Cozy Horror Season is Here
By: Briana Wilvert
You know how a Mike Flanagan show scares the crap out of you but also swaddles you up in a warm blanket and makes sure to tell you that despite the horrors of the world, you'll be alright? That's the vibe we're going for—a list of cozy horror books to ease you into the autumn season.
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher
When retired soldier Alex Easton hears their childhood friend is dying, they race to the remote, ancestral home of the Ushers. The novella dives into a gothic nightmare of fungus, possessed animals, and sleepwalking, but brings in the cozy vibes with a delightful pair of sidekicks. This is the first in a series (the newest one releases at the end of this month!), so if you enjoy it, there's more to explore through the fall.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova
When a grieving mother removes a piece of her deceased son's lung, it soon grows into something new. This story explores grief, love, loyalty, and all that makes us human, with a tender touch and vivid prose. Note: this one is on the literary side of the horror spectrum!
The Haar by David Sodergren
For the folk horror fans: this story weaves romance and gore into a unique sort of fairytale. A remote Scottish fishing village becomes the target of a property developer ready to evict residents when a new threat arrives in the fog bank one day. With an elderly protagonist and sentimental charm, this one is surprisingly endearing.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
Young, newly widowed, and pregnant Elsie is sent to her late husband's crumbling country estate with only an unfortunate cousin for company. That is, until she finds a tiny wooden figure with an uncanny resemblance to herself, which everyone is unsurprisingly creeped out by. This historical horror is incredibly unsettling.
Walking Practice by Dolki Min
By far the weirdest story on our list, this book follows a shapeshifting alien who is stuck on Earth and eating people to survive—mainly with the help of dating apps. Amid their struggle to stay alive, they find themselves in a full-blown existential crisis about what it means to be human and exist in a society that marginalizes the disabled, queer, and nonconformist.
Are You Ready for Horror Season?
While these may not be the most obviously "cozy" picks, they each have an element of comfort to them. They ultimately do what horror does best—allow us to face our very human fears.