Spooky Sapphics
By Alyssa Aspiotis & Gabby Aspiotis
Edited by Shea Campion
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been deep into your summerween era with all things spooky! With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to keep that same energy and continue reading all things horror. We have curated a list of 10 must-read sapphic horror books that will keep you up at night.
Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris
Rita, an artist, is struggling after the death of her estranged father. She regrets not asking him about the Mi’kmaq language and their family, as she is left feeling disconnected from her culture. When her girlfriend forges an artist’s residency application without her knowledge, she accepts it because the cabin is located where her father grew up. During her stay there, she begins hearing strange sounds and feels a pull toward the swamp, using it as inspiration for her paintings. But when the peculiar visions become more persistent, Rita becomes increasingly alienated from her life. Will she make it out alive?
That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall
When Lehua’s twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, her trail leads her to Kōpa’a Island Resort, where Ohia had taken a job. Kōpa’a is a Hawaiian resort for the wealthy that promises rejuvenation and wellness, and is known for its persimmon orchard. Lehua visits the resort and is left stranded on the island. She is taken in as a guest to find details about her sister, but begins to uncover the island’s dark plantation past. Haunted by dreams and warning signs, Lehua must unearth the island’s deadly history to find out what happened to her sister.
On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield
Judith Rice has finally had enough of her abusive mother’s hold on her and decides to flee her childhood home. With no prospects of a place, she stumbles upon an abandoned home in the middle of the forest in southern Georgia. Jude discovers that this house has a violent history of its own, and Jude learns to embrace it as her own. But thirteen years later, a beautiful stranger shows up at her doorstep. Jude is caught off guard by her growing desire for this enchanting stranger and must confront the horrors of her past once and for all.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
In the outskirts of the Yorkshire Moors, there is a hidden line of people who eat books as their source of food. For generations, book eaters have been around and in hiding, retaining the information of the book’s content after consuming it. Devon is like all the other female book eaters, growing up on a specific, curated diet of fairytales to keep them sheltered. But when her son is born with a taste for a different kind of food—human minds instead of books—Devon must protect the ones she loves the most and confront the family she left behind.
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
At seven months pregnant, Vern decides to escape the extremely strict religious compound she grew up in, with the hope of giving her children a better life. She flees into the woods where she gives birth to twins, and plans to raise them without the community's influence. But Vern is haunted by the horrors of her past, and her body is wracked by changes no one can explain, a strange kind of metamorphosis. To protect her family and to understand her own bodily changes, Vern must uncover the secrets of her cult-like family and the violent history of America that played a part in it.
Doe by Rebecca Barrow
Captain of the West Eaton High cheer team, Maris Larson, needs the team to forget about her life falling apart. When Genevieve Ray, the new girl and Coach’s favorite, joins the team, a rivalry begins. Maris starts being visited by Doe, an ancient creature, in her dreams. As the two begin to form a bond, Doe promises Maris a way to win against Genevieve, but Maris doesn’t know how much danger she is in. In order for Maris to win, someone has to die.
Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez
In 1968 Oakland, a young heiress, Violeta Miramontes, is left paralyzed by an illness. Natalia Fuentes, a working-class witch, is certain that this is due to dark magic. The plan is simple: work her way into Violeta’s house, break the spell, and receive a reward. As Natalia begins to communicate with Violeta, romance starts to bloom. Natalia is determined to figure out who cursed Violeta, but she may lose her heart in the process.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
Marion Shaw longs to leave the city and her terrible living conditions. One day, she sees a posting for a bloodmaid in the newspaper, and immediately applies for the position. She becomes the newest bloodmaid of Countess Lisavet at the hedonistic House of Hunger. The Countess has multiple bloodmaids, but takes a special interest in Marion, and Marion becomes obsessed with her in equal measure. When Marion begins to discover secrets hidden in the walls, she must learn to play by the rules of the house, or it might lead her to an early grave.
Chlorine by Jade Song
Ren Yu’s whole life is the pool. She only cares about her teammates, her coach, and getting a scholarship to a good school. If she swims adequately enough, then her parents will love her, and her coach will treat her well. Ren has also been obsessed with mermaids her whole life, and longs to become one. She begins to dream of the smell of chlorine, aching to be in the water. She will do anything and everything to be free, no matter the cost or who gets hurt.
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
Seven years ago, a ship set off for the Mariana Trench in search of ancient sea creatures to film a “mockumentary” about the legends. But when this voyage was cut short by an unexpected tragedy, it was lost at sea, and no one knows the answers for what happened. Now, there is a new crew that has been assembled to uncover the real truth of what occurred seven years ago. Everyone is on board for different reasons: the hunt, the truth, or revenge, but it may be deep below the waves with answers no one is truly prepared for.
These are some of our favourite sapphic horror books, and we hope they become your staples to recommend for the spooky season! Happy readin’ everyone!
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