When it comes to scary and sinister stories, Jewish writers tend to produce some of the best stories out there. Only briefly look within Jewish myth and folklore, and you’ll stumble across thrilling stories of golems, dybbuks, estries and more.
While a lot of horror and speculative fiction has been influenced by antisemitic propaganda — hook-nosed witches stealing children to eat, anyone? — for years, Jewish authors have been channeling their own sense of dread and anxiety to write stories that confront the evils of this world, both fictional and real.
In honor of Halloween today, allow me to recommend these ten thrilling tales by authors of Jewish backgrounds.
1. “Thistlefoot” by GennaRose Nethercott
What happens when two Jewish siblings inherit Baba Yaga’s sentient chicken-legged house and take it on a journey across America? Chaos, naturally!
Inspired by a mix of Jewish and Slavic traditions, this contemporary fantasy book by GennaRose Nethercott explores the story of the Yaga siblings — Bellatine, a gifted craftswoman and Isaac, a theatrical con artist — who come together for a unique road trip. They travel by way of the legendary home of their departed relative/witch, Baba Yaga, only to be targeted by an older evil that has traveled across continents to hunt them. Combining beautiful prose and multifaceted explorations of intergenerational pain, “Thistlefoot” is an incredible novel that asks if trauma can truly stay in the past, and how one must confront hateful evil in order to even have a future.
2. “Spinning Silver” by Naomi Novik
Known for her countless contributions to the field of fantasy and fan culture, not least for being one of the co-founders of Archive of Our Own (AO3), Naomi Novik has also written one of the best fantasy books of the 21st century so far with their novel “Spinning Silver.”
Set in the fictional eastern European kingdom of Lithvas, “Spinning Silver” is told by three female protagonists: Miryem, a Jewish daughter of a poor moneylender; Wanda, a village girl trying to survive with her brothers from an abusive father; and Irina, the daughter of the duke of the city of Vysnia. Within this story, all three young women must try to survive a hostile world that seeks to restrict and hurt them through various means of supernatural and patriarchal violence, and do so with their boundless will and intelligence. The book is also noteworthy for re-spinning the often antisemitic “Rumpelstiltskin” story with a noteworthy Jewish lead.
3. “The Sins on Their Bones” by Laura R. Samotin
In this historical fantasy duology, Dimitri Alexeyev, the Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo, has been sent into exile with his friends, and must reclaim the throne from his abusive ex-husband. While struggling to heal from the trauma of his past, Dimitri must also contend with his emerging (and mutual) feelings for his spymaster, Vasily Sokolov. In a Jewish folklore-inspired world of 19th century Eastern Europe (where Jewish people weren’t constantly hunted by pogroms), this novel is an impressive mix of political intrigue, romance, found family and supernatural reckonings.
4. “When the Angels Left the Old Country” by Sacha Lamb
For years, the demon Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) and Uriel the angel have studied together peacefully in their home of Shtetl (a Jewish village so small it has no other name than Shtetl). However, when the two get pulled together on a mission to locate a missing emigrant in America, their peaceful days soon become disrupted. A thoughtful historical fantasy that spans across continents, this queer Jewish tale is perfect for history lovers and lovers of supernatural immigrant narratives.
5. “The City Beautiful” by Aden Polydoros
In 1893 Chicago, Alter Rosen is just one of many Jewish boys trying to make a living, hoping that one day he’ll save enough to bring his family to America from Romania. Yet after his best friend Yakov gets involved in what looks like a suspicious string of murdered Jewish boys, his path starts to take darker turns, especially when Yakov possesses Alter’s body. A finely researched young adult history fantasy, Polydoros takes the classic Jewish concept of the dybbuk story and reimagines it with a compelling queer lead.
6. “From Dust, a Flame” by Rebecca Podos
Hannah has always longed for a normal life, but her mother has spent years dragging her and her brother, Gabe, from temporary home to home, making her dream impossible. Just as she’s on the cusp of getting the normalcy she craves, she wakes up with golden demon eyes, the first sign of a nefarious curse. This stunning young adult novel weaves between the past and present, tracing the grappling aftereffects of the Holocaust and other traumatic effects on several generations of one family. The book’s inclusion of Jewish mysticism and Sheydim (otherwise known as Jewish demons) is also a great introduction to any reader new to Jewish mythology.
7. “Whistle” by E. Lockhart, art by Manuel Preitano
What better way to celebrate a holiday dedicated to dressing up than by reading this incredible graphic novel featuring a costumed Jewish vigilante!
Meet Willow Zimmerman, a young teenage activist who dreams of a better world with her faithful Great Dane, Lebowitz (yes, really) by her side. But when her mother’s medical bills start rising and an old family friend, E. Nigma (aka The Riddler), offers her a shady job, Willow sees no choice but to do it. After a turn with another of Gotham’s most famous villains, Willow suddenly gains new powers and must decide on how best to use her abilities for the greater good.
8. “The Unfinished Corner” written by Dani Colman and illustrated by Rachel “Tuna” Petrovicz
Because comics absolutely count as real books, I’m adding another to this list. If you’re looking for a thoughtful and entertaining middle grade work that features great Jewish representation, tons of mythological mischief and a magical lion, then look no further. Join Miriam, a young Jewish artist, and her friends as they are pulled into another dimension to finish the corner of the universe Hashem didn’t get a chance to complete.
9. “The Pomegranate Gate” by Ariel Kaplan
This stunning book is an epic Jewish fantasy novel set in the Inquisition-era. The human world isn’t easy for Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques, the former a brilliant young woman with odd limitations (being able to walk, but not run; speak, but not shout, and so on), and the latter an awkward tailor with a poor sewing thumb.
Their lives only get stranger when upon being cast out of their homes due to the Inquisition, they encounter supernatural beings known as the Maziks and are suddenly thrown into the Maziks’ world.
10. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
An incredible book for readers of all pages, this legendary story by gay, Jewish storyteller Maurice Sendak is the perfect read for Halloween. Meet Max, the boy in the wolf costume, as he journeys to a strange land and encounters terrible, incredible monsters called The Wild Things. Inspired by Sendak’s upbringing and Polish Jewish roots, his affinity for the strange and compassion for young readers make this book the perfect addition to any Jewish library.
