2023 is coming to a close and winter is now upon us. As I look forward to the next year, I have to look at what books are heading to my shelf. 2024 is already looking to be an incredible year. And it’s starting off strong. Here are the eight horror releases I am most looking forward to reading and discussing this season.
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer from Quirk Books – January 16
Four young adults disappear into the Kentucky woods. Three bodies are found. One never is. This debut tells you the story the dead can’t. I have been lucky enough to already read this one, which is why I’m so excited for more people to get their hands on it. You can read my review here.
Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine from Tor Nightfire – February 6
No faces, no eyes. Eye contact causing violent rage is the reality Riley has been living in for a long time. And she’s always been careful, until now. Meeting someone new isn’t exciting, it’s dangerous. But… it is still exciting. Human contact is a human need. Early reviews are praising the dread in this novel, and I cannot wait to see what unfolds.
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher from Tor Nightfire – February 13
This is another book I’ve been able to already read and review. The sequel to What Moves the Dead, this follows Alex Easton back home to Gallacia. But a peaceful holiday is not the cards. Easton and friends have a new mystery to face, with all the horrors you’d expect from Kingfisher. It’s a wonderful bridge into the future of the Sworn Soldier series.
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert from Flatiron Books – February 20
I don’t normally get excited by YA these days, but this one looks amazing. A missing childhood friend leads Nora down a path of local folklore and childhood games. At the center is a mysterious goddess. Melissa Albert has already proven she can walk the line between fairy tale and horror with her Hazel Wood books. I look forward to seeing how dark this one gets.
The Final Scene by Steph Nelson from Ticking Clock Press, LLC – February 27
When you’re in a life or death situation, knowing the rules can be everything. That is how Brooke has lived for ten years. But now, she’s not the only victim her captor has taken. The rules have changed, yes. And they’ll need to be broken. This announcement came just in time for this list, because I cannot wait.
The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste from Saga Press – March 5
The Velkwood Vicinity is a ghost town, and I mean that literally. An entire block of homes disappeared into mist. Only three people survived. They are also the only three who can enter the space they once lived. No one knows what happened, but maybe this time, twenty years later, one of those survivors can find out. This book checks so many boxes, I cannot wait to read it. Look for my review at the end of January.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk from Dutton – March 5
Technically this is literary fiction. It has vampires, though, so I’m counting it as horror. Also, any book that lists “bloody bacchanals” in the first line of its description is at the top of my to read list. This is a gothic style novel told across two timelines. Both center on women grappling with death, despair, and desire. I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into this.
Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo from Thomas & Mercer – March 19
Two sisters trapped in a riverside historic apartment. They have no captor, though. Only their family history and the drownings in the water outside. One sister has a podcast, and that podcast brings a fan. But opening the door to the outside world isn’t a fairy tale. Detectives are seeking answers; answers the sisters don’t even know. I think what excites me the most for this one is that I have no guesses as to how things will unfold.
Any releases I didn’t touch on that you’re excited for? Let me know!
Images courtesy of publishers.
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