List
Spooky Reads
From slashers to haunted houses, these books are perfect for any spooky occasion.
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Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror
2023Get this itemHorror visionary Jordan Peele puts together a brilliant collection of horror stories featuring powerhouse African American authors. There will not be a moment where you aren’t on the edge of your seat, and chances are you will be thinking about many of the realities featured in each story long after you’ve turned the last page.
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Mister Magic
2023 by White, KierstenGet this itemQuestions abound when the cast of a cancelled children’s show is reunited under mysterious circumstances. Many themes are explored in this creepy story, and the suspense intensifies all the way to its satisfying climax. Added bonus: loads of 1990's nostalgia.
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Midnight Rooms
2024 by Coles, DonyaeGet this itemSet in Victorian England, Donyae Coles brings a fresh take to the Gothic fiction genre much like Silvia Moreno-Garcia did in her ultra popular book Mexican Gothic. Featuring eerie dinner parties and yes, a home in decay, prepare yourself to fall into a creepy, suspense-filled fever dream if you decide to pick this one up.
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The Luminous Dead
2019 by Starling, CaitlinGet this itemThis spooky story is a well-balanced blend of sci-fi, horror, and psychological thriller. Gyre Price lies her way into a high-paying expedition without knowing that the darkness waiting in the alien caves is much more sinister than she could have ever expected.
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I Was a Teenage Slasher
2024 by Jones, Stephen GrahamGet this itemNo spooky list would be complete without the inclusion of Stephen Graham Jones. His latest offering provides his signature blend of dark humor and gruesomeness as it follows a young outsider who slashes his way through a small Texas town.
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Chicano Frankenstein
2024 by Olivas, Daniel A.Get this itemThe classic Frankenstein story puts on a sci-fi outfit in this modern retelling by Daniel Olivas. Filled with plenty of thought-provoking moments, this story is both creepy and witty in the best way possible. Audiobook highly recommended.
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Diavola
2024 by Thorne, JenniferGet this itemWhat could go wrong on a family vacation at a beautiful villa in Italy? For Anna Pace, family drama and a homicidal ghost are only two of the many things that go wrong in this humorous but downright creepy story.
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My Annihilation
2022 by Nakamura, FuminoriGet this itemWhat makes a killer a killer? This novella explores this question by diving into the mind of an unreliable and unnamed narrator who may or may not have committed some horrible crimes. This dark and creepy story is not for the faint of heart and may linger in your mind for some time. Perfect for fans of noir.
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The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story
2024 by Tokarczuk, OlgaGet this itemNobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk dropped this eerie and atmospheric story just in time for this year’s spooky season. Set in 1913 and inside a health resort in the Silesian mountains, the residents of the resort gather every evening for drinks and conversation while something mysterious lurks in their midst.
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Leech
2022 by Ennes, HironGet this itemSci-fi meets gothic in this grim tale of a doctor, an isolated chateau, and a spreading parasite. Plot twists and moments of horror are aplenty as Hiron Ennes creates an intriguing world in this unique story.
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Chlorine
2023 by Song, JadeGet this itemHaunting, and at many times, disturbing, this coming-of-age story follows Ren Yu, a Chinese American teen swimmer who has been obsessed with mermaid folklore since age four. Fluid prose, vivid imagery, and striking body horror make this a great choice for readers who like their fiction dark.
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