Upcoming Horror Novels For Halloween (2022)

At last, we’re entering the end of July. Gaudy and sinister patriotic baubles are being sold at seventy percent off, and scores of school supplies are being shoved in their previous places. To many horror fans, this can only mean one thing: Halloween is fast approaching! Here are five upcoming horror novels for Halloween.

But for many of us, those rampant heat waves and inescapable beach aesthetic dog us everywhere we go even when our spooky meter is binging and amping us up. That’s why I’ve decided to compile a list of upcoming, exciting new horror releases that are sure to have us feeling the chills while the sun cooks us all alive.

Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste

Gwendolyn Kiste first hit my radar when her first novel, The Rust Maidens, released. Said first novel also happened to be amazing, depicting the downfall of a small town as industry fails while the town scapegoats several young women who happen to be succumbing to a painful and mysterious disease. Kiste’s writing perfectly captured so many real emotions and heart-wrenching themes.

Her newest book, out this year on August 23rd, sounds entirely different but no less amazing. Reluctant Immortals centers on two famous ladies of literary history: Lucy Westenra from Dracula and Bertha Mason from Jane Eyre. These two women, the likely immortals of the title, meet in 1962 San Francisco and analyze the two famous men of their pasts. This sounds like a fascinating, feminist reclamation of two of literature’s most maligned women set in the wild 60s.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy, and neither should you. You can pre-order it here.

Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories, edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz and illustrated by Ricardo López Ortiz

Too often, horror fiction focuses on the same monsters and variations of baddies in its stories and thematic preoccupations. If you’re looking for a bit more variety in your monster content, this anthology carries the cure!

Our Shadows Have Claws is a YA anthology made up of entirely Latin authors spinning their own takes on the monsters from our culture. This can include anything from the famous cryptid La Chupacabra to more obscure fiends that haunt old stories. This collection also boasts a variety of well-known contributors, most notably Julia Alvarez, along with some new faces.

This is definitely one to pick up if you’re tired of the same old boring vampires, cosmic horrors, and determined serial killers in your stories. Watch out for the shadows come September 6th! It is available for pre-order here.

Sallow Bend by Alan Baxter

Sallow Bend is the latest book to come from the Australian master of horror, and I, for one, cannot wait. My first Baxter book is pretty recent and, technically, still being read as of this writing. However, his short story collection, The Gulp, was too good to ignore. Baxter crafted the perfect, creepy world of Gulpepper, the supernaturally devastating small beach town on Australia’s coast. The book really proves that Baxter is a gifted hand with the small town horror genre.

Which is exactly why Sallow Bend sounds amazing! Once again, Baxter tackles a horrible mystery in a small town beginning when two young girls go missing. Exciting details such as a carnival coming to town while a returning malignance rises only add to my anticipation. Don’t miss your chance to get a copy of this baby. Pre-orders for the e-book start August 19th with the paperback due out September 2nd!

Crom Cruach by Valkyrie Loughcrewe

This is the first time I’ve ever really seen something from the author, Valkyrie Loughcrewe, and I still know very little about the creator. However, the book’s summary and its interesting publisher immediately caught my interest. Crom Cruach tells the story of a renewed Satanic Panic in the wake of zombies resurrecting, restarting a catastrophic conflict between Ireland’s Catholic and pagan legacy.

Now, that is something to get excited about! Furthermore, the book will feature artwork from the author, and that is a real treat if their website is anything to go by. This little-hyped gem will be coming out September 22nd, 2022, just in time for the Autumn Equinox!

No Gods for Drowning by Hailey Piper

Beloved in the indie horror world for her unapologetically queer stories, Hailey Piper returns with a new shocker on September 30th. Piper’s already wowed many horror fans, including me, with her recent novella, Your Mind Is a Terrible Thing. That recent release dealt with brains monsters and mental illness with Piper’s usual brand of gorgeous writing.

No Gods for Drowning is more of a genre blender, mixing folklore and mythology, mystery, noir, and horror all in one go. It’s also sure to feature more of Piper’s deft handling of queer and trans themes. Thus far, Hailey Piper hasn’t disappointed me with a single one of her books no matter the genre. That’s a rare thing, and I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the fun.

Preorders are currently open. Pick up this lifesaver quick before the waters get too much to bear.

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

While you might not have heard of this debut novel release before now, I highly suggest giving it a look. Erin E. Adams gives one hell of a premise that’s sure to terrify you.

Jackal takes place in a small town in America’s Rust Belt. One of the only two Black girls in town has gone missing after a wedding party in the woods. Liz Rocher, the only other Black women in this small town, notices a terrible pattern of Black women being kidnapped. Now, she needs to find Caroline and discover what this evil is before it’s too late.

Just one read of the blurb makes me immediately invested in just what might be going on here. The evil in small town America happens to be one of my favorite tropes, and it’s a perfect move to use it for the experience of Black women.

Make sure to catch this one October 4th! It is available right now for preorder here.

How To See Ghosts & Other Figments by Orrin Grey

Make no mistake: Orrin Grey is a must-read author if you love the genre. An advocate of “fun horror,” Grey is unashamed of proudly showing his influences on his sleeve. However, that doesn’t stop him from creating brand-new creatures and tales that will give you chicken skin.

His latest book, How to See Ghosts & Other Figments, is another short story collection. I can already tell what some of you are thinking: what if some of the stories are way worse than the other? And I’m here to say, don’t worry about that here. Not with Orrin Grey. Every single one of these short stories is guaranteed to be a winner, and I would know. I’ve read his other collections!

It’s too early for cover art or for preorder link, but this is easily one of my most hyped releases of the year. If you’re a real monster lover, it should be yours too. This baby comes out October 11th a few weeks before his birthday and our favorite holiday! You can also check Orrin out on our sister podcast The Horror Pod Class where he attempts to convince more teachers to use horror in the classroom.