Family myths and identity handed down through generations make interesting, complex stories, though they can be easier to read than to write. It’s important to keep in mind how the family curses change over time and how they impact the characters in your story. In this article Writer’s Relief found on ElectricLiterature.com, author Renée Branum offers a list of books that feature characters who inherit traditions, superstitions, and beliefs that are both real and imagined. From Toni Morrison’s Beloved to A thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, you’ll find a story to intrigue and inspire you in your own writing.

See the full list of books featuring family curses here.