6 Recent and Forthcoming Horror Books to Start the New Year Off Right

I had the honor of blurbing an early copy of this one, and I just want to say this loud and clear: Ballad of the Bone Road is sure to be one of the best horror books of 2026. A.C. Wise has been a mainstay in horror and fantasy literature for years now, and every time she has a new book, she always hits it right out of the park. 

In her latest novel from Titan Books, Wise crafts a tale that evokes urban fantasy, horror, and mystery, as the reader descends into a world of paranormal investigators, fae, ghosts, and so much more. In many ways, this book is so nuanced and layered that it’s almost difficult to describe, so make sure to pick up a copy as soon as it releases later this month to discover the world in Ballad of the Bone Road for yourself.

Flame Tree Press has been producing some top-notch anthologies for years now, and they continue their winning streak with Sauúti Terrors. This anthology features tales from the Sauútiverse, a five-planet system with two suns. 

But there’s more than meets the eye in that part of the galaxy, and authors including Linda D. Addison, Jamal Hodge, Xan van Rooyen, and more explore the haunting and strange occurrences out there in space. Perfect for both fans of horror and fans of science fiction, Sauúti Terrors is already shaping up to be one of the most unique and vital anthologies released in 2026. 

So be ready when it hits shelves later this month, because this one is more than worth your time. 

Rebecca Rowland has become one of my go-to authors when it comes to unusual and deeply affecting horror fiction. With her latest novel, she’s exploring new territory with her tale about a snowstorm that’s more than anyone is bargaining for. 

In fact, this particular weather comes out of nowhere and begins speaking to the occupants of a once-quiet New England neighborhood, with things becoming more and more dire by the minute. Chilling horror fiction in all the best ways. 

Due out before the end of the month from Clash Books, Eminence Front is sure to be a standout book in 2026, so run, don’t walk, to pre-order it now.

Since his novel, The Spite House, made its debut in 2023, Johnny Compton has been carving out an indelible place in the horror genre. A Bram Stoker Award nominee, Compton’s fiction proves again and again how deeply scary and deeply emotional horror so often go hand in hand. 

With his latest collection, released in December as part of the Weird Tales Presents series, you’ll find twenty-one stories that run the gamut of the genre. These concepts are at once truly original and utterly thought-provoking. 

Put this one on your TBR as soon as possible.

This is another book I was fortunate enough to receive as an ARC ahead of its release, and needless to say, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Daniel Braum has a knack for crafting surreal yet emotional horror and weird fiction, and with Phantom Constellations, he’s done a stellar job of building on his previous oeuvre while bringing entirely new narratives to the table. These tales have a profound sense of longing and loneliness, and there are echoes of The Twilight Zone and other liminal horror in every page. 

Released in November, this collection deserves a prime spot on your reading list.

This poetry collection is hard to define. It isn’t necessarily horror, yet there are elements of terror at every turn (after all, Marie Antoinette’s story certainly had a bloody end). 

In a way, this collection could almost be classified as historical dark fantasy, which is a truly underappreciated genre. Either way, these poems are a beautiful, strange, and uncompromising reappraisal of Marie Antoinette and her deeply complicated legacy. Azzurra Nox has been one of the hardest-working writers and editors in horror and fantasy over the last few years, so if you’re not reading her work yet, Panico! is the perfect place to start. 

This one came out earlier last year, but I’ve been seeing it gain steam lately on social media, so it’s highly recommended that you delve into this heady and historical poetry as soon as you can.