New Horror Books Scaring Up Your Shelves This February 2026

2 days ago 9

The Glowing Hours by Leila Siddiqui

Leila Siddiqui’s revisionist gothic horror story looks back at the summer of 1816, when Mary Shelley began writing her classic novel Frankenstein. But the story is told from the perspective of Mehrunissa Begum, who has come to London from India in search of her brother. Unable to find him, she takes a job as Mary and Percy Shelley’s housemaid. But as Mary Shelley works on her novel, Mehr notices strange supernatural things happening around the house.

All Access members, find more upcoming February horror releases below.

Greedy by Callie Kazumi

This horror/psychological thriller novel is perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu. It follows Edward Cook, a British man living in Japan. He’s drowning in debt because of his gambling addiction, and he’s desperate for work. So he takes a job as a chef for Hazeline Yamamoto, a reclusive woman living in a remote mountain estate. Hazeline is a certified gourmand with a particular palate, but Edward is horrified to discover what Hazeline is really doing and what she wants Edward to do for her.

How to Kill A Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

If you love romance almost as much as you love horror, pick this book up. Jamie Prescott is innocently attending a speed dating event with her friend when the lights go out. When they come back on, her date’s throat has been slit open. There are also more dead bodies scattered around the venue. Now the remaining speed daters scramble to find a way out before they’re next. Jamie will have to pull from her knowledge of horror movies to make sure she lasts til the end.

The Body by Bethany C. Morrow (Tor Nightfire, February 10)

The Body is a supernatural horror story about a woman who escaped her family’s religious congregation years ago. But Mavis Dwyer is still affected by the trauma of the organization’s strict rules and impossible standards. No matter what, Mavis feels like she can never do anything right, and it’s hard to shake that feeling. Even though she’s happily married to her husband Jerrod, she knows in her heart that she’s not good enough for him and that he could leave her at any moment. After a terrifying brush with death, Mavis’ worst fears are realized.

Dead First by Johnny Compton (Putnam, February 10)

The author of Spite House is back with a supernatural horror/mystery. Shyla Sinclair, a private investigator, is called to Texan tycoon Saxton Braith’s mansion to investigate a unique and perplexing case. It turns out Saxton is capable of dying, and he doesn’t understand why. Saxton offers Shyla millions of dollars to investigate the mystery of immortality.

House of Splinters by Laura Purcell (Blackstone, February 10)

As a horror fan, you’ve probably already heard of Laura Purcell’s 2017 novel The Silent Companions. Now, nearly a decade later, Purcell is returning with a prequel set 100 years earlier. Belinda Bainbridge and her family move to her husband, Wilfred’s, childhood home, The Bridge, in the hopes of building a life for themselves away from the oppressive influence of Belinda’s mother. But strange things are going on in and around the estate, and their children become fixated on these strange wooden figures called “silent companions.” What really went on at The Bridge, and what is Wilfred hiding about his past?

She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva (Mariner, February 10)

Inspired by Slavic folklore, this dark gothic horror novel is set in 19th-century Bulgaria, where Yana, a con artist posing as a vampire slayer, comes upon the village of Koprivici. The town is cursed with illness, and children barely survive infancy. Many villagers blame an orphan named Anka for their misfortune, and what’s more, the young Anka is being forced to marry the village Captain. In an attempt to help her escape, Yana helps Anka come up with a plan to conjure a monster as a diversion. But the true horrors in Koprivici have nothing to do with monsters.

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward (Tor Nightfire, February 24)

Catriona Ward’s psychological horror novels are always filled with surprises. This one, inspired in part by Peter Pan, is sure to take turns you won’t see coming. In the Rocky Mountains, there lies the abandoned ruins of a famous movie star, Leaf Windham’s, ranch. This place is where Leaf once hid his heinous crimes until a fire destroyed the property and revealed the truth behind the celebrity. Now, a group of children has chosen this place, called Nowhere, as their sanctuary. Running from their abusive home life, Riley and her younger brother Oliver flee to Nowhere, hoping for a safe space. What they find instead is something dark and terrible.

If you’re looking for even more horror recommendations, check out our most anticipated horror books of the year.