Top new horror books in July 2025
Last updated:
July 31, 2025
July 2025 featuring new releases by Riley Sager, Gillian McAllister, Alice Feeney, Tiffany D. Jackson, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Tess Sharpe, Elise Kova, Charlaine Harris, Paul Tremblay, Jess Lourey, Juliet Blackwell and many more.
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With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge.In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.Under false pretenses, Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall onto a luxury train from Philadelphia to Chicago, an overnight journey of fourteen hours...mystery · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · thriller · psychological · horror · suspense · supernatural · book -
![Sometimes I Lie / Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister, Alice Feeney]()
Sometimes I Lie / Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister, Alice Feeney
Sometimes I Lie My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:1. I’m in a coma.2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.3. Sometimes I lie. Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea... -
![Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson]()
Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson
Get ready for THE (creepy) beach read of the summer! Mega bestselling and award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson (The Weight of Blood; White Smoke) makes her thrilling middle-grade debut with this can't-put-it-down murder mystery set on Martha's Vineyard. Think JAWS for a whole new generation!This summer, there's blood in the water...watch out for sharks!Kaylani is a born-and-bred Brooklyn girl...north-america · usa · massachusetts · middle-grade · mystery · audiobook · horror · young-adult · fiction · suspense -
![The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia]()
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.“Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches”: That was how Nana Alba always began the stories she told her great-granddaughter Minerva—stories that have stayed with Minerva all her life...horror · historical-fiction · fantasy · witches-wizards · historical · fiction · paranormal · gothic · dark-academia · mystery -
![No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe]()
No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe
A queer romantic thriller pitched as The Lost City meets a modern Thelma & Louise, in which a rural PI finds herself on the trail of the one who got away with her heart, and with murder; years after a horror-show sweet 16 party that ended with the girls in love and that good-for-nothing boy in the ground, the two women find that they didn't bury him–or their feelings for each other–deep... -
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![Arcana Academy by Elise Kova]()
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic...romance · fantasy · fiction · slow-burn · prison · fake-relationship · enemies-to-lovers · dark-academia · new-adult · urban-fantasy -
![The Last Wizards' Ball by Charlaine Harris]()
The Last Wizards' Ball by Charlaine Harris
#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the sixth and final installment in the critically acclaimed Gunnie Rose series as sisters Lizbeth Rose and Felicia must face their fates at the last Wizards’ Ball...romance · fantasy · urban-fantasy · magic · alternate-history · fiction · western · paranormal · audiobook · historical-fiction -
![Another by Paul Tremblay]()
Another by Paul Tremblay
New York Times bestselling, acclaimed horror author Paul Tremblay delivers an unforgettable middle grade debut in this bone-chilling tale of an unsettling, unbreakable friendship.When Casey Wilson’s parents tell him that his friend is coming for a sleepover, he has no idea who that might be. Ever since the Zoom Incident, everyone treats him like a pariah, and his tics are worse than ever...horror · middle-grade · paranormal · fiction · young-adult · family · coming-of-age · children-books · children · season-autumn -
![The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey]()
The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey
Two murder investigations, decades apart, threaten to expose a cold case agent’s darkest secrets in a pulse-pounding thriller by the Edgar Award–nominated author of The Taken Ones.The bodies of three teenage girls are found in central Minnesota—each with her mouth fixed in a ghoulish grin, smiling at a deadly joke no one can hear...mystery · fiction · suspense · audiobook · crime · thriller · killer · young-adult · psychological · literary-fiction -
![Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell]()
Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell
When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history...mystery · contemporary · fiction · psychological · paranormal · ghosts · supernatural · murder · sci-fi · horror -
young-adult · horror · lgbtq · contemporary · mystery · wlw · fiction · thriller · romantic-love · book
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![It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest]()
It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest
Ronnie doesn't know it yet, but her fate rests in the hands of the dead. Silent film star Venita Rost's malevolent spirit lurks spider-like in her cliffside mansion, a once-beautiful home that's claimed countless unlucky souls. And she's not alone...horror · mystery · ghosts · fiction · gothic · paranormal · supernatural · haunted-places · thriller · audiobook -
![Frat Row by Krista Turner Clark]()
Frat Row by Krista Turner Clark
I thought I had it all.I’m beautiful, smart, and I know exactly how to get what I want.As a legacy of the most popular sorority on campus, I was thrilled to rush with my best friend, Blair.Then, I met Tyler. My one-night-stand who kept coming back for more. He’s charming and just so happens to be rushing the hottest fraternity on campus, Alpha Chi.I was happy.Until I wasn’t...romance · dark · university · age-gap · monsters · steamy · suspense · fiction · horror · paranormal -
![Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado]()
Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado
Combining the political intrigue of She Who Became the Sun with the gorgeous world-building of Children of Blood and Bone, Birth of a Dynasty is the start of a thrilling epic fantasy trilogy centered around three families’ fight for power in Ahkebulin, a land where magic is feared, giants are real, and prophecy holds sway. We shall not forgive. We shall not forget. We will have our vengeance... -
![Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd]()
Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd
One year has passed since Sally wed her beloved Jack Skellington and stepped into her role as queen of Halloween Town. Even with her Jack at her side, though, being a ruler isn’t easy, and Sally feels uncertain of her future. Her seams are stretched thin with her royal duties, her newfound family in Dream Town, and a desire to bring citizens from across the Hinterlands together...romance · fantasy · young-adult · fiction · retellings · audiobook · middle-grade · horror · season-autumn · children -
![The Witch's Fate by Willow Winters]()
The Witch's Fate by Willow Winters
From Bestselling Author Willow Winters, comes a dark, spicy Romantasy.A reclusive moon witch. A cursed wolf shifter.A spell gone horribly wrong. After being trapped in her realm after a storm, fate pushes them together. However, they’ll soon discover that magic isn’t the only thing dangerous...desire is far more perilous. And yes, there's only one bed...romance · fantasy · paranormal · forced-proximity · magic · shapeshifters · fated-mates · witches-wizards · in-uniform · kind-mc -
![Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf]()
Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in this twisty, fresh take on a Southern gothic that follows a mysterious, charming bachelor as he makes his way into a small town, bringing a plague and the devil with him, from GMA Buzz Pick author Dana Elmendorf...horror · fantasy · gothic · paranormal · magical-realism · supernatural · fiction · audiobook · mystery · urban-fantasy -
![Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone]()
Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone
Perfect for fans of Saltburn, For the Wolf, and House of Hollow, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a moody, monstrously Gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous chthonic demon with the help of the son of a rival family to save her family's legacy―and herself―from ruin...romance · fantasy · horror · gothic · young-adult · lgbtq · polyamory · dark-academia · steamy · fiction -
![Forged in Flame and Shadow by Zara Storm]()
Forged in Flame and Shadow by Zara Storm
He tore her world apart. Now he may be the only one who can help her save it. Ana has spent her life as a pawn—used, betrayed, and hunted. But no more.As the rightful heir to Trova’s blood-soaked throne, she’s ready to rise—ruthless, unyielding, and armed with the celestial magic awakening inside her.But power always has a price, and Ana is already burning beneath the weight of it... -
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![A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury]()
A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury
Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters.When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him...romance · fantasy · young-adult · dark-academia · horror · fiction · urban-fantasy · found-family · poc-mc · paranormal -
![We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall]()
We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall
From the bestselling author of I Am Still Alive comes a new nail-biter that's part survival story, part murder mystery, and all thriller—perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson!Two years ago Mercy Gray was hailed as a hero for saving lives during a mall shooting...mystery · young-adult · horror · fiction · contemporary · crime · suspense · thriller · survival · death -
![The Medici Curse by Daco S. Auffenorde]()
The Medici Curse by Daco S. Auffenorde
A family curse. A missing heirloom. A house full of secrets.A descendant of a powerful Italian dynasty reckons with her family’s troubled legacy and her own fractured memories in this Gothic thriller from the author of The Forgotten Girl. When aspiring artist Anna de’ Medici Rossi inherits her family’s opulent villa in Tuscany, she returns to a place steeped in tragedy and mystery... -
![Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith]()
Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith
A teen girl’s dream job aboard a luxury train derails when she discovers the strange cargo being transported—a mysterious and beautiful greenhouse—but its flowering façade may hide deadly thorns beneath, in this atmospheric and lush novel from the author of Those We Drown...horror · fantasy · young-adult · mystery · fiction · audiobook · contemporary · spooky · gothic · romantic-love -
![The Magnificence of Death by Rhea Rainwater]()
The Magnificence of Death by Rhea Rainwater
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue meets A Dowry of Blood in this lyrical, genre-bending gothic fantasy about a girl cursed with immortality—and the deal she strikes with Death himself.Astoria Tempest has lived countless lives, but none that truly belonged to her...romance · fantasy · gothic · dark-academia · paranormal · fiction · urban-fantasy · season-summer · season-spring · horror -
![Lord of Mysteries, Vol. 1: The Clown, Part I by Ai Qianshui de Wuzei, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving]()
Lord of Mysteries, Vol. 1: The Clown, Part I by Ai Qianshui de Wuzei, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving
In the storm of steam and machinery, who can achieve the extraordinary? In the fog of history and darkness, who whispers? When Zhou Mingrui wakes up bloody and dazed, he finds himself in a world of guns, factories, airships, and difference engines. But underneath the surface of all this industry, there exists a secret society revolving around potions, divination, sealed artifacts, and much more...fantasy · mystery · horror · steampunk · industrial-era · fiction · paranormal · action-adventure · supernatural · crime -
![Angel Down by Daniel Kraus]()
Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
The critically acclaimed author of the “crazily enjoyable” (The New York Times) Whalefall returns with an immersive, cinematic novel about five World War I soldiers who stumble upon a fallen angel that could hold the key to ending the war...horror · historical-fiction · fantasy · fiction · historical · ww1 · war · sci-fi · angels · mystery -
![Killer on the Road / The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones]()
Killer on the Road / The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones
A must-have collector’s item for horror fans, comprised of two novellas, The Babysitter Lives and Killer on the Road, from the new master of horror Stephen Graham Jones...horror · fiction · audiobook · lgbtq · mystery · paranormal · anthologies · supernatural · indigenous-mc · poc-mc -
![Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven]()
Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven
In a groundbreaking theatrical experience gone horribly wrong, a deadly night reveals the dark consequences of blurring the lines between performance and reality. When Come Knocking came to Los Angeles, the interactive theater production that took over six floors of an abandoned building was met with raves, lines for tickets, and reviews calling it the “must-see experience of a generation”... -
![Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez]()
Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
An eerie, hypnotic literary debut about friendship, desire, and memory set against the sultry backdrop of Florida’s swamplandsIt's been years since Ingrid has heard from her childhood best friend, Mayra, a fearless rebel who fled their hometown of Hialeah, a Cuban neighborhood just west of Miami, for college in the Northeast...north-america · usa · florida · horror · gothic · fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · mystery · paranormal -
![Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova]()
Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
This is no fairytale—It’s yearning and guilt of two burdened hearts that will leave readers breathless.Alira, a devoted demigod knight, has found herself trapped in the throes of a brutal curse. A time loop in which the demon kingdom’s Blood Knight kills her every time. She is haunted by the attack she led on the innocent village of Thornhall, and her guilt consumes her from the inside out...romance · fantasy · enemies-to-lovers · demons · forced-proximity · gods · arranged-marriage · dark · dark-fantasy · steamy -
![Silvercloak by Laura Steven]()
Silvercloak by Laura Steven
A dark and addictive fantasy series begins, set in a corrupt world where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain, in this first instalment of the Silvercloak Saga...romance · fantasy · lgbtq · enemies-to-lovers · fiction · royalty · action-adventure · dark · horror · book -
![Furybound by Sable Sorensen]()
Furybound by Sable Sorensen
Book 2 in the Wolves of Ruin series...romance · fantasy · vampires · shapeshifters · magic · dark · horror · fiction · action-adventure · paranormal -
![Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane]()
Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A teen girl’s attempt at social reinvention takes a deadly turn when a co-worker disappears—and she learns she may have been the last person to see the missing girl—in this razor-sharp, murderously funny thriller debut...young-adult · mystery · contemporary · crime · audiobook · fiction · horror · realistic · thriller · suspense -
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![A Wraith Beneath the Tides by Emilia Jae]()
A Wraith Beneath the Tides by Emilia Jae
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MEETS ATLANTIS THE LOST EMPIRE. --> Raised in secret by the sea’s most feared pirate, Esmyra Blackwood knows nothing of her past or the origins of her mysterious powers.In the mortal kingdom, Draevyn Rowe is the second-born son of the tyrant king, and the only known fire-wielder of their realm...romance · fantasy · outlaws · enemies-to-lovers · mermaids · fiction · season-summer · dark · dark-fantasy · paranormal -
![Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan]()
Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan
For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic and Ramona Emerson’s Shutter: a gripping retelling of Persephone and Demeter in the Mexicali borderlandsAt the edge of the Salton Sea, in the blistering borderlands, something is out hunting. . .Malamar Veracruz has never left the dust-choked town of El Valle. Here, Mal has done her best to build a good life...horror · mystery · fantasy · magical-realism · myths · fiction · retellings · indigenous-mc · poc-author · latinx-mc -
![The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson]()
The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson
Part ecological Orpheus and Eurydice myth and part gothic thriller, discover this atmospheric near-future sci-fi novel about fae mysteries deep within strange nature preservesPerfect for readers of Jeff VanderMeer, Chuck Wendig, and Sunyi Dean • “Richly imagined and beautifully written, with a highly original and very creepy magic system.” —R. F...fantasy · horror · fiction · dystopia · gothic · audiobook · mystery · urban-fantasy · contemporary · fae -
![The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw]()
The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
A deeply dark academia novel from USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw, perfect for fans of A Deadly Education and The Atlas Six who are hungry for something a little more diabolical.The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers...horror · fantasy · dark-academia · lgbtq · fiction · dark · paranormal · urban-fantasy · young-adult · dark-fantasy -
![Shadows of the Gods by Shay Taylor]()
Shadows of the Gods by Shay Taylor
In Valynth, fourth-borns are forbidden by the gods. Morrigan, as a fourth-born, is a direct violation of their law—one they’ll erase if they discover her.Raised in the shadows of the Nightfall Court, Morrigan has always lived as an outcast. But in a realm drained of magic, she holds a haunting power: the ability to see death before it comes—and to collect the souls it leaves behind... -
![Thorns & Fire by Helen Scheuerer]()
Thorns & Fire by Helen Scheuerer
A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion... -
![Vainglory by Plum Parrot]()
Vainglory by Plum Parrot
The cost of survival may be more than he bargained for.Ward Dyer, a seasoned Port Authority detective, tracks a kidnapper to the eerie, forgotten tunnels of the Seattle underground—a place where shadows whisper and danger lurks.He disrupts a human sacrifice, but the victory leaves him gravely wounded and teetering on the brink of death...sword-sorcery · fantasy · fiction · cyberpunk · dark · mythical-creatures · horror · high-fantasy · paranormal · book
