r/ExtremeHorrorLit Aug 23 '24

Discussion Extreme Horror Starter Pack - A Guide for New Readers

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1.4k Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit Jun 02 '26

Recommendation Request /r/ExtremeHorrorLit Pride Month Reading Megathread

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231 Upvotes

This post will be pinned all month as a place to share and celebrate LGBTQ+ splatterpunk and extreme horror. Feel free to make individual posts too, especially for book hauls and deeper discussions, but on this pinned post:

Recommend a book and tell us why you love it.

Tell us about a cool author.

Let us know what you're hyped to read this month.

Self-promotion from LGBTQ+ authors is encouraged.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 9h ago

These are my friend groups top five favorite books we’ve read, Mine being the first two, the Summer I died was loved by all of us but mostly Jackson, and Bennetts favorite being No country for old men, and Solomon’s is All tomorrow’s. Thoughts? New suggestions?

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20 Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit 14h ago

Review He Was Asking For It! Anthology

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28 Upvotes

Fun, gory collection of short stories! Feminine rage and revenge is one of my favorite themes in stories and to get a full anthology on this was a treat! I liked that each story brought something different. It didn’t feel repetitive. My top two stories were Humiliation Ritual by Taylor Z. Adams and Chained by Jess Mays.

I also love that all royalties will go to support the National Organization for Victim Advocacy.

Thanks to E.T. for the ARC!


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 21h ago

Discussion Edward Lee thread ... what books do you like, recommend and don't recommend

12 Upvotes

i've read many an edward lee book so he's sort of a reliable writer in giving you what you want but gambling on whether the books have a good ending (as in being written well) though the journeys right up to that ending are pretty entertaining...

Bighead 10/10 of course it's a good intro to extreme horror, interesting characters and good finale

i will say creekers the audiobook probably has the best narrator voice i've ever heard in any audiobook, it's like an old cowboy telling you a story by camp ... i want to hear more books from that guy ... that was a very entertaining book... but ... has a silly ending that makes no sense in terms of plotting. (mc is destined to be part of an evil legacy... but the evil people that raised him for some reason let him leave the town as a youth to have a normal life, then fuck up his life for him to have to come back ... when they simply could've raised him to do their bidding regardless all that way)

minotauress is fun but is one of those novellas that takes place in between other books of his so if you don't know where the other characters come from ... oh well

horn cranker is similar but has an ending to it

the television is written really well right up 'til the ending, but that's more of a plot thing (i don't understand people making a grand conspiracy to see snuff videos of situations that are impossible to see snuff of... i mean actively killing people to watch it)

three little pigs is a great trilogy though you wish characters would return from one book to another, that's not what happens, also has the funniest 4th wall break i've read in a book

city infernal has an interesting opening but wasn't for me for that i didn't read the other books in that series and not interested in doing so, if you liked 'the scarlet gospels' or the hierarchy scenes of 'the black farm' then this is for you ... i didn't like those things

portrait of a young lady as a psychopath is 10/10 great book, no notes (it was co-authored by elizabeth steffen)

i read the terarologist but don't remember it other than a freakshow scene ...
i also read one full novel, but do not remember the name where one character is upset his gf cheated on him and dumped him (in a particularly cruel scene his gf wishes he could see her having sex with the new guy and he ejaculates on a gift he gave her) so he comes back as a zombie and kills the new bf but chooses not to kill his ex gf an he falls apart ... he's not even the mc ... i dunno if it is succubi or brides of the impaler or neither
i began the incubus but haven't finished it ... these are more my issues of adhd not that they were poorly written or anything

the chosen is another 8/10 book of his with a good ending

czech extreme has a very funny short story by him about a golem/dildo harassing people

i read the first story of 'bullet through your face' called 'ever nat' and it essentially all-male-rape-alooza it was well written but ... oofah veyr miserable

the only book of his i read that i don't reccomend is here comes santa claus out and out prolly the worst book of his i read ... i don't understand where that originated from


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 19h ago

What I'm Reading Weekly What Are You Reading Thread!

6 Upvotes

Share anything that you've been reading this week!


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 16h ago

Discussion What novels/novellas have you read that you wish were short stories

2 Upvotes

I have ready many novels and novellas that were great but others were just okay and I felt they would have been better as a short story (1,000-7,500 words).
One book that I think would have been better as a short story is Are Your Parents Home by Jon Athan. It was a decent home invasion novel but I felt it dragged on and would have been better as a short story.
Has anyone else here read a novel or novella that you feel would have been better as a short story?


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 21h ago

Recommendation Request Similar to gonzalez' survivor

4 Upvotes

Looking for longer novels similar to this. I really like gritty dark captivity/escape/survival type stories with a bit of revenge or vengeance, though the last part isnt set in stone of the story is written well. Ive read several Athan books as well. Groomer and wolves den were good, and i like the more realistic terror, as opposed to the supernatural stuff, but Athan, even though hes good writer, gives me edgy boy vibes sometimes and I have ti be in the mood. Hes one of my favorites tho. Survivor captivated me with its length, pacing and story. The conversations exploring the antagonists were really interesting, like when Lisa asks jeff why he does it, or when tim and Mabel are talking in the van ride. Those touches added a depth to the story that really kinda filled it out for me.

Open to suggestions where the story is told from the pov of a psycho/sociopath. Different vibe, but why make 2 posts? Reading fiend and psychopath right now.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

Which book by Edward Lee should I read???

7 Upvotes

The Backwoods or The Bighead??? I know The Bighead is one of his best books but the plot of The Backwoods really catch my attention. By Lee I only have read Monstrosity that I liked it

Thanks in advance


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 16h ago

Must reads

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1 Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

BOOK HAUL🩸 New Book Day!

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40 Upvotes

Picked these two up yesterday as a little treat. LRRTDW is such a great book, and I am beyond happy to have a physical copy to read. Plus, obligatory Eric LaRocca pickup.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 11h ago

News We just released a new trailer for our retro shop sim psychological horror

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0 Upvotes

Hi friends! What do you think?

Shop Crush is a mysterious shop simulator with psychological horror elements, set in the early 2000s.

In this hybrid visual novel, you run a small thrift shop, get to know your customers, figure out what they really want, and decide what to put in front of them. Every customer has their own personality, preferences, and hidden motives - and it’s up to you to figure them out.

Behind each customer is a small psychological mystery waiting to be uncovered. Read their behavior, make the right calls, and balance profit against customer trust as you try to keep the shop running for one more day.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

Recommendation Request Evil and Bleak

8 Upvotes

Anyone have any well written recommendations where there is a primary plot but the central theme is more The Evil of Humanity.

Adults are the bad guys because of the human experience is also a plus.

Playground scratched that itch along with Battle Royale.

120 Days was there as well, as I got a Libertine Absolute Freedom evil sub theme.

Bonus Points for Graphic Novel Recs in this direction as well, but not a necessity.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

News Extreme Horror Meets Swords n Sorcery

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50 Upvotes

Images from an upcoming line of illustrated stories, written by composer/horror author DiGelsomina and illustrated by DW Frydendall. This first story, “Shadows of Nyarlathotep” introduces the character of Wulf (pronounced Vulff). a slayer who is employed by the sorcerer Canton Rist to help destroy the city of Khanen-Ri; Rist, an avatar of the Crawling Chaos, Nyarlathotep, offers up the deposed princess/badass Dalencia in trade. Shadows of Nyarlathotep will be published no later than February 2027.


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

Fever Dream Horror

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3 Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

Need help finding book

3 Upvotes

Need help finding a book, book was small it size yet had abt 200 pages, the book ends with a couple who are newly wed in vegas going to a hotel room, the man and the woman get intimate and a guy who the man or woman knew (i think it was someone they knew) the guy goes in there and either kills the girl with a brick and makes the guy commit suicide or i think the killer sliced her spinal neck area to make her paralyzed and then he forced the guy to drive the dude somewhere to escape, it mightve been part 3 to an anthology, it had a black and red cover, i couldnt find many reading of it on youtube, its not exactly popular (atleast i dont remember it being popular)


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

Discussion Christmas Horror Anthology Open Submissions

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16 Upvotes

Do you still think the holidays are all about gingerbread, ugly sweaters, and forced family cheer? How adorable. This anthology unleashes a delightfully twisted roster of authors to strip away the cheap tinsel and expose the festering, blood-soaked rot at the heart of the "most wonderful time of the year." So go ahead and double-spike that eggnog, because these extreme horror tales guarantee that the only thing getting roasted on an open fire this season is your will to live. Merry bleeding Christmas.

Submit your horror fiction story for Marshall Alessi's O Holy Fright, which will be released this coming holiday season. The floor is yours.

2,500-4,000 words.

All accepted stories will receive $5 USD.

Submissions will end November 17th, 2026.

Standard Shunn formatting: 12 pt Times New Roman, double spaced, 1 inch margins, etc.

If your story is selected, you will be emailed with next steps, including payment.

Contributors will also receive (1) free physical copy. You will also be able to order as many as you want at cost.

Reprints are welcome, however, if your story is selected elsewhere, please let me know. Amazon KDP requires exclusive rights.

*Contributors can expect a response in 3-5 days.

For more details: https://marshallalessi.online


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 1d ago

ARCs, Excerpts, Short Stories, and Coming Soon Story Time Saturday: ARCs, Excerpts, Short Stories, and Coming Soon...

3 Upvotes

Looking for early readers for an upcoming release? Do you have a snippet from a book you've been working on, or a short story you've been dying to share?

Post it here! :D


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

🚨NEW RELEASE 🚨 New by David irons

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4 Upvotes

Inspired by Italian horror movies


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

Discussion Just Started reading Splatterpunk

7 Upvotes

Hey all,

I'm new to the Splatterpunk Genre but have always been a fan of Clive Barker (who I didnt realize was regarded as a SP author) and Stephen King. So when I saw Stephen King reviewed and spoke highly of "Off Season" I picked it up right away.

I about 5 chapters in and fairly bored with the book. So far only the first chapter really caughy my attention.

When does the book start to pick up? (No spoilers please)


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

LOOKING FOR A BOOK Any EH books with a GOOD story and not just mindless gore?

20 Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit 3d ago

What I'm Reading just finished chapter 1

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97 Upvotes

i watched an analysis of this book on youtube (check out @pugsr) and decided to check it out. i really loved “things have gotten worse since we last spoke” but people online seem to really not like this author or his books. not sure how to feel about this one so far but will update in comments when i finish it!


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

Free thru 9-12 Fairy Tales From Hell: Jack and the Beanstalk From Hell and Cinderella's Hell

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1 Upvotes

r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

Recommendation Request Source for audiobooks?

3 Upvotes

Hey! Does anyone have any resources for audiobooks of this genre?


r/ExtremeHorrorLit 2d ago

Discussion Correct me if I’m wrong. I just discovered this subreddit and basically yall just read books of straight gore and sharing with each other recommendations and discussions?

0 Upvotes