Where to Start with April Genevieve Tucholke
April Genevieve Tucholke is renowned for her lush, descriptive prose and eerie, atmospheric settings. Because her bibliography spans gothic horror, Norse-inspired high fantasy, contemporary mysteries, and even children's picture books, the best place to start depends on your preferred genre:
- For Gothic Horror Fans: Start with her debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2013). This is the first book in her only direct duology and perfectly showcases her signature eerie, small-town gothic style.
- For High Fantasy and Myth Enthusiasts: Start with The Boneless Mercies (2018). This gender-bent, feminist reimagining of Beowulf offers a gritty, beautifully written adventure set in a cold, mythic world.
- For Mystery and Psychological Tension: Start with Wink Poppy Midnight (2016), a dark contemporary standalone that keeps readers guessing about who is the hero, who is the villain, and who is the liar.
The "Between" Duology
Tucholke's first published works form a complete YA gothic romance duology set in a decaying seaside town in Maine. These books must be read in publication order, as they follow a continuous storyline detailing the dark secrets of a mysterious boy named River West and the girl, Violet, who falls for him.
- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2013)
- Between the Spark and the Burn (2014)
The Vorseland Companion Novels
While often grouped together by readers, these two fantasy novels are standalone companion stories. They are set in the same rugged, northern-inspired universe (the Vorseland) but feature different characters and separate quests. You can read them in either order, but publication order is recommended to appreciate how the world-building expands.
- The Boneless Mercies (2018) – A feminist retelling of the Old English epic Beowulf, following a band of female death-mercenaries seeking glory.
- Seven Endless Forests (2020) – A gender-bent companion novel that draws heavy inspiration from the legends of King Arthur and the search for a legendary sword.
Standalone Novels and Anthologies
Aside from her main fantasy and gothic series, Tucholke has written standalone mysteries and contributed to popular YA anthologies. These can be read at any point in your reading journey.
Standalone Novels
- Wink Poppy Midnight (2016) – A atmospheric standalone mystery that plays with truth, lies, and high school manipulation.
Anthologies edited or containing contributions
- Slasher Girls & Monster Boys (2015) – A horror anthology curated and edited by Tucholke, featuring stories from various YA authors. She also contributed her own short story, "The Flicker, The Fingers, The Beat, The Sigh."
- Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy (2017) – A fairy tale retelling anthology focused on villains, to which Tucholke contributed a short story.
Picture Books and Non-Fiction
In recent years, Tucholke has expanded her writing to younger audiences and non-fiction, maintaining her signature fascination with aesthetics, mystery, and cozy darkness.
Picture Books
- Beatrice Likes the Dark (2022) – A sweetly spooky children's picture book illustrated by Khoa Le, highlighting the bond between two sisters who love the dark and light respectively.
- Merry and Hark (2023) – A whimsical Christmas-themed picture book illustrated by Rebecca Santo, following a little owl's journey to the big city.
Co-Authored Non-Fiction
- The Secret Life of Hidden Places (2024) – Co-authored with Stefan Bachmann, this book is an illustrated architectural guide to hidden rooms, secret passages, and historical mysteries.