Bitterthorn

Like Bitterthorn, this novel features a young woman chosen to live in a mysterious, isolated tower with a powerful magical figure. It shares a similar focus on dark folklore, the atmospheric tension of an encroaching forest, and a complex relationship that develops in solitude.

This sapphic fantasy echoes the 'sacrifice to a monster' premise of Bitterthorn, focusing on a girl who volunteers to save another. It captures the same dark, romantic, and melancholic atmosphere while exploring the blurred lines between villainy and heroism.

Fans of Bitterthorn's gothic sensibilities and lyrical prose will appreciate this reimagining of Dracula's brides. It explores themes of isolation, power dynamics, and the claustrophobic nature of living in a beautiful but dangerous supernatural household.

This gothic, sapphic origin story shares the same haunting, folkloric tone as Kat Dunn's work. It focuses on the bond between sisters and the tragedy of being claimed by a dark, ancient power in a beautifully realized historical setting.

Sharing the 'bargain with a supernatural entity' motif, this book features a cold, wintry atmosphere and high stakes. It mirrors the sense of a protagonist navigating a world governed by dangerous, ancient rules and the weight of family legacy.

This dark retelling of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' captures the same gothic dread and sense of isolation found in Bitterthorn. It excels at building a suspenseful, eerie environment where family secrets and magical curses collide.

With its focus on a silent protagonist and a crumbling, mysterious estate, Gallant matches Bitterthorn's introspective and atmospheric narrative voice. Both stories deal with the loneliness of being an outsider and the pull of a dark, hidden world.

This novel combines dark folklore with a tense, forced-proximity journey. Like Bitterthorn, it features a protagonist who feels out of place in her own culture and must navigate a complex relationship with a perceived enemy in a magical landscape.

While slightly more adventurous, this book shares the subversive, dark fairy tale energy of Bitterthorn. It features a determined female lead venturing into a dangerous world to break a curse, emphasizing atmosphere and unconventional bonds.

For readers who enjoyed the isolation and the intense, sapphic undertones of Bitterthorn, Wilder Girls offers a more modern but equally claustrophobic and dark experience. It explores the bond between girls in a setting where the environment itself is a threat.