Archives de catégorie : Horror

DOG MOM de Madi Stine

Satirical horror debut perfect for fans of Girl Dinner and Motherthing, about the lengths to which a doting dog mom will go for her bloodthirsty fur baby.

DOG MOM
by Madi Stine
akaSTORY/Abrams, January 2028

Phoebe has felt alone all her life. She’s the outsider in her adopted family, and she’s always felt her parent’s love is conditional on her being good. Her marriage is no better, and when Phoebe experiences a late–term miscarriage, it destroys any hope she’s harbored of finally finding unconditional love. Until she meets Teddy…

Teddy is a stray wolf dog. Though Teddy’s origins are mysterious, it’s clear he’s all alone in the world too. He’s injured, starving, and needs Phoebe’s help to survive. Although Teddy treats Phoebe’s house like a toilet and massacres her unused baby toys, he gets Phoebe out of bed to tend to his messes. In a way, he takes better care of Phoebe than her husband, Quinn, ever has.

As Phoebe’s bond with Teddy intensifies, he fills that void deep within her. The one that convinced her she was unlovable, unworthy. With Teddy to look after, she feels whole again. Soon, Teddy is the most important part of her life. And nothing comes between a girl and her beloved dog. Not the meddling next door neighbor. Not her family. Not her husband.

Madi Stine is an award–winning writer/director based in Los Angeles. She earned a BA in Film and English from Harvard University where she graduated with honors and was a Fulbright Scholar. As a Fulbright Scholar, she affiliated with the University of British Columbia, researching and writing a historical screenplay set on the Canadian frontier. Madi then relocated to New York where she earned an MFA in Screenwriting/Directing from Columbia University. While at Columbia, her horror–comedy short, Rose & Pinky are Metal, screened in the US and internationally before being acquired by ShortsTV. DOG MOM, her debut novel, is based on her original screenplay of the same name, which was named a 2025 script competition finalist at the Austin Film Festival.

WHAT ROUGH BEAST de Mindy McGinnis

Long-held grudges and ancient evils come to roost in this psychological, speculative horror that’s Don’t Let the Forest In meets Stranger Things.

WHAT ROUGH BEAST
by Mindy McGinnis
HarperCollins, October 2026

In a small town like Bethington, nothing stays buried forever…

Ava Germaine has learned her lesson: see something, don’t say something. Cast out at school, the only place she can find peace is Restoration Acres, the town’s animal sanctuary. Though the place sometimes seems more like an animal graveyard than a rehabilitation center, Ava’s job there is at least a constant distraction from the night everything went wrong—and the boy she still holds responsible.

Micah Harding is always prepared for the worst. As the sheriff’s son, he tries not to do things that reflect poorly on his family, especially since his dad helped him cover up his worst mistake yet. But he knows his secret is bound to come out.

Hailey Wagner is sick of being judged. And finally, things are going according to plan—until Ava Germaine starts talking. So if Hailey has to shut her up…she will.

As a strange entity begins to stir, ready to awaken—Ava, Micah, and Hailey find themselves wrapped in a centuries-old exchange, while barreling towards the truth of what ties their fates together.

Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels, including How Girls Are Made, Under this Red Rock, A Long Stretch of Bad Days, The Last Laugh, The Initial Insult, Heroine, The Female of the Species,and A Madness So Discreet, winner of an Edgar Award. She writes across multiple genres, including postapocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on her books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. Mindy lives in Ohio. You can visit her online at mindymcginnis.com.

STAGTOWN de Punko

A young woman investigates the strange events terrorizing her hometown in this heart-pounding horror graphic novel.

STAGTOWN (Volume #1)
by Punko
Ten Speed Graphic/Crown Publishing Group, September 2026

Something mysterious is happening all around Stagtown: Cameras are appearing everywhere on the streets, and even in the corners of apartments and homes. Cutting one down only spawns more in its place. Someone is surveilling the residents and now that Frankie is back home from college, she is going to discover who—or what—is behind this.

After the shocking death of her neighbor Jeremy, Frankie becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind these occurrences. Armed with Jeremy’s box of cryptic clues, a loyal cat companion, and the help of Jeremy’s friend Felix, Frankie embarks on a perilous journey through town. Her quest leads her to a sinister marble house, a blood-stained carousel, a dark underground cellar filled with traps, and more. Each encounter brings her closer to the horrifying truth, culminating in a desperate attempt to escape Stagtown once and for all.

With beautifully haunting illustrations and a terror-filled story, Stagtown is a masterpiece of psychological horror. This volume includes the complete first season of the Webtoon comic, along with exclusive interactive puzzles and never-before-seen sketches.

 

Punko is an alternative comics artist. They won runner-up in publisher Tokyopop’s Rising Stars of Manga competition and published their popular gothic, dark fantasy graphic novel series Bizenghast with the publisher.

THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS d’Isabel Cañas

A stunning YA debut from gothic master Isabel Cañas, bestselling author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.

THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS
by Isabel Cañas
Dutton Books for Young Readers, September 2026
(via KT Literary)

Despite near-constant political violence in the city and an abusive father at home, Minerva Treviño’s cowardice has kept her alive for sixteen years. But even she has a limit. Unable to take another beating or miss another meal, Minerva musters enough courage to flee to a neighborhood full of rich people loyal to the deposed fascist viceroy and take a job as lady’s maid to a wealthy widow.

Minerva is happy serving Encarnación del Valle. She has food in her belly and the safety of a warm house lit by magical chispa. Why should she care who runs the country or how her employer affords the magic?

When the viceroy sweeps back into power, Encarnación gleefully retreats to the family’s mountainside estate to wait out the inevitable slaughter of the viceroy’s enemies—and of course Minerva may join her. At la Casa de las Gardenias, Minerva is surrounded by more experienced servants and the cruel, scheming del Valles. But the living residents of the house are the least of anyone’s worries, and Minerva quickly discovers that the ancient estate is home to forces far older and more bloodthirsty than anything she could have imagined.

Isabel Cañas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage. Her adult novels include The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.

THE GIRL IN GREEN de Laura Creedle

A school’s storied legacy cannot stop student’s whispers of mysterious disappearances and a legendary monster, in this terrifying new novel that will entrance fans of Madeline Roux and Claire Legrand.

THE GIRL IN GREEN
by Laura Creedle
HarperCollins, September 2026

Jess has always been a runner—always looking for an escape, no matter how many detention centers or “special schools” she’s been sent to. So when she receives a scholarship to the illustrious Danvers-Cutteridge in the mountains of West Virginia, her first plan of action is to find the fastest exit.

But Jess soon learns that this new school has secrets hidden beyond the grand staircases and storied past. A student has gone missing, and Jess’s new friends suspect that they haven’t been told the truth about the disappearance.

As Jess helps search for answers (and a way out), she discovers more of Danvers-Cutteridge’s unsettling history. The abuses and mutilations inflicted on past residents. The strange authority in the headmaster’s celebrated family tree. And the fearsome legend that has haunted the valley for decades—a mysterious girl, dressed in green.

Soon, Jess’s search will take her down into the heart of the school, through the closed-off parts of its history left forgotten in the dark. But walls and iron aren’t enough to keep the hungry darkness at bay…

Laura Creedle is the author of The Deep Well, which Kirkus Reviews called “a fresh take on horror,” and The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily. When they’re not writing, Laura can usually be found playing pinball or watching indie horror. They live in Austin, Texas, with their husband and a feral cat named Hellman who was found with her head stuck in a mayonnaise jar.