by Iris

After the incredible popularity of the Romantasy subgenre and the smaller, but noticeable emergence of Crimance, a new Romance crossover has now started to appear on our shelves: Horromance. As you’re probably able to guess from the portmanteau (we promise we’re not the ones coming up with these names), this new kid on the block is a fusion of Romance and Horror. Writer’s Digest calls it “the goth sibling to Romantasy,” and says

“While Romantasy is all about fantastical high concept stories – court intrigues, high-stakes plots, and richly detailed secondary worlds – Horrormance is closer to home. It’s rawer, sharper, with speculative elements that are grounded in the real world.”

Blending these two genres might seem contradictory at first, but it turns out that many readers enjoy mixing the chills and thrills of Horror with the swooning and yearning of Romance! And really, it’s not even that new of a concept: just think of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë or Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Both genres draw from Gothic fiction in their own ways.

So if you’re looking for a new (sub)genre to dive into this spooky season, Horromance might just be the ticket.

For some reading recommendations to get you started, check out the carousel below!