Graphic by Mari Al Tayb ‘26.
Josefa Falkner ’26
Staff Writer
With fall upon us and Halloween quickly approaching, it is the perfect time to enjoy some spooky reads. Don’t know what books to pick besides the classics? Worry not. The following list contain stories that are suspenseful, gothic or horror — and occasionally all three.
‘The Once and Future Witches’ by Alix E. Harrow
Set in an alternative historical Salem, Massachusetts, “The Once and Future Witches” is a historical fantasy that follows the three Eastwood sisters as they struggle to repair their relationships with each other and reclaim their power while dark forces rise. The three witches become intertwined with the United States women’s suffrage movement of the 1890s. The book features queer characters and contemplates intersectionality in the movement. Per Jessica Wick of NPR, “you’ll be fascinated by this alternate America, by the vibrant characters, the twisty plot.” The Eastwood sisters and allies use elements of folk magic to advance their causes. Alix E. Harrow is a Hugo-award winning former academic turned science fiction and fantasy novelist. “The Once and Future Witches” is her second novel following “The Ten Thousand Doors of January.”
‘The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror’ by various authors and edited by Tori Bovalino
“The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror” is a collection of 13 short horror stories written by various authors. “The Tallest Poppy,” a short story by Chloe Gong, the author of the popular Romeo and Juliet retelling “These Violent Delights,” is described by Nerd Daily as “a classically unnerving horror story” featuring haunted houses, creepy dolls and mysterious illnesses. Another story in the collection, “It Stays With You” by Aden Polydoros, a new take on the Bloody Mary myth, discusses overcoming one’s traumas. It contains a diverse range of stories from classic ghost stories to urban legends and allegorical social commentary, with a story for everyone. Ultimately, the collection offers more than enough to give you your fill of horror for Halloween.
‘The Hacienda’ by Isabel Cañas
“The Hacienda” is set in 1820s post-revolutionary Mexico and follows Beatriz, a young woman of mixed racial ancestry, who is determined to save herself and her mother from poverty by marrying into wealth. However, when she moves to her new husband’s hacienda a supernatural presence makes itself known. The story’s point of view is split between Beatriz and Padre Andrés, a young catholic priest with supernatural powers whom she enlists to help battle this darkness. “The Hacienda” is dubbed by Goodreads as a “supernatural suspense novel” but could also be categorized as horror. It is described as “Rebecca meets Mexican Gothic,” by Goodreads user Nilufer Ozmekik. An article in The Harvard Crimson states, “The Hacienda” explores the impact of colonialism, Catholicism and the racial caste system on her characters and Mexico as a whole.