Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Ten Great Reads For Halloween
I’ve done so many fun Halloween posts in the past couple years but it’s been a couple since I’ve actually done a Halloween reading list (like 2012) so I thought it would be fun to make a new one.
But first for fun Halloween posts: I dress up 5 YA couples in couples costumes, characters I would love to dress up as for Halloween, ten Halloween costumes inspired by books I’ve read
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: Not scary! Just soooo atmospheric + supernatural/magic/paranormal.
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis: This one is more how atmospheric it is for Halloween as it is set in an insane asylum, has a mystery and a serial killer on the loose!
The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shephard: It’s not scary by any means but creepy as all hell. It’s inspired by the classic The Island of Dr. Moreau and it’s this great Gothic thriller that is super atmospheric and makes a perfect Fall/Halloween read. It was dark and creepy and so well written!
The Dead House: This is actually my current read so I can’t 100% vouch for it but I’m already SUPER into it and I LOVE how unique the format is and what a creepy vibe is being given. Very visual kind of book toward through letters and that type of stuff.
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children: I read this around Halloween last year and it was perfect! Not scary but loved the supernatural vibe and the mixed media within the pages to add to the atmosphere of the story.
The Girl With All The Gifts: I looooved this one. Not scary but a perfect Halloween one for someone who is a fan of The Walked Dead sort of stuff and it’s super thought-provoking and OMG WHAT AN ENDING. An epidemic. Zombies. Kids. I’m not telling youuuu anything. GO IN NOT KNOWING TOO MUCH.
In the After by Demetria Lunetta: Not scary but it’s perfect for Halloween — earth being overtaken by what are being called THEM — vile creatures that have pretty much eaten the whole population. Could not put this one down.
The Fall by Bethany Griffin: I had hoped this one would scare me when I read it last Halloween but it sure was creepy! It was inspired by The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe. Madeline’s family, The Ushers, are cursed — they are plagued with strange illnesses, are not able to leave the house that seems to haunt them and watch their every move and nobody knows how to free them from it. THE HOUSE IS SO SINISTER FEELING.
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma: Another one with a lot of mind WTFery. Not scary but psychological creepiness abounds!
Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn: One of the strangest, creepiest books ever! Lots of mind WTFery. You kind of have to be a patient reader because I felt sooo confused for a good chunk of this.
So tell me…what are some books you think are perfect Halloween reads? I am ALWAYS looking for recs! Also have you read any of these??
Anne @HeadFullofBooks says
You mentioned so many books I shold have thought of but forgot. I don’t read much horror but loved Raven Boys, and The Madman’s Daughter.
My TTT Horror Books
Emily Seals says
Great list! I like that most of these are more about the atmosphere and less about being scary. =)
Bekka says
I loved The Walls Around Us so so much. I think it’s my favorite book by Suma, and she’s one of my favorite authors ever. Definitely seconding Another Little Piece too. Such a weird concept but remarkable and unique, too.
If you’re looking for something that is actually scary, I heartily recommend Daughters Unto Devils!
Victoria says
I love the Raven Boys so much! I really want to join their gang. And Miss Peregrine’s is on my TBR; I’ve seen it on a lot of lists this week!
Here’s my TTT on the best magical creatures: https://victoriajaynesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/top-ten-tuesday-28-halloween/
Petra says
I haven’t read Miss Peregrine’s… yet, but I agree with the rest of these. I definitely want to re-read Another Little Piece asap. Awesome list, and thanks for sharing. 🙂
Here’s my TTT
Annemieke says
Great list. I’m currently reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Chrissi Reads says
I absolutely adored Another Little Piece. It really does mess with your mind. Great choices 🙂
Rachel Writes Things says
I don’t read much horror – too scary for me – but I did enjoy The Madman’s Daughter a lot, and I just put The Walls Around Us on hold at the library because it seems to balance creepy and also pretty writing. Great list, Jamie!
My TTT- http://rachelwritesthings.blogspot.com/2015/10/top-ten-scariest-book-covers.html
Samantha says
Great list! I’m adding A Madness So Discreet and The Girl with All the Gifts to my TBR list. They sound great!
Sarah @ Kerosene Lit says
The Fall was such an odd book. I wasn’t a fan of it, but I totally agree that it is perfect for the Halloween season. I recommend The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters. It’s not scary, but definitely has an eerie atmosphere. All of her books seem to have that perfect creep factor. 🙂
Lizzie says
I LOVE The Madman’s Daughter, I think that it’s super creepy with the whole island and the people there! I haven’t read the other books, but I hope to read them soon!
Lizzie @ http://bigbooksandgrandelattes.blogspot.com
Heather says
If I want to really scare myself I always reach for a Stephen King novel. A good one I like to read this time of year is The Historian – not scary, but kind of atmospheric thanks to Dracula. Love Miss Peregrine’s, but still need to read the sequels!!
Kristin says
I’m really interested in hearing your take on The Dead House once you finish reading. I was SO into the first 2/3 of the book and then a thing happened and it just totally lost me. I hope you have a better experience with it!
Pui-man says
Yes to The Raven Boys! The overall vibe of that book is so Halloweeny. I would also add Unwind by Neal Shusterman, which I thought was really creepy. Also, the cover kind of freaks me out.
Lauren says
The Fall was an excellent retelling. I’m looking forward to The Girl With All The Gifts!
Check out my TTT and my Halloween Giveaway.
The Emerald Quill says
Great list! I love The Raven Boys and The Madman’s Daughter! I’ve been seeing amazing reviews for The Dead House everywhere; I think I need to read that one asap!
My TTT
Lucy says
I wish I could pause time so that I could read all of these before Halloween, they all sound truly atmospheric. I keep seeing MADNESS SO DISCREET everywhere and it made MyTTT this week too. Hope you don’t spook yourself out too much with your Halloween reading this year!
Carrie S. says
I’m intrigued by a lot of these books – will have to check them out 🙂 My TTT
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
Nice! I’ve read and loved the Dead House! But a lot of these are on my TBR pile! So can’t wait to read them all and be scared silly! Or shocked or whatever level of creepy these reads contain! LOL!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Lola says
Great list! I really wanted to read The Dead House this month, but did not get to it! 🙁
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes says
I’ve read The Raven Boys, The Madman’s Daughter, and Miss Peregrine’s. They were all really good! (I LOVED The Raven Boys, it’s a new favorite of mine.) I read The Walls Around Us but didn’t like it… I really want to read A Madness So Discreet and The Girl with All the Gifts. As for Hallowen-ish recs: 172 Hours on the Moon, Coraline, Horrorstor, the Mara Dyer trilogy, and the graphic novel Through the Woods. They’re all really creepy and dark!