Women Reclaim Their Power in These 7 Horror Novels

From the start, Harrison toys with your assumptions only to rip them away in the most devious way possible. We know Vesper escaped her religious community at eighteen. She shouldn’t be allowed back. So why did her cousin invite her to a wedding?

It’s a roller coaster ride of mind games, family guilt, and toxic beliefs, all aimed at forcing Vesper to behave the way they want. And when she’s finally had enough, it escalates into a finale that bangs a devilishly wicked tune of empowerment all the way to the end.

You’ve heard the story about the infamous doctor and his island of experiments. But what if he had a daughter? When the charming and reckless son of Dr. Moreau’s patron arrives at their isolated estate, he sparks something dangerous in the obedient Carlota.

This is a slow-burn journey into Carlota’s awakening. What happens in their estate is disturbing, but the backdrop of colonialism and oppression add layers to the tension and mystery. Will Carlota find freedom? Or will she exchange one set of shackles for another?

A wildly unique zombie novel that follows a teenage Sophie as she is forced out of her sheltered life when a viral apocalypse hits the United States. The only person she trusts is her brother. And while he’s only miles away, given the violent symptoms of the disease, he might as well be on another planet. Growing up is brutal and Leede doesn’t hold back.

I spent the entire novel holding my breath. It’s an intense coming of age story that manages to brim with hope and horror in equal measure.

The first time I read this novel, my heart ached. Don’t get me wrong. Jones drenches his prose in so much blood the pages are sticky. Jade Daniels is unlike any final girl I’ve read before. She’s raw and untamed and filled with so much hurt. It’s what gives her an edge, even if she doesn’t know it. And while she doesn’t believe in herself, the more she insists that she isn’t the final girl, the more you root for her. Until finally, at the very end, she turns to face the horrors not just of the present, but her past, and roars.

Feminine power is often associated with youth. It’s sexual prowess. Virility. That’s why older women tend to be overlooked. Discarded and ignored. Especially once they hit menopause. But sometimes, that invisibility offers freedom.

Mary has always blended into the background. Now middle-aged, her body is changing. She expected the hot flashes and body aches. She didn’t expect hearing voices or passing out in front of mirrors. There’s an echo of the past calling her. Urging her to do things. One way or another, Mary is going to find out exactly who she is, and what’s she’s capable of.

It would be impossible to write a list of horror novels on female empowerment and not include Carrie. After all, it’s gory and haunting and … spectacular. From the first blood-filled scene to the last, you can’t help but feel for Carrie. Not to mention, several villains just aching to get what they deserve. By the time we get to those final scenes, it’s impossible to revel in the mayhem Carrie unleashes on the town. It’s a revenge story that is simply oh so satisfying to read.

While the novel isn’t exactly classified as horror, there’s no doubt that it is drenched in it. Gilead exists only to subjugate women in the most awful ways. The story follows Offred, once known as June, as she recounts her life in Gilead under a vicious monotheocratic government. It’s a harrowing story from beginning to end. And yet, despite losing her marriage, her child, and even with her life on the line, June refuses to lose herself. Sometimes female empowerment is explosive. And sometimes, it’s simply refusing to let them win.