Recommendation remix

For the reader who just can't decide!

In the past few weeks, I’ve received a lot of questions about how to prioritize the books in Night Hag — should I read this one first? which one is better? how scary is this? etc. First, I’m excited that you’re excited! Second, I’ve decided to do something new this week. Instead of burying you in even more books, I’ve reorganized my recs according to your (possible) reading preferences. This time, with book covers! Because while the cover image shouldn’t make a difference, let’s be honest sometimes it does.

A brief note on the links: if you want to buy the book, click the image; if you want to see the original Night Hag post, click the title.

Finally, this post is apparently “too long for email” (according to Substack), so you may have to click through at the bottom to read the whole thing.

I’m a serious person and I like serious fiction

Here at Night Hag we officially reject Wordsworthian distinctions between “good” literature and “bad.” (Shove it, Wordsworth!) But that said…some of the books I recommend are better than others, and even the great Wordsworth might be forced to acknowledge the quality of these four.

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

Melmoth by Sarah Perry

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen

Fledgling by Octavia Butler

I’m just here to have fun — give me the Halloween equivalent of a beach read!

Very much not Wordsworth approved. Also great as audiobooks!

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

I find the Gothic a little…formulaic. Do you have anything that will surprise me?

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris

I want to be scared!

As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, I don’t love horror. So what keeps me awake might put you straight to sleep. YMMV.

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

I only want to be a little scared

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Stop trying to scare me!

The Montague Twins by Nathan Page and Drew Shannon (also check out the sequel!)

I’m in the mood for dark comedy

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

Benighted by J.B. Priestley

I’m busy and I need something short!

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Destroyer by Victor LaValle

I want the literary equivalent of a mushroom trip

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Pictures, please!

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (or any of her other books)

Hi, I might be lost but…I like nonfiction?

Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon

Let’s imagine you, Taylor, have a list of your favorite books from the past 5 years. Are any Night Hag recs on it?

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

I can only read one book

Do I even need to say it? Frankenstein!!! (Mentioned too many times for just one link.)

But listen: the beginning of Frankenstein is honestly a little boring. So make sure you push through to vol. II — just like Robert Walton pushing his crew through the Arctic (yup, that’s the boring part).

Hope this helps you sort through my recommendations! Please let me know if you have questions or particular reading preferences that I haven’t addressed. I’m at your service. Have a fantastic weekend!

Cover image by freepik