Jump Into June 2022 With These New Horror Books

What better way to start summer than with a formidable chill in the air? Is that the AC, or is it one of the authors of these new horror books that’s giving you gooseflesh? This month, Lor Gislason has compiled a list of June 2022 horror books, including independent authors, YA literature, LGBTQ+ voices, and more! And if you missed other new horror book titles that came out this spring, check out our March, April, and May book lists.

June 3rd

Montague’s Carnival of Delights and Terror by Jamie Stewart. Occult Fiction. “Kansas, 1983. Joe Cage wanders into the quiet farming community of Marybell looking for work. To his good fortune, he discovers that he isn’t the only stranger that’s come to town. Montague’s Carnival of Delights and Terror, a travelling carnival, is setting up and looking for help.” (Self-published)

The Cursed Among Us by John Durgin. Horror. “Howie Burke and his friends decide rules are meant to be broken. That’s what fifteen-year-old kids do. On a beautiful fall day, they decide to go out in the woods to film a horror movie when they stumble across a mysterious grave. What they don’t know is that they are about to release an evil on the town unlike anything in their homemade movies. They will soon uncover the secrets of the Black Heart Killer, and what it truly means to be cursed.” (Self-published)

June 6th–8th

The Wasp Child by Rhiannon Rasmussen. SciFi/Horror. “Faced with certain death, Kesh locates the sansik, giant bugs native to the planet. Though the sansik seem to care for him at first, they set off a horrific metamorphosis in Kesh, and when they trade him back to Meridian, he becomes a living scientific curiosity. A bleak future of analysis without autonomy awaits him.” (Vernacular Books)

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari. Historical/Suspense.“The Lost Apothecary meets Dead Dead Girls in this fast-paced, STEMinist adventure. Debut author Kate Khavari deftly entwines a pulse-pounding mystery with the struggles of a woman in a male-dominated field in 1923 London.” (Crooked Lane Books)

Aurora by David Koepp. Dystopian Horror. “From the author of Cold Storage comes a riveting, eerily plausible thriller, told with the menace and flair of Under the Dome or Project Hail Mary, in which a worldwide cataclysm plays out in the lives of one complicated Midwestern family.” (HarperCollins Publishers)

For The Throne by Hannah Whitten. SciFi/Fantasy. “The breathtaking sequel to For The Wolf, the instant NYT and USA Today fantasy bestseller. Red’s sister Neve is trapped in a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone, and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down.” (Orbit Books)

From Below by Darcy Coates. Paranormal Suspense. “No light. No air. No escape. Hundreds of feet beneath the ocean’s surface, a graveyard waits… Years ago, the SS Arcadia vanished without a trace during a routine voyage. Sixty years later, its wreck has finally been discovered more than three hundred miles from its intended course. Cove and her dive team have been granted permission to explore the Arcadia’s rusting hull, but the Arcadia has not yet had its fill of death, and something dark and hungry watches from below.” (Poisoned Pen Press)

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White. YA SciFi. “A furious debut novel from Andrew Joseph White about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.” (Peachtree Teen)

Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret. Horror/Thriller. “The skeletons in the closet have nothing on the one in your backyard. Freshly divorced and grieving the death of her father, Josie Lauer has caged herself inside her home, drinking heavily. Everything changes when Josie wakes to find a small shrub has sprouted in her backyard the morning after yet another bender. Within hours, the vine-like plant is running amok–and it’s brought company: a busybody new neighbor who insists on thrusting herself into Josie’s life, and a talking skeleton called Skelly that has perched itself in Josie’s backyard on a throne made of vines. As the strangely sentient plant continues to grow and twist its tendrils inside Josie’s suddenly complicated life, Josie begins to realize there’s a reason Skelly has chosen to appear. She must figure out what that reason is, or else she might find herself on the wrong side of catastrophe.” (Black Spot Books)

Never the Wind by Francesco Dimitri. Contemporary Fantasy/Gothic Horror. “As Luca tells his story without sight – experiencing the world solely through hearing, smell, taste and touch – he meets the dauntless Ada Guadalupi, who takes him out to explore the rocky fields and empty beaches. But Luca and Ada find they can’t escape the grudges that have lasted between their families for generations, or the gossiping of the town. And Luca is preyed upon by the feral Wanderer, who walks the vineyards of his home.” (Titan Books)

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro. Dark Fantasy. “A stunning new work of historical fantasy, Ordinary Monsters introduces readers to the dark, labyrinthine world of the Talents. What follows is a story of wonder and betrayal, from the gaslit streets of London, and the wooden theatres of Meiji-era Tokyo, to an eerie estate outside Edinburgh where other children with gifts—the Talents—have been gathered. There, the world of the dead and the world of the living threaten to collide. And as secrets within the Institute unfurl, Marlowe, Charlie and the rest of the Talents will discover the truth about their abilities, and the nature of what is stalking them: that the worst monsters sometimes come bearing the sweetest gifts.” (Flatiron Books)

Screams From the Dark: Tales of Monsters and the Monstrous, ed. Ellen Datlow. Horror Anthology. A chilling anthology featuring 29 all-original tales of monsters from bestselling and award-winning authors, edited by Ellen Datlow, one of the top editors in horror, and featuring stories from authors like Stephen Graham Jones, Richard Kadrey, Cassandra Khaw, Gemma Files, and more. (Tor Nightfire)

There’s More of Us Than You Know, ed. Spencer Hamilton. Queer Horror Anthology. “We’re here. We always have been. All this time, lurking in the shadows. The queer experience has run rampant in the horror genre for decades, and we’re only getting louder. There are those who would deny us our time in the spotlight, our time covered in blood. But no longer. We’re stepping out of the shadows, and screaming till our throats shred: There’s more of us than you know.” (Blood Rites Horror)

The Nectar of Nightmares by Craig Laurance Gidney. Horror/Short Story Collection. “The stories in The Nectar of Nightmares weave and remix myths, legends, and identities. Ranging from retold folktales to diverse settings like the Harlem Renaissance and the contemporary drag ball scene to phantasmagoric secondary worlds, this is a horror collection for those who have descended so far into the deep, there’s nothing left to fear. There is.” (Underland Press)

Blood Mountain by Brenda S. Tolian. Gothic Horror. “In this mosaic of Southwestern Gothic Horror, a primordial goddess awakens deep within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mountain hungers for revenge as invaders leave her emaciated with their greed and brutality. She cries out for blood, infusing the minds of those who do not belong—twisting them outwardly into the dark forms of their true intentions.” (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

June 14th–15th

Boys, Beasts & Men by Sam J. Miller. Horror/LGBTQ/Short Story Collection. “Queer infatuation, inevitable heartbreak, and satisfying revenge seamlessly intertwine in Sam J. Miller (Blackfish City, The Art of Starving)’s long-awaited debut short story collection. Whether innocent, guilty, or not even human, the beings in Miller’s gorgeously-crafted worlds can destroy you—yet leave you longing for them even more.” (Tachyon)

The Hangman Feeds the Jackal: A Gothic Western by Coy Hall. Gothic Western. “Dogged by the relentless specter of the Hangman, Valero mistakenly kills innocent victims and is forced to hide in an abandoned monastery for his own safety and for those of others. Once there, he encounters far greater dangers than the imaginary Hangman, and gains a bid for redemption as he faces down some silver-hungry drifters out to terrorize a town for its riches. Fans of the Weird West and Gothic Horror will find satisfaction in The Hangman Feeds The Jackal.” (Nosetouch Press)

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos. YA Horror/Vampires. “For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.” (Razorbill)

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino. Fantasy/Horror/LGBTQ. “The market is a place Lou has only read about–twisted streets, offerings of sweet fruits and incredible jewels. Everything–from the food and wares, to the goblins themselves–is a haunting temptation for any human who manages to find their way in. Determined to save Neela, Lou learns songs and spells and tricks that will help her navigate this dangerous world and slip past a goblin’s defences–but she only has three days to find Neela before the market disappears and her aunt becomes one of them forever.” (Page Street Kids)

Silk Hills by Ryan Ferrier and Brian Level. Horror/Graphic Novel. “This atmospheric and stylish mystery set in the Appalachian region is perfect for fans of Twin Peaks, The X-Files, and Sons of the Devil. When Beth Wills comes to Silk Hills, a small Appalachian town that’s seen better days since the mines were abandoned, she expected a bit of culture shock… But not like this! Beth is someone who has a talent for finding people who don’t want to be found, and when she’s called to Silk Hills by a local titan of industry, she can tell that something’s not right. Little does she know…” (Oni Press)

The Path of Thorns by A.G. Slatter. Dark Fantasy. “A lush and twisted dark fairy tale suffused with witchcraft, dark secrets and bitter revenge from the award-winning author. Exquisite, haunting and at times brutal, readers of Naomi Novik and Erin Morgenstern will be entranced.” (Titan Books)

The Final Women by Pardeep Aujla. Occult Fiction. “The mass murdering Phantom of Haven Cove is dead. For the one who killed him, however, life has never been the same. How do you return to normality after facing such a monster? How do you live when consumed by guilt, anger, fear, and denial? How do you connect with others when no one understands what you’ve been through? But there are others…Final Girls of their own Haven Cove massacres. And now, thirty years later, they must all face a new question…What do you do when the killer returns?” (Self-published)

June 21st–24th

Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology, eds. Sonora Taylor & Nico Bell Expected Publication. Horror Anthology. “Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology features twelve fat-positive horror tales of people who come into their own, celebrate their curves, and save the day. There are babysitters and bakers, thieves, and roller derby stars. Young women unsure about their bodies meet demons and water spirits who offer assistance—in their own way, of course. Danger lurks in hospitals, in the mysterious occult shop in the local mall, and in a house filled with cats. Campers, trash collectors, and house flippers alike uncover nasty secrets underground. A myriad of horrors await you—none of which comes at the expense of fat bodies.” (Self-published)

It Eats Us From the Inside by Antonija Mežnarić. Horror. “It Eats Us From the Inside is a quiet, claustrophobic near-future horror novella about changes from the outside and from within, ecological disaster, aquatic dread and Slavic folklore.” (Shtriga)

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager. Suspense Thriller, Gothic Horror. “The New York Times-bestselling author of Final Girls and Survive the Night returns with a new novel of suspense, a tale of voyeurism and suspicion that morphs into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.” (Dutton Books)

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. YA Dark Fantasy. “How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate? Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s deadly magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart.” (Bloomsbury Publishing)

We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca. Occult/Supernatural. “When you’re given a gift, something else gets taken away. A precocious young girl with an unusual imagination is sent on an odyssey into the depths of depravity. After her father dies violently, young Mara is surprised to find her mother welcoming a new guest into their home, claiming that he will protect them from the world of devastation and destruction outside their door.” (Trepidatio Publishing)

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid. Dark Fantasy. “From highly acclaimed bestselling author Ava Reid comes a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, set in another time and place within the world of The Wolf and the Woodsman, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her abusive wizard father, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Catherynne M. Valente.” (Harper Voyager)

June 28th–30th

The Clackity by Lora Senf. Children’s Supernatural. “Reminiscent of Doll Bones, this deliciously eerie middle-grade novel tells the story of a girl who must enter a world of ghosts, witches, and monsters to play a game with deadly consequences and rescue her aunt.” (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia. YA Supernatural. “Told in chapters alternating between the past and the present, Francesca Zappia weaves a spine-tingling, suspenseful, and haunting YA story about tragedy and the power of memories.” (Greenwillow Books)

Lingering by Chris Coppel. Supernatural. “The woods looked dark and ominous. Between the trees, where the darkness was blacker than black, dozens of slanted yellow eyes flicked open and stared back towards the house. They weren’t the eyes of anything human. When Paul and Christy purchase Croft House, they are both looking forward to a new start. Christy’s abusive father is dying and she is ready to put the past well and truly behind her. But the house has other ideas. They soon realize there is something in the house, something that’s trying to communicate with them. In their fear, they ask a local psychic to remove this entity. And in so doing, release something far, far worse.” (Cranthorpe Millner Publishers)

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert. YA Occult/Supernatural. “Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary YA fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood.” (Flatiron Books)

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen. Horror/LGBTQ/Satire. “A whirlwind romp careening toward a last-girl-standing conclusion, and a scathing indictment of contemporary American media culture, Patricia Wants to Cuddle is also a love story: between star-crossed lesbians who rise above their intolerant town, a deeply ambivalent woman and her budding self-actualization, and a group of misfit islanders forging community against all odds.” (Zando)

Shagging the Boss by Rebecca Rowland. Horror. “After a fortuitous encounter at a local book convention, a liberal arts graduate accepts a position at a flashy publishing company under the tutelage of its charismatic owner only to learn that the press is led, and fed, by a literal boogeyman.” (filthy loot)

The Man in the Field by James Cooper. Cults. “This new novella from Cooper, tells the story of a remote village that awaits the arrival of the mysterious Man in the Field each spring. The story is basically cult horror in which the ultimate sacrifice is required for the village to be prosperous. However, not all of the residents agree with this ritual but to question village tradition has consequences.” (Cemetery Dance)

Shagging the Boss by Rebecca Rowland. Horror. “After a fortuitous encounter at a local book convention, a liberal arts graduate accepts a position at a flashy publishing company under the tutelage of its charismatic owner only to learn that the press is led, and fed, by a literal boogeyman.” (Filthy Loot)