Who should you be reading?

Here at Weird Wyrlds, we love a good scary story in just about any form. But I especially love a good horror novel.

This has been a lifelong love affair. I have, after all, written my own horror novel. Horror stories were a mainstay of my childhood. Goosebumps books were my jam, you guys. This love of the horror in the written word never left me. I pray it never does. And the only thing I love quite as much is sharing these stories with others.

So today, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite contemporary horror writers. I have read and loved at least two of their books, and they’re on my Insta Buy list. I believe you’ll see why. These are not listed in any particular order. It’s simply the order that these terrifying, lovely authors came to my mind.

As a final note, I did not include Stephen King on this list. This is not because I don’t love his work. I really, really do. However, saying that I read Stephen King is like saying that I buy groceries and breathe oxygen. So I didn’t really think I needed to waste everyone’s time here.

Kiersten White

White has written many books, spanning the fantasy and horror genres. The first book of hers I read was Hide, published in May of 2022. This was a fantastically dark tale of a ‘game show’ set in an abandoned theme park. And it just got darker from there.

From there, I dove headfirst into Mister Magic. Which had me sobbing on my couch out of nowhere.

White has a fantastic range. Her books often don’t feel like they’re written by the same author. Hide and Mister Magic are both contemporary supernatural horror novels. Lucy Undying, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstine, and Fox and The Devil are all feminist retellings of classic horrors. (Saphic retellings, by the way.) So you can never be sure what you’re going to get. But you can be sure it’s going to be great fun.

Sylvia Moreno García

I was introduced to Moreno-Garcia with the book Mexican Gothic. This caught my attention because I love a good haunted house. I also love Mexico.

And this book was all of that. It’s a dark Victorian horror set in a small Mexican town. I fell in love with her writing style from there.

After reading many of her books, my favorite is Silver Nitrate. Though her latest, The Bewitching, gave it a serious run for its money.

Her books are full of dark corners where things can and will attack from. They show the beauty of Mexico, the depth and richness of the culture, and the amazing and vast history. And of course, all the horror stories that reside there.

(Bonus book recommendation! If you read Mexican Gothic and want more of the same, check out The Hacienda by Isabel Canas. She didn’t make the list because I’ve only read one book of hers. But The Hacienda is a fantastic, dark book about witchcraft and the evil that a bad death can leave behind.)

Marcus Kliewer

This one feels like I’m cheating a bit, because I’ve technically only read one book by Kliewer. But that book was such a fantastic gut punch that I could barely wait for the next work from this writer.

The first book, if you’re not already familiar, was We Used to Live Here. It’s an amazing dark psychological thriller, where you’re not really sure what’s going on. A new homeowner is surprised in the middle of the night by a visit from the house’s previous owner. She lets them in, then can’t seem to get rid of them.

Things just get darker from there.

Now, Kliewer’s next book is called The Caretaker. It’s sitting on my desk right next to me as I type this. And let me tell you, the self-control it’s taking me to not reach for it and start digging into it is impressive.

By the way, if you’re reading his first book, maybe check out a good Morse code translator.

Paul Tremblay

Tremblay seems like such a sweet man to have such a twisted mind. (Like I’m one to talk.) I was introduced to him through the book Horror Movie. It was so fun, so dark. After a scrappy band of movie makers failed to make their movie, it quietly became a cult fascination online. Then, someone decides to try to film it. Blood and horror follow soon after.

And let me tell you, there was one amazing detail that I didn’t realize until I’d finished the book and sat down to write a review. I don’t want to ruin it for you, or even give you a hint. Just read the book.

While several of Tremblay’s books are on my (extensive) TBR, the only other one I’ve gotten to yet is Another. It’s a creepy middle-grade book about a boy worried that he’s being replaced by his new friend. He’s right.

Grady Hendrix

I don’t even know where to start with Grady Hendrix. I picked up his book, How To Sell a Haunted House, and finished it in one day. It was an emotionally crippling book about family trauma and a demonic doll.

This sent me on a massive Hendrix binge. The best one I’ve read from him was The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires. But Horrorstor was a close second. But that’s just picking a few out of the lineup. I’ve honestly never picked up a book by this author that I haven’t adored.

Danielle Valentine

I always feel like I’ve got to start out talking about Valentine by giving her a huge apology.

See, I read her first book because I was insanely jealous of her. The last season of my very favorite show, American Horror Story, was entirely based on her book Delicate Condition. This was a decision Ryan Murphy made before Delicate Condition was even released.

So, I decided to read the book that Valentine already published, How To Survive Your Murder. And since then, I’ve read every single book she’s written. (My husband was mildly concerned when I was reading the last one.)

Her writing style is for people like us. People who love a good slasher. The books are fun, chilling, and twisted. I’m a forever fan.

Alright, now it’s your turn. Who’s a horror author you think everyone should be reading? Let us know in the comments.