5 Sapphic Horror Books I Loved This Year
I know the year isn’t over yet, so I’m sure this list will grow. But SO FAR, this post will review five sapphic horror books that I absolutely could not put down!
If you love sapphic fiction and tend to steer toward darker, more horror-and-realism-driven stories, then I think you’re going to like this list. Without further ado…
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
This book is so beautifully written. Its mystery unravels so slowly and then suddenly all at once…or not at all? And I love this about it!
The first 65 pages had be enthralled. Then it got weird. However, I found a kind of beauty in its lack of detail. Because it didn’t feel like the horrors that befell Leah were most important anyway. It was Miri’s grief amidst her unwavering love that had hooked me.
Despite her fear and grief and confusion and horror, Miri took care of her wife while also grieving the person Leah used to be.
It left me feeling a little hollow—searching for answers and more details but unable to find them. Then I realized how well that fit the theme.
Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
This book doesn’t have a sapphic main, but does feature a side couple. Still worth the read.
Part historical western (set on the plains of Montana) and part creature feature, this book centers on themes of grief, shame, anger, and hardship. The cast was diverse and the character work was incredibly interesting.
But what I found most interesting (and most relatable) was the discussion of what it really means to be a “monster.” Is the monster the one born a little different from the rest, who was cast out and beaten down until they had enough and lashed out? Or is it the one that shunned and belittled them, fearing them enough to “do what’s necessary” to protect others from being influenced by their wickedness?
Extasia by Claire Legrand
Have you ever read a book where you start to wonder if it was actually written for you? That’s Extasia for me.
It’s a religious cult survival story but with ghosts and witchcraft and feminist themes. I love it because I’ve lived it. It’s not hard to see where religion and misogyny intersect and become so one and the same that things could get to the extreme they do in this story.
I LOVE Rage’s character arc from confused girl to rage embodied to powerful woman. It’s way better than other reviews give it credit for.
The twist in this story shouldn’t have been so surprising (because I’d been comparing it to a very similar movie), but it still got me.
Looking for a sapphic dark fantasy rife with fury and brutal revenge akin to Slewfoot and The Year of the Witching? Check out our debut novel, The Blight of Blackridge.
Eleanor Payne has uncovered dark secrets from her family’s past. But the more she uncovers, the harder Blackridge fights to silence her. They’ll regret it.
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Though it had characters that were more like caricatures and dialogue that was a little cringey at times, I. Could. Not. Put. This. Book. Down.
It reminded me of a campy witchcraft horror from the 80s. It was a fast paced thriller with a cool take on witchcraft and demons, dark true crimes vibes, and enough body horror to have me gagging at times.
What I didn’t like? These girls don’t sound 17. And one of the main characters keeps complaining about how annoyed she is by the people she’s working with…but doesn’t really show it. You’d think they were best friends.
That being said, I still loved it.
The Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan
Let me start this off by saying, READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. It was almost a little too much for me at points.
But I stuck with it (played one, two, skip a few with pages for two scenes) and I’m so glad. This has to have one of my favorite vampire representations—all the classic vampire tropes (turn into mist, need to be invited in, holy water and sunlight burning like hell), but kept the main character a literal MONSTER. She has ZERO redeeming qualities and I absolutely LOVE it. Sapphic and very spicy, but also filled to the brim with gothic horror and a surprise choose-your-own-ending.
(While Po Lam is a nice dream and what Gean Choo deserves, I’d still be the dummy that picks Verity every time.)
And an honorable mention…
Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris
I did not love this book but so many people do that I feel it’s worth mentioning. It is beautifully written and has a poetic way for portraying dark themes like grief, anxiety, fear, and depression.
While I related a lot with the content, I kept getting absolutely lost and turned around by the prose. I had to keep rereading sections to make sure I was making proper sense of what was actually happening.
But this book is very strange and very beautiful and very much worth a try.
I hope you enjoy these books! And if you have any sapphic horror recommendations, don’t hesitate to send them our way!
