I read 13 horror novels for the month of October, and here is a short pitch for each to see if you should read one!

Submitted by CasualTotoro t3_yiee62 in books

So I've always been a fan of Horror, and tied with Fantasy it is probably my most-read genre. This year as a challenge for myself I decided to read 100 books (currently at 92!) and I decided to do a horror run to get me in a festive mood. The mix below is... unique... to say the least. I decided to leave my ratings out of this because I think each one was good in its own way. They are totally not in any ranking order in any way.

Anyway, let's begin.

  1. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Want a traditional Slasher mixed with a supernatural Elk Monster? Then look no further. The Only Good Indians also does the troupe of "ancestral revenge" really well. There is a lot about the life of an Indian, and what it means to grow up on a reservation, providing insight into culture while being scared. There is a lot of basketball.

  1. Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

The first on this list I would call Comedy Horror. This is a campy novel, as Grady Hendrix can be a campy author. It is a wonderful take on the Haunted House stereotype done with the scariest of all things... retail! Run around following a fun main character trying to survive the night in an Ikea.

  1. Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon by Matt Dinniman

A Horror Lit-RPG, and a pillar in the genre. Extensive in length, this provides a very detailed and fleshed out world. This story mixes strife, loss, and suffering and blends them seemingly with giant monster battles, and otherworldy torture. This is not for the faint of heart, instead this is for anyone looking for a horrifyingly gross time.

  1. The Twisted Ones by T Kingfisher

A Horror book that will warm your heart. This is the story of a woman and her dog stopping and thwarting some ancient evil. This is the result of wonderfully dynamic characters meeting an Appalachian Horror. The terrors in here will leave you genuinely frightened, but the characters will be holding your hand along the way.

  1. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I mean... The title does a pretty good job. A Mystery Thriller that turns horrific; this is a wonderful story about a strong female protagonist taking control in a House and Family that wants to control her. A steady and progressively unsettling sense of unease that will leave readers wanting to escape the Gothic home called High Place.

  1. Family Business by Jonathan Sims

We all have to clean up after ourselves, but who does the cleaning after we're gone? That would be our depressive and lonely protagonist! This story follows an unreliable narrator slowly descending into madness, as an eldritch entity slowly taunts them. But all they want to do is clean up the blood from a recent building collapse... This story features a diverse cast, and strongly focuses on the idea of healing after death.

  1. Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend

Another Comedy Horror, but one that will leave you trembling and wondering where all the emotions weld up from. Follow our terminally Ill protagonist as he works at a 24-hour gas station in a town frequented by all supernatural things. An Eldritch horror is trying to stop Jack, and all he wants to do is not have a crack-head pee in his bathroom (Which is home to a singing Ghost). A wonderful story for anyone who has worked retail, and needs a good laugh.

  1. Fairy Tale by Stephen King

A new King book!. This is a love letter to HP Lovecraft and the Grimm Brothers, and a beautifully written one at that. This is a story of a boy and his dog against the evils of a dark fairytale world. Imagine King deciding to write Alice in Wonderland and this is exactly what you get. All the fairytales from your youth will be seen dancing through these pages, bringing a sense of nostalgia, until you notice the slightly unsettling grin of Rumpelstiltskin.

  1. The Ruins by Scott Smith

There is something more horrifying than actually uncovering ancient ruins filled with evil, and that’s the Human mind. This is a perfect psychological horror that aims to show how we as a species deal with traumatic situations. Follow four distinct victims as they try and survive the conditions of a perilous jungle. Also you gotta love the troupe of rich college kids not heading the warning of locals.

  1. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

This is the only one on here that is technically a part of a larger universe. I do not think you need to read the original trilogy to appreciate this book, it is highly recommended though. This is a stand alone novel all about revenge. You will question what is right, know what is wrong, and still have the desire for them to get their revenge. This is THE BEST novel I’ve read where the main character/s decent into absolut evil, and this is also probably the most hilarious books about revenge.

  1. The Fisherman by John Langan

This story is about the grief of losing a loved one, and what one must give in order to get them back. This is a slow and seductive work filled with themes from HP lovecraft. There is dark magic, ancient evils, zombies, fish people, and even leviathans! Following two distinct timelines dealing with The Fisherman this story combines the two into an explosive finale that will leave the reading wanting to… just go fish, and clear their mind.

  1. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Join a scientist as he explores a desolate world of marble statues and ocean waves. This book is more of a psychological thriller than it is pure horror. The story telling excels in its use of an unreliable narrator; causing the reader to figure out the true mysteries of this world alongside one of the most lovable but forgetful protagonists. The horror comes from reading in between the lines for this one.

  1. Uzumaki by Junji Ito

Last but not least, a Manga! This story follows a towns descent into madness and pure abstract horror because of Spirals. This is beyond eldritch horror and extends into some form of madness that I found astonishing to have come from the mind of a human. The stark black and white contrasting images provide such stark and dynamic storytelling alongside the grossest and most horrific art you’ll ever see. Every page you turn will be a surprise, welcomed or not.

694

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

knivez83 t1_iuirgvr wrote

Thank you very much for the list. Not everything on there is something I’m interested in but three books really caught my attention. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have stumbled over them if not for you. I appreciate it greatly :).

50

Leramar89 t1_iuif0f7 wrote

I really wouldn't call Best Served Cold horror, it's a fantasy revenge story. Also, yes, if you're into fantasy and haven't read the the First Law series then I highly recommend it.

47

CasualTotoro OP t1_iujcqzp wrote

Alright you got me. I wanted to read Abercrombie and I lied to myself that bloody grim dark would count towards my Halloween of Horrors.

And I’ll stand by it, far bloodier than some of the other entries.

11

sdwoodchuck t1_iuiyly0 wrote

Even if you’re not into fantasy, it’s worth a look. I’m pretty iffy on the genre (there are a few gems I love, but I’m mostly not that interested in the tropes fantasy gets stuck in), but Abercrombie grabbed me pretty quickly.

6

jiggliebilly t1_iuj4bgx wrote

Was going to say the same thing. Incredible book but grimdark fantasy not horror (or even horror adjacent tbh), with a great sense of humor.

His 'First Law' series that this is a part of is probably in my top 5 favorite fantasy works

6

Dr_Beardlicious t1_iujnw2f wrote

Literally my favourite book series by far. I've read them all multiple times and still thoroughly enjoy them.

2

albellus t1_iuiuh37 wrote

My 2 favorites from this list are The Only Good Indians and Mexican Gothic. Both refreshingly different themes and The Only Good Indians was the first book in a long time that actually gave me the creeps. I highly recommend My Heart Is A Chainsaw by Jones as well. An homage to all the great slasher movies.

Family Business looks intriguing - I might pick that one up next.

Thanks for the recommendations!

21

haevy_mental t1_iuiu0zs wrote

Want more Jonathan Sims and horror? Try The Magnus Archives podcast.

19

CasualTotoro OP t1_iujcyxw wrote

Lol. Let’s just say there is a reason I read this book on release; The Magnus Archives is peek audio horror.

13

Exotic-Shame-1320 t1_iuitz6m wrote

Ok I've been wanting to read Fairy Tale but, if possible, could you do the spoiler covering and please tell me if the dog dies or not because I'm a coward and cannot handle anything happening to my animal sidekicks🤦‍♀️

16

Cardboard_Eggplant t1_iuikcw5 wrote

The Ruins was the best psychological/body horror I've read since King's Misery...

14

kyle242gt t1_iuiqhde wrote

Long time King fan (haven't read *everything*, but damn near), and Misery creeped me out so bad I barely finished it. That's a hard nope for me on the books to re-read.

5

Cardboard_Eggplant t1_iuiwnv5 wrote

I can understand that. The one of King's that actually bothered me was Pet Semitary, and not even the events of the main plot - the subplot with the Wendigo scared the crap out of me! Probably because I was reading that part at 3am, but that was one of the scariest things I've ever read...

2

kyle242gt t1_iuixs91 wrote

Whelp, looks like I'da been 15 or so when Misery came out (mom kept me well-supplied). And the stark believable no-nonsense way the torture was described was just too damn much for me.

Have not read PS in a zillion years, and reading this:

https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Wendigo_(Stephen_King)

"The Wendigo is a supporting antagonist in the Stephen King Mythos, appearing as an unseen minor antagonist in the novella, The Body, the overarching antagonist of Pet Sematary and the main antagonist of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. "

Makes me think it might be worth revisiting. And not sure I ever read The Girl...

2

bfordham t1_iujfyiz wrote

Misery and Pet Semetary both scared me lol

2

bfordham t1_iuirp28 wrote

I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic. A great take on the genre.

14

Beiez t1_iuj0zha wrote

Eco Gothic is such an intriguing subgenre, I really want to read more stuff like that

5

handstands_anywhere t1_iujcjxe wrote

Do you feel like Annhilation fits into that genre? Or is it more alien horror?

3

Beiez t1_iujhtbx wrote

I personally haven‘t read it (tho it‘s definitely on my tbr list) but from what I‘ve heard it definitely fits.

1

CasualTotoro OP t1_iuk25to wrote

Yes it definitely fits, and are some great staples for weird ecological horror.

1

ploppingplatypus t1_iuip3jq wrote

The Fisherman by Langan us incredible. Such a curious blend of different flavors of horror, and very well written.

12

Penedictus t1_iuiqpvr wrote

So far my all time favourite. Its been months and it still sticks super strongly in the curves of my brain

4

ploppingplatypus t1_iuirbgj wrote

Me too. I'm glad it was written as one novel and not two. The story within a story really immerses you.

3

Penedictus t1_iujxkpe wrote

Yep havent read anything else by langan but nearly everything from the atmosphere and the writing style + the pacing of it was just perfectly made for me. Tbh my second favourite is non horror but some how feels similar ( roadside picnic if anyone is wondering)

1

folkdeath95 t1_iuj2sgg wrote

Glad to hear. It’s been on my shelf for a couple months now, sounds like it’s time to pick it up.

1

Adoctorgonzo t1_iuipkrn wrote

Nice list! The Fisherman is one of my all time favorite horror novels. I met Langan, the author, recently and he was an extremely nice guy. Remembered my name like 2 hours after I met him which was cool.

9

Tantalus_Trying t1_iujd94p wrote

if I read The Twisted Ones to only find out the dog dies, I will be in the corner crying

7

Rennarjen t1_iujq781 wrote

I'm pretty sure she'll never write a book where the dog dies>!except for Bonedog the reanimated skeleton in Nettle and Bone but he was already bones to begin with !<

2

Tantalus_Trying t1_iujs0l9 wrote

Thanks. Was heading over to 'does the dog die' to see if they have a book section

2

ILoveMeSomeRaisins t1_iuj8eeu wrote

I love The Ruins! I've read it a few times and it still makes my skin crawl. I definitely recommend that book too

6

DishonorStudent t1_iujk6oh wrote

The author of Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon is actually a regular on Reddit and tends to be a pretty nice dude in the litrpg community. There’s also an episodic audio drama with a cast being done for it. I’m sure u/hepafilter will be happy to see the love.

6

srmlutz t1_iuipjiq wrote

Jonathan Sims! I loved The Magnus Archives and I loved his first book Thirteen Storeys so I can't wait to read Family Business . So glad to see it mentioned here!

5

AnAquaticOwl t1_iuitnbu wrote

Sadly it's not on Scribd.

If you liked Magnus, also check out The Silt Verses and I Am on Eskew.

3

Negative-Appeal9892 t1_iuipp9d wrote

Fairy Tale is my new favorite Stephen King book.

3

CasualTotoro OP t1_iuje0ic wrote

The first half I would have had to agree, but I do think by the end I wasn’t as invested. Still probably a top 3 King book for me. I grew up with an old German Shepard much the same as Radar, so this book will always hold a special place for me.

3

bopeepsheep t1_iujr30f wrote

I've found his endings just ...tail off for me for quite a few of the most recent ones - I don't know if he's just being edited more cautiously, or he's running out of steam, or I'm just nostalgic for the points where there was almost too much book left, but FT for me felt like it was missing about 20%, Revival ended in the wrong place, the Hodges ones were a little lacking in places... IDK. Billy Summers felt more like vintage King, though, albeit again perhaps teasing more than it delivered.

3

KageSaysHella t1_iujvu8b wrote

Yeah, I think FT could've used a bit more on the end there, but it was still a really enjoyable experience.

2

bopeepsheep t1_iujxuvq wrote

Yeah, I really did enjoy it, but just wanted a bit more.

3

Carmina__Gadelica t1_iuiv92j wrote

The Gas Station didn't click with me but I may revisit it. I really enjoy Bedside Manor by Jack Townsend and Creepy did a great audio narration that kept me coming back for more. Honorable mention to Goat Valley Campground, it's in book format but lends itself better to audio I found.

ETA Goat Valley on NoSleep podcast. Two different podcasts haha.

3

waqas_wandrlust_wife t1_iuka1oa wrote

I loved The tales from Gas station and Bedside Manor was meh to me. I find the unreliable narrative of Jack fascinating and intriguing. I think I have listened to the completed compilation twice. The Bedside has just way too many characters and I lost interest midway, I so wanted to like it. 😕

The atmosphere and narration was great in both though.

3

Tanettenba t1_iuiv9kl wrote

I will add all these to my reading list thank you!!

3

murdeoc t1_iuj1y2q wrote

They're all #1 :)

3

HappyKoifishdk t1_iuj6o7k wrote

Best served cold is not a horror novel . . .

3

CasualTotoro OP t1_iuj8cvy wrote

Yeah I’ll agree, not a horror book exactly but is filled with horror elements and I think Grim Dark fantasy is close enough to count. It’s a bleak and hopeless world, and more “horrifying” than a lot of pure horror books.

2

Senator_Bink t1_iuj2ze8 wrote

Thank you for posting this! There are at least a couple I'm going to try. Happy Halloween!

2

Evil_Garen t1_iuj5wvb wrote

Best served cold is amazing. I’m actually re-listening to it now as well. So damn funny too!

2

dammKaran t1_iuj6yf0 wrote

Great post and suggestions, I m gonna save it.

2

LapisFazule t1_iuj920r wrote

Bit of a nitpick, but I couldn't help but point it out. All the listings are labeled 1.

2

KageSaysHella t1_iujvx43 wrote

Reddit's formatting is a bear. If the exact formatting isn't followed, it defaults your numbered list to 1 every time.

2

propernice t1_iujbtug wrote

I love this list! My Stephen King pick for this year was Later; loved it. Fairy Tale didn't ping me as horror, but it makes me so happy that you enjoyed it! It was one of my favorite reads this year. If you haven't yet, you should check out Thistlefoot!

2

Shanstergoodheart t1_iuk78q5 wrote

I adored the Twisted Ones. I think it's T Kingfisher at her peak. I hope she manages it again one day.

I thoroughly enjoyed Horrorstor as well.

I'll have to look into Family Business and Tales from the gas station.

2

Pluto0x0 t1_iuj0nlz wrote

Thank you!! Horrorstore by Grady Hendrix sounds interesting! I’m gonna try!

1

trucky_crickster t1_iujchl5 wrote

We seem to have very similar taste. I would recommend Road of Bones by Christopher Golden. Dark and moody monster horror set in far eastern Russia.

1

Windfox6 t1_iujeiv7 wrote

Lots of books here on my tbr list, I appreciate the rundown!!

1

shiner_bock t1_iujk1f6 wrote

Just FYI, because of the way reddit's formatting system works, all your list numbers are showing up as "1." If you just go through and change the periods after each number to, say, a close-parenthesis, they'll show up like you intended (doing this, you'll lose the automatic indentation, but I think that's an acceptable trade-off):

Anyway, let's begin.

  1. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Want a traditional Slasher mixed with a supernatural Elk Monster? Then look no further. The Only Good Indians also does the troupe of "ancestral revenge" really well. There is a lot about the life of an Indian, and what it means to grow up on a reservation, providing insight into culture while being scared. There is a lot of basketball.

  1. Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

The first on this list I would call Comedy Horror. This is a campy novel, as Grady Hendrix can be a campy author. It is a wonderful take on the Haunted House stereotype done with the scariest of all things... retail! Run around following a fun main character trying to survive the night in an Ikea.

  1. Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon by Matt Dinniman

A Horror Lit-RPG, and a pillar in the genre. Extensive in length, this provides a very detailed and fleshed out world. This story mixes strife, loss, and suffering and blends them seemingly with giant monster battles, and otherworldy torture. This is not for the faint of heart, instead this is for anyone looking for a horrifyingly gross time.

...etc

1

treecanary t1_iujq5h9 wrote

Thank you for sharing your list and writing a synopsis. I have some new reading material to check out.

1

corran450 t1_iujr9vj wrote

Hear me out: “Fairy Tale” is >!a shadow prequel to “The Talisman”!<

I know the text doesn’t really support it, but I get the same feeling from the former as I did reading the latter.

1

evilpenguin9000 t1_iuk090x wrote

I have already read several of these and enjoyed them. I will absolutely be looking into the kaiju progression novel. Right up my alley. The only horror novel I read this month was Cows by Matthew Stokoe and it’s definitely horrifying, but it’s not something I would recommend. I may be scarred for life.

1

Ok_Anybody_4585 t1_iuk1nvs wrote

Thank you for doing this! I added so many books to my TBR!

1

Ehrre t1_iuk2lex wrote

Question. Which horrors novels, if any, have actually scared you while reading?

If you could give me your top 3 in terms of actually being scary I will happily go buy one of them.

1

CasualTotoro OP t1_iuk5lv6 wrote

The Terror by Dan Simmons

I think about that book a lot, and how truly scary it is.

Honorable mentions for one’s I wouldn’t want to read again but loved are Tender is The Flesh, and The Ruins (which was in this post). Without spoilers, there are some pretty good body horror scenes that really messed with me.

2

Ehrre t1_iuk7d3r wrote

Well shit, I already like Dan Simmons after reading his Hyperion novels.

I should give that a shot

2

Blackdoomax t1_iuk9ng4 wrote

You gave me the will to go back to horror books. Thank you.

1

Let_Them_Eat_Cake24 t1_iuk9uyt wrote

The Twisted Ones has been on my list, and I’m excited to read it (after I’ve googled whether or not the dog dies)

1

saintaudrey45 t1_iuie2yj wrote

i guess the real question is: does a person read the books in the first place if it wasn’t possible to post about it on the internet for ego points.

try reading the books and not telling anyone and see if you still do it

downvote me all you want. you know it’s true. no one will take this post seriously and read these books with the recommendation in mind; it’s a total ego boost

−115

Cardboard_Eggplant t1_iuik3ek wrote

Wow, the nerve of OP, posting their opinions about the books they've read in a subreddit for discussing books...

27

bobnsav t1_iuifq00 wrote

lol and posting this isn't an ego boost. OK.

24

saintaudrey45 t1_iuifuf6 wrote

an ego boost for downvotes? YOURE RIGHT!

−46

ashrevolts t1_iuig5iv wrote

idk, i have read some of these and some are on my to-read list, so i looked up the others and found one to add to my list for the future. if you didn't find this post helpful that's fine but as a horror lover i enjoyed it.

21

Supergoch t1_iuijyon wrote

I have totally picked up books based upon recommendations on this sub.

16

jdino t1_iuipj9h wrote

/r/lostredditors

Personally, I think it’s fun to talk about books but that’s why I’m subbed here

15

HugoNebula t1_iuip1n7 wrote

What a sad and unlovely place this comes from.

13

FantasmaDelMar t1_iuiytxp wrote

I’d much rather read a post like this with some good recommendations than the usual r/books post of “I just finished Project Hail Mary and WOW!”.

13

[deleted] t1_iuimgxa wrote

[removed]

9

saintaudrey45 t1_iuimnzi wrote

read these books and come back and tell me what you think. either that or im right

−13

murphyVsteeplechase t1_iuimsoj wrote

Not interested in any of them but doesn’t mean I didn’t read them thinking I might be.

6

saintaudrey45 t1_iuinzs9 wrote

you’ve made my point thank you. no one , literally zero people, will read this post and take it serious . literally zero people will look through it for recommendations, read the book they thought sounded good, and be thankful.

some posts in this forum actually do have good recommendations, but they are clearly different from a post like this where a redditor thinks he is a critic and needs an ego boost

−15

IronSorrows t1_iuipg11 wrote

That mini-review of The Fisherman caught my eye and I've now added it to my watchlist. I'm a big horror fan but drifted away from reading in recent years, and seeing someone that enjoyed books I did (like The Only Good Indians) recommending things really helps give me an idea of what to keep an eye out on.

Just because posts are of no interest to you, and even if there's an ulterior motive for them being posted, doesn't mean they don't help others. Even if nobody read the thread now, there's no reason someone couldn't come across it in a few years time while googling suggestions (happened to me plenty of times with Reddit posts over the years).

8

murphyVsteeplechase t1_iuip25w wrote

But I did take it seriously. Lol. And then realized none of these books were interesting to me (they’re outside of what I typically like anyway so not on OP).

7

RevHenryMagoo t1_iuiy0q7 wrote

I rather enjoy the recommendations and lists on this sub. Some more than others, but if you find another reader with similar tastes for one book or author it’s good way to discover other works you might enjoy. I’m not sure what’s wrong inside of you that you would take time to post a response like this, but I’m sure whatever it is flies below your radar of self-reflection, so I’m afraid all I can spare is a bit of pity for a soul as sad as yours.

8

imnotmarvin t1_iuiy18z wrote

Wait. You likely read which is what would lead someone to peruse a sub called r/books. But to have the sub, people have to post about books that one would assume have been read. So what are you doing in r/books if not to read posts about books?

8

Blurybuzz t1_iujmu05 wrote

Dude, I think you might be on the wrong sub or maybe even the platform... I love looking for recommendations for my next read on exactly this kind of threads and kudos to the op for taking the time to put together this list and most of all, a short, spoiler-free description. But I didn't downvote you because I don't like using this function as a disagree button.

4