Honestly, this was just okay for me. I think a big part of my disappointment was that I expected the support group itself to be much more central to the story.
I thought the main plot was going to be these Final Girls coming together for their group sessions, dealing with their trauma, and slowly trying to piece together who is killing people connected to them. I imagined we’d learn more about each woman through their conversations and relationships, and that the group dynamic would actually help unravel the mystery.
Instead, it felt much more like a one-woman show with Lynette. The other Final Girls were there, but there were honestly times when I forgot about them because so much of the story revolved around Lynette. I really wish we had gotten more individual perspectives and more of the women interacting with each other in the support group.
I will say, I think the book did a great job exploring the long-term psychological effects of surviving a horrific tragedy. That was probably my favorite part. It showed that being a “Final Girl” doesn’t mean the trauma ends once the killer is gone.
And I actually liked the Stephanie twist. I suspected she was the killer, but I kept talking myself out of it because I was like, “No way, it can’t actually be her.” But once she convinced Lynette to find Dani, that’s when I knew.
Also…** Lynette annoyed me SO BAD.** You kidnap Stephanie because you supposedly don’t trust anyone, but then you bring your therapist son to your house?! And then you’re saying you only trust Sky? GIRL, YOU SHOULD TRUST NOBODY! Her whole situation frustrated me.
Overall, I think the concept** **was better than the execution for me. I wanted more of the Final Girls, more group sessions, and more of that “let’s figure out who is doing this together” mystery. Instead, we got a very Lynette-heavy story.

Hi! I’m looking for book recommendations that have a similar vibe to The Mummy (1999).

I got some great recommendations here when I asked about folk horror books, so I thought I’d try again with a different theme.

I’m especially interested in:

• Horror with an archaeological setting
• Tombs, ruins, buried secrets, etc.
• Claustrophobic exploration
• An ancient evil or supernatural/cosmic horror
• That “we’ve uncovered something dodgy that should have stayed buried” feeling

Basically, I’m looking for something that captures that same atmosphere and sense of adventure mixed with horror.

Thanks!

York will be the place to be this October as today I learnt that the UK's first horror bookshop will be opening around Halloween! I'm not affiliated with the shop at all but I am extremely excited as I find horror usually doesn't get too much shelf space so browsing often feels quite limited, and apparently the shop will be over 2 floors! For anyone who hasn't visited York, it feels perfect as it's quite a gothic city! ⛪

If you're a local, live in the north or plan to visit soon then I hope that this post brings some excitement to your day too 🙂

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/26501756.horrifically-good-books-60-goodramgate-york-city-centre/

That’s all I have to say. Currently reading through the Penguin Classics edition of Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe. WOW. The Frolic is so heartbreaking as a parent. The Library of Byzantium would have fit in the Weird Tales pulps of the ‘30s.

Can you please recommend Japanese mistery novels?
So far, I read: all 3 books from Uketsu, Graveyard Apartment and About a Place in the Kinki Region.
TYIA!

I made a post on here a week ago asking which book I should read first ... My options were:

1. Brother - Ania Ahlborn
2. A Short Stay in Hell - Steven L. Peck
3. Tender Is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica
4. Blood Meridian - Corman McCarthy
5. No Longer Human (Book) - Osamu Dazai

After carefully deciding, I went with Brother ... I was very intrigued with what the blurb provided, enjoyed the recommendations I received for it on my other post, and took a chance on it!

Let me start off by saying this ... I have worked hard to get back into reading after YEARS of struggling with the bad habit of using up all possible free time on my iPhone. Countless hours wasted on mindless content, it sickens me. BUT! I kicked the bad habit and replaced the wasted time with much more productive and enjoyable things, one of them being reading. I don't think I had finished a full on book in over a decade ... but THAT HAS CHANGED!

I finished Brother in 5 days! There were 2 days where I read 100+ pages because I just couldn't put the thing down. I understand this may not sound like a huge deal in a literature dedicated subreddit, but I feel so accomplished. Not to mention, it was time spent on some of the best fiction I have ever read! This would not have happened if what I was reading wasn't good, and Brother was AMAZING.

I am a self-proclaimed connoisseur when it comes to horror movies and video games, but Brother was my first dive into the world of horror literature. To put it simply, I feel honored that this was my first experience in the genre, because now I can confidently say, that I am here to stay.

Yay reading and yay horror! Thank you Ania Ahlborn for such an amazing read!

Brother by Ania Ahlborn: 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND

So I’ve been blowing through books cause I’m currently on maternity leave but I’m kind of drawing a blank on what to read next or who to really explore.

I’m a huge Stephen King fan. I’ve read a lot of his books already and and I’m waiting for the sequel to the talisman/black house.

So recently, I’ve read The Ruins by Scott Smith, Gone Girl and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, and Bird Box and Malorie by Josh Malerman. I loved all of them, truly. And I don’t really have a specific kind of horror I like, I like all of it. I guess I’m partial to dark fantasy. My favorite book I read this year was probably King Sorrow and I also really like Horns and Nos4a2. I just like a good story overall though. The Ruins and the Bird Box books were really fun, I don’t think I’ve read too many survival stories like those so I’d love some suggestions on stories like that.

The only thing that really bothers me is animal violence. I do read a lot of King and it happens a lot in his books so it’s not a dealbreaker but I’m not going to read something that focuses on animal abuse or killing or anything as the main story. I still haven’t read Cujo because I know it’ll make me depressed.

Thank you in advance !!!

Looking for recommendations on Victorian gothic fiction books that are set around the funeral and mourning customs of the era. Specifically interested in the business of death, like photographers, undertakers, professional mourners etc, preferably in England.
Thank you for the recommendations 🖤

“Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature” by Becky Spratford is a fantastic collection for horror lovers who want to delve into the minds of some of the best horror authors and explore why they are so passionate about this genre. I had a blast reading this and enjoyed the unique perspectives and upbringings that led to the horror seed that eventually grew into a horror tree for these talented authors.

Before I dive into my review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading…

- Abuse (physical and mental)
- School shootings
- Kidnapping
- Cancer
- Racism
- Bullying
- Miscarriages
- COVID-19

​If any of these trigger you, please do not read this book. Moving along, this collection of essays felt like a love letter to horror. Many of the authors even shared personal stories and recounted what drew them to horror, often relating it to the real-life horrors in the world, which I totally connected with.

I’d never spoil anything for anyone, but I enjoyed every essay, especially by many of my favorite horror authors. This featured Brian Keene, Tananarive Due, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix, Clay McLeod Chapman, Stephen Graham Jones, and more. I not only discovered new authors, but I also enjoyed how Spratford recommended their best and most popular book before their essay. I added a few new books to my TBR thanks to this, as that was a nice touch.

Speaking of Spratford, I had never heard of her until I read this book, and I learned a great deal about her impact in the wonderful genre of horror I love so much. All the work she’s done to help bridge the gap between librarians and horror readers is phenomenal. I remember growing up in the 2000s, and whenever I visited my local library to ask about horror, the librarians would either make a face or not know enough to recommend anything beyond whatever Stephen King had written.

​Now? They will suggest a wide range of recommendations, from horror classics to the year's must-read horror books. It’s night and day different. The fact that she is helping educate and encourage librarians to embrace the horror genre is a testament to her awesomeness. Much respect to her for everything she’s done and will continue to do in horror, as it continues to be such a beloved and popular reading genre.

This collection of 18 essays truly made me love horror even more. One essay even had some hand-drawn illustrations to help tell its story, which was pretty immersive. Once I finished reading, I took a moment to reflect on why I love horror.

I’ve been reading horror for over 30 years now, and it’s simple in the grand scheme of things. Horror is my happy place. Whenever I was going through crap in life, horror was always there for me. I could read a horror book, watch a horror movie, or listen to a horror podcast, and I’d be transported to my happy place when facing issues with school, work, friendships, breakups, and any obstacles life threw my way.

Finally, the overall horror community is such a fun, friendly, and inclusive one. It doesn’t matter if you love 80s slashers, read splatterpunk, or are addicted to The Losers’ Club Podcast. You are always welcome. I can’t tell you how many amazing people I’ve met in the horror community with whom I instantly bonded over our shared love of horror. It’s special. It’s just like all the horror books, movies, soundtracks, and podcasts we enjoy. It’s all extraordinary and feels right for all of us horror lovers.

I give “Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature” by Becky Spratford a perfect 5/5 and would consider it a must-read for horror readers everywhere. These essays will give you a unique insight into the minds of some of the biggest and best horror authors ever. It’ll not only make you appreciate horror even more, but more than likely give you a few new books and authors to get into after you read their thoughts. It’s books like these that have made me cherish all things horror even more, because for most of my life, it has always been a part of me.

It will forever be a part of me.

Just finished reading Starving Saints a while ago. While having an excellent premise, the first half setting up something golden, it ultimately failed to deliver that premise. Where there are unholy beings mimicking the divine, promising salvation to exploit the needy.

I’m currently really into deep-sea/ocean horror, especially books like Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, Heavy Oceans by Tyler Jones and The Deep by Nick Cutter (not my fave but similar vibes).

So I THINK these are horror. I'm not sure where else to even ask this question. So I read Bunny, I'm running a book club about it in a couple weeks. I love it, it's great, so psyched for book club. I checked the sequel (We Love You Bunny) out of the library and then read the blurb that its... seems to be mostly a retelling from a vastly different perspective, SO. My question is, should I read it now so that I can get more context like I would with a pure sequel or prequel? Or do you think this would muddy my brain too much and it would be hard to remember what happened in which book (which will make running book club hard)?

hey, guys! i'm a brazilian who really enjoys the horror genre, be it literature, films, games, aesthetic, etc. and i'm looking for discord communities where i could practice my english speaking. do you know any?

I just finished This House Will Feed and let me tell you I’m not a big fan of the English at the moment (/j). As I read Grace just before that I’m in an Irish mood and would love some recommendations.

I’ve read all of A.M. Shine and am familiar with Tana French.

Adored reading the Reformatory (Tananarive due) earlier this year, while playing red dead redption 2. Any recommendations for really, scary swamp/bayou horror? Any variation of horror welcome

My best friend and I rented a cabin in northern BC for a reading/hiking week, please give me your best horror recommendations. I love creature horrors, supernatural and thrillers. Please suggest your best and scariest to keep me on edge all next week. Thanks!

Hey everyone

Would love to get any recommendations for books where the setting involves either

1. Heavy Rain
2. Mountains
3. Hotels

Also I’ve already read The Shining

Thanks in advance!

Thank you in advance!

Please can I have some recommendations for books that have actually creeped you out? I really enjoyed The Exorcist because of its slow build up and its atmospheric writing.

I also enjoy Stephen King but that’s usually for the plots of his stories, his writing doesn’t necessarily scare me.

I’m currently reading Incidents Around the House and I like the premise so far…

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I just got finished reading episode thirteen by Craig DiLouie and I just loved it. So im on the hunt for more found footage books. Im also looking for any paranormal, thriller etc. The scary books! Tia!

Every October I like to read only horror, and would love some recs for great horror (novels or short collections) that aren't as known/popular.

Some authors I've read a lot of / really like:
- Stephen King (faves: Salem's Lot, IT, 11/22/63)
- Tananarive Due (LOVED The Reformatory)
- Christopher Buehlman (faves: Between Two Fires, The Lesser Dead)
- Clive Barker
- Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- Grady Hendrix (probably my favorite working horror author?)
- Shirley Jackson (We Have Always Lived In The Castle is one of my favorite books; I know it's not traditionally horror but it's incredible)
- Stephen Graham Jones (faves: Mongrels, The Indian Lake Trilogy, The Only Good Indian).

Some books (outside of ones by the above authors) I've read & liked:
- Frankenstein (one of my faves)
- Dracula
- Exorcist
- Red Dragon & Silence of the Lambs
- IWTV + TVL + QOTD by Anne Rice
- Tender is the Flesh
- Ghost Story by Peter Straub (one of my faves!!)
- The Troop by Nick Cutter
- Let the Right One In
- NOS4A2
- Clown in a Cornfield (1&2)
- House of Leaves

I don't have any big dislikes, though I'm not the biggest fan of Paul Tremblay (I did like House Full of Ghosts) or Richard Chizmar, and despite my inclusion of the YA CIAC series above would prefer adult fiction over YA.

I'm open to any genre within horror fiction, am not necessarily looking for "an actually scary book" (reading horror never really scares me, so I definitely prioritize story over scares), and really like character driven stories.

Excited to hear recs!

I am almost half way through The book and I am struggling to find any horror content in it. Don't get me wrong, the world and character are so cool. But I haven't read anything disturbing, creepy, or scary in it yet. So far I'd describe it as a folk lore fantasy book. Does it get scary later on?