🩸 Horror Fiction

To Hex and To Hold

✍️ Tegan Kane
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$12.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A sapphic horror novella where exes inherit a haunted lake house together.

Kane explores the intersection of romantic history and supernatural threat. The story does not rely on external villains but instead uses the environment to mirror internal conflict. The snow demon and restless spirits act as manifestations of the couple's past grievances. This approach grounds the horror in emotional reality rather than abstract evil. The narrative structure follows their forced proximity, allowing the tension to build naturally alongside the supernatural occurrences. Readers interested in character-driven horror will appreciate this methodical escalation.

Key Themes
sapphic horror haunted inheritance restless spirits
Literary Context

Published by Scarlet Vault LLC in 2025, this novella fits within the modern tradition of queer horror fiction. It draws on gothic tropes of isolated settings and ancestral curses while centering contemporary lesbian relationships. The work reflects a growing market for supernatural stories that prioritize emotional authenticity alongside fear.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Tananarive Due · Caitlín R. Kiernan · Poppy Z. Brite · The Haunting of Hill House
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Scarlet Vault LLC 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798218824525

📝 Description: To Hex and To Hold

Tegan Kane delivers a sapphic horror novella that blends domestic tension with supernatural dread. The narrative centers on Lark Paquette and Sig Halvorson, former partners whose lives remain entangled through a shared inheritance of a lake house. When Lark discovers she owns half the property alongside her ex, they are forced into close quarters during a heavy snowstorm. Kane, known for blending romance with horror elements, structures the story around their escalating conflict and the eerie phenomena that accompany it. The plot unfolds as restless spirits and a hostile snow demon exploit the couple's unresolved feelings. The house itself seems to react to their bickering, creating shadows on the frozen lake and noises within the walls. This setting amplifies the emotional stakes, turning their hatred into a catalyst for supernatural events. The novella examines how lingering longing can be as dangerous as active animosity. It appeals to readers who enjoy queer horror with a focus on character dynamics and atmospheric dread. Those seeking fast-paced action or non-romantic plots may find the focus on interpersonal tension less engaging.

💎 Our verdict on To Hex and To Hold

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Kane effectively merges domestic tension with supernatural dread, creating a compelling study of lingering longing and animosity. By utilizing the lake house and snow demon as manifestations of past grievances, the author grounds abstract horror in emotional reality. The forced proximity structure allows for a natural buildup of intensity, making the eerie phenomena feel earned rather than arbitrary. This approach suits readers who prefer atmospheric storytelling over fast-paced action. While those seeking non-romantic plots might find the focus on relationship dynamics less engaging, fans of sapphic horror will likely appreciate the nuanced exploration of how hatred and desire can catalyze supernatural events.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven horror and the intersection of romance with dark fantasy will find significant value in this narrative. Those interested in exploring how unresolved emotional grievances can manifest as tangible supernatural threats will be drawn to the methodical escalation of tension between Lark and Sig. The book appeals to audiences seeking queer horror that focuses on interpersonal dynamics rather than external action, offering a study in atmospheric dread where the environment mirrors internal conflict.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Kane effectively merges domestic tension with supernatural dread, creating a compelling study of lingering longing and animosity. By utilizing the lake house and snow demon as manifestations of past grievances, the author grounds abstract horror in emotional reality. The forced proximity structure allows for a natural buildup of intensity, making the eerie phenomena feel earned rather than arbitrary. This approach suits readers who prefer atmospheric storytelling over fast-paced action. While those seeking non-romantic plots might find the focus on relationship dynamics less engaging, fans of sapphic horror will likely appreciate the nuanced exploration of how hatred and desire can catalyze supernatural events.

You might also like

See more →
The Haunting of Hill House -16% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
7
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$9.99 $12.00
92
Read →
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition)
$22.99
92
Read →
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works
$24.99
92
Read →
Frankenstein ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Frankenstein
$26.95
92
Read →
The Yellow Wallpaper ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wallpaper
$29.95
92
Read →
Dracula (Deluxe Edition) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Bram Stoker
Dracula (Deluxe Edition)
$40.00
92
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist