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Horror fans, it’s August, which means we’re basically in Spooky Season Eve. Or Spooky Season Junior, if you will. Let’s get excited about it. Let’s celebrate all things horror. I have a lot of scary stuff to share with you all season long (of course) and I’m so excited for us to thrive. Our time has come. So let’s do this.
Bookish Goods
Spooky Readers Book Club Linen Bookmark by TheWildflowerinBloom
Being spooky can also be adorable, and if you agree, you should grab this cute lil Spooky Readers Book Club linen bookmark. Of course we want to read forever, but when you can’t, you might as well mark your book in style and let everyone know what you’re about. You can get this bookmark for your spooky reading season for only $4
New Releases
The Unmothers by Leslie J. Anderson
Start off your spooky reading season right with this new folk horror novel. After the tragic death of her husband, journalist Marshall is sent to the small town of Raeford to cover what everyone assumes will be a fairly easy assignment: a horse has reportedly given birth to a human baby. Everyone thinks it’s a hoax, but as soon as Marshall arrives in Raeford, she senses something strange is going on.
A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons
This book starts with a bank heist gone wrong. Career criminal Anne Heller retreats to her family’s cabin — the site of her mother’s untimely death — to escape the police who are tailing her. In tow are her partner Jessup and a police officer they’ve taken hostage. At the cabin, however, Anne begins to realize that the cops aren’t the only ones who are looking for her. And when someone comes knocking on her cabin door, things start to get really creepy.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
‘Tis the season, right? So here are a couple of scary books you might have missed LAST spooky season.
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
If you love cosmic horror, you won’t want to skip this one this year (even if you missed it in 2023). In an effort to make a name for herself in the world of magic, Julie spends all of her time going from gig to gig in New York City. From exorcizing demons to making deals with dastardly gods, no job is too horrifying for Julie. But the grind is getting to her. Then her best friend Sarah shows up at her door asking for help, and everything else goes to the wayside. Now Julie’s priority is saving her friend, even if it means journeying into the darkest corners of magical NYC.
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
The last book I recommended is a great genre mash-up of horror and fantasy. Vampires of El Norte is mashed with historical fiction and a huge helping of romance. This one is set on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1840s. As the daughter of a rancher, Nina knows there are things much more dangerous than the Anglo settlers in the north. Something stalks the ranch at night, attacking people and drinking their blood. Nena knows it’s there because she was once attacked. Meanwhile, Néstor thinks Nena is dead. Since the attack, he has been moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero, unable to shake the grief from losing his childhood love. When the United States attacks Mexico in 1846, Néstor meets Nana again in a shocking reunion.
I’m so excited we’re finally in spooky season (ish)! We have so much fun content coming our way. Until then, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!
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