Horror is one of the most iconic genres in the world of storytelling. Yet so many horror books have been overshadowed by their popcorn flick counterparts. And while horror films surely are great, writers are still fully capable of telling horrific tales through prose, and the number of 2025 horror book releases will show why.
Whether you’re a fan of classic gothic literature, a lover of melancholy tales of heartbreak, or an enthusiast of short, striking horror stories, horror books always have a place for you.
These five works will show that horror books are not distant, inaccessible stories found in classic gothic horror. All published this year, they confirm that horror still very much has a place in literature. The five books will make you tremble in fear and send chills down your spine in different ways.
Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias
In her book, Tobias expertly weaves a slow, creeping tale of dread. 18-year old Carina Marshall finds her new luxurious Blackbead House to be a paradise. The atmosphere is peaceful, the town filled with lovely people she has become friends with, everything seems to be perfect. But soon, the strange, often disturbing events that surround the house set off alarm bells. The house that she once thought was paradise may hide ominous secrets behind its walls.
Critics praise Honeysuckle and Bone for its slow-building horror atmosphere that keeps the readers on edge, as well as the unique characters that drive the plot forward. Another noteworthy area of praise is its ability to effectively explore the main character Carina’s psychology. Through her unconventional storytelling methods and complex mystery plots, Tobias hooks the reader into the story.
Honeysuckle and Bone is a rather unique horror novel in its approach, capturing the spirit of common Young Adult tales. Besides the haunting mysteries of the Blackbead House, the most striking part of this story is its nuanced characters. Most writers focus on the straightforward emotion of fear in horror books rather than character development. Yet Tobias has her cake and eats it too as she explores aspects of terror and fleshes out her characters.
They Bloom at Night by Thrang Thann Tran
They Bloom at Night captivates its readers by making them part of a post-apocalyptic world in Mercy, Louisiana, after a devastating hurricane. Strange, unknowable monsters lurk just underneath its new alien surface, forcing the protagonist, Noon, to find new survival strategies. Throughout the story, Noon devises more and more creative ways to survive Mercy’s deadly environment and avoid a fate even worse than death.
Tran’s hypnotic world-building methods left critics awestruck at the detailed post-apocalyptic world of Mercy. The post-apocalyptic theme sounds generic, but Tran forges her own path by combining world-building with deep theme exploration. The prevalent body horror undeniably adds to the disturbing nature of the book as well.
While the nightmarish creatures of the novel may seem like surface-level jump scares, they will traumatize you through their uncanny resemblance to real-life trauma and the chilling depiction of how we are haunted by the shadows of our past. The perfect blend of nightmarish creatures with unexpected themes makes this story a must-read — especially for those who want more from horror besides a cheap jump scare.
Victorian Pyscho by Virginia Feito
The story of Victorian Psycho centers around the protagonist Winifred Notty. She starts her new position as a governess for the Ensor House and attends to her responsibilities dutifully. However, building from little actions, like jokingly telling the children how she will eat them, to more disturbing descriptions of gory murder, the novel demonstrates that Notty is certainly not the dutiful governess that she first seems to be.
Readers praise Fetio’s twisted tale of gothic horror for its vivid, almost disturbingly accurate, portrayal of Notty’s psychology. Numerous critics have similarly noted how realistically and graphically the story renders her character. Additionally, readers appreciate the unconventional gore as a fresh take in a subgenre noted for its atmosphere.
Just like American Psycho, Victorian Psycho is a brand of psychological thriller. Notty’s thought process unsettles the reader by how much it differs from the average psyche. The description of this disturbing mind will engage you, while the uncanniness of the brutality contrasted by the off-puttingly calm tone hooks you further into the narrative. The novel’s development of the main character’s mental state is a page-turner for fans of psychological thrillers and for those who enjoy a twist from gothic horror books.
Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Translated by Jim Rion)
The mundane takes on significance in an exploration of the macabre. Chilling warnings on a blog drawn by a pregnant woman. A home containing dark secrets all predicted by a child’s drawings. A dying message in the form of a sketch leading to horrifying revelations.
Strange Pictures offers all these horrific tales and even more. All nine stories based on child-like drawings connect in an overarching backstory.
Following his career as a mystery horror YouTuber, Uketsu’s debut piece has been praised left and right for the creativity of horror tales conveyed through seemingly innocent drawings. Critics praised Uketsu for the variety in his work and his masterful ability to merge seemingly distinct stories into one big picture to haunt readers. Translator Jim Rion’s work has garnered further praise for the English prose that keeps the reader engaged in the story.
Strange Pictures is a must-read for readers who crave a memorable thrill of terror without long, bloated plot elements. Uketsu’s unique background in Japan also makes this story stand out compared to other American horror stories.
At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric Larocca
“If you’re reading this, you’ve likely thought that the world would be a better place without you.”
Eric Lacrocca, At Dark I Become Loathsome
This short, melancholy quote strikes Ashley Lutin, the protagonist of the story. After the death of his wife and the disappearance of his son, he is left drowning in grief. However, through the construction of certain rituals, he manages to help people just like him: people who are at war with the desire to die, yet conflicted by their desire to live a better life. One such person, Jinx, forms a bond with Ashley as they reveal the darker secrets in their lives.
At Dark, I Become Loathsome has been met with praise from critics, mostly for Larocca’s representation of trauma. Though the novel is short in length, readers are left disturbed and saddened by the characters’ highly realistic grief.
Larocca’s tale of trauma will be a haunting piece for those who suffer from real-life trauma, especially since the characters’ backstories involve relatable concepts like religion and sexuality. The letters, interviews, and other unorthodox forms of presentation enhance its realism.
2025: a good year for horror fans
2025 is a good year for horror fans, largely because of the wide appeal it holds for each subgenre. A young adult tale is present in Honeysuckle and Blood. Post-apocalyptic monster horror is shown through They Bloom at Night. Unsettling psychological thrills and a twist of gothic horror books can be found in Victorian Psycho. A unique blend of Japanese taste dominates the tales in Strange Pictures. Exploration of trauma through At Dark, I Become Loathsome. If you’re ready to lose some sleep, these are the five books for you.
