Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.
Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses.
They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer.
In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.
Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity.
The horrormance genre blends different types of horror with various forms of romance to create a story that's as disturbing as it is heart-swelling. Horror and romance aren’t complete strangers, as they've crossed over in many great stories in the past. However, there’s a big difference between a romance story with a mild horror subplot, a horror with a dash of romance, and a horrormance. The newer genre uses the horror conventions to create fear or existential dread while also exploring the light or dark sides of romantic pairings.
Like any other form of romance, horrormance books can range from mild to spicy, and the relationships can range from healthy to toxic. There aren’t any guaranteed happily-ever-afters in horrormance, but many still choose that type of ending. Similarly, the genre can have more or less psychological torture, mild or intense body horror, and some supernatural creatures or none. There are so many different horror and romance combinations to dive into. Here are twenty-five published and upcoming horrormance books to read, broken down by horror type.
Horrormance books frequently include violence, graphic gore, and potentially distressing themes. Please consider checking the content warning, if available, before reading any of these books.
Gothic horror stories with monsters, like the vampire novels Carmilla and Dracula, laid the foundation for horror romance centuries ago. In 1976, Anne Rice redefined horror romance with Interview with the Vampire, a foundational work of literature in the genre. As such, it’s no surprise that monster horrormance is perhaps the most abundant category, with plenty of great options for readers.
Whether it’s telling ghost stories around the bonfire or playing with a Ouija board, folks remain fascinated by the idea of evil spirits existing in our world. The perennial interest helps explain why incorporeal beings frequently show up in the horrormance genre. These books range from ghosts as positive forces, like the reader being a ghost character in Haunted Hearts, to them being predatory, destructive forces, like in Feast While You Can.
Horror and sci-fi have gone hand in hand for centuries, as in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and some of the best modern franchises understand this, like Alien and Predator. These books take the blended genre a step further by throwing romance in as well. They feature everything from genetic experiments to alien planets, making them just as diverse in the sci-fi department as they are in horror.
Slasher TV series and movies are a cornerstone of the horror genre, remaining popular throughout the 70s and 80s and seeing a major revival in the mid-90s. Nowadays, they’re just as big on paper as they are on the screen. These slasher horrormance books feature traditional elements like masked killers and character archetypes but with fresh stories.
Even though it’s considered relatively new, Horrormance is as widespread as any other genre. If something can scare you, it’s a pretty safe bet that there’s at least one book blending it with romance. Zombies have their place, as do folk horrors. For this reason, not every book will be for everyone.
I may skip a corpse story like Decomposition Book because biological decay gives me the ick, but pick up a zombie survival horror rom-com. Meanwhile, you may want to skip a sci-fi horror or a cannibalism tale, depending on your taste, but be in search of a monster story. Ultimately, the variety is a good thing, though, because anyone who loves horror and romance can find something to enjoy.
