Welcome to the now sixth annual State of the Horror Nation. This is the mega-episode, in which I gather a darkly-inclined supergroup of horror fans and commentators—a horror cabinet, if you will—to cast their informed eyes and minds over the year’s best horror. We talk trends, generation gaps, terrifying moments, and pick what they consider to be their favourite scary books of 2025. I am just a bystander and the man with the edit button. Bringing the talent and the opinion are Emily Hughes, Anna Dupre and George Dunn. Together they present a tapestry of horror in red and black and other hideous colours. Suffer your TBR piles. Enjoy. Books Picked Angel Down (2025), by Daniel Kraus Black Flame (2025), by Gretchen Felker Martin Futility (2025), Nuzo Ozoh One Yellow Eye (2025), by Leigh Radford Play Nice (2025), by Rachel Harrison Spread Me (2025), by Sarah Gailey Veil (2025), by Jonathan Janz When the Wolf Comes Home (2025), by Nat Cassidy What Hunger (2025), by Catherine Dang Books Anticipated Cruelty Free (2026), by Caroline Glenn Daytide (2026), by Chris Panatier Femme Feral (2026), by Sam Bessinger For Human Use (2026), by Sarah G. Pierce Headlights (2026), by C.J. Leede Itch (2025), by Gemma Amor Japanese Gothic (2026), by Kylie Lee Baker Kiss Slay Replay (2026), by Rachel Harrison I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours (2026), by Nat Cassidy Molka (2026), by Monika Kim Nothing Tastes as Good (2026), by Luke Dumas Nowhere Burning (2026), by Catriona Ward On Sunday’s She Picked Flowers (2026), by Yah Yah Schofield Our Cut of Salt (2026), by Deena Helm Persona (2026), by Aiofe Josie Clements The Children (2026), by Melissa Albert The Curse of Hester Gardens (2026), by Tamika Thompson The Fourth Wife (2026), by Linda Hamilton The Hive (2026), by Ronald Malfi The Last Story of Jamie Gunn (TBC), by Thomas Olde Heuvelt The Red Sacrament (2026), by Sara Hinkley Spoiled Milk (2026), by Avery Curran Trad Wife (2026), by Sarah Langan Worry Box (2026), by Chris Panatier Wretch (2026), by Eric LaRocca Other Books Mentioned Come Knocking (2025), by Mike Bockoven Old Soul (2025), by Susan Barker Rekt (2025), by Alex Gonzalez The Lamb (2025), by Lucy Rose The Starving Saints (2025), by Caitlin Starling Bat Eater, and Other Names for Cora Zeng (2025), by Kylie Lee Baker Greedy (2026) by Callie Kazumi The Eyes Are the Best Part (2024), by Monika Kim Wake Up and Open Your Eyes (2025), by Clay McLeod Chapman The Unworthy (2025), by Augustina Bazterrica Support Talking Scared on Patreon Emily Hughes Patreon link is here Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.