Few genres pull us as deeply into the cold darkness as horror, especially when told through Indigenous voices. Winter allows us to slow down, settle in and pick up a good book. Indigenous voices have brought us chilling and captivating works that challenge genre expectations and offer new ways to understand fear, survival, and connection. Let’s talk about it.
This list brings together five indigenous books that provide the perfect winter blend of suspense, horror, and beautifully crafted scares. Some lean more toward the psychological, others prefer sharp, character-driven stories, but all are horrifying in their own way. These books share a deep sense of place and a tradition of storytelling, amplifying tension in special ways and exploring the deep sense of humanity that connects us all.
Whether you’re looking for a winding down time, a twisty tale that will keep you awake past your bedtime, or a blend of cultural lore and modern horror, these indigenous voices provide winter reading that will spark your imagination and chill your bones, no matter how warm your blankets are.
and she fell Written by Alicia Elliott. From Dutton Books
“On the surface, Alice is exactly where she thinks she should be. She has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl, Dawn. Her attractive husband Steve (a white academic whose field of study is conveniently her own Mohican culture) is nothing but supportive, and the two have moved into a new home in an upscale Toronto neighborhood. She can’t feel like she’s an impostor. The recent loss of her mother makes that struggle even more difficult, and she spends every waking moment hiding her despair from Steve, the only native of them all. The only trace of her former life that she has left hinders her goal of writing a modern retelling of the Haudenosaunee creation story, and she finds herself gradually losing time among her neighbors and hearing voices she can’t explain, but this is all inside her head. Alice says that something is very wrong and that she must end it before it’s too late. It reminded me of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
broken snow moon Written by Wabgesich Reiss. From ECW Press
“As winter approaches, darkness engulfs small Anishinaabe communities in the north. Cut off, the people are passive and confused. Food supplies dwindle and panic rises. While the band council and some community members struggle to maintain order, unexpected visitors arrive, fleeing the crumbling society south. Others soon follow. Visitors manipulate tired and hungry people into leaving the reserve. As they try to take control, community leaders lose their power. Tensions rise and the death toll rises as the months pass.” Illness and despair lead a group of young friends and their families to seek to restore order as they grapple with critical decisions, turning to the land and their Anishinabe traditions in hopes that an unexpected leader named Evan Whitesky will help the community prosper again. snow moon Subvert our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And when one society collapses, another is reborn. ” Was this novel that frightening in plausibility? To be honest, I think the story “It can happen” had a huge impact on me.
Takutumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories By various authors. From Inhabit Media
“‘Taqtumi’ means ‘in the dark’ in Inuktitut, and this spine-chilling horror novel by a Northern author shows how dangerous the darkness can be. A family clinging for survival in a tundra infected with a deadly zombie virus. A beckoning door waits to unleash the horrors behind it. Things A post-apocalyptic community in the Far North that is not quite what it seems. With chilling stories from award-winning authors, this collection from authors Richard Van Camp, Rachel and Sean Kutsualik-Tinsley, Aviak Johnston and others will excite and entertain even the most seasoned horror fan. ” I completely devoured this collection. It’s also a short one for those who haven’t hit their 2025 TBR (to-be-read) goals yet.
We Like It Cherry Written by Jaycee Morris. From Tenebrous Press
“Ezra Monbank is burnt out. The reality series he hosts that immerses himself in Indigenous culture and celebrations borders on pure exploitation and has been relegated to tax-exempt status by the agency, something he has long envisioned. Everything changes when Ezra receives an invitation to document the rituals of a mysterious, hitherto unknown tribe, the Winokin, who live in the harsh and harsh environment of the Arctic. Ezra and his crew soon depart for Winnoquin’s stronghold, only to find themselves embroiled in a bloody battle for survival against a mythical horror with a deep grudge against modern humans. We Like It Cherry This is a story about the search for identity and success, sprinkled with supernatural slasher vibes and the harrowing tenacity of survival horror. ” You can read my review of this work here: We Like It Cherry Full Review.
buffalo hunter hunter Written by Stephen Graham Jones. From Saga Press Books
“This chilling historical novel is set in the early days of Montana and follows a Blackfeet Indian named Good Stab who haunts the Blackfeet fields in search of justice. The story begins when a diary written in 1912 by a Lutheran minister is discovered within a wall in 2012. What is revealed is a slow massacre of 217 Blackfeet who perished in the snow. A series of nearly forgotten events dating back to the Foot Tribe. A series of transcribed interviews with Good Stab tells the story of his unique and unnaturally long life. This is a true masterpiece of American Indian revenge, captured in the vivid voice of one of the new masters of horror literature, and I can’t recommend it more.
Reading in winter is filled with atmosphere. These five indigenous horror books deliver in an unforgettable way. Each title offers a unique blend of horror, beauty, and cultural depth, proving how important Indigenous stories are to today’s reading landscape. These pieces turn a cold night into an immersive experience. Add it to your winter reading list, share it with fellow book lovers, and let their powerful voices help you through the darkest time of the year.
All book summaries and photos provided by the respective publishers
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