Fans of the tv show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will enjoy these YA horror fantasy book recommendations. Perfect for teens who read dark and witchy stories.
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This post is part of a new series I’m working on with book recommendations for teens. Each week this summer I’ll be sharing lists of 5 YA books for fans of a different tv series.
Read the list of book recommendations for fans of Wednesday. See all theh book posts.
Today I’ve got 5 books you might enjoy if you like the tv series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Inspired by the comic and earlier tv series, but much darker). There are 4 seasons of the show on Netflix.
In the tv series, Sabrina is a half-witch half-mortal who lives with her 2 aunts, who run a mortuary. She must balance mundane teen issues like dating and school with constant threats from the magical world. Overall it looks at some dark topics through a magical lens.
Dark witchy YA books
I picked these books because they all have witches or people who summon demons, monsters, and ancient horrors.
1. Witchlore
- Title: Witchlore
- Author: Emma Hinds
- Genre: YA fantasy (queer romance)
Summary
Orlando is the only shapeshifter at Demdike College of Witchcraft. Not only are they bad at magic, they can’t control their shifting—and that might be the reason their girlfriend Elizabeth died. When new student Bastian hatches a plan with a spell that raises the dead, Orlando is willing to do anything. As the two grow closer, Orlando starts to wonder if they’re doing the right thing…and if Bastian can really be trusted.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Sabrina for the friend group.
This story is a really creative way to think about being trans. The world building is excellent. The magic system is unique and believable. The dynamic between witches and shapeshifters in this story is a thoughtful commentary on queerness and being the “right” kind of different. Orlando’s perspective is the full spectrum of humanity: grief and hope, fear and resiliency, shame and the peace of knowing yourself.
I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher, Wednesday Books, through NetGalley.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
2. The Bad Ones
- Title: The Bad Ones
- Author: Melissa Albert
- Genre: YA horror
Summary
Nora’s best friend Becca disappears, and 3 others around town disappear the same night. It looks like Becca has left clues, but as Nora follows them and gets closer to finding out what really happened, she discovers their childhood games might have been more than silly fun. Kids have been playing the goddess game for generations, but there might be more to it than an urban legend.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Sabrina for the goddess.
This story is dark and creepy and also cozy. It’s a story about girl friendship full of suspense and rage and revenge. I loved this story’s blend of witchy magic with real life. The Bad Ones was a slow build that keeps its secrets until the big finale.
I purchased the hardcover book from a secondhand bookstore.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
3. A Spell to Wake the Dead
- Title: A Spell to Wake the Dead
- Author: Nicole Lesperance
- Genre: YA paranormal thriller
Summary
Mazzy and Nora are best friends who practice witchcraft. When they sneak down to the beach to do a spell under the full moon, they are horrified to find a body. Soon they’re contacting a ghost, hearing voices and seeing visions, and sneaking around town. As the body count grows, they uncover a dangerous secret they should never have gotten involved in.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Sabrina for the witchcraft.
This book hits the ground running with the opening scene and has a creepy, witchy vibe throughout. The girls have a close best friend dynamic that slowly twists with the plot. I spent a lot of time questioning whether one of them was lying, imagining things, or an unreliable narrator. It’s unsettling and keeps the creepiness going even when the plot slows in the middle.
Even though this is a story about witches, magic is rarely a deus ex machina. Every action has consequences. The girls make a lot of questionable choices and then have to deal with the results. Ultimately the ending is unpredictable yet satisfying.
I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher, GP Putnam’s Sons, through NetGalley.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
4. The Beast You Let In
- Title: The Beast You Let In
- Author: Dana Mele
- Genre: YA horror
Summary
Hazel and Beth are twins, but they’re not friends anymore. They both end up at a party, where someone with a Ouija board suggests they summon the ghost of Veronica Green, a girl who died in the woods a generation ago. After the party, Hazel goes home but Beth disappears. When she turns up again, something is wrong and Hazel is horrified to realize that she might be possessed. As Hazel tries to find out what happened to Veronica Green, she discovers more of her town’s history than she ever knew. Meanwhile, Beth has been hiding secrets from everyone too.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Sabrina for the demons.
The whole story has horror movie energy. It’s a mix of suspense and gore, bugs and body horror, queer longing and absolute rage. It reminded me of Jennifer’s Body. Dual POV chapters are interspersed with absolutely gorgeous, creepy poetry.
Both narrators are wonderfully unreliable. I was constantly wowed the way their internal struggles came through in the ways they faced external struggles. The true horror of this story is being trapped in a world, a small town, a family, that is willing to do anything and sacrifice anyone to maintain the status quo.
I a digital advance reader copy from the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, through NetGalley.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
5. Doe
- Title: Doe
- Author: Rebecca Barrow
- Genre: YA horror (F/F romance)
Summary
Maris is the captain of the unpopular high school cheer team, at odds with her girlfriend, and trapped in a small town with few prospects. When a new student named Genevieve joins the team, she quickly takes Maris’s place as coach’s favorite. To defeat her new rival, Maris makes a deal with Doe, a deer-like creature who she meets in her dreams. What Maris doesn’t know is that Doe is an ancient creature, trapped by a deal made years ago, and that her dreams are real. Maris just wants something in her life to go right. Doe wants to be freed and she’ll tell Maris anything to get her help.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Sabrina for the conflicts.
This is a book with messy main characters, ancient folk creatures, and a dark endings. Overall, it’s creepy and feels almost like a modern cautionary fable about jealousy and competitiveness. The unrhymed verses gave the whole story an etherial feel and they kept the pacing fast throughout the story.
I immediately felt sympathy for the main character, Maris, who is trying but struggling in a town that has already labeled her as someone unworthy. I always like an unlikeable female main character, so the fact that nobody was rooting for her just made me want her to succeed more.
I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher, Penguin, through NetGalley.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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