Hey bookworm friends! The wonderful Tammy from Books, Bones, & Buffy is hosting Summer of Horror and as a self-proclaimed scaredy-cat who wants to get more into horror, my time is now! As part of the informal event, Fridays are cover lists. Tammy shared some categories or themes but you’re also welcome to come up with your own. The covers I’ll be sharing today are for Queer Horror books that have caught my eye!
Queer Horror Covers
This theme is especially relevant to me because it’s due to queer horror books that I realized I might not hate all horror books after all! From my limited experience, I find they tend to balance the scary aspects with social commentary really well. At least the few I’ve loved do and I am craving more of that!
Books I Read
I adored Camp Damascus and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, those are the two that sparked my interest 🖤. Don’t Let The Forest In was a fun buddy read but I ended up not entirely loving it due to the extreme angst of the teenage characters and its open-ended nature. Even though arguably that’s its most interesting element and I had a lot of fun dissecting it with friends.
Books On My TBR
I’ve had my eye on Someone You Can Build A Nest In since its debut last year and I’ve yet to pick it up! Luckily making this list inspired me to put it on my library holds 🖤. Since I love vampires, I requested House of Hunger on Netgalley when it came out but it was denied (😭). Alas, I haven’t gotten around to it yet which is a shame. I really enjoy religious themes in horror and romance so as soon as I heard about Pray For Him, it went on the TBR. And I’m pretty sure it was included in a book bundle I bought this month so that’s exciting!
I have two mermaid-related horrors on my list. Chlorine, which is on the more literary side and The Salt Grows Heavy which has a twisted & gruesome dark fantasy tone. I wasn’t a massive fan of Carmilla—I know, I’m so sorry 😬! However, I’m hoping I’ll connect more to Hungerstone, a retelling I’ve heard great things about. And would you just look at that cover 🤤?! Lastly, I added Welcome To Dorley Hall to my list because I heard the Booktuber Willow Talks Books sing its praises and I thought it sounded intriguing.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Have you read any of these? Or, are you planning on reading any horror books this summer?
I’m so happy to see this post! And I’ll make sure to link it up in my Buffy’s Corner post tomorrow. I’ve read a few of these, Camp Damascus, House of Hunger and The Salt Grows Heavy, and Hungerstone and Chlorine are two I’d love to get to soon. Awesome list😁
Aw, yay I’m glad it made you happy 🥰 & thanks so much that’s so nice! I’m loving the idea of sharing different covers on Fridays we’ll see how many categories I end up doing. Amazing! It’s fun to see which ones you’ve read and which also interest you since you’re well-versed in the horror genre 🙂 Thanks so much 🖤
I’m so glad you decided to join in 🥰 I hope you find some new horror novels to fall for. And I love getting to see different covers. I really hope you enjoy Someone You Can Build A Nest In. Yay for being moved to requesting it at the library. I’m so sorry you didn’t get House Of Hunger when you requested it. I borrowed it from the library and loved it. Ooh getting one in a bundle feels like a sign!! Hungerstone is on my TBR for the event too and I have a few of the others somewhere on my more general TBR.
As the post is about covers I think my favourite is the nest one. But it’s hard as a few are stunning.
Yeah, thanks for bringing it up otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it since I missed her announcement post! I hope the same for you 🖤I can’t wait to see which ones you read and how you like them and hurray for broadening our reading horizons a bit 🥰 I don’t remember if you like me are new to horror or not🤔! Thanks so much and honestly sometimes I feel like if I don’t do it now, when will I?! Aw thanks, that’s okay I was bummed but then again It’s been out for a while and I didn’t reach for it so it’s not that dire I guess 😛! Yay I am so glad you loved it!! Yes I will be taking it as a sign for sure especially as there were over 100 books in that bundle! 😲 Oh wow really? So funny we’re on the same wavelength there ( is it coz it’s historical?)
Yesss, I agree about your favourite cover, I love it so much and I love the US and UK covers equally too!
That’s okay, I didn’t realise you’d be interested in it or I’d have mentioned it sooner. Thank you 🥰 yes I’m fairly new to it too. I’ve read two Stephen King books a couple of others in the past but not many as I used to worry about getting freaked out 😂 plus I’m not into gore, although I’m hoping there are plenty of options where that’s not too prominent 😅
I totally get that as I feel the same sometimes. I think that’s part of why my TBR feels so impossible – there’s too many books that I’m worried about not getting to.
I get that as rejections can hit hard. Hopefully it’ll end up being worth the wait for you though.
Omg wow that’s incredible!! How much was it?
Partially, it’s also the vampires and I think the blurb used the word gothic too 😂
I agree both are lovely, although they do give off very different vibes to each other 😅
Love these cover picks. I’ve read four from your list and my favorite is probably Hungerstone.
Ahh thank you, Alicia 🖤Which others did you read? And Hungerstone honestly sounds amazing so I’m glad you loved it!! 🙂
I still need to make time for Hunger Stone. I got a copy from Aardvark Book Club and still haven’t read it. I also see a few new-to-me books here I need to check out. Great post!
Oh, awesome! I don’t knowwhat Aardvark Book Club is but how cool that you got a copy from them, I hope you get to read Hunger Stone soon! & Thanks so much, Barb! I appreciate you stopping by 🖤
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Welcome To Dorley Hall has an amazing cover! *_* All the ones you posted are eye-catching, but this one is sooo beautiful and haunted!
I am not really a fan of horror, even if lately I am trying a couple of them, to try and get out of my comfort zone. But at the moment I don’t have any on my radar, I think my Summer will be mostly fantasy (in all its declinations) with a sprinkle of thriller or mysteries to give a touch of variety to my reads!
But I hope you will love the ones you read!
Right? That cover is stunning!
Yes I only recently starting trying some horror, I’m a scaredy-cat but like you said I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone and I’ve found some I love!
A fantasy summer sounds delightful, I hope you enjoy it so much! Thanks, Susy!! 🥰
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