Fans pick 95 books like Cursed

By Leigh Kenny,

Here are 95 books that Cursed fans have personally recommended if you like Cursed. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Book cover of The Suffering

Sarah Jules Author Of You Invited It In

From my list on supernatural horror written by indie authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an indie horror author from Yorkshire, England. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and horror films and developed a love of all things spooky and/or creepy. Supernatural horror has always been my favorite genre. When it’s done well, it has the capacity to be absolutely terrifying. It took me writing a couple of books before I finally jumped headfirst into writing supernatural horror. To me, there’s nothing scarier than the unknown, and that’s what I want to explore in my writing, and also my reading. I am also a huge advocate of indie authors, and I am thrilled to share these recommendations with you. 

Sarah's book list on supernatural horror written by indie authors

Sarah Jules Why did Sarah love this book?

I am such a lover of ghost stories, hauntings, and anything paranormal. After a while, haunting/supernatural books can all feel very similar. However, this book is a complete wild card. I love the unique take on multiple ghosts.

It is creative, funny, and has some really creepy scenes too. It’s perfect for somebody wanting to explore more horror because it’s not super dark but will still give you a good scare.

By MJ Mars,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Suffering as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"It was a suffering like no other. And, oh, how they suffered."
Recreating the séance that led to the infamous Victorian Suffering massacre seems like a good idea at the time. But Kyle Birbeck soon discovers that the ghosts his distant ancestor banished into the walls of Brackenby House in 1876 have been lurking, waiting for a chance to come out. One by one the 5 terrifying ghosts latch onto each of the students who reside at Brackenby, preying on their deepest fears: A 3-eyed Incan giant. A member of the Hellfire Club who struck a deal with the devil…


Book cover of The House on Hanging Hill Lane: Darkness Creeps Closer

Sarah Jules Author Of You Invited It In

From my list on supernatural horror written by indie authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an indie horror author from Yorkshire, England. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and horror films and developed a love of all things spooky and/or creepy. Supernatural horror has always been my favorite genre. When it’s done well, it has the capacity to be absolutely terrifying. It took me writing a couple of books before I finally jumped headfirst into writing supernatural horror. To me, there’s nothing scarier than the unknown, and that’s what I want to explore in my writing, and also my reading. I am also a huge advocate of indie authors, and I am thrilled to share these recommendations with you. 

Sarah's book list on supernatural horror written by indie authors

Sarah Jules Why did Sarah love this book?

This was one of the first ‘indie horror’ books I read. I had no idea what to expect, but the beautiful cover illustration already had me hooked. I adore Baker’s style of writing. It feels like poetry, in a way, and yet the story he tells is very dark.

I have quickly become a huge fan of Baker, and he is such a huge supporter of other authors (and a genuinely nice chap). Win-win.

By Philip Alexander Baker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The House on Hanging Hill Lane as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

There is more going on at Hanging Hill Lane than simple mass killings.

Daphne Locke, eighteen and alone, is back in her old childhood house as a sequence of brutal killings moves closer. Powerless policemen break down and cry, tortured by the most horrific crimes they have ever seen.

Murders are not the only darkness on the street. Creepy neighbours act impossibly. Dogged, pushy missionaries prophesy and stalk. Daphne wonders if she’s going mad, or if there truly is something real and insidious at play.

Perhaps the fresh grief of her mother’s death is testing her sanity. Perhaps her childhood…


Book cover of In the Blood

Sarah Jules Author Of You Invited It In

From my list on supernatural horror written by indie authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an indie horror author from Yorkshire, England. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and horror films and developed a love of all things spooky and/or creepy. Supernatural horror has always been my favorite genre. When it’s done well, it has the capacity to be absolutely terrifying. It took me writing a couple of books before I finally jumped headfirst into writing supernatural horror. To me, there’s nothing scarier than the unknown, and that’s what I want to explore in my writing, and also my reading. I am also a huge advocate of indie authors, and I am thrilled to share these recommendations with you. 

Sarah's book list on supernatural horror written by indie authors

Sarah Jules Why did Sarah love this book?

This book deserves far more eyes on it. EC Samuels has a beautiful style of writing; it is real, raw, and believable. You can picture yourself right there in the thick of it–which is a Catch-22 situation when it comes to horror books.

This is Samuels’s debut novel, and she knocked it out of the park. If you’re a vampire lover but want something darker and far more ‘British,’ This is a safe bet.

By E. C. Samuels,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Don’t open the door. Especially if it’s someone you know.

The sleepy English village of Crosseby is a nice place. A safe place. A place where everyone’s roots are generations’ deep. For Alf Schaeffer, it is a haven from a cruel world.

Then the newcomers arrive.

At first, Alf doesn’t understand why an attractive young couple would buy a long-abandoned plot of land, especially one whose stony soils and waist-high nettles hide the darkest chapter of Crosseby’s history.

But then people start to disappear.

At first, people panic. Disappearances don’t happen in places like Crosseby; that’s why people live there.…


Book cover of Soul Searchers

Sarah Jules Author Of You Invited It In

From my list on supernatural horror written by indie authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an indie horror author from Yorkshire, England. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and horror films and developed a love of all things spooky and/or creepy. Supernatural horror has always been my favorite genre. When it’s done well, it has the capacity to be absolutely terrifying. It took me writing a couple of books before I finally jumped headfirst into writing supernatural horror. To me, there’s nothing scarier than the unknown, and that’s what I want to explore in my writing, and also my reading. I am also a huge advocate of indie authors, and I am thrilled to share these recommendations with you. 

Sarah's book list on supernatural horror written by indie authors

Sarah Jules Why did Sarah love this book?

Horror lovers know Justin Boote by his alternative extreme horror pen name–J Boote–and many don’t necessarily realize that he writes supernatural horror, too. This is one of those books that has you thinking, ‘Oh God, what on earth would I do in that situation?’

I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest the entire time I was reaching it. It is dark and creepy and had me sleeping with the lights on.

By Justin Boote,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Soul Searchers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Described as, "Insidious meets Paranormal Activity!"
Susanne Hill has witnessed tragedy first-hand; her six-year-old daughter, Sally, died in a car crash years before. Having been plagued her whole life by ghostly visitations, Susanne decides to use her abilities to help others after being visited several times by Sally. Thanks to some ethereal friends, the Soul Searchers, Susanne dedicates her life to helping lost and trapped souls move on to a better place. But there are other, darker spirits that lurk in the netherworld. Spirits that want those souls for themselves…
When John and Cathy Richwood move into their new home,…


Book cover of Splintered

J.L. Jackola Author Of Adrift

From my list on where romance is as significant as world-building.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a reader, I have always been partial to fantasy—the sweeping worlds, the heroics, the adventures, and the characters. I grew up immersed in fantasy, and as I began my writing journey, I remained immersed in it. I love being transported to another world and escaping the mundane of life, exchanging it, if only briefly, for a life of excitement and magic. I am a fantasy romance writer at heart, and my writing personifies my love affair with both fantasy and romance. To me, romance is just as tantalizing as world-building. My books consist of powerful romances that weave perfectly with the magical world in which they bloom.

J.L.'s book list on where romance is as significant as world-building

J.L. Jackola Why did J.L. love this book?

Splintered is an Alice in Wonderland-based story.

I don’t typically read fairytale-inspired books, but this one was so beautifully crafted that I couldn’t put it down. The fantasy world-building is reminiscent of a Tim Burton film with vivid imagery and characters.

Alyssa is the great-great-great granddaughter of Alice. She worries her fate will leave her in an institution like others in her family until she finds herself in Wonderland.

This series has two romances—one between Alyssa and Jeb, and one between Alyssa and Morpheus. Jeb is her love in the human world, but Morpheus offers his own temptation. As the series progresses, she is torn between the two men and their two worlds, both feeding different sides of her.

There is no shortage of fantasy creatures and happenings in this series, nor is there a shortage of romantic sparks.

By A. G. Howard,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Splintered as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

A descendant of Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 16-year-old Alyssa Gardner fears she is mentally ill like her mother and predecessors until she discovers that Wonderland is real and, if she passes a series of tests to fix Alice's mistakes, she may be able to save her family from their age-old curse.


Book cover of Wyrde and Wayward

E M Graham Author Of An Ignorant Witch

From my list on fantasy with flawed main characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a multi-genre writer, a passionate reader, and, like all of us, a flawed human being. The stories that truly speak to me are the ones with a main character who is imperfect. I may not like the protagonist at first, but as the author develops the story and the hero’s challenges, the character grows, we see inside them and learn to love them, as they also learn to love and accept themselves, flaws and all. They use this growth to make a better world. And that’s what fiction is all about. Of course, it helps if they’re funny too. I love humor.

E M's book list on fantasy with flawed main characters

E M Graham Why did E M love this book?

A book by Charlotte English – what more needs to be said? You know it’s going to be an unputdownable, funny journey. Gussie thinks she’s the ‘normal’ one in the family, until her magical gift asserts itself. Spiky and unsociable in nature, Gussie finds her ‘wyrde’, and then begins to view herself in a new light. With this new confidence, she sets out to save her world.

By Charlotte E. English,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wyrde and Wayward as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

‘If you had not already realised it, this is a very strange house you are come to.’

The Scions of the House of Werth are all born normal. It is what happens afterwards that sets them apart.

It is not easy being the most supernatural family in England. Nell talks to the dead; Lord Werth is too often to be found out in the churchyard at the dead of night; and the less said about Lord Bedgberry, the better.

Only Miss Gussie Werth has missed out on the family curse. She sups on chocolate, not blood; she's blissfully oblivious to…


Book cover of Aru Shah and the End of Time

Landra Jennings Author Of Wand

From my list on middle grade with fresh takes on portal fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

Middle grade always takes a big portion of my TBR pile. I love the hopefulness that kids this age have. And for a child reader, a book can be a way to work out big emotions in a place far removed from their own life. I love the function of a portal in taking the reader that much further away from their reality. As a child, the fantasy A Wrinkle in Time got me through a difficult period. This love of fantasy and children’s literature is the reason I started writing in the first place. And why I got an MFA in writing specifically for children and young adults. 

Landra's book list on middle grade with fresh takes on portal fantasy

Landra Jennings Why did Landra love this book?

This is a “big” book in that it is reminiscent of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.

It is epic in scope, in action, and in humor—it is laugh-out-loud funny! The portals are many and, to further complicate things, have guardians. I loved the mixture of Hindu mythology with modern-day references (there are a lot!) along with a very modern kid sensibility. A thrill ride of an adventure.

By Roshani Chokshi,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Aru Shah and the End of Time as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this fantasy adventure by New York Times best-selling author, Roshani Chokshi, inspired by the great epics she grew up on.

Named one of 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time magazine!

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that…


Book cover of Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose

Pamela Christian Author Of Examine Your Faith! Finding Truth in a World of Lies

From my list on intellectual understanding with spiritual realities.

Why am I passionate about this?

Realizing I had made a complete mess of my life—being the farthest from my life’s hopes and dreams ever, I cried out to the God I learned about as a little girl. On that very dark night, with complete abandon, I sought God, desperately hoping He was real. I learned He, in fact, is real and everything and more, the Sunday School teacher explained. I was transformed in an instant. I have never come close to the despair and hopelessness of that night ever since. Now, I live my life helping others discover and live in the same life-giving Truth, leading people to balance rational thought with spiritual realities.

Pamela's book list on intellectual understanding with spiritual realities

Pamela Christian Why did Pamela love this book?

Current events have caused people everywhere to become abruptly aware of the existence of good and evil, and the forces that influence our daily lives.

Derek Prince explains the reality of the forces and the power of blessings and curses in a way that is not “spooky.” He has helped me literally take command over many life adversities that I thought I had to accept as part of life and take hold of the hope for my future God intends.

By Derek Prince,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Blessing or Curse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Life's trials and triumphs can seem accidental. One person may feel that life is a constant struggle in which pitfalls abound and someone seems out to get him. Another may feel that every day is a gift from God with special blessings just for her. That's because forces are at work in our lives: the blessings of a loving God or the curses of our spiritual adversary.

This hugely popular classic work of Derek Prince helps readers recognize if there are curses at work in their lives and shows them how to get out from under those curses to live…


Book cover of Freddie vs. the Family Curse

Jude Atwood Author Of Maybe There Are Witches

From my list on treating the supernatural with a clever sense of humor.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'd like to claim that my expertise in these matters stems from the fact that I am a supernatural entity—and a funny one at that. But my origin’s more mundane; when I was growing up on a corn & soybean farm miles outside of a rural village, I became a voracious reader. I was always intrigued by writers who could explore a world outside the bounds of reality and do it with style. Over the years, I’ve been a short-order cook, a corn detasseler, a summer camp counselor, a college professor, and a middle-grade author, and I’ve learned that you can find a little magic anywhere if you look hard enough.

Jude's book list on treating the supernatural with a clever sense of humor

Jude Atwood Why did Jude love this book?

Twelve-year-old Freddie Ruiz believes he is the victim of a multi-generational family curse: whenever the pressure’s on, he’s likely to stumble, fall, or embarrass himself.

When he finds an old amulet in the garage, he unwittingly releases the ghost of his great-granduncle, and now the curse gets worse: Freddie has just seven days to reverse it if he wants to survive!

A winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award, this book also makes powerful references to Filipino history that help ground the fantasy events in the real world. It’s full of nice moments—I giggled when I saw that Chapter 13 was crossed out (“too unlucky!”) and replaced with Chapter 14—and there’s great warmth in the scenes between Freddie and his various family members.

By Tracy Badua,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Freddie vs. the Family Curse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

WINNER OF THE 2023 SID FLEISCHMAN HUMOR AWARD

In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations . . . or be trapped in an amulet forever.

Freddie Ruiz is cursed.

While other people may have bad days, Freddie and his family have had bad generations: from bird poop splatting on him during picture day to the many tumbles and trips that earned him the nickname Faceplant Freddie. He's learned to lay low and keep himself out of trouble-which means:

no…


Book cover of Death's Detective

Audrey Driscoll Author Of The Friendship of Mortals

From my list on giving reality a supernatural twist.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 1998, I met H.P. Lovecraft's corpse-reanimating doctor, Herbert West. I found him intriguing, but HPL's story didn't tell me enough about what lay behind his bizarre interests. Why did his friend help and support him? To answer those questions, I wrote four genre-blending novels, of which The Friendship of Mortals is the first. Through West's librarian friend, Charles Milburn, I explore their friendship, the choices they make, and how they deal with the consequences of those choices. The setting is a college town in early 20th century New England, but with a supernatural twist.

Audrey's book list on giving reality a supernatural twist

Audrey Driscoll Why did Audrey love this book?

At first, I thought this was a historical mystery similar to the Sherlock Holmes stories. Nineteenth-century city, maybe in Russia? But what about the weird Bone Forest and the house on stilts? The detective, Konrad Savast, carries out his investigations in distinctly unorthodox ways. Then there are his spirit-serpent helpers, Eetapi and Ootapi. Sherlock never had anything like them! And in addition to the four mysteries to be solved in this book, there's the question of Konrad's relationship with apothecary Irinanda Falenia. Will it ever develop into something more than friendship?

By Charlotte E. English,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Death's Detective as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

To catch a killer, send a monster.

There's a realm. Wreathed in ice and snow, drowning in the dark, Assevan needs a different kind of hero.

There's a god. Merciless and cold, and quick to anger, the Lord of the Dead insists upon one thing only: vengeance for a murdered soul.

And there's a man. A ruthless killer, Konrad is detective, judge and executioner in one. Dauntless, relentless, monstrous, he stands alone against the dark.

Meet the Malykant. Justice will be served.

Four cases. Four killers. Four executions. Dark fantasy and murder mystery collide in this first collection of the…


Book cover of The Suffering
Book cover of The House on Hanging Hill Lane: Darkness Creeps Closer
Book cover of In the Blood

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