February is a big month for celebrations.
For the lovers out there, Valentine's Day is on the way with chocolate and roses. Not to mention, of course, the always significant and vital Black History Month, which is observed all month long.
And just when you thought February couldn't get any better, here we are with a way to add even more greatness. Every month brings new indie and small-press horror books, and this round of chills is one you won't want to miss.
From seaside folklore to classic retellings, here are our here are our most anticipated horror books from indie and small presses this February.
Hot Singles in Your Area
Noah is desperate to leave his blood and urine-soaked job. When a newspaper ad promises a new career path with “no experience preferred,” it seems like the answer to all his prayers.
Unbeknownst to him, when he arrives to the average-looking office, he signs his life away.
Malachia is the last human in the City of Silence—until she discovers a man curled over a typewriter, his fingers molded into the keys. Could he be the one to help her find her long-lost love?
Noah and Malachia are two imperfect strangers on a quest for money and truth, who will discover their limits in this brilliantly satirical triumph of body horror.
This book is available now from Unbound!
Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread
Home is supposed to be a place of comfort and security. But what if it's the source of all your fears?
This gripping nonfiction collection by Leila Taylor explores how horror contorts the sanctuary of home, from haunted architecture to uncanny shelters.
Whether you are intrigued by family homes in Amityville, drawn to Los Angeles's Gothic mansions, or thrilled by the Unabomber's cabin, this expert examination will illuminate the allure of terror.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on February 11th by Repeater Books!
Scuttler's Cove
Nestled away in the coast of Cornwall lies the working village of Scuttler's Cove. Life has gone on simple and interrupted for hundreds of years—until the wealthy discover the beautiful seaside locale.
The cozy cottages on the harbor have been bought out by second-homers and rental companies, making it nearly impossible for the locals to afford to stay in their own hometown.
Merrin Moon left Scuttler's Cove when she was 18 and never paused to glance back. But now, in her 30s, she returns home for the first time after her mother's death, and it seems there are dark forces at play.
Something old is waking up beneath the hallowed ground of the Cove, and the residents will soon have a front-row seat to a horrific generations-old secret.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on February 13th by Canelo Press!
Hungerstone
This book is a gripping feminist retelling of the classic novel Carmilla.
The industrial revolution is in full swing, and the 10-year marriage between Lenore and steel magnate Henry has fallen apart. And when Henry's big plans take the couple to the remote British Moorlands for a hunting party, a carriage accident thrusts the enigmatic Carmilla into their lives.
By day, Carmilla is a pale and fragile woman. Come nighttime, however, she is a vibrant and stirring creature.
Lenore feels something waken anew in her at the presence of Carmilla. And soon the girls of the local village have fallen sick with a horrific hunger.
With the hunting party drawing closer, Lenore begins to question the choices she has built her life upon. Divided between winning back her husband and feeding the cravings Carmilla has instilled in her, she will soon come face to face with a darkness lurking within her household.
This book is now available for pre-order, and will be released on February 18th by Zando Projects!
Want more indie horror? Check these books out:
A Year of Terror: Take a Look Back at the Best Indie Horror Books of 2024
4 Terrifying New Releases from Indie and Small Presses in January 2025
Featured image: Pawel Czerwinski/Unsplash
