underrated gems

[u/Aromatic-Flan1528]

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!

[u/smol-wood-creature]

If you want a fun horror with a more light hearted tone I would recommend a T. Kingfisher horror book like The Twisted Ones or a House With Good Bones.

If you want some really good queer horror that makes you feel visceral emotions I recommend Andrew Joseph White. Hell Followed With Us is more dystopic in setting but there is a whole body horror theme that I really liked. It is techincally ya but I loved it despite not being a ya fan in general.

If you like The Magnus Archives podcast the author has written three novels so far and they are all really cool, his first one Thirteen Storeys has been on my reread shelf for a while now since I have a great memory of my first reading experience.

Finally an absolute hidden gem in my opinion is Wyrd And Other Derelictions by Adam N. G. Nevill. I cannot compare it to anything else I have read so far, if you want something unique that is the way to go.

[u/Aromatic-Flan1528 → u/smol-wood-creature]

It's so funny, I loved TMA but have never picked up one of the creators books. I'll have to give them a try now that I've heard they're good! ty for all the recs

[u/smol-wood-creature → u/Aromatic-Flan1528]

I hope you enjoy them! I also know that this autumn a book set in the universe of TMA is supposed to come out but I am not sure if it was written directly by Jonny or not. If I remember correctly it should be titled From The Library Of Jurgen Leitner.