Gwendolyn Kiste is a speculative fiction writer based in Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared in Nightmare, Shimmer, Interzone, Daily Science Fiction, and LampLight among others. Her debut collection, AND HER SMILE WILL UNTETHER THE UNIVERSE, was released through JournalStone in April 2017. She currently resides on an abandoned horse farm with her husband, two cats, and not nearly enough ghosts.
Teenage Girls Can Be Demons (2025) Hailey Piper "With stories that run the gamut from rollicking and brutal to emotional and devastating, Teenage Girls Can Be Demons is sure to be a standout collection in 2025. Check out this fabulous and fearsome book as soon as you can."
The Sundowner's Dance (2025) Todd Keisling "Todd Keisling is already a mainstay of modern horror, and this book proves why. A wildly original and unsettling tale, The Sundowner's Dance is an unforgettable journey of grief, cosmic horror, and making the most of the time we've got left. Pick up a copy of this book immediately."
Catherine the Ghost (2024) Kathe Koja "A strange and beautiful ode to gothic literature, Catherine the Ghost takes the story of Wuthering Heights and turns it on its head in the most dark and devastating way. An absolute must-read."
Incidents Around the House (2024) Josh Malerman "This haunting exploration of the perils of childhood is a story that will stay with you for a long time to come."
Bless Your Heart (2024) (Bless Your Heart, book 1) Lindy Ryan "Lindy Ryan is among the most electrifying voices in the horror genre today. Her writing is devastating, beautiful, and horrifying in all the best ways. With her new novel, she's created a group of characters you won't ever forget set in a world that's sure to get under your skin. Bless Your Heart is everything you could want in a horror novel and more. Highly recommended."
The Briar Book of the Dead (2024) A G Slatter "Angela Slatter hits it out of the park again. With gorgeous prose and a heart-breaking story about family, magic, and the weight of the past, this is a darkly fantastic masterpiece that shouldn't be missed."
The Daughters of Block Island (2023) Christa Carmen "Christa Carmen has long been one of my favorite horror authors, and The Daughters of Block Island is further proof that she's among the most important voices in the genre today. A clever inversion and exploration of gothic tropes, this is a debut novel unlike any other. A true macabre masterpiece, this book is a must-read."
Who Lost, I Found (2023) Eden Royce "Eden Royce is among the most vital and vibrant voices working in the horror and fantasy genres today. Now with her latest collection, Who Lost, I Found: Stories, she once again delves into the haunted lives of women and girls in ways that are by turns surprising, heartbreaking, horrifying, and utterly empowering. Needless to say, every tale in this table of contents is a knockout. Read this incredible book, and then be sure to recommend it to all your friends."
Frost Bite (2023) (Frost Bite, book 1) Angela Sylvaine "Fast-paced, clever, and nostalgic, Frost Bite single-handedly proves that Angela Sylvaine is a major rising star in the horror genre. This book's even got its own fabulous '90s playlist. Be still, my horror heart."
Bloom (2023) Delilah S Dawson "Sumptuous, strange, and horrifying, Bloom walks the tenuous line between the ultimate romance and the ultimate nightmare. Delilah S. Dawson has created quite an intense and terrifying couple in her characters of Ro and Ash, and by the time you've finished the last page of this book, you won't soon forget them."
Silenced (2023) Ann Claycomb "Ann Claycomb is a name in speculative fiction that all readers should know. Her newest novel, Silenced is not always an easy story, but it's a necessary one. Read this book; it will break your heart in all the best possible ways."
Sister, Maiden, Monster (2023) Lucy A Snyder "Unsettling and unexpectedly timely, Sister, Maiden, Monster is horror at its best. Snyder pulls out all the stops with this powerful and unflinching novel, dealing with the fallout of a pandemic and the omnipresent, creeping terror that can only come from your own body turning against you. Put this book at the top of your reading list immediately."
The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future (2023) Christi Nogle "Without a doubt, Christi Nogle is one of my favorite new voices in horror. Her fiction is by turns devastating, horrifying, and beyond beautiful. With her collection, The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future, she's created something truly remarkable, the kind of horror that's filled with grit and heart. Don't miss this book; it's sure to be one of the very best collections of 2023."
Wendy, Darling (2021) A C Wise "A dark and delightful retelling of Peter Pan. Wendy, Darling is a gorgeous achievement, and one you don't want to miss."
