Read If You Dare: A Halloween Reading List for the Bravest Bookworms!
Looking for some spooky books to spice up your reading list this October? Grab your candy, relax, and get ready to find the most bone-chilling books of the season.
"Trespass Against Us"- Leon Kemp
Published in 2024, "Trespass Against Us" is a young adult horror/mystery novel that follows the journey of a friend group years after they are torn apart by a tragically chilling night in an allegedly haunted school. The story takes place two years after Riley's (the protagonist) boyfriend, Ethan, disappeared in the school while they, along with two other friends, explored the site. Now adults and still scarred by the horrors of their past, Riley, and the two other witnesses of that fateful night, Colton and Vee, return to the school accompanied by Jordan Jones- the host of the paranormal TV show "Spirit Seekers"- to find out what really happened to Ethan once and for all.
The story features a dark and elegant voice and dual timelines that slowly reveal an eerie ghost story. The book is told in two alternating parts: the first time the group visits the school and enter with four, and the second time they visit the school, now with three- plus the TV show host.
"Trespass Against Us" is rated 4/5 stars on Goodreads and features themes of horror, paranormal mysteries, and more. If you want a book that will keep you up reading in the night with a shiver down your spine, this might be the right choice for you!
Coming soon to UCL!
"The Girl From the Well" - Rin Chupeco
Based on the same ghost story as "The Ring", this novel's main character is Okiku: a lonely spirit who frees the spirits of the murdered and takes the lives of killers. However, Okiku's century-long effort for vengeance does not bring her peace. She simply drifts along with her existence until she meets Tark; a living, angsty teenager with evil reeking from beneath his skin. People fear him and associate him with darkness, but Okiku sees that he is not a monster and only needs to be released from the malevolence that infects him. There is one issue though- if the demon that haunts him dies, so does the host.
This story, based on an ancient Japanese folk tale, features an omnipotent narrator, and the ghost of a young girl hungry for revenge, entranced by the tattoos of a boy who is grossly misunderstood. With 4/5 stars on Goodreads, this book is the perfect mix of emotional drama, horror, and thriller all in one, and is sure to give you the creeps.
Coming soon to UCL!
"Go Hunt Me" - Kelly deVos
In this novel, deVos writes of the adventures of Alex Rush and her friends' effort to make a horror film in Dracula's castle in Romania. The group, having made several films throughout high school, are determined to make their last film together their best one, but when they arrive in Romania, the castle isn't the surreal, magical sight they expected. It is heavily armed with weapons lining the walls, and the twisting halls make it extremely easy to get lost. Even worse- the location is more remote than they anticipated, isolating them from the outside world- and sanity.
The group quickly discovers why the castle was the inspiration for one of the most famous horror novels of all time as the night's events blur the line between reality and fiction. As they roll the first shot of the film, one of Alex's friends disappears, and she's sure she saw a cloaked stranger lingering in the shadows. As more of her friends disappear and meet a terrifying demise, Alex realizes she may have to face a beast she had only ever read about.
With 3/5 stars on Goodreads, this story is written in the first-person with a somewhat unreliable narrator and features horror, thriller themes, and vampires. Put on your fangs and cloak and get ready to dive into a world of teen angst, vampires, and mystery!
Find it at UCL!
Whether you're looking for a mystery to piece together this spooky season or a classically terrifying ghost story, these books are a brilliant way to make your Halloween even more interesting. There's just one question: How brave are you?
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