- The Page Sage
- Posts
- 10 Chilling Horror Novels to Haunt Your Spring (2025)
10 Chilling Horror Novels to Haunt Your Spring (2025)
From supernatural snowstorms to haunted houses and sinister staircases, these horror releases promise psychological unease, creeping dread, and plenty of thrills.
There’s something uniquely cathartic about a good horror novel. As the warmth of spring begins to rise, the genre’s creeping shadows and eerie silences make the perfect contrast. Whether you’re drawn to ghost stories steeped in folklore, psychological thrillers laced with dread, or chilling tales of transformation and vengeance, the books below offer an escape into the macabre.
The following ten horror novels — a blend of standout recent releases and eagerly anticipated upcoming titles — offer both literary finesse and spine-tingling suspense.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
Grady Hendrix
A chilling tale centered around rebellious young women delving into the dark arts, only to uncover ancient forces more terrifying than they imagined. Hendrix masterfully balances biting humour with moments of genuine horror in this subversive exploration of power and revenge.
Goodreads: 4.04 — Amazon UK: 4.3
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
Clay McLeod Chapman
In a world where demonic possession spreads like a viral trend through screens and soundwaves, one family’s struggle for survival becomes a chilling allegory for modern media consumption. Chapman delivers timely social horror with visceral storytelling and unrelenting tension.
Goodreads: 4.25 — Amazon UK: 3.6
The Lamb
Lucy Rose
Deep in rural Cumbria, Margot and her mother live on the margins — and feed off strangers. When a mysterious man arrives, their gruesome existence begins to unravel. Rose’s debut is bleak, tightly written, and infused with folkloric terror that lingers.
Goodreads: 4.15 — Amazon UK: 4.2
The Haunting of Velkwood
Gwendolyn Kiste
When three friends return to their long-abandoned neighbourhood, they find its ghostly remnants frozen in time. Kiste crafts a haunting portrait of trauma, friendship, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Goodreads: 4.3 — Amazon UK: 3.9
Our Winter Monster
Dennis Mahoney
As a couple shelters from a deadly snowstorm, buried traumas and spectral horrors emerge from the drifts. Mahoney threads emotional rawness with creeping dread in this intimate, wintry ghost story.
Goodreads: 4.1 — Amazon UK: 4.0
Old Soul
Susan Barker
Two weary travellers cross paths with a woman who may have lived multiple lives. What unfolds is a meditation on reincarnation, grief, and timeless horror — all wrapped in Barker’s evocative, literary prose.
Goodreads: 4.2 — Amazon UK: 4.1
Coming Soon
The Cat Bride
Charlotte Tierney
In a crumbling zoo in the West Country, a girl who believes she’s part animal begins to unravel her monstrous inheritance. Folkloric horror, identity crisis, and transformation converge in Tierney’s eerie, unforgettable debut.
Released on 7th April 2025
When the Wolf Comes Home
Nat Cassidy
A return to a hometown steeped in secrets sparks a monstrous transformation. Cassidy’s latest channels classic creature horror through a modern lens, delivering relentless pace and poignant subtext.
Released on 22nd Apr 2025
The Staircase in the Woods
Chuck Wendig
A nostalgic camping trip turns sinister when a group of friends discovers an impossible staircase in the forest. As reality bends, Wendig blends cosmic horror with coming-of-age trauma in a tale that’s as emotional as it is terrifying.
Released on 29th Apr 2025
Never Flinch
Stephen King
Holly Gibney and Sista Bessie find themselves entangled in a string of brutal vigilante killings in this layered tale of justice and legacy. With echoes of King's darkest works, it’s a slow-burn horror filled with tension, grief, and moral ambiguity.
Released on 27th May 2025
The power of horror lies not just in its ability to scare, but in its capacity to reflect, distort, and ultimately deepen our understanding of the world. These ten novels span everything from spectral folklore to full-throttle thrillers — perfect for nights when the wind howls just a little louder than usual.
If your reading list isn’t full yet, you might also enjoy:
10 Gripping Thriller Novels to Read This Spring (2025)
Until next time —
The Page Sage
Thumbnail Photo by Stefano Pollio on Unsplash
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links included in this article are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, The Page Sage may earn a small commission — at no additional cost to you. This supports our ongoing work: curated, ad-free book discovery.