Hello friends! By the time you read this, I will be across the ocean in Belgium—unless you live on that side of the world. In that case, hey! I’m on your side of the ocean now. What’s up? Anyway, since I’m in another country right now, I thought it would be fun to highlight some horror in translation. This is going to be fun. And scary.
Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.
Bookish Goods
Battle Royale Poster by Adam Rabalais
This is a movie poster, technically, but it’s an adaptation of one of my favorite horror novels in translation, Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Seriously, if you’ve only seen the movie, then you’re missing out. I still love the movie (obviously, because I want this poster), but the book is going to blow your mind! Anyway, this movie poster is stunning, and I personally want to frame it and put it in my living room. If you want this giant 27×40 poster, it’s $50. The poster is also available in 11×17 size ($20) and 24×36 ($45). Choose your poison!
New Releases
Where He Can’t Find You by Darcy Coates
We’ve got a couple of thriller/horror hybrids from two fan-favorite authors. First up, a new one from Darcy Coates. Who is the Stitcher? Something more terrifying than anything you can imagine. Abby Ward and her sister Hope live by strict guidelines. In their town, people go missing, and when they’re found, their bodies have been dismembered and put back together in strange ways. So, of course, they understand why they have to be so careful. But then Hope goes missing, and the police say there’s nothing they can do. Now, Abby must find her sister before she is literally torn apart.
Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
This unnerving story is the latest from Christina Henry. It’s the story of three women who find themselves in three different but equally strange situations. Celia wakes up in a life that isn’t hers, with no idea of how she got there. Allie and her friends go on an unexpected trip to a cabin in the woods, and Allie can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Meanwhile, Maggie has been kidnapped and forced into playing a deadly survival game. These women have no idea how they found themselves in these situations, but they will have to find their way out.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike
Let’s dive into some horror in translation picks, just as promised, shall we? This first one is a fresh take on one of my favorite horror genres: the haunted house story. And it was recently translated from Japanese: Here we get a haunted apartment rather than a whole house, but it’s just as scary. It all starts when a young couple with a secret tries to start fresh with their young daughter by moving into an apartment overlooking a graveyard. What could go wrong?
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
Love Frankenstein? This is probably the best retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic story, and it was originally written in Arabic. Set in U.S.-occupied Baghdad, this is the story of Hadi, a scavenger who collects human body parts and stitches them together as a statement to the government about recognizing body parts as people and giving them a proper burial. But when his stitched-up body goes missing, troubling news begins circulating around the city. A horrifying criminal who seemingly cannot be killed is indiscriminately murdering people.
Friends, I hope you have enjoyed this trip to new countries. Now I’m going to enjoy mine. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!