[How it Works](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/)

[Publishing](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/contact/)

Log in or Sign up

Japanese Gothic: A Novel

Kylie Lee Baker

Save to Your Books

[Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/84139/9781335001559)

100% of affiliate revenue supports Celestial

In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.

October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.

> One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.

Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.

Show more

Get the Bindery app

* * *

Posts about this title from Celestial

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 23](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[matching my makeup to a random book cover (part one)!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/CunOuox0oaJcfWdHEZDh/)

matching my makeup to a random book cover (part one)!

📚 book mentioned:
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

💄makeup routine:
\- Triclone Skin Tech Foundation (060 Fair Rosy) from Haus Labs
\- Precision Sculpt Shaping Balm Contour Stick (Profile) from Haus Labs
\- Trublend Skin Enhancer Blush Balm Stick (Candied Strawberry) from Covergirl
\- Jelly Water Tint (Cherry Burst) from Covergirl
\- Swipe Serum Concealer (Alta) from Tower28
\- SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder (Fair Pink) from Makeup by Mario
\- Blends Artistry Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics
\- Single Multichrome Shadow (Desire) from Ourbella Cosmetics
\- Epiphany Glow Melt-On Eyeliner (Scarlet Striker) from Kaleidos Cosmetics
\- Highly Rated Lash Extensions XL (Black) from Milani Cosmetics
\- Lash Princess Mascara (Burgundy) from Essence Makeup
\- Tower 28 x Poppi GetSet Matte Powder Blush (Cranberry Fizz)
\- Buttermelt Glaze Highlighter Stix (Big Melt Energy) from NYX Cosmetics
\- Khili Khili Glow Mist from Kulfi Beauty
\- Straight Line Creamy Lip Liner (Straight Bawse) from The Lip Bar
\- Cloud Whip Liquid Lipstick (Storm Cloud) from Colourpop Cosmetics
\- brushes are from BK Beauty, Haus Labs, and r.e.m. beauty!

👗other items mentioned:
\- pajamas are from Printfresh
\- dress is from Farm Rio, rented from Nuuly
\- scent is Father Figure from Phlur
\- necklace is from W Charms

#horrorbooks #makeuptutorial #creativemakeup #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @htp\_hive @htpbooks @readmirabooks @kylieleebaker @hauslabs @covergirl @tower28beauty @makeupbymario @blendbunnycosmetics @ourbella.us @kaleidosmakeup @milanicosmetics @essence\_cosmetics @drinkpoppi @nyxcosmetics @kulfi.beauty @thelipbar @colourpopcosmetics @wcharmsnyc @phlur @farmrio @printfresh

* * *

1 book

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 29](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[CHOOSE YOUR BOOK CRISIS! (part 7!)](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/grOlGuVi73R4kEjUJ5PV/)

CHOOSE YOUR BOOK CRISIS! (part 7!) because everything i read involves terrible, terrible dangers.

📚 books mentioned:
\- Herculine by Grace Byron
\- The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto
\- The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
\- You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
\- Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
\- The Transition by Logan-Ashley Kisner
\- The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
\- The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays by Andrea Hairston

👗💄:
\- dress is from Amy Jane London, rented from Nuuly
\- eyeshadow is a mix of palettes from Colourpop
\- mascara is 4 Real from Babe Original
\- lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze (Cocoa) from Haus Labs
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Saga Press, Harper Voyager, Tor Books, Pantheon, Get Underlined, Henry Holt & Co., and Hanover Square Press/HTP Hive for the gifted copies!

#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @sagapressbooks @harpervoyagerus @torbooks @pantheonbooks @getunderlined @henryholtbooks @hanoversquarepress @htp\_hive @amyjanelondon

.

fantasy books • horror books • science fiction books • murder mystery books • literary fiction books • thriller books • choose your character (book edition) • unique books • diverse books

* * *

9 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 14](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?\\
\\
here are some books with a toe in horror and a](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/PCeM6gCza5weMvmKNjYe/)

💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?

here are some books with a toe in horror and a toe in SFF!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
\- The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson
\- Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

👗💄:
\- dress is from Free People, rented from Nuuly
\- eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite, Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics, and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics
\- eyeliner is Epiphany Glow Melt-On (Limelight) from Kaleidos
\- mascara is Highly Rated XL from Milani
\- lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Jelly Job Lip Gloss (Jelly Jammin’) from NYX Cosmetics
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive, Harper Voyager, and MIRA for the gifted copies!

#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #genreblends #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @hanoversquarepress @htp\_hive @htpbooks @harpervoyagerus @readmirabooks @freepeople

.

genre blending books • genrebending book recs • horror books • fantasy books • weird books • disturbing books • unique books • original book recommendations • diverse books

* * *

3 books

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 5](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[these books messed me up … \| march reading wrap up](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/G9lhXXEaoehz8w0HWV2t/)

let’s yap about everything I read in March!

* * *

9 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 27](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 does time travel lure you in or freak you out?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/YU79U3r8mPJwYdgY0QRV/)

💭 does time travel lure you in or freak you out?

let’s talk about book recs with ~ 🕰️⏳ timey wimey 🕰️⌛️~ madness.

📚 books mentioned:
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
\- Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
\- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

👗💄:
\- dress is from Anthropologie, rented from Nuuly
\- eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics
\- eyeshadow shimmer is Aphrodite from Ourbella Cosmetics
\- mascara is Cloud Mascara from Sweed Beauty
\- lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and The Ultra-Hydrating Liquid Lipstick (Raspberry) from Basma Beauty
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive and Saga Press for the gifted copies!

#horrorbooks #scifibooks #timetravelbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @hanoversquarepress @htp\_hive @htpbooks @beaconpress @sagapressbooks @anthropologie @dandylionsco @ourbella.us @basmabeautyofficial

.

horror books • science fiction books • sci fi book recs • time travel books • books that travel through time • books with time nonsense • books with ghosts • time flashbacks and dual narratives • horror book recommendations • diverse books • Beacon Press

* * *

3 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Jul 26](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Hello Friends,\\
\\
I have been screaming busy at work and will be for the next two weeks, but after that I expect a bit of a reprieve! (read: I will get better at posting more regularly!)\\
\\
**BIG NEWS FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS COMING**\\
\\
If you've been thinking about upgrading, now is the time. Paid subscribers:\\
\\
- will be getting to see the cover for our next book ( **_CRACKS,_** by Stoker Award winning author, Kristy Park Kulski. https://bookshop.org/p/books/cracks-kristy-kulski/6a2cfef9ca5618c5?ean=9781967967452&bkshp-astro=t. TOMORROW!!!!\\
\\
- will be getting an update on our THIRD BOOK (hopefully soon!!!!!)\\
\\
- will be signing up for this quarters SNAIL MAIL - Tuesday\\
\\
- Paid subscribers get arcs of all of our books, so if **_CRACKS_** sounds like something you'd love (and it should! Not to brag....but I think I pick BANGERS), you should subscribe now\\
\\
\\
**IN OTHER NEWS**\\
\\
- All of my Pango books are 50% off until Tuesday morning. https://www.pangobooks.com/bookstore/jackofallnays\\
\\
- I'm going to be focusing on growing my **Youtube**! I'm most posting SHORTS there right now, but I have a plan to be consistent with long form as soon as my schedule relaxes a bit. **LET ME KNOW: What kind of long form content would you like to watch from me!** Follow me here:\\
\\
https://www.youtube.com/@fromthemixedupdesk\\
\\
- I'm going to **Shelves and the City**! I haven't seen many people talk about this publicly, but we are talking about it privately! I filled out my travel form. I booked my extra hotel nights (You know I can't just spend ONE WEEKEND in NYC!) I've got my Gluten Free NYC playlist on instagram. And I just found out there is a TAROT exhibit at the Morgan Library. First of all I love the Morgan Library. Second, if you didn't know. I'm tarot obsessed and have over 20 decks. I'm sure I will be coming home with more. Should I do a post with my Tarot Books (again?) because I have books, too!\\
\\
- I have gotten so MUCH book mail! It's too hard to update when I slack on posting, so I am just going to add all of the books I've received recently to this post and promise I'll be better about updating regularly. See any that stand out?\\
\\
- We've been doing a readathon all weekend in the Discord? Have you joined our reader community on Discord (hot tip: If you've left because of the tagging, you can turn that feature off and come back haha)\\
\\
\\
I just finished up:\\
\\
**_Die for Me_** by Shirlene Obuobi and am currently reading **_Headlights_** by CJ Leede\\
\\
Reading Updates are COMING BACK BABY!](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/6mlRvXYRiL6FXTIGNkJm/)

[Weekly Community Update (BIG ONE)](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/6mlRvXYRiL6FXTIGNkJm/)

* * *

20 books

10

[4](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/6mlRvXYRiL6FXTIGNkJm/#comments)

[Tattooed Library\\
\\
Emily\\
\\
• Jul 16](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/XI1UkC51kFhry3sl855j/)

[EARLY ACCESS youtube video](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/XI1UkC51kFhry3sl855j/)

hey y'all, happy thursday!! new youtube video is live for early access! ILY <3

* * *

13 books

1

[The Inky Phoenix\\
\\
Kathryn Budig\\
\\
• Jun 23](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Q011aClbTeRFw4Bcgd3q/)

[JAPANESE GOTHIC book club conversation recording](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Q011aClbTeRFw4Bcgd3q/)

For those of y'all who missed our conversation!

* * *

1 book

3

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 23](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[matching my makeup to a random book cover (part one)!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/CunOuox0oaJcfWdHEZDh/)

matching my makeup to a random book cover (part one)!

📚 book mentioned:
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

* * *

1 book

[Tattooed Library\\
\\
Emily\\
\\
• Jun 18](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/RrRksAmzi6NxFzS4nxe6/)

[EARLY ACCESS TO MY YOUTUBE VIDEO: MID-YEAR BOOK TAG](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/RrRksAmzi6NxFzS4nxe6/)

hi besties! i can't believe we're halfway through the year but i love watching everyone do this challenge, so i figured i'd join in this year! the prompts are down below if you want to make your own video, or want to answer in the comments!!

mid year book tag 🏷️
1\. best book you've read so far
2\. best Sequel you've read so far
3\. new release you haven't read but want to
4\. most anticipated release this year
5\. biggest disappointment so far this year
6\. biggest surprise so far this year
7\. favorite new author--debut or new to you
8\. new fictional crush
9\. new favorite character
10\. book that made you cry
11\. book that made you happy
12\. what book(s) do you still need to read?

* * *

10 books

1

[Tattooed Library\\
\\
Emily\\
\\
• Jun 11](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[There's more to libraries than books....](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/2EyLQ34v08pb80TZiCrP/)

GIRL GET IN we're goin to the library to see what cozy hobbies we can find to stop doomscrolling

this year, i'm making a HUGE effort to get off that damn phone and slow down, the library is helping with this so much

📚books mentioned in this video 📚
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

⏳ CHAPTERS ⏳
0:00 intro
2:05 library sale
2:58 my current reads
4:19 library trip!
7:20 hobby time
8:34 my new favorite horror book

✨ LET’S GET CONNECTED ✨
📖 INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/ems.book.shelf\_
📱TIKTOK: http://www.tiktok.com/@ems.book.shelf\_
📚 STORYGRAPH: https://bit.ly/4cA1DQO

📚 SHOP INDIE 📚
Libro.fm: http://bit.ly/4tKZVSY
Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4rM0Tx3

🎥 production:
dji osmo pocket 3
capcut
my brain

🤗about me:
virgo
pittsburgh, pa
library lover

(some of the links used are affiliate links, which means i get a small cut of the purchase if you use my link. however, this doesn't affect the price for you.)

🏷️TAGS: #booktubers #library #puzzles
cozy hobby, cozy hobby vlog, cozy hobby ideas, cozy hobby time, cozy hobby day, cozy hobby girl, puzzle, puzzleheads, puzzle box, puzzle games, puzzling, library, library trip, library vlog, library reading vlog, horror book, horror books, horror book review, horror book recommendation, horror book audiobook, audiobook, horror book to read, day in my life, day in my life vlog, cozy hobbies, cozy hobbies to try, cozy hobbies vlog, diml, cozy hobbies instead of doomscrolling, cozy hobbies to stop doomscrolling, cozy hobbies to do, cozy hobbies for winter, cozy hobbies for summer, cozy hobbies at home, cozy hobbies to replace doomscrolling, cozy hobbies instead of doomscrolling

* * *

2 books

3

[The Inky Phoenix\\
\\
Kathryn Budig\\
\\
• Jun 8](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/phSjsIQjMaP3PXV8yOh9/)

[Book Club Time for JAPANESE GOTHIC](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/phSjsIQjMaP3PXV8yOh9/)

June 18th at 6pm EDT!

* * *

1 book

2

[1](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/phSjsIQjMaP3PXV8yOh9/#comments)

[Death by TBR Books\\
\\
Stephanie\\
\\
• May 29](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[The press release for _Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology_ has been sent out! I am finishing up editing the submissions for T _wisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Yuletide Horror Anthology_, and at the end of June, I'll have the stories from the invited authors to read and edit. It's releasing THIS November AND I am starting to contact potential authors for the next anthology.\\
\\
In addition to working on these anthologies and beginning book 2 of the _Woods Bay_ series my super secret project is a children's chapter book! I'll share more soon!\\
\\
**BOOKS**\\
\\
_I'll Watch Your Baby_ by Neena Viel\\
\\
_Japanese Gothic_ by Kylie Lee Baker (relisten)\\
\\
_The Last Time We Drowned_ by Saratoga Schaefer\\
\\
_Kill All Wizards_ by Jedediah Berry\\
\\
Currently reading: _The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives_ by Barbara Truelove (I wasn't able to read print this week but I'm so grateful for audiobooks, _Moss'd in Space_ by Rebecca Thorne.\\
\\
**SHOWS**\\
\\
**NEW**\\
\\
_24 in 24_\\
\\
_Next Level Chef_\\
\\
_Widows Bay_\\
\\
_Euphoria_\\
\\
**FILMS - I'm on LetterBoxd - horrormaven13**\\
\\
_Over Your Dead Body_\\
\\
_Contact_\\
\\
_The Mummy_\\
\\
Rewatches that I'm enjoying as I pretend to live in the late 90s/early 00s.\\
\\
**TV**\\
\\
_Daria_\\
\\
_Twin Peaks_\\
\\
_Buffy the Vampire Slayer_\\
\\
_The X-Files_\\
\\
_Law and Order: SVU_\\
\\
_The Hills_\\
\\
**FILMS**\\
\\
_Promising Young Woman_\\
\\
_The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride_\\
\\
That's all for this week! I hope you get some time to read and watch and relax. Oh and I started a new Instagram for my personal nerdom. If you're interested my handle is: stephanieisspooky\\
\\
xoxo\\
\\
Spooky Girl\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/item/fmSJGQcaKWBt9ilZ7EFu/)

[Weekly Update and Top Secret Project](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/item/fmSJGQcaKWBt9ilZ7EFu/)

* * *

6 books

4

[2](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/item/fmSJGQcaKWBt9ilZ7EFu/#comments)

[ofpagesandprint\\
\\
Dahlia\\
\\
• May 20](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[With a little over a week left in May, I wanted to share some of the incredible AANHPI stories on my TBR to continue celebrating AANHPI voices all year long!\\
\*Pitches from the publishers.\\
\\
- _Strange Familiars_ by Keshe Chow - Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first installment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology. ( _Strange Familiars_ is also the July pick for Musings of the Nine Book Club! Keshe will join the club to comment insight about _Strange Familiars_ and chat with the club as we read. We hope you join us!)\\
\\
- _For No Mortal Creature_ by Keshe Chow - In this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by _Wuthering Heights_, a teen girl with the power to move between life and death must journey into the afterlife. But to survive, she’ll need the help of her two sworn enemies—both dangerously captivating, both hiding secrets that could destroy her.\\
\\
- _Unfinished Business_ by Clare Osongo - In this funny, warmly chaotic tale of love, a floundering office worker discovers her mother's ghost is trapped in the company Slack server, and must free her by resolving her own troubled love life.\\
\\
- _The Fast Track_ by Angelica Cheng - An ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female F1 champion finds her plans going off track when she catches feelings for her biggest competition in this dishy, delicious contemporary romance for fans of love, Lynn Painter, and Lewis Hamilton.\\
\\
- _The Revenant of Surolifia_ by Florence Chien - In the vein of The Traitor Baru Cormorant and The Unbroken, The Revenant of Surolifia is a gripping political fantasy of empire, identity, and impossible choices, where rebellion blazes in the streets, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and the price of peace may be too steep to pay.\\
\\
- _The Game of Oaths_ by S.C. Bandreddi - In this heart-pounding, richly imagined fantasy set in the Belle Époque, a trapeze artist fights to win a deadly tournament amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But survival isn’t her only goal—she wants revenge.\\
\\
- _Witch Daughter_ by Tanaz Bhathena - In her adult debut, award-winning author Tanaz Bhathena expertly weaves a tale of love and loss in ancient Persia with her take on the timeless tragedy of Tahmineh, a temptress, a witch, a victim, or, perhaps, a woman trying her hardest to protect her loved ones.\\
\\
- _Burn the Sea_ by Mona Tewari - A fierce Indian queen must defend her country against both the colonizing monsters attacking from the sea and the cowardly manipulations of a neighboring king…who happens to be her husband.\\
\\
- _The Secret World of Briar Rose_ by Cindy Pham - A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world.\\
\\
- _A Kiss of Crimson Ash_ by Anuja Varghese - Inspired by medieval India’s most epic love stories, this debut Romantasy blends rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. Perfect for fans of Nisha J. Tuli and Tasha Suri.\\
\\
- _The Book of Fallen Leaves_ by A.S. Tamaki - _Shogun_ meets _Game of Thrones_ in this epic fantasy debut of ambition, vengeance, and sacrifice.\\
\\
- _Coldwire_ by Chloe Gong - The start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.\\
\\
- _The God and the Gumiho_ by Sophie Kim - In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.\\
\\
- _Blood Over Bright Haven_ by M.L. Wang - The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of _The Sword of Kaigen_.\\
\\
- _Double Happiness_ by Heather Eng - Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself.\\
\\
- _Brighter Than Nine_ (sequel to _Darker By Four_) by June C.L. Tan - The Shadowhunter Chronicles meets the Chinese underworld, drawing inspiration from diaspora folklore, in this epic, sweeping contemporary fantasy duology.\\
\\
- _Checking You Out_ by Jennifer Chen - _XO, Kitty_ meets _Dash & Lily_ in this rom com about two teens falling in love via letters left in their favorite library books—even if in real life they think they have nothing in common.\\
\\
- _Roar_ by Varsha Bajaj - The gripping story of a boy whose eye-opening trip to a tiger sanctuary ignites his desire to join those who are roaring to protect the animals.\\
\\
- _Babel_ by R.F. Kuang - A historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire.\\
\\
- _Fishbone Cinderella_ by Elizabeth Lim - A mother and daughter must break their family’s curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic.\\
\\
- _The Killing Spell_ by Shay Kauwe - In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name.\\
\\
- _Japanese Gothic_ by Kylie Lee Baker - In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.\\
\\
\\
Happy AANHPI Heritage Month!](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/w8ybreAz4RMi6uF1KFu5/)

[AANHPI Books on My TBR!](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/w8ybreAz4RMi6uF1KFu5/)

* * *

22 books

4

[Diva Down Books\\
\\
Joe\\
\\
• May 16](https://joezawadareads.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[April Reading Wrap-up!](https://joezawadareads.binderybooks.com/item/qOol4B0WnubYf3LBXpr7/)

These are all of the books that I read in April! What did you read?

* * *

6 books

3

[The Inky Phoenix\\
\\
Kathryn Budig\\
\\
• May 11](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[📚JAPANESE GOTHIC GIVEAWAY📚](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/GAc3AsrK98Lxpzb416yL/)

Two free copies!

* * *

1 book

8

[3](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/GAc3AsrK98Lxpzb416yL/#comments)

[The Inky Phoenix\\
\\
Kathryn Budig\\
\\
• May 1](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Our May pick is here!](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/O37lza8gKIuL3FpIcj7m/)

JAPANESE GOTHIC

* * *

1 book

4

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 29](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[CHOOSE YOUR BOOK CRISIS! (part 7!)](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/grOlGuVi73R4kEjUJ5PV/)

CHOOSE YOUR BOOK CRISIS! (part 7!) because everything i read involves terrible, terrible dangers.

thank you to Saga Press, Harper Voyager, Tor Books, Pantheon, Get Underlined, Henry Holt & Co., and Hanover Square Press/HTP Hive for the gifted copies!

.

* * *

9 books

[Judging By The Cover\\
\\
judgingby\_thecover\\
\\
• Apr 19](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Okay, so this week??\\
\\
No misses… just vibes across the entire emotional spectrum.\\
\\
Like I went from poetic, haunting horror that rewired my brain… to chaotic wedding drama… to being psychologically stressed over a Craigslist job posting.\\
\\
\\
\\
Let’s start with _Japanese Gothic_ because I genuinely have not stopped thinking about it.\\
\\
This is easily in my top 3 books of the year, and I don’t say that lightly.\\
\\
I actually reread parts of it a week later, which I almost never do, just to sit with the writing again. The prose is that good. It’s the kind of writing where you read a sentence, pause, and then go back because you need to feel it twice.\\
\\
Dual timelines (1877 and 2026), and I was fully locked into both. Sen’s storyline brings this disciplined, brutal samurai world, while Lee’s is… unraveling in a way that keeps you constantly questioning what’s real.\\
\\
And the horror?? It sneaks up on you. Quiet, controlled, almost beautiful… until it absolutely isn’t.\\
\\
This is horror, yes, but also mythology, time loops, generational trauma, identity… all layered into something that just lingers.\\
\\
I already know this is one I’ll be thinking about for years.\\
\\
\\
\\
_Save the Date_ was _this_ close to a 5-star romcom for me.\\
\\
Three POVs. Wedding weekend. So much chaos.\\
\\
And somehow I cared about all of them??\\
\\
Olivia’s storyline hit the hardest for me; that pressure of being the one who holds everything together while watching someone else live a little more freely. It felt very real.\\
\\
Marigold and Hugo though?? Immediate favorites. He is a walking green flag and I will not be elaborating.\\
\\
Natalie… made choices. That’s all I’ll say.\\
\\
It’s messy, dramatic, a little stressful, but completely bingeable.\\
\\
\\
\\
_The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton_ ended up being very much a “one timeline carried” situation.\\
\\
The historical storyline?? Incredible. I learned so much, especially about how Barton was manipulated and then ultimately took the fall for it. It’s frustrating in a way that makes you want to keep reading.\\
\\
The modern timeline took longer to hook me, and even by the end, it felt a little less fully developed.\\
\\
But if you love real history + religious and political intrigue, this is worth picking up.\\
\\
\\
\\
_Deathly Fates_ surprised me in the best way.\\
\\
YA fantasy with a priestess guiding spirits and an undead prince?? Immediately yes.\\
\\
The romance is slow burn and minimal spice, but honestly that’s not the point. The emotional depth, the folklore, the themes of grief and identity… that’s what carries it.\\
\\
Also the structure?? It almost feels episodic with these little side quests, and I loved how immersive that made the world feel.\\
\\
And I have to mention the audiobook because it genuinely elevated everything.\\
\\
\\
\\
_The Caretaker_… respectfully, no.\\
\\
A woman answers a Craigslist ad to be a caretaker and I was immediately stressed.\\
\\
But what makes this work is how grounded it feels. I wasn’t yelling at the main character; I understood her decisions, which somehow made it worse.\\
\\
It constantly rides that line between supernatural, psychological, and “is this actually happening,” and I never fully knew what to believe.\\
\\
Also… it goes to some heavy places emotionally, especially around mental health, in a way that lingers.\\
\\
This one sticks with you.\\
\\
\\
\\
_The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire_ is exactly why I will read anything India Holton writes.\\
\\
Her humor just works for me. Witty, chaotic, slightly unhinged.\\
\\
We’ve got STEM women in historical settings, academic rivalries, ghosts, magic, and constant interruptions that keep the pacing so fun.\\
\\
Amelia and Caleb?? Friends to lovers with that “are we enemies or just emotionally repressed” energy. The yearning is strong here.\\
\\
It’s whimsical, clever, and still manages to weave in deeper themes without losing that lightness.\\
\\
\\
\\
_The Drop_ is basically my worst nightmare turned into a book.\\
\\
Stranded at the top of a roller coaster 650 feet in the air?? Absolutely not.\\
\\
But what really makes this one work is the characters, and listen… these are not good people.\\
\\
Messy friendships, buried secrets, resentment that’s been building for years… and as the timelines shift, you start to understand why everything feels so tense.\\
\\
It becomes less about survival and more about whether they even trust each other enough to try.\\
\\
Which, honestly? Debatable.\\
\\
image\\
\\
So yeah… a very “every genre showed up and chose chaos” kind of week.\\
\\
But also one of those weeks where you finish a book and immediately know it’s going to stay with you for a long time.\\
\\
And _Japanese Gothic_?? Yeah… that one’s not leaving my brain anytime soon.](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/item/6OBOPP3fMQmCbQM639xX/)

[After the Walk: Haunted, Chaotic, and Slightly Unhinged](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/item/6OBOPP3fMQmCbQM639xX/)

* * *

2 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 14](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?

here are some books with a toe in horror and a toe in SFF!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
\- The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson
\- Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive, Harper Voyager, and MIRA for the gifted copies!

#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #genreblends #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @hanoversquarepress @htp\_hive @htpbooks @harpervoyagerus @readmirabooks @freepeople

.

* * *

3 books

1

[Judging By The Cover\\
\\
judgingby\_thecover\\
\\
• Apr 14](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Happy pub day!! This week’s new releases were honestly such a mix: some easy binges, some emotional hits, and a couple that… yeah, we’re not talking about those on IG for a reason 👀\\
\\
Let’s get into it.\\
\\
**🎧 **Audios I Binged**** \\
\\
🖤 **Deathly Fates**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read (especially for YA fantasy lovers)\\
\\
**Rating:** 4.5 stars\\
\\
This one surprised me in the best way.\\
\\
A corpse-driving priestess, a not-so-dead prince, and a journey fueled by grief, duty, and survival? I was locked in. The writing feels thoughtful and intentional, and the themes (grief, family responsibility, what it means to be human) actually land.\\
\\
Let’s talk romance expectations: this is a _slow,_ slow burn. Very age-appropriate YA. It’s cute, but honestly? The story didn’t need it. The plot and character growth are strong enough on their own.\\
\\
**Final thought:** A beautifully layered YA fantasy that sticks with you emotionally more than romantically.\\
\\
\\
\\
🌪️ **West of Wicked**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read\\
\\
**Rating:** 4 stars\\
\\
Wizard of Oz… but darker, a little spicier, and way more chaotic.\\
\\
I’m usually skeptical of retellings, but this worked for me. Adult Dorothy trying to figure her life out? Loved. Tin Man as a villain? Even better.\\
\\
The full cast audio absolutely elevated this; it felt immersive and cinematic. And that ending?? RUDE. I need the sequel immediately.\\
\\
**Final thought:** A fun, darker reimagining with strong audio narration and a cliffhanger that will have you scrambling for book two.\\
\\
**💘 **Romance That Made Me Swoon**** \\
\\
💍 **Save the Date**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** READ\\
\\
**Rating:** 5 stars\\
\\
Three POVs. Three messy love stories. And somehow… I cared about every single one.\\
\\
This is peak chaotic wedding weekend energy with emotional depth underneath. Secret love, fake dating, complicated family dynamics...it’s all here, and it _works_.\\
\\
**Final thought:** Smart, funny, and genuinely heartfelt. A rare multi-POV win.\\
\\
\\
\\
💊 **Love and Other Side Effects**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read\\
\\
**Rating:** 4 stars\\
\\
Deidra Duncan just gets it.\\
\\
This feels like a romcom-leaning episode of Grey’s Anatomy: chaotic hospital energy, emotional stakes, and banter that actually made me laugh out loud.\\
\\
Friends-to-lovers done right, with workplace tension and a hurricane thrown in for good measure. Asher? Loved. Jocelyn… frustrated me at times, but not enough to take away from the overall story.\\
\\
**Final thought:** Emotional, funny, and just messy enough to feel real.\\
\\
**📚 **Books I Read and Loved**** \\
\\
✨ **The Most Important Part**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** READ. Immediately.\\
\\
**Rating:** 5 stars\\
\\
I genuinely don’t know how to talk about this book without sounding biased, but here we are.\\
\\
This is one of those stories where the characters feel _real_. The dialogue, the emotions, the decisions: it all feels authentic in a way that pulls you in completely.\\
\\
But the standout? Grief.\\
\\
It’s handled with so much nuance and honesty, especially through a teenage lens, and it hit in a way that felt deeply personal. Watching Bea begin to heal… yeah. That stayed with me.\\
\\
**Final thought:** A powerful, emotional read that does something really special.\\
\\
\\
\\
📜 **The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read\\
\\
**Rating:** 4 stars\\
\\
Dual timelines, Tudor history, and a modern-day academic mystery? Say less.\\
\\
This blends historical fiction with a slow-building mystery, and both timelines are equally compelling. Elizabeth’s story is intense and tragic, while Alison’s adds that creeping tension as things start to unravel.\\
\\
**Final thought:** A well-crafted, atmospheric read that balances history and mystery beautifully.\\
\\
**😱 **Horror That Freaked Me Out**** \\
\\
🩸 **Japanese Gothic**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read (if you can handle it)\\
\\
**Rating:** 5 stars\\
\\
Not for everyone. Absolutely for me.\\
\\
This is horror rooted in family, trauma, and psychological unraveling, layered with Japanese mythology, samurai history, and dual timelines that slowly collide.\\
\\
It feels like madness in the best way. A fever dream with purpose.\\
\\
**Final thought:** Complex, brutal, and completely immersive. Another win.\\
\\
\\
\\
🐾 **Morsel**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read\\
\\
**Rating:** 4 stars\\
\\
A short, creepy Appalachian gothic that somehow balances campy and unsettling perfectly.\\
\\
I don’t usually love novellas, but this hit that sweet spot. The grief, the symbolism, the setting...and the dog 😭\\
\\
**Final thought:** A quick but impactful horror read that lingers longer than expected.\\
\\
**📚 **Non-Fiction I Actually Read**** \\
\\
⚔️ **Those Who Are About to Die**\\
\\
**Read or skip:** Read (if you like history)\\
\\
**Rating:** N/A (I don't rate non-fiction)\\
\\
Structured as 24 hours in the life of a gladiator, which makes it feel immersive instead of textbook-y.\\
\\
Super well-researched but still accessible, with just enough humor to keep it engaging.\\
\\
**Final thought:** Informative without being dry; perfect if you love Roman history.\\
\\
**🚫 **DNFs (Not on IG for a Reason)**** \\
\\
😬 **While You Were Seething**\\
\\
DNF at 61%\\
\\
So many tropes I _should_ have loved… but the execution just didn’t land. The pacing felt off, the emotional beats didn’t hit, and the MMC leaned more cruel than compelling.\\
\\
**Final thought:** Fun concept, messy delivery.\\
\\
🏁 **Fast and Fastidious**\\
\\
DNF at 48%\\
\\
This one had potential, but it felt like all setup and no payoff. Detached narration, minimal chemistry, and somehow… no romance in a romance??\\
\\
**Final thought:** Interesting idea, but not for me.\\
\\
✨ **Overall Thoughts**\\
\\
This week really came down to balance.\\
\\
Some books absolutely nailed emotional depth and character work. Some had incredible concepts but uneven execution. And a few reminded me that not every trope combo is a guaranteed win.\\
\\
But _The Most Important Part_ and _Japanese Gothic_? Those are the ones I’m still thinking about.\\
\\
If you’ve picked up any of these (or have one on your radar), tell me everything. What worked? What didn’t? I’m always curious 👀](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/item/46f366GEjM5Bt8VoW0v0/)

[New Release Recap: What to Read & What to Skip](https://judgingbythecover.binderybooks.com/item/46f366GEjM5Bt8VoW0v0/)

* * *

3 books

[Two Stories Bookshop\\
\\
Queer-Owned Shelves🌈\\
\\
• Apr 14](https://twostoriesbookshop.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[I wanted to highlight some April 14 releases we're excited for!\\
\\
- THE KILLING SPELL by Shay Kauwe\\
\\
- JAPANESE GOTHIC by Kylie Lee Baker\\
\\
- WIFE SHAPED BODIES by Lauren Cranehill\\
\\
- THESE FAMILIAR WALLS by C. J. Dotson\\
\\
- MORSEL by Carter Keane\\
\\
\\
Pick these up by clicking the links in this update or by searching through our Bookshop.org page yourself! You can also pick up the audiobooks on our Libro.fm storefront (use code CHOOSEINDIE for a new membership and get a free audiobook!). \\
\\
Happy reading!](https://twostoriesbookshop.binderybooks.com/item/wBMbHlEdFK0p1DBcPfie/)

[April 14 Releases!](https://twostoriesbookshop.binderybooks.com/item/wBMbHlEdFK0p1DBcPfie/)

* * *

5 books

2

[Ronnica Reads\\
\\
Ronnica Fatt\\
\\
• Apr 13](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Here are some April 14th new book releases on my radar (and should be on yours!). First, the one I had a chance to read already:\\
\\
**_Midnight, at the War_ by Devi S. Laskar** 5/5 stars\\
\\
Put this on your TBR if you want to explore the humanity in war-torn areas alongside personal messiness. An incredibly timely book (Explosions being more newsworthy than the lives of brown people? Tracks).\\
\\
And the six I'm still waiting to get my hands on (but at least I have the first 2 preordered!):\\
\\
**_Japanese Gothic_ by Kylie Lee Baker**\\
\\
Why it interests me: Japanese and gothic are two of my favorite descriptions of a book. But still, I was more excited that this Kylie Lee Baker's adult followup to _Bat Eater_.\\
\\
**_The Killing Spell_ by Shay Kauwe**\\
\\
Why it interests me: Hawaiian fantasy.\\
\\
**_Dear Monica Lewinsky_ by Julia Langbein**\\
\\
Why it interests me: this seems like a fascinating jumping off point for discussion around misogyny and inappropriate relationships.\\
\\
**_Leave Your Mess at Home_ by Tolani Akinola**\\
\\
Why it interests me: messy 2nd generation Nigerian immigrant sisters.\\
\\
**_Cleo Dang Would Rather be Dead_ by Mai Nguyen**\\
\\
Why it interests me: explores grief.\\
\\
**_The Take_ by Kelly Yang**\\
\\
Why it interests me: speculative fiction exploring aging and power.](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/item/zfaTDErrLN6MKOEF3n4Z/)

[April 14th Releases that Should be on your Radar](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/item/zfaTDErrLN6MKOEF3n4Z/)

* * *

8 books

3

[ash.reads.horror\\
\\
ash\\
\\
• Apr 11](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Welcome back to my Director's Cut Reviews! Today we're slicing into the stunning novel Japanese Gothic.\\
\\
\\
\\
Book: Japanese Gothic\\
\\
Author: Kylie Lee Baker\\
\\
Setting: Rural Japan\\
\\
Genre: Horror\\
\\
Subgenre/Themes: Samurai, Historical, Dual Timelines, Escaping Fate, Japanese Mythology, Gothic, Liminal\\
\\
\\
\\
Release Date: 4-14-26\\
\\
Brief Summary: October 2026: Lee Turner flees New York to his father's house in Japan after killing his roommate. He doesn't remember killing him. The house seems great at first, but something strange is going on. A window is sometimes there. Something strange is happening in his closet. He keeps seeing a woman. Could she be a ghost? Is there life after death?\\
\\
October 1877: Sen's family lives on edge. Food is scarce. Money is tight. And Samurai's are in exile. Sen lives in fear that soldiers will appear and kill her family. But when she sees a young man outside her window, everything changes.\\
\\
How will their stories intertwine?\\
\\
\\
\\
My Thoughts: This story is beautiful. Baker did such an excellent job crafting such a unique story involving Japanese mythology. The way these two characters became intertwined with one another absolutely wowed me. And I loved the house! It felt very liminal with the house changing and the worlds connecting through the closet.\\
\\
My heart hurt for Sen. The way she desperately wanted to please her father and prove her strength all while her father dismissed her left and right truly hurt. And the way he twists her desperation to hurt those around her was sick. This reminded me a bit of Silent Hill f. Lee's family also has some skeletons in the closet. His mother is missing and presumed dead.\\
\\
\\
\\
The last 20% got a bit confusing for me. Characters died but then they really did not. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. It felt like a bit of a fever dream for me. I left the novel having many questions that I wanted answers to.\\
\\
But I loved this book. It's beautiful and gory and heartfelt all in one.\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/nW95OSTKDf6m0spQL1u0/)

[DIRECTOR'S CUT: JAPANESE GOTHIC](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/nW95OSTKDf6m0spQL1u0/)

* * *

1 book

[ash.reads.horror\\
\\
ash\\
\\
• Apr 7](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Poll:\\
\\
Next Review\\
\\
Help me choose which book I feature next for my Director’s Cut Review\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/fQnJBmp9DD81vx2hZBXX/)

[Choose the next Director’s Cut Review](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/fQnJBmp9DD81vx2hZBXX/)

* * *

4 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Apr 5](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[these books messed me up … \| march reading wrap up](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/G9lhXXEaoehz8w0HWV2t/)

let’s yap about everything I read in March!

* * *

9 books

[She's Becoming Bookish\\
\\
Carlie Dayle\\
\\
• Apr 4](https://shesbecomingbookish.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://shesbecomingbookish.binderybooks.com/item/yKGWoN2ALP70b21R5Sfj/)

[ICYMI: The April Historical Fiction Heads-Up is Live!](https://shesbecomingbookish.binderybooks.com/item/yKGWoN2ALP70b21R5Sfj/)

Looking for the best April historical fiction releases? You're in the right place!

* * *

23 books

2

[Death by TBR Books\\
\\
Stephanie\\
\\
• Apr 2](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/item/UDOAyTMupZuLKCoABlAW/)

[Thriller & Horror Book Club Schedule for the rest of 2026](https://deathbytbrbooks.binderybooks.com/item/UDOAyTMupZuLKCoABlAW/)

* * *

18 books

3

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 27](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 does time travel lure you in or freak you out?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/YU79U3r8mPJwYdgY0QRV/)

💭 does time travel lure you in or freak you out?

let’s talk about book recs with ~ 🕰️⏳ timey wimey 🕰️⌛️~ madness.

thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive and Saga Press for the gifted copies!

.

* * *

3 books

[Literally Moody\\
\\
Una\\
\\
• Mar 25](https://lit-erallymoody.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[⛩️ Reading Junk Journal With Me: Japanese Gothic ⛩️](https://lit-erallymoody.binderybooks.com/item/pyOZWkzSJzuIkQm14Nls/)

⛩️ Reading Junk Journal With Me: Japanese Gothic ⛩️

Thank you @htp\_hive @hanoversquarepress for the gifted ARC!

Holy unreliable narrator! Anyone who knows me knows that Bat Eater is one of those books I never shut up about so Japanese Gothic was one of my most anticipated books this year and it delivered in ways I couldn’t have fathomed.

The Gothic elements were spot on, or should I say, STAINED on ;) Gothic books aren’t complete without a little box and little boxes roamed aplenty throughout the story. The vivid and beautiful world-building paired with the violence and gore made for a truly unique adventure. I thought the multiple timelines might throw me for a loop but I’m happy to report that I was thrown for a loop and it was intentional!

Sen and Lee’s characters are so beautifully tragic and their unlikely friendship could melt even the coldest of hearts. The plot unfolds artfully and I don’t think folks without extensive knowledge of Japanese and Okinawan history and folklore would be able to put all the pieces together (or maybe I’m just not used to mysteries lol). We don’t actually get the explanations we need until the very last chapter and by then, our hearts have already broken.

As with Bat Eater, it’s non-negotiable to read the author’s note. Lee-Baker gives her readers a glimpse into the complexities of racial identity at large and also her own, personal, identities. Japanese Gothic frames some incredibly nuanced topics such as the relationship of the colonized with the colonizer, where tradition goes to die, the fickleness of “human nature,” and the all-powerful anatomy of time. I admire Kylie Lee-Baker immensely for her candidness in sharing her heritage with us and will be the first to admit that her author’s note brought me to tears.

“We are all inextricably tied to the people who came before us, but only we can determine how our stories end.”

I’d recommend Japanese Gothic to people who enjoy exploring themes of colonization and systemic violence through the lens of horror and magical realism, those who believe in everyone’s right to self-determination, and to those who don’t mind a little blood.

🗃️ QOTD: where’s your CR set?

* * *

1 book

[ash.reads.horror\\
\\
ash\\
\\
• Mar 8](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
I thought it would be fun to showcase all the Arcs I've received both digitally and physically! This is always changing, with more constantly being added because I can't say no haha!\\
\\
Starting with Digital. These book have either been recieved via netgalley or directly from the author/publisher.\\
\\
**Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher-**-In 1899, a woman accepts the job of illustrating a scientists collection of insects. Something strange is happening in the small South Carolina town, and Sonia must figure out what before she's the one under the knife. **Releasing March 24th.**\\
\\
**Morsel by Carter Keane--** A property appraisal in the rural hills of Ohio gets Lou stuck in the throws of Appalachian Horror. **Releases April 14th**.\\
\\
**Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker--** A house in Japan hold ghosts and deadly secrets. Told between two different timelines. **Releases April 14th**\\
\\
**Molka by Monika Kim--** A woman seeks revenge as a hidden camera scandal destroys her life. **Releases April 28th**\\
\\
**The Blood Year Daughter by GG Silverman--** A collection of dark fairytales. **Releases April 28th**\\
\\
**Dark is When The Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce--** A missing sister and a secretive small town with deadly woods. **Releases April 28th**\\
\\
**Not Your Final Girl by Mikalya Randolph--** Seven years after a prom night massacre, a group of friends/survivors host a reunion at a lakeside cabin. But when a masked murderer shows up and kills one of the group, they must fight to survive the night. **Releases May 5th**\\
\\
**I Know a Place by Nat Cassidy--** A collection of short horror stories (including Rest Stop) by the amazing Nat Cassidy. **Releases May 5th**\\
\\
**Dead Weight by Hildur Knutsdottir--** An unlikely friendship takes a dark turn. **Releases May 26th**\\
\\
**Dopefoot by Joshua Millican--** A job on a cannibas farm isn't as chill as "Harmless" thought it would be. Tensions rise as both human and supernatural forces descend on the farm. **Releases June 16th.**\\
\\
**Corpse de Ballet by Megan Kearny--** A ballet boarding school turns deadly in this Graphic novel similar to Suspiria and Black Swan. **Releases July 7th**\\
\\
**Home Sick by Rhiannon Grist-- I** have both the physcial and e-arc of this one. A woman's fresh start to a small remote cottage takes a sinister turn when her neighbor begins acting off. **Releases July 14th.**\\
\\
**Meat Bees by Dane Erbach--** A trip to the Smoky Mountains to care for her dad turns deadly when Wasps begin eating people. **Releases August 4th.**\\
\\
**She's A Doll by Barbara Truelove--** A murdered woman possesses a antique porcelain doll to see revenge. **Releases October 6th**\\
\\
**What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne--** When her best friend goes missing, Petra must plunge deep into the chasm at the edge of the city. But she's unaware the true horrors beneath. **Releases October 6th.**\\
\\
Physical Arcs\\
\\
**Bitter Bloom by Teagan Olivia King--** A woman must brave the dark wood in hopes to bring her mother back from the dead. Accompanying her is a Lord and ghost. Betrayal and love lurks within. **Releases March 1oth**\\
\\
**Monumental by Adam Nevill--** A kayak trip goes wrong for a group of friends who quickly find themselves having to survive nature and supernatural forces. **Releases April 2nd.**\\
\\
**Carrion Crow by Heather Parry--** Strange, intense, and darkly beautiful, this haunting gothic novel from award-winning author Heather Parry is a story of mothers and daughters, and the dual capacity for both great kindness and unfathomable cruelty. **Releases July 3rd.**\\
\\
**Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus--** _Partially Devoured_ uses a frame-by-frame deep dive into _Night of the Living Dead_ to produce a kaleidoscopic cultural investigation of the film's importance and to examine the author's early life of rural isolation and local violence. **Releases March 13th**\\
\\
**Do we have any Arcs in common?**\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/Sdg1x0GnDrlpJVnljRTD/)

[Arcs On My Shelf](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/Sdg1x0GnDrlpJVnljRTD/)

* * *

19 books

3

[1](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/Sdg1x0GnDrlpJVnljRTD/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Jan 31](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Hi Friends, \\
\\
Back with another 10 more horror books written by women that I can't wait for this year! There are way too many books coming out this year, I have no idea how I'm going to read them all. Have you heard of any of these?\\
\\
1. I Love You Don't Die by Jade Song (3/17) This one is for the weird girls. \\
\\
\\
\\
_For as far back as she can remember, Vicky has been fascinated and obsessed with death as the only inevitable thing in life. From living above a Chinatown funeral parlor to working at a celebrity start-up for bespoke urns, she has surrounded herself with death—in her home, in her work, and in her ever-growing collection of zhizha, paper creations meant to be burned for the dead, adorning the walls of her apartment. Yet, though living in Manhattan and working her dream job is all she ever wanted, she still struggles to have meaningful connections—or find any meaning at all—in her life. Too often she spends the day in bed, only drawn out from time to time by her best (and only) friend, Jen._\\
\\
\\
\\
_That changes when a dating app leads her into a throuple with an artist and a labor organizer, who offer exactly the kind of love she needs. For some time, it’s perfect, but no one understands better than Vicky that all things must end. As doubts grow over the love in her life, her friendship with Jen, and her professional success, the oddly comforting abstraction of death starts becoming something else altogether. With everything beginning to feel hollow and temporary, Vicky must decide how to keep moving forward. To try and hold on to what she has, or to once again do what she does best: destroy._\\
\\
2. Afterbirth: Novel by Emma Cleary (3/24) An unsettling, hypnotic descent into the visceral heart of “mommy horror,” _Afterbirth_ is a story of fractured sisterhood, aching hunger, and irrevocable transformation—reverberating with the echoes of classic horror cinema.\\
\\
3. Wayward Souls by Susan J Morris ( 3/17) gothic sequel to Strange Beasts, a delicious gothic suspense following the daughter of Dracula's killer and the daughter of criminal mastermind Moriarty. \\
\\
4. Indigent by Briana Cox (3/20)\\
\\
\\
_LEIGH PIERCE ESTATES is home to a diverse array of tenants: families, immigrants, students, the forgotten elderly. All working poor, and all in danger._\\
\\
_Because the tenants of Leigh Pierce are disappearing._\\
\\
_Live-in handyman Xavier seems to be the only one who notices. Or cares. After a chance encounter with the culprit leaves him infected with something horrifying, Xavier is thrust into a surreal nightmare of starvation and consumption all too familiar to his gentrifying Atlanta neighborhood._\\
\\
_Succumbing to his infection, Xavier is drawn into the cobbled-together family squatting in Leigh Pierce's basement. People who, through a myriad of doomed roads, fell into the same self-destructive cycle of indigency, harboring dark secrets... and darker appetites. Trapped in a dynamic of codependency and complicity, Xavier and his family- new and old- are forced to confront the cost of survival in a world that has disregarded them_\\
\\
1. Hex House by Amy Jane Stewart (4/28) A feverishly told, dark and unsettling Scotland-set fairy-tale about a safe haven for women which transforms them into vessels of revenge, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, A. G Slatter and Julia Armfield\\
\\
2. The Lady in Chains by Bonnie Quinn (4/28)\\
\\
\\
_Every year, campground manager Kate sends out a pamphlet titled “How to Survive Your Camping Experience.” It includes a list of rules to help campers have an enjoyable experience and hopefully survive any encounters with the campgrounds other…inhabitants._\\
\\
_With the campground in the throes of a bad year, it will take more than a list of rules to keep everyone safe. Monsters that were previously lying dormant are starting to stir and they’re waking up hungry. Among them is the Lady in Chains, a creature feared by both human and inhuman things alike._\\
\\
_Her reappearance creates an upheaval in the balance of power in the campground by renewing an old grudge with the harvesters, who are willing to sacrifice anyone they get their hands on in order to gain an advantage. On top of all this, the man with the skull cap has started taking an unusual interest in Kate. But with the harvesters on the prowl, the Lady in Chains hunting her down, and a sinister spider infestation, Kate is going to need all the allies she can get, even if those allies aren’t actually…human._\\
\\
1. Wife Shaped Bodies by Lauren Cranehill (4/14) _Sorrowland_ meets _Manhunt_ in this literary horror debut in which an isolated newlywed—covered in mushroom growths like all the other wives in her community—strikes a precarious balance between following her husband’s strict rules and pursuing an intense connection with a woman who makes her question everything.\\
\\
2. Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker (4/21) **I** n this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.\\
\\
3. Molka by Monica Kim (4/30) Dahye can't believe her luck when she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with handsome, charismatic Hyukjoon, the heir to a multi-million dollar fortune. But then a shocking revelation threatens everything: the couple has been caught on a spycam amid Korea's growing molka epidemic, and the video is all over the internet.\\
\\
4. Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce _The woods are known as the place to avoid. What goes in, doesn’t come out._\\
\\
Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet.\\
\\
\\
\\
Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either. \\
\\
\\
\\
But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying.\\
\\
\\
\\
If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it.\\
\\
\\
Which ones are you preordering? Which ones are you adding to your TBR? \\
\\
I want to read ALL of these and I want to read them RIGHT NOW!](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/LbkeMBWpt5oFTNa2iUFl/)

[On Your Radar: Women in Horror 2026](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/LbkeMBWpt5oFTNa2iUFl/)

* * *

10 books

7

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Dec 1 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Hello Folks,\\
\\
Women in Horror Book Club 2026 is gonna be lit! If you aren't in the club, simply connect to the Discord and join us! Book club takes place primarily in the Discord and occasionally, the authors join us for a chat! I will update these photos again once What Feeds Below and Our Cut of Salt have covers out!\\
\\

[Women in Horror Book Club 2026](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/Lfd0N0OWH02uNd3tCIp0/)

* * *

12 books

21

[2](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/Lfd0N0OWH02uNd3tCIp0/#comments)

[ash.reads.horror\\
\\
ash\\
\\
• Oct 26 2025](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
I'll be making an instagram post soon enough on 2026 Horror Books I'm looking forward to. But one of the perks of following me on Bindery is getting early access to posts like these! \\
\\
This will not be a full list of all 2026 Horror Books! I'm sure there are still so many to be announced. This list will just be ones that have popped up on my radar and have piqued my interest.\\
\\
Comment below what 2026 Horror Books you're looking forward to. Now, let's dive in!\\
\\
**Meat Bees by Dane Erbach**\\
\\
Expected August 4th, 2026\\
\\
_By the time Scarlett Sutton arrives at her dad’s cabin in the Smoky Mountains, two locals have already been eaten alive by wasps._\\
\\
**Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker**\\
\\
Expected April 21st, 2026\\
\\
_In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds._\\
\\
**Molka by Monika Kim**\\
\\
Expected April 28th, 2026\\
\\
_From the author of The Eyes Are the Best Part, praised by The New York Times Book Review as “violent, smart, gruesome and wildly original,” a provocative exposé into the hidden world of spy cameras, sexual shaming, and vengeance pursued with a very sharp kitchen knife._\\
\\
**Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward**\\
\\
Expected February 24th, 2026\\
\\
_Set in the unforgiving maw of the Rocky Mountains, Nowhere Burning is the latest harrowing novel from bestselling author Catriona Ward, perfect for fans of Riley Sager and the hit series Yellowjackets._\\
\\
**The Caretaker by Markus Kliewer**\\
\\
Expected April 21st, 2026\\
\\
_From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined._\\
\\
**Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher**\\
\\
Expected March 24th, 2026\\
\\
_Something darker than the devil stalks the North Carolina woods in Wolf Worm, a new gothic masterpiece from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher_\\
\\
**Morsel by Carter Keane**\\
\\
Expected April 14th, 2026\\
\\
_Carter Keane's Morsel is a delicious folk horror debut about learning to bite back when the world is determined to eat you alive._\\
\\
**Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose**\\
\\
Expected March 3rd, 2026\\
\\
_Jenna is a spunky, disabled, horror fanatic who comes to rural Montana for a stay at a horror themed rental cabin. Jenna has struggled with severe anxiety for years, hardly ever leaving her house. This vacation will test her limits and, she hopes, open her back up to the world. But her dream vacation is built on a nightmare._\\
\\
I'm sure more will catch my eye the closer we get to 2026! So stay tuned for more!\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/WOSi3EKgCkkVwrH9aH1R/)

[2026 Horror Books on my Radar](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/WOSi3EKgCkkVwrH9aH1R/)

* * *

8 books

2