Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. I’m so excited to be taking up the mantle of The Fright Stuff newsletter right as spooky season is upon us! I mean, yes, for those of us who live, breath, eat, drink, and dream horror, it’s horror time all year round. But we’ve reached that time of the year where the rest of the world gets on our level. Now we can really let the fun begin.
So are you looking for the books that are going to get you in the Halloween spirit this fall? Stay tuned, because I have book recommendations for you, and so much more.
Big first! Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required!
Bookish Goods
The Shining Knitted Scarf by Cultzilla
If you’ve been dreaming about cooler weather but also still having nightmares about Stephen King’s The Shining, this is the scarf for you this fall season. Designed to resemble the carpet pattern of the Overlook Hotel, this scarf is super cozy and warm, perfect for the upcoming fall months. $34
New Releases
Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
This YA novel has it all. Romance. Mystery. Intrigue. Cults. Friendships. And…horror. Lots and lots of horror. When the police refuse to do anything to track down Wil Greene’s missing mother, Wil decides to take matters into her own hands. She knows her mother didn’t just disappear on her, and she’s certain her former best friend Elwood Clarke knows what happened to her. Elwood is tangled up with a cult that plots to use him in their rituals. Unsure of where else to turn, he seeks out Wil, the only one who might believe the strange things that are happening to him. Everywhere Elwood goes, plants come alive, and the forest is calling to him.
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Catriona Ward is a forever fave of mine, so I’m so excited to share her latest release with you in this, my first Fright Stuff newsletter. Ward’s latest is a story about a writer trying to come to terms with the horrors of his past. Years ago when Wilder Harlow was young, there was a summer that changed everything. A killer stalked his small town in Maine, and a tragedy bonded Wilder to his friends Nat and Harper in ways that would forever change them. Now, decades later, Wilder has returned to the town in the hopes of making sense of that summer’s events as he writes his memoir. But the longer he spends in the town and the more he writes, the more Wilder feels like he’s losing his grip on reality. And it feels as if the book is somehow writing itself.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
These book recommendations are bringing the autumnal vibes. Why does The Weight of Blood feel like a fall horror book? Maybe it’s because it’s set in a school so it’s perfect for back-to-school season. Or maybe it’s because it’s a smart, thought-provoking retelling of Carrie by Stephen King, the literal KING of Spooky Season. Either way, it wouldn’t be Halloween season without a Tiffany D. Jackson horror novel. I’m obsessed. And if you haven’t read this yet, just know you will get totally sucked in by this one too!
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
What’s more fall than a haunted house story? A haunted house story that takes place on HALLOWEEN NIGHT. In this book, four authors have been invited to spend the night in a haunted house. It’s just supposed to be a publicity stunt for fun and exposure. But as you might have guessed, not everything goes according to plan, and the night of fun turns into something completely horrifying.
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge
I mean, this one literally has “harvest” in the title, so I don’t think I have to make the argument for this one being fall-appropriate. Dark Harvest is set in a small midwestern town where a strange visitor comes to visit from the cornfields every Halloween season. He’s known by many names. October Boy. Ol’ Hacksaw Face. Sawtooth Jack. Whatever name he goes by, it doesn’t matter. This year, the townspeople plan to kill him.
And that’s all for my first ever Fright Stuff newsletter! Thank you so much for welcoming me. Thanks so much for Jessica Avery for giving us so much horror content over the past few years. I’m excited to see what this horror season (and beyond) will bring! See you next week, and in the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram at emandhercat (yes, I post cat pics). Sweet dreams, horror fans!