Great New Gothic Romances You Should Definitely Read

Del Rey, publisher of The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

Five years ago, Anneke Van Helsing’s father was murdered . . . she’ll stop at nothing to find the killer. In this electrifying gothic fantasy, the daughter of a famous vampire hunter embarks on a dangerous journey to find the woman she believes to be responsible for the killing her father and for a slew of violent murders that seem to erupt everywhere this woman goes. Yet as Anneke Van Helsing unearths more about the immortal killer’s past, she suspects there’s still a heart somewhere in that undead body. A heart that beats for Anneke alone.

Innamorata by Ava Reid

Ava Reid is back with this haunting gothic romantasy! Allow me to set the scene: an island, once ruled by seven noble houses, now under the thumb of the conqueror who burned their eldritch magic. Enter Lady Agnes, cousin of Marozia— the heiress of the House of Teeth. Agnes has not spoken in seven years, but she is still set on bringing back magic and avenging her family. In order to do that, Agnes must arrange for her cousin to marry the heir to the conqueror’s throne, Liuprand. The thing is, against her better judgment, Agnes develops feelings for the heir— a passion that could tear their entire world in two.

Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia

Now let’s travel to 1900s New York, a Gilded Age full of glamour and, in this story, revenge. Fruit of the Flesh follows Petronille De Villier and Arkady Kamenev. She’s a former ballerina. He, a struggling sculptor. Theirs is a marriage of convenience, but they soon learn that they have more in common than they originally thought. For both Petronille and Arkady have a darker nature, and an appetite for revenge that will show them a new meaning to the idea of true love.

Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

If you love gothics for their ghost stories, then Weavingshaw should be your next read! This novel follows a woman named Leena Al-Sayer. One day she woke up with the ability to see the dead, and in order to keep her secret she decided to hide herself from the rest of the world. Now, her brother Rami has fallen ill, and all Leena can use in order to buy his expensive medicine is her secret. This leads her to the Saint of Silence. He’ll accept her confession as payment if she finds the ghost of Percival Avon, the last lord of Weavingshaw. But when both Leena and the Saint arrive at the crumbling estate in search of this ghost, they find a house that is hungry for blood. 

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

We all enjoy different doses of romance, so if you want your gothic to have hints of it instead of the love story being the entire plot, then The Fourth Princess is definitely for you! Set in 1911 China, this story follows two women. On one side, there’s Lisan, who was just hired as the secretary to the wealthy Caroline Stanton. Then there’s Caroline herself, the new mistress of a crumbling mansion on the outskirts of Shanghai. This Lennox Manor has a dark past, one that will chase both Caroline and Lisan until all their secrets spill into the light.

Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee

Moving on to a gothic novel that has plenty of slow-burn romantic tension as well as a suspenseful mystery! Set in 1918 Washington, Heiress of Nowhere tells the story of Lucy. She was found on the shore of Orcas Island as a baby, and has spent her entire life working for the shipbuilder who lives there. Things take a turn when she finds her employer’s severed head on the beach. And despite rumors of the supernatural, she knows there’s a human killer on the loose. So when she’s named the heiress of the estate, Lucy realizes she might be the next victim.

A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis

Last but not least, we have A Slow and Secret Poison! This twisty gothic thriller is set in 1922 at a lush English manor. Enter Vee Morgan, the new gardener of the estate. Vee is looking for a fresh start. But Harfold Manor hides a dark past and an alleged curse that has killed the entire family who owns it. Except for Lady Arabella. She is convinced the curse will come for her next, and only an elusive dancing hare can save her. To make matters more difficult, Vee hides her own dark past. And it is about to catch up to her.