Though I used to not celebrate Halloween, I have found an odd acceptance with the holiday. I have discovered great joy in passing out candy, watching movies with my kids, and allowing myself the treat of a book that gives me chills. Not a fan of Stepen King, I prefer instead gothic horror and the sublime. So, if you are like me and looking for, oh, let’s say 8 frightening books to read this Halloween? Read on and I’ll also point you where to find them.
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Table of Contents
Frightening Books to Read: Frankenstein
I have long wanted to read the story of Frankenstein, so when Smidgen Press hired me to write both the book description and the introduction to their gorgeous republication, I dove in, learning the backstory and preparing to be swept away by what some have called the original science fiction novel in the gothic horror style.
When Mary Shelley, deep in grief, was visiting with friends, Lord Byron made a challenge. Their odd group of gothic romantics living alternative and, for their time, scandalous lives, were dared to write chilling ghost stories.
By this point in history, Mary was acquainted with Luigi Galvini’s experimentation with the use of electricity on dead animals. She also knew of Galvini’s nephew’s reanimation of the body of an executed murderer. The inevitability of science going too far no longer seemed a leap of the imagination.
The often depressed Mary might be likened to the obsessed Victor Frankenstein, the doctor she created for her story. While Dr. Frankenstein pieced together a new creation from several corpses, she stitched together the fearful news from the scientific front, envisioning a world where the creation makes a monster of its creator. See the full-size or adorable “pocket-size” available from Smidgen Press here.
Frightening Books to Read: Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey remains the only completed novel of Jane Austen’s that I have yet to read. When my sister bought me this lovely set of Jane Austen’s novels for Christmas, I was stunned. I KNEW this would be the year that I finally read Northanger Abbey. What’s more? I knew that October was the perfect month to do it in.
The story follows Catherine Moreland, a girl who has been spoiled by reading too many novels. When she visits love interest Henry Tilney’s family estate, she begins to try and unravel the mysteries she feels certain are there. I am looking forward to things that go bump in the night in this classic. And best of all will be Miss Austen’s satirical wit. Get this stunning clothbound edition with keys stitched on the cover here.
Frightening Books to Read: Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorite classic books. Yes, it takes a little while to get into. Once Jane is off to Thornfield Hall, the stage is set for mystery with just enough horror and a bit of supernatural. The sound of madness cackling in laughter? The fear of being burnt alive in your bed? The nightmares that ominously point toward danger? All this and more totally kept me flipping through the pages. If I have time this October, I may pick it up again! Get this beautiful clothbound edition here.
Frightening Books to Read: House of Salt and Sorrows
Anyone who knows me should know that I adore a good fairy tale retelling. After all, as an author, that’s what I do! And a retelling based on both The Twelve Dancing Princesses AND Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven? What could be more eerily perfect for Halloween? My only caution is this. I recommend this book for older adolescents. If not, then read with a trusted adult to navigate some of the darker and more mature themes.
Set in the fantasy world where Poseidon lives, you can almost taste the salt of tears and waves. As Annaleigh recounts the deaths of her mother and subsequent sisters, the grief is heavy. There were once twelve, but the creepy knowledge that someone is stealing these lives permeates the pages. Darkness hovers like a ghost looming just out-of-sight. Is Annaleigh in danger, or has grief driven her mad? Get it here.
Frightening Books to Read: The Hazel Wood (series)
Even darker than The House of Salt and Sorrows is my next frightening suggestion. Melissa Albert’s masterfully crafted Hazel Wood series is perfect for anyone who enjoys the darker, bone-chilling side of fairy tales and can tolerate profanity. Alice and her mother have lived their life together always moving. They are trying to keep one step ahead of something that is chasing them. But when her mother is taken, Alice finds only a note telling her to “STAY AWAY FROM THE HAZEL WOOD”. Only Alice and her new friend can discover the truth.
Be prepared to read the original duology in quick succession. The ending of The Hazel Wood needs the conclusion of The Night Country to bring solid resolution. I do not recommend these books to young readers as they have such a sharp edge and are moored in moral ambiguity that I believe requires some maturity to handle. But that is my personal opinion, and I leave the decision up to each family/reader to make. You can get them here.
Frightening Books to Read: Before the Tower and Beyond the Tower
At last, I would like to invite you to travel with Rapunzel for some chilling adventures. When I first began writing, I had no idea how many dark and twisty paths we would be traveling together. From the betrayal that led to her imprisonment, to meeting Bluebeard, and losing her way in the Dark Wood, Rapunzel’s Journey is set in a fantasy world at odds with magic and filled with secrets. Like all of the above books, the storytelling begins slowly. Be prepared for it to weave its spell over you until you NEED to know what’s behind the door or at the end of the path.
I recommend you grab these frightening books to read for FREE. You can get the prequel, Before the Tower, here or book 1, Beyond the Tower, here. Yep, for now you can discover a portal into Rapunzel’s World and start your journey alongside her. But I’m frightened (<–see what I did there?) that I won’t be able to offer them for free much longer. Jury’s still out, but for now they are both still free and I’ll just update this article if and when I have to change that.
Your Turn
So, like always at the end of one of my articles, I will now turn it over to you. I would love to hear which of these 8 frightening books to read for Halloween you are going to pick up–if any. And if, in fact you like straight-up horror and have a hard time with more classic titles or descriptive young adult fantasy, what books would YOU recommend for this creepy time of the year? Let me know in the comments, on Instagram (where I make silly reels about books), or by contacting me here if you’re a little shy. I LOVE talking books and would consider it an honor to hear from you!
If you need more book recommendations from me, I have a curated list here or you can head over to my bookshop here.
About JacQueline
As the author of The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.
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