5 New Queer Horror Books to Add to Your TBR List

The title says it all—this forthcoming novella, due out in October from Creature Publishing, follows emotional vampire couple Rebekah and Hugh as they flee the wartime world and embark on a cruise of sexual debauchery.

But when Hugh meets the bewitching Heaven during their trip, Rebekah must deal with not only the potential end of her eternal relationship with Hugh, but also her own complicated nature.

Over the last few years, Creature Publishing has been producing some of the most gorgeous and groundbreaking work in the horror genre, so don’t miss out on Vampires at Sea. It’s sure to be one of the most talked about genre books of the year.

Due out in September from Angry Robot, this queer gothic horror novel follows the eponymous William Thorn, who decamps for a dilapidated manor he’s just inherited after a tragedy shatters his life into pieces.

But William soon discovers that his new life is no more idyllic, as unfriendly villagers and a ghostly presence draw him deeper into a century-old mystery that lies at the heart of his new home.

At once an homage to the classic gothic horror we all know and love while also breaking new ground with its depiction of queer relationships, this book is going to be a favorite among fans of both the gothic and LGBTQ+ horror.

Caitlin Starling has been consistently releasing some of the most lauded horror books of the past few years.

If you aren’t familiar with her work yet, then The Starving Saints is the perfect place to start. And if you’re already a huge fan, then you’ve probably already got this one on your radar.

This medieval horror novel follows the desperate occupants of Aymar Castle, which has been under siege for months with supplies running low. But when the mysterious Constant Lady and her Saints materialize inside the castle, the reserves are restored and things are about to take an even stranger and more sinister turn as virtually everyone inside Aymar Castle is suddenly under the thrall of the Constant Lady.

Released in May from Harper Voyager, The Starving Saints is already garnering rave reviews, so this is most certainly one book you’ll want to put on your TBR this Pride Month.

The people of Lake Argen long ago made a deal with a dark, unspeakable force: so long as they serve its dubious desires, their town can prosper. That is, if they can keep out outsiders.

When a visitor ends up dead, long-time resident Cassidy Prewitt must do her best to manage expectations of both the villagers and the dark forces they report to—while trying as hard as she can to fight off her growing attraction to the detective who’s been sent to town to investigate.

Direct Descendant is described as a “cozy horror” novel, which is one of my personal favorite underrated subgenres of horror. This one was released from DAW in April, and I’ve heard nothing but good things since.

Tanya Huff has been writing lauded speculative fiction for decades now, and Direct Descendant is a wonderful addition to that illustrious oeuvre.

Pick up a copy if you like your cosmic horror with a side of sweetness.

This queer gothic horror novel, due out in September from Titan Books, sounds like an absolute fearsome wonder to behold.

The story follows Ambrose, a vampire who, along with his clan, is being hunted by a secret society with an agenda all their own. And there are some terrifying experiments they’re eager to perform on the vampires they capture.

While the other vampires in Ambrose’s group are ready to follow their leader, Regina, in an elaborate plan to escape Earth, Ambrose soon finds himself at a crossroads between his loyalty to his own vampiric kind and to the human who claims he can still be saved.

A Blood as Bright as the Moon is already gaining major buzz for its surreal and beautiful blend of horror, so be prepared for this fall release; it’s sure to sink its lyrical teeth into you.