Categories
The Fright Stuff

Harvest Season, Horror Season

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Well, Thanksgiving is this week, and I am pretty vocal about how much I dislike this holiday. But even so, there are some excellent horror reads set around the harvest season. So those of you who are into the whole Thanksgiving thing, I got you. But first! Bookish goods and things!

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

horror guess who game

Horror-Themed Guess Who by TheAtticFanatics

It’s that time of year when you might have a lot of family visiting and a lot of dead time between meals when you have to figure out how to fill the time without talking about politics. One go-to in my household? Board games. For the horror enthusiast family, there’s a horror-themed Guess Who, including plenty of bookish-themed horror icons. Check it out! It’s $70.

New Releases

just a little snack book cover

Just A Little Snack by Yah Yah Scholfield

We’ve got some exciting indie releases coming out in November! First up: Here’s an excellent new horror short story collection that’s out this week. Yah Yah Scholfield’s stories incorporate Southern Gothic and Afro-Gothic elements to tell spine-tingling stories that explore nature, religion, and the body.

mothtown book cover

Mothtown by Caroline Hardaker

Caroline Hardaker’s Mothtown mixes horror and literary fiction with truly chilling illustrations from bestselling illustrator and political cartoonist, Chris Riddell. No one would tell David what was going on. They told him it was to protect him. But even as a child, David knew something was wrong. Children kept going missing, and there were rumors of nests of bones spread across the mountains. Now, at 26, David lives on his own and tries to forget the horrors of his past. But then a strange package shows up on his doorstep…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

harvest of bones book cover

Harvest of Bones by S.B. Fates

Feeling the Thanksgiving spirit? Here are some horror short stories you should put on your TBR this week! First up, S.B. Fates has a full-on Thanksgiving horror anthology. You heard right. Here are seven horror stories celebrating the harvest season, including titles like “Giblets of Wrath,” and “Pilgrim’s Regress,” and “Stuffing the Void.”

cover of the horror you crave

Horror You Crave: The Thanksgiving Monster by Julio Miranda

Julio Miranda’s short story “Thanksgiving Monster” is a quick but enjoyable Thanksgiving read to get you in the spirit this season. Grab this ebook for a quick read on your Kindle today. I think you’ll be shocked by how enjoyable, heart-warming, and, yes, scary this story is. Even if you’re not a Thanksgiving person (like me), this is fun.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, for those of you in the US who celebrate Thanksgiving. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

(don’t use)Harvest Season, Horror Season

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Well, Thanksgiving is this week, and I am pretty vocal about how much I dislike this holiday. But even so, there are some excellent horror reads set around the harvest season. So those of you who are into the whole Thanksgiving thing, I got you. But first! Bookish goods and things!

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

horror guess who game

Horror-Themed Guess Who by TheAtticFanatics

It’s that time of year when you might have a lot of family visiting and a lot of dead time between meals when you have to figure out how to fill the time without talking about politics. One go-to in my household? Board games. For the horror enthusiast family, there’s a horror-themed Guess Who, including plenty of bookish-themed horror icons. Check it out! It’s $70.

New Releases

just a little snack book cover

Just A Little Snack by Yah Yah Scholfield

We’ve got some exciting indie releases coming out in November! First up: Here’s an excellent new horror short story collection that’s out this week. Yah Yah Scholfield’s stories incorporate Southern Gothic and Afro-Gothic elements to tell spine-tingling stories that explore nature, religion, and the body.

mothtown book cover

Mothtown by Caroline Hardaker

Caroline Hardaker’s Mothtown mixes horror and literary fiction with truly chilling illustrations from bestselling illustrator and political cartoonist, Chris Riddell. No one would tell David what was going on. They told him it was to protect him. But even as a child, David knew something was wrong. Children kept going missing, and there were rumors of nests of bones spread across the mountains. Now, at 26, David lives on his own and tries to forget the horrors of his past. But then a strange package shows up on his doorstep…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

harvest of bones book cover

Harvest of Bones by S.B. Fates

Feeling the Thanksgiving spirit? Here are some horror short stories you should put on your TBR this week! First up, S.B. Fates has a full-on Thanksgiving horror anthology. You heard right. Here are seven horror stories celebrating the harvest season, including titles like “Giblets of Wrath,” and “Pilgrim’s Regress,” and “Stuffing the Void.”

the thanksgiving monster short story

Horror You Crave: The Thanksgiving Monster by Julio Miranda

Julio Miranda’s short story “Thanksgiving Monster” is a quick but enjoyable Thanksgiving read to get you in the spirit this season. Grab this ebook for a quick read on your Kindle today. I think you’ll be shocked by how enjoyable, heart-warming, and, yes, scary this story is. Even if you’re not a Thanksgiving person (like me), this is fun.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, for those of you in the US who celebrate Thanksgiving. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

The Fright Stuff Goes International

Hello friends! By the time you read this, I will be across the ocean in Belgium—unless you live on that side of the world. In that case, hey! I’m on your side of the ocean now. What’s up? Anyway, since I’m in another country right now, I thought it would be fun to highlight some horror in translation. This is going to be fun. And scary.

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

Bookish Goods

battle royale poster

Battle Royale Poster by Adam Rabalais

This is a movie poster, technically, but it’s an adaptation of one of my favorite horror novels in translation, Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Seriously, if you’ve only seen the movie, then you’re missing out. I still love the movie (obviously, because I want this poster), but the book is going to blow your mind! Anyway, this movie poster is stunning, and I personally want to frame it and put it in my living room. If you want this giant 27×40 poster, it’s $50. The poster is also available in 11×17 size ($20) and 24×36 ($45). Choose your poison!

New Releases

where he cant find you book cover

Where He Can’t Find You by Darcy Coates

We’ve got a couple of thriller/horror hybrids from two fan-favorite authors. First up, a new one from Darcy Coates. Who is the Stitcher? Something more terrifying than anything you can imagine. Abby Ward and her sister Hope live by strict guidelines. In their town, people go missing, and when they’re found, their bodies have been dismembered and put back together in strange ways. So, of course, they understand why they have to be so careful. But then Hope goes missing, and the police say there’s nothing they can do. Now, Abby must find her sister before she is literally torn apart.

good girls dont die book cover

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry

This unnerving story is the latest from Christina Henry. It’s the story of three women who find themselves in three different but equally strange situations. Celia wakes up in a life that isn’t hers, with no idea of how she got there. Allie and her friends go on an unexpected trip to a cabin in the woods, and Allie can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Meanwhile, Maggie has been kidnapped and forced into playing a deadly survival game. These women have no idea how they found themselves in these situations, but they will have to find their way out.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike

Let’s dive into some horror in translation picks, just as promised, shall we? This first one is a fresh take on one of my favorite horror genres: the haunted house story. And it was recently translated from Japanese: Here we get a haunted apartment rather than a whole house, but it’s just as scary. It all starts when a young couple with a secret tries to start fresh with their young daughter by moving into an apartment overlooking a graveyard. What could go wrong?

frankenstein in baghdad by ahmed saadawi book cover

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

Love Frankenstein? This is probably the best retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic story, and it was originally written in Arabic. Set in U.S.-occupied Baghdad, this is the story of Hadi, a scavenger who collects human body parts and stitches them together as a statement to the government about recognizing body parts as people and giving them a proper burial. But when his stitched-up body goes missing, troubling news begins circulating around the city. A horrifying criminal who seemingly cannot be killed is indiscriminately murdering people.

Friends, I hope you have enjoyed this trip to new countries. Now I’m going to enjoy mine. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Spooky Season Isn’t a Time of Year. It’s A State of Mind.

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. It’s November, but that doesn’t mean we horror aficionados have to shrink back in the shadows. I’m grabbing a gingerbread latte and picking up some new horror novels to read on my upcoming trip. The scary times live on! Let’s go!

Power up your reading life with thoughtful writing on books and publishing, courtesy of The Deep Dive. Over at our Substack publication, you’ll find timely stories, informed takes, and useful advice from our in-house experts. We’re here to share our expertise and perspective, drawing from our backgrounds as booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and then get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox. You can also upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

nevermore shirt

Edgar Allan Poe Shirt by Jennymeadow

Still riding the high of Netflix’s adaptation of Fall of the House of Usher? This is the shirt for you. It features a lovely picture of a raven and, of course, his famous words, “Nevermore.” $26+

New Releases

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng book cover

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng

I’m living for this cover, friends. Now that 18-year-old Sunny Lee’s pop star career has crash-landed, all she can do is reflect on the past. Once upon a time, she and her best friends Candie and Mina were inseparable. But then Mina unexpectedly jumped to her death, and everything changed. Now, Sunny has a chance to attend a K-Pop workshop with Candie and get some answers. But instead of getting the closure she wants, Sunny finds herself haunted by strange visions, and the other competitors in the workshop start getting hurt.

we are the crisis book cover

We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull

We Are the Crisis is the second book in Cadwell Turnbull’s Convergence Saga. A few years after the events of No Gods, No Monstersthe world is still reeling from the revelation that supernatural creatures actually exist. A werewolf pack is investigating the disappearance of some of their members, and the pro-monster activist group New Era is trying to work to bridge the conflict between monsters and humans and fight against the human-supremacist group, the Black Hand. As conflicts escalate, they reveal dark secrets about the gods that could change everything.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

secret santa book cover

Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer

Still not convinced horror can happen in any season? Check out these holiday horror books that will have you sleeping with all the lights on. First up, Secret Santa. This book mixes horror with satire to tell the story of a publishing firm that holds a very spooky Secret Santa gift exchange. How can a gift exchange be scary? Read and find out.

mistletoe book cover

Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood

Now for something entirely different (but still set during the holidays). Mistletoe is about Leah, who has recently lost her husband and her son. Determined to refocus her energy and avoid the pitying looks over the holidays, Leah escapes to a run-down Yorkshire farmhouse. But right away, something doesn’t seem right. And she keeps hearing the sounds of a child playing in the show. Is it the ghost of her son? Or is it something else?

See? It’s going to be okay in November. Plenty of things to still be scared about. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Halloween is Upon Us, Horror Fans!

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Y’all. Halloween is TOMORROW! This is not a drill. I know we probably got up to Halloween things over the weekend (and I also went to see the Taylor Swift movie), but tomorrow is the real deal! How are you celebrating? Horror movie marathon? Trick-or-treating? ANOTHER costume party? Please make sure you do something, because we only get to celebrate this once a year. After this, the Christmas fiends take control. Take a deep breath and enjoy our final moments.

And now let’s talk horror things. Also, TBR things because you can sign up for our TBR service, where our bibliologists match you with your next perfect read. Sign up here

Bookish Goods

scary claws bookmark

Scary Claws Bookmark by PiznPumpsClassic

I am OBSESSED with these bookmarks. They come in a bunch of different colors, and they immediately make every book you’re reading a little bit scarier (including I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, which I also highly recommend…even though it’s not horror). You pick your color and how long you want the bookmark to be. 2.5 inches is $6.75; 4.75 inches goes for $7.75. What a deal.

New Releases

nestlings book cover

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

We’ve got a bunch of exciting new horror releases coming out tomorrow, which is not surprising because, like I said, HALLOWEEN. But these are the ones I’m most excited about. First up, Nestlings by Nat Cassidy. This one’s giving serious Rosemary’s Baby vibes. After a horrifically difficult birth, Ana is scarred in more ways than one. Now, she and her husband, Reid, are desperate for some good news. When they win an affordable apartment in one of New York’s most preeminent apartment buildings, they think this is it. But if something seems too good to be true, then you know it probably is.

the reformatory book cover

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

At long last, this novel is finally coming out this Halloween! I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve gotten a new Tananarive Due novel, and it’s finally here! After kicking a white boy’s leg, Robert Stephen Jones Jr. is sent to Gracetown School for Boys in Gracetown, Florida. The reform school is a house of horrors full of racism, injustice, and the ghosts of the boys who died there.

green fuse burning book cover

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

Last but not least, this incredible horror novella is out this Halloween as well. Following the death of her estranged father, Rita wins a week-long artist’s residency in a secluded cabin. This is an opportunity for Rita to spend a week focusing on her painting, but it’s also a chance for her to reconnect with the father she never knew. After all, this cabin is located close to where her father grew up. But you’re a horror fan, so you know a cabin in the woods is always a site for creepy things.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

the cover of Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

Can’t wait for tomorrow’s new releases? Want to read horror RIGHT NOW? Here are a couple of horror novels released earlier this year that I highly recommend. Natural Beauty is a mind-bending story about an unnamed narrator who quits her job as a pianist to care for her parents in New York City. There, she takes up a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store called Holistik and grows close to the owner’s niece, Helen. The two form a friendship that slowly becomes more, and the narrator becomes deeply wrapped up in the products and ideology of Holistik. But underneath its glossy surface, Holistik hides something sinister.

a graphic of the cover of Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez, Translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, Megan McDowell (Translator)

Don’t let the page count of this one get you down. This is one of the best horror novels, not just of 2023 but of the 2020s. After his wife Rosario’s mysterious death, Juan and his son Gaspar set off on a journey to return to Rosario’s ancestral home, where her family gathers as a maniacal cult called the Order, committing horrifying acts in search of immortality.

I cannot stress this enough, everyone. I hope you have an incredible Halloween, and I wish you the best of luck as we bid October goodbye and head into November (SAD). I’ll see you on the other side. In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

All The Horror That’s Good for Cats

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Are you getting all geared up for Halloween? What’s your costume vibe this year? Scary? Cute? Sexy? All of the above? Are you dressing up your pets? If so, please send me any and all pet pics. And while we’re waiting for those pet pics to come in, let me tell you about all the horror things.

Real quick: here’s a reminder to check out our personalized TBR service, where you can get book recommendations tailored to you.

Bookish Goods

dracula pet costume

Dracula Pet Costume by AieMing

Speaking of pet costumes! My husband is firmly against putting cats in costumes, but hey! If your cat is into it, why not? And this Dracula cape works for little dogs as well. Yeah, it might be too late to order this one for this Halloween, but there’s always next year. And just like…any random day you feel like having Dracula as a pet. $31.

New Releases

christmas and other horrors book cover

Christmas and Other Horrors, edited by Ellen Datlow

So today, I went into Starbucks, and they were already playing Christmas music. I was so upset! Let us have Halloween first, right? Well…I hate to say it, but October means it’s time for Christmas book releases as well. That’s just the way it is, friends. Thankfully, we have Christmas horror to look forward to! This anthology is a collection of horror set during the winter solstice. It includes new works from some of the horror greats, including Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu, and Josh Malerman. It hits shelves tomorrow!

all these sunken souls book cover

All These Sunken Souls, edited by Circe Moskowitz

Horror anthologies! They’re so good! They’re so exciting! And here’s another new one you won’t want to miss. All These Sunken Souls highlights Black voices in horror fiction, including some best-selling faves and some brand-new writers. Contributors include Kalynn Bayron, Ashia Monet, Liselle Sambury, Ryan Douglass, and more!

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

the haunting of ashburn house book cover

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

So now that I have cats on the brain, I feel like I should tell you one of my horror pet peeves. I love animals. And I love horror novels. But I hate that feeling I get when a pet gets introduced in a horror story and I have to spend the whole book wondering if the cat (or dog) is going to be okay. You all know the feeling. So as a favor to you (and myself), here are a couple of horror books that prominently feature kitties who do not die. Honestly, the best character in Darcy Coates’ The Haunting of Ashburn House is Wolfgang the cat. Read this book, and you’ll know for sure Coates is a cat person. And if you weren’t sure, just check out this Twitter thread.

the walking cat comic book cover

The Walking Cat by Tomo Kitaoka

Have you ever wondered if cats would be able to survive during a zombie apocalypse? Of course you haven’t, because of course they would. In Tomo Kitaoka’s The Walking Cat, we get to see the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of a cat. Yes, the cat is the main character.

And there you have it! Cat-friendly horror and cat costumes. What more could you want? Dog lovers, maybe next time I can find some more books for you. But! In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Get Cozy with Horror Books?

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. The leaves are starting to turn, and it’s getting a little cooler outside; I’m starting to see the appeal of a cozier horror read. Especially with all the Practical Magic style witchy activities I got into over the weekend. What is cozy horror, you ask? I’ll have some examples for you down below.

Speaking of the cozy fall weather, now that autumn is here, it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.

Bookish Goods

go away i'm reading blanket

Go Away I’m Reading Blanket by EverythingAfterCo

Speaking of cozy, why not cozy up with a horror-themed blankie this fall and winter? This blanket features a skeleton and says “Go Away, I’m Reading,” because, sure, you want to be cozy, but that doesn’t mean you have to be nice about it. Available in three sizes starting at $40.

New Releases

the girl who cried diamonds

The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories by Rebecca Hirsch Garcia

Rebecca Hirsch Garcia’s debut short story collection explores the beautiful and grotesque aspects of living inside of a body, from a girl who is slowly losing her senses to another who produces valuable gems from her bodily fluids. This one is great for fans of Carmen Maria Machado, the perfect mix of fabulism and horror.

cover of brainwyrms by alison rumfitt

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

In this new queer horror novel, Frankie’s world is falling apart after her workplace was bombed by a transphobe. Now, Frankie deals with the trauma by partying, sleeping around, and hanging out with her new friend, Vanya. The two quickly fall into an intense friendship with one another, but the closer Vanya and Frankie get, the more Frankie grows suspicious that Vanya is hiding something from her. Something dark and impossibly evil.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

we have always lived in the castle book cover

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

We all know about cozy mysteries, but is there such a thing as cozy horror? Yes. The focus is less on violence, gore, and dark imagery, and more on atmosphere and general eeriness. Even though you’re immersed in a horror story, you still get the sense that everything is okay. Or is it?

A classic example would be Shirley Jackson’s novels like We Have Always Lived in the Castle. This is the story of Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, who lives with her sister and uncle. Six years ago, Merricat’s family were victims of a horrible tragedy that left the three remaining members of the Blackwood family living alone in their estate, isolated from the rest of the community.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches cover

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Cozy horror can also go a little sweet and heartwarming. As long as it’s also a little (or a lot) witchy. This is the story of a young witch named Mika who has to keep her magic identity a secret. But then she finds the Nowhere House, where three young witches need help learning how to control their powers.

how to sell a haunted house book cover

How to Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Grady Hendrix’s How to Sell A Haunted House strikes the cozy horror balance of eeriness, heartwarming family story, and humor (yes, cozy horror can be funny, too). Siblings Louise and Mark Joyner are totally different from each other and basically never speak. But when their parents die, Louise and Mark are forced back together to get their childhood home on the market. But something is strange in that house. Before their parents died, they taped newspaper over the mirrors and nailed the attic door shut. And that’s just the beginning.

Time to grab a cozy blanket and get to reading! I’ll see you next time, horror fans. In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

You Want Scary? These Books Will Give You Scary

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Have you made your trip to Spirit Halloween yet? I went last weekend and got my fun Halloween decorations, and I am now fully immersed in the season. Which means I am extra excited to talk about scary stuff this week. And today, I thought I’d share with you a few of the scariest books I have ever read in the spirit of the holiday.

And because Autumn is here, it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.

Bookish Goods

horror bracelets

Halloween Bracelets by BeccaBearsCraftyCrea

Why should Swifties have all the fun? Friendship bracelets should be for horror fans as well. These bracelets feature a lot of horror characters, including plenty of bookish ones! Have your pick! And for a limited time, they’re only $3.37.

New Releases

Wow, so many great new releases came out this past week. It was hard to choose which ones to share! But these are two I’m definitely excited about

a haunting on the hill book cover

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

A Haunting on the Hill is the first-ever authorized return to the world of Shirley Jackson’s classic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House. Holly Sherwin is a struggling playwright who has received a grant to develop her play The Witch of Edmonton. When she comes upon Hill House, she thinks it’s the perfect getaway spot to finish the play. Soon, Holly is joined by her girlfriend, Nisa, and a group of actors. But each person who enters Hill House brings with them ghosts of their own.

out there screaming book cover

Out There Screaming, ed. by Jordan Peele

If Jordan Peele comes out with a horror anthology, well, you have to read it if you consider yourself a real fan of horror. This collection features terrifying new stories from Black authors, including Erin E. Adams, Violet Allen, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Maurice Broaddus, Chesya Burke, P. Djèlí Clark, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Tananarive Due, Nalo Hopkinson, N. K. Jemisin, Justin C. Key, L. D. Lewis, Nnedi Okorafor, Tochi Onyebuchi, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nicole D. Sconiers, Rion Amilcar Scott, Terence Taylor, and Cadwell Turnbull.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

cover The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians has disturbing imagery that will haunt you for a lifetime. This story follows what happens to Blackfoot Native American friends who took a hunting trip in their youth, made some mistakes, and upset a spirit in the process. Now, that spirit is out to seek revenge on the friends, one by one.

cover of The Good House by Tananarive Due

The Good House by Tananarive Due

Everyone has the scary things that freak them out the most. For me, it’s haunted house stories. After her son dies by suicide, Angela Toussant is looking to rebuild her law practice and her life. So she journeys to the family home where her son’s suicide took place, looking for answers. What she finds instead is an invisible, evil force that is driving people to acts of violence.

cover of a head full of ghosts by paul tremblay

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

If haunted house stories don’t scare the heck out of you, surely demonic possessions will. The Barretts are a seemingly normal family whose lives are torn apart when 14-year-old Marjorie exhibits signs of schizophrenia. But what if it’s demon possession? A local Catholic priest thinks it might be and offers to perform an exorcism. With Marjorie’s medical bills looming, the family agrees to film the whole thing for a reality TV show. 

Okay, if these books don’t give you the creeps, then I don’t know what to say to you. Be sure to let me know what the scariest book you’ve ever read is. Hit me up and follow me on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Happy Horror Birthday to My Fellow Spooky Season Babies!

Hello, my fright-loving friends! It’s me, Emily, here to guide you through the world of horrors on this day, October 2, 2023, the second official day of Spooky Season. It’s also officially my birthday month! Because as we all know, October birthdays last all month long. October babies, you know how it is.

In honor of all my fellow Spooky Season babies out there, I got a few birthday-themed treats thrown in for you today.

But before we get into it… Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.

Bookish Goods

pennywise birthday card

Pennywise Birthday Card by CastleMcQuade

So…idk if I mentioned this yet but like…my birthday is coming up. So if you want to send me a card, this would be a great one for me. Or really for any horror fan in your life who has a birthday this month.

I’ll never forget Stephen King’s IT was one of my first adult novels. I read it when I was ten years old, and I felt so cool and grown up. So, this book will always hold a special place in my heart. I also love that this is based on the 1990 adaptation because little kid Emily also loved this movie and Tim Curry (and she had a huge crush on Jonathan Brandis, OK?)

Well. Anyway. This card is $5.50.

New Releases

find him where you left him dead book cover

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons

Think Jumanji, but make it horror and make it inspired by Japanese yōkai. Owen, Madeline, Emerson, and Dax have survived to their senior year of high school. Their friend Ian, however, was not so lucky. The five friends started playing a game four years ago—a deadly game that they never finished after Ian’s death. Now they have one night to finish the game once and for all. If they don’t, they’ll be stuck in the world forever. But not everyone will make it through alive.

the dead take a train book cover

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey

Cosmic horror fans will want to nab this one when it hits shelves this Tuesday (October 3). Set in a world filled with magic and monsters, The Dead Take the A Train follows thirtysomething Julie Crews, who has been trying to make a name for herself in the New York City magic scene. But her hunger for fame, power, and money draws the attention of a vengeful eldritch god.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

This is one of my favorite horror books of all time, and FUN FACT: it all starts with a birthday party. That’s right. Gretchen and Abby become best friends after hanging out at Abby’s E.T.-themed roller rink birthday party, and the rest is history. But their friendship is truly put to the test when Gretchen becomes possessed by a demon. Yeah, evil demons are tough, but is the power of female friendship tougher? Spoiler: why yes, yes it is.

scary birthday to you

Scary Birthday to You! by R.L. Stine

Let’s keep the nostalgia train going with this birthday-themed Give Yourself Goosebumps book. You probably get the idea, but just in case, this series is a fun choose-your-own-path story where you get to decide what happens. If you’ve ever watched a horror movie and thought to yourself, “Hmm…I would make different decisions if I were in this situation,” well, this is the horror book for you. Of course, this book is appropriate for kids, but if you were a Goosebumps kid and are looking for a book that will remind you of your childhood while also reminding you of how old you’re getting, well, then Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy horror birthday month to us, October babes! And to everyone else, have a wonderful Spooky Szn! I can’t wait to spend this October with all of you every Monday. In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Bits of Horror You Might Have Missed Because 2023 is Speeding By Like a Bullet Train

Hello, horror fans! It’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Or fiend, if you prefer. I know I’ve been super hyped about October, but on the other hand, it’s kind of scary how quickly September is flying by, isn’t it? Like, give us time to prepare, September! I haven’t even figured out my Halloween costume yet!

Because the year is just speeding by, I wanted to take a moment this week to recommend some horror books that came out in 2023 that you might have missed. And because life moves fast, I’m featuring three anthologies of short horror works so you can get your quick horror fix!

But real quick! 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

horror care package

Horror Care Package with Book and Extra Goodies by Bookages

Wanting fewer tricks and more treats this Halloween season? Why not gift yourself a little horror mystery package? As a Libra, I hate picking things out for myself and I love having other people chose things for me, so this is the ideal bookish goodie for me! What will be in your cute little horror care package? Order and find out…and definitely let me know, because like I said, I LIVE for a mystery box! $22

New Releases

black river orchard book cover

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

What screams fall more than horror books and apple orchards? As the season changes to fall in the town of Harrow, the orchard is starting to sprout strange new fruit: apples so red they look black. Taking a bite from these apples makes you stronger, happier, more confident, more powerful. And with every bite, you only want to eat more. Soon, everyone in Harrow becomes obsessed with this new fruit. But what they don’t know is that the apples have a dark history.

and then she fell book cover

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

And Then She Fell tells the story of Alice, a young Indigenous woman who has just given birth to a baby girl named Dawn and has recently moved to Toronto with her white husband, Steve. Between all these changes in her life and the recent loss of her own mother, Alice feels lost. She has trouble connecting with her daughter, and her feelings of depression and self-doubt are hindering her from moving forward with her own work. When, on top of everything else, she starts hearing voices in her head and starts losing time, her husband tells her it’s all in her head. But Alice can’t help but feel that something is very wrong.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

cover of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology; black with brightly colored illustrated cartoon border of flowers, snakes, and monsters

Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

This first collection just came out earlier this month! This dark fantasy/horror anthology features a collection of “wholly original and shiver-inducing tales” from Indigenous authors and an introduction from Stephen Graham Jones. Other authors include Darcie Little Badger, Cherie Dimaline, Rebecca Roanhorse, and many more!

cover of horrorscope

Horrorscope: A Zodiac Anthology, ed. H. Everend

If you’re a fan of astrology, then you know that sometimes your fate written in the stars can be encouraging and enlightening. Sometimes, it can be downright horrifying. This anthology of dark fantasy poems and short stories, all inspired by the Zodiac, are for those latter times when destiny is less than kind.

bound in flesh book cover

Bound in Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror, ed. Lor Gislason

This cover really gives me the creeps! And the stories inside are even creepier. This anthology is a collection of horror short stories written by 13 different trans and nonbinary writers. Bound in Flesh includes stories by Hailey Piper, Joe Koch, Bitter Karella, and others.

Well, horror fans, that’s a wrap for this week! I’ll see you next week when it’s…oooooooh Octobeerrrrr (said in a ghost voice). In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!