5 Essential Modern Gothic Novels by Women

[@MikiLuvMiki]

I’m seriously loving the way you review and recommend a book. So creative, descriptive, specific and detailed. 👍🏻

[@lindylouwho550]

Well said - agree 100% 😀

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you so much! I do try to choose my words and details carefully :)

[@NeithHecateAddams]

Gothic fiction is without a doubt my favorite genre. I'm so pleased to have stumbled upon this video, and now I am subscribed 🖤

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Awesome, thank you! We have articles with plenty more recommendations as well!

[@effloress]

As much as I adore Gothic Fiction, I have a terrible time of actually discovering any modern titles/new releases...so thank you THANK you for this video! ^-^ I plan on starting Gallant today, and hope to pick up Tell Me I'm Worthless sooner rather than later 💜

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yessss you are so welcome! There's such a huge new wave of gothic fiction, especially by British women, and it's glorious to see 💜

[@flowerbelly]

Oh, you are so great 💝. Lately I’ve been getting practically all my reads from your reviews and lists. I cannot go wrong with the books you recommend, they fit my tastes perfectly * chef’s kiss! * Thank you so much for the time you put into your videos, you are very much appreciated 💞

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That really means a lot, thank you! Sometimes I worry I dedicate too much time and effort to this channel but your comments make it worth it 💜

[@sharishaw32]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I could listen to you speak all day, both for your rich voice (I adore a British accent, being American and an anglophile) and for your professorial tone. I feel smarter just for having listened to you! You gave me all sorts of ideas for next reads. I look forward to watching more of your videos. I'm a retired school librarian and grandmother and I miss being surrounded by book people--who of course are the best! Thanks for all you do.

[@sadiatingtingball2533]

I just finished Our Wives Under The Sea and oh boy the coincidence? The fact that the fiction is so relevant to a recent event baffled me. It was a 5/5!

[@sweetkarolines]

I started following not that long ago so watching some of your "older" videos. My thoughts...I LOVE that you talk about books I don't necessarily see on every other youtubers. And books that may be out of the norm for me to read. Just fantastic!

[@cappuccinocrafts2412]

Hi, Willow. Leviathan sounds wonderful. I have already had my eye on Our Wives Under the Sea. Gothic fiction is so atmospheric, and I also love the theme of being haunted by secrets from the past that come into the present.

[@jennyrbaker]

I'm so glad that Jack Edwards recommended your KZbin channel. I've discovered some great titles that I can't wait to read. I'm excited to have new gothic on my TBR.

[@monferno71]

I've just read Gallant a couple of weeks ago and loved it! I loved the vibes and the setting but I didn't have the vocabulary to research it further so this video seems tailored fo rme right now, thank you for that~ Btw, V. E. Schwab herself describes Gallant as a mix of Crimson Peak and The Secret Garden.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Ah! So she actually said that herself! Yay, validation!

[@AbdallahTeach]

i am very intimidated by real books. Been i have been watching your videos for 6 months and you always get me in a book reading mood! I am very sad you aren't as popular as i think you deserve but it does make the videos feel personal. I feel like i am hearing my friend discuss their interest with me. Enough with parasocial relationships! keep up the videos, i keep waiting for more to listen to.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This is funny because I've actually been reading less and less recently. My mental health is bad right now. But I still love books and want to talk passionately about them

[@duanespurlock5879]

Thanks for the article link!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks for reading!

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

Thank you for this video! I am definitely going to read your article too. I think gothic fiction is probably one of my favourite genres. I have both Our Wives Under The Sea and The Key in the Lock out from the library and I am sooo excited for them! I haven't really heard anyone talk about The Key in the Lock and hearing you describe it makes me think it'll be my cup of tea 😊

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I hadn't heard anything about it either but I happened to see it in a bookshop's "new releases" section and grabbed it immediately!

[@noemitamas4066]

I am so happy that gothic fiction made a comeback! Arguably it never really left :D It's my favourite genre.

[@ashleywithae]

Love y’all’s videos! I read Rebecca earlier this year and I’ve fallen hard for the gothic genre. I’ve really been into horror the last few years and kept searching for “my genre.” Gothic is definitely it.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm so happy to hear that! Nothing satisfies like a good gothic novel.

[@kristagallitelli]

I am so glad I found your channel. Couldn’t subscribe quick enough! I love your style, as well as gothic fiction so I am quite happy to be here.

[@whimsydearest]

Ooo, you sold me at Lovecraftian for The Leviathan. The cover is absolutely wonderful too.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

If you want something historical, campy, and monstrous, you couldn't do better!

[@lena_ter]

the way you speak and choose your words is so respectful thank you for your beautiful reviews!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I do my best! Thank you!

[@guilhermebranco7729]

I had been wainting and hoping for this video for a while. THANK YOU. I adore your reviews. The article it's also amazing and fully complete.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks so much for also reading the article! And I'm glad none of it let you down!

[@melanieandbookstacks]

Hi Willow. How are you today? You continue to inspire me and my daughters and I appreciate your book reviews. Take care of yourself today.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That is so so wonderful to hear, thank you!

[@rsvaldez1]

Yes I did not know that current gothic is sometimes queer. I just finished The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix which I recommend. It has Everything you spoke about. Thank you for the recommendations😊

[@maeiscompletelyfine]

💕💕💕 wonderful video as always!!!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you! 💜

[@ivythetwisted6908]

Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve just finished Gallant in a day. 👍

[@jas-chi]

I loved Our Wives Under the Sea and Tell Me I'm Worthless. Once I finished TMIW I realized that Julia Armfield blurbed it and is in Rumfitt's author's note -- completely perfect.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

In two days I'm going to an event in London where the two of them are discussing queer gothic literature. I can hardly contain my excitement!

[@PirateQueen1720]

These all sound so intriguing! Of course, while I don't like EVERY gothic story I've ever tried, it is definitely a descriptor that will always make me read the rest of the summary!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh same, they have to actually be good books

[@cupreouscallings2874]

This is the video I needed!! All of them are going on my TBR ASAP!!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Huzzah! Plenty more in the article as well :)

[@patriciaspindle7960]

Thank you for such fantastic reviews. I've been following you for a week or so and I already have a huge TBR list of books you've recommended. Keep up the excellent work, I do love your channel 💜

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That's so wonderful to hear, thank you! I hope your TBR doesn't grow too big!

[@patriciaspindle7960]

@@WillowTalksBooks well, you know: "there's no such thing as too many books" right? 😅

[@callum_mclaughlin]

Gothic fiction is my absolute favourite as well bestie, xoxo. I just read Our Wives Under the Sea and thought it was excellent, and I can't wait to get hold of Tell Me I'm Worthless!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yay! If you loved one, you'll love the other. Although, like I said, it's a lot angrier 💜

[@claireyfairy6102]

Gothic novels and you referenced John Carpenter!? SUBSCRIBEDDDD

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hooray, thanks!

[@krisprepolec5616]

I adore Things in Jars by Jess Kidd, a great example of this genre.

[@duanespurlock5879]

Nice introduction to some books I haven't heard about.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yay, good to know

[@zan8152]

oh my gosh every single one of these sounds incredible. yessss

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yay, doing my job! There are plenty more in the article as well :)

[@amnal3983]

You make very interesting videos ✨

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You make very lovely comments 💜

[@lacamila666]

Loving these recommendations :) thanks

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You're so welcome!

[@NerdyNurseReads]

Yessss!!! I’m so excited for this video 💜

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I hope it doesn't disappoint!

[@Repulsiastorm]

Now I'm curious about The Leviathan. The year of the shipwreck, the war, making mental calculations about the possibilities. Ok, you've got me in, I'll read it!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yay! Just he prepared for something wild and camp and fun. It's dark and brooding but like a Batman comic rather than something really bleak.

[@Repulsiastorm]

@@WillowTalksBooks I'm enjoying "Drive your plow over the bones of the dead" by Olga Tokarczuk at the moment. The dark comedy, eco-feminist, ageism and misogyny blended into a quirky whodunit is deeply thought provoking and makes me question the place of the witchy wise woman in today's society. To be fair, I am reading it fairly recently after Hannah Kent's "The Good People" and my hair is starting to go grey so I'm all about Crone Power!

[@seidkona63]

Fingers crossed for Olga🤞 wish you could read her in polish, it is something truly extraordinary😁

[@ManCarryingThing]

Been in the mood for some more gothic fiction after reading Wuthering Heights and this is a great list, thanks!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You're welcome! Find tons more in the article!

[@chenkeith7272]

Have you read 'lttle stranger' by Satah waters? That one I believe is a gothic novel too

[@Nixx0912]

I just finished listening to Eden Robinson's "Traplines", if you want to read about broken people, oh boy you're in for a treat here. I'm simultaneously angry and sad for the heroes of her stories, not a very good choice when you're depressed, but it's a very good collection of short stories. I love gothic fiction too.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You've certainly sold it to me so I'll give it a go!

[@Nixx0912]

@Books and Bao I hope you'll like it. It's my fourth book by her, although the Trickster trilogy was a bit lighter.

[@guilhermebranco7729]

Willow, any tips on gay victorian/gothic books? Set on the 19th if possible...? Thank you from the bottom of my victorian heart.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Anything by Sarah Waters. She's the queen of literally exactly that. Also The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins. For full clarity in going to mention The Binding by Bridget Collins before someone else does but she's a transphobe so please steer clear. There's more in this article I wrote so dip in and dig around :) booksandbao.com/historical-novels-by-women/

[@guilhermebranco7729]

@@WillowTalksBooks thank you so much. I l think it's a bit difficult to find M/M victorian/ gothic romance. I tend to find more W/W because of Sarah Waters. I need a "gay Wuthering Heights" or a Laura Purcell creepy victorian gay story. - that would be really amazing! If you have any more tips, please do not forget me. Sincerely,

[@jkimathiu8748]

Hi. I'm a writer in Nairobi, Kenya. Do you take requests for book reviews?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I do but only from publishers and only via email

[@dani22257]

I personally call it historical crime fiction (not every book advertised as gothic is gothic imho) and along with fantasy it's my favourite genre. I am reading Gallant right now and I love how atmospherical it is - helped along with the lovely dark illustrations. I agree with you that the book is very YA, which is always a gamble with me as it's not my preferred reading, but I'm enjoying it so far. Infact, I keep thinking this would've been a really nice Halloween read. I've read Beth Underdown's first book (The Witchfinder's Sister) and at the time I found it immersive and atmospherical and I really liked the angle from which the story (which is based on true facts) is told. But I have a weakness for all things witches so I'm not sure anyone else would like it as much.