This is an excellent and carefully crafted handbook on all things written by women in horror. There’s many different categories and the recommendations that come with them are top notch. I’ve read many included in this book but also, naturally, added a ton more I need to read. Sadie is a fixture of the horror community and you can feel how much she cares with the way this book was compiled. I also really love how Sadie doesn’t shy away from recommending books with tough subject matter. She gives us the information we need and trusts us to make the choice to read something, or not, for ourselves. The author essays sprinkled throughout are also wonderful and the introduction is simply *chefs kiss*. And the ILLUSTRATIONS! Freaking gorgeous!! Thank you to Page Street Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC. You must pick this up when it publishes August 19th.

Let me first say… wow! The Foreward. That in itself is enough to read this!!

Mother Horror does it again. I found her first when I discovered 101 Horror Books to read before murdered and it broke my TBR.

Well this book is no different. Just when I think I’ve had my fair share of horror books, Sadie comes back and blows my damn mind.

Sooo many amazing books were added to my TBR after reading this! Women do it right. They make you feel more in horror books!

I love how Sadie articulates her own thoughts and she writes so beautifully!

I did receive a earc for early review and I do wish I waited for the real deal because the formatting was way off. This is a trophy book, a reference book. A must have in physical form and something you will constantly go back to.

I am definitely going to give myself the challenge of 50 horror books in 50 states!!

While author Sadie Hartmann’s last book ( "101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered" ) was an appreciation of contemporary horror fiction on the rise during this current and glorious horror renaissance, this newest addition to her bibliography is all about the ladies, women in horror who take a hatchet to the myth that a genre centering scares is not for them.

This book is everything! It’s a "vibey" horror reference guide, perfect for readers’ advisory. It’s a reading checklist. It’s a curation of horror essays. It’s a breakdown and spotlight on niche horror sub-genres. It’s an acknowledgement of women writers’ dismantling and reimagining of worn out horror tropes. And Hartmann lays it all out in a way that’s accessible to readers’ both seasoned and new to the horror genre. You feel like you’re sitting down to a cup of coffee with her as she brings you into her beautiful, dark, twisted world of horror fiction.

"Feral & Hysterical" is a celebration of the reclusive witchy woman in the woods, the vampire thirsting for her own desires, the spectral maiden seeking revenge, the unhinged women reclaiming their power, the bold women navigating the dark unknowns, the lost women freefalling into the void, the women going through “monstrous” metamorphosis, the women figuratively and literally eating hearts out. It is a spotlight on the women wielding axes, brewing potions, slaying zombies, beating odds, starting trouble, making messes, taking names, breaking bones, spilling blood. Hartmann puts women writers on their rightful pedestal as masters of the macabre.

And as she so rightfully put it, “Women are overqualified to write fictional horror. Period.”

Thank you for NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for this free ARC.
I blame Sadie for my huge TBR list! Another great collection of authors that fit every vibe you are feeling at that moment in time. I was happy to see I had already read a few books on the list and have done a few for my horror book club.

Am I a biased party? Yes. Am I still right about this book being a cool af must-buy? Absolutely.

Feral and Hysterical is, without a doubt, the ultimate guide to woman-led horror (And if we’re all being real honest with ourselves, women are leading the way in horror fiction). The categorization is extremely accessible and will resonate with every reader, the essays are illuminating and insightful, the art is stunning, and Sadie’s unique voice shines through from cover to cover, shepherding us toward our ultimate TBR. Feral and Hysterical is further confirmation that Sadie Hartmann was crowned Mother Horror for a reason.

Sadie Hartmann has created a valuable resource here for anyone who wishes to expand their "to be read" lists of horror works by women authors. As someone very interested in genre history, I would have liked to see a broader treatment of women authors across the decades -- the recommendations here are heavily weighted toward recent works without much of a grounding of women in the genre over time -- but although Hartmann's perspective is thin on history and the larger (and longer) conversation it represents, it is wide in terms of niche tropes, diversity, and cleverly-framed subgenres, and that makes this work quite useful and engaging. Sections on, for example, "Documentaries, Cursed Films, and Found Footage" and "What Women Say About Femicide in Latin America Through Horror Fiction" are most welcome. Additional segments, including guest mini-essays from women horror writers and a very entertaining "50 States, 50 Books by Women" breakdown, add additional insights. Over time, I expect to return frequently to the handy (and conveniently subdivided by topic) reading checklist at the end of the book. Hartmann's greatest contribution here, aside from the useful lists, is her exploration of the concept of "vibes reading" and how she ties this into her feminist exploration of genre. I would recommend this to all those interested in expanding their reading in horror and the Gothic.

Sadie Hartmann's "Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror's Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women" promises to be an indispensable resource for any horror fan looking to expand their literary horizons and delve into the chilling depths of women's contributions to the genre. Set to release in August 2025, this isn't just another listicle; it's a meticulously curated guide, a passionate reclamation, and a celebration of "scream queens" who have been, and continue to be, "overqualified to write horror fiction."

Hartmann, known to her fans as "Mother Horror" and a Bram Stoker Awards winning author, brings her characteristic enthusiasm and deep knowledge to this project. The very title, "Feral and Hysterical," is a brilliant subversive stroke, reclaiming terms historically used to dismiss and control women, and flipping them on their head to showcase the raw power and untamed brilliance of female horror writers.

The book is structured as a comprehensive reading guide, featuring recommendations from classic authors like Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson, and Daphne du Maurier, alongside a wealth of modern indie voices and underrated talents. Each entry is promised to include a spoiler-free synopsis, along with essential details like publication date, publisher, and page count. What truly sets this guide apart, however, are the thematic reading lists. Whether you're in your "Gothic Era," fascinated by the gruesome unraveling of marriages, or seeking more "Sporror" (spiritual horror), Hartmann has a list to satisfy your darkest desires. This thoughtful categorization will undoubtedly be a godsend for readers looking for specific subgenres or moods.

Adding another layer of depth and insight, "Feral and Hysterical" includes a foreword by prolific horror author Ania Ahlborn, and five essays from other leading voices in the genre: Alma Katsu, Alexis Henderson, Christina Henry, Rae Wilde, and Laura Purcell. These contributions promise to offer unique perspectives and further illuminate the richness of women's horror.

Readers can expect a conversational, engaging tone that feels less like a dry academic text and more like a lively discussion with a knowledgeable friend.

Ultimately, "Feral and Hysterical" looks set to be more than just a reading list; it's a rallying cry, a testament to the diverse and powerful narratives that women have brought to horror, and a vital tool for diversifying any horror fan's TBR pile. Prepare to discover your next terrifying read, and perhaps, a whole new appreciation for the fierce and fearless voices of women in horror.

Well, Mother Horror does it again. Having read a lot of the books included within, do I necessarily agree with all her assertions? Of course not, but it is only in a matter of taste. These days, unless you are a reviewer, algorithms beyond our control often force feed us the most basic books, the general submissions that sell well amongst the many. Books like these do an amazing service to the general public in offering up a curated variety of books that we might have overlooked. Like I said, hate one of her suggestions? Fine, pick another - there is something in here for you. It may not get the attention of general fiction, but horror is a very expansive genre, so many titles that they often pass from the review site to the shelf to the Out of Print pile before you knew they were there. But she catches them and brings them back, treating them with the dignity that they deserve.

I would suggest, should she read this, that maybe another installment is warranted. As we move into a much larger age of self-publishing when may smaller authors cannot get a manuscript review to save their lives, I would love to see her trained eye focused on the true indies. I am confident that Mother Horror might be the one to capture the next big name that went from hiding in some slush pile to an indie press when the author became too tired of rejection.

Libraries, you should stock this book and the preceding one. It will absolutely help with reader advisory if nothing else, and present a nice primer for staff on the floor who may not be familiar with the genre.