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28 Must-Read Frightening Folk Horror Books

"Whether you're looking for deep meaning or abundant corn-based frights, folk horror is here for you. There are some books on this list hewing to the classic "outsider encountering a rural pagan death cult" trope. Still, I've listed a wide variety of stories, all blending folk culture and horror in fresh and terrifying ways." - Isabelle Popp/Book Riot
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from bookriot.com · made by AnnaBoots
avg. score: 2 of 28 (6%)
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1
Pine (Francine Toon)
Pine
Francine Toon
2
Empire of Wild (Cherie Dimaline)
Empire of Wild
Cherie Dimaline
3
Wylding Hall (Elizabeth Hand)
Wylding Hall
Elizabeth Hand
4
The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion (Margaret Killjoy)
The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion
Margaret Killjoy
5
The Only Good Indians (Stephen Graham Jones)
The Only Good Indians
Stephen Graham Jones
6
The Changeling (Victor Lavalle)
The Changeling
Victor Lavalle
7
Through the Woods (Emily Carroll)
Through the Woods
Emily Carroll
8
Ghost Wall (Sarah Moss)
Ghost Wall
Sarah Moss
9
Water Ghosts (Shawna Yang Ryan)
Water Ghosts
Shawna Yang Ryan
10
The Twisted Ones (T. Kingfisher)
The Twisted Ones
T. Kingfisher
11
Experimental Film (Gemma Files)
Experimental Film
Gemma Files
12
White Is for Witching (Helen Oyeyemi)
White Is for Witching
Helen Oyeyemi
13
When We Were Animals (Joshua Gaylord)
When We Were Animals
Joshua Gaylord
14
Her Body and Other Parties (Carmen Maria Machado)
Her Body and Other Parties
Carmen Maria Machado
15
The Whisper Man (Alex North)
The Whisper Man
Alex North
16
HEX (Thomas Olde Heuvelt)
HEX
Thomas Olde Heuvelt
17
Pedro Páramo (Juan Rulfo)
Pedro Páramo
Juan Rulfo
18
Wakenhyrst (Michelle Paver)
Wakenhyrst
Michelle Paver
19
The Summer of the Ubume (Natsuhiko Kyogoku)
The Summer of the Ubume
Natsuhiko Kyogoku
20
The Gallows Pole (Benjamin Myers)
The Gallows Pole
Benjamin Myers
21
Lanny (Max Porter)
Lanny
Max Porter
22
Little Darlings (Melanie Golding)
Little Darlings
Melanie Golding
23
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror (Mallory Ortberg)
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
Mallory Ortberg
24
The Day the Sun Died (Yan Lianke)
The Day the Sun Died
Yan Lianke
25
Swansong (Kerry Andrew)
Swansong
Kerry Andrew
26
The Essex Serpent (Sarah Perry)
The Essex Serpent
Sarah Perry
27
Taaqtumi (Aviaq Johnston)
Taaqtumi
Aviaq Johnston
28
The Rakess (Scarlett Peckham)
The Rakess
Scarlett Peckham
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