November is here. For many, that means tree decorating and cookie baking, but not all of us are ready to let spooky season go so quickly. The weather is growing colder, and the days are growing shorter. The settling darkness makes November the perfect time to read Gothic romance — a genre that blends love stories with classic horror elements.
If you’d like to keep the creepy crawlies going for a little longer, check out the hair-raising, yet (somewhat) heart-warming Gothic romance books below. Trust me — your TBR will thank you!
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
A Dowry of Blood is a dark and emotional Dracula-inspired novel. Dracula’s first bride, Constanta, tells us her story through a series of letters to her “lord”. It begins in medieval Romania as Constanta, found dying in her raided village, is saved from death and transformed. Her vampiric husband eventually acquires two more spouses, Magdalena and Alexi, and things sour. Constanta begins to grapple with the fear, jealousy, sadness, and confusion that an abusive relationship brings. We follow her across centuries as she falls in and out of love with her maker.
Please be warned- this book is dark. There is, of course, the expected blood, gore, and murder of a vampire story, but A Dowry of Blood also has heavy themes of domestic abuse and depression that are woven throughout the novel. A Dowry of Blood is beautiful, but it's unsettling. It is a love story at its core, but not the heart-warming kind.
Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Salt and Broom is a retelling of Jane Eyre with a fun, magical twist. Jane Aire resides and teaches at the Lowood School for girls. She is a healer and an herbalist, a.k.a. a witch. She is sent to Edward Rochester’s estate, Thornfield Hall, to help rid the manor of a mysterious curse. As she tries to solve the mystery of Thornfield’s troubles, she begins to fall for Rochester.
While it has magic, mystery, and a Gothic Victorian setting, it isn’t scary. This is the book to read if you are looking for a cozy, light-hearted love story with a happy ending.
If you haven’t read Jane Eyre, add that to your TBR, as well. It’s a classic!
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
Hungerstone is another novel inspired by a classic — Carmilla, the novel that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In 1888, Lenore and her husband, Henry, move from London to Nethershaw, a manor in England’s remote countryside. On their journey to their new home, they find an accident-stricken woman, Carmilla. Polite society’s etiquette leaves Lenore no choice, and she insists that Carmilla stay at Nethershaw until she is well. The longer Carmilla stays, the weirder things become, and the more Lenore (and her marriage) begin to unravel.
I must admit that Hungerstone’s romance subplot is thin. While there is an attraction between Lenore and Carmilla, Hungerstone’s narrative is more about falling out of love than falling in love. Hungerstone is a feminist story of a woman who finally takes control of her life. It also happens to have chilling gothic elements and a supernatural mystery intertwined.
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
Within These Wicked Walls is another fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre (okay, so just go ahead and read Jane Eyre). This Ethiopian-inspired retelling follows Andromeda, a debtera (an exorcist), who has been hired to cleanse Magnus Rochester’s home, Thorne Manor. As Andromeda dives deeper into the horrors of Thorne Manor, she also falls deeper into her attraction to Magnus. As the possession grows stronger, Andromeda begins to question if she can save herself or her beloved Magnus.
While elements of this book obviously veer away from the traditional Jane Eyre (hello, this version of Jane is an exorcist), many elements and themes still ring true. It is full of magic, mystery, and an epic love story.
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Nena is a ranchero’s daughter. Néstor is a vaquero (cowboy). As children, their friendship was torn apart by tragedy. Nena was harmed in a bloody attack; Néstor assumed she was dead and fled for his own safety. After 9 years apart, they are unexpectedly reunited in 1846 as the Mexican-American War brews. The childhood sweethearts must navigate their difficult past and tackle the challenges that test their love. Oh, and vampires! There are also vampires.
Vampires of El Norte blends historical fiction, romance, and western genres with a Gothic twist. It is the perfect romantic read for a dark autumn day.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
A House with Good Bones is a modern Southern Gothic must-read. The book follows Samantha Montgomery, an archeo-entomologist (a.k.a. an archeologist who specializes in bugs), as she returns to her childhood home in rural North Carolina. When she arrives, things are not what they once were. Outside, there are vultures keeping watch. Inside, the house has changed, and her mother is acting strange. The only thing that has not changed is the roses thriving in the garden. Things grow even thornier and dangerous as Sam begins to untangle what happened to her colorful and loving home.
This is another Gothic novel with a light romance subplot, but there is a hot gardener, funny banter, and an allusion to romance.
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
Dark and Shallow Lies takes place in La Cachette, a small mystical town in the Louisiana bayou. Almost everyone in La Cachette has psychic powers; the residents even claim it is the “Psychic Capital of the World.” Grey, the teenage main character, is back in town to spend the summer with her grandmother. This summer, however, is different- Grey’s best friend and “twin flame”, Elora, has gone missing. While everyone assumes Elora is dead, Grey refuses to let her disappearance go unsolved. As Grey digs deeper into Elora’s last night, she uncovers cold cases that could be connected and psychic powers of her own.
This book is classified as a thriller, but the heavy Louisiana setting, supernatural elements, and love-triangle subplot give it a Southern Gothic romance atmosphere.
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