I've recently got into reading quite a specific genre of books (not sure what to call them), and I'm looking for recommendations for more similar ones. They're kind of horror-adjacent, but leaning more towards creepy gothic and sad than actually scary, and based on folklore and mythology. I'm particularly interested in Asian folklore, but I'm happy to check out books based on other regions as well. I DON'T enjoy jump scares, slasher stuff or body horror like parasites or other gross stuff. I'm not looking for full on fantasy, I want it to be set in the real world.
Books like this that I've enjoyed:
– And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun
– The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf
Books that don't fit what I'm looking for:
– The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (I liked the idea, but I found the book boring)
– Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno García (it started well, but all the killer mushrooms just felt silly)
– Black Water Sister by Zen Cho (I enjoyed it, but it doesn't have enough of the dark, sad elements that I'm looking for)
– A Dream Wants Waking by Lydia Kwa (I really liked it, but it's more fantasy than I'm looking for)
by Virtual-Two3405