovering that his appetite is veering to the extreme. Did the killer do something to trigger these compulsions? And can Joey stop himself before he kills the woman he loves?

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There’s nothing like the quiet beauty of a small beach town during the off-season. It’s why five friends decide to spend a week in a remote cabin in the nearby Maine woods. They’re looking forward to relaxing before returning to their busy Manhattan lives. But lurking between the trees is a family with savage tastes waiting for night to fall and the hunt to begin. 

A dark, brutal, and extremely gory novel, Off Season takes its time, creating palpable tension before exploding into violence. This one is not for the faint of heart.

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We’ve all wondered what purpose the ultra-rich serve. And apparently, it’s dinner. When renowned food journalist Louis De Gustibus tracks down the elite chef and alleged cannibal, Andre, in a remote corner of the ocean, he ends up his hostage. But Andre doesn’t want to eat Louis—his net worth isn’t nearly enough. Instead, he wants to wine and dine him while explaining why eating the rich is the only reasonable approach to life.

An utterly macabre book that may have you nodding along in agreement far too often. But like any good meal, the story has delicious layers and surprising twists, leaving you immensely satisfied in the end.

Claire Lambert is the sole survivor of a brutal attack. Her friends were all captured and eaten by a vicious cannibalistic family. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t escape the trauma of the past. And she isn’t the only one. As grief crystallizes into rage, she seeks out others connected to the victims of this brutal family and convinces them that it’s time for the hunters to become the hunted.

A visceral, gory book that reads like a horror movie, Kin explores the intricacy of trauma, grief, survivor’s guilt, and the inescapable urge for revenge.

Micheal Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. They live in isolation, deep in the heart of Appalachia. People go missing here all the time. But no one dares knock on the Morrow door to ask any questions. Michael tries to ignore the screams drifting through the trees as he dreams of a normal life. When he meets Alice in a record shop, he thinks he might be able to forget the monster he is. But his brother sees his infatuation. And is anxious to remind Michael who he really is.

When the HMS Terror set out to find the Northwest Passage, they had every reason to believe they’d be successful. But as a second winter closes in, they’re stranded in the middle of an unforgiving icy landscape. With dwindling resources and a cold that never ends, the men are trapped as something stalks their ship. As they make one last desperate attempt to flee South, without food, without shelter, the men turn to desperate measures to survive. And for many, there may be no escape.

From the moment the group set out for the West, The Donner Party faced nothing but bad luck. Or was it something more? Tamsen Donner must be a witch. It’s the only thing that explains their constant bickering, depleting rations, and violent deaths. When their disastrous route brings them to a snowy Sierra overpass, things take a drastic turn for the worse. Hungry, alone, and trapped, the party does whatever it takes to survive. But something followed them into the mountains. And it’s hungry.

The very real history in this gruesome story is horrifying enough, but award-winning author Alma Katsu amps up the terror just enough, adding a dark supernatural twist to an already grim piece of the past.