Why am I passionate about this?

Ever since I was a little girl and watched the 1943 version of Jane Eyre on Halloween, I’ve had an affinity for gothic fiction. I love books that keep me up at night, the slow, subtle creep of horror that this genre elicits. Combine that with fantastical elements, or better yet a retelling of an old classic, and I’m in. Writing A Multitude of Dreams, a reimagining of Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, allowed me to indulge in everything I love about gothic fantasy, and it gave me the perfect excuse to read as much of it as possible. 


I wrote

A Multitude of Dreams

By Mara Rutherford,

Book cover of A Multitude of Dreams

What is my book about?

Princess Imogen has lived a sheltered life, safe from the bloody plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Imogen has a…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of House of Salt and Sorrows

Mara Rutherford Why did I love this book?

The story of twelve sisters disappearing from their crumbling manor one by one, House of Salt and Sorrows was among the first young adult gothic fantasies I read, and I loved every second of it.

Craig is a master of writing spooky, suspenseful novels, whether they’re set in a haunted mansion by the sea or a quiet village on the edge of a dark forest. And readers just picking up HoSaS for the first time are in luck – the sequel, House of Roots and Ruin, will be out on July 25th!

By Erin A. Craig,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked House of Salt and Sorrows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Get swept away by this “haunting” (Bustle) YA novel about twelve beautiful sisters living on an isolated island estate who begin to mysteriously die one by one. This dark and atmospheric fairy tale inspired story is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

"Step inside a fairy tale." —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of…


Book cover of What Moves the Dead

Mara Rutherford Why did I love this book?

T. Kingfisher has one of the most unique and compelling literary voices I’ve read, so I was delighted when I discovered she’d penned a retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.

Full of zombie-like hares and an extremely disturbing fungus, Kingfisher combines horror with dry humor to create a novella that is utterly unique and impossible to put down.

By T. Kingfisher,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked What Moves the Dead as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An instant USA Today & Indie bestseller

From the Nebula and Hugo award-winning author of The Twisted Ones, comes What Moves the Dead, a gripping and atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher."

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her…


Book cover of Unholy Terrors

Mara Rutherford Why did I love this book?

Clipstone proved herself a master of the genre with her debut, Lakesedge, and its sequel, Forestfall.

Her upcoming novel, Unholy Terrors, continues her streak of deliciously dark and romantic fantasies. This story of a monster hunter falling under the spell of the very monster she’s sent to kill is full of lyrical prose and impeccable Spooky Season vibes.

There’s even a nod to the goth aesthetic, complete with black nail polish and lipstick. Chef’s kiss perfection.

By Lyndall Clipstone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unholy Terrors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Everline Blackthorn has devoted her life to the wardens―a sect of holy warriors who guard against monsters known as the vespertine.

When a series of strange omens occur, Everline disobeys orders to investigate, and uncovers a startling truth in the form of Ravel Severin: a rogue vespertine who reveals the monsters have secrets of their own.

Ravel promises the help she needs― for a price. Vespertine magic requires blood, and if Everline wants Ravel to guide across the dangerous moorland, she will have to allow him to feed from her.

It’s a sin for a warden to feed a vespertine―…


Book cover of One Dark Window

Mara Rutherford Why did I love this book?

When the brilliant artist Charlie Bowater created fan art for One Dark Window, I immediately purchased a copy. And I can absolutely understand the hype.

With a magic system unlike anything I’ve ever read – think haunted tarot cards – and a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, I will definitely be picking up the sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, when it comes out in October. 

By Rachel Gillig,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked One Dark Window as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE FANTASY BOOKTOK SENSATION!

For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn't the only threat lurking.

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets…


Book cover of Juniper & Thorn

Mara Rutherford Why did I love this book?

Ava Reid can do no wrong, in my humble opinion.

She’s one of the best Jewish fantasy authors writing today, and she isn’t afraid to cover the darkest aspects of humanity (up to and including cannibalism). Juniper and Thorn is a retelling of The Juniper Tree and follows the story of Marlinchen, her sisters, and their absolutely repulsive wizard father.

Combining fairytale elements - there are hints of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Cinderella, and Slavic folklore here - with Reid’s utterly immersive voice, Juniper and Thorn has earned its spot among my favorite books.

By Ava Reid,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Juniper & Thorn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A tale of fear and survival, hope and yearning and defiance, in timelessly elegant prose. It will enchant you, break your heart, and chill you to the very marrow.' Samantha Shannon on The Wolf and the Woodsman

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf and the Woodsman comes a gothic retelling of The Juniper Tree, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her abusive wizard father. Perfect for fans of Angela Carter, Catherynne M. Valente and Shirley Jackson
_________________________________

A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites.…


Explore my book 😀

A Multitude of Dreams

By Mara Rutherford,

Book cover of A Multitude of Dreams

What is my book about?

Princess Imogen has lived a sheltered life, safe from the bloody plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends into madness, unhappy murmurings threaten to reveal the charade being played within the castle walls.

Nico Mott once enjoyed a life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence? When Crane sends Nico to search for more plague survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to escape. But they’ll have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven to survive the nightmares ahead.

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Book cover of Glimmer of the Other

Heather G. Harris

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Delve into this internationally best-selling series, now complete! A fast paced laugh-out-loud mix of Urban Fantasy and Mystery.

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time. I’m Jinx, a PI hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar–yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish soul who’s as likely to go off the rails as Mother Theresa. Secondly, I’m not the only one on her trail; she’s also being tracked by the implacable and oh-so-sexy Inspector Stone. Stone…

By Heather G. Harris,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Glimmer of the Other as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time.

I’m Jinx. As a private investigator, being a walking, talking lie detector is a useful skill – but let’s face it, it’s not normal. You’d think it would make my job way too easy, but even with my weird skills, I still haven’t been able to track down my parent’s killers.

When I’m hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar – yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish…


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