I recently got the pleasure of chatting with indie horror author, Sylvester Barzey, about Black horror he loves. You can listen to the episode here and get off to a great start on building your TBR. Sylvester is a talented and kind human himself, so don't forget to add his books to that list!
In recent years, the amount of people prioritizing horror books by Black authors has encouraged me. As Sylvester mentioned in the podcast chat, Tananarive Due is a spectacular talent who champions the genre that didn't get as much attention as she should have up until recently. Readers have devoured her masterclass in historical fiction horror all over the bookish platforms. A Due quote that resonates with me is, "Black history is black horror."
Despite how heartening it is to see more people discovering books like The Reformatory, I don't think it is enough. Stay with me for a moment, okay? We have to shake this idea that we can only read horror (or any genre of books) by Black authors during Black History Month. That is the opposite of how we should be approaching this. These under-hyped stories deserve the spotlight every month of the year. Not just during February. Those of us who review books have a unique and privileged opportunity to set the tone for how diverse the community is going to be.
Imagine then if you will the struggle it may be for a smaller or indie author who writes in Black horror. Indie horror in general leans heavily on its readers to make reviews, share videos, tell their friends, and post in groups. Thinking about all of this sparked me to put together some Black indie horror recommendations for you all. I hope that this will be a snowball effect - I give you good books to read, you post about them, more people read, and the community thrives. Without any further yapping, let's get to the books!
I'm going to start with a book recommendation based on one single author include in said anthology. I know, I know. Why must I be difficult about it? (Have you met me?) I wanted to use this opportunity to highlight Rob Grimoire. Rob is fantastic and deserves the spotlight for a moment. Dark Spores anthology from Crone Girls Press features his short story, Cordyceps Angelus. This is a super cool horror anthology for many reasons, but let's stick to the part about Rob for now.
Rob is a multi-genre author with a huge personality and beautiful writing. Several awesome anthologies have included his short stories in them. He also has a novella set to come out in the future. His love of his craft is evident in how he interacts with others, so I look forward to seeing what he will crank out for our eyeballs to enjoy. In the meantime, go enjoy some fungal horror in Dark Spores.
I had the pleasure of not only receiving a review copy of Progeny by Kenya Moss-Dyme but also buddy-reading it with one of my favorite people. This suspenseful and well-crafted story features demonic vibes, creepy kids, and lots of family drama. It is hard to tell an unsettling story while also exploring the nuances of strife among family members, but Progeny does it with gusto. I found it to be a unique take on this popular subgenre. It also encouraged me to read more from Moss-Dyme in the future.
Kenya has a wide range of books to devour across genres. The fact that Truborn Press, one of my favorite indie presses, published Progeny is a bonus.
For me, Chaz Williams is synonymous with Chicago noir horror. Williams's writing is raw, hard-hitting, and dark. His newest release, The Last Watch of Red Rock, is a disturbing nail-biter set inside a prison. Chaz is impressive in his ability to illicit emotions, throwing punches like nobody's business.
I read his debut, Family Til It Can't Be, Gang Til It Ain't and I loved it! It is gritty and intense, with a dark vibe that hits the spot for fans of disturbing fiction. Many of the themes Chaz explores in his writing are real-life horrors, which make them extra terrifying
For The Last Watch of Red Rock, readers agree that this one is an impactful read. One reader said: "This book grabs you by its razor-sharp claws and doesn’t let go until the bloody end. This was a one-sitting read for me, ensuring that this author’s past and future works will be an instant addition to my library."
If you are looking for a well-seasoned writer who spans multiple genres with ease, you need to add L. Marie Wood to your list immediately. Wood has written horror, poetry, short stories, thrillers, and screenplays. She has talent out of this world. I'm a little ashamed it took me so long to find her.
My recommendation for starting with L. Marie Wood's work is The Open Book. Jonathan Maberry wrote that it's a "mind-twisty and wonderfully weird work of horror that wraps its tentacles around you and will not let go". If you are a fan of weird horror like I am, this one will be a perfect novella to grab. The Open Book is one of four interconnected books in the same universe, which makes it an even more fun, intriguing experience. A horror book about a horrifying book? Sign me up.
I could add so many more amazing authors to this list. I feel this is a great place to start, and you can always look to Bookstagram and BookTok to discover new-to-you favorites. Search useful hashtags, follow indie authors, and prioritize accounts that highlight these authors.
If you're reading this and have recommendations, please drop them in the comments.
Read Black horror. Share Black horror. All the time!
Happy reading,
Kirsten
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