Jill Baguchinsky’s So Witches We Became is a fierce queer YA horror standalone about a group of friends trapped on a cursed Florida island surrounded by a toxic, vengeful mist and a lurking, unseen beast. When high school senior Nell arrives for what should be a dream spring break, buried secrets and dark magic surface, … Read more
If you’re searching for your next witchy, romantic fantasy read, The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska belongs on your radar. This standalone YA novel delivers enemies-to-lovers romance and eerie island magicin a story that’s both haunting and emotionally charged. Set in the city of Caldella, the plot centers on Lina Kirk as she volunteers to … Read more
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones is a young adult horror novel mixing folklore and dark fairy tale elements. It follows Ryn, a teenage gravedigger, and Ellis, a mysterious mapmaker, as they uncover an old curse in a village where the dead don’t stay dead. Perfect for readers who want a dark, unusual story with … Read more
If you love dark academia with hidden societies and creepy boarding schools, Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson deserves a spot on your TBR. This standalone YA fantasy follows Page Whittaker, a teen girl sent to a prestigious Scottish school with a dark past—and possibly darker magic. Here’s why I’m planning to read it. This post … Read more
I’ve been keeping an eye on The House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau ever since I first saw the cover—and honestly, it ticks a lot of boxes for me. Gothic setting, morally tricky magic, and a main character who has to choose who to save? I’m in. The story follows Edira Brillwyn, a threadmender … Read more
Daughters of Eve is high on my to-be-read list. This standalone YA horror thriller explores the tension and power struggles within a high school feminist secret society that soon takes a dark, dangerous turn. The story offers a cultish atmosphere and a deep dive into loyalty and moral complexity. I’m looking forward to reading this … Read more
I can’t wait to start Elly Blake’s The Forest King’s Daughter!! In a kingdom torn by war, a young forest princess named Cassia wields a powerful ring of light as she battles alongside her father’s army. When her childhood friend Zeru kidnaps her to reclaim the ring, their past reignites amid a dangerous journey filled … Read more
Needy Little Things is high on my to-be-read list. It follows Sariyah Lee Bryant, a Black teen who can sense when people need everyday items like a pencil or phone charger—and when her friend disappears, she uses this unusual ability to unravel a dark mystery in her town. Fans of emotionally rich YA mysteries with … Read more
This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth is high on my to-be-read list for its atmospheric New England coastal setting and dark paranormal mystery. Briar Winters must unravel eldritch secrets haunting her seaside town to save her missing childhood love from a terrifying fate. With its themes of time travel, eldritch secrets, and inclusive bisexual romance, … Read more
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain is high on my to-be-read list. It follows Grace Divine, the daughter of a pastor, whose life unravels when a childhood friend returns carrying a dark secret that threatens her family and everything she thought she knew. This one promises tension, romance, and just enough supernatural danger to keep … Read more