Horror Aficionados discussion

Wolf HuntCozy horror? That's a good question...

The first thing that comes to mind would be some of Jeff Strand's books - the Wolf Hunt series, for example.

It's got supernatural elements with a werewolf but also some really screwball characters and humor.
And maybe that's the clue, seems like 'cozy' horror would have elements of humor to ease the scares.

The Carrow Haunt by Darcy Coates felt very cozy horrorish to me. Loved it.

'Boy's life' by Robert McCammon. And other coming of age horror. Maybe you'll find a lot of what you seek within that genre. I'm attracted to 'Coming of age horror' precisely because it is cozy. In fact, I'm attracted to the the whole horror genre for that reason: for the opposite. I remember the first horror movie I saw. It started with a friendly, warm, loving family, their dog wagging his tail and... I was bored, 'BAH bourgeois'. But at the end of the movie I was so glad to see them all safe at home, I was even glad for seeing that wagging tail again. I needed the horror to appreciate the cozy again.

I'm about 60 pages into Cackle by Rachel Harrison. So far I would list this book as "cozy horror."

Badseedgirl, Cackle is on my Tbr List. I think I will give it a try soon.

The bookish Witch wrote: "Badseedgirl, Cackle is on my Tbr List. I think I will give it a try soon."

I finished it and it is definitely what I would consider "cozy horror." I really enjoyed it too.

It by King comes to my mind. I feel it as cozy, because of the kids, the small town, the bonds.. Someone was saying something about 'coming of age' horror and I think I agree. Mayb3its that for me too.

Morgan, I agree that "House with Good Bones" would be cozy horror, as well as "Practical Magic". (love Alice Hoffman!!)

Any horror without "on-the-page violence", murder, sex, or swearing would probably qualify, as those are the hallmarks of the "cozy mystery". They are not dark despite some bad things that can happen, it's never gratuitous or vulgar.

Not sure about the others listed on the thread here (haven't read) but I'm wondering about IT. I've only seen the movie, and I'd say that wasn't a traditional cozy feel Lol

As far as cozy fantasy, the only one I've read recently is "Legends and Lattes". It was cute, really low stakes, high fantasy. Not my normal reading preference but I found it relaxing!

Nice. I like the concept of "Spindle's End"!

I just looked up the term and saw a few lists showing "The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires" by Grady Hendrix as cozy horror. Glad it was mentioned. It's a shame I keep forgetting to read this one...moving it to my priority reads!

Erika wrote: "Morgan, I agree that "House with Good Bones" would be cozy horror, as well as "Practical Magic". (love Alice Hoffman!!)

Any horror without "on-the-page violence", murder, sex, or swearing would pr..."

I agree with Erica as far as no on the page murder and sex, and would add that, for me at least, cozy horror means that any child or animal introduced to the story is going to be safe by the end. Darcy Coates and T. Kingfisher have proven very reliable for my expectations in this regard. The books I've read from these authors that would qualify (and also have, for the most part, happy endings) are: The Haunting of Ashburn House, A House with Good Bones, Gallows Hill, The Hollow Places, and The Twisted Ones.

Adriennelee wrote: "Erika wrote: "Morgan, I agree that "House with Good Bones" would be cozy horror, as well as "Practical Magic". (love Alice Hoffman!!)

Any horror without "on-the-page violence", murder, sex, or swe..."

T. Kingfisher and Rachel Harrison are two authors that immediately come to mind for this type.

Another vote for Practical Magic.

You might also look into Neil Gaiman's work, like Neverwhere and Coraline and Steve Sidor's Fury From the Tomb, which is adventure/horror and feels like you're reading an old movie. Also, Christopher Fowler's Hell Train, which purports to be the script of an unfilmed Hammer Studios horror movie.

At this point, a lot of older horror fits that description because later writers ramped up the effects. So ...

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Conjure Wife
Our Lady of Darkness
The Edge of Running Water
To Walk the Night

If you're not allergic to short stories, you could also try,
The Collected Supernatural & Weird Fiction of M. R. James: The Novelette 'The Five Jars, ' the Classic Short Stories 'Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book, ' 'l
Night's Black Agents
The Early Fears

I think that cozy horror and dark fantasy are, if not the same thing then are kissing cousins of each other.

Rosemary’s Baby… just finished that and there was something very cozy about it…the descriptions of the new apartment and the grand building, the new addition of furniture and making of the new rooms. The overall soft mood- sometimes melancholy and the mounting horror that becomes her new reality.

Badseedgirl wrote: "I think that cozy horror and dark fantasy are, if not the same thing then are kissing cousins of each other."

I would agree with you on that!

I'm reading Suburban Hell and it would def fall into this catagory of Cozy Horror.

A few other titles came to mind which, as with Coraline and Practical Magic, seem inspired by Something Wicked This Way Comes:

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson (this flirts with horror)
The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford (he also wrote The Twilight Pariah, which feels like a variation on this. It was entertaining, but Shadow Year is better.)
The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan (this has moments when it's emotionally brutal, so somewhat less cozy)

Morgan wrote: "I agree on The Saturday Night Ghost club fitting into this category.
I think a lot of middle grade and YA horror could, arguably, fit this category. Since it’s aimed at a younger age group, most mi..."

Good catch. A lot of what I would classify as "cozy horror" could also be described as coming-of-age stories.

Cozy horror definitely sounds like an oxymoron lol

Justin wrote: "Cozy horror definitely sounds like an oxymoron lol"

yep, it sure does but when cozy horror is done well, it can be a lot of fun.
I'm reading Suburban Hell and it's doing a great job of poking fun at a group of suburban women and motherhood while one of the group's members could be possessed by something evil.

Years before the term "cozy horror" was a thing, I would read what I liked to called "Light and Fluffy" horror. Looking back now, they were mostly cozy horror. They tended to be quick reads, and in the summer, that is what I enjoyed.

I've started in on Our Hideous Progeny and I think cozy horror is a good way to describe! As in, not particularly stressful but definitely a Gothic, masterpiece theatre vibe.

Towards the end of the '80s horror boom, there was a spat between the splatterpunks and those who wrote "quiet horror" of which the chief proponent was Charles Grant. Written in all seriousness, I still think his work might now fit neatly into "cozy horror."

So it's like a jacked up and darker version of cozy mysteries lol

Randy wrote: "Towards the end of the '80s horror boom, there was a spat between the splatterpunks and those who wrote "quiet horror" of which the chief proponent was Charles Grant. Written in all seriousness, I ..."

I would definitely consider most "quiet horror" as cozy horror. Considering cozy mystery just means that any death or sex takes place off the page, and quiet horror makes a point of not having the gruesome scenes. That makes the two genres similar. I think a lot of gothic horror like The Silent Companions could be considered cozy horror, and most books by Darcy Coates , There was already someone who mentioned one of her books. I also enjoyed The Forgotten Child A LOT, and I think it falls into this category as well.

To be honest, I don't there is a such thing as cozy horror. I mean some horror is more extreme than others. Some horror is more haunting than others.. Some horror can be kind of boring, but I don't think it can be "cozy"
I've watched a lot of horror movies, and not one has made feel like I need a cup of coffee and a blanket... Some have just been like, meh...
I hope this makes sense.

Someone mentioned T Kingfisher, and yes. A House With Good Bones definitely feels like a good fit for the genre. Something else I recently read is a little indie author book called Friends with Death by James Wright. Death is out of a job due to a zombie apocalypse and discovers that he really doesn’t have any friends. So he sets out to find some. A cute idea. More cozy, but in a horror setting.

Ariel wrote: "To be honest, I don't there is a such thing as cozy horror. I mean some horror is more extreme than others. Some horror is more haunting than others.. Some horror can be kind of boring, but I don't..."

What do you mean? Curling up with a cup of coffee and a blanket is the perfect way to watch a horror movie!

Diane wrote: "Someone mentioned T Kingfisher, and yes. A House With Good Bones definitely feels like a good fit for the genre. Something else I recently read is a little indie author book called Friends with Dea..."

After reading this, I had to find Friends With Death and get a sample to see if I need to add it to my TBR pile.

Ash wrote: "Ariel wrote: "To be honest, I don't there is a such thing as cozy horror. I mean some horror is more extreme than others. Some horror is more haunting than others.. Some horror can be kind of borin..."
Cool!

Diane wrote: "Someone mentioned T Kingfisher, and yes. A House With Good Bones definitely feels like a good fit for the genre. "

I always had that impression about that story, glad I saw your comment!

WendyB wrote: "Wolf HuntCozy horror? That's a good question...

The first thing that comes to mind would be some of Jeff Strand's books - the Wolf Hunt series, for example.

It's got..."

Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand is a gem, laughing while reading horror is honestly one of my favorite things but it very rarely happens. Yet this book is vicious lol.

Kasia wrote: "WendyB wrote: "Wolf HuntCozy horror? That's a good question...

The first thing that comes to mind would be some of Jeff Strand's books - the Wolf Hunt series, for exa..."

I just started the audiobook of this, and so far, I'm loving it. I love horror with a sense of humor as well.

I'm reading an ARC for John Connolly's Night and Day, and so far the first 3 stories I would classify as cozy horror.

I haven't really read much of cozy horror, but I think The September House might fit. Not a lot happens but things do happen...if that makes sense.

I enjoyed that one and might try other cozy horrors based on that. Rachel Harrison is definitely on the list, especially as I'm making my way through 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered . The Return by Rachel Harrison is one listed.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell is a blend of horror, fantasy, and romance, and I read an interview or article a while back where the author described it as cozy horror, and I absolutely think that fits.

Elizabeth wrote: "Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell is a blend of horror, fantasy, and romance, and I read an interview or article a while back where the author described it as cozy ho..."

I've heard similar things. It's for sure on my to be read list. The concept is really interesting.