Here are 5 morbid and monstrous books to read in between viewings of the hit Netflix series Wednesday if you’re smitten with its odd and unsettling world.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky is a New York Times-bestselling YA thriller that is a combination of Scream and Karen McManus. The book follows Rachel Chavez, a scholarship student at Manchester Prep, as she struggles to fit in and finds a group of potential friends in a very unexpected way. The book follows Rachel and her friends as they form the mysterious club ‘The Mary Shelley Club’ and explore the horror genre through a school party, a séance, and ghost stories.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is a dark, sensual, and dangerous queer fantasy novel drawing on the history of the Countess of Bathory. The novel follows Marion Shaw, a young woman from the south, as she is drawn into the upper echelons of a society where blood is power. She takes on the role of a Bloodmaid and is enthralled by Countess Lisavet Bathory, an irresistible force both loved and feared. Through blood-tasting, Marion is transformed into a world of decadence and debauchery, and must confront her own darkness in order to survive. It has been described as sapphic Hannibal but with blood-drinking and is praised for its atmosphere, pacing, and immersive world-building.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

The Book Eaters is a dark fantasy novel written by Sunyi Dean. It follows Devon Fairweather, a Book Eater who subsists on ink and paper and the memories of others. Devon is a member of one of six ancestral families scattered across England whose peculiarity is that they possess an insatiable appetite for books. When Devon is forced into an arranged marriage and the fate of her race is put in danger, she and her mother must flee. With a mix of horror, fantasy, and romance, The Book Eaters is a thrilling read that explores themes of motherhood, abuse, and finding one’s own path. It has been praised for its unique world-building, compelling characters, and suspenseful storytelling.

Mercury Boys by Chandra Prasad

Mercury Boys is a Young Adult thriller novel by Chandra Prasad. It follows the life of Saskia Brown, a 16-year-old Arizona native who moves to Connecticut after her parents’ divorce. The book deals with modern issues such as bullying, racism, social media connectivity, and mental illness. Saskia and other high school girls form a secret society after discovering they can communicate with the past through dreams.

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda tells the story of a young, mixed-race vampire named Lydia who must find a way to balance her deep-seated desire to live amongst humans with her incessant hunger. The novel has been praised for its insightful and hypnotic exploration of hunger, as well as its intersectional approach to the genre. It has received critical acclaim for its refreshing perspective of the vampire genre and its powerful testament to the politics of desire and denial.

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