Picture a New England storyteller who spun a haunting tale of quarantined girls and wild, untamed nature—meet Rory Power! With her debut novel Wilder Girls, Power burst onto the young adult fiction scene in 2019, blending horror, mystery, and coming-of-age themes into stories that linger like a fog over a Maine island. Her work, infused with queer representation and messy, complex characters, challenges readers to embrace the raw, unpolished edges of humanity.
From her Rhode Island home, Power crafts narratives that feel both eerie and deeply personal, drawing on her love for atmospheric settings and her knack for subverting societal expectations. Whether it’s a plague-ravaged boarding school or a cornfield hiding dark secrets, her stories are as unforgettable as they are unsettling.
The Making of Rory Power
Rory Power grew up in New England, a region whose moody landscapes and rugged coastlines seep into her writing. She earned an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College before pursuing an MA in Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia in England, where she fondly recalls campus bunnies as much as her studies. Her early career as a crime fiction editor and TV adaptation story consultant honed her ability to craft taut, suspenseful narratives. Power’s love for music, from ambient electronica to film soundtracks, also shapes her writing process, helping her maintain the eerie tone her fans adore.
Rory Power’s Unforgettable Stories
Power’s debut, Wilder Girls (2019), is a queer horror thriller often compared to Lord of the Flies meets Annihilation. Set at the Raxter School for Girls, it follows three friends—Hetty, Byatt, and Reese—navigating a mysterious plague called the Tox that warps their bodies and the island around them. The novel’s raw depiction of friendship, sapphic romance, and body horror earned it critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its “staggering gut punch” intensity.
Her follow-up, Burn Our Bodies Down (2020), dives into psychological horror, exploring family secrets through Margot, a teen uncovering eerie truths in a Nebraska cornfield. Power’s 2022 novel, In a Garden Burning Gold, ventures into adult fantasy, weaving a tale of twins Rhea and Lexos wielding magic to rule their unstable realm. Her upcoming Kill Creatures (June 2025) promises another twisty young adult mystery, cementing Power’s reputation for gripping, atmospheric storytelling. Her style—lush yet brutal, with a focus on queer women and nature’s unpredictability—sets her apart in YA fiction.
Why Rory Power Matters
Rory Power’s impact lies in her fearless exploration of complex, often unlikable female characters who defy traditional expectations. By centering sapphic relationships and body horror, she offers young readers stories that validate their messy, authentic selves. Her work resonates with a generation craving narratives that don’t shy away from the brutal or the beautiful, earning her a dedicated following and New York Times bestselling status. Power’s ability to blend speculative elements with emotional depth has made her a standout voice in young adult horror, inspiring readers to embrace the storms within.
- Birthplace: New England, USA
- Key Works: Wilder Girls (2019), Burn Our Bodies Down (2020), In a Garden Burning Gold (2022), Kill Creatures (2025)
- Notable Fact: Power uses playlists with ambient music to craft her novels’ eerie atmospheres.
Snag Wilder Girls and dive into Rory Power’s thrilling, haunting world of queer horror and untamed nature!