Gothic

Step into shadows where secrets fester and romance blooms darkly.

These books envelop you in richly imagined worlds, where the air is thick with melancholic beauty and pervasive tension. Expect a deliberate, immersive read, plumbing the depths of characters’ inner lives against a backdrop of high stakes and often oppressive grandeur. Perfect for those who crave a slow burn, intricate plots, and a touch of the macabre.

30 books
If There Be Thorns 📖
1. If There Be Thorns
Virginia C Andrews
psychological fiction gothic family drama psychological horror gothic manic
Pacing
60
Tone
20
World
10
Prose
45
Buy on Amazon Kindle
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories 📖
2. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
Black Rovina Cai Holly
fantasy urban fantasy darkly whimsical gothic vengeful
Pacing
45
Tone
30
World
92
Prose
78
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate 📖
3. Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate
Smith, L J
fantasy urban fantasy supernatural gothic romantic
Pacing
60
Tone
40
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Far From the Madding Crowd 📖
4. Far From the Madding Crowd
Thomas Hardy
literary fiction pastoral romance melancholic gothic romantic
Pacing
20
Tone
25
World
10
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Jane Eyre 📖
5. Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte
literary fiction classic romance melancholic gothic passionate
Pacing
30
Tone
40
World
10
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Heaven Officials Blessing Tian Guan Ci Fu Vol 1 📖
6. Heaven Officials Blessing Tian Guan Ci Fu Vol 1
Xiang Tong Xiu Mo
fantasy xianxia darkly comedic gothic romantic
Pacing
60
Tone
40
World
95
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Every Heart a Doorway 📖
7. Every Heart a Doorway
Seanan McGuire
fantasy dark fantasy boarding school gothic oppressive uncanny
Pacing
45
Tone
25
World
92
Prose
78
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale 📖
8. Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale
Black, Holly
fantasy urban fantasy dark oppressive gothic
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Great Expectations 📖
9. Great Expectations
Dickens Charles
literary fiction classic gothic romance melancholic oppressive gothic
Pacing
30
Tone
25
World
10
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Tales from Shakespeare 📖
10. Tales from Shakespeare
Lamb, Charles; Lamb, Mary; Charles; Lamb, Mary
romance tragic romance dramatic romantic gothic
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
10
Prose
45
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Tithe 📖
11. Tithe
Holly Black
fantasy urban fantasy darkly whimsical gothic oppressive
Pacing
40
Tone
25
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Empty Grave (US) 📖
12. The Empty Grave (US)
Stroud, Jonathan
fantasy urban fantasy tense gothic paranormal
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
85
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Raven King 📖
13. The Raven King
Stiefvater, Maggie
fantasy urban fantasy oppressive gothic melancholic
Pacing
40
Tone
20
World
95
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Fallen 📖
14. Fallen
Kate Lauren
fantasy urban fantasy / supernatural romance gothic romantic oppressive
Pacing
40
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Reckless 📖
15. Reckless
Funke, Cornelia
fantasy dark fantasy dark oppressive gothic
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings 📖
16. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings
Perkins Gilman Charlotte
literary fiction psychological horror psychological horror gothic obsessive
Pacing
40
Tone
30
World
10
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Legendary 📖
17. Legendary
Stephanie Garber
fantasy urban fantasy oppressive gothic magical
Pacing
70
Tone
30
World
95
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Lost Sisters 📖
18. The Lost Sisters
Black, Holly
fantasy urban fantasy melancholic angsty gothic
Pacing
40
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Bleak House 📖
19. Bleak House
Dickens Charles
literary fiction social realism melancholic oppressive gothic
Pacing
20
Tone
30
World
10
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
City of Ghosts 📖
20. City of Ghosts
Schwab, Victoria
fantasy urban fantasy tense gothic melancholic
Pacing
60
Tone
40
World
85
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Shadow of Night 📖
21. Shadow of Night
Deborah Harkness
fantasy historical fantasy gothic oppressive romantic
Pacing
60
Tone
40
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Touch Not the Cat 📖
22. Touch Not the Cat
Stewart, Mary
mystery gothic mystery gothic melancholic tense
Pacing
40
Tone
30
World
60
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Phantom of the Opera Open Road 📖
23. The Phantom of the Opera Open Road
Gaston Leroux
literary fiction gothic romance oppressive gothic melancholic
Pacing
40
Tone
25
World
90
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Infernal Devices Clockwork Angel Clockwork Prince Clockw 📖
24. The Infernal Devices Clockwork Angel Clockwork Prince Clockw
Cassandra Clare
fantasy urban fantasy tense gothic romantic
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Ballad of Never After 📖
25. The Ballad of Never After
Garber Stephanie
fantasy urban fantasy / romantic fantasy dark gothic romantic
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Vampire Diaries The Return Midnigh 📖
26. The Vampire Diaries The Return Midnigh
Smith, L J
fantasy urban fantasy with dark fairy tale elements gothic oppressive desperate
Pacing
60
Tone
40
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Stalking Jack the Ripper 📖
27. Stalking Jack the Ripper
Kerri Maniscalco
historical fiction historical mystery gothic psychological thriller melancholic
Pacing
60
Tone
20
World
10
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Little Stranger 📖
28. The Little Stranger
Waters, Sarah
literary fiction gothic psychological drama oppressive gothic melancholic
Pacing
30
Tone
25
World
10
Prose
85
Buy on Amazon Kindle
Nine Coaches Waiting 📖
29. Nine Coaches Waiting
Stewart, Mary
mystery gothic mystery gothic tense melancholic
Pacing
40
Tone
30
World
20
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle
The Creeping Shadow 📖
30. The Creeping Shadow
Stroud, Jonathan
fantasy urban fantasy tense gothic paranoid
Pacing
60
Tone
30
World
90
Prose
75
Buy on Amazon Kindle