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Books to Read at Halloween
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items While Halloween in New Zealand isn't nearly as popular as it is in other places, I still like to season-read and pick up some spooky books in the October/November sort of months. Here are some of the books I reckon you could read this Halloween.
Sections
6
Dark Academia
Witches
Ghosts
Monsters
Vampires
Misc
Dark Academia
Let's start with some dark Academia (and adjacent) books. These are set in schools, universities, colleges etc or have strong literary vibes.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo wasn’t my first dark academia read, however, I do think it was the one that properly introduced me to the genre. And I say that because, while I had read some others that I would now consider Dark Academia books, I hadn’t...
Such a goodie though!
Such a goodie though!
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (and the second book, The Atlas Paradox, actually). But I really enjoyed it! Just note it IS more charcter driven than plot.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
If you’re not familiar with this classic, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells the story of Dorian Gray, a young man in 19th-century England. He lives a life of crime and pleasure while a portrait of him ages and shows his evil deeds. Dori...
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This is the story Felicity Morrow returning to Dalloway School after a year away following her girlfriend’s tragic death. She wants to graduate and move on, but Dalloway’s history of witchcraft and rumours of haunted dorms make it challenging. New st...
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
This is the story of Diana Bishop, a scholar at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. She accidentally finds a magical book but doesn’t want anything to do with magic. However, her discovery attracts daemons, witches, and vampires, all interested in the book, a...
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
It’s the story of Ace, at Niveus Private Academy, where wealth rules and students are flawless. But trouble brews as an anonymous texter named Aces reveals dark secrets of two students. Talented musician Devon faces public humiliation when private ph...
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Vicious seems borderline Dark Academia to me, but I’ve included it in this list for the dark, magical, X-Men-esque vibes that it gives off, and the fact that it all starts with university students. Very cool, very fun. VE Schwab is incredible.
Vicious by V. E. Schwab
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik is the story of El, a student at Scholomance, a school for magic.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novak
The Magicians by Lev Grossman is the tale of Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant but unhappy high school senior obsessed with a magical book series, set in Fillory. He unexpectedly gets accepted into a secret magic college in New York, where he learns sor...
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Witches
Witches galore! Whether they're good or they're bad, there are so many books about witches or where witches feature heavily. Perfect for Halloween!
“Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate."
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
This Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut about two enemy witches who must enter into a deadly alliance to take down a common enemy has the twisted cat-and-mouse of Killing Eve with the richly imagined fantasy world of Furyborn and Ember in the Ashes.
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. And love makes fools of us all.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the bal...
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Hannah’s a witch, but not the kind you’re thinking of. She’s the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If sh...
These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
This is such a spooky witchy read!
This is such a spooky witchy read!
The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab
When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. ...
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Everyone said the Graces were witches. They moved through the corridors like sleek fish, ripples in their wake. Stares followed their backs and their hair. They had friends, but they were just distractions. They were waiting for someone different. Al...
The Graces by Laure Eve
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But wh...
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Truthwitch (Witchlands Series #1) by Susan Dennard
Ghosts
What's more Halloweeny than Ghosts? Probably not a lot. These are a mix of adult, yougn adult, middle grade and graphic novels.
Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost-like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day o...
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century. Super fun graphic novel!
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
When Lacy wakes up dead in Westminster Cemetery, final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe, she’s confused. It’s the job of Sam, a young soldier who died in 1865, to teach her the rules of the afterlife and to warn her about Suppression–a punishment wor...
Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery by Mary Amato
Once a year, the path appears in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Who is brave enough to find her–and who won’t make it out of the woods?
Why was this so moreish? I think I read this in one sitting.
Why was this so moreish? I think I read this in one sitting.
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
This is a middle-grade book so you’re in safe non-horror hands as Gaiman weaves the story of Bod and his graveyard family together. Could ghosts get any more Halloweeny? This is a lot of fun.
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
Another middle-grade book to add to your TBR pile is City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab. It follows Cassidy Blake and her best friend Jacob (who happens to be a ghost) as they head to Scotland with Cassie’s parents and get into all sorts of spooky mis...
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Monsters
Some monster books! Some classics, a graphic novel, some middle grade and young adult.
The story is heartbreaking, and there is some stunning symbolism, themes and important topics throughout. It almost reads like a fable, with the main storyline interspersed with addition tales told to Conor by the yew tree. I think the illustrations ...
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Ah! Frankenstein. The one where everyone thinks Frankenstein is the monster. Classic. This is quite short, so if you're looking for a short read for Halloween this year, definitely pick this one up.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
My favourite thing about this story is that the pages are filled with actual weird and wonderful photographs that Riggs has found on his trips to thrift stores and the like. Out of the images he discovered in dusty boxes on forgotten shelves he’s cre...
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
Vampires
A few vampire books if you wanna go that way. A couple of classics, and some modern classics, too.
This was a really fun graphic novel. The characters chaotic and crazy yet brilliant, and the storyline perhaps even more so. Did the story make sense? Not really, no. Was the artwork brilliant? As always, yes. Basically, it was just a really fun book...
Bloodlust and Bonnets by Emily McGovern
A classic in the fantasy/horror/supernatural world! Why not read the book and then check out the tv show?
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
I wanna say vampires, but they’re also … not. If you’ve read this already then you will know what I mean. If you haven’t this is a brilliant book for this spooky season. It’s a big book and covers a multitude of years, characters, interweaving storie...
The Passage, by Justin Cronin
Perhaps one of the most classic gothic, vampire stories of all time, Dracula is well known. Have I read it? No. No I have not. But definitely check it out!
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Look we can't have a list about vampire books without mentioning Twilight. Whether you love it or hate it (or hate to love it!), it's a good one for Halloween reading! Or re-reading.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff is one of those ones that I hear a lot about but have not read yet. But it's on the list! I'd love to know if you've read it!
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
One of those book series often listed alongside Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Definitely giving Halloween vibes!
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
When I say I enjoy this book, I really enjoyed this book. It was quirky and fun, but also had vampires and gothic vibes to it. And there's a book club in a small town, so it gives small town vibes, too. So much fun!
Fangs for Nothing by Stephanie Holmes
A stunning book by VE Schwab about three women, interconnecting stories over the centuries. It’s a story of hunger, love, and loss. And everything in between. Bones was very well done, and I don’t want to give anything away, but I was definitely surp...
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab
I feel like people either love or hate this book/series. While I actually haven't managed to pick up the rest of the books in this series, I really did enjoy this one. It was full of action and mysterious, flirty banter and a whole back history that ...
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Misc
And then a few books that don't really fit into the other categories, but are still good and creepy and spooky for Halloween.
We have always lived in the Castle is more on the eerie, bizarre, disconcerting end of the horror spectrum, but is still one that’s creepy enough to read this Halloween.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson
Loved this book! I really enjoy Kerri Maniscalco, and this is a great start to a great series.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
A classic creeppy story, perfect for Halloween. Read the book, watch the movie!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
An artist paints a portrait of young Dorian Gray and from thereon in things go downhill. Gray’s vanity and pride go deeper and deeper, and with every passing day his portrait becomes uglier and uglier, rotting away like a physical representation of G...
The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
Something Wicked This Way Comes is literally a book that happens at Halloween time, as the Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show rolls into town. The book tells the story of two boys getting tangled in the mystery, magic and mayhem of the Shado...
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
I read this book on a bus to London back in 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed it. In my book review I said “it’s not classed as a horror, I don’t think (on the back it just says ‘fantasy’), but it would fit into the genre fine. It’s not super horror-y but ...
The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan
One of my fave books of 2018 was Truly Devious. It tells of Stevie Bell who gets accepted to go to Ellingham Academy, a school in the mountains for exceptional students. She’s there to do one thing: solve the kidnapping of the founder’s wife and daug...
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
This was such a crazy read! It's not something I normally pick up but for some reason I did and ended up really enjoying it. It's about a girl, Lilly, who dies a and goes to the Afterlife but then realises it's really nothing like she imagined. And s...
For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn
If you haven't read the Grishaverse books then don't get this one haha. But if you have, then this is a graphic novel about the Darkling, as a bit of a back story. While not spooky, it still gives Halloween vibes.
Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo and Dani Pendergast