With new releases from Stephen King and Joe Hill to look forward to, 2025 is a promising year for thehorrorgenre — and February has exciting new books in store for readers. Great horror books can set the mood for a winter night spent snuggled up inside, and there’s no shortage of them hitting shelves over the next month. Several are from seasoned horror authors, but there are also a number of thrilling debuts. It’s a big month for new horror authors, and their releases could wind up being some of thebiggest horror books of 2025.
Andthe concepts of February’s horror books cover a wide range, encompassing everything from feminist tales of revenge and vampirism to hauntings and humanoid spiders. It’s great to see the genre thriving with creative new ideas on the heels of2024’s best horror books. Hopefully, it’s a sign of more great releases to come, though readers will already have their hands full digging into all of February’s new books.
10Listen To Your Sister By Neena Viel
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Neena Viel’s debut,Listen to Your Sister,is being pitched for fans of Jordan Peele andStranger Things— and that already makes it one of 2025’s most intriguing new horror books. The novel follows Calla Williams, a young woman who is just trying to keep her family together after becoming her younger brother’s guardian. But when she and her brothers are forced to go on the run, it looks like her worrisome nightmares predicting their deaths could become real.Listen to Your Sisteris poised to tackle important themes while delivering on the supernatural horror, making it a must-read.
9Victorian Psycho By Virginia Feito
Those looking for a good revenge horror story should check out Virginia Feito’sVictorian Psycho, which hits shelves on February 4. The novel opens with Winifred Notty determined to be an outstanding governess for the Pounds family. However, after a series of incidents, she changes her mind about her employers. The Pounds threaten to bring her violent history to the surface, and with that premise,Victorian Psychopromises a surprising and entertaining spin on the Victorian era. Its earlyGoodreadsreviews indicate its unhinged narrative will strike the right balance between scathing humor and scares.
8The Lamb By Lucy Rose
The Lambby Lucy Rose is being described as a “queer folktale,“and if that isn’t enough to sell readers, its eerie premise will. This February release follows a young girl named Margot, who lives in a cabin in the woods with her mother. They regularly await the arrival of “strays,” as Mama feeds on these lost travelers. But the appearance of a woman named Eden upends Margot’s life with Mama, sending her on a journey to claim her freedom. A story with dark fairy tale vibes and themes of growing up,The Lambsounds like an engrossing debut.
7These Vengeful Wishes By Vanessa Montalban
Vanessa Montalban’s YA horror,These Vengeful Wishes, chronicles a teenage girl’s encounter with a malevolent female spiritnamed La Cegua. The book sees Ceci and her mother moving into a manor haunted by the witch, who has a tendency to attack deceitful men. Cegua forms a connection with Ceci, leading her to a well that grants wishes. But Cegua’s well also exacts a price, and Ceci soon finds herself tangled up in something dangerous.These Vengeful Wishessounds like a fun take on female rage and hauntings, with a villain who seems nearly as compelling as its heroine.
6Beta Vulgaris By Margie Sarsfield
Release Date: July 14, 2025
February 2025 is a big month for horror debuts, andMargie Sarsfield’sBeta Vulgarisis among the most highly anticipated. Following a young woman saddled with debt, who takes a job harvesting sugar in Minnesota,Beta Vulgarisvows to tackle everything from class to body image and mental illness. The more time Elise and her boyfriend, Tom, spend at this new job, the more Elise begins to spiral. Strange occurrences, like threats and disappearances, don’t help. And with the beet pile seemingly calling to the book’s lead, readers will be taken on a wild ride that leaves them questioning everything.
5The Poorly Made And Other Things By Sam Rebelein
Sam Rebelein made a name for himself in the horror category with his debut novel,Edenville,andnow the author is back with a collection calledThe Poorly Made and Other Things.The book boasts a 4.75Goodreadsrating ahead of its release, so it’s bound to be another standout within the genre. The stories withinThe Poorly Made and Other Thingsare all set within the Renfield universe, and they tackle topics like loss and loneliness. They cover a wide range of circumstances, all of which promise to take those within Renfield County — and the readers — on chilling rides.
4Hungerstone By Kat Dunn
Release Date: June 01, 2025
Blending horror and romance,Kat Dunn’sHungerstoneis getting praise ahead of its February 2025 release— and its 4.17Goodreadsrating paints a promising picture.Hungerstonefollows Lenore, whose marriage is growing colder and plagued by a dark secret. Lenore’s life gets more interesting when she crosses paths with Carmilla, whose arrival is followed by girls in nearby villages falling ill and experiencing disturbing cravings. This queer, feminist reimagining ofCarmillahas all the makings of a great vampire story, so naturally, it’s one of February’s most-anticipated new releases.
Darcy Coates is wrapping up theGravekeeper Seriesin February, withThe Vengeful Deadmarking the final installment. The book will feature a showdown between Keira and Artec, the company targeting her because of her ability to help ghosts move on. To save herself and her loved ones, Keira must find a way to take down the organization first. This will take her on a dangerous mission thatperfectly blends fantasy and horrorand, with any luck, will make for a satisfying conclusion to five years of storytelling.
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2But Not Too Bold By Hache Pueyo
Hache Pueyo’sBut Not Too Boldis described as a “sapphic monster romance novella wrapped in gothic fantasy trappings,” andthat’s all the incentive readers need to dig into this February release.But Not Too Boldfollows Dália as she takes up her now-deceased mentor’s role as the keeper of the keys for Anatema, the humanoid spider responsible for said mentor’s death. Dália doesn’t want to meet the same fate, so she needs to determine why her mentor was eaten. However, even this might not save her — and that suspenseful setup is sure to keep readers on edge throughout the novella.
1Something In The Walls By Daisy Pearce
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Daisy Pearce is releasingSomething in the Wallsin February, which will take readers on a journey alongside a child psychologist and journalist hoping to further their careers through 13-year-old Alice Webber. Alice insists that she’s being haunted by a witch, something Mina and Sam are initially skeptical of. However, Alice’s behavior doesn’t improve with their interference, and her hometown believes in witchcraft — so much that they’re willing to take extreme measures to deal with Alice. Thishorrorstory throws Mina and Sam into the unimaginable, and it sounds like a gripping novel that will keep readers guessing.
